Sermon Notes: Esther Week Three
Pastor Alan Hannah | November 23&24, 2024
8Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. 9Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. [Proverbs 31:8-9]
When you choose silence, you forfeit the moment God has designed for your voice.
1When Mordecai learned about all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on burlap and ashes, and went out into the city, crying with a loud and bitter wail. 2He went as far as the gate of the palace, for no one was allowed to enter the palace gate while wearing clothes of mourning. 3And as news of the king’s decree reached all the provinces, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and wailed, and many people lay in burlap and ashes. [Esther 4:1-3]
13Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace, you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” [Esther 4:13-14]
15Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” [Esther 4:15-16]
When you choose silence, you forfeit the moment God has designed for your voice.
1On the third day of the fast, Esther put on her royal robes and entered the inner court of the palace, just across from the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne, facing the entrance. 2When he saw Queen Esther standing there in the inner court, he welcomed her and held out the gold scepter to her. So, Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter.
3Then the king asked her, “What do you want, Queen Esther? What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!”
4And Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to a banquet I have prepared for the king.”
5The king turned to his attendants and said, “Tell Haman to come quickly to a banquet, as Esther has requested.” So, the king and Haman went to Esther’s banquet.
6And while they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “Now tell me what you really want. What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!” [Esther 5:1-6]
3Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request, I ask that my life and the lives of my people will be spared. 4For my people and I have been sold to those who would kill, slaughter, and annihilate us. If we had merely been sold as slaves, I could remain quiet, for that would be too trivial a matter to warrant disturbing the king.” [Esther 7:3-4]
- Pray first.
- Proclaim boldly.
- Position strategically.
- Place your trust in God.
When you choose silence, you forfeit the moment God has designed for your voice.