If we were describing the setting of Esther in 6 words: “Game of Thrones without the dragons”
*this is about kings and queens, politics, elaborate wealth, hidden agendas, death (lots of impaling), trickery, good and evil; it involves sex, power, pride, tragedy and triumph == and God’s hand guiding and overseeing it all.

It is set in the Persian Empire around 480 BC

This story opens in chapter 3 with an introduction of the villain in the story: Haman.

Review from last week:
When you find yourself living in exile, (in a culture opposed to your beliefs) you are tempted in 2 directions: conformity and isolation. But both ways lead to failures. Assimilation is a failure of nerve, and isolation is a failure of heart. Assimilation fails to resist; isolation fails to love. We must learn what Mordecai and Esther learn throughout this story: the call to live in the tension in-between in following after God within that tension. To not drift toward assimilation - nor isolation! To live a 3rd way, if you will. We see within the Scriptures what we’re called to be in this world, but not of it.
Key Take-Away for series:
Hiddenness is a theme that shapes the whole book of Esther. At times, God may seem silent, but He is never absent

It's now some 12 years into King Xerxes reign – and Haman has risen to power and the King's most trusted advisor.

Mordecai refuses to bow to Haman. This is the beginning moments where Mordecai’s faith – the roots of his faith begin to push back against the conformity of cultural influence that is coming up against him. He seems no longer content to simply ‘duck’ or ‘hide’ who he is and just go along with things.

Which begs the question for us?
As people seeking to live in the tension of following after God within the tension of not fully assimilating into culture, but nor isolating away from culture – have you wrestled with what you ‘line’ is?
It seems that this will be an issue that we each must face as we seek to live in the tension – living out a 3rd way of being in the world, but not of it…

Esther and Mordecai are ‘in the culture’ and seem assimilated into the culture. But there are still roots to their faith growing and God ignites a growing bravery within them to stand in faith instead of hiding.

It’s fascinating when we contrast their growing bravery to the bold brazen bravery we see in Daniel’s story a few years before in Babylonian captivity. He was so bold in his faith from early on in his teen years. He stood in compliance to culture, but he would not budge his faith as cultural influence pushed against it.

As you look at Daniel’s story in comparison – there is definitely a contrast.
We're a lot more like Esther/Mordecai per say –vs-- Daniel.
But – look at your life now - how have you seen God building and growing your bravery for him, for faith? How might he want to do more?

Quote: Andy Crouch
“The vulnerability that leads to flourishing requires risk, the possibility of loss—the chance that when we act, we will lose something we value.”
Vulnerability, is about putting ourselves in harm’s way at times. At its best, it means putting ourselves in harm’s way for the sake of others.
We don’t love our cities well by withdrawing and doing nothing. We also don’t love them well if we waste our lives with political arguments about who has victimized whom the most.

I think that is why the teachings of Jesus, even the prayer (Lord’s Prayer – Matthew 6) that Jesus taught the disciples is so pivotal and key for us.
“Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name – your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (may the way things operate in heaven, be the way things operate more and more here)

– Jesus teachings and this prayer promote us to dream. As humans, we’re built to dream -- But to dream within godly parameters and passions so that our dreams promote the things of God and his good in the world and avoid the twisting of evil and the sadistic hatred Satan longs to propagate.

We know Satans intentions – Jesus tells us: “the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy; but I have come to bring life, life to the full” (John 10:10)

Selfish fantasy promotes unhealthy dreams – dreams really meant to push others down and promote our prideful desires.

But godly dreams are about expanding the hope and reach of God and His good in this world and bring about blessings for others and us!

v. 14 - is often seen as the pinnacle verse in the entire book

We said this earlier: about leading out of vulnerability…
Vulnerability is about putting ourselves in harm’s way. At its best, it means putting ourselves in harm’s way for the sake of others. It’s about advocating FOR. Here Mordecai has and now Esther is preparing too…

They call a ‘fast’ – now when you read about a time of fasting in the Bible – it is meant to be a time frame of refraining from eating, or forgoing an activity in order to seek God more intently

FASTING:
Giving up something – in order to seek God’s will & activity for yourself or someone else.

FASTING: it’s about focusing our heart on God and seeking Him and His help. There will be times in your life where this practice might be very helpful to engage in. It’s not meant to make you pious (I’m better than ‘others’ because I fast) or make you feel more important. We see Jesus engage in this and many, many of his followers throughout history.

*series take-away:
At times, God may seem silent, but He is never absent.

NEED PRAYER? ....we've got some of our prayer team and pastors available following service to pray with you. You can also submit your prayer request via our app. We look forward to partnering with you in prayer.

IF YOU'RE NEW: we throw a 10-minute party immediately following the service in the back corner of the room, if you're new, we'd love to meet you and welcome you! We invite you back next weekend as we continue this series on Building Bravery (Esther's story).