Overcoming Opposition
Psalm 26:2-3 (NIV) Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.
Take a moment and pray that the Lord will speak to you in this time of study.
Read Esther 2:17-3:15
This week we’ve heard Pastor Nate make the comparison between the characters in the story of Esther, and our own modern day experience of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We’ve heard the account of how Esther became Queen of the Persian Empire under King Xerxes. Our reading today tells us how Esther’s people, the Jews came under a death sentence. Unless Esther intervenes on their behalf, they will all perish. We see the Jews as lost, even as people of today who have failed to respond to the Gospel and trust in Christ for their salvation are lost. It is Mordechai, Esther’s uncle, who challenges her to overcome her fears and intervene on behalf of her people. Thus, today we see Mordecai as a figure representing the Holy Spirit, who prods us to step forward, overcome our fears, and share the good news. The bottom line is this, we are all Esthers, called by God, “for such a time as this.”
There is another character in our story that has a strong parallel with today. That person is Haman, the personification of evil, who in his pride, arrogance and resentment plots to destroy the Jews. It doesn’t take much effort to see him as the representation of Satan himself. Satan seeks to kill and destroy. (1 Peter 5:8) He wants to destroy God’s plans. He wants to destroy God’s kingdom. He has power and authority in this world (John 12:31) and he seeks to destroy all who might become children of God.
Satan is a liar. (John 8:44) He tells you that you do not have time to befriend others. He tells you that if you talk about what Christ has done in your life, you will be ridiculed and rejected. He tells you that you are neither smart enough, nor knowledgeable enough to talk about spiritual things. He does not want the truth to be known.
In our story, Haman tells the King that there is a group of people (the Jews) who live in the King’s kingdom that are different from everybody else. Their laws are different and they do not observe the King’s laws. Therefore it is not in the King’s interest to allow them to remain. Then he bribes the King to have them executed. (Esther 3:8 – 9) He is not looking after the interests of the King, but rather his own selfish vengeance.
In the same manner when Satan lies to you and tells you that no one wants to hear you talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ, he is not looking after your interests, he is looking after his own.
So how did Esther deal with Haman? First of all, she got everyone praying and fasting. She understood the power of prayer. So, we are asking that everyone begin praying that the Lord will give us hearts, “broken for the lost.” Pray for the opportunity to ask someone how you could “pray God’s blessing for them.” Pray for the opportunity and courage to share Christ with someone. (See also Ephesians 6:10 – 12)
Finally, Esther listened to Mordecai’s promptings, overcame her fear and spoke to the king on behalf of her people. In like manner, we need to overcome our own fears and speak the truth to those in need. (Ephesians 4:15; James 4:7)
As you pray today again seek the Lord for His Spirit to come upon you, to give you the opportunity, and the courage to speaking into the lives of those who are lost. Pray over your list of three people that you would like to see come to the Lord. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
Pastor Neil
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Devotional studies this week are based on the sermon “Really Unlikely People” by Pastor Nate Atwood. If you would like to hear the sermon in its entirety, go to KPC.ORG/WATCH & LISTEN.
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