"YOU'RE THERE FOR A REASON!"

Esther 4:12-14,

” 12 So they told Mordecai Esther’s words.

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?”

God has blessed me with great health over the years, and I am indeed extremely grateful. However, I do remember a time when I had such an intense bout with the flu that I ended up badly dehydrated. The doctor was concerned enough about me that he put me in the hospital to stay for a short time to get re-hydrated with intravenous fluids as he put it.

I hate it when my own words come back to haunt me! Because I can’t argue with myself!

“I will never forget the words…in Esther, ‘Even in this place, even under these circumstances, remember who you are and remember why you’re here.’”

what was going on in my undesirable situation was that challenge, which was the Mordecai Challenge.

Maybe you’re a candidate for the Mordecai Challenge where you are right now. And if you are, take a listen to the challenge found in Esther 4:12-14,

it’s where we find a Jewish young woman named Esther providentially placed in the position of being Queen of Persia. 

No one knows she’s Jewish, and she’s in this great position which her Cousin Mordecai is asking her now to lay on the line.

In a palace plot, Esther’s people, God’s chosen people have been targeted for annihilation.

Only Esther was in a position to get to the king and plead for the lives of her people.

But the law called for anyone who went unbidden into the throne room of the king to be put to death. And Esther hasn’t heard from the king for a month. 

Now here’s that Mordecai Challenge, “…Who knows?

Maybe you were made queen for just such a time as this.” (MSG)

Varying translations say it like this: “And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this [AND FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE]?” (AMP);

“But who knows? Maybe it was FOR A MOMENT LIKE THIS that you came to be part of the royal family.” (CEB);

“It could be that you were made queen for a TIME LIKE THIS!” (CEV);

“And who knows, maybe you have been CHOSEN to be the queen for such a time as this.” (ERV);

“Who can say but that GOD HAS BROUGHT YOU INTO THE PALACE FOR JUST SUCH A TIME AS THIS?” (TLB)

The Mordecai Challenge is this, maybe where you are right now is for: “this very purpose; a moment like this; to be chosen as the very one that God has brought to this place, in this position, for such a time as this…to save the lives of many?”

And I know many of us want our ‘PURPOSE’ to be great, but what if our purpose to serve is in a painful (not preferred) place?

Many of us are waiting for our ‘MOMENT’ to arrive, but what happens when your most effective moment for ministry occurs during misery?

Many of us want to be ‘CHOSEN’, but what happens when our being chosen comes with an assignment we didn’t want to be called to?

Many of us want God to open doors and bring us into great places, but what happens when the place God brings us to is the very place we’ve been trying to run away from?

Listen, I’ll be the first to tell you that my greatest moments in ministry have happened during the worst times of my life.

And yet, knowing that the Will of God for my life is being fulfilled does make those painful moments all the more worth it.

EXAMPLES:______

Reminds me of Joseph:

I. THE TRAGEDIES JOSEPH EXPERIENCED

A. He lost his mother at an early age (Gen.35:16-19); as we all know, mothers are an invaluable resource to their children (Prov.31).

B. He was mistreated by his father (Gen.37:3-4); favoritism is a form of abuse. C. Hepresent-day was hated by some of his family members (Gen.37:4-8, 18-28).

D. He was betrayed by family members and sold into slavery (Gen.37).

II. THE TRIALS JOSEPH ENDURED

A. He was propositioned to compromise his morals (39:7-12).

B. He was unjustly accused and punished (Gen.39:13-20).

C. He suffered emotionally from the effects of his difficult ordeal (Gen.40:13-15).

D. His living conditions were very unpleasant and unhealthy; a dungeon is surely not equivalent to present day prisons in which our inmates live (Gen.40:15).

E. His plea for freedom was forgotten by the one he helped (Gen.40:23).

Reminds me of Paul: GOD GIVES PAUL AN INFIRMITYINFERMITY

2 Corinthians 12:7-10, 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

How amazing that with all the gifts we seek in God, one of the greatest of the gifts is “…THE GIFT OF A HANDICAP TO KEEP ME IN TOUCH WITH MY LIMITATIONS…”

When was the last time you, “…BEGAN APPRECIATING THE GIFT OF HARDSHIP?

When was the last time you gave God Glory for this GIFT?

A gift that keeps you humble, dependent, and serving others, instead of being self-serving. 

The gift that keeps you from 

boasting,

arrogance,

pride,

conceit,

and competing. 

The gift that keeps you in a vulnerable weak state so that God’s Strength can be put on display instead of your desire to be Great. 

EXAMPLE:------

” You see friends, you being placed in a precarious position of pain is designed for you to remain in use as a good and honorable vessel of the Lord, pouring out His Goodness,

His Word,

His Gospel,

His Name,

His Greatness,

AND His Testimony

into the lives of those who will be saved by it, this is the reason you’re where you are today!

Sometimes God lifts you into positions so you can get a better view

OF OTHERS AROUND YOU.

Therefore, the position is not so others can see you, but so you can see others who need a hand getting back on their feet.

So don’t get lost in loftiness, you are positioned there not to push yourself up but to pull someone else up.

My friend, you are where you are for a reason. So, don’t complain, and don’t attempt to get out of it before your time!

James 1:2-4,2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

WHEN WE TRY TO GET OUT OF THINGS TO FAST

We only forfeit the blessing that comes with maturity, and that is this:

“… Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not LACKING in any way.”

Believe it or not, but sometimes God’s abundance comes from you being able to handle being put in between a rock and a hard place, yet you remain there and do ministry!

Even Paul got to a point where he learned to stop focusing on the handicap and instead started appreciating the gift. And we need to learn to do likewise.

Stop focusing on the pain,

the hurt,

the loss,

the betrayal,

the gossip,

the discouragement,

the abandonment,

the loneliness,

the failure,

the disappointment,

the grief,

the anger,

and the jealousy. 

And instead, start appreciating that God gifted you even in places such as these! 

THE BIBLE TELLS US NOT TO LOSE HEART

2 Corinthians 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.

Those are the best places to continue to serve God because it says “I trust God even in this!

Example: Daniel 3:16-18, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn’t serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” (MSG)

Brothers, you have to reach this place in God where you KNOW He can deliver you, and yet maintain the conviction that even if He doesn’t, I’ll still serve Him and not Satan nor my Circumstances!

You can’t grow up having circumstantial conviction!

You can’t believe God only when it’s good,

you can’t believe God only on the mountain.

You have to be determined to believe and trust God no matter what curveball life throws at you to knock you off your game!

THE ENEMY HAS COME TO ROB, STEAL AND DESTROY

JESUS HAS COME TO GIVE YOU LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY.

,

Why is He using us in the storms of life?

Because we have died to self and are willing to give Him all the glory.

That’s why you have to learn how to trust and rely on God even when you’re in a position that looks like it will cost you your life!

You have to grow and mature into a place that says I’ll serve Him even though He slays me! 

Job 13:15, “Though He slays me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.

Are you at that place of trust?

Will you trust God regardless of the diagnosis,

the disease,

the length of the depression,

the divorce,

the demotion,

or the disagreement? 

Will you still trust God that He has your best interests at heart even when they lay you off,

the kids stray,

and the finances dwindle to dust?

Will you continue to trust God even if your loved one does not receive the healing?

Will you still trust God when the church doors close,

the house forecloses,

the car is repossessed ...

and the business goes belly up?

Will you still trust God like Paul?

Will you still trust God like Jesus?

Will you still trust God like Joseph?

Luke 22:42 says, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Will you trust God enough to follow His Will, His Word, and His Way, even if you’d rather jump ship?!

Do you trust God enough to ask Him to take the cup of horror away from you, but if it’s not His will, you’re content enough to drink it?

Esther realizes she has been placed where she is to save lives, and she risks hers to rescue them. And her people live because of it.

Right now, God may be saying to you “You have been put in this position for such a time as this.

Use that position to tell people about Jesus

I guess in a sense, we’re all Esther.

God has placed us where we are to save some lives there;

lives that Jesus died for.

And God has put those people within your reach through your situation so you can rescue them.

Always Remember: You Were Rescued to Reconcile! 

2 Corinthians 5:17-20, “ 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.)

That’s our job, to employ more people in the Kingdom of God! To reach them, encourage them, and help them find restoration and redemption.

We are assigned to bring life to a dying soul.

We are to bring eternity to those who have no idea just how short the hour of salvation has become.

That’s why we can’t afford to get distracted in the last few days.

There are so many souls that are wounded and need healing from the only one who can Mend the Broken-Hearted!

It does not matter if you are poor or rich; whether we’re in the pulpit or the pew;

it’s all irrelevant when we’ve been given a charge to keep moving forward as Phil.3:13 tells us!

And yes, sometimes we will be called to fulfill that charge in pain,

and yet, we still have to keep moving.

When you go into the hospital it’s not because you need to be there,

it’s because God needs you to be there for someone else.

He needs you to be His mouth,

His hands,

His feet,

His soothing and comforting and encouraging presence that all will be well.

You are where you are for a reason, and that reason is to be a Glimpse of God in someone else’s Gloom.

When you show people that you don’t have to throw in the towel when tough times come, but that you can wipe your blood, sweat, and tears, remain in the fight, and even win it, that’s powerful!

That’s encouragement, empowerment, inspiration, that’s purpose, that’s ministry! You are where you are so you can tell someone else: 

“NAY, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US.” (Romans 8:37)

So don’t walk out on the marriage just yet (your children are watching and listening);

don’t leave the church just yet (the people of God are watching and listening);

don’t quit the job just yet (the bosses and coworkers are watching and listening);

don’t go into despair in the doctor’s office or the hospital (other patients are watching and listening).

Your actions, words, and attitude show people how to go through and get through and not give up,

give out,

or give in.

Many will follow your lead. Show them how to take it to prayer,!

People (saved and unsaved) are watching and listening to us, let’s not mar the image and likeness of God that we are.

Let’s not murmur,

grumble,

or complain.

Esther 4:15-17, “Esther sent back her answer to Mordecai: “Go and get all the Jews living in Susa together. Fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, either day or night. I and my maids will fast with you. If you will do this, I’ll go to the king, even though it’s forbidden. If I die, I die.” Mordecai left and carried out Esther’s instructions.” (MSG)

And 4 chapters later, the very same verses read:

Esther 8:15-17, “Mordecai walked out of the king’s presence wearing a royal robe of violet and white, a huge gold crown, and a purple cape of fine linen. The city of Susa exploded with joy. For Jews it was all sunshine and laughter: they celebrated, they were honored. It was that way all over the country, in every province, every city when the king’s bulletin was posted: the Jews took to the streets in celebration, cheering, and feasting. Not only that, but many non-Jews became Jews—now it was dangerous not to be a Jew!” (MSG)