Faith in Action: Esther's Boldness and Community

1. "What we understand, having been made alive in Christ, the most beautiful community... The most beautiful community that you can find is one that is biblical. Biblical community is where we exist in partnership together with a shared love and a common calling to advance the kingdom of God, where we have what we learned in our last study through Philippians, what Paul called koinonia, this fellowship community that is driven by fellowship and mission. Like we're not just here to be together. We're on a mission with one another, which is why we end every service the way that we do, which if you've not been here before, you'll experience that in a little bit." [02:34] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2. "Fascinating. In my research for this, I came across a commentator who said this in an application of this action of Esther. People who hope to be used of God must boldly put themselves in a position where God can work through them rather than sitting back, doing nothing, passively hoping and waiting for God to do something. The Lord has entrusted you, right here with things. He has positioned you right here at this point in history with the influence of the relationships and the assets that you have for a reason." [10:20] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "Some of us sometimes are paralyzed by procrastination. And oftentimes behind that procrastination is the dangerous assumption that I will have more time later and an opportunity in the future to do what God has called and told me to do. Now, don't assume you'll have another chance in a later time. When we know what God has called us to do, commanded us to do, given us direction to do, that becomes the point of action where we have to have a spirit of resolve and determination to do." [12:39] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "Esther's determination is very similar to what we see displayed in Jesus as he was committed to fulfill the Father's command. Luke 9, verse 51, if you want to write that down or flip over there real quick, it says this, when the days were coming to a close for him to be taken up, he, Jesus, determined to go to Jerusalem. Jesus had resolve. Jesus had commitment. He was not walking away from the cross, but walking toward it. And in Christ, praise him for it. There was no reluctance. There was only resolve." [13:44] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "When we follow through, when we choose faith over fear, something that's not popular, something very important happens. We get insight to it in 1 Peter 4, verse 11. It reads this way. If anybody serves, let it be from the strength that God provides so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. What's the connection? When we act, when we step, when we serve, let it be from God's strength. That's the promise that we can rely on." [25:27] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


6. "Many of us are waiting on God to act when God is actually waiting on us to act in faith first. Let me say it one more time. Many of us are waiting on God to act while God is actually waiting on us to act first in faith. Now here's the clarity point. If you hear that wrongly, you can apply that theologically to say that God is dependent on me. That is not what I'm saying. In love, God loves you, but he does not need you. He desires you. He invites you into his mission. But he's not dependent on us for anything. He is all sufficient in and of himself." [29:28] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


7. "For you and I to really see and experience the supernatural power of God in our life, we gotta be willing to follow him every step by obedience. And sometimes it means you gotta step over fear and do what God's told you to do without knowing what might happen. It may cost you your life or you may watch the supernatural power of God. It may cost you the protection and provision of God. You never know. But here's what I do know. Faith is measured by footsteps. One step at a time. That's how faith is measured. One step at a time. And God sees that because we read in Hebrews 11, verse 6, without faith, it is impossible to please him." [34:11] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)