When Preparation Meets Opportunity
A Change For Christ Pastor and Wife Appreciation • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 492 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
Introduction
When I think about the title “When preparation meets opportunity.”
It sounds good but the part that can be overlooked is the struggle to get there.
A lot of good decisions and bad decisions that become learning experiences.
Many sleepless nights and throw in the towel moments.
But don’t feel bad:
10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
10 And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.
Genesis
Elijah prayed an exhausted prayer not after a lengthy time of suffering. It was right after an amazing victory where God used him to work a miracle in front of the whole nation
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
David wrote songs of lament at various times in his life—when he was hiding from a former mentor who wanted to kill him or fleeing his son who had started an uprising against him
3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried:
Mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
Psalm 69:3
Leading is not easy and yet Leaders stretch with challenges.
You give your 100% to the Church, your 100% to your family, your 100% to your job and your 100% to yourself.
Mordecai tells Esther in our text today “thou art come to the kingodom for such a time as this?”
The Setting: Persia
The Setting: Persia
Persian capital Susa
After Israel’s Kings
Jews are all over the place in Exile.
Takes place a hundred or so years AFTER Daniel.
Persia conquers Babylon
The Characters
The Characters
This is not rehearsed. They are gonna do what I tell them as I narrate. Sound good? Good!
Esther
Esther
Esther is a Jew. She very quickly in our story today becomes Queen of Persia.
Mordecai
Mordecai
Mordecai is also a Jew. He is Esther’s cousin. Esther’s parents weren’t alive so he took her in as his own.
Haman
Haman
Haman is NOT a jew. he is an evil Politician. He’s power hungry and will do terrible things for more power.
King Ahasueras (a.k.a. King Xerxes)
King Ahasueras (a.k.a. King Xerxes)
This is king Ahasueras or king Xerxes. He’s alright. Very powerful man. He made some bad choices, some good choices. He definitely had some personal issues. He just fired his queen. She didn’t do what he asked so..he took her authority as Queen away. so now he is single.
The People
The People
That’s the rest of us! Some of you are Jews. Y’all are from all over the place.
The Story
The Story
Let’s get started. Just a heads up. I’m summarizing like 10 chapters today. This was a situation that could have been doom and gloom.
Haman wants to kill the Jews
Haman wants to kill the Jews
I told you about Haman. He works for the KING. He’s the kings right hand man. The king gives him so much power that he commands all the people to bow before Haman. BUT WAIT! Not everyone bows. Mordecai does NOT bow down. This makes Haman angry. Haman finds out that M is a Jew. He goes to the KING and tells the KING that the Jews are dangerous for the kingdom and they should be eliminated. the KING is like “sure, okay, whatever. Sounds good pal!” This make M and the Jews among the people panic! M knows he must do something!
God Prepares His Chosen Way Before The Problem...
God Prepares His Chosen Way Before The Problem...
Esther Became Queen Before the Problem
Esther Became Queen Before the Problem
The KING needs a QUEEN. He just had to fire/divorce his wife. The time comes for Esther to meet the King. When the KING sees ESTHER he thinks she is the most beautiful woman ever and makes her his wife/Queen. (KING propose to ESTHER).
God had already prepared her.
God had already put her in position.
God had already put her in the right place.
When God Prepares You He Then Gives You The Opportunity...
When God Prepares You He Then Gives You The Opportunity...
The Opportunity to Stand Up!
I told you about Haman. He works for the KING. He’s the kings right hand man. The king gives him so much power that he commands all the people to bow before Haman. BUT WAIT! Not everyone bows. Mordecai does NOT bow down. This makes Haman angry. Haman finds out that M is a Jew. He goes to the KING and tells the KING that the Jews are dangerous for the kingdom and they should be eliminated. the KING is like “sure, okay, whatever. Sounds good pal!” This make M and the Jews among the people panic! M knows he must do something!
The Opportunity to Speak Up!
The Opportunity to Save Others!
Mordecai and Esther make a plan to save the Jews
Mordecai and Esther make a plan to save the Jews
they plan that Esther will go to the KING. This is a big deal, because in their culture, the Queen could only go to the KING when HE asks her to come to him. She just cant go anytime she wants. She could get killed for going into his throne room. However, the king may decide to welcome her and give her mercy if he chooses. So M and E take a huge leap of faith and decide to risk it. Esther goes before the KING!! The KING welcomes her! (phew). He knows that she is there to ask him for something. He’s like, what do you want? I’ll give you anything up to half of my kingdom! Longer story short, she asks if she can throw a party/feast and there she’ll tell the KING what she wants. There she tells the King that her people are in danger of being sold off as slaves and killed. The KING is outraged! He’s like whose plan is this?! Esther tells the King it was Haman! The KING is furious at Haman. He reverses the order and protects the Jews.
When Preparation Meets Opportunity Purpose Is Discovered
When Preparation Meets Opportunity Purpose Is Discovered
He reverses the order and protects the Jews.
Esther teaches us about human participation in God’s plan. God is the hero! Esther is a helper. We need to be more like Esther. She was faithful and obedient to God. When she saw an opportunity to do something tough/difficult that she knew god wanted her to do, she took the opportunity. She could have died! God was at work! She recognized it. Just like Esther, we need to do what God is doing.