2 Corinthians 2:15 (NLT) Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.
Esther 1. Honor preparation Esther 2:12 (NIV) 12 Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics.
Honoring preparation is honoring opportunity.
Esther 2:15 (NIV)Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her.
Kingdom economics: Faithful over littler=Ruler over much.
Esther 2:17 (NIV) Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Esther 3:8–9 (NIV) 8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them …”
2. Honor Heritage & Values
In the book of Esther, God is not mentioned by name but represented by values.
He is present in his people! 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT) We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. Ephesians 5:15–17 (NLT) 15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.(NKJV- redeeming the time, because the days are evil.)17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
3. Honor Advice Alignment influences assignment. Proverbs 12:15 (NIV) The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
Esther 4:14–16 (NIV) 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
4. Honor significance
Honor- Treat it as weighty.
Your significance is found in your segment of God's timeline.
“Doing what is right is risky.”
Luke 22:42 (NIV) “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Genesis 32:22-31 (NIV) 22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 27 The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. 28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." 29 Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.
Why is Jesus in this moment? - He showed up because Jacob was afraid - He showed up because Jacob was alone. - He showed up to Jacob needed to be altered.
They were wrestling for the same thing! "It's ok to wrestle with God if you are wrestling for the same thing."
"God won't change when we wrestle him. He changes us."
Change is painful. Hosea 12:4 (NLT)….He wept and pleaded for a blessing from himself.
"Transformation doesn't happen in the striving but in the clinging."
The new life comes when. 1. When Jacob is clinging. 2. When Jacob asks. 3. When Jacob is genuine with who he is. 4. When Jacob was seeking to know God.
In our encounter, we experience. 1. A New Identity 2. A New Walk
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
John 3:2–7 (NLT) 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. "Rabbi," he said, "we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you." 3 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God." 4 "What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?" 5 Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.'
“I’d rather be having a good time in hell than be bored in heaven."
The assumption is that sin is exciting, and righteousness or holiness is boring.
Sin robs us of fulfillment.
Drinking saltwater; only makes you more thirsty and leads to death.
Sin makes life empty.
Righteousness in Jesus is true fulfillment; True beauty
Psalm 16:11- In Your presence is FULLNESS of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures FOREVERMORE.
In order to know WHY worship is important, we need to truly understand WHO GOD IS
THE GODHEAD
AKA: The Trinity: God is three-in-one. He is one single, undivided God who exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Who is God the Spirit
Dwells within every believer of Christ: John 14:15-17“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
Friend, comforter, Paraclete…
Source of our conviction: John 16:7-8 “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment
Who is God the Son
Pre-birth of Christ, He was the Son of God
The Angel of the Lord
Exodus 3:2-4: There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
The Universe was made by Him
Sent willingly by the Father by their love for us to be the final sacrifice, and to tear the veil between us and Him
Who is God the Father
Ezekiel 1:26-28 “Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.”
Revelation 1:14-16 “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.”
His eyes are like fire…his legs are like fire… his body and face are like burning metal from fire…
Light & glory surrounds Him like a rainbow does after the rain
Everything in Heaven is stricken with complete awe
Revelation 4:4-11 Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit[b] of God. 6 In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal. In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 7 The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” 9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, 11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
He is ENDLESSLY FASCINATING
God’s greatest pleasure is in Jesus and the Spirit, Jesus in the Father and Spirit, The Spirit to the Father & Son
Matthew 3:17 “and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Through the cross, He is inviting us into that same exchange of perfect Love.
The greatest command: Love GOD, THEN love others.
Not in amount, but in priority… everything flows from loving God FIRST.
He loves us with the same love He has for the Son
John 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.”
Jesus loves us in the same way as the Father loves Jesus.
Jesus’ love for the Father kept Him on that cross… “take this cup, yet not my will, but YOURS…”
“For the Joy set before Him, He endured the cross…” Hebrews 12:2
The Joy set before Him was the relationship WE would now have with GOD (father, spirit, son) through the cross.
WHO ARE YOU?
Adopted into the greatest love: Galatians 4:5-7 “To redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Sonship: not just a tool in His hand… not working to gain the Father’s attention or affection… You already have it.
Clean/Forgiven/Righteous: 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Saints
Priests: People who make a place for His presence to dwell, and for people to encounter Him.
Gates: Psalm 24: Lift up your heads…Fling open you ancient gates…that the King of Glory may enter!
Mark 4: 36(NIV) Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Mark 5: 5 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.[a] 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Mark 6:1-6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,[a] Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
“Powerful things happen when God’s people come together."
Following Jesus
Matthew 7:13–14 (NIV) 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
The Real Jesus. (Gal 1, 2 Cor 11)
Luke 14:25–33 (NIV) 25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “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. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 “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? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ 31 “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? 32 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. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
Requirements to Following Jesus Luke 9:23–26 (NIV)23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
“Following Jesus is not a prayer that we pray it’s a life that we live!”
24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels
The Cost of Following Jesus is the same for every person.
1. Come to him. “You cant follow him without Him.” Matthew 11:27–30 (NIV) 27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
2. Trust Him Salvation begins at the point of trust.
3. Loving/Obeying Him John 14:15(NIV) If you love me, keep my commands. 1 John 5:2–3 (NIV) 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
Putting the Kingdom First.
Extending compassion. Caring for the needy- The that are less fortunate, putting others before yourself.
Even those that are against us.
Putting others first
Walking in forgiveness.
Maintaining a Christ like posture.
Philippians 2:1–9 (NIV) 2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.
Step 2: Exercise -Time with Jesus daily. - Walking In Righteousness. - Telling and showing other people Jesus. Step 3: Find a to place practice fighting - Your family. It starts here. - Your job. - Wherever your feet are. Step 4: Find a Coach - Discipleship: showing someone how to follow Jesus using your life and your words. - Who is showing you outside of Sunday mornings? - Who are you showing the way? Step 5: Answer the question “Who am I” See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 1 John 3:1 What God’s sons and daughters should have. - The love of God their hearts (romans 5:5) - The power of God in their hands (john 14:12, mark 16:16-18) - The ability to articulate the simple gospel (mark 16:15, Acts 10:42) What they do with it: - About their Father’s business (advancing of his kingdom) (Luke 2:49) - Walk Love to the Unlovable (Matt. 6:44-45) - Desire to please God more than man (Gal. 1:10) - Walking in the spirit (Rom 8:14)What you get as a child of God Identity verses: son and daughters - You are his beloved child. (Luke 3:22) - You have authority to crush the power of the enemy. (Luke 10:19) - You are Jesus’s disciples. (John 15:8) - You are a friend of God. (John 15:15) - You are chosen and appointed by God, and have been created to bare his fruit. (John 15:16) - You belong to God. (Roman 1:6) - You are loved by God and called to be saints. (Romans 1:7) - You have been made right with God, and you now have peace with God. (Roman 5:1) - You are dead to the power of sin, but are free to run in righteousness. (Romans 6) What you need to walk in as a child of God: 1. Your whole life laid down and your moment by moment following/depending on Jesus. 2. Pursue Jesus in secret daily 3. Baptism of the HOLY GHOST
