Divine Purpose in Times of Crisis // Esther 4

Bethel Topeka

In Pastor Evan Bialk's sermon, he continues his interpretation of the book of Esther, examining chapter four. He highlights that when faced with adversity, we should turn towards God rather than pushing away our anguish or relying solely on our abilities. Addressing Western culture's tendency to suppress grief, Pastor Bialk urges the importance of recognizing and working through sorrow, as Mordecai demonstrated in his state of mourning amidst the plan to annihilate Jews.The sermon's second main point suggests that in times of crisis, we must honor our God-assigned missions, drawing inspiration from Mordecai's faith in Esther having been chosen to defend her people from within the palace walls. Encouragement was offered to listeners to accept that God has a role for everyone, and that it's vital to fulfill those roles, even when it entails stepping out of our safe spaces. Pastor Bialk wraps up his sermon by commending Esther's bravery in deciding to approach the king knowing the risk it posed to her life. He underscores her loyalty towards her people and readiness to heed God's call. The message extended to listeners is to emulate Esther, displaying allegiance to Christ and standing against evil irrespective of any discomfort or threat involved. The sermon draws on verses from Joel and Romans, demonstrating the call for repentance and obedience to God’s word respectively.Portraying Esther and Mordecai as imperfect yet significant figures in God's plans, Pastor Bialk emphasizes that irrespective of past mistakes, God can still employ individuals for his purposes.