Orchard Community Church Sunday Morning Messages

"Saved" 

Esther 9:1-19 

In another stunning reversal, the decree of life is carried out. People marked for death are spared and given a new lease of life. This reversal feels harsh to us, but it would have been seen as equal justice in the time. And yet this event foreshadows a much greater reversal, one in which life also came out of death—the Cross and the mercy and grace that come from Jesus' death on it.

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Esther

God Behind the Scenes

Esther is the only book in the Bible that doesn't mention God. On the surface, God seems absent from this story. Sadly, that's a familiar idea for many of us. Sometimes, we may feel like God is absent from our lives and world. But the story of Esther reveals that God is always present behind the scenes, often working with great power, even when He may seem albescent to us. Esther is the story of God's loving and sometimes hidden providence, the truth that He is over all things working out His will, and the amazing truth that he uses ordinary, flawed people to accomplish His plans. In the end, through a series of stunning reversals, we find that God is definitely not absent but is, in fact, the central character in this story and that He is always at work for the good of His people and for His glory.

Orchard Community Church
8180 Telephone Rd
Ventura CA 93004
www.OrchardVentura.org
Contact us at [email protected]
Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190

"A Decree of Life" 

Esther 8:1-17            

God's providence leads to another reversal. An irrevocable decree that brought death to the Jews had been given, but now a counter degree bringing life. In the same way, a decree of death stands against us for our sin that can't be revoked, but the counter decree of the gospel has been issued, bringing life. When we give our lives to Christ, we are united with Him, so His death becomes our death to sin, and His resurrection becomes our resurrection to new life.

___________________________________________

Esther

God Behind the Scenes

Esther is the only book in the Bible that doesn't mention God. On the surface, God seems absent from this story. Sadly, that's a familiar idea for many of us. Sometimes, we may feel like God is absent from our lives and world. But the story of Esther reveals that God is always present behind the scenes, often working with great power, even when He may seem albescent to us. Esther is the story of God's loving and sometimes hidden providence, the truth that He is over all things working out His will, and the amazing truth that he uses ordinary, flawed people to accomplish His plans. In the end, through a series of stunning reversals, we find that God is definitely not absent but is, in fact, the central character in this story and that He is always at work for the good of His people and for His glory.

Orchard Community Church
8180 Telephone Rd
Ventura CA 93004
www.OrchardVentura.org
Contact us at [email protected]
Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190

"Justice of a Sort"

Esther 7:1-10                                     

God provides another amazing reversal; justice is served, and Hamman meets the fate that he had set for Mordecai. The death of a substitute satisfied the King's wrath. With Mordecai and Haman, it was the guilty dying in the place of the innocent; with Jesus and us, it is the innocent dying in the place of the guilty.
_____________________________

Esther

God Behind the Scenes

Esther is the only book in the Bible that doesn't mention God. On the surface, God seems absent from this story. Sadly, that's a familiar idea for many of us. Sometimes, we may feel like God is absent from our lives and world. But the story of Esther reveals that God is always present behind the scenes, often working with great power, even when He may seem albescent to us. Esther is the story of God's loving and sometimes hidden providence, the truth that He is over all things working out His will, and the amazing truth that he uses ordinary, flawed people to accomplish His plans. In the end, through a series of stunning reversals, we find that God is definitely not absent but is, in fact, the central character in this story and that He is always at work for the good of His people and for His glory.

Orchard Community Church
8180 Telephone Rd
Ventura CA 93004
www.OrchardVentura.org
Contact us at [email protected]
Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190

"The Man the King Delights to Honor" 

Esther 6:1-14            

God's providence leads to a great reversal; Mordecai is honored instead of Hamman. This is really no surprise since scripture says that God "opposes the proud and shows favor to the humble." Both Hamman and Mordecai were servants of the King, but Mordecai had the humble heart of a servant, so he was the man the King took delight in honoring. Yet there is another man, a greater servant, whom God delights in honoring even more.
______________________________________________
Esther

God Behind the Scenes

Esther is the only book in the Bible that doesn't mention God. On the surface, God seems absent from this story. Sadly, that's a familiar idea for many of us. Sometimes, we may feel like God is absent from our lives and world. But the story of Esther reveals that God is always present behind the scenes, often working with great power, even when He may seem albescent to us. Esther is the story of God's loving and sometimes hidden providence, the truth that He is over all things working out His will, and the amazing truth that he uses ordinary, flawed people to accomplish His plans. In the end, through a series of stunning reversals, we find that God is definitely not absent but is, in fact, the central character in this story and that He is always at work for the good of His people and for His glory.

Orchard Community Church
8180 Telephone Rd
Ventura CA 93004
www.OrchardVentura.org
Contact us at [email protected]
Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190

"The Prequel" 

John 14:15-31

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out with power on all believers, and the church was formed.  With this passage for today, Jesus helps us understand that the Holy Spirit comes to help us to know Him more, to live our faith in Him, and to continue His ministry in the world. 

Orchard Community Church
8180 Telephone Rd
Ventura CA 93004
www.OrchardVentura.org
Contact us at [email protected]
Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190

"Approaching the King" 

Esther 5:1-14                     

In this passage, we have contrasting characters. Esther approaches the king by faith and with humility. Haman has an approach, too; his is one of foolish pride in his accomplishments. With God, it's never about accomplishment; it's always about relationships. Do we know and belong to Him?

__________________________________________________
Esther

God Behind the Scenes

Esther is the only book in the Bible that doesn't mention God. On the surface, God seems absent from this story. Sadly, that's a familiar idea for many of us. Sometimes, we may feel like God is absent from our lives and world. But the story of Esther reveals that God is always present behind the scenes, often working with great power, even when He may seem albescent to us. Esther is the story of God's loving and sometimes hidden providence, the truth that He is over all things working out His will, and the amazing truth that he uses ordinary, flawed people to accomplish His plans. In the end, through a series of stunning reversals, we find that God is definitely not absent but is, in fact, the central character in this story and that He is always at work for the good of His people and for His glory.

Orchard Community Church
8180 Telephone Rd
Ventura CA 93004
www.OrchardVentura.org
Contact us at [email protected]
Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190

"Seize the Moment" 

Esther 4:1-17              

God will accomplish His purposes. The question is whether He'll do so through or in spite of us. In this passage, Mordechai and Esther's faith comes to life, and they begin to follow God's lead. No matter where we find ourselves, we can be confident that God can use us for his purposes. God's providence leads Esther to become the people's mediator before the king, foreshadowing a greater mediator.
______________________________________________________
Esther

God Behind the Scenes

Esther is the only book in the Bible that doesn't mention God. On the surface, God seems absent from this story. Sadly, that's a familiar idea for many of us. Sometimes, we may feel like God is absent from our lives and world. But the story of Esther reveals that God is always present behind the scenes, often working with great power, even when He may seem albescent to us. Esther is the story of God's loving and sometimes hidden providence, the truth that He is over all things working out His will, and the amazing truth that he uses ordinary, flawed people to accomplish His plans. In the end, through a series of stunning reversals, we find that God is definitely not absent but is, in fact, the central character in this story and that He is always at work for the good of His people and for His glory.

Orchard Community Church
8180 Telephone Rd
Ventura CA 93004
www.OrchardVentura.org
Contact us at [email protected]
Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190

"Buckle Up" 

Esther 2:19-3:15                      

We live in a broken world where life is often hard and unfair, and we often sin and suffer, but God is always near and at work for the good of His people. So we always have hope, not least of which is for a greater King!

________________________________________________________
Esther

God Behind the Scenes

Esther is the only book in the Bible that doesn't mention God. On the surface, God seems absent from this story. Sadly, that's a familiar idea for many of us. Sometimes, we may feel like God is absent from our lives and world. But the story of Esther reveals that God is always present behind the scenes, often working with great power, even when He may seem albescent to us. Esther is the story of God's loving and sometimes hidden providence, the truth that He is over all things working out His will, and the amazing truth that he uses ordinary, flawed people to accomplish His plans. In the end, through a series of stunning reversals, we find that God is definitely not absent but is, in fact, the central character in this story and that He is always at work for the good of His people and for His glory.

Orchard Community Church
8180 Telephone Rd
Ventura CA 93004
www.OrchardVentura.org
Contact us at [email protected]
Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190

"God Prepares the Way"

Esther 2:1-18                     

While Xerxes is enacting his plan, God's providence leads Esther to become Queen because of the role she will play in His plan. God is often at work in our lives in ways we can't see, and He can use us despite our situations, shortcomings, and sins. 

__________________________________________________________________
Esther

God Behind the Scenes

 Esther is the only book in the Bible that doesn't mention God. On the surface, God seems absent from this story. Sadly, that's a familiar idea for many of us. Sometimes, we may feel like God is absent from our lives and world. But the story of Esther reveals that God is always present behind the scenes, often working with great power, even when He may seem albescent to us. Esther is the story of God's loving and sometimes hidden providence, the truth that He is over all things working out His will, and the amazing truth that he uses ordinary, flawed people to accomplish His plans. In the end, through a series of stunning reversals, we find that God is definitely not absent but is, in fact, the central character in this story and that He is always at work for the good of His people and for His glory.

Orchard Community Church
8180 Telephone Rd
Ventura CA 93004
www.OrchardVentura.org
Contact us at [email protected]
Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190

“Where is God?” 

Esther 1:1-22                    

It may seem to us at times that God is absent when, in fact, He is present behind the scenes. God used one person standing up for what was right, exposing the frailty of this worldly kingdom and creating the opportunity for his plan to unfold. God's power and providence mean we always have hope, not least of which is for a greater Kingdom.

____________________________________________________________________
Esther

God Behind the Scenes

Esther is the only book in the Bible that doesn't mention God. On the surface, God seems absent from this story. Sadly, that's a familiar idea for many of us. Sometimes, we may feel like God is absent from our lives and world. But the story of Esther reveals that God is always present behind the scenes, often working with great power, even when He may seem albescent to us. Esther is the story of God's loving and sometimes hidden providence, the truth that He is over all things working out His will, and the amazing truth that he uses ordinary, flawed people to accomplish His plans. In the end, through a series of stunning reversals, we find that God is definitely not absent but is, in fact, the central character in this story and that He is always at work for the good of His people and for His glory.

Orchard Community Church
8180 Telephone Rd
Ventura CA 93004
www.OrchardVentura.org
Contact us at [email protected]
Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190