Patience and Providence: Trusting God's Timing for Justice

 

Summary

The sermon begins with the speaker sharing a personal experience of injustice, where they were sued for a problem in a house they had sold, which they were unaware of. They relate this feeling of injustice to the biblical character Esther, who despite finding favor with the king, is surrounded by injustice. The sermon then delves into the story of Esther, emphasizing the importance of patience and timing in carrying out God's plan. Esther's decision to remain silent during the first banquet ultimately leads to a series of events that result in the downfall of Haman and the elevation of Mordecai. The speaker encourages the audience to trust in God's timing and to do the right thing at the right time, as patience produces favorable outcomes and allows for the power and glory of God to manifest.

The sermon continues to emphasize the significance of Esther's patience and silence, noting how it produced a series of events that led to Haman's downfall and Mordecai's elevation. They highlight how God's plan unfolds when we are patient and how it creates an environment for the power and glory of God to manifest. The speaker encourages the audience to trust in God's plan and to understand that patience produces providence.

The speaker then discusses the concept of providence and how it is demonstrated in the story of Esther. They explain that patience produces providence, which is God's power that sustains and guides human destiny. The speaker highlights how God's plan combined with patience leads to justice being served at the right time. They then focus on a specific scene in the next chapter where Queen Esther attends a banquet with the king. The king asks Esther for her petition and request for the third time, and Esther carefully chooses her words. She reveals that she and her people have been sold to be destroyed, killed, and annihilated. The speaker suggests that Esther is indirectly informing the king that he signed a decree to have his wife executed and her people exterminated. The king becomes indignant and asks who would dare to do such a thing. Esther identifies Haman as the wicked foe and enemy responsible for this plan, causing Haman to become terrified before the king and queen.

The sermon concludes with the speaker emphasizing the power and faithfulness of God to bring justice and deliverance. The sermon references the crucifixion of Jesus as the greatest injustice of all time, but highlights how Jesus triumphed over death and walked out of the tomb to bring good news, liberty, and sight to those in need. The speaker encourages the audience to trust in God's providence and to have patience, assuring them that justice is coming because that is who God is and what He does.

Key Takeaways:

- The speaker emphasizes that patience is key in allowing God's providence to manifest. By being patient and trusting in God's timing, we allow for the power and glory of God to manifest in our lives. ([57:09])
- The story of Esther demonstrates that God's plan combined with patience leads to justice being served at the right time. Even in the face of injustice, God's providence guides and sustains human destiny. ([59:28])
- The speaker highlights that God's idea of justice is not solely focused on retribution and revenge, but rather on making things right and restoring what is broken. No matter the injustice we face, God already has a plan in place to bring about justice and make things right in our lives. ([45:19])
- The speaker emphasizes the power and faithfulness of God to bring justice and deliverance. Even in the face of the greatest injustice, such as the crucifixion of Jesus, God triumphs over death and brings good news, liberty, and sight to those in need. ([49:32])
- The speaker encourages the audience to trust in God's providence and to have patience. By doing so, we can be assured that justice is coming because that is who God is and what He does. ([01:09:42])

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Esther 5:1-8 - Esther's approach to the king and her request for a banquet.
2. Esther 7:1-10 - The second banquet where Esther reveals Haman's plot.
3. Habakkuk 2:3 - "For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry."

#### Observation Questions
1. What was Esther's initial request to the king when she approached him in Esther 5:1-8?
2. How did Esther reveal Haman's plot to the king during the second banquet in Esther 7:1-10?
3. According to the sermon, what was the significance of Esther's patience and timing in her approach to the king? [57:09]
4. What does Habakkuk 2:3 suggest about the nature of God's timing and plans?

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Esther's patience and strategic timing reflect her trust in God's providence? [57:09]
2. In what ways does the story of Esther demonstrate that God's plan combined with patience leads to justice being served at the right time? [59:28]
3. How does the concept of providence, as described in the sermon, help us understand God's role in guiding human destiny? [59:28]
4. What does the sermon suggest about God's idea of justice, and how does it differ from human notions of retribution and revenge? [45:19]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced an injustice. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now, knowing the importance of patience and trusting in God's timing? [37:20]
2. Esther chose to remain silent during the first banquet. Are there situations in your life where you need to exercise patience and wait for the right moment to act or speak? How can you discern God's timing in these situations? [57:09]
3. The sermon emphasizes that God's justice is about making things right and restoring what is broken. How can you apply this understanding of justice in your interactions with others, especially those who have wronged you? [45:19]
4. The speaker mentioned that patience produces providence. How can you cultivate patience in your daily life, especially when facing challenges or waiting for God's plan to unfold? [59:28]
5. Think about a current situation where you feel wronged or unjustly treated. How can you trust in God's providence and remain patient, believing that justice will come in God's perfect timing? [01:09:42]
6. The sermon referenced the crucifixion of Jesus as the greatest injustice, yet it led to the greatest triumph. How can this perspective help you endure and find hope in your own experiences of injustice? [49:32]
7. Identify one specific area in your life where you need to trust more in God's plan and timing. What practical steps can you take this week to demonstrate your trust and patience in that area? [59:28]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Patience in God's Providence
Patience is a key virtue in allowing God's providence to manifest in our lives. By being patient and trusting in God's timing, we create an environment for the power and glory of God to manifest. This is a divine process that requires faith and surrender. [57:09]

Ecclesiastes 3:11 - "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
Reflection: Reflect on a situation in your life where you are waiting for a breakthrough. How can you exercise patience and trust in God's timing today?

Day 2: Justice Served in God's Timing
The story of Esther is a powerful testament to how God's plan, combined with patience, leads to justice being served at the right time. Even in the face of injustice, God's providence guides and sustains human destiny. [59:28]

Micah 7:9 - "I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication."
Reflection: Can you think of a time when you felt wronged or treated unfairly? How can you trust in God's timing and justice in this situation?

Day 3: God's Justice: Restoration Over Retribution
God's idea of justice is not solely focused on retribution and revenge, but rather on making things right and restoring what is broken. No matter the injustice we face, God already has a plan in place to bring about justice and make things right in our lives. [45:19]

Isaiah 61:3 - "To grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified."
Reflection: What is one area in your life that feels broken or unjust? How can you invite God into this situation to bring restoration and healing?

Day 4: Triumphing Over Injustice Through God's Faithfulness
Even in the face of the greatest injustice, such as the crucifixion of Jesus, God's power and faithfulness bring justice and deliverance. God triumphs over death and brings good news, liberty, and sight to those in need. [49:32]

1 Peter 2:24 - "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."
Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you felt defeated or overwhelmed by injustice. How can you lean on God's faithfulness and power to find hope and deliverance?

Day 5: Trusting in God's Providence and Patience
Trusting in God's providence and exercising patience are essential in our spiritual journey. By doing so, we can be assured that justice is coming because that is who God is and what He does. [01:09:42]

Psalm 27:14 - "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to trust in God's providence more? How can you exercise patience in this area starting today?

Quotes

"God had a plan and Esther had patience which cleared space for Providence which activated God's holy wrath and his righteous judgment." #!!01:06:03!!#

"God shouts to you today Justice is coming because you think evil will have the final say you think that bad boss is have have the final say you think that bad bully has the final say." #!!01:07:15!!#

"If Esther had said what she wanted to say when she wanted to say it at the first banquet none of this stuff would have ever happened if she had spoken the first time the way she wanted to the king would still be infatuated with hmon would still be unaware of Mori completely indifferent to the plight of the Jews and he could have easily just thrown up his hands and said oh Esther I I I feel for you but there's nothing I can do it's not my problem." #!!57:09!!#

"God wants to say to you no matter what I've got a plan but but have patience don't do the right thing at the wrong time do the right thing at the right time and the right time is always my time be patient he says rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him he also says in Lamentations that the the Lord is good to those who wait for him Ecclesiastes says there is a time for everything there's a time to move and there's a time to sit still there's a time to speak and there's a time to be silent." #!!57:41!!#

"The vision Waits its appointed time it hastens to the end and it will not lie patience produces Providence and when #!!59:28!!# it's God's time which is the right time then Justice is served Providence"

Source links:
- #!!59:28!!#: [Link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9u2Ga3mwgU&t=3568.599s)

"God says vengeance is mine because you don't have Evra and you're incapable of mpot no vengeance is mine" #!!45:19!!#

"Esther knows this stuff that God will bring Justice and it all starts with a plan" #!!45:58!!#

Chatbot