Moving Forward in Faith Esther 5 Doug Brown audio, pdf, and power point available @ karenvineyard.org

1. Moving Forward in FaithEsther 5Doug Brownaudio, pdf, and power point available @ karenvineyard.org

2. Association of Vineyard Churches Regional Conference August 21-23, 2013 Location: Joram J Academy in Kiserian Cost: Ksh1000 Speakers: Doug Brown, Angela Stephens amongst others

3. Moving Forward in FaithEsther 5Doug Brownaudio, pdf, and power point available @ karenvineyard.org

5. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11.6

6. What is faith? • Believing the right things about God • Endless optimism • Having no doubts • Pleasing God

7. What about doubt? • Can faith and doubt co-exist? • Is doubt simply having negative thoughts? • Are there doubt-free zones in life? • Can my faith increase enough to eradicate doubt?

8. Steps of Faith Esther chose to • step into the unknown • be out of her depth • risk rejection • extend her danger through delay

9. Showing up in faith vv.1-2

10. Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase. Martin Luther King, Jr.

11. -Esther is not working for God’s favor, but from His favor.

12. Prayer causes us to be available

13. Prayers helps us get in position

14. Prayer must be given feet

15. He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature . . . 2 Peter 1.4

16. In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water  that he channels toward all who please him. Proverbs 21.1

17. A spiritual life that remains theoretical is useless. Spiritual life must be experienced in real time and real life in order to grow.

18. Dimmer switchfaith vv.3-8

19. Discernment is the application of God’s presence to our circumstances.

20. 3 possible reasons for the delay • It wasn’t the right place. • It wasn’t the right circumstances. • It wasn’t the right time.

21. Moving forward in faith means - 1)That if Esther delays Haman won’t discover she is Jewish and devise some plan to prevent her from interfering . 2)Trusting the king will accept the delay and agreed to come to the second banquet. 3)Believing thatnone of Esther’s attendants who knew her nationality tried to convey this important information to Haman.

22. ‘I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse.”Philip Yancey

24. Faith unmasking evilvv.9-14

25. Haman boasted - • vast wealth • many sons • king had honored him • elevated him • “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited” vv.11-12

26. “But all this gives me no satisfaction . . .” v.13

27. The faithful exercising of righteousness and justice has the potential to expose evil.Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Ephesians 5.11

28. Faith unmasking evil • It must be a God assignment • It takes time • It takes specific focus • It takes perseverance