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FONTANA COMMUNITY CHURCH

FOR SUCH A TME AS THIS…It all began with a government official who had an intense personal prejudice and hatred for a group of people who had become part of his nation. He used his position of governance to schedule their total annihilation. God intervened, prompting an unlikely savior of the people through these timeless words: "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

The edict had gone out from the Persian Prime Minister Haman for the death of every single exiled person from the tribe of Judah who remained in Persia. “…The command was to kill all the Jews on a single day. The day was to be the 13th day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. And the command was to take everything that belonged to the Jews.” Esther 3:13

In response, the beautiful young Jewish woman, Esther, chosen to marry the Persian King, Xerxes, was encouraged by her Cousin Mordecai to go to the King and intervene on behalf of her people. Mordecai sent her a letter penned with the legendary question which called her forth to save her people. "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Born with the Hebrew name Hadassah, which represents righteousness, Esther certainly lived up to her name when she went to King Xerxes without being summoned, an offense punishable by death. “So I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!" ( Esther 4:16)

Esther spent 3 days fasting and in prayer before stepping forward and interceding for the Jewish people, also setting a trap for the wicked Haman who had issued the edict. As it is with all evil, haughty schemers, Haman overlooked one crucial detail. Esther trusted God with her life and depended on Him alone for her deliverance.

Fearlessly, she revealed her hidden Jewish heritage, and begged for mercy for herself and her people. She successfully interceded with King Xerxes and secured the lives of the remnant Jewish nation "What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half my kingdom!" (Esther 5:3)

Esther didn’t take advantage of the opportunity to profit for herself. For her, there was only one course of action, and that was to submit to the will of God Almighty, whatever that might be. She began her fight to save her people by being willing to sacrifice her life. Does anyone see Jesus here?!?

A little over 2 months later, on the 23rd day of God’s 3rd month, the 4th day of June on our 2021 Gregorian calendar, an edict by King Xerxes that had previously doomed the remaining Jewish people to death, was reversed, and the very same King gave the Jews the royal right to defend themselves and to pay their enemies back.

“…on the 23rd day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all of Mordecai’s commands to the Jews, and to the satraps, the governors, and officials of the 127 provinces…The king’s commands in the letters said this: The Jews in every city have the right to gather together to protect themselves. They have the right to ruin, kill, and completely destroy any army from any group who might attack them and their women and children. And the Jews have the right to take and destroy the property of their enemies. The day set for the Jews to do this was the 13th day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. They were permitted to do this in all King Xerxes’ provinces. A copy of the letter with the king’s command was to be sent out. It became a law in every province. They announced it to all the people of every nation living in the kingdom. They did this so that the Jews would be ready for that special day. They would be allowed to pay their enemies back. The messengers hurried out, riding on the king’s horses. The king commanded them to hurry…” (Esther 8:9-14)

Less than 9 months following the King's announcement of the scheduled assault, the Jewish people routed their enemy when they attacked. Chapter 9 of Esther tells the story and this one sentence stands out. "...No one could stand against them, because the people of all other nationalities were afraid of them."

God intervened in the affairs of mankind, bringing his chosen servant, Esther, to the place where she would exalt Him by trusting Him with her life. As a result, the people of Israel defeated their enemies in 2 days. Esther became Queen of Persia, the largest empire on the earth during her lifetime. Mordecai became preeminent among the Jews, second in ruling rank to King Xerxes himself.

The most unlikely of saviors stepped forward and in just a few short months, delivered their nation from certain destruction. And the devilish Hamen was executed on the very gallows he had built for the public execution of Mordecai.

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS…

The song “Gallows” by Jess Ray closes today’s lesson perfectly.

"Someone’s on the prowl, trying to take us down

But we ain’t giving up now.

A liar and a thief, coming after you and me

But we ain’t giving up now,

The harder the wind will blow,

The deeper our roots will go.

And the devil is gonna hang,

Oh the devil is gonna hang,

The devil is gonna hang from his own gallows.

Though the waters try to drown,

And the flames they surround

Oh We ain’t giving up now.

Even though we may tread through the valley of death

Oh We ain’t giving up now.

The harder the wind will blow,

The deeper our roots will go.

And the devil is gonna hang,

Oh the devil is gonna hang,

The devil is gonna hang from his own gallows.

If you’re stumbling in the dark,

Run your hands against the walls

Find every window, and every door,

Throw them open, throw them open.

In will flood a blinding light,

And it will chase away the night

Even if you shield your eyes.

Let it pour in, let it pour in, LET IT POUR IN

The harder the wind blows,

The deeper our roots will go.

And the devil is gonna hang,

Oh the devil is gonna hang,

The devil is gonna hang from his own gallows.

THE DEVIL IS GONNA HANG FROM HIS OWN GALLOWS."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pupsopSaJ8&feature=share 

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THE LITTLE CHURCH IN THE WILDWOOD

Fontana Community Church
 20 Fontana Church Road, P.O. Box 93
Fontana Dam, NC 28733

828-479-2675 Leave Message

Email: mail@fontanacommunitychurch.org