The Plot Thickens

Notes: The Plot Thickens
Greg Laurie
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Esther 2
Music: Harvest Worship Band

https://www.harvest.org/watch-and-listen/webcast/watch/the-plot-thickens

The book of Esther is about how God puts people in the right place at the right time.

Esther 1:10 NKJV
[10] On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,

The king made these decisions when he was drunk. Bad decisions.

If you don’t want to make bad decisions when you are drunk, then don’t get drunk. How do you not get drunk? Don’t drink...ever.

Proverbs 21:1 NKJV
[1] The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Esther 2:5-7 NKJV
[5] In Shushan the citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite. [6] Kish had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. [7] And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

Christians don’t believe in coincidence, we believe in providence.

The king took notice of how beautiful Esther was. Just like our culture today.

1 Peter 3:3-4 NKJV
[3] Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel- [4] rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Esther 2:16-17 NKJV
[16] So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. [17] The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Esther 3:1-2 NKJV
[1] After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. [2] And all the king's servants who were within the king's gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage.

Haman wanted attention, enjoying that the others bowed to him.

Haman was an Agagite, and Mordecai was a Jew.

Deuteronomy 25:17-19 NKJV
[17] "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, [18] how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. [19] Therefore it shall be, when the LORD your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget.

1. When God tells you to do something, do it.

2. God gives gifts and talents to each of us that we need to use.

Esther had inner character, along with outward beauty.

1 Timothy 4:14 NKJV
[14] Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

Get involved and serve. You don’t know what you can or can not do until you try.

3. There is a time to speak up and a time to be quiet.

Esther 2:10 NKJV
[10] Esther had not revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it.

When the Lord prompts you to speak, then you need to speak.