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ESTHER 4:13, 14

"THE ETERNAL PURPOSES OF GOD"

I. GOD HAS A PLAN FOR THE WORLD.
        A. World events are under His control.
                1. He appoints the rulers.
                2. Nebuchadnezzer.
        B. You are included in God's plan.
                1. He has certain purposes He wants you to fulfill.
                2. He is now preparing you for a future work.
                        a. "Thou hast beset me before & behind. . ."
                3. Looking back, can trace the hand of God.
                4. His purposes begin long before we are aware of them.
        C. We look at Queen Esther.
                1. God had been preparing her for and bringing her to the
                   Kingdom for such a time as this.
                2. She was chosen Queen.
                3. She was a Jewess but had not revealed it.
                4. Her cousin Mordecai who had raised her after she had
                   been orphaned, incurred the wrath of Haman 2nd in
                   command.
                        a. Haman was on a power trip.
                                1. Brought to his attention that Mordecai
                                   refused to bow to him.
                                2. His ego couldn't handle that.
                                3. Devised a decree that all the Jews
                                   should be exterminated.
        D. It was God's eternal purpose that through the Hebrew people the
           Messiah should be born.
                1. Here 500 years before His birth, Satan is trying to
                   thwart the plan of God by the extermination of the
                   Jews.
                2. God knew of Satan's plan and so had His people located
                   in their place.
                3. No way can the Jewish people be destroyed.

II. ESTHER'S MOMENT OF DESTINY HAD COME.
        A. She must intercede with her husband for her people.
                1. Because of the strict laws of the Persian court, she
                   hesitated going in to him.
                2. Should anyone come in uninvited, unless he raised his
                   scepter to them, they were executed.
        B. Her cousin Mordecai pointed out the alternatives.
                1. If she goes in she might perish.
                2. If she doesn't go in she will surely perish.

III. GOD'S PURPOSES WILL NOT FAIL.
        A. You may fail, His purposes cannot fail.
                1. "There enlargement and deliverance shall arise."
                2. God will save His people.
                3. You have been given the opportunity to be the
                   instrument through which God will work.
                4. If you fail you will be set aside, and God's purposes
                   will be fulfilled by other agencies.
        God will fulfill His eternal purpose.
        You have the privilege of being the vessel He uses.
        If you will yield your life to be used by Him, then He will reward
        you as though you were responsible for the results.
        Esther made her commitment and was used by God as the instrument
        to preserve His people.