Esther Part 1

Introduction

Today we are introducing a new series. 

Esther Story Summary

• The Jewish people in exile: 
• Some returned but some stayed in Persia
• Minorities in a strange land:

• Their culture pointed to the future Christ: 
• The Christ Spirit provokes the Antichrist Spirit: 
• The Antichrist is not just a future evil world leader: 
• An antichrist is any person who opposes the spirit of Christ. 

• John speaks of the concept of multiple antichrists:
• 1 John 2:18 (ESV):18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour. 

• Esther’s people faced an antichrist backlash: 
• The enemy attempted to annihilate Esther’s people: 
• God raised up Esther to be a deliverer: 

This Year’s Theme 

• Esther’s story ties directly to this year’s theme, which is “Under Construction”
• 1 Peter 2:5 (ESV):5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus  
• You are a minister

The Hidden Presence of God in Esther 

Esther’s Secular Context 

• Esther 1:1–2 (ESV): 1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, 
• Esther 1: 3-4 (ESV):3 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, 4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days.
• Esther 1:5 (ESV): 5 And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. 
• Esther 1:9 (ESV):9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus. 

Reflecting the Spirt of Christ in a Secular Context  

• Matthew 20:25–26 (NLT):25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 
• [Play Instagram Video by Francis Chan: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRcfsoljXeV/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] 
• Romans 12:10 (ESV):10 . . . . Outdo one another in showing honor. 

• Esther has favor.
• Esther 2:8–9 (ESV):8 . . . .Esther also was taken into the king’s palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women. 9 And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. . . .  
• Esther 2:15 (ESV):15. . . .Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her. 
• Esther 2:17 (ESV):17 the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 

Three Kinds of Favor 

1. Favor from a covenant with God

• Genesis 12:2–3 (ESV):2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
• Deuteronomy 30:1–3 (ESV):1“And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, 2 and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. 
• Hebrews 8:6 (ESV):6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 
• Ephesians 2:8 (ESV):8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 
• Hebrews 4:16 (ESV):16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

2. Favor from obedience to God’s law

• Proverbs 16:7 (ESV):7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 
• 1 Samuel 2:26 (ESV):26 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.
• Luke 2:51–52 (ESV):51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
• Genesis 6:8 (ESV):8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
• Genesis 6:9 (ESV):9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.
• Genesis 6:22 (ESV):22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him. 

3. Favor from the protection and provision of a kingdom assignment

• Matthew 6:25 (ESV): 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
• Matthew 6:31-33 (ESV):31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 
• Romans 8:31 (ESV):31. . .. If God is for us, who can be against us?