Monday, June 11, 2012

Esther "An Invitation to God's Plan"

Invitations
Life Choices - Esther 1-2  

Invitations
create a responsibility to choose
and an opportunity for God’s blessing

Invitations
come in various forms
         Difficult circumstances - Esther/Vashti (1-2)
         To be faithful - Mordecai and the plot (2:19-23)
         Temptation – Haman’s bribe (3:8-10)

Invitations
come in various forms
         To trust that God is at work – whether Esther will go before Xerxes (4:14)
         To use wisdom – Esther’s invitation to Xerxes (5)
         Revelation of your character – Xerxes’ question to Haman (6:6-10)
         To stay true to your calling – Xerxes’ offer to Esther/Mordecai (8:7-8)

4 Important Principles: 
Invitations…
         Arise in real life situations
         Reveal your perspective of God
         Reveal your true character
         Carry consequences

Invitations arise in real life circumstances
1:10 “on the seventh day he commanded”
 2:1, 16 “After these things – in the seventh        year of his reign”

Invitations arise in real life circumstances
God inhabits moments
God uses ALL circumstances
Every situation is a classroom
You snooze you loose

Invitations reveal your perspective of God
He is at work, even in difficulty
He is gracious and benevolent to His children
His greater plan is for His people
He rewards those who are obedient

Invitations reveal your true character
“Squeeze and taste” 
“Heart is deceitful –who can know it” Jer. 17:9-10
Invitations carry consequences
Israel in bondage due to judgment
Mordecai’s faithfulness later integral to God’s plan
Haman’s pride destroyed him

Invitations carry consequences
Good choice/good things; bad choice/bad things
No “reset” button – choices create circumstances
Repeated choices create your character

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