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What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS ?

What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS ?. A Vivid Picture of Pathetic Self-Centeredness = Haman Who was Haman? Haman was a high official in the court of King Ahasuerus (3:1) The King promoted and advanced and set his seat above (3:1)

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What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS ?

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  1. What living lessons can 21st-century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS? • A Vivid Picture of PatheticSelf-Centeredness = Haman • Who was Haman? • Haman was a high official in the court of King Ahasuerus (3:1) • The King promoted and advanced and set his seat above (3:1) • Probably second to the king

  2. What living lessons can 21st-century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS? • A Vivid Picture of PatheticSelf-Centeredness = Haman • What was Haman’s evil plot? • He sought to destroy all the Jews in the Persian empire (3:6) • He received permission & authority from the king (3:7-15) • With the king’s signet ring, he wrote, sealed & sent: • A decree (3:12), which was issued as law (3:14) • To destroy, kill, annihilate all Jews (3:13) • To be done in 11 months (3:12-13) • There was great mourning among the Jews (4:3)

  3. What living lessons can 21st-century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS? • A Vivid Picture of PatheticSelf-Centeredness = Haman • What did Haman have/possess? • Great riches (5:11) • Multitude of children (5:11) • High honors from the king (5:11) • Advanced above all others in the kingdom (5:11) • The king’s right hand man and only other guest with Queen (5:12)

  4. What living lessons can 21st-century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS? • A Vivid Picture of PatheticSelf-Centeredness = Haman • Why did Haman want to kill the Jews? • Because one man held to his convictions • Would not bow or pay homage to Haman (3:2, 5) • Would not stand or tremble before him (5:9) • Haman had everything a noble could want (5:11-12) • But was filled with wrath b/c of Mordecai (3:5; 5:9) • All “avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai sitting” (5:12) • Haman was so incensed against Mordecai, he cried to wife & friends (5:10-14) • How pathetically self-centered!

  5. What living lessons can 21st-century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS? • A Vivid Picture of HeroicSelflessness = Esther • Who was Esther? • She was an “orphan”—both parents had died (2:7) • Cousin (adopted daughter) of Mordecai (2:7) • Queen of Persia (with Ahasuerus) after Vashti • How was Esther selected to be Queen? • She was beautiful, young and a virgin (2:2) • Went through 12 mos. beauty preparations (2:3, 12) • King loved her more than all the other women (2:17) • She pleased the king (2:4) • She obtained grace & favor in his sight (2:17)

  6. What living lessons can 21st-century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS? • A Vivid Picture of HeroicSelflessness = Esther • What kind of woman was Esther leading up to the plot? • She obtained the favor of the king’s custodian (2:9) • When she could take “whatever she desired” before the king (2:13), she took only what the king’s custodian advised (2:15) • She “obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her” (2:15) • She “obeyed the command of Mordecai” (2:20) • She was “deeply distressed” when she heard of the plot (4:4)

  7. What living lessons can 21st-century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS? • A Vivid Picture of HeroicSelflessness = Esther • What did Mordecai ask Queen Esther to do about the plot to kill the Jews? • Commanded her to go in to the king to plead for her people (4:8) • Told her that, as a Jew, she would not escape death (4:13) • Assured her that if she was silent: • God would raise up help from another place (4:14) • She and her family would perish (4:14) • Proposed that she was in her current position by the providence of God in order to save His people (4:14)

  8. What living lessons can 21st-century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS? • A Vivid Picture of HeroicSelflessness = Esther • What did Esther do when faced with ultimate challenge? • Had been Queen of Persia for 5 years (2:16; 3:7) • She (and everyone else) knew the law: • No one permitted in King’s inner court uncalled (4:11) • One law: all put to death for such (4:11) • One exception: King holds up his golden scepter (4:11) • And she had not been called in 30 days (4:11)

  9. What living lessons can 21st-century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS? • A Vivid Picture of HeroicSelflessness = Esther • What did Esther do when faced with ultimate challenge? • Had been Queen of Persia for 5 years (2:16; 3:7) • She (and everyone else) knew the law • She evaluated the situation • She & her people would be killed in less than 10 mos. • The king’s right-hand-man had the king duped and on his side • There was NO ONE ELSE who could possibly turn this around but her • Believed God had crowned her Queen to give her this opportunity

  10. What living lessons can 21st-century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS? • A Vivid Pictof Self-Centeredness Outmatched By Selflessness • While Self-Centeredness fussed and plotted (3:5-15) • Selflessness fasted and prayed (4:16) • And asked her people to fast and pray for her (4:16) • Recognized complete dependence on God and that nothing would be successful without His help! • While Self-Centeredness would not be satisfied unless an entire race perished (3:6) • Selflessness was ready to perish to keep others from perishing (4:16)

  11. What living lessons can 21st-century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS? • A Vivid Pictof Self-Centeredness Outmatched By Selflessness • Self-Centeredness created a law to harm others (3:12-15) • Selflessness went against a law to save others (4:16) • Self-Centeredness deceived the king to get his wish (3:8) • Selflessness faced death to make her wish (5:1-2) • Self-Centeredness was hasty & pushy b/f king (3:9-10) • Selflessness was timid & patient before the king (5:8) • Self-Centeredness bragged about his greatness (5:11-12) • Selflessness used caution with what she had (5:3-8) • Self-Centeredness only thought of personal comfort (6:4) • Selflessness protected well-being of others (2:21-22)

  12. What living lessons can 21st-century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS? • A Vivid Pictof Self-Centeredness Outmatched By Selflessness • Self-Centeredness only tho’t of self & his honor (6:3-9) • Selflessness let others take care of honor (6:3,6,10-12) • Self-Centeredness pouted b/c didn’t get his way (6:12) • Selflessness goes back to his rightful place (6:12) • Self-Centeredness’ doomed fate started to show (6:13) • Selflessness was nervously doing the right thing (7:1) • Self-Centeredness would love a “blank check” (3:10-11) • Selflessness was trusted & shown concern (5:3, 6; 7:2) • While Self-Centeredness demanded his desires (3:3-5, 9) • Selflessness humbly submitted to higher will (5:4, 8; 7:3; 8:5)

  13. What living lessons can 21st-century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS? • A Vivid Pictof Self-Centeredness Outmatched By Selflessness • Self-Centeredness haughtily sat in place of honor (7:1) • Selflessness worded life-in-the-balance petition (7:3-4) • Self-Centeredness was terrified & begged for self (7:6-8) • Selflessness did not dare tell the king what to do (7:3-6) • Self-Centeredness brings shame & ruin (7:9-10; Pr. 11:2; 16:18) • Selflessness receives grace and gifts (8:1-2, 7-17) • While Self-Centeredness turns people off (3:15; 7:7) • Selflessness appeals to the goodness in others (8:15-17; 9:4, 18-19; 10:3)

  14. What living lessons can 21st-century Christians learn from Esther about SELFLESSNESS? • A Vivid Pictof Self-Centeredness Outmatched By Selflessness • While Self-Centeredness proceeds from joy to mourning • Selflessness proceeds from morning to joy (9:22, 28) • While Self-Centeredness only thought of himself • Selflessness only thought of others • While Self-Centeredness works only to advance self • Selflessness willingly sac. opportunities for good of others • Self-Centeredness says, “What can/will God do for me?” • Selflessness says, “What can I do for God?” • Self-Centeredness & Selflessness both prove the truth • “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Gal. 6:7)

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