New Work Fellowship Podcast

Shadow Blessings: the Story of Esther

“Blessings in the Pressure”

Esther 3-4

 

John 16:33, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.”

2 Timothy 3:1, “…in the last days there will be very difficult times.”

2 Corinthians 1:8, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired…” 

Job 5:7, “People are born for trouble…”

 

How to find the Blessing in Pressure?

 

1. Pressure cannot be avoided… Accept it

See chapter 3.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered ... We were under great pressure. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God.”

 

 2. Pressure isn’t to be faced alone… Share it

See chapter 4.

 1 Peter 5:6-7, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

Galatians 6:2, “Share each other's troubles and problems.” 

 

3. Pressure isn’t to be rushed… Take your time

See chapter 4:10-11, 15-16.

Proverbs 25:15, “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.”

Proverbs 16:32, “Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.”

4. Pressure isn’t an excuse… Do what is right

Esther 4:16b, “…I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”

Isaiah 7:9, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”  

 

FINAL THOUGHT:  Titus 2:12, “For the grace of God...teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness...and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”

You were made for this!

Shadow Blessings: the Story of Esther

“Patience in the Shadow”

Esther 1-2

 

…behind the dim unknown, 

Standeth God within the shadow,

keeping watch above his own.

“The Present Crisis”—by James Russell Lowell

 

1. Awaken to God's PRESENCE

Meet the Characters:

Mordechai:  Esther’s older cousin, possibly uncle

Esther (Hadassah): Orphaned Hebrew girl, raised by Mordechai

King Xerxes: King of Persia, 485-465 BC

Queen Vashti: Queen of Persia 

"God swings some mighty big doors on little hinges."

- anonymous

 

“But if I go to the east, he is not there;

if I go to the west, I do not find him.

When he is at work in the north,

I do not see him;

when he turns to the south,

I catch no glimpse of him.

But he knows the way that I take;

when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Job 23:8-10

 

2. Acknowledge your dependence upon God's Provision

"The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; He directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases."  Proverbs 21:1

"God has brought you into the kingdom for just such a time as this." Esther 4:14b

"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good gift is from the Father." James 1:16-17

“For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9 

Ruthless Pursuit

“Slow Your Roll”

Mark 4:35-41

 

Intro:  If you could travel any highway in the world, which would it be?

Key Truth: Living a biblical rhythm of life often means adjusting our pace of life. 

 

How do you slow down for the purpose of godliness?  (Mark 4:35-41)

1) Listen to and follow Christ. (vs. 35-36)

a. God has called you to another side of life.

b. We experience Christ on that journey. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

 

2) Live at a pace that allows for care. (vs. 37-38)

a. Recognize the tyranny of the urgent.

b. Accept and show God’s care.  (Isaiah 43:1-2, 1 Peter 5:6-7)

 

Be intentional about the things that matter most!

 

3) Trust God. (vs. 39-41)

a. Be still… and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)

b. God is in control. (Philippians 4:6-7)

 

Final Thought: What is driving you?  Are you living at a pace that is God-honoring?

Ruthless Pursuit

“Less is More”

Matthew 6:19-34

1 Timothy 6:6, “…true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.”

 

How do we shift from ‘More and More’ Want to ‘More and More’ Contentment?

1. STOP IT!

v19, “Don’t store up treasures …”

Do not Thesaurizo Thesauros!

Do not Treasure Treasures! Ask the question: What does this really cost?

 

2. Get your EYES CHECKED

v22-23, “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness…”

Ask the question: Where is the Lie?

1 Timothy 6:8, “So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.”

 

3. Listen to YOUR HEART

v24, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”

 Ecclesiastes 2:11, “But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.”  

Luke 12:15, Then Jesus said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

Ask the Question: Do you know Jesus?

 

4. Trust God’s PROVISION

v25, “That is why I tell you not to worry…”

Proverbs 30:8b-9, “…Give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.”

Ask the Question: Am I living like I’m a BELIEVER?

 

Final Thought: The Most Important Things in Life are not Things!

Ruthless Pursuit

“Just Stop”

Luke 4:14-16 & Mark 2:23-28

 

What do you want most out of life?  Unlimited desire + finite humanity = restlessness   “You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
- Augustine

 Stopping for Sabbath rest:  (Luke 4:14-16)

1) It all begins with God. (Genesis 1:1)

a.    God works (1:3-26) and God rests (2:1).

b.    The first thing God makes holy is a period of time. (2:1-3)

 

2) Sabbath rest is about the journey of life God wants for you. (Exodus 16)

a. Sabbath rest requires anticipation and intentionality. (vs. 21-23)

b. Sabbath rest is more about imitating God than following rules. (vs. 24-27)

 

“Rest yourself before you wreck yourself.” – Kevin DeYoung, Crazy Busy

3) Sabbath rest is about resting in Christ. (Mark 2:23-28)

a. It’s more than physical rest.  It is spiritual rest for believers. (Hebrews 4:1-3a)

b. It is about trusting God. (Psalm 46:10)

 

“Fortunately for us, God breaks into our work and says, “OK, good job. Now it’s time to rest. Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on the universe.”

- Richard Swenson, The Overload Syndrome

 

4) How do you practice Sabbath?

a. Pick a time. (Genesis 1)

b. Prepare for that time. (Exodus 16)

c. Fill that time. (Mark 2)

d. Protect that time. (Psalm 46)

 

Final Thought:  What we make room for in our life shows what we value most in our hearts.  Make room for Sabbath.

Ruthless Pursuit

“Shhh. Hear That?”

Matthew 3:13-4:2

 

What if you changed your life?

 

“What if the roaring racket of our hurried lives, renders us deaf to the whisper of God?”

The first practice is, Silence and Solitude.

 

Jesus practiced Silence & Solitude:

• Luke 5:16, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

• Matthew 14:13, “Jesus … withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.”

• Matthew 14:23, “After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.”

 

So how do you start to practice?

1.    Find your PLACE

• 4:1, “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness…”

2.    Quiet your NOISE

• Luke 5:16, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” 

  • When we get hurried and overly busy; the quiet place is often the first thing to go, rather than our first go-to. 

3.    Seek your FATHER

• John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

• Genesis 28:16, Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!”

 

John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

What if it is, in fact, the lifestyle that leads to the life we long for?

 

Mark 6:31, Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”

Ruthless Pursuit

“Hurry up and Wait”

Matthew 11:28-30

 

“Finally, there was a gentle breeze, and when Elijah heard it, he covered his face… He went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. The Lord asked, “Elijah, why are you here?” 1 Kings 19:12-13 (CEV)

“Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:30 (The Message)

 

Jesus cautions us…

The Danger in a Life of Hurry

• v28, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens.”

• Isaiah 49:4 “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.”

Said the robin to the sparrow,
“I should really like to know,
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so.”
Said the sparrow to the robin,
“Friend I think that it must be,
That they have no Heavenly Father,
Such as cares for you and me.”

Jesus invites us…

 To Delight in His Habit of Living v29, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

The Rule of Life: ruler, straight stick, trellis, support Jesus’ Rule of Life: Abiding. (See John 15:5-8)

“Attention is the beginning of devotion”.

ChristMESS Words

"Defining Words"

Luke 2:21-38

 

What are important words?

·       _________________________

·       _________________________

·       _________________________

·       _________________________

 

Words to hear…

• v30, “I have seen your salvation”.

  • Words to speak: Please, forgive me.

    • Romans 3:23, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

    • Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

v38, “[Anna] came along just as Simeon was speaking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God.”

• Words to speak: I love you

  • John 3:16, (NIV), “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

  • Matthew 22:37, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

 

v38, “…She talked about the child to everyone…”

• See Romans 10:9-10 “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved...”

• See Philippians 2:8-11, “…God exalted him …and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord…”

• See Romans 10:14, “…how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?”

 

Words to speak: Do you know Him?

• See John 1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

ChristMESS Words

"Your Most Important Words"

Luke 1:26-56

 

Your most important words are a response to God’s word:

 1) God’s promise and purpose fulfilled. (vs. 26-33)

a. Do you see what God has done?

 

2) Right relationship revealed. (vs. 34-38)

a. Do you hear what God has said?

 

What is your response?

 

3) God’s word and work confirmed. (vs. 39-49)

a. Are you stepping into the work God has for you?

 

4) A right response of praise. (vs. 46-56)

a. Are you giving all glory to God?