Sermons
Power Play - Esther 4
Written by Ed Allen
Sunday, April 06, 2008 10:00
When God Seems To Hide - The Story of Esther
Sermon Notes
Today's passage: Esther 4
How to use your power effectively...
Three ways in which we can exercise power effectively:
- The power of prophetic words
- The power of position
- The power of our yes!
1. The power of your prophetic words
- Prophetic word = challenge that comes from God
- Such as word is true!
- Such a word appeals to something bigger
- Such a word is consistent with relationship
- A prophetic word is not nagging or a discussion, but a spiritual challenge.
- It was powerful for Esther. It changed her.
2. The power of your position
- Use your clout for good.
- Esther might question Mordecai's challenge to her:
- She might wonder why the king would listen to her.
- She might wonder why God would use her... after all, she was living a compromised life.
- We cannot allow ourselves to be trapped by our position. We must use our position and not let it use us.
- Esther's action changed the entire political climage of the Persian world.
3. The power of your "yes!"
- There is a risk in saying yes. We don't know what the outcome will be.
- But there is a risk either way.
Our power is an inferred power. It comes from God. We need a mediator. That mediator is Jesus Christ!