Esther

“Made for This Moment”

Sermon Series

Part 3 of 5

“Divine Coincidences”

Esther 5-6

1. THE FIRST WAY TO DISCERN GOD’S PROVIDENCE IS TO

SEEK DIVINE INSIGHT IN A SPECIAL WAY (5:1).

1. THE SECOND WAY TO DISCERN GOD’S PROVIDENCE IS

TO TAKE A STEP OF FAITH, EVEN IF IT’S RISKY (5:2-5).

Exodus 2:1-10, Exodus 14:15-22, Joshua 3:1-17, Ruth 2:1-17

1 Samuel 9, Hebrews 11:6

1. THE THIRD WAY TO DISCERN GOD’S PROVIDENCE IS

TO SENSE HIS PROVIDENTIAL TIMING (5:6-14).

Proverbs 21:1

1. THE FOURTH WAY TO DISCERN GOD’S PROVIDENCE

IS TO SEE HIM CONTROLLING “UNCONTROLLABLE”

CIRCUMSTANCES (6:1-14).

Matthew 6:33

Esther

“Made for This Moment”

Sermon Series

Part 2 of 5

“Your Time”

Esther 2-4

We must not be discouraged when tyrants and flatterers seem to have their own way. The Lord reigns. He has a thousand ways of fulfilling his own purposes. Chapter 2

YOUR TIME TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR GOD’S KINGDOM

MAY BEGIN WITH A PROBLEM (3:1-6).

Romans 13:1-7; Acts 4:19-20

YOU KNOW IT’S YOUR TIME TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR

GOD’S KINGDOM WHEN HE CONNECTS SPIRITUAL

PREPARATION WITH SPIRITUAL WARFARE (3:7-15).

YOU KNOW IT’S YOUR TIME TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR

GOD’S KINGDOM WHEN HE HAS POSITIONED YOU

TO LEVERAGE YOUR INFLUENCE TO ACCOMPLISH HIS

KINGDOM PURPOSES (4:1-12).

YOU KNOW IT’S YOUR TIME TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR

GOD’S KINGDOM WHEN YOU DISCOVER HOW HE CAN

USE YOU TO BE A BLESSING (4:13-14).

Luke 14:34-35

YOU KNOW IT’S YOUR TIME TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR

GOD’S KINGDOM WHEN HE ASKS YOU TO INTERVENE IN

A SPIRITUAL CONFLICT (4:15-17).

2 Corinthians 5:7

Sermon on the Mount

Entering the Kingdom

Matthew 7:21–29

Sermon on the Mount

Sheep, Wolves and Fruit

The Character of False Teachers (v. 15)

Testing the Messengers (vv. 16–20)

No Straight Gate

No Disturbing Doctrines

The Test of Good Works

So What?

 The real test of any teaching is: Does it strengthen a man to bear the burdens of life, and to walk in the way wherein he ought to go?”

If we put these things together—whether or not there is a straight gate in the message, whether or not the unpleasant themes of sin and judgment are dealt with along with the message of God’s great love and grace, whether or not there is real and satisfying fruit as a result of such teaching—then we have a way of discerning truth from falsehood and of giving attention only to that message which comes from the Lord.

Sermon on the Mount

A Golden Rule and Two Roads

Matthew 7:12-14

God’s Straightedge (v. 12)

Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:39, Romans 13:8-9

The Road to Destruction (v. 13)

Luke 13:24

The Road to Life (v. 14)

Mark 8:34, Matthew 5:10, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, John 17:3, Deuteronomy 30:19, Joshua 24:15, Acts 2:38

So What?

Which road are you on? Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate,” and elsewhere “I am the gate” (John 10:9), but you must enter in. Have you? Will you?

Sermon on the Mount

Seek and You Will Find

Matthew 7:7-11

What is fundamentally at stake is man’s picture of God

Pray with Persistence (7-8)

Luke 11:9-10  Leviticus 19:2  Matthew 5:8  Romans 3:9

Pray with Confidence (9-11)

Isaiah 49:15  Luke 11:13  Romans 8:26-27  James 4:2 James 1:17

So What?

1. Search out spiritual qualities that you lack. List them on your prayer list.

Sermon on the Mount

Don’t Judge Me

Matthew 7:1-6

False righteousness = False judgement

Matthew 7:1-2  Romans 10:3-4

My prayer... Lord, change me

Matthew 7:3-5   Ephesians 4:24   Psalm 51:10

I do need to discern, it is not my job to condemn.

Matthew 7:6  Acts 10:42

The New Testament has many illustrations of legitimate discernment of the condition, conduct, or teaching of others…

When disputes arise between believers, they should be settled in the church before members who can decide the matter.

1 Corinthians 6:1–8

The local church is to discern serious sins of its members and take appropriate action.

Matthew 18:17   1 Corinthians 5:9–13

Believers are to discern the doctrinal teaching of teachers and preachers by the Word of God.

Matthew 7:15–20  1 Corinthians 14:29   1 John 4:1

Fasting, Treasure, Anxiety

Matthew 6:16-34

Fasting (16-18)

The purpose of the fast is to pray and seek the will of God.

Acts 10:11, Acts 13:2-3

Storing Up Heavenly Treasure (19-24)

1.Material things do not last

James 5:2-3, Matt. 24:35

1. Focusing on money will bind us to this earth

1 Timothy 6:9

1. Concentrating on things clouds our vision

 Proverbs 28:22

1. No one can serve God and Money at the same time

Romans 6:16

Three Reasons Not to Worry (vs. 25-34)

1.You cannot serve God and worry too.

Matthew 13:22,

1. If you are worrying, you are overlooking God's care of the rest of his creation.

Job 38:41

1. It is only by putting God first that we can be sure of anything.

1 Timothy 4:8

Sermon on the Mount

How to Pray…”The Disciples Prayer”

Matthew 6:9-15

Our Father in Heaven

Romans 8:15 Psalm 33:13-15

Hallowed Be Your Name

Isaiah 29:23 Hebrews 12:28, 29.

Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done

Hebrews 13:21 Revelation 22:20

Give Us Our Daily Bread

Proverbs 30:8, 9

Forgive Us Our Debts

 Luke 11:4  Ephesians 4:32

Lead Us Not ... but Deliver Us From Evil

1 Corinthians 10:13  1 Chronicles 29:11

Matthew 6:1-8

Jesus' Warning to the Righteous (V. 1)

1 John 2:29, Matthew 23:5

Jesus' First Illustration: Benevolence (Vv. 2-4)

1 Corinthians 13:3, John 5:44, Matthew 6:18

Jesus' Second Illustration: Praying (Vv. 5-7)

Luke 18:11, 12, Isaiah 26,20, 1 Kings 18:26, Ecclesiastes 5:2

So What?

Jesus condemned practices to impress others.

God rewards good deeds done for his glory alone.

Private prayer enables believers to pour out their hearts to God, express their true feelings, and listen in the quietness for God’s answer.

Prayer develops the trust that says, “Father, you know best.”