Esther’s Greatest Power – Part 2
The
Power of Grace in Marriage
Part 3 of How to Manage Stubborn Husbands
Esther
4-8
Esther’s Greatest Power – Part 2
The
Power of Grace in Marriage
Part 3 of How to Manage Stubborn Husbands
Esther
4-8 |
|
June 28, 2015 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I.
Introduction
(Romans 15:4)
A.
The Book of
Esther is one of the neglected books of the Bible.
1.
Most people have
never heard a sermon, or a series of sermons, on the book of Esther.
2.
And for good
reason – it is very pointed, very clear in its truth about handling hard
hearted, stubborn, selfish men.
3.
And how to let
something more powerful than anger change your home – GRACE!
B.
It is mainly
about a woman – named ESTHER
1.
If you have read
this book of Esther, then you already know it is
an intriguing and fascinating story of
human love and palace-intrigue.
2.
It covers a time
of Israel’s history when they were spiritually away from God, and physically
away from their land.
3.
The Jewish people
so ignored and rejected God’s ways of living that they had harshly reaped the
consequences of their choices and watched their entire country burned to the
ground, and Jerusalem reduced to a pile of burnt rubble, as they and all their
children were taken away as slaves and captives to a far away empire called
Babylon!
4.
And that is where
this Book picks up the story – with the people of Israel in captivity, away from
God and from their land, and about to be utterly destroyed by an enemy named
Haman, that you would think was Adolf Hitler’s twin brother!
C.
The Apostle Paul,
in Romans 15:4 reminds us that all the things that happened to Israel happened as examples for us.
They teach us about Israel, but they also very clearly teach us about OURSELVES,
and even about our MARRIAGES!
II.
Review (Esther
1:1-9)
A.
We Have Already
Met, Ahasuerus the King
1.
King of the World
2.
His real name was
Xerxes – lived about 500 years before the birth of Jesus
3.
Not a nice guy!
Filthy rich, but a pretty ruthless man
B.
We learned About
the Kingdom of Media and Persia
1.
Vast empire - 127
provinces under the dominion of one empire (Ireland only has 4 provinces,
Munster, Leinster, Ulster and Connacht). 3,000 miles from Egypt to India! As big
in size as Europe!
C.
We Then Met His
Wife, Vashti the Queen
1.
Queen Vashti of
Media ruled this empire along-side her husband, Ahasuerus
2.
A descendent of
Queen Nefertiti of Egypt, and related to Cyrus the Great
3.
She takes her
place as the first official feminist in history, as you will see
D.
They Were having
a Huge Celebration
1.
180 days (1/2 a
year) of partying and revelling in preparation for their invasion of Greece
a.
The empire was
getting ready to go to war, so they were living it up before they potentially
died!
b.
The Persians of
that day were known for being soft, and pleasure seekers
2.
At the end of the
180 days, a special one week feast is held for everyone great and small
a.
Ahasuerus and all
the men were in one part of the palace partying
b.
And Vashti and
all the women were in another part of the palace partying
E.
A major marital
spat, and we learned the WRONG WAY to handle a hard husband!
1.
Ahasuerus’
Drunken Command (Esther 1:10,11)
a.
Ahasuerus was a
Drunkard, Partier, Megalomaniac
b.
In a mood of
showing off
c.
So, he COMMANDS
his wife. Commands that she be brought before him and that she present herself
before the whole city as another one of his beautiful possessions
d.
This was a slam
to Vashti – a public embarrassment for her
e.
Rude,
disrespectful, demeaning, controlling, uncaring, and the list goes on and on
f.
How do you
respond to a man like that?
2.
Vashti’s Feminist
Response (Esther 1:12)
a.
She knew his
command/request was wrong. Anyone would have known that was wrong – and last
week we talked about why
b.
Vashti had three
options: Ignore him, Fight him, or Divorce him.
c.
She is no saint –
a partier too, and a rebel, selfish, spoiled…
d.
Vashti chooses to
fight him – head to head, toe to toe, eye to eye
1)
Plainly REFUSED
his command – publically hurt him
2)
There. They were
now even.
3)
Ahasuerus should
just get over it, and get on with life like she is hers
4)
He will just have
to learn that he cannot just boss her around
5)
And then she went
back to her own party
e.
That should have
been the end of it.
f.
But, oh no! This
was a fight she didn’t think would go as far as it did
3.
The Consequences
of Vashti’s Actions (Esther 1:12, 19-22)
a.
She brought out
fierce and dangerous anger in Ahasuerus
b.
Ahasuerus quickly
divorces his queen. Vashti could not have stopped it!
c.
Vashti loses
everything
d.
And Ahasuerus
just went on with life
e.
And the kingdom
learned its lesson – that men will win every time! “Might” will make right
f.
But was it the
best lesson?
g.
Again, I don’t
believe Vashti thought this would go as far as it did. But it did! Whew!
4.
I want you to
know there was a better way to handle such a stupid husband! And to make a
better man out of him – NOT perfect, but better!
F.
The Story
Continued last week… (Esther Chapters 2 – 5)
1.
Ahasuerus Sought
Another Wife (2:1-4) – just go out and get another one!
2.
We Met Hadassah /
Esther (2:5-10)
a.
A Jewess
b.
Part of the
captivity of Israel to Babylon and Persia about 70 years earlier
c.
Lost her parents
d.
Raised by her
older cousin, Mordecai – a very good man who raised her alone. He will be a big
help to her later.
3.
She was in some
Stiff Competition (2:8,9)
a.
The BIGGEST
beauty contest imaginable!
b.
The most
beautiful from all across the empire!
4.
Esther Had
Qualities No One Else Did
a.
Outwardly, she
was naturally fair and beautiful – pleasing to the eye, and attractive without…
1)
Long eyelashes
2)
Facelifts
3)
Hair extensions
4)
Huge dangling
earrings
5)
High heels
6)
Caked on mascara
7)
Spray on tan
8)
Tattoos
9)
Piercings
10)
Nips and tucks
11)
She was just
naturally beautiful – like most women are who have not been influenced by all
the Music Videos, Movie Stars, Women’s and Teen Girl Magazines!
b.
Inwardly, she was
even MORE beautiful!
1)
Softness to her –
not loud, brash, pushy
2)
Submissive – to
Mordecai – trusted him – obeyed him when he commanded her to
a)
Be discrete
b)
Hide her
nationality
c)
Not ever be
ashamed of it
d)
Just NOT make it
an issue – it was extremely dangerous to be a Jew in Persia
3)
She pleased
Others – Hegai (put others first, like Joseph did in prison)
4)
She earned
Respect – earned the favour, praise of Hegai AND of all the other women (that’s
hard). Didn’t force it, didn’t fake it – just earned it!
c.
And she had God
working on her behalf! Not even knowing it!
d.
THOSE are the
reasons why she was chosen, and even preferred ahead of the others – because she
had many layers of beauty!
e.
You may think
those qualities are outdated, and dangerous, but I believe the Bible, and
believe with all my heart, the kind of world we live in today is because men and
women, husbands and wives have thrown away God’s commandments, and have reaped
the rebellion of their children, and will reap it for 3 and 4 generations now!
5.
The King
Amazingly Chose Esther – Made her Queen (2:12-18)
a.
No further search
once he met her
b.
He Crowns her -
Like Miss Universe!
c.
Has a celebration
(it seems to be his favourite thing to do) and calls it Esther’s Feast (2:18)
d.
Should have
stopped the story right there - “And they lived Happily Ever After!”
e.
Ah, no! This is
not a fairy tale book!
6.
Not Everything is
Honkey-Dorey in the King’s Palace! (3:7-15)
a.
There was a
problem brewing that neither Esther nor Ahasuerus was aware of
b.
There was an
enemy at work behind the scene – Haman
1)
And not even HE
was the real enemy
2)
There was an
enemy BEHIND the enemy – Satan (remember Job?)
3)
But here is a
great picture of how Satan is at work in our lives AND in our marriages!
c.
Haman was
carrying out an age-old vengeance against the Jewish people
1)
Wanted them ALL
dead
2)
And that would
include Esther herself, and any future children she might have
d.
And without
hardly any effort, the ruin was sealed
e.
It was only a
matter of time before Esther, and ALL the Jewish people would be exterminated –
about 11 months
f.
What a way to
start a family!
g.
It was a marriage
that started great, but was headed down the tubes fast, and would end in ruin!
Like so many marriages still TODAY!
7.
What Went Wrong?
How did such a thing happen? Four things were wrong in their home:
a.
Proud Ignorance.
Ahasuerus Did Not Know Esther
1)
Never knew where
she came from, her culture, her likes, her dislikes!
2)
Never cared to
ask
3)
Just got married
and got free legal sex!
4)
The Bible
commands that every married man gets to know his wife – understand her, or at
least TRY to understand her, and her needs, and her background, and her likes
and dislikes! (1Peter 3:7) “according to knowledge)
b.
Superficial Love.
Ahasuerus Wasn’t Close to Esther
1)
Would go weeks
and even months without spending any time with her
2)
Too busy in his
own affairs
3)
Always on
business
4)
Always away from
the home – not his palace, but his place by her side in the core of his home!
c.
Unconcern.
Ahasuerus Allowed a Problem to INTO His home
1)
He was concerned
about his kingdom, his money, his happiness, his army, his image
2)
He was not
concerned about his HOME!
3)
He didn’t care
that he was killing off an entire nation – didn’t care about anybody but
himself! Does that match people even today?
4)
A threat to his
very marriage
5)
A threat to his
future children
6)
And never was
aware of it
d.
Blind Arrogance.
Ahasuerus was actually a PART of the problem
1)
HE was ultimately
responsible for this threat actually taking shape
2)
Actually signed
the death warrant with his own ring and name
3)
HE would be to
blame for the genocide of the Jews
e.
Fear. Esther
Thought She Could Do Nothing – threw up her hands
1)
At first was
ignorant of what was going on
2)
Then when she was
made aware of the danger, she had no clue what to do
3)
She had no power
against such a plot
4)
She had no rule
over her husband
5)
What could SHE
do?
6)
She just accepted
things
a)
Esther Thought
everything was “normal” – just how things had to be!
b)
Many a woman
finds herself extremely frustrated and bitter for no clear reason – but it is
because what they see as normal, and what they have just always put up with, was
serious and they don’t know how to deal with it!
7)
That is until
Mordecai taught her about the power of GRACE. Not the toleration of wrong, but
the changing of what is wrong using grace!
III.
This Week –
Esther’s Approach (Chapters 4-8)
A.
Review How Vashti
Responded to Ahasuerus’ abuses – remember it?
1.
Vashti chooses to
fight Ahasuerus – head to head, toe to toe, eye to eye. Seemed like the only way
to deal with such a hard-headed drunken husband!
2.
Plainly REFUSED
his “command” – publically hurt him – humiliated him
3.
Sought to get
even
4.
Honoured herself
5.
Never gave
another thought about her husband
6.
Ignored the
consequences
B.
Mordecai Pushes
Esther (4:8-17)
1.
Remember
Mordecai? Still there, still the best kind of friend and influence she could
ever have had!
2.
Told her the
truth about what Haman and Ahasuerus had agreed to do – not as a gossip, but as
someone fully aware of what was going to happen if Ahasuerus’ mind wasn’t
changed!
3.
Told her
something HAD to be done. And only SHE could do it!
4.
Esther was
terrified – of Ahasuerus’ anger, and of ending up like Vashti
5.
Mordecai teaches
her to access GRACE – by praying and fasting!
6.
And to USE that
grace to change the whole situation!
C.
What Was Needed
in their Marriage was GRACE!
1.
Grace is the ONLY
life changing power that can change the minds and hearts of impossible men and
women!
2.
What IS Grace?
a.
It is the
opposite of WRATH and ANGER!
b.
It is an attitude
that is Free, Ready, Quick, and Willing to show …
1)
Goodwill,
kindness, favour, compassion…
2)
Towards someone
who does not deserve it – like an enemy!
3)
Doing something
nice for a stranger is unmerited favour
4)
Doing something
nice for an enemy, is GRACE (Luke 6:27-36)
c.
It is the only
kind of soil that forgiveness can grow in!
d.
Grace means GIFT!
1)
It cannot be
earned, merited, lived up to, or bought!
2)
That doesn’t mean
it is free of cost – just free to YOU!
e.
Grace is NOT a
freedom for someone to do their own things – not a license to sin (Titus
2:11,12) – or the freedom to live as we please – THAT is NOT grace
f.
True grace
TRANSFORMS people from the inside out – it has an influence that no Frying Pan,
nor hammer, nor Sharp Tongue, Nor Angry Countenance, nor Law, nor Punishment
could ever have!
3.
Ahasuerus needed
to experience true grace, or nothing would ever change in their home, or in
their marriage, or in the nation!
D.
How Esther
Responded - How Esther Approached Her Husband, and Corrected Him (5:1-8; 7:1-10)
1.
A Simple
Illustration:
a.
Like an
airplane’s approach to runway for a landing…
b.
When a plane
makes its final approach to landing…
c.
The aircraft
lines up with the runway – not from the side, or out of nowhere – but straight
on!
d.
Stays on a narrow
path (very few options)
e.
As careful, under
constant control – following training and the rules of flight
f.
Draws ever closer
to the runway
g.
Descends – not
rises to get higher than the runway, but ever lower
h.
Follows a path
that is a gentle downward slope.
1)
Usually just 3°
from the horizontal. However, certain airports have steeper approach paths based
on topography, buildings, or other considerations. E.g., London City Airport has
a 5.5° approach, and only aircraft that can maintain such an approach are
permitted to use the airport.
2)
Sometimes a plan
may have to come in sharp, but is very dangerous
i.
Always slowing
down – not racing ahead, panicking
j.
Landing gently
k.
Has the goal of
surviving, NOT crash and burning!
l.
That is called a
graceful landing!
m.
Isn’t THAT what
you want ladies? Or are you really not caring about the consequences like
Vashti?
2.
This is How
Esther Approached Her Husband and Changed Him for the Better. And it is how any
woman can use GRACE to make a better home than imaginable!
3.
Esther’s approach
toward Ahasuerus is Absolutely THE most amazing picture of grace!
4.
As God-Dependant
(Look back at 4:15,16)
a.
She Approaches
her Husband and her problem AFTER she has approached her God!
b.
Fasted and prayed
for 3 entire days
c.
Why did she do
that?
1)
Because it helps
us break OUR own proud heart – makes us weak
2)
Makes us depend
upon God instead of our ability to wrestle
3)
Keeps us praying
and asking and begging God for help with what you are about to attempt to do!
d.
If Esther had not
prayed, and fasted, she would have failed – guaranteed!
e.
She was smart
enough to ask others to pray and fast for her too!
1)
Don’t neglect
godly friends, Christians, your church!
2)
You will need
them some days
3)
People will spend
thousands of euros on marriage counsellors, when God made Bible believing
churches that can do more with you by prayer than all of the world put together!
5.
As a Queen
(5:1)
a.
Not as a doormat,
or as a slave
b.
Not as dirt, or a
beggar
c.
But as his wife –
that means something!
d.
Grace comes as
you ARE
e.
If Esther had NOT
been his wife, she would have died on the spot
f.
You know what, I
am a child of God!
6.
Got His Attention
(5:2)
a.
Got in front of
him
b.
Like standing in
front of the TV
c.
Or arriving at
his work at lunch time
d.
Or leaving a note
for him in his lunch
7.
Drew Close to Him
(5:2)
a.
Silently – not
screaming, yelling, demeaning – that would have been a Vashti moment!
b.
Went right up to
him
c.
Even touched the
source of his power to have her killed
d.
Great courage –
came from great faith that GOD was ahead of her, already going to do something –
she didn’t know WHAT, but she was trusting GOD! Not herself, or her husband!
e.
Looked him in the
eye
f.
She was NOT too
proud to initiate the closeness
g.
HE on the other
had was as busy as ever
8.
Asked to spend
time together - Invited Him To a Dinner
(5:3,4)
a.
Wanted a private
discussion
b.
Not with everyone
else around
c.
She was discrete
– careful, respectful – like Vashti had NOT been
d.
Remember –
Ahasuerus was PART of the problem. And to blame and attack him publically would
have only embarrassed him and turned him against HER like he did Vashti.
e.
This woman was
wise
f.
Had Been Busy
1)
Not planning to
destroy, or hurt her husband, to get back at him, to rebuke him, to nag him, but
to get his help!
2)
Had Prepared a
Banquet
3)
Not a spur of the
moment, reaction to her feelings
4)
She has fasted
and prayed for three days
5)
She has begged
God for wisdom
6)
And then came up
with the idea for a banquet
7)
Made it special –
not just thrown together microwave style – which maybe fine, but when a problem
needs to be dealt with, make the effort!
8)
And then spent
hours preparing a big dinner to bring her husband and the problem together so
that they could face it and deal with it and hopefully fix it!
9.
Hesitated – you
would have too!
(5:6-8)
a.
When she and
Ahasuerus and Haman we gathered together, and all the attention was on her, she
hesitated
b.
Scared
c.
She is trying to
handle a deadly problem without making it worse!
d.
Decides to just
sit and enjoy the evening, and have them back again the next time – and try
again!
e.
You have got to
laugh because Esther is SO real!
10.
Allowed God to
Work Behind the Scene
(6:1-14)
a.
Remember that
there were so many praying and fasting for Esther
b.
Oh how important
it is to have praying friends, not just good-time-Charlie’s
c.
No one could have
known just what God was doing
d.
But God WAS and
always IS doing something marvellous!
e.
He was bringing
about the complete ruin of Haman!
11.
She Brought Along
the Problem!
(7:1-3)
a.
She didn’t ignore
the problem in their home
b.
But was careful
how she attempted to face it
c.
Men hate for
problems to be brought up
d.
But there are
times that problems in a home HAVE to be faced
12.
And then Esther
Appealed for Help
(7:4-10)
a.
She Did not
manipulate her husband
b.
Did not force her
husband to agree with her
c.
Did not humiliate
him – even privately
d.
Did not beg him
e.
Esther didn’t
even know what could be done – the law was so exact!
f.
But she had
turned the problem over first to God, asked and begged God to work on her
husband’s heart, and then fasted to make sure she was weak enough to only trust
God, and then waited! Whew! What faith!
g.
So she presented
the problem to him, and let him see it clearly
h.
And then let him
decide what to do about it
i.
That’s not
stupidity – it is faith! Trusting the LORD to work because you have decided to
do things HIS way and not the world’s way, or even your own way!
E.
Ahasuerus Finds a
Way (8:3-11)
1.
Not smart enough
to figure it all out
2.
But smart enough
and determined enough to get RID of Haman!
a.
Is always smart
to get rid of the source of the problem
b.
NOT allow Satan
to be so free in your life and in your marriage!
3.
Sought the
counsel of Mordecai, who came up with a plan
a.
Ahasuerus made
Mordecai into his friend
b.
And sought HIS
counsel over all the dead-beats he used to listen to in chapter 1
4.
Ahasuerus had
changed
a.
Began to protect
his wife now – took responsibility for it
b.
Not too proud to
accept responsibility for his blindness about Haman
c.
And to accept
loss in his kingdom
d.
All because of
Esther’s GRACE towards her husband
5.
And a whole lot
of people were saved because of Esther’s grace towards her husband!
F.
What Grace Did in
Esther’s Marriage
1.
Grace still
loves, even though the other person is wrong, and to blame
a.
Love your
husband, in spite of his sinfulness – that’s how he will have to learn to love
you too!
b.
Neither one of
you are perfect saints – at your best, you and he will fail miserably!
c.
Show affection
towards him – that is what you vowed to do when you got married
d.
Give attention to
him and his needs, as much as you do the children, and visitors
e.
Every husband is
messed up, and different than you expect
1)
There are some
absolute BABIES of husbands
a)
Won’t work, won’t
help, will always have something to complain about
b)
They only do one
thing at a time. Never have ever been forced to sweat and grunt and work hard!
c)
Babies
d)
And their Mommies
and then later, their wives LET them remain babies!
2)
There are some
men who are control freaks
3)
There are others
that are always angry – have to walk on egg-shells around them
4)
There are other
still that are loners – never are really “home” with you – just there, doing
their own thing while you are doling yours
5)
All of these are
men
6)
Let your husband
be who he is – you married him, not a ideal
7)
No husband will
ever be exactly what you want, or even need, ladies
8)
GOD reserves the
right to meet ALL your needs! (Isa 45:22, “look unto me and be ye saved)
9)
When God gave you
your husband, he was not intended to replace God
10)
God needs you to
HELP your husband, but not change him!
2.
Grace gets us
close to each other – pride keeps us apart
a.
Grace requires
humility
b.
Stay connected
with your husband – Vashti and Ahasuerus were disconnected
c.
Spend time with
him
d.
Listen to him. He
probably doesn’t talk much. But maybe it is because he thinks you don’t care
what he thinks or is saying
e.
Do what he likes
to do as much as you ask him to do what you like to do
3.
Grace takes risks
4.
Grace fights the
enemy behind the problem (Eph 6:12)
5.
Grace demands
praying and fasting of us all
a.
Pray for your
husband – really pray for him…
b.
To know God – not
just about God, but to know His heart, and His ways of doing things
c.
To love God –
more than he loves you and the children
d.
For God to open
his eyes to how stupid he is being
e.
To be more than
just changed, but be transformed – to become only like Jesus
6.
Grace appeals to
authority – does not fight authority. That is reserved only for the most extreme
cases
a.
Seek to get your
husband to do right
1)
Not what you
want, but what God wants
2)
It is so easy to
only think of things relating to YOUR needs and not what is right
b.
Work WITH His
Authority
c.
God has ordained
authorities over people
1)
There is no
getting around it (1Tim 2:1,2; Matt 23:2,3)
2)
Governments (good
and bad) are ordained by God
3)
Parents – are
also ordained by God
4)
AND… husbands
have authority, as ordained by God
5)
All the talk
about personal freedoms and rights and liberties is about to go down the toilet,
with riot police being beefed up in every major city
6)
If your husband
gets out of hand, appeal to higher authorities: like your pastor, or a
counsellor, or the Garda, or a judge!
d.
God expects
authorities to command, not to just ask nicely
1)
Governments make
laws, commandments that must be obeyed
2)
Pastors are to
direct their flocks (1Tim 3:4,5)
3)
Abraham commanded
his home (Gen 18:19)
4)
Eli did NOT
command his children (1Sam 3:13) – restrained them not
5)
Jesus commanded!
He didn’t just walk around all day cowering and timid. Men followed Him because
He actually LED the way, and fixed things, and was masculine!
6)
Don’t be upset
that God expects men fathers husbands to lead homes & make commands
a)
Men
should bare rule in their home – that
is not wrong!
b)
According to God,
men are lords in their home – their
commands are to be obeyed
c)
Now, not
everything needs to be a command!!!
d)
But when there is
a fight, or a battle, Dad is supposed to be obeyed – unless there is a very good
reason not to
e.
Stop fighting
authority, and start working with it. God expects every one of us to work with
our authorities, and not dishonour them, or mock them.
1)
That means,
Usually obey
2)
But sometimes, we
have to disagree – like Vashti needed to disagree
3)
It is not wrong
to disagree
f.
There are ways to
respectfully disagree, and respectfully deny a command!
1)
The wrong way –
Vashti fighting head to head against her husband
2)
The right way –
the Disciples (Acts 5:29). Did not threaten, or attack. Just said they can’t do
what they are being commanded to do (or not to do)
3)
God expects
husbands and wives to disagree – but expects them to do it privately, and
respectfully! (Ephesians 5:33). Not publicly in front of children or visitors,
or neighbours
4)
Stay under God’s
control in an argument, even when your husband is not under control
5)
Use gracious
words towards each other (Luke 4:21,22; Col 4:6; Ephesians 4:29)
g.
Be first to
easily back down, to regain control!
1)
You are not
losing the fight – you are still right
2)
You are allowing
God to fight for you
h.
I imagine MOST of
Us will have a problem with this Biblical principle!
1)
Please take a
good long look at how YOU are affected by ALL the stupid TV and movies that not
only YOU and your wife/husband watch, but also that your children watch that
constantly influence their ideal of what boys and girls are for, and what
marriage is all about! I cannot watch TV
with all the STUPIDITY just pouring out of every channel!!!
2)
It has probably
been a very long time since you were encouraged to handle arguments and fights
in the home the right way
3)
Most people
only know how to fight head to head,
and toe to toe – they will not allow themselves to do anything lovingly, humbly,
respectfully anymore!
7.
Grace leaves the
result up to God – If I perish I perish
a.
Let God sanctify
you and him through whatever you go through – don’t let anything separate you
and him (1Cor 6:11; 7:14)
b.
Remember, Vashti
proves you just cannot humanly change people
c.
Only GOD changes
people – allow God to change them (Proverbs 21:1)!
8.
Grace does not
come naturally – must be pushed upon us – Mordecai had to push Esther to act by
grace and not by anger or fear or frustration
IV.
Conclusion
A.
The most
important help in your home will not be rules – although they will make it a
safe place
B.
But it will be
the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in your home
1.
As you invite Him
to lead and change and sanctify all of you (Cf Rev 3:20)
2.
Have you yet
humbled yourself before God and admitted you are a stubborn sinful man or woman,
just like Ahasuerus or Vashti, and begged God to save a wretch like you?
3.
Do it today,
BEFORE you lose your family!
C.
Gentlemen, none
of us deserve such a woman as Esther! None of us deserve such careful respect
D.
We are
all-too-often like Ahasuerus
E.
And we wonder why
our wives and our homes are so disconnected, so cold, so hurt!
F.
So STOP taking
Grace for granted
1.
Gentlemen, just
because you experience such undeserving grace is no reason to continue in our
sin and stubbornness against God (Romans 6:1)!
2.
God extends grace
– but it is no good if neglected (2Cor 6:1,2)!
G.
Stop taking GOD’S
kindness and grace for granted
H.
If we want our
homes to survive… we need grace
1.
Ladies, you need
to learn what Esther is going to show us
2.
And men, you need
to learn what GRACE can do in your home, in your fights, in your children, and
in your own heart
I.
Accept God’s
grace and get converted, saved, today! Before you lose everything important
(Ephesians 2:8,9)