by Pastor Ronald Yow
In times of crisis and difficulties, we wait on God
- What does it mean by waiting upon the Lord?
- Is it just to sit down and wait?
Esther demonstrated what it means to wait upon the Lord :
1. Posture (of we must depend on God)
- Esther recognise God's Sovereignty
- Esther surrendered to God's Sovereignty
* The Director of the situation is God Himself
* As Esther plays out the plan in the banquet, she is letting God moves in His direction
* Nothing is for sure or certain when Esther presents her statement to the King
* Esther was never in control of anything but she trusted God who is in control of everything
Proverbs 21:31
"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord"
2. Position
- God's Plan ...... God Does
- God's Plan ...... We Do
- Our Plan ...... God Does
- Our Plan ...... We Do
* Esther prayed
* Esther sought God for wisdom and guidance
* Esther counted the cost
3. Plan
- Attract Attention
- Approach with Tact
- Organise 2 banquets
Is Esther's plan God's plan or Man's plan?
or perhaps......
The crux of the matter is that it's Esther who exercise God's will through her plan even when her plan may not be foolproofed. God can work through even with our plans.
God is silent doesn't mean He is absent. Whether God spoke to us or we act on our own plan, we still need to exercise faith.
Learning to wait on God :
A. God can work out His will through decisions we have made, even if they are the worst
B. It is easier to steer a moving vehicle than a stationary vehicle
Acts 16:6-10
Paul and his companions traveled all through the area of Phrygia and Galatia. The Holy Spirit had kept them from preaching the word in Asia Minor. They came to the border of Mysia. From there they tried to enter Bithynia. But the Spirit of Jesus would not let them. So they passed by Mysia. Then they went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision. He saw a man from Macedonia standing and begging him. "Come over to Macedonia!" the man said. "Help us!" After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia. We decided that God had called us to preach the good news there.
# Seek God for guidance
# If silence, make informed decisions :
- By being cerebral (ie. use your brain)
Romans 12:2
"Don't live any longer the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what He wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect."
- By counting the cost
Luke 14:25-34
"Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?"
- By consulting mature believers
Proverbs 24:6
"Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers"
# Step out by faith
- Trust in God's Sovereignty
- Trust in God's Faithfulness
"A miracle is not the absence of man's plan. A miracle is clearly the intersection of God and man's plan"
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