Sunday Service|| After these things: then what?|| Pastor Joe Tarkon|| City of David Atlanta

Devotional

Day 1: God’s faithfulness in remembering and promoting you.

Even when it feels like your efforts have been overlooked and others are elevated ahead of you, remember that your life is in the hands of a sovereign God. He sees your diligent work and your character when no one else is watching. Your moment of divine promotion is not dependent on human recognition but on His perfect timing and plan. Trust that He is orchestrating events for your ultimate good and His glory. [01:49:21]

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)

Reflection: When you consider a situation where you felt overlooked or passed over, what is one way you can actively choose to trust in God’s timing and sovereignty this week?

Day 2: The call to unwavering character in obscurity.

True character is revealed not in the spotlight but in the shadows, when no human eye is upon you. It is the consistent choice to do what is right, to fulfill your responsibilities, and to maintain your integrity simply because it is who you are in Christ. This steadfastness forms the backbone of lasting success and divine promotion. Your faithfulness in small things prepares you for greater responsibility. [01:28:19]

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matthew 25:21, ESV)

Reflection: What is one responsibility or task you tend to neglect when you think no one is watching, and how can you approach it this week as an act of faithfulness to God?

Day 3: Releasing bitterness and the poison of unforgiveness.

Harboring a grudge or nurturing anger toward someone who has wronged you is a poison that damages your own heart and spirit. It blinds you to God’s blessings and can shut doors to your own future. The call to forgive is not a dismissal of the hurt but a command to release the burden of vengeance to God, who judges justly. Letting go is an act of trust in God’s greater plan. [01:36:08]

“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” (Romans 12:19, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a specific person or past offense you have been holding onto? What would be a practical first step in releasing that hurt to God this week?

Day 4: Understanding that your life is woven into a larger story.

Your actions and obedience have ripple effects far beyond your immediate circumstances. The decisions you make today—how you treat others, the seeds you sow—will impact generations to come. God’s instructions are not isolated commands but are part of a grand, historical tapestry He is weaving. Your faithful obedience contributes to a story much larger than yourself. [01:38:09]

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7, ESV)

Reflection: Considering the people you interact with daily, how might God be calling you to sow seeds of kindness and integrity, knowing your actions are part of His larger story?

Day 5: Embracing your purpose beyond personal accumulation.

Wealth and success are not ultimate goals but tools entrusted to you by God for a purpose. They are a responsibility given to you to steward for divine purposes, to help others, and to fulfill the mandate God has placed on your life. True blessing is found in using what God has given you to be a conduit of His grace and provision to the world. [01:14:09]

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one resource—whether time, talent, or treasure—that God has entrusted to you, and how can you intentionally use it this week to serve someone else?

Sermon Summary

The book of Esther supplies the frame for a practical call to faithful character, responsible wealth, and patient hope. Using the episode in chapter three—where Mordecai’s service averted a palace coup while Haman rose to power—the text probes what happens “after these things.” Wealth receives an ethical definition: accumulation exists to fund God-ordained purpose rather than self-hoarding. Character becomes the backbone for lasting success; steady, unseen fidelity prepares destiny even when recognition delays. Mordecai remains at his post despite being bypassed, illustrating that duty performed in obscurity both honors God’s order and preserves future opportunity.

The narrative also diagnoses the danger of long-held grudges and secret malice. Haman’s ancestral hatred and personal vendetta grow into a genocidal plan, showing how patience without healing becomes poison. Gossip, busybodying, and the desire to publicly judge others earn spiritual consequences and erode communal trust. History receives moral weight: choices made today weave into future events, so unjust or mercenary actions can return in unforeseen ways.

Practical imperatives appear throughout: do the assigned work without repeated coercion, resist the temptation to report or destroy rivals, and open one’s resources to uplift others. Examples of generous giving and mentorship counteract hoarding instincts; generosity enlarges networks that later advocate on one’s behalf. The closing summons emphasizes spiritual formation—detoxifying malice, praying for character, and trusting that God governs promotions and timing. The closing assurance roots hope in divine sovereignty: seasons of elevation arrive in God’s timing, and faithful character situates a life to receive them.

Key Takeaways

1. Wealth is a divine responsibility Wealth functions as stewardship tied to vocation and mandate, not merely personal accumulation. Treating resources as entrusted instruments reframes financial aims toward durable purpose—supporting ministry, mercy, and the long arc of covenant work. Responsible management restrains greed and frees generosity that shapes communal flourishing. [73:08]
2. Character sustains destiny in obscurity Character shows in what one does when no one watches; steady fidelity builds the infrastructure of future promotion. Performing duties without coercion or constant oversight trains judgment, earns trust, and preserves influence for moments of testing. Hidden faithfulness puts a person in position when pivotal opportunities arise. [76:38]
3. Don't nurse grudges—detoxify bitterness Unaddressed anger hardens into a history-shaping vice that corrupts judgment and provokes disproportionate retaliation. Letting go of vendettas preserves emotional clarity, protects communal life, and prevents small wounds from becoming catastrophic plans. Forgiveness and confession interrupt cycles that otherwise return harm across generations. [96:08]
4. Use wealth to bless others Money that stays hoarded shrinks vocation; money that circulates multiplies purpose and witness. Generosity undergirds relationships that can testify on one’s behalf, create safety nets, and produce ripple effects beyond immediate comprehension. Fiscal boldness for kingdom ends aligns resources with prophetic timing and historical impact. [75:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[33:04] - Opening expectation and praise
[65:46] - Thanksgiving and blessing
[68:39] - Remembering lives and ripple effects
[71:31] - Reading: Esther chapter three
[73:08] - Series on stewardship explained
[76:38] - Theme: "After these things" — character
[81:11] - Mordecai, Haman, and promotion tension
[96:08] - Dangers of grudges and malice
[110:36] - God’s timing and encouragement
[117:50] - Closing prayers and benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Esther 3:1–6 (ESV)
After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king’s command?” And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew. And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

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Observation questions

What three major events took place in the kingdom before the events of Esther 3?
What reason did Mordecai give for not bowing to Haman?
How did Haman’s anger toward Mordecai escalate beyond a personal grudge?
What does the phrase “after these things” suggest about the relationship between past actions and present outcomes?

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Interpretation questions

Why might God have allowed Mordecai to be overlooked for promotion even after he saved the king’s life?
How does unadd anger, like Haman’s, distort a person’s judgment and lead to disproportionate actions?
In what ways can hidden faithfulness, like Mordecai’s daily work at the gate, prepare someone for future purpose even when it seems unnoticed?
How does the ancient rivalry between the Jews and Agagites help explain the intensity of Haman’s hatred?

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Application questions

Wealth is a divine responsibility, not just for personal accumulation [13:50]. How are you currently using your resources to support God’s purposes in your community, rather than merely storing them for yourself?
Character shows in what one does when no one is watching [28:19]. What’s one area in your work or home life where you’re tempted to cut corners when no one sees? How can you cultivate faithfulness there?
Unaddressed anger hardens into history-shaping vice [36:08]. Is there a grudge you’ve been carrying that’s affecting your relationships or decisions? What step can you take this week to detoxify that bitterness?
Money that stays hoarded shrinks vocation; money that circulates multiplies purpose [15:34]. Who is one person you can intentionally bless financially or mentor practically this month?
Leaders do their job without being coerced or begged [28:04]. Where in your life do you need to take ownership without waiting for external pressure or approval?
Your life is not just your life alone—it’s woven into history [39:34]. How might your choices today affect future generations in your family or spiritual community?
God never demotes His own [49:52]. When have you felt overlooked or bypassed? How can you trust God’s timing and sovereignty in your season of waiting?

Sermon Clips

The blessing of God is not money. The blessing of God is more than money. It's just an act money is just an attribute of the blessing of God. One of the expressions of the blessings of God. For God is the one that gives you the power to get well. He said the blessings of the Lord, what does he do? He makes rich and he adds no sorrow to you. God has blessed you with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. And I pray by god that in your life and in your lifetime, there will be a a translation, a tangibility of that which God has blessed you in the heavenly realm. Amen. [01:14:41] (36 seconds) #BlessedBeyondMoney

After these things in your life, what what is gonna happen next? Because I wanna talk about personal character as a bulwark for success in life. As a bulwark, as a backbone, as a spine for success in life. In Joshua chapter one verse eight, he said this book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. He said for you shall meditate therein, what? Day and night that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein. For then you will make your way, what? Prosperous, and you will have good success. [01:16:38] (30 seconds) #CharacterForSuccess

The bible says that love, what does it do? It covers. It covers. It covers sins. It covers. It does not amplify it. Did you hear, did you hear what? Who made you a reporter? And you too, when they speak ill about you, take your case to God in prayers. When anger become bitterness, the consequences are not pleasant to the bearer of the anger. That's a sad thing. The one carrying the anger, the consequences are not pleasant to you. It poisons your mind. It blinds your heart. It damages your emotion, and it stops you from functioning well. [01:45:50] (51 seconds) #LoveCoversSins

When you plot another person's fall, number one, you violate scriptures. Number two, you set yourself up for a fall. Number three, you become a judge where you should be a supplicant. You become a judge. The bible says we pray for one another. The bible says that we assist one another. I'm talking about character development. Character. This is one thing destroying many people. And when you go around with that kind of character, you don't know that it shuts doors for you when your own time is coming. [01:43:06] (35 seconds) #CharacterOpensDoors

I want you to put yourself in the context of this story. When you've done your best and you're overlooked, when you've done your best and things fall apart for you, others are lifted up above you. After these things, I want you to know that God's moment in your life begins to unfold. I want you to get that. This message is just for a handful of people. God's moment in your life begin to unfold. Joseph, after these things, after betrayal, God elevated him. David, after obscurity, God begin to unpack things in his life. [01:24:38] (39 seconds) #YourSeasonIsComing

God gives you wealth as a responsible disposition, as a virtue from God, rest to make you responsible and to manage wealth responsibly. So it's not just about accumulation to get as much as you can. Can all you get, sit on the can, and throw away the key. But it is to use wealth for divine purposes because I'm sure you know that on this earth, God put you here for a purpose. I'm sure you know that. So God wants to empower you financially so that you can use wealth for his glory, for his purpose, and to fulfill the mandate of your being on earth. [01:13:47] (44 seconds) #WealthForPurpose

I said I was going to report it. As I was praying, the Lord said, don't do it oh. He said, because I knew what will happen the moment I report him. He said one day, they will scandalize you and report you too like that. You will not be there. They will carry out action against you. Are you listening to what I'm saying? I kept my mouth shut. I say if he's going to die, let him die by another man's sword, not by my sword. [01:41:25] (23 seconds) #WisdomInSilence

sometimes you suffer, it's because you're a busy body. Let's go on. Next verse. He said, yet if any of you suffered as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. Glory to God. Mordecaiyah was not suffering for being a murderer, for being a busybody, for being an evildoer. He was not suffering for any of those things. He was suffering for his core convictions. [01:34:33] (29 seconds) #SufferForConvictions

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Sunday Service|| After these things: then what?|| Pastor Joe Tarkon|| City of David Atlanta

Devotional

Day 1: God’s faithfulness in remembering and promoting you.

Day 2: The call to unwavering character in obscurity.

Day 3: Releasing bitterness and the poison of unforgiveness.

Day 4: Understanding that your life is woven into a larger story.

Day 5: Embracing your purpose beyond personal accumulation.

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Sunday Service|| After these things: then what?|| Pastor Joe Tarkon|| City of David Atlanta

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