What Am I Here For?
Objective: Participants shall find their mission in life by applying lessons
from Queen Esther's experience.
A 3-hour self-study course for Jews, Christians and atheists. In the 470s BC, King Xerxes ruled Persia and Esther was queen. For background, read the book of Esther ( or Megillat Esther and Purim) and below. Then write: My life purpose is ___________.
1. I am here to speak up...for God...with words and service.
>I cannot keep silent.
Once I refused, but now I must prepare and speak up
(Esther
4:14).
>Esther was no accidental beauty queen. She was God's plan. When blessed,
ask: Why me, Lord?
*Like Joseph, Ruth, Daniel and
David, I can choose to speak up when asked or when I can help.
***By worshiping (upreach) and fellowshipping (inreach), I too prepare to speak up
(outreach).
***My 3 great choices of life: my faith (upreach), my spouse (inreach), and my
job (outreach).
**Life is a
test: A- I am a Player (Life is a game), B- I am an Achiever (Life is a
power-race), or
C- I am a
Messenger (Life is a com-mission).
*What will you be when you grow up (down)? Who really needs you? You are made
by God for God.
2. I am here to speak up now...or forever miss my opportunity.
>I was born for
such a (difficult) time as this
(Esther 4:14).
I was elected/commissioned for this.
*Only I can reach some now. I can follow God's plan and live forever. Or I can delay and
perish.
*I have been given gifts (& passion) to use in my assignment. In my
testimony, timing is
everything.
***The past is Bible History, the glorious present is now, and the future is the
Advent of the Lord.
***Today I have still many opportunities to help, to heal, to encourage someone in
God's stead.
**But this life is temporary: My Alien Resident's Card is expiring. Time is
a gift that ends.
*What opportunity is at hand? And in what big task will (and did) God use me?
Your will, not mine!
3. I am here to speak up with certainty at all cost...and fearlessly risk all.
>If I perish, I
perish. I dedicate my life fully to be God's messenger
(Esther 4:16).
*God gives me parcels to deliver, some big ones and many small ones. In any
weather.
*What am I worth? Can my life make a difference? Is it worth to chance all on
God? Yes!
*I simplify and de-clutter my life so that I can find all that I lost. I find
my mission.
*My mission is to play the 2nd fiddle...to God. What a privilege! What will it cost me?
All.
**I am handing God a signed blank page and ask Him to write in my detailed orders.
By faith.
*Paul: "The work assigned me by the Lord is telling the Good News about God's
love." Acts 20: 24
*What is your life purpose? Is it your job or family or something else? Will
you go for it?
Comments
"Mordecai was really a good teacher to Esther. He was the one who really spoke up. She was afraid for her life at first, knowing the consequence for approaching the king, but Mordecai made her realize that she would die, anyway, if she didn't at least try to save her people - because she would have been included in the decree of killing ALL the Jews. So, what did she really have to lose? He also made her realize that she may have been placed in her very position to be used of God to save her people. That very well could have ended up being her only chance to speak up.
It was good that she was teachable and listened to Mordecai's wisdom in guiding her to do the right thing. She also used wisdom by preparing first - with setting aside three days of fasting and asking all to join her in that, beseeching God's favor for her when she would go to the king. God clearly intervened to work it all out in such a way as He did. It is of utmost importance that we seek His help before we do things, and especially when our lives could be at stake. Our lives are at stake, anyway, so better we have His help than no help.
It seems there are two ways in this life - hard (with God) and harder (without God). It is just a training ground, like you said, a test. It takes the practice of many times of trusting and remembering the victories to have the courage we need when the harder tests come, so every right choice makes us stronger to choose right the next time." By Jeanette Galicki of Citrus Heights
“The book of Esther was the subject of a great deal of debate about whether it should even be included in the Hebrew scriptures and the Christian Bible. One of the greater points of contention had more to do with what the book lacked than with what it contained. There is no specific mention of God or of prayer. Yet the book of Esther is still a religious work. For although God is not seen or even heard on its stage, God is standing in the wings, following the drama and arranging the props for a successful resolution of the play. The author is saying that, as in the case of Mordecai and Esther, [God] can be relied upon to reverse the ill-fortunes that beset individuals or the nation–provided that [faithful people] actively do their part, acting wisely and courageously.” [from the commentary on Esther, in the NRSV of the New Oxford Annotated Bible]
We are living in an
awesome time. God is moving by His power and grace. Not only do we get to see
it with front row seats, but we get to be a part of it. God is using us, for His
glory. We are the vessels of God, bringing healing, deliverance and victory to
those in need. It's not the time to sit back and let this time pass by us. No -
we need to rise up and take our place. God has been teaching and training us
for some time now, and this is the time. We need to say, "Use me Lord", "I'm
available", "Whatever the job assignment may be, I'm willing and available for
you." God has no spare parts in the body of Christ. We all are needed!! Each
one has an active part in God's plan, with their own job assignment to carry
out.
When we fail to meet our assignment we cause a piece to be missing, a gap and
God has to pass the assignment on to someone else. I don't want someone else
fulfilling my assignment. So no matter what the cost may be, we will fulfill
the call. It's time for us to take our place, for the work ahead of us.
Realizing we have the life of God, the power of God and the word of God...."For
such a time as this." By Harry Wilson,
http://www.cornerstonefamilychurch.net/time.htm
If we want to be counted among God’s people, then we must fulfill our God-given role “For Such a Time as This.” http://www.thechurchinaurora.org/sermons/sermons2000/Such%20a%20Time%209-3-00.htm
In the outworking of God's plans, he invites us to participate with him. As in the days of Esther, God is overseeing circumstances and placing people into strategic positions. But we still need to do our part. No one is going to make us do it. I cannot tell you what your role is in God's plans . But whatever it is, who knows but you have come to your position for such a time as this. http://www.torahbytes.org/62-21.htm
Our only business is to love and delight ourselves in God. The end we ought to propose to ourselves is to become in this life, the most perfect worshipers of God we can possibly be, as we hope to be through all eternity. Brother Lawrence.
Library
Warren, Rick, The Purpose Driven Life, Grand Rapids, MI, Zonderman, 2002, ISBN-0-310-20571-9 http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%253D151295%2526M%253D150019,00.html http://www.parable.com/fh/item.asp?sku=0310205719&ct=Excerpt
Esther: http://house2house.org/lordwhyamihere.html http://www.handmaiden.org/vessel/profile.htm http://fly.hiwaay.net/~wgann/walk_ot/esther.htm http://www.bible.org/docs/splife/chrhome/love/love-09.htm http://www.servinggod.org/Sermons/Esther/Esther06.htm http://www.corrytonchurch.com/outlines/05082002PM.htm
Life purpose: http://www.vaxxine.com/cfi/seminars/lifepurp.htm http://spo0031.thetestimonies.org/testimony.htm http://www.why-am-i-here.com/ http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/ds/q0502/ http://www.fathersworld.com/fatherhood/article.cfm?template=relationship&article_id=843 http://www.wesleyan.org/sphelps/believe/believe4.htm http://www.northcoastchurch.com/sermons/fp06hom.htm