The Unseen King (Esther) No.7- Enduring Satan's Schemes

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as it's own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." - John 15:18-19 Have you noticed the world seems to hate Christianity? Does this hostility towards Christianity frustrate you? Are you easily discouraged, or enraged when culture or government seems to conflict with the Kingdom of God? No matter the political persuasion, there are American Christians who are confused, perplexed & angry at society. As a pastor, I observe an American church infected with a destructive, spiritual pandemic of anxiety, fear, and even anger. Christians on both political sides are anxious, even angry at the prospect of who might be president in 6 months. Outraged or confused by SCOTUS decisions ranging from gay marriage on one side, to overturning Roe v. Wade on the other. We get worked up in culture wars, like the reenactment of Da Vinci’s Last Supper by drag queens in the Paris Olympics. How should we respond to things like this? Is anxiety, fear, or anger helpful to the cause of the Gospel & the Kingdom? Does the direction of culture and government make you fearful or anxious? Where does peace & Joy fit into this equation? Should we stand up and fight, argue, condemn, and debate? Should we double down on our political activism? Are our anxieties about the present circumstances justified considering God's sovereignty? How should we respond? I think today’s story from Esther is pertinent to this topic, especially with what’s ahead of us in the next 100 days!