Are You Ready to Take a Stand When It Matters Most?
Picture this: You're faced with the greatest crisis of your life. Everything you hold dear is threatened. The question isn't whether you agree something is wrong – it's whether you're willing to risk everything to do something about it.
That's exactly where Queen Esther found herself in Esther chapter 4. And if we're honest, it's where many of us find ourselves today when God calls us to take a stand.
The Deadly Dilemma of Approaching the King
In Esther 4:10-11, we read: "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces do know that whosoever whether man or woman shall come unto the king into the inner court who is not called there is one law of him to put him to death except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter that he may live. But I have not been called to come in unto the king these 30 days."
Esther knew the law. Anyone who approached the king uninvited faced the death penalty – unless the king extended his golden scepter. And here's the kicker: she hadn't been called to see her own husband in 30 days.
But knowing the law and acting on it are two different things entirely.
The Classic Christian Excuse: "I'm Just Not Called"
Sound familiar? When faced with something scary that we don't want to do, we pull out the classic excuse: "Lord, I'm just not called."
Not called to share the gospel this week
Not called to speak up against injustice
Not called to get involved when others are hurting
But here's the truth: We ARE called. All of us. We don't need an engraved invitation from heaven to stand up for what's right.
Palace Christianity vs. Prophetic Christianity
Esther was living in palace Christianity – comfortable, safe, removed from the harsh realities outside. But God was calling her to prophetic Christianity – speaking truth, taking risks, making a difference.
Which type describes your faith?
Palace Christianity keeps you comfortable but ineffective. Prophetic Christianity costs you something but changes everything.
The Devastating Truth About Silence
In verse 13-14, Mordecai delivers a wake-up call: "Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall their enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed."
Here's what we need to understand: Silence in the face of evil is evil.
When you say nothing, you're not being neutral. You're:
Giving permission to the oppressor
Siding with the predator
Choosing cowardice over courage
The Domino Effect of Your Silence
Your silence doesn't just affect you. It impacts:
Your family (your children inherit the consequences)
Your community
Your church
Future generations
But here's the hope: God desires to use you, but He doesn't need you. If you won't stand up, He'll raise someone else. The question is: Will you miss your moment?
Positioned for Such a Time as This
The most famous phrase from this passage comes in verse 14: "And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
Notice something crucial: Mordecai asked this as a question, not a statement. He wasn't giving Esther a guarantee – he was calling her to walk by faith.
You Are Strategically Positioned
You didn't become who you are overnight. Just like Esther went from Hadassah the orphan to Queen Esther, God has been preparing you through:
Your past experiences (even the painful ones)
Your current position
Your unique gifts and opportunities
You may think you're the least likely to make a difference, but God has you where you are because you're the most needed.
The Harvest Time is NOW
We don't have unlimited time. The harvest season is brief. If you're waiting for the "perfect moment" to:
Share your faith
Stand against injustice
Speak truth in your workplace
Have difficult conversations in your family
That moment is now. For such a time as this.
The Golden Scepter: Your Only Hope of Approaching God
Here's where the story gets even more powerful. Esther needed the king's golden scepter to approach and live. Without it, she would die.
This points us to an eternal truth: We cannot approach a holy God and live without His permission.
"Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto" (1 Timothy 6:16).
Even Moses, the meekest man in the Bible, couldn't look at God's face and live (Exodus 33:20).
Jesus Christ: The True Scepter
But here's the good news! In Numbers 24:17, we read: "There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel."
Jesus Christ is the scepter that came out of Israel. He is:
The divine ruler with divine authority
The only mediator between God and man
The only way to approach God's throne and live
Without Jesus Christ as your scepter, you cannot enter God's presence. But with Him, you can "boldly approach the throne of grace" and obtain mercy.
The Urgency of the Gospel
How long did the king hold out that scepter for Esther? Just a short while.
How long do we have to hold out the scepter of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world? Also just a short while.
People are dying every day. Without Jesus Christ, they cannot step into God's presence. We have a limited time to share the gospel, to take a stand, to make a difference.
Your Moment of Decision
Just like Esther, you face a choice:
Will you stay silent in your comfortable palace?
Or will you risk everything to stand for what's right?
The question isn't whether you'll face opposition – you will. The question is whether you'll have the courage to act when God calls.
Remember: God doesn't call the equipped. He equips the called.
You don't need to have it all figured out. You don't need to be fearless. Courage isn't the absence of fear – it's taking action when fear is present.
The Call to Action
So what is God calling you to do "for such a time as this"?
Is there injustice in your workplace that needs addressing?
Is there someone hurting who needs your help?
Is there a difficult conversation you've been avoiding?
Is there someone who needs to hear the gospel?
Don't wait for an engraved invitation. Don't use the excuse that you're "not called."
You ARE called. The question is: Will you answer?
Your past experiences weren't wasted – they prepared you for this moment. Your current position isn't accidental – God strategically placed you there.
The harvest is now. The time is short. The need is great.
Will you take a stand for such a time as this?
This powerful message challenges us to examine our own hearts and ask the tough questions about our faith and courage. If you'd like to dive deeper into this life-changing passage, I encourage you to listen to the entire message! 🎧✨ There's so much more rich expository preaching and verse-by-verse Bible teaching that will strengthen your faith and challenge you to live boldly for Christ.