A FIVE FOLD PLAN FOR DEALING WITH YOUR PROBLEMS
8/5/09 Esther 4:1-17
1. Most often problems & crises ignored
a. Deal with the symptoms or worse “what ifs”
b. Go unsolved or their lessons lost – repeat!!
c. Dr. Seuss Poem –
Did I ever tell you about the young Zoad?
Who came to a sign at the fork of the road
He looked one way and the other way too
The Zoad had to make up his mind what to do –
Well, the Zoad scratched his head,
And his chin, and his pants. –
And he said to himself, "I’ll be taking a chance.
If I go to Place One, that place may be hot
So how will I know if I like it or not.
On the other hand, though, I’ll feel such a fool
If I go to Place Two and find it’s too cool
In that case I may catch a chill and turn blue.
So Place One may be best and not Place Two.
Play safe," cried the Zoad,
"I’ll play safe, I’m no dunce.
I’ll simply start off to both places at once.
And that’s how the Zoad who would not take a chance
Went no place at all with a split in his pants.
(Turning Points by Dan Cormie – Sermon Central)
2. Incorporate Esther & Mordecai
a. responses as one in dealing w/probs. & crises
b. believe that their response evidence of turning
1. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY Vs. 1-3
A. Examining Your Part
1. Personally
2. Corporately
B. Expressing Your Pain
1. Demonstratively
2. Deliberately
C. Exposing Your Fears
1. Factually
a. As long as remains in dark controlling
b. Legend of Persian General – strange way
i. Condemned person two choices
ii. firing squad or “Black Door”
iii. In all yrs no one ever chose Black Door
iv. "You see how it is with men; they will always prefer the known way to the unknown. It is characteristic of people to be afraid of the undefined.
v. aide asked “What is behind the Black Door
vi. general smiled grimly and replied, "Freedom”
(Esther-The Fearful Heroine by Jeff Strite –Serm. Cent.)
c. Facts –unchangeable law & undeniable peril
i. ignore & hope go away – wouldn’t
ii. each day brought closer to death
2. Faithfully
a. Sgt. Joe Friday – Dragnet; talking to witnesses
b. “All we need are the facts, ma’am”
c. “Just the facts, Ma’am”
d. More you embellish fear larger it grows
2. RESPOND WITH COMPASSION 4-6
A. Acknowledging the Person v.4a
1. All of Jewry was involved – Mordecai’s name
a. exceedingly grieved – twist; writhe; give birth
2. I see and feel your pain
B. Acting with Concern v.4b
1. Did what she could to remove the pain
2. When rejected – didn’t get mad or give adage
C. Asking for the Facts v. 5
1. She was ready to listen!
a. Can’t Listen when talking
b. Can’t listen when solving
c. Can’t Listen when leaving
2. Listening is Hard Work
L - look the person in the eyes
I – Ignore desire to speak
S – sensitive to the speakers emotion
T – Time; time; time!!
E – express your understanding or lack of it
N – Never tell them how they ought to feel
3. BE SURE OF YOUR PLANS Vs.7-14a
A. Involve Other People
1. Not By Demands or Threats
2. Not as a Last Ditch Effort
B. Investigate Possible Outcomes
1. Most Probable – King would deny
2. Worst Case – King would destroy
4. UNDERSTAND THE TIMES Vs. 14c
A. God is Always In Control
1.Evil & Immorality seem to be winning
a. Perversion yesterday acceptable today
b. New show on TV Community – Prof to stud.-
i. I’ve been married & divorced 7xs. Must be something I’m missing
ii. Stud. to prof “The only thing you’re doing wrong is marrying! Hmm, I’ve never thot of it that way!
2. In reality God is in Control
B. Does not Relieve my responsibility to Act
1. God does not need me but will use me
2. To fail to act is to surrender
• In 1776, one vote gave America the English language
instead of German;
• In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the union;
• In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment.
• In 1923, one vote gave Adolph Hitler control of the Nazi party
(You Can Make a Difference by Donnie De Loney – Serm. Central)
C. No Pain/No Gain; No Risk-No Reward
The founder of IBM Thomas Watson says: "The way to succeed is to double your failure rate."
Or as Thomas Edison said "There is only one good idea in 100 so I want to discover the 99 failures as quick as possible.”
Roughly 60% of all basketball shots made don’t go in. 75% of all batters never make it to first base.
In an oil company, only 10% of oil wells drilled hit oil.
(Turning Points by Dan Cormie - Sermon Central)
5. INVOLVE THE LORD Vs 15-17
A. What is Last Here Should have been 1st
1. Mordecai was crying but not praying
2. Vs. 3 Saved the Day – Jews turned back
2 Chronicles 7:13-15 (KJV) 13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attentive unto the prayer that is made in this place.
3. What place? Humility; prayer; relationship; repentance
