WHEN GOD OPENS A DOOR FOR YOU
ESTHER 2:1-7; 16-17
INTRO. BY OUR OWN MEANS AND INGINUITY, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE CANNOT ACCOMPLISH: THINGS THAT REQUIRE THE DIRECT DIVINE INTERVENTION OF ALMIGHTY GOD. AS I ROLL BACK THE TABLETS OF MY MIND AND SHARE WITH YOU THAT IT WAS MAY 10TH, 1999, THAT GOD OPENED THE DOOR TO THE PASTORATE OF ZION BAPTIST CHURCH. I DID NOT BECOME PASTOR BECAUSE I WAS SMART, OR BECAUSE OF THE DEGREES BEHIND MY NAME, BUT BECAUSE GOD GRACIOUSLY OPENED THE DOOR AND HEARTS OF THE MEMBERS OF ZION TO EXTEND TO ME AN INVITATION. THAT’S WHAT JEREMIAH 3:15 MEANS IN STATING THAT GOD WILL GIVE PASTORS ACCORDING TO HIS OWN HEART. IF THAT’S NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU, IT WAS GOD OPENING THE DOOR TO SALVATION BY SENDING HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON TO TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD. WE WERE NOT GOOD ENOUGH, SMART ENOUGH, RICH ENOUGH, NOR RIGHTEOUS ENOUGH. YES MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS, GREAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN GOD OPENS A DOOR FOR YOU.
I. THE TEXT
CHAPTER TWO CONTINUES THE DRAMA THAT UNFOLDED IN CHAPTER ONE. THE KING RECALLS THE EVENTS THAT CAUSED VASHTI TO BE DEPOSED AS QUEEN. HIS HEART WAS LONELY AS HE EXPERIENCED THE RESULTS OF A HASTY DECISION. THE KING REGRETED DIVORCING VASHTI, BUT HIS LAW WAS IRREVOCABLE.
THE KING’S SERVANTS RECOMMENDED THAT ANOTHER WIFE BE FOUND FOR THE KING. CONSEQUENTLY, THEY HELD THE FIRST MISS PERSIA BEAUTY CONTEST. THIS INTRODUCES US TO MORDECAI AND HIS YOUNG COUSIN ESTHER. HADASSAH WAS HER HEBREW NAME, WHICH MEANS MYRTLE. ESTHER, WHICH MEANS STAR, WOULD BECOME HER PERSIAN NAME AFTER SHE MARRIED THE KING. AS HER NAME MEANS STAR, SHE WOULD BECOME THE STAR FOR HER PEOPLE.
MORDECAI CHARGED ESHTER THAT SHE SHOULD NOT MAKE HER NATIONALITY KNOWN. WHY? BECAUSE THE PERSIANS HATED THE JEWS, HOWEVER, WE SEE THE OVERRULING HAND OF GOD OPENING THE DOOR FOR HIS PEOPLE. GOD IS A GOD WHO PROVIDENTIALLY MOVES IN THE LIVES OF MEN.
WHEN THE KING SAW ESTHER, IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. HE PLACED THE CROWN ON HER HEAD AND DECLARED THAT SHE WAS THE NEW QUEEN. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, GOD CAN FIX IT SO THAT WHEN IT APPEARS THAT THE ODDS ARE STACKED AGAINST YOU, A DOOR OF BLESSINGS ARE OPENED IN YOUR FAVOR. WE MAY NOT HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION, BUT WE HAVE A GOD THAT REDEFINES AND RE-WRITES JOB DESCRIPTIONS. ESTHER GOES FROM PRISON TO THE PALACE.
II. OPENED DOORS
WHEN GOD OPENS DOORS OF BLESSINGS FOR US, WE MUST BE SURE TO DO THREE THINGS. FIRST, WE MUST THANK HIM. 2 SAM. 22:49, “AND THAT BRINGETH ME FORTH FROM MINE ENEMIES: THOU ALSO HAST LIFTED ME UP ON HIGH ABOVE THEM THAT ROSE UP AGAINST ME: THOU HAST DELIVERED ME FROM THE VIOLENT MAN. 50THEREFORE I WILL GIVE THANKS UNTO THEE, O LORD, AMONG THE HEATHEN, AND I WILL SING PRAISES UNTO THY NAME.” 1 CHRONICLES 16:8, “GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, CALL UPON HIS NAME, MAKE KNOWN HIS DEEDS AMONG THE PEOPLE.” SECOND, WE MUST HAVE THE COURAGE TO WALK THROUGH THE DOOR, ACTS 12:10 TEACHES THAT WHEN PETER AND THE ANGEL WERE PAST THE FIRST AND THE SECOND WARD, THEY CAME UNTO THE IRON GATE THAT LEADETH UNTO THE CITY; WHICH OPENED TO THEM OF HIS OWN ACCORD: AND THEY WENT OUT, AND PASSED ON THROUGH ONE STREET. MATT. 7:7, “ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU; SEEK, AND YE SHALL FIND; KNOCK, AND IT SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU: 8FOR EVERY ONE THAT ASKETH RECEIVETH; AND HE THAT SEEKETH FINDETH; AND TO HIM THAT KNOCKETH IT SHALL BE OPENED.” NEVER ASK GOD TO OPEN A DOOR AND REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE. THIRD, ONCE YOU HAVE RECEIVED HIS BLESSINGS, SHARE THEM WITH SOMEONE ELSE. DON’T KEEP GOD’S BLESSINGS ALL TO YOURSELF. IF GOD BLESSED YOU WITH A POSITION TO HIRE SOMEONE, DON’T SAY I GOT MINE, YOU GET YOURS. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE GRACE OF GOD OPENING THE DOOR, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE WHAT YOU HAVE.
GOD IS STILL OPENING DOORS TODAY. HE IS OPENING DOORS AT ZION, AND IN OUR LIVES. SOMEBODY IS LOOKING FOR GOD TO OPEN A DOOR OUT OF SIN; HE’S ABLE. SOMEBODY IS LOOKING FOR GOD TO OPEN A DOOR OUT OF SOME ADDICTION; HE’S ABLE. SOMEBODY IS LOOKING FOR GOD TO OPEN A DOOR TO GOOD HEALTH; HE’S ABLE. IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE THAT GOD OPENS DOORS, JUST ASK DANIEL; ASK THE HEBREW BOYS; ASK THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL; ASK OUR OWN MEMBER, SISTER DONNA SAVAGE; ASK PHILLIP PASCHAL.
