“Your Move…” | Sunday, July 11, 2021

Hey, welcome to Cross Connection Church's online service today! We're glad you're here. If you want more information about us, you can go to lifeinconnection.com. Also, hang around until the very end; you'll get some more announcements about what's going on.

If you came prepared to give today, you can do that at give.lifeinconnection.com. All right, God bless you.

You call the sun to rise, and you lay it down to rest. You hold this heart of mine, so holy, so wonderful. Such an awesome God, so selfless and mighty. Nothing comes close to...

The Lord Almighty, nothing is as sweet as Your love and mercy. Nothing comes close to the Lord.

As we get started this morning, we're just going to jump right into the text of the Scriptures where we are today. If you have a Bible, we are in Esther, and we're in chapter eight. Esther chapter eight begins at verse one in this way: "On that day, King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. So the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman."

I'm pretty sure that we all would agree we love when everything comes together and is settled and resolved. There is a great anxiety when things are up in the air, and there is a total release of that anxiety when a resolution comes to pass. When the resolution is unclear, we are filled with a kind of edge-of-our-seat situation.

This is one of the reasons that we have a love-hate relationship with sports. What is it that makes sports so interesting and exciting? It is this kind of tension. It is that excitement that puts us on the edge of our seats as we're waiting for the conclusion to come in the midst of the game or the event that we're watching. As we are in the midst of the event, we have this unclear resolution about what’s going to happen.

There is an anxiety and stress that comes with sporting events, especially those that come down to the last minute, right to the wire. The games that are so close to the very end are the ones we both love to watch. These moments completely put us in knots, and there is hardly anything better than the sudden death overtime of a game, filled with uncertainty about what is going to happen next.

This is also why sporting events are inherently live events. There is almost no point in watching a recorded sporting event. Sometimes, when we have a sporting event occurring at the same time as church, a person might record it at home and not want anyone to spoil the outcome. If anyone reveals what happened, it makes the recorded event pretty much pointless because these events thrive on their live nature.

Most of us love climactic resolutions, or at least the suspense that leads to them. However, my wife is not one of those people. It is nearly impossible for her to watch any movie that has even a hint of suspense. Even in a love story, where you know the plot will follow a familiar arc, she cannot handle the tension. In every Hallmark movie, for example, there comes a point right before the third act where everything seems to fall apart, and it appears that the characters will not end up together.

That built-in suspense is what draws many of us to these movies, but my wife cannot stand it. She feels compelled to take out her phone and look up the plotline online before the end of the movie so that she can know what is going to happen. She just cannot handle the anxiety of it. Routinely, I have to try to stop her from looking up the plotline while we are watching a movie together because she wants to know that everything will work out in the end.

So, while we may not all enjoy suspenseful climactic resolutions, we do appreciate a resolution. We like when things come together, the suspense is resolved, and we can see everything come to a conclusion. This brings us to Esther, chapter seven, beginning at verse six through chapter eight, verse two.

This is a great resolution. The evil Haman, as he is called in this passage of Scripture, is exposed for who he truly is. Not only is he exposed for his wicked schemes, but he is also hanged on the very gallows that he had built to hang Mordecai. Everything comes to this perfect resolution. Is there anything more glorious than true, complete, and quick justice, like in this situation? We absolutely love justice.

Now, some of you Bible enthusiasts hear me say we love justice and think, "Well, isn't that in the Bible?" I hate to break it to you, but that's not in the Bible. The Bible doesn't say that we are to love justice; it says that we are to do justly, love mercy, and walk in humility. But that's a message for another day, not for what we're looking at today.

We do, however, innately love justice. We love when things are resolved and everything is right again. This is why pretty much all of our movies end with the good guys winning, unless it's one of those "to be continued" inevitable endings. In those cases, it seems like everything is completely lost, the bad guy has won, and everything is in total disarray. You know exactly what I'm talking about.

At the end of that one movie, as you're getting ready to go into the resolution, you wonder how on earth they are going to fix this whole situation. But you can know going into it that they will. Captain America is going to save the day; everything is going to be good. Iron Man, the whole deal—we know that they are going to come and fix it because our culture is built around these endings where the good guys win. We love that kind of story.

Of course, in the real world, it doesn't always end that way, but in our idealized worlds, which we fictionalize and film, the good guys always win. That's exactly what we have here in this great story of Esther.

On the same day that King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, he was found out for his wickedness and evil plans. Haman was hanged, and on that same day, Ahasuerus awarded to Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. Mordecai, this is Queen Esther's cousin, who...

This point has been hidden; it hasn't been known the connection between Esther and Mordecai. Then Mordecai comes into the king's presence, and Esther reveals the relationship that she has with Mordecai. The king takes his signet ring, which had been taken from Haman. Remember, he had given this to Haman early on because Haman was his number two; he was kind of like a prime minister. The signet ring was basically the signature of the king. Now, they have taken it from the wicked Haman and given it to Mordecai. Esther puts him in charge of Haman's estate and of all the things that Haman was overseeing.

On the very same day that Haman is hanged on the gallows that he had set up to kill Mordecai, Haman's estate is awarded to Queen Esther. I don't think you could come up with a better ending than that. This is the perfect ending to the suspense of this whole story, the perfect ending to the suspense of what we saw back there in the last words of chapter three.

Look back with me at Esther chapter three, the very last words beginning at verse 12. There we read, "Then the king's scribes were called on the 13th day of the first month, and the decree was written according to all that Haman commanded. The king's satraps and the governors who were over the provinces, to the officials of all the people, to every province according to the script, and to every people in their language, in the name of King Ahasuerus, it was written and sealed with the king's signet ring." That's what Haman has—there, the signature of the king.

When the letters were sent by the couriers to all the king's provinces to destroy, to kill, to annihilate all of the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day on the 13th day of the 12th month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions, a copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, so that they should all be ready for that day. The couriers went out, hastened by the king's command, and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel.

So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed. That right there is the height of the tension of this whole story. This wicked Haman is upset after he has been brought up to be second in command underneath the king. He is upset that one guy, Mordecai, won't bow before him. Everybody else will bow, but one guy, Mordecai, won't, and it's brought to his attention that this Mordecai...

Esther is a part of this group of people, the Jewish people. Haman hatches a plan to annihilate not just Mordecai, but everyone from the same bloodline as Haman. In Esther chapter three, we see the height of tension due to this decree from Haman.

Now, we have a perfect conclusion to the story, not only resolving the tension from Haman's decree but also addressing the final words of Esther chapter four. Mordecai is speaking to Queen Esther, who, as far as we can tell, is the only one who knows her true identity as a Jew. She is also at risk of being destroyed by Haman's decree. Mordecai communicates with her through messengers, and at the end of Esther chapter four, in verse 13, he tells them to answer Esther:

"Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace more than any other of the Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

Esther receives this word of faith from Mordecai, who expresses his trust that God will bring deliverance, even if it is not through her hand. Esther then sends a message back to Mordecai, instructing him to gather all the Jews present in Shushan and to fast for her. She says, "Neither eat nor drink for three days, night and day. My maids and I will fast likewise. I will go to the king, which is against the law." This adds more tension to the story, as she declares, "If I perish, I perish."

Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther had commanded him. Everything has built to this point. Queen Esther is now given Haman's estate after the tension of Haman's decree to destroy her family and all the Jews in the 127 provinces of Persia. The tension continues as she prepares to approach the king to make her request.

For the king to save her and her people, the tension of the banquet builds, and then the tension after the first banquet continues to escalate. This all leads to a pivotal moment where Esther has been given Haman's estate. Haman has been hanged on the gallows that he built for Mordecai. Mordecai is revealed to the king as Esther's cousin, and he is elevated to Haman's position, appointed over Haman's house.

You would think that this should be the conclusion of the story, and that we could move on from Esther to the very next book. However, not so fast. The decree from chapter 3 to destroy, kill, and annihilate all of the Jews still stands. The king's command in Persia, 2,500 years ago, was literally and figuratively written in stone. It was probably carved into clay tablets with cuneiform, and it is literally written in stone. Figuratively, it cannot be overturned. The king has given this command, this decree, this edict to kill all of the people of Mordecai's family, the Jewish people, across all 127 provinces. On the 13th day of the 12th month, every one of them is to be killed.

So, that decree still stands. Haman is dead, but his evil plot and plan remain. The decree of the king still holds, and that is why my final point last week, if you were listening to our message, is that God is at work. We see God working here in this passage, but there is still more for us to do. There is still more work to be done. Haman may be out of the picture, but the lives of Esther, Mordecai, and all of the Jews living in the provinces of Persia are still under the threat of Haman's horrible edict and his plan to destroy, kill, and annihilate all of the Jewish people.

Thus, there remains more work to be done. At this point, I want to bring you back to an important truth for us to remember as we think through the text of Esther, and not just the text of Esther, but as we read through the Scriptures as a whole, from Genesis to Revelation. It is essential that we trust God. This is one of the key lessons we see as we go through the Scriptures. It is essential to trust God, but it is also necessary.

We take responsibility because there's more work to be done. God is at work; He has been working through every single one of the events happening in this book, from the fall of Queen Vashti to the rise of Queen Esther, to the ascent of Haman and his wicked plot to destroy the Jews. All these different things that have been going on show that God is certainly at work. It is essential that we trust that God is at work.

In the midst of all this, there are moments where we still have work to do. It is necessary for us to take responsibility for the part that God has given to us. I am thoroughly convinced that God is sovereign. I believe that God works providentially, even if often covertly, behind the scenes. We don't necessarily see Him overtly working, but God is working providentially behind the scenes.

However, I am just as convinced that we have a part to play in all the work that is going on. This brings me to one of my absolute favorite verses in all of the Bible. In fact, I would say my two favorite verses in all of Scripture are found in Philippians chapter 2, verses 12 and 13. There, Paul says, "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

In verse 13, he continues, "For it is God who works in you to will and to do His good pleasure." We have a part to play; we have work to do. But we can trust that God is working in us and in this world to bring about His good pleasure and His good plan.

So, Haman is dead, but the decree of Haman is still there. Let me just throw out an illusion of where we are going as we think through the text of this book, the Book of Esther. As we look at this, Haman seems to be destroyed, but his decree is still there. Remember that the devil, the one who is working behind the scenes, is also present. I made the point several weeks ago that even though God is not explicitly seen or overtly seen in the pages of the Book of Esther, we know that He is working behind the scenes. We also know that the adversary, the one who opposes the working of God in the world, is at work as well.

He's working against God's plans and purposes in this world, but the devil is defeated. Just as Haman was defeated at the end of Esther chapter seven, the devil is defeated, but his work continues. As a result, we still have some work to do.

So, look back with me at Esther chapter eight. Let's pick it up again at verse 3. Now Esther spoke again to the king and fell down at his feet, imploring him with tears to counteract the evil of Haman the Agagite and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews. The king held out the golden scepter toward Esther, so Esther arose and stood before the king. She said, "If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in your sight, and the thing seems right to the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the son of Hamadatha the Agagite, which he wrote to annihilate the Jews who are in all of the king's provinces. For how can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my countrymen?"

There is really a lot here. There’s so much to think about and so many good things in those verses, verses 3 through 6, for us to carry over for application. I want to highlight probably three things from these verses.

First, it is important to note the way that Esther came before the king. I want to suggest that the posture of Esther's humble petition before the king is a picture of the humble posture that we ought to have in our prayers before our King, the King of Kings, our Father in Heaven.

My first point a moment ago was that it is essential that we trust God, but it is also necessary that we take responsibility. So, what does that actually look like in our day-to-day lives? What does it look like when we are coming before God in prayer? In our prayers, as we are trusting God, we are also taking responsibility. We have bold access to our Father in Heaven, but we should also reverently honor Him as King. That means we are trusting God and the access that He has given to us.

But it also means that we are being responsible in the way that we appear before Him. Esther was the queen; the king was her husband, and yet she still approached him with humility. She still approached him with total reverence for the office, the throne that he was upon.

Now, of course, this was because of the customs and the laws of Persia 2,500 years ago, but I still think that there’s an important visual, an important picture here for you and me as we are living in this world and trusting that God is working. We are taking responsibility for the work that He has for us. When we come before God, we have access because we have a relationship with Him as our Father. God, as He is revealed in the Scriptures, is our Father. We have access before Him because of that relationship that we have with Him as His kids, as His children.

But He is also God. He is high, He is holy, and He is King. The Scriptures reveal that He is King of kings and Lord of lords. So when I come before God, trusting in Him and taking responsibility for the work and the job that He’s called me to, and what He calls you to, I come before Him and I have access because He’s my Father. However, I come before Him in humility, and I come before Him with reverence and fear.

Jesus, in the New Testament, in the Gospels, taught His disciples to pray. You can actually read the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew chapter 6 and Luke chapter 11. When Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, He says that you begin your prayer with "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name." In Jesus’s instruction for our prayers, we see that we have access to go directly to our Father. We don’t need to go through a mediator or some intermediary; we go directly to our Father who is in heaven.

But we also see that He’s in heaven, and He is holy, and He is hallowed. So our access to God is clear. We can come boldly before the throne of grace to obtain mercy and grace in our time of need. But when we do, we should, just as Esther was queen and she’s going to appear before her husband the king, come in with humility and reverence.

That’s the first thing to consider in verses three through six. The second thing that we should see in this passage, which I think is worth noting, is that when Esther humbly petitioned the king, she came to him with a plan.

She has a solution to the problem at hand. She came with a plan to subvert the plot of Haman, and I believe that God has given us brains, and He wants us to use the brains that He has given to us wisely. We see this worked out in another place in a similar story in the Old Testament, a story that happens near the same time as Esther and involves some of the same people as Esther.

In the story of Nehemiah, there in the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah saw something happening that he desired to change in his day and in his world, having to do with his people, the Jewish people. He begins to pray about it, and as you read through Nehemiah chapter one, you see that he prays about it for an extended period of time—several months. Nehemiah prays about this issue and this problem, and then, after praying about it for several months, there comes a moment in the story of Nehemiah, in Nehemiah chapter two, where he is now given an opportunity to actually address the issue that he had been praying about.

I want to read this passage to you in Nehemiah chapter two, verses one through eight, just so we can see the parallel to what is happening here with Esther and what it speaks to us.

Nehemiah chapter two, verse one: "And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when he was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king." Nehemiah was the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. "Now I had never been sad in the presence of the king before. Therefore, the king said to me, 'Why is your face sad since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.' So I became dreadfully afraid and I said to the king, 'May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my father's tombs, lies in waste and the gates are burned with fire?'

Then the king said to me, 'What do you want to do? What is your request?' Note this: So I prayed to the God of heaven and I said to the king, 'If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers, to the city of my father's tombs, that I may rebuild it.'

Then the king said to me, the queen also sitting beside him, 'How long will your journey be, and when will you return?' So it pleased the king to send me, and I set a time for him. Furthermore, I said to the king, 'If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the river, that they must permit me to...'"

Pass through till I come to Judah and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel, which pertains to the temple, and so forth.

What we see in this passage with Nehemiah is that he sees a problem in his day. The city of Jerusalem was destroyed, and they were having a hard time rebuilding it. For months, he brought his problem to God in prayer. He fasted about this and prayed about it. Then, at a certain point, after months of praying, as he was the cupbearer of the king, he found himself in the presence of the king—the one who had the power to deal with Nehemiah's problem. He was given favor to bring his problem and his petition to the king. The king asked Nehemiah, "What do you want to do?"

Nehemiah saw a problem, but the king wanted to know how he wanted to fix it. What solution did he offer to deal with this problem? When Nehemiah was given the opportunity, he had a solution and a plan ready to address the issue. This is really important.

We see a similar situation with Esther in Esther chapter eight. She comes before the king with a major problem: the decree that Haman established is still in place. All of her people are going to be destroyed by this decree. She approaches the king humbly and with reverence, presenting her significant problem. The king responds, "What do you want to do?" Esther has a solution. She has been praying about it and thinking about it, and she is ready to present her plan.

Nehemiah, too, sees a problem that needs to be addressed. When the opportunity arises, he has a solution ready. The king asks, "What do you want? What's your request?" Nehemiah has already thought through it and has a plan to address the problem.

This is really important for you and for me as well. I think a lot of times we are really good at complaining. If you are bringing your complaints to God in prayer, that's not a bad thing. You can bring your complaints to the Lord. However, as you bring your complaints to God in prayer, may it also be that you are asking Him for wisdom so that you can identify a solution.

I’ll tell you, one of the things that drives me absolutely nuts is when people come to me—whether it's people around the church, the organization that I lead, or even my kids—and they have a problem.

All they want to do is complain about the problem. I say, "Well, what do you want to do about it?" They have no idea. God has given us brains to use wisely, to seek out counsel and to try to figure out how we can address these issues. This brings us to a really important point: God is working providentially, and He expects our participation in the work.

Have you ever wondered? It seems to me that God could do these things in the world better than I can if He wanted to. So why doesn't He? Sometimes we look at all the problems in the world and wonder, "God, why don't You just come here and fix this whole situation? You could probably do it better than I can." I want to suggest to you that God does the things that only He can do, and He involves you and me in the rest.

It's very similar to when moms or dads do a project with their kids. You're building something or baking something, and you do the things that only you can do. You're the one using the skill saw, or you're the one putting things on the stove or in the oven. You do the things that only you can do, and then you have your kids do as much as they possibly can, even if they make a mess along the way.

As I look at my life, our world, and the way that God works through His people and His church, I find that God often does the things that only He can do, and He involves us to participate in the rest. That is a key thing.

Now, let's turn to Esther chapter eight, verses three through six. The third thing to note in this passage is actually two things. If you're taking notes, you can create little subheadings under this third point. Esther says to the king as she brings her petition to him, "How can I endure to see the evil that will come on my people? How can I endure to see the destruction of my countrymen?"

The first thing to see in these words is that Esther isn't bringing a petition before the king merely to save herself. It is not a selfish request. She has already risked her life several times in this passage in the process of seeking the opportunity to bring this request to the king.

Her petition is for her people; it's not a selfish request. She asks, "How can I live and see this destruction of my people?" This is the first thing to note: it is a selfless request that she brings to the king.

The second thing we see in this passage is that she has a huge passion for the salvation of her people. Would to God that I had, and that you had, a heart for your people like Esther did! This is the same heart that Paul the Apostle expresses in the New Testament book of Romans, specifically in chapters 9 through 11, as he thinks about his own people, the Jewish people—the same people Esther sought to save.

In Romans chapters 9 through 11, Paul shares his passion for his own people. He says in Romans 9:1, "I tell you the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brother and my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises, of whom are all the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, eternally blessed. Amen."

Those are heavy words. It's not just in Romans 9:1-5; it's also in the next chapter. In Romans 10:1, Paul writes, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved."

Years ago, I read a biography on the great American evangelist D.L. Moody, titled "A Passion for Souls." One of the things you learn about D.L. Moody is that he had a true and genuine passion to see people come to salvation. That's what we need at this moment: a passion for souls, for the souls of the lost, that they would be saved. Would to God that He would build in the hearts of His people an increasing passion to see people come to salvation!

God is in the work of saving souls from evil and destruction, and He desires you to join Him in that work. Here's the crazy thing: it won't get done without us.

Without you, I know that there are plenty of people within Christianity, within the church, who will disagree with me on that statement theologically. However, I am convinced that our participation in God's work is bigger than we realize. God has a huge part for us to play in the work that He has called us to within His kingdom.

Coming back to Esther, in Esther chapter eight, we pick up the story again at verse seven. It says, "Then King Ahashuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, 'Indeed, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand on the Jews. You yourselves, speaking to Mordecai and Esther, you yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews as you please in the king's name and seal it with the king's signet ring. For whatever is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring, no one can revoke.'"

Notice that the king did only what he could do. He put Haman to death and gave all of Haman's household, the entire estate, into the hands of Esther. The king effectively said to them, "I did what no one else could do, and I've given you the authority and the power to do the rest."

Now, Jesus in the New Testament, on the cross, did what only He could do. Only Jesus could die in our place for our sins. Only Jesus, because He is fully God and fully man, could take the sin of all people upon Himself and be crucified. Jesus did what only He could do, and when it was accomplished, He said, "It is finished."

Then, at the end of the Gospel of Matthew, in Matthew chapter 28, we find what we call the Great Commission. Jesus came and spoke to His disciples, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen."

So, Jesus did on the cross what only He could do. He has all authority in His power, and He gives that authority to you and to me. He says, "I want you to take that authority and go and do the work that I've called you to."

In our story, Esther gave Mordecai his signet ring, the seal that granted them all authority. Jesus has given you His power and His presence by His Holy Spirit, and He has dispatched you and me to His work. So, we have work to do.

Continuing in Esther chapter 8, verse 9, we read that the king's scribes were called at that time in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the 23rd day. It was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces from India to Ethiopia—127 provinces in all. To every province, it was written in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own scripted language. Mordecai wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed it with the king's signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steeds.

By these letters, the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together to protect their lives, to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions. This was to take place on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the 13th day of the 12th month, which is the month of Adar. A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province and published for all people so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. The couriers who rode on the royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king's command, and the decree was issued in Shushan the citadel.

Consistently in the Scriptures, we see that God will save His people from evil and destruction. This is the God that we worship; this is the God that we serve.

So, Mordecai, in verse 15, went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple. The city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. The previous decree that had gone out back in chapter three had brought confusion; the whole city was perplexed when they received word that all of the Jewish people were to be destroyed in the month of Adar. But now, the city receives another decree to counteract the one that had come from Haman. The city is not perplexed anymore; instead, it rejoices and is filled with gladness.

The gospel brings order out of chaos and confusion. It brings joy from sadness and light from darkness. As we continue reading in verse 16, we see that the Jews had light and gladness, joy and honor in every province and city. Wherever the king's command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Notably, many of the people of the land became Jews because fear of the Jews fell upon them. This is such a great story, and it teaches us important lessons about God's work and our work. It challenges us to trust God, not only for His working but also to engage in the work with Him.

As we wrap up our study in Esther chapter 8 today, I want to offer one final point for us to consider regarding God's work and ours. This is really important. How do we take what we see happening in the book of Esther, where God is working behind the scenes but calls His people to be involved in that work? How do we apply that to our lives at this moment?

Trust that for such a time as this, you live in this place at this time. You work in the job that you work in, go to the school that you go to, or live in the neighborhood that you are a part of. You are in all these places for such a time as this. So, how can you step into the work that God has for you, recognizing that He is working in the midst of it as well?

Here’s something for you to think about this week: Jesus died to bring salvation to the world. If you are a Christian, you know that this is true. Jesus died to bring salvation to the world, and God desires that you would live to do the same. He desires that we would be engaged in that same work. Jesus did what only He could do; He died on the cross and said, "It is finished." But now He calls us to live and to carry that word into the rest of the world.

All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you. "Lo, I am with you always." Mark chapter 16 says, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Luke chapter 24, beginning at verses 46 and 47, states that this gospel, this good news of the king's decree, is to be declared in all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. It starts where you live and is to be carried to all people, just as the Father sent Jesus to come to this world.

To accomplish His work, Jesus sends you and me to go into the world, and He empowers us for this work. We can trust that God is at work and that He is doing the things that only He can do. However, He calls you and me to step into the work as well.

I want to challenge you with this: What is it that God has set before you that He is calling you to be a part of today? What is the purpose for which God has made you? Jesus died to bring salvation to the world, and God desires that we would live to do the same.

Father God, I pray for this church. I pray for Cross Connection Church and the larger body of Christ, not just this church, because there are people who watch these messages and engage with these weekly that don't necessarily live here in San Diego and don't necessarily come here on a Sunday morning. God, I pray that You would help us to recognize that You have saved us for a purpose. You did the work that only You could do, and You call us to step into the remainder of that work. We can trust that You will finish the work that You started, being confident of this very thing: You will finish it all and complete it.

But You want us to do something. There’s a neighbor You want us to reach out to. There’s a co-worker You want us to share the gospel with. There’s a family member You want us to pray for. There’s a person who sits in the same classroom that we’re in, whom You want us to speak to and give counsel to. Lord, there are things You call us to do today, and I pray, God, that for such a time as this, we would rise into that work to be a light to those who are in darkness. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

The Son of God hung on the cross to die.

Who you are. You're so holy, you're so wonderful, so selfless, and so generous. You are my awesome God.

Hey, thanks for joining our online service today. We're glad you are here! We'd love to see you join us for our in-person service, which is Sunday mornings at 10:30 at our campus in Escondido. If you'd like more information about that, visit us at lifeinconnection.com.

All right, guys, God bless! Have a great week.

Hey, Cross Connection Church! We are in a push for service right now. We need volunteers to help all over the place, whether it's hospitality, security, set up, or tear down. We're looking for people to assist because we're adding another service soon.

Children's ministry is a great place to serve. We have some great volunteers behind me. Doesn't this look like fun?