Darby Creek Church [DCC]
Sermon notes for church service at Darby Creek Church on Sunday, April 26, 2020. Service starts at 10am EST.
Music from today
No Greater Love
I Give You My Heart
10,000 Reasons
The Squeeze is On [April 26, 2020] Greg Burlile
The Squeeze is On
The values being promoted in the Persian empire were:
The size of your wallet (materialism)
The size of your waist (appearances)
Guard Your Heart and the Things that Influence Your Heart
Proverbs 4:23 ESV - Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Is God’s Word influencing you more than worldly wisdom?
Are some of your closest confidents, wholehearted followers of Jesus?
Realize the choices we make now, impact our children & grandchildren
Why were Esther and Mordecai in the city of Susa?
The previous generations had not followed God wholeheartedly. They compromised and allowed their culture to squeeze them into it’s mold. As a result, God allowed them to be conquered and exiled. He promised them, He would one day gather them back but not until they went through a period of discipline.
God Still Uses Us Even though We Make Poor Choices
Mordecai - ordered Esther to stay silent about her faith
Esther - slept with the king; married an unbeliever
Daniel experienced this type of exile yet stood his ground.
In God’s providence, He uses even our failures to advance His purposes.
People get so upset when they see stuff like this happening in the Bible.
Does God save those who live morally exemplary lives?
NO! God saves and gives His grace to those who don’t deserve it and who don’t fully appreciate it even after they receive it!
We are to pursue holiness, but we’ll not be perfect this side of heaven.
Esther 2:1-23 ESV