12-04-2022 The Faith to Leave 'Safe' (Esther 4:1-17)

Sermon Passages and Notes: The Faith to Leave 'Safe' Esther 4:1-17 Characters: • King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I)- King of Persia, a drunk pushover • Vashti- the queen • Mordecai- the older cousin • Esther- the beautiful cousin • Haman- royal staff, the villain Esther 3:5-6 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing down or paying him homage, he was filled with rage. 6 And when he learned of Mordecai’s ethnic identity, it seemed repugnant to Haman to do away with Mordecai alone. He planned to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout Ahasuerus’s kingdom. Chiasmus "chi" Esther 4:1-17 "If you keep silent at this time..." "Who knows, perhaps you have been put in this place/position for such a time as this." • Who are the people within arms reach of your life? • What if you are exactly what is needed? How would you respond differently to the world if you were exactly what is needed? Esther 4:16 - “If I perish, I perish." When you combine these two questions, doubt and excuses creep into our minds: • Someone obviously could do better or has a better answer • I am inadequate • Someone else will go • I'm comfortable with where I am Do you have the faith to leave 'safe?' What if you are the only one who can go?