We continue today the series of messages from the book of Esther. This is message number 5 in this particular series. Today we'll be looking primarily at verses 4, chapter 4, verses 1 through 14 with some brief review from prior scripture verses. Again, we welcome everyone here today as we exalt the holy name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit and to point solely to the Lord Jesus Christ as our only means of salvation through faith in Him as Savior and Lord. We welcome everyone watching online today. Our first principle coming up on the screen just now, number one, If you'd write in the word faithful and if you'd write in day after day, the word faithful and day after day. Loving Christ and obeying scripture prepares believers to live faithful to God day after day. As we've done in the previous Sermons in this series will bring up a slide now of the Persian Empire when King Asherus was reigning from 486 to 465 BC. You recall it's the largest empire on the planet up to that particular point. Some 2 million square miles containing 44% of the world's population. consisting of 127 provinces, and it would seem any and all Jewish people living at that point were living within the Persian Empire and submitting to the rule of King Ahasuerus. You'll recall that Mordecai, a Jewish man, adopted Esther, his Jewish cousin, after her parents had died. And then you'll also recall that Esther is made queen of the empire by King Asherus. Mordecai would then uncover a plot to assassinate the king. The assassins were apprehended and executed. Mordecai's name was written down in the empire records for saving the king's life. Haman was the number two ruler in the Persian Empire. And when Haman would walk through the courtyard and come to the king's gate, everyone would bow down to him except for the Jewish man, Mordecai. Haman would become enraged at Mordecai and then discovered that Mordecai is Jewish. Haman, the number two ruler of the empire, was a descendant of the Amalekites. And there was deep animosity between the Amalekites and the Jewish people of Israel. Haman would then deceive the king in a series of outright lies and half-truths about the Jewish people and would receive permission from the king to execute all the Jewish people. in the Persian Empire on one day. The king trusted the deceiver Haman and the king permitted himself to be deceived. It has not yet been revealed in the scripture that Esther is Jewish. We go to Esther chapter 3 verse 8 just now. Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, there is a certain people, referring to the Jewish people, scattered and dispersed amongst the peoples in all the provinces in your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the king's so it is not in the king's interest to let them remain. Regarding that particular scripture verse, it was true they were scattered and dispersed throughout the Persian Empire. It is true they had certain laws different from the king's. It was an outright lie that they do not observe the king's laws. And so Haman is deceiving the king saying, let's not let them remain at all in the empire. We go to verse 9 just now. Haman continues, if it is pleasing to the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed. and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver." That would equate today some 375 tons of silver that Haman would seize all the money and all the valuables from the Jewish people after they were put to death. And he says, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who carry out the king's business to put into the king's treasuries. We go to verse 10. The king is swallowing it all. Then the king took a signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hamidathah, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. The signet ring provided the king's authority for Haman to carry out this plan of execution. The king said to Haman, the silver is yours and the people also. Do with them as you please. We go to verse 15. The couriers went out, impelled by the king's command. They're going to all 127 provinces to deliver the edict while the decree was issued at the citadel of Susa, the capital city of Persia. And while the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in confusion. And the people of Persia do not understand why their Jewish neighbors are going to be put to death in a single day in all 127 provinces of the empire. And recall, Israel and its landmass, as well as Jerusalem, they now fall under the reign of the Persian Empire. There is widespread anguish and distress throughout Persia. We go to Esther 4 verse 1 just now on the screen. When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on silk clothes and ashes, went out into the midst of the city, and wailed loudly and bitterly. He went as far as the king's gate, for no one was to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth. Verse 3, in each and every province where the command and decree of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews with fasting, weeping, and wailing, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes, a sign of Incredible distress and grief. We go to verse 4. Then Esther's maidens, Esther the queen of the Persian Empire, then Esther's maidens and her eunuchs came and told her, and the queen, recall the queen is Jewish, and the queen writhed in great anguish. And she sent garments to clothe Mordecai." Remember he had adopted her as a cousin. "...to clothe Mordecai, that he might remove the sackcloth from him, but he did not accept them." Verse 5, "...then Mordecai summoned Hatak from the king's eunuchs, whom the king had appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was. Verse 6 on the screen. Then Esther summoned Hathak from the king's eunuchs. Excuse me, verse 6. So Hathak went out to Mordecai to the city square in front of the king's gate. Mordecai told him all that had happened to him And the exact amount of money, recall some 10,000 talents, 375 tons of silver. And the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. Verse 8. He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict, which had been issued in Susa, for their destruction, that he might show Esther and inform her and to order her to go to the king to implore his favor and to plead with him for her people, for all the Jewish people. Verse 9, Hatak came back and related Mordecai's words to Esther. Then Esther spoke to Hathak and ordered him to reply to Mordecai as we go to verse 11. All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law. that he be put to death. Verse 11 continuing, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter that he may live. And then note at the end what Esther wants to make sure cousin Mordecai hears. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these 30 days." Esther is making sure that Mordecai understands life inside the palace. We go to verse 12. They related Esther words to Mordecai. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther. Do not imagine that you and the king's palace can escape any more than all the Jews. Verse 14, for if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time. as this. Mordecai is teaching his adopted cousin Esther that she is at a moment in her life where she must choose to obey God in what could be the face of fierce adversity. He tells her that being queen of Persia might not save her, for she is Jewish. In fact, we strongly suggest that because the edict was first given in the capital city and then spread out to all 127 provinces that the knowledge that Esther is Jewish would become known throughout the city and Haman would surely make sure that Queen Esther was executed for being Jewish. She's contemplating and dwelling on the communication from Mordecai. It is undoubtedly certain that the Lord God Almighty is sovereignly moving upon her soul. Her decision should not surprise us. It certainly seems as if Esther has been living a life proving faithful to God day after day. So her eventual decision to do Mordecai's request certainly should not stun any of us. In fact, we preach, walk faithful with Christ and the scripture all the time. And when the big time issue arrives, you will simply continue to walk faithful. The power of Christ within you brings that kind of quality of faithfulness into your daily decision making. And you will be blessed of God. Walk faithful all the time in Christ and His Word and when the big interruption and disturbance comes and confronts you, Christ will continue to walk you as He's been walking you, faithful in Him and the Holy Scriptures. We go to Psalm 119, 105 just now to see this importance of walking in Christ and abiding in the Word of God. Your Word, O God, is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path, meaning directing me how to think and be and act day after day. And you see also behind me verse 3 in Psalm 23. He restores. God restores or refreshes. God restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His namesake. We go now to Psalm 119 verse 5. O that my ways, O God, may be established to keep your statutes." The word statutes in Psalm 119, it's always a reference to the scriptures. To keep your statutes. We preach, be led by surrendering to God the Holy Spirit within you as a saved person and you will walk faithful. day by day in the Holy Scriptures. And when that huge occurrence happens, it may be a major disappointment. You'll continue to walk as God has always been walking you. So that we would say, be faithful to Christ in Scripture in the little things and you will be faithful to Christ in Scripture when the huge problem arrives. We certainly see this in the book of Galatians chapter 5 verse 16 when Paul the Apostle writes, but I say walk by the Spirit. The word walk is always continuous here in the scripture. Continually walk, controlled by God the Holy Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. And then Galatians 5.22 referred to as the fruit of the Spirit. I would remind you God the Holy Spirit gives one fruit, one fruit, we would say with nine different flavors. One fruit, nine flavors, but the fruit of the Spirit is love. joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. And in Psalm 119 verse 30 on the screen, I have chosen the faithful way. Well, how do we know the psalmist has chosen the faithful way? We know it because of the last part of the verse. I have placed your ordinances before me. And here the word ordinances in Psalm 119 always refers to scriptures. And then we'll go to Psalm 119 verse 24. Your testimonies, O God, also are my delight." And notice the word testimonies referring to the Bible, to the scriptures. And notice what he calls the scriptures. They are my counselors. Do you read the word slowly? You don't have to be a speed reader. Read it, take it in as you chew it, swallow it, let it sustain you. and view the scriptures as your counselors for day-to-day life. Number two today if you'd write in the phrase fully trust in the word walk. The word fully trust and the word walk. Believers are to fully trust God and believe he is in authoritative control. God enables such believers to walk faithful to Christ. We go to chapter 4 verse 15 in the book of Esther as we continue verse by verse. Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, day or night. Verse 16. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way, and thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law, and if I perish, I perish. So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him. So please note in verse 16, Esther's calling upon every Jewish person in the capital city of Seusta to fast, which would include prayer before the face of God. This is a massive display. of dependence upon God by Esther and the Jewish residents in the capital city. Fasting is a means by which a saved person refrains from eating and focuses directly on his or her relationship with Christ. Prayer always is to accompany fasting. It shows dependence upon God, depending upon Him, whatever your prayer requests might be of Him. Esther's calling upon the Jewish people to fast day and night for some three consecutive days to call upon the holy name of God. Don't miss it today. Walk faithful, ongoingly, to Christ in Scripture and call upon the holy name of God in prayer. We're preaching, trust Him all the time. We certainly see that in Proverbs chapter 3 in verse 5 and 6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. Accenting the word all in all your ways, acknowledge Him or trust Him. He will make your paths straight and in Colossians 1 9 just now on the screen Paul the Apostle would write for this reason also Since the day we heard of it now what he had heard of was their salvation in Colossa since we heard of your salvation We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, and then note verse 10, so that you will walk, meaning constantly walk in a manner worthy of the Lord to please Him in all respects. We are to trust in His authoritative and sovereign name, to fully trust and to be enabled by Christ within us to walk faithful to God. Those verses show how we are trained up by God to live faithful to Him. The intensity of the disruptive circumstance will not change your faithful life in him. Number three today, if you'd write in the word obedience in the word preferred, the word obedience in the word preferred, Esther proved faithful to God by accepting that obedience and death are preferred to disobedience and unfaithfulness. Verse 16, coming up by way of reminder on the screen, Esther would say, and thus I will go into the king, which is not according to the law, recall she has not been summoned, and if I perish, I perish. That 30 days of not being summoned to the king is significant for Esther's mind. There has been no indication whatsoever that she would be summoned any time soon at all. She may even be under the impression that she has fallen out of favor with King Ahasuerus and to go and present herself to him without having been summoned would be a way for him to be rid of her and to execute her under the law of Persia. Herodotus, a historian of the Persian Empire, mentions this Persian custom in his chronicles that anyone who approached the king uninvited would be put to death unless pardoned by the king. For the king to extend that golden scepter to an uninvited person, whoever it was, was a gesture of mercy. and gave permission for the person to speak to the king. Esther did not know whether or not the king would have her live or die in approaching her. We preach. Esther proved faithful to God by accepting that Obedience and death are preferred to disobedience and unfaithfulness. Church, we preach. And you know this from reading the scriptures. There have been faithful believers whose death was a direct result of preferring obedience and love for God and resulted in God giving them eternal awards. We see in Hebrews 11.35 referring to Old Testament people who lived faithful to God and others were tortured. not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection, knowing a resurrection body would eventually be given to them in their salvation. And it's still behind me in the screen in verse 36. And others experienced mockings and scourging, yes, also chains and imprisonment. Verse 37, they were stoned, they were sawn in two. They were put to death with the sword and all these having gained approval through their faith. Esther has arrived to this position. She will do right. And if doing right in the sight of God means death, she will still do right. By way of reminder, obedience and faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ should never be prioritized based on the size of the problem. We are to obey God in all things, all the time. Colossians 3.17, what a wonderful verse regarding that. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. And Psalm 84.12, O Lord of hosts, how blessed is the man. Today that would be how blessed is the saved person in Christ who trusts in you. Number four and concluding today, if you'd write in the word wins and the words never loses. Wins, never loses. God perpetually wins. He never loses or ties. Opponents of God do not score. a point. Mordecai would make this statement to Esther by way of reminder just before she decided to approach the king. It's coming up now in verse 14. Mordecai saying to her, if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this. It would seem in verse 14 that Esther is the last surviving relative of her deceased father. Mordecai tells her she will most certainly be executed in the capital city of Susa and her family lineage will end with her death. And Mordecai is rightly convinced, hear the preaching, Mordecai is rightly convinced in verse 14 The Jewish population will not be fully exterminated even if Haman carries out his orders. God will always deliver some of the Jewish people. He will always preserve Israel and its landmass. God always wins without interruption no matter how impossible winning seems. There have been and still are events day after day of enormous and staggering disappointment and suffering. and death. Yet God wins every time. The Apostle Paul would write in Romans 8.18 just now on the screen, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory of a completed salvation resulting in a resurrection body with the glory that is to be revealed to us. The same Paul the Apostle never felt that suffering or any degree of persecution or wrongdoing toward him or the death of a believer indicates that God is losing the contest. God perpetually wins. That is crucial for we who are saved to believe. For God lives in we who are saved through faith in Christ as Lord and Savior. Paul elaborated about his suffering, about his coming death, when he would write in 2 Timothy 4, we'll begin in verse 6 just now. He would say, for I am already being poured out as a drink offering. Or he's saying, I am going to be poured out unto biological death. And the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith." Meaning, he never renounced his faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. And if you are truly saved, God will always sustain your faith in Christ as Lord and Savior. I have kept the faith. We now go to verse 8. In the future, referring to heaven, There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all," now referring to every saved person, to all who have loved his appearing. Eusebius was an early church historian. He states Paul was beheaded at the order of the Roman Emperor Nero, most likely somewhere between 65 and 68 AD. Paul knew that any saved person's death immediately resulted in the coming into the eternal presence of the Godhead in heaven. 2 Corinthians 5, 6 and following will bear this out. Therefore, be always of good courage." And what he's saying is, believers in Christ, be always of good courage. Knowing that while we are at home in the body, We're biologically alive. We are absent from the Lord. Christ abides in us now, but we're not in the presence of His resurrection body in heaven yet. We are absent from the Lord. Now look at verse 7 on the screen. And we walk by faith. not by sight. We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body, meaning even in death, and to be at home with the Lord, to be in the presence of the resurrected Christ. Verse 9 coming up. Therefore we have as our ambition Whether at home, still alive on earth, or absent with Christ in heaven, this is our ambition to be pleasing to Him. The psalmist who writes in Psalm 116 verse 15, precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones, His saved ones precious because the Godhead brings us immediately to be with Him in heaven. As we prepare to conclude, the Bible clearly states that no one or any circumstance can cause defeat for the believer in Christ. Eternal life begins the moment You were saved by faith in Christ alone and that eternal life is never interrupted. Christ now lives in you if you are truly saved. And this is based on God being in us and for us, meaning God defends without ceasing. every saved person's salvation, because He has established such." Our concluding verses. We go to Romans 8 31. If. The better word there is because or since. S-I-N-C-E. Since God is for us, obviously only referring we here who are saved, since God is for us. Who is against us? We find this is a rhetorical question with a resounding answer. No one can be against us. No one can defeat believers because no one can defeat God who lives in us. So no one or anything can dislodge or disrupt your salvation security in Christ. It's still behind me, verse 32. He, God the Father, who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him, with Christ, freely give us all things pertaining to salvation? We go now to verse 33 and 34. Who will bring a charge against God's elect. Well, we know that God's elect, that's people who were chosen before God created the foundation of the world to absolutely save them. Who can bring a charge to undo our salvation? That's what he's saying. Who will bring a charge to undo the salvation against God's elect? God is the one who justifies, meaning God is the one who forgives you and puts the righteousness of Christ in you, thus justifying you and making you right and forgiven in the sight of God. God is the one who justifies. See verse 34, who is the one who condemns? Nothing can condemn or undo a saved person's salvation. Christ Jesus is He who died, yes rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us, and as we learned in Sunday school class today, without interruption, unceasingly, without any pausing, Christ Jesus, on the behalf of each individual saved person, is proclaiming that saved person belongs forever to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. And our final verse is for today from Psalm 125. Those who trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion. Mount Zion being used as a metaphor for something which is immovable. Which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people. Who are His people? Look at the very beginning of the verse. Those who trust in the Lord. are his people. Then see the last part of the verse. How long does this surrounding security last from this time forth and forever? Would you bow with me in prayer? Our most gracious Godhead, we pray thee in your holy name, our Lord Jesus, and to thee. ever asking of you alone our Godhead in the soul of each of we who have been saved by thy grace through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, asking of thee to walk us worthy of our calling in thee our Christ, ever loving you, ever obeying you, ever fully pleasing you, only for your glory and solely by thy strength.