“For Such A Time As This”

1. “For Such A Time As This” Esther 4:13-16

2. Background Ahashuerus was king of Persia God’s people were his provinces The king had leaders from 127 provinces to come to a celebration that lasted 180 days

3. It was a feast of drinking and sin The king sent for Vashti to come and show her beauty She refused because of her modesty

4. The king accepts the rejection to reject her and choose another queen to take her place Ester, a Jew, was chose to be queen

5. Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, had offended Haman Through deceit Haman got an order signed by the king that all Jews should be put to death

6. God stepped in and through His great providence delivered His people Christ, the promised Seed, was to come through the Jewish nation God fulfilled this promise

7. This study is written for our benefit Many of the incidents in this account sound like they could be from today’s newspaper right her in America

8. “For such a time as this” What sort of time was it?

9. 1. A time when the king and the leaders of the nation were selfish, wicked and immoral

10. “Sin was in the saddle”

11. Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn

12. What about leaders today? What about those shaping the lives of our young people – media, education, etc. What about some in the church?

13. 2. It was a time of worldly pomp and show The king and leaders of 127 provinces took a six months’ vacation for sin and wickedness They neglected the nation, its welfare and their homes

14. Today our nation is neglecting to preserve the foundations of righteousness in our own nation “prayer” outlawed in schools Homosexuality held up as a civil rights issue instead of sin

15. Abortion is accepted and practiced 3700 abortions per day in America (http://www.abortionno.org/Resources/fastfacts.html)

16. “Today, our nation is neglecting to preserve our freedom and to purify the streams of immorality.” Gus Nichols (1961)

17. 2 Tim. 3:1-5 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,…

18. 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

19. 3. It was a time of strong drink How many alcoholics are there in America? How many “problem drinkers” Some say 15-30 million alcoholics

20. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

21. Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

22. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it movethitself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

23. Thineeyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

24. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

25. 4. It was a time of immodesty and shame The king wanted Vashti to display her beauty before the leaders of 127 provinces who were involved in a 6 month drinking party We should be thankful the queen had the moral courage to do right!

26. 1 Tim. 2:9-10 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

27. 5. It was a time when the sanctity of marriage was at a low ebb The King was willing to get rid of the Queen for no fault of hers The divorce rate in America is estimated at 40% to 50% One unscriptural marriage is one too many

28. Mt. 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

29. 6. It was a time when human life was cheap The leaders were willing to sign a decree to have 2,000,000 Jews killedbecause one of them would not bow down to Haman!

30. Life is cheap today Abortion, suicide, murder, etc. The entertainment media is filled with murder, adultery, homosexuality, hate, etc. These cheapen life and destroy the souls of men

31. 7. It was time that needed the good woman Esther!

32. Esther 4:13-16 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time,…

33. then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?..

34. Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day:…

35. I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

36. Her silence would have been sin She found herself in a responsible position and she had to do what she could

37. We live in a time that needs good people --- In leadership in the nation In business In education In the home and in the church

38. “A time that needed good people --- of conviction and prayer. Our time. Gus Nichols

39. Conclusion “For such a time as this” what kind of disciples do you think the Lord needs? Are you one of that kind? Are you one the Lord can count on and depend on?

40. References Adapted from material by: 1. Gus Nichols 2. Wendell Gann (http://home.hiwaay.net/~wgann/)