Now is the Time!

Now is the Time!

Become what God wants you to be!

2004019

Topic: 1073

Introduction:

A. Hadassah – Jewish orphan brought up by her cousin in foreign land a thousand miles from home.

1. Hers is a true rags/riches story. Here is a young girl:

a) Going from an obscure; unknown existence to being queen of most powerful nation on earth.

b) Imagine going from plain/ordinary to beautiful. Weak to strong.

2. Hadassah’s story is one we’re familiar with.

a) In her we see godly woman: filled w/courage; wisdom; strength.

b) She blocks an evil plot against her people; overthrows a vile killer; and creates joy in thousands of Jewish homes.

3. The young woman is probably in her mid to late teens. We know her by her Persian name: Esther.

B. Esther is a profile in godly character and heroism. Read through the 10 chapters of Esther and find a young woman who:

1. Was willing to seek advice on how to do the right thing.

2. Possessed strong convictions and was willing to act on them.

3. who risked her own personal security for the purpose of God – 4:16

4. Allowed herself to be used by God for the ultimate accomplishment of His purposes.

a) Mordecai’s statement: 4:14

C. Great lessons from this story.

1. God chooses to work through those who are willing to ACT for Him!

2. Encourage everyone: release God to act in your life!

a) We should pray as if all depended on God & act as if all depended on us!

b) We must grow into the kind of Christian that commits himself to DO what God wants – and trust in Him for the outcome!

D. What propelled Esther to be strong & courageous?

1. Wonder what Hadassah learned growing up in Mordecai’s household?

2. How strong were her godly principles? Can’t we see her life was built upon a strong spiritual foundation?

3. As she is coming of age – we see the fruit of a godly home!

4. God uses her good character & circumstances to accomplish His purpose!

E. How strong is the foundation that you are building your life on?

1. Mt. 7:24-27

2. How stable is your faith? Col. 2:5b-7

3. Realize the great potential you have! You already have a head start!

a) Proud of the good decisions you already make in a world that cares little about God!

b) Keep up the good work!

F. Today we’ll talk about the importance of building on a spiritual foundation! As we go through lesson – I believe you’ll see all these qualities present in Esther!

I. Character gives splendor to youth!

A. Character defines who we are! Pro. 23:7; Mt. 12:34b-35

1. No more important time than in the teenage years to develop integrity/character!

2. Solomon’s instructions – Pro. 3:1-12

a) 3:5 – trust God; 3:6 – acknowledge Him

b) 3:7 – respect for God involves humility!

c) 3:9, 12 – involves honoring God & accepting His discipline.

B. Good character begins with recognition & respect for God! It begins w/submission to His will!

1. Even though God is not mentioned in the book of Esther – there can be little doubt that Esther relied heavily upon God!

a) Esther 4:16 – calls for a fast.

b) OT – prayer always accompanied fasting – Ex. 34:28; Deut. 9:9; Ezra 8:21-23

c) Don’t think for a moment that Esther didn’t recognize the need for God’s deliverance!

2. We must take God will absolute seriousness!

3. God must become the most serious concern of our entire life!

C. God is real!

1. Ex. 19:16-19; 20:8-19. Must have been an awesome sight!

2. Compare to Heb. 12:18-29

a) 12:22 – Christians have come to Mt. Zion.

b) 12:28-29 – God must not only be recognized – but respected!

D. How often do we neglect opportunities to learn from God’s word?

1. Neglect opportunities to worship?

2. Neglect spending time w/God’s people – preferring those of the world?

3. Not careful: we can lose respect for God & lead our lives away from Him!

II. Integrity is a must for the Christian!

A. Integrity & character go hand in hand.

1. Integrity = “adherence to moral; ethical principles; soundness of moral character; humility.”

2. Esther 2:15 – Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her.

a) Not talking just about physical beauty…

b) But an inner beauty built upon godliness; honesty; integrity.

c) Same said of Joseph gen. 39:3 – another young man serving God w/all his heart.

3. Integrity is a must for the Christian. Psa. 15; Pro. 3:3-4; 19:1; 20:7; Micah 6:8; Lk. 6:31

B. You can begin NOW building a positive influence for Christ!

1. It starts by building on the little things!

C. Jesus demands we build our lives upon the foundation of respect, dignity, and trust!

1. If this foundation is weak, then we will never live up to the potential we have. All of us have potential!

2. Let Christ take your life & mold it into being His kind of person!

3. Building on respect, dignity, and trust is something that cannot be ignored or hidden!

D. Character built w/the little things. How important are the little things?

1. Biblical principles ARE NOT flexible!

a) A lie is a lie is a lie! “white or black” See Col. 3:9; Rev. 21:8, 27; 22:15

b) Say what you mean; mean what you say. Let your word be your bond! Jesus – Mt. 5:37

E. Character is made in the small moments of our lives (Philip Brooks)

1. Break a godly principle; it creates a crack in your foundation of integrity!

2. Maxwell: when times get tough – it becomes harder to act w/integrity – not easier! Character isn’t created in crisis, it only comes to light!

3. Everything you have done in the past, and the things you have neglected to do – come to a head when under pressure.

F. This requires constant attention!

1. Don’t do something that you would be ashamed of!

a) Are there things in your life you’d be ashamed to tell your spouse; parents; etc?

b) Remember, God knows! He is watching – ALWAYS! 1 Cor. 4:5

III. Building Character is YOUR responsibility!

A. Development of character is an inside job. We must not look to the outside to explain deficiencies in character.

B. Integrity is not determined by circumstances.

1. Popular thinking: people of poor character are that way b/c they grew up in bad environment.

2. Yes…upbringing & environment affect us – esp. when young.

3. As one becomes older – he b/c responsible for choices made.

4. EACH one responsible for choices made in life – Gal. 6:5; Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:9-11; Ezek. 18:20-24.

C. You must take responsibility for your life!

D. Worry less about what others think – give attention to our inner self!

1. Gal. 1:10 – seek to please God – not men!

2. Col. 3:10, 12-17 – done through a change of heart!

IV. No spiritual foundation is complete without conviction that leads to courage!

A. Mordecai refused to bow before Haman – Mordecai would not acknowledge Haman as a god. So Haman determined to destroy the Jewish people.

1. Esther 4:1 – Mordecai learns what is planning on being done.

2. 4:8 – he pleads w/Esther to go before the king and plead on behalf of the Jewish people.

B. 4:11-16 – She takes action! See the courage that rises forth from her!

1. 4:11 – she calculates the cost – her life was in danger for doing this.

2. 4:16 - She determined the lives of the Jewish people to be more important than her own.

3. And moved forward w/her plan! She had enough conviction to do what was right!

C. We too must make up our minds!

1. There will be situations that we must approach w/firm resolve!

2. It is in those times that we must decide on the matter fully!

3. We must resolve to

a) Know what is right/wrong in God’s word

b) Do that which is right – at all times!

4. Young people need to do this – because resolve can wane when temptation strikes….

a) Don’t hide b/h my parents won’t let me.

b) Stand up for your principles as a Christian!

5. Obligate yourself to obey God’s word at all times!

6. Stand on your convictions! Hold up that which is right!

Conclusion:

A. Esther, who risked her life appearing before the king, became a heroine.

B. Mordecai, who was effectively condemned to death rose to become the prime minister of the nation.

1. 10:1-3.

2. Godly service & courage does not go unnoticed by God!

C. Now is the time to become what God wants you to be!

1. It’s never too early to start working toward becoming God’s kind of person!

2. You can begin today by building a spiritual foundation that will last throughout eternity!

3. Mt. 7:24-25

D. Have you released God to act in your life?

E. Obey the gospel today!



Now is the Time! *Become what God wants you to be!* 2004019 Topic: 1073 Introduction: A. Hadassah – Jewish orphan brought up by her cousin in foreign land a thousand miles from home. 1. Hers is a true rags/riches story. Here is a young girl: a) Going from an obscure; unknown existence to being queen of most powerful nation on earth. b) Imagine going from plain/ordinary to beautiful. Weak to strong. 2. Hadassah’s story is one we’re familiar with. a) In her we see godly woman: filled w/courage; wisdom; strength. b) She blocks an evil plot against her people; overthrows a vile killer; and creates joy in thousands of Jewish homes. 3. The young woman is probably in her mid to late teens. We know her by her Persian name: Esther. B. Esther is a profile in godly character and heroism. Read through the 10 chapters of Esther and find a young woman who: 1. Was willing to seek advice on how to do the right thing. 2. Possessed strong convictions and was willing to act on them. 3. who risked her own personal security for the purpose of God – 4:16 4. Allowed herself to be used by God for the ultimate accomplishment of His purposes. a) Mordecai’s statement: 4:14 C. Great lessons from this story. 1. God chooses to work through those who are willing to ACT for Him! 2. Encourage everyone: release God to act in your life! a) We should pray as if all depended on God & act as if all depended on us! b) We must grow into the kind of Christian that commits himself to DO what God wants – and trust in Him for the outcome! D. What propelled Esther to be strong & courageous? 1. Wonder what Hadassah learned growing up in Mordecai’s household? 2. How strong were her godly principles? Can’t we see her life was built upon a strong spiritual foundation? 3. As she is coming of age – we see the fruit of a godly home! 4. God uses her good character & circumstances to accomplish His purpose! E. How strong is the foundation that you are building your life on? 1. Mt. 7:24-27 2. How stable is your faith? Col. 2:5b-7 3. Realize the great potential you have! You already have a head start! a) Proud of the good decisions you already make in a world that cares little about God! b) Keep up the good work! F. Today we’ll talk about the importance of building on a spiritual foundation! As we go through lesson – I believe you’ll see all these qualities present in Esther! I. Character gives splendor to youth! A. Character defines who we are! Pro. 23:7; Mt. 12:34b-35 1. No more important time than in the teenage years to develop integrity/character! 2. Solomon’s instructions – Pro. 3:1-12 a) 3:5 – trust God; 3:6 – acknowledge Him b) 3:7 – respect for God involves humility! c) 3:9, 12 – involves honoring God & accepting His discipline. B. Good character begins with recognition & respect for God! It begins w/submission to His will! 1. Even though God is not mentioned in the book of Esther – there can be little doubt that Esther relied heavily upon God! a) Esther 4:16 – calls for a fast. b) OT – prayer always accompanied fasting – Ex. 34:28; Deut. 9:9; Ezra 8:21-23 c) Don’t think for a moment that Esther didn’t recognize the need for God’s deliverance! 2. We must take God will absolute seriousness! 3. God must become the most serious concern of our entire life! C. God is real! 1. Ex. 19:16-19; 20:8-19. Must have been an awesome sight! 2. Compare to Heb. 12:18-29 a) 12:22 – Christians have come to Mt. Zion. b) 12:28-29 – God must not only be recognized – but respected! D. How often do we neglect opportunities to learn from God’s word? 1. Neglect opportunities to worship? 2. Neglect spending time w/God’s people – preferring those of the world? 3. Not careful: we can lose respect for God & lead our lives away from Him! II. Integrity is a must for the Christian! A. Integrity & character go hand in hand. 1. Integrity = “adherence to moral; ethical principles; soundness of moral character; humility.” 2. Esther 2:15 – Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her. a) Not talking just about physical beauty… b) But an inner beauty built upon godliness; honesty; integrity. c) Same said of Joseph gen. 39:3 – another young man serving God w/all his heart. 3. Integrity is a must for the Christian. Psa. 15; Pro. 3:3-4; 19:1; 20:7; Micah 6:8; Lk. 6:31 B. You can begin NOW building a positive influence for Christ! 1. It starts by building on the little things! C. Jesus demands we build our lives upon the foundation of respect, dignity, and trust! 1. If this foundation is weak, then we will never live up to the potential we have. All of us have potential! 2. Let Christ take your life & mold it into being His kind of person! 3. Building on respect, dignity, and trust is something that cannot be ignored or hidden! D. Character built w/the little things. How important are the little things? 1. Biblical principles ARE NOT flexible! a) A lie is a lie is a lie! “white or black” See Col. 3:9; Rev. 21:8, 27; 22:15 b) Say what you mean; mean what you say. Let your word be your bond! Jesus – Mt. 5:37 E. Character is made in the small moments of our lives (Philip Brooks) 1. Break a godly principle; it creates a crack in your foundation of integrity! 2. Maxwell: when times get tough – it becomes harder to act w/integrity – not easier! Character isn’t created in crisis, it only comes to light! 3. Everything you have done in the past, and the things you have neglected to do – come to a head when under pressure. F. This requires constant attention! 1. Don’t do something that you would be ashamed of! a) Are there things in your life you’d be ashamed to tell your spouse; parents; etc? b) Remember, God knows! He is watching – ALWAYS! 1 Cor. 4:5 III. Building Character is YOUR responsibility! A. Development of character is an inside job. We must not look to the outside to explain deficiencies in character. B. Integrity is not determined by circumstances. 1. Popular thinking: people of poor character are that way b/c they grew up in bad environment. 2. Yes…upbringing & environment affect us – esp. when young. 3. As one becomes older – he b/c responsible for choices made. 4. EACH one responsible for choices made in life – Gal. 6:5; Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:9-11; Ezek. 18:20-24. C. You must take responsibility for your life! D. Worry less about what others think – give attention to our inner self! 1. Gal. 1:10 – seek to please God – not men! 2. Col. 3:10, 12-17 – done through a change of heart! IV. No spiritual foundation is complete without conviction that leads to courage! A. Mordecai refused to bow before Haman – Mordecai would not acknowledge Haman as a god. So Haman determined to destroy the Jewish people. 1. Esther 4:1 – Mordecai learns what is planning on being done. 2. 4:8 – he pleads w/Esther to go before the king and plead on behalf of the Jewish people. B. 4:11-16 – She takes action! See the courage that rises forth from her! 1. 4:11 – she calculates the cost – her life was in danger for doing this. 2. 4:16 - She determined the lives of the Jewish people to be more important than her own. 3. And moved forward w/her plan! She had enough conviction to do what was right! C. We too must make up our minds! 1. There will be situations that we must approach w/firm resolve! 2. It is in those times that we must decide on the matter fully! 3. We must resolve to a) Know what is right/wrong in God’s word b) Do that which is right – at all times! 4. Young people need to do this – because resolve can wane when temptation strikes…. a) Don’t hide b/h my parents won’t let me. b) Stand up for your principles as a Christian! 5. Obligate yourself to obey God’s word at all times! 6. Stand on your convictions! Hold up that which is right! Conclusion: A. Esther, who risked her life appearing before the king, became a heroine. B. Mordecai, who was effectively condemned to death rose to become the prime minister of the nation. 1. 10:1-3. 2. Godly service & courage does not go unnoticed by God! C. Now is the time to become what God wants you to be! 1. It’s never too early to start working toward becoming God’s kind of person! 2. You can begin today by building a spiritual foundation that will last throughout eternity! 3. Mt. 7:24-25 D. Have you released God to act in your life? E. Obey the gospel today!