live beautifullytrying my best to get away from my problems) but if you are going through...

Live BeautifullyEsther 4

Announcements

• Easter weekend no KH! (April 20) • Girl’s Conference (April 27)• Please sign up for snacks! J

Kahoot!

https://play.kahoo

t.it/#/?quizId=36b

86243-90c5-4362-

b6b9-

7bf1b8dfc3e0

EveryChristianwillencounterasituationthatteststheirwillingnesstoobeyGod.f

f

ButareyouSEEKINGtomakeyourselfavailabletoHim?

IwillblendthattextwitheverythingelseandseeifthegirlsaskaboutitHAVESOMEONEPRAY.THENCLICKTHENEXTSLIDENOTTHEARROW.Lesson:areYOUaskingGodwhatHewantsyoutodo?AreyouSEEKINGitorareyougoingwiththeflow?I’mgonnatieeverythingwiththisslide.Yes,weusedthisslidealready,butit’savisualrepresentationofwhatIwantya’lltogohomewith.Doya’llunderstand?Thisisaspecialslide.

Ø EveryChristianwillencounterasituationthatteststheirwillingnesstoobeyGod.Ø So,likeEsther,herlifewasatstake,andshehadtocometoadecisionifshewas

goingtosubmitorresistGod’swillforherinHisplan.Ø Majorityofthetimethesetestsarewhenweleastexpectitlikethisvisual.Ø Nowthatya’llknowwherethisonewashidden,doya’llknowwheretheother

oneis?(otherblackboxorpicture…NOTLOL)Ø ButareyouSEEKINGtomakeyourselfavailabletoHim?

Ø Likethishiddenquestion,Godwillhituswhenweleastexpectit.Estherwasn’texpectingallthisdramatogodown,butitdidanditwasuptohertogetthingsdoneforGod.

Ø GodhasaplanforusandwhenGoddeemsusreadydespiteusnotfeelingthesame,Hewilluseus…

Ø Likethisslide,youweren'texpectinganything,butGodwillhituswhenweleastexpectit.Wemaybeinasituation(evenmaybenow?!)thatGodnudgingusandtryingtouseus,yetwedon'trealizeitbecauseweletotherthingsblindus(excuses)

Ø AreyouseekingtomakeyourselfavaiableforHimtouse?Ø Orareyougonnaletotherthingsblindyouordistractyouawayfromit?Ø AndlikeMordecaiadvisedtoEsther,ifnotyou,thensomeoneelse.“missed

opportunity”ThefactthatweSEEKtobeavailableforHimtouse,allowsGodtospeaktouswhentheopportunitycomes.

A Time to Mourn (Esther 4:1-4)• Why was Mordecai mourning? • What action did Esther take to

comfort Mordecai? (#7)• How did he respond? Why? (#8)

• What are some ways we cover up our problems?• Proverbs 28:13

Haman’sevildecreehasbeenmadereality.NowalltheJewswereinastateofmourning.Ø Justtomakesureya’llknowwhat’sgoingon,whywasMordecaimourning?

Ø MordecaiprettymuchhurtHaman’segobynotbowingtohimandnowallthejewsarepayingforit.

Estherhadnoideathatallofthiswasgoingoninthecastleuntilhermaidsandeunuchscametoherandtoldherwhathappened.Estherwas“sheltered”fromeverythingoutsideofthecastleunlessitwastoldtoher.We'llgoalittlebitintodetaillater.

Ø WhatactiondidEsthertaketocomfortMordecai?Ø Sendclothestocoverhimbecausehewasonlyinsackclothandashes

Ø Howdidherespond?Why?Ø Herejectedit

ObviouslyEsthercaredandshesenthimclothestocoverhimselfwith,butherejected.HerfirstresponsewascoverMordecaiinnewclothesbecausehewasmourning.Samethingwithus,whenstrugglesorproblemshits,wetrytocoveritupwithsomethingtomakeourselvesfeelbetterbutitdoesn’t.Theproblemisstillthere,thesenewthingsaren’tgoingtofixtheproblem.

Ø Whataresomewayswecoverupourproblems?Ø WhenI’mstressedwithaproblem,Itendtobuythings.Likeitwasbad.Ø Prov28:13Whoeverconcealstheirsinsdoesnotprosper,

buttheonewhoconfessesandrenouncesthemfindsmercy.Ilearnedthislongagoandit’salwaysstuckwithmewheneverIfaceproblems(despitemetryingmybesttogetawayfrommyproblems)butifyouaregoingthroughproblems/trials/etc.theonlywaytogetpassedit,isbygoingthroughit.Andevenifwemanagetogetpasseditwithoutgoingthroughit,wewillgobacktoitagaineventually.Thereisanimportanceinacknowledgingyourproblems.It’snotaboutignoringthenegativeeventsorthingsthataffectus,butratherit’saboutmovingyourselfoutofyourstorythatyoukeeprelivingandmoveforward.Iwanttofocusonthatacknowledgmentandawareness.

Running out of Time (Esther 4:5-9)

• Why do you think it was important that Esther sought proof for herself rather than trusting in her maids?• When Mordecai responded

back to Esther, what did he ask her to do about the situation?• Why did he ask her that?

Estherwasasmartwoman.Insteadoftakingwhatthemaidshavesaid,sheaskedHathach,oneoftheking'seunuchs,toaskMordecaiwhatwasgoingonandwhythiswashappening,towhichMordecairespondsbackplusgivingherphysicalproofofitall.

Ø WhydoyouthinkitwasimportantthatEsthersoughtproofforherselfratherthantrustinginhermaids?

EstherwasmadeawareofthesituationbyaskingMordecaiofwhatwasgoingon.Estherknewofthesituationfromhermaids,butthatwasn’tenoughforher.Shesoughtforanswerstoherquestions.ThismademethinkabouthowweshouldapproachHisWord.Asgreatasourpastors,podcasts,orevenourKHleadersmayteach,weshouldseekthetruthonourownandnotsettleforwhatwehear.

Ø WhenMordecairespondedbacktoEsther,whatdidheaskhertodoaboutthesituation?

Ø TopleadtotheKingØ Whydidheaskherthat?

GodhasplacedEstherintherightplaceattherighttimeandMordecaisawthat,soheaskedhertopleadtotheking.ThiswasGodcallingEstherwhensheleastexpectedit.Notonlythat,IwannagiveaquickshoutouttoHathach.ThismanwhoworksforthekingwasahugepawninGodplandespitebeingsuchaminorcharacterinthisstory.HeworksforthekingandEstherandMordecaiwerebasicallyrevealingthemselvesandtheirsecretstothismanwhocouldEASILYgobeforethekingandtellhimalltheteahe’sgetting…Yet,hedoesn’t.Causeifhedid,wellcheckmate.Hamanwins.SolikeEsther,wemightbeamaincharacter,orlikeHathach,wemightbeaminorcharacterinastoryoreveninGod’splan,butthisisGodcallingus.Itdoesn’tmatterifwe’rethemaincharacteroraminorcharacter,thatshouldn’tevenbeourintentionswhenweareusedbyGod.Ourintentionsshouldbe,tohumbleourselvesforHimandsayI’mreadytobeusedbyGodforwhateverHiswillisformebecauseattheendoftheday,YOUaren’tthereasonwhyGod’splanwasexecuted,GodisthereasonwhyHisplanwasexecuted,andweshouldglorifyHiminthatandbethankfultobeusedbyHim.

Long Time No See (Esther 4:10-12)• What obstacle has come

into play?• Why do you think she

wanted Mordecai to be aware of this law? (#4)• Why do we make excuses

when we are called?• Jeremiah 1:4-10

• Can you recall a time YOU deemed yourself not ready, yet God called you?

Esthergotthemessage,butnowanotherobstaclecameintoplace.Ø Whatobstaclehascomeintoplayinv10-12?

Ø Anyonewhogoesbeforethekingwithoutpermissionisputtodeath/hasn’tseenhusbandin30days

Esther’slifewasindangerifshedidasMordecaisaidandshemadethatsaidwhenshetoldHathachtolethimknow.Hisdaughter’slifeisatstakeforthiscommand.Notonlytoaddtothat,thatshehasn’tmetherhusbandin30days!

Ø WhydoyouthinkshewantedMordecaitobeawareofthislaw?Ø TomeitseemedlikethesewereexcusestogetawaywithitØ Itwasn’tthe“right”time(forhersake)Ø Whydowemakeexcuseswhenwearecalled?Ø Webelievewe’renotreadyØ Itwasn’tthe“righttime”Ø ”NowthewordoftheLordcametome,saying,“BeforeIformedyouinthe

wombIknewyou,andbeforeyouwerebornIconsecratedyou;Iappointedyouaprophettothenations.”ThenIsaid,“Ah,LordGod!Behold,Idonotknowhowtospeak,forIamonlyayouth.”ButtheLordsaidtome,“Donotsay,‘Iamonlyayouth’;fortoalltowhomIsendyou,youshallgo,andwhateverIcommandyou,youshallspeak.Donotbeafraidofthem,forIamwithyoutodeliveryou,declarestheLord.”...”JER1:4-10

Ready:fullypreparedtotakeaction.WebelieveWEneedtobereadyforwhenGodcallsus.Butinreality,it’sGodwhodeemsusreadyforHiscalling.Sometimeswe’recalledintosituationsthatwe’re“perfectforthejob”inGod’seyes,butinourownwearen’tready.

Ø CanyourecallatimeYOUdeemedyourselfnotready,yetGodcalledyou?Ø LeadershipØ IthoughtIwasn’tready,butGodkeptcallingmeintoit.NowthatI’vethought

aboutit,Hecalledmeintoittocontinuemygrowth.WhenwerespondtoGod’scallingthere’salwayshesitation,whenitshouldbeinstant.Ifyouthinkaboutit,themorewestall,theblessingthatwouldcomeoutofHiscallingwewouldmissoutonifwerespondedinstantly.

No Time Like the Present (Esther 4:13-14)

• What was Mordecai afraid Esther would do? (#3)• What important question did

Mordecai ask Esther to help her realize that her position in the palace was not a mere coincidence? (#6)• Have you had that “missed

opportunity” to be used by God?

HerecomesMordecaiabouttoroasther.Jk.Itdoesseemlikeitthough.

Ø WhatwasMordecaiafraidEstherwoulddo?

Ø Staysilent

Ø WhatimportantquestiondidMordecaiaskEsthertohelpherrealizethatherpositionin

thepalacewasnotamerecoincidence?

Godhasaplanforus.GodlovedthejewishpeopleandHedidn’tcreateEsther’sbeautyfor

herself.GodplacedherinaroyalpositiontoassistthedeliveryofGod’sdivineplan.Butif

Estherchosetoresist,Hisplanwillstilldeliverthejewishpeopleoutofharmbutsomeoneelse

willtakethatopportunitytobeusedbyGod.

"Ifyoutrytohangontoyourlife,youwillloseit.Butifyougiveupyourlifeformysake,you

willsaveit."(MATT16:25)

Justlikewementionedintheotherslideabouthesitation.Thereareonlytworesponsesto

God’scalling:submittingtoHisplanorresistingit.Ifresisting,liketheadvicegiventoEsther,if

yourefusetobeused,thenitwillbesomeoneelse.Youhesitationcancostsomeonetheirlife,

evenyourown.Probablynotinthesenseoftheirlifeisatstake,butletmeuseanexamplethat

I’vestruggledwith.

Ihavealotofinsightwhenitcomestodiscussions,butalotofthetimeIhesitatetoanswer

themoutloudwhenI’mnotcomfortablearoundthepeopleI’mwith,soinsteadIchoosetobe

silentinsteadofsharing.Doesn’tsoundhorribleright?ButGodwouldtellmetospeak,butI

justcouldn’tgetmyselftoandIkeptmakingexcusesinmymindthatit’swrongoritsounds

stupidforthediscussionathand.ButwhatI’velearnedisthat,Godmaybeaskingmetospeak

outbecauseitwillteachothersoritwillspeaktotheheartofanotherperson.Notonlythat,it

couldencourageotherstospeakalso.ButI’vebeenthroughthesituationwhereGodcalledme

tospeakandIdidn’t.Itwasabriefsilenceintheroomuntilsomeonespokewhatwasinmy

mindandintheenditspoketoeveryone’sheartanditwasafruitfuldiscussionafterwards.It

wasamissedopportunitytobeusedbyGodbecauseofmyhesitation.Yes,thismayseem

small,butyoucanbeusedbyGodbythebiggestandeventhesmallestofthings.Butareyou

goingrespondimmediatelyorinhesitation?

Godhadthatplanforourdiscussiontableandwantedtousemetospeakout.ButinsteadIlet

myanxietytakemeandstayedsilent.God’splanwasstillgonnagothrough,soheused

someoneelse.

Ø Haveyouhadthat“missedopportunity”tobeusedbyGod?

Ø YouweretheperfectpersoninGod’seyesforthejobyetyoudidn’ttakethejob,

soinsteadHegaveittosomeoneelse.

Thosemissedopportunitiesmaybearegret,butitshouldencourageyoutostepout.Yousee

thefruitofwhathappenswhenyoustoodsilent,thatshouldencourageyoutostepoutand

havethatdesiretobeusedbyGodlikethat.

Timely Prayer (Esther 4:15-17)• What did Esther ask

Mordecai to have the Jews in Shushan do for her? (#1)• Why do you think she asked

this? (#2)• How did she respond to this?

(#3)• Why is it so important for us

to pray?• 1 John 5:14

• What did Esther say to reveal she was committed to helping her people? (#6)

Estherhasmadeherdecisionandit’sadecisionthatwillchangeeverythingdespitethedangerinit.

Ø WhatdidEstheraskMordecaitohavetheJewsinShushandoforher?Ø FastØ Whydoyouthinksheaskedthis?Ø Howdidsherespondtothis?

Alongwithfasting,thereisprayer.DuringfastingandprayeryouareturningyourselftowardsGodtotakecareofyou.ThisisEsthersubmittingtoGod’swillratherthanresistingit.

Ø Whyisitsoimportantforustopray?Ø Whenweareintrouble,wepray.ThisisthetrustyouareputtingtoGod.Ø 1John5:14ThisistheconfidencewehaveinapproachingGod:thatifweask

anythingaccordingtohiswill,hehearsus.Ø WhatdidEsthersaytorevealshewascommittedtohelpingherpeople?

Thissealedthedeal.Nomatterwhathappens,God’splanwillhappenevenifIdie.ThisishersayingItrustmylifeinHishandsthatifitisinHiswillformetodieforHisplantohappen,thenIhavefulfilledmypurpose.SometimesinHiswillforus,itmaynotbethemostidealthingforus,buttrustGodthatthereasonthatthathappensisbecauseit’stobenefitHisdivineplan.BethankfulthatyouwereusedbyGodbecauseinthatisablessinginitself.I’mgonnaendwiththisslide(CLICKTHEFIRSTSLIDE)

CHALLENGE // JOURNAL

• Challenge: This week I challenge you all to start your day by saying, “God I am ready to be used by you.” When God calls you to be used by Him that you do it and share your experiences with your pod.• Journal: I want you to journal these experiences to remind

yourselves that each step reveals the faithfulness of God and to which will encourage us to trust Him in the next opportunity.