Sunday sermon by Pastor Rajesh Mathew, 9 August 2020

Esther 2: 17- The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Esther 4:13-14- 13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 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?”

• Favour for such a time as this! What time does it refer to?
• The time of heavy rains. The time of the pandemic conquering the world. The time where the flood waters are penetrating into homes. A time of financial famine and economic downturn. A time of persecution of God’s anointed. A time of strange sights in heaven.
• If you are in Kerala, the plane crash has been a real disaster. Even in such times, the Lord is sending forth His favour.
• The great commission and the gospel of Jesus is a non-negotiable. It is impossible for God’s people not to preach in such times.
• I was asking the Lord, “What is the strategy that the Lord wants us to use by the Holy Spirit in such times?” In normal times, it is easy to pastor, it is easy to preach but what about times like this?
• But the Lord is rising up His church and His people to lift up the Lord’s name even in such times. God is empowering His people to talk about eternity, about the promise in Christ to the entire world.

In Mathew 24, there are 12 things being said about the last days.

Pastor was asking the Lord, how does one live, deliver and minster at that time.

Mathew 24:7-8- 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

1. It is a time of conflicts- In the day of battle, hospitals will need to be enlarged. Similarly in the times of difficulties, when the Lord raises up his church, there won’t be minimising of God’s church but it will be increased to declare His healing and deliverance to humanity. You are one of them. Pray in the Spirit and take that strength.

Act 20:20- 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,

There are two types of ministries is being spoken of here.

1) There are times when people can publicly congregate for worship (thousands and

lakhs) and read the Word

2) There are also times when they congregate in homes. At least in your own families come together to lift up the name of Jesus and God will move. If the Government permits you, invite one or two people in your neighbourhood and read the Word, share the preached Word, preach what you have learnt and received from the Word. Think about the following three things:

• How can you analyse and introspect yourself according to the spoken Word?
• What should you apply from it in your life?
• How can you share this with 2-3 people? How can you multiply this?

In the last days, when there are difficult time, the ministry doesn’t end, the church doesn’t close. The church in fact enters homes. God is changing homes into churches.

In the place that you are, may you become the light of the Lord. May you become a beacon of hope!

2. Time of famine and earthquakes

Mathew 24:7-8 also refers to famine and earthquakes

• Famine indicates a global economic collapse. How will people live? How can we help people in these times? Call the church help line or toll free number if you are going through a tough time and need support. The church will do its best to help.
• In these times, we need God’s favour.

3. Time of Pestilences and outbreak of diseases

• The Word says that all of these are the beginning of sorrows. The church should not be ignorant. Once COVID- 19, leaves there will more dangerous pestilences that will come upon the earth. How will you protect yourself? How will you minister in those times?
• The Lord has to protect you and His Blood has to speak over you.
• The Word says, “Unless the Lord guards the house, the watchmen guard it in vain. Unless He watches over the city, the watchmen watch over it in vain.”
• May the preserving power, the deliverance, and the grace of God come upon you and your household!
• This is the time that the children of God have to pray. You are different from the people around you. If you pray in the Name of Jesus, God will hear.

Don’t only think about yourself. Think about the rest of the people around you pray!

• There will be natural disasters like earthquakes.

Luke 21:9- 9 But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”

• You do not be terrified! You should not panic when you hear such things. God is not working against His own. You must declare “I should not be terrified. Jesus is within me. If God is for me, who or what will be against me.”

Why is this happening then? It is to get the world to LISTEN!

• Even the most developed and powerful countries are terrified. It may be shocking to you. God is wanting to grab the world’s attention.
• Eternity should not be destroyed. Hell should be unpopulated. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

God is giving His church an opportunity to show Jesus to the world.

• If you are living in sin, without a relationship with God, then you should be terrified but if you are made righteous by the Blood of Jesus, let there be a grace and strength to show forth Jesus to the world.

You are being favoured for a time such as this, like Esther.

4. Times of signs in heavens

Mathew 24:29 says that there shall be signs in the heavens

• Many reported incidents of trumpet sounds in the sky, the blood moon etc have been seen. All this is written in the bible.

5. Times of Betrayal and hatred

Mathew 24: 10-11- 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

6. Times of persecution

Mathew 24: 9- 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.

• This is just to give you an opportunity to testify and witness about Jesus!

Plague and persecution should lead to evangelism (PPE)

• Lift up Jesus every time you get the chance. If you get 1st rank, lift up Jesus. I you get a new business deal, lift up Jesus. Surrender your life to lift up the name of Jesus. Make a decision that whatever opportunity you get, you should not be silent. Lift up the name of Jesus.

Anecdote: A hunter is aiming at a rabbit. It runs and hides. He cries out to God to do something and help him hunt the rabbit down, The Lord hears his prayers and shakes the ground for him. When the ground shakes, the rabbits run out of wherever they are hiding. What if the hunter also is terrified by the shaking ground and runs away along with the rabbits? He misses out on what the Lord intended to do to help me.

• In such times, you need to pray and be a witness. If you understand this, pray in the Spirit for some time. Tell people about Jesus.

There is a shaking happening on this earth to draw people’s attention.

Luke 21:25- 25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;

• The waves and the seas are roaring. Tsunamis will come, flooding will come. In the midst of that, do not be afraid. You get into the spirit, surrender to the Hands of Jesus. He will send His angels to deliver you.
• In your heart you need to have a conviction. That which saves and protects us is not a Malayalee spirit. It is the Lord Jesus. Not arrogance but humility.
• People hearts will fail. These will be times where most heart attacks will happen. May God protect us!

Luke 21: 28- Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

• These signs indicate that the rapture is near.
• Before Jesus returns, the antichrist will be revealed. All this is leading to that. He will want his signature or his imprint on every human. Scientists all over the world are saying that this chip can be inserted only in your wrists or your forehead.
• There are several good reasons that are being stated in favour of that chip such as reduction in crimes, increased security etc. The biblical reason is that the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Just know this—JESUS IS COMING AGAIN. I may sound like a fool saying his but that is the truth!

Esther 4:13-14- 13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 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?”

• Do not be silent, God is giving you favour so that you open your mouths and speak!
• Esther was a Jewish orphan. Her story is amazing. It can be made into a movie. It is like a Cinderella story. From rags to riches.
• There is a purpose why God shows you favour. It is not for your selfishness. There is a purpose for God to lift you up and place in higher positions or influence. It is to glorify God and to lead people to Christ.

Esther 1:1- ow it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus[a] (this was the Ahasuerus who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia),

• When you read these 10 chapters, there is a uniqueness to this book. You don’t see the Word God in these chapters or in the entire book of Esther. But HIS finger prints are all through this book.
• There are seasons in a believer’s journey when you feel that God is really not with you. That doesn’t mean that He is not with you. It only means that God is in the background.

When you can’t feel Him, Trust Him. In the midst of these difficult times, when there are so many questions, I will still take refuge in YOU and will take shelter in YOU. I will trust you and believe you still!

• Nothing surprises or shocks God. God is not wondering what to do now that COVID- 19 is here!! It may be feeling like as if God is not in the scene.
• In Esther, after 3 years of completion of kingship, King Ahasuerus threw a party. It is for 7 days. Gold cups were used. It was an extravagant party. In the time of this party, Vashti too is having a party at the same time with her circle.

Your marriage is always a challenge if you don’t party together!

• After drinking for 7 days, the king wanted to see his wife. The only issue with her was she refused to go to him.
• Many of us miss out on many blessings because we refuse to come. We refuse to go to church or read the Bible.

Esther 1:20- When the king’s decree which he will make is proclaimed throughout all his empire (for it is great), all wives will honour their husbands, both great and small.”

• After drinking for 7 days, it is not a good time to take an important decision based on what some of your friends tell you. The King did exactly that and decided to send her off.

When you make important decisions in life, you need to do in great prayer and only move how God leads you.

• In Chapter 2 of the Book of Esther. there was a beauty pageant. A Jewish orphan girl got a chance. And here God’s favour came upon her. The custodian of the other women gave them what they wanted. Esther took whatever the custodian gave her. She did not choose on her own to shine before others but she surrendered to the custodian.
• When the King saw her, there was a special spotlight upon Esther. She received favour!
• In the midst of all around you, when you have surrendered to God saying Lord, I only want what YOU have for me.
• She is a woman of God operating in a heathen kingdom. But she found favour. We are so focused on what has happened in our lives that we forgot what good happened in our lives.
• She presented herself. She did not sit there sulking about her life and about what she never had. She had the consciousness that God has kept something good for her.
• You are a child of God. God has kept a good future for you.

Opportunities come packaged or disguised as obstacles.

Anecdote: When I went to the US the first time, there was a movie called Jaws, about sharks. Steven Spielberg opening shot was a shark being killed. He took a decision to create a movie

that arouses the curiosity and fear of people. Only sounds and portions for the sharkʼs body are seen all through the film. That movie became a super hit.

There is purpose in your pain.

• God is showing you a new way of running your business.
• Do not run away from your problems, the favour for God is to help you face those challenges.

Opportunities are delivered through people. God does that 99% of the time.

• There is a Fedex delivery system to sent things. I send the material but Fedex delivers it! Similarly God created this opportunity, but it came to her through the king.

She understood that alignment is more important than assignment

• If your relationships are aligned and corrected, automatically blessings will flow into your life.

The Holy Spirit is touching someone who is watching us for the first time.

ESTHER’S QUALITIES

Some qualities that Esther had which caused her to be responsible for the deliverance of her people:

1) Esther learnt from the people ahead of her

She learnt from the mistakes that Vashti made. I will be someone that would receive favour from God. There are some people who never learn anything and are never teachable.

2) She prepared for her future

Amos 4:12- prepare the meet the Lord thy God

• There is a preparation for eternity. That is the most important.

3) She took her appearance seriously

• Your ways, our behaviour will attract favour. Don’t walk around un-kept and untidy.

4) She knew to please the right person in the right way

• You cannot please everyone and please God at the same time. If you are in a church and you belittle the leader, how will you grow in the church?

5) She knew how to maximise moments

• There are important moments. You need to do what it takes in that moment.

Oral Robert said- the Holy Spirit is asking me to build a University. The Holy Spirit told him this “I told three people to do this before I spoke to you. You are not my first choice, you are 4th

choiceˮ. He recognised that moment and decided to be the first one to respond to what God was asking him to do.

There is a time when God calls, when God is attracted to you. Respond in that time. If you do, you will see God’s favour coming upon you. You miss those moments you miss something beautiful.

• There is a moment in a meeting when the Holy Spirit comes down. Then you make way for Him. Don’t miss those moments.
• There is a time that God gives you. You can do things in your flesh but there is a limit to that and to the impact that it can make.

6) Esther was not self-consumed.

Esther 4:16- 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”

• She said if I perish, let it be so. But I will do what I should do.
• The Father gave His Son up for the forgiveness of people. Esther was willing to make that sacrifice. Not to be a pastor, not worship leader but the only thing that mattered was God’s presence upon her.
• If you have that attitude, you will find answers wherever you need and victory will be yours in Jesus.

7) She knew the importance of fasting and prayer

8) She was a team player

God’s kingdom grows when you play as a team.