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Faith Among the Faithless: Esther


KIM - Personal Story – When I was a teenager I knew I wanted a marriage that was strong and honored God. I wanted

to do things differently that what I had witnessed from others. I go away to college and meet this wonderful young man.

He would tell you that he knew the day he met me that I was the person he wanted to marry. It didn’t take me long and

I was day dreaming about the day I would marry him either. He checked all my boxes: he loved God, pursued him with a

daily walk, attended bible studies and church on Sunday, and of course he was really cute. After a long engagement I

knew I had the prefect formula for a good marriage. Quickly after my marriage my husband began to slip away from me

emotionally and physically. I was devasted. My dream was fading fast. After a few years in the dark i realized my

husband had long suffered from a devastating addiction. He pursuit of God was real because he was desperate. He

thought marriage would fix His issue but it did not. He was giving up and stopped trying to fight the addiction. I went

into fix it mode, I as not losing the marriage I want and the marriage I needed to prove to everyone how to do it well. My

identity was so tied up in my dream that I read every book, wrote scripture cards, highlighted books for my husband to

read – that went so well!! But finally after years of trying to fix him on my own, I gave up. I admitted that I could not do

this on my own and I had come to my end. I admitted this was an impossible situation and turned my husband and my

marriage and my dream over to God.

My circumstances may seem different but Esther and I had something in common. We had come to a place of being at

the end of our rope. We knew there was nothing more that we could do. We both admitted out weakness and gave in

to only trusting God as the one who had any power.

Paul knew this also and said it best :

1 Cor 12:9-10

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will

boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of

Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak,

then I am strong.

JOHN-

16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three

days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is

against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”

Introduction -recap what Greg said the previous week. Discuss the crossroads that Esther was at and her choice to

choose between being Persian or Jewish. Self reliance or Reliance on God. Reminder of the way she was prepared to be

presented to the king 3:12 6 month myrrh and 6 months spices and ointments.

KIM -Look at this clip to see the opulence of this kingdom, largest in world 300 clip

Esther 5:1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, in

front of the king’s quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the

entrance to the palace.

And now she is appearing before him in a fasted state. In all of this lavish luxury where beauty is demanded she is

appearing before the king probably drawn, with bluish grey skin, sunk in eyes, dark circles.

She is in this fasted state because she recognized she did not know how to do what was being asked of her. In her

weakness she turned to God and surrendered to Him.

This is what we are called to do.

JOHN –

Ester 5:2

The King was drawn to Esther. Remember at this point it is not her lavish beauty that has probably drawn him to her but

it is her humility and weakness that has probably caught his eye. Such a contrast from his world.

Prodigal Comparison

The awareness of our sin is a weakness that we recognize and draws us to our need for our Savior.

Luke 15:18-19

No matter where we are pig pen or palace we come to our end and answer God’s call when we recognize we are sinners

(weak) and in need of our Savior, Father and King.

Luke 15:20

20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion,

and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Not moved by words Father or King

KIM-

Esther 5:3 And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the

half of my kingdom.”

Wow! ½ his kingdom, biggest kingdom on earth. This is the power she had previously been after.

Frodo on Mt Doom risked everything and now he can have it. ???

Esther 5:4 And Esther said, “If it please the king,[a] let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for

the king.”

Talk about Esther’s ascent to power. Gave up her virginity, family, heritage, but when presented with the reward she

gave it up, remained humble.

JOHN – Luke 15:22-24 tie up prodigal comparison – vulnerability results in celebration

Esther 5:5 5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman

came to the feast that Esther had prepared.

KIM – What we see here is a picture pointing to Christ.

Was Christ himself. We come to God in our weakness, seeing our need for a savior. He is not holding out a scepter for us

to touch because He has already given us Christ our Savior. Christ is the bridge, the mediator, the mighty scepter that

allows us to go before our King.

Jesus’ humility. Philippians 2:5-11

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not

count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in

the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of

death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every

name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every

tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

JOHN – We don’t just receive the gift of Christ we are also called to walk like Christ in humility and weakness.

1 Corinthians 12:9-10

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all

the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am

content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

KIM – Echo this, recap what God did in our marriage and what He did with Esther’s story

BOTH – practical application – where do you feel weak and vulnerable? Instead of running, where do we step in? Where

are you walking in pride and power? Where do you need to repent.

Queen Esther faced insurmountable odds as she courageously approached King Xerxes to save her people. God gave her favor and freedom for the Jews.


Team sermon with Kim Parrish. Sermon begins at 22:04.



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