P1 Book of 2 Peter - Explaining growth in grace

2 Peter 3:18 "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."

Introduction: The need to grow in grace
In the Apostle Peter's first letter or epistle, the chief concern is to explain what it means to stand firm in God's living grace.  As you turn to the even shorter Epistle or letter of 2 Peter, the focus becomes on explaining the need to grow in such grace.  2 Peter 3:18 is being identified as the key verse to the letter, since Peter is summarizing  everything he wrote at the end, much like he did in his first letter.  Years ago commentator Richard De Haan wrote these words concerning the message of 2 Peter: "He challenged them to develop the Christian graces of faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 Peter 1:5-7). God had done His part in providing His people with full salvation; now they were to do their part by working it out through the development of these graces."1
I would only add to DeHann's observation that the Christian who is working out their salvation is doing so in concert with the Spirit's continuing work in their lives of making them more like Jesus. (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12-13)

2 Peter is all about explaining to the Christian how to grow in grace and providing exhortations (strong encouragements) to continue in such. In today's post we aim to give you the reader and outline of 2 Peter that will serve to explain what it means to grow in grace.  Much of what Peter explains about such is growth is found in 2 Peter 1:1-3:13.  In tomorrow's post we will conclude this brief overview of 2 Peter by noting the exhortations or strong encouragements to grow in grace from 2 Peter 3:14-18. 

Explaining what it means to grow in grace
2 Peter 1:1-3:13
So what does it mean to grow in the grace of God? Three main points appear to explain what Peter is writing about when it comes to this subject of growing in God's grace.

Diligently live in God's Grace. 2 Peter 1
As you consider 2 Peter 1, we find the word "diligence" mentioned three times in 2 Peter 1:5,10 & 15.  Exercising due diligence is the necessary attitude for growing in the grace of God.  In this first chapter we could unfold the a,b,c's of what it means to be diligently living in the grace of God.
1. Add to your faith.             2 Peter 1:1-9

2. Base your 
confidence in God's 
calling and election.             2 Peter 1:10-15

3. Consider the Scriptures.  2 Peter 1:16-21 

So in order to grow in the grace of God, we need to be diligently living in such grace.  But notice a second idea that Peter uses to explain this important notion of growing in grace, namely....

Defend against the enemies of grace. 
2 Peter 2
2 Peter 1 is all about mounting up an effective offensive, whereas 2 Peter 2 is all about effectively defending your growth and grace against certain enemies.  What are those enemies? Peter lists at least three such enemies here in 2 Peter 2:

a. False teachers.        2 Peter 2:1-3
b. Demonic realm.        2 Peter 2:4
c. The world.                2 Peter 2:5-11
d. False doctrine.         2 Peter 2:12-22

Unless you and I defend what ground we gain in our activity of growing in grace, we stand to lose much ground.  So Peter explains what it means to grow in grace by telling us to be diligent, and to defend, but notice the third idea: Determination.  What must the Christian be determined about as they set out to grow in grace?

Determine to know the Lord of grace. 
2 Peter 3:1-13
In these verses of 2 Peter 3 we come to know the Lord Jesus Christ in two chief ways.  First I determine to know Him as the Savior in 2 Peter 3:1-9.  Secondly, Peter writes that Jesus Christ is also to be known as the coming King in 2 Peter 3:10-13.  The first coming assumes a second coming, and the second coming of Jesus Christ is made possible because of what He achieved in His first coming.  Thus you and I believer, if we are to grow in grace, must determine to know the Lord of grace.  

More tomorrow.....
Endnotes:
1. Richard De Haan. Studies in 2 Peter. Victory Books. 1977. Page 135. 

Jesus the bread of life

John 6:32-35 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

Introduction
Jesus had just finished performing his greatest mass miracle - the feeding of the 5,000.  John 6 begins with Jesus followed by the masses and at the end of the same chapter, Jesus is left with his handful of true disciples.  In John's Gospel we see a total of seven "I am" statements that give a glimpse into Jesus Christ's Divine identity and saving mission.  In today's post we want to walk our way through John 6 to explain Jesus' self identification as the "bread from heaven".  This explanation will serve to show how Jesus' self-identification lends meaning to the celebration of the Lord's supper as centering on Jesus Christ - the bread of life. 

Jesus alone as the bread of life satisfies
John 6:35
In John 6:32-34 Jesus makes some initial statements that compares the "bread from heaven" to the ancient manna that poured down on the Israelites wandering through the desert in Exodus and Numbers.  After doing so, Jesus then says in John 6:35 "....I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst."  The point of the comparison is to show that Jesus alone can satisfy the famished soul.  Just as physical bread (ancient or modern) functions as a staple of physical life, Jesus Christ alone is the basis for salvation and the spiritual life.  The crowds following Jesus were looking to the law and Jewish traditions to satisfy them, which is why they kept making recourse to the days of Moses.  Yet as Jesus tries to explain, both the law and Jewish traditions were insufficient to meet the spiritual needs of the people.  Jesus Christ alone as the bread of life is sufficient.  But notice a second truth about Jesus identity as the bread of life....

Jesus alone as the bread of life saves.  
John 6:51
After the crowds begin to grumble among themselves about the meaning of Jesus' words, Jesus explains more clearly about how useless their man-made traditions are to save them.  In John 6:51 Jesus makes this statement:  "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread,he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”  Jesus' claim as the bread of life pushes the envelope further in the minds of His listeners.  Its one thing to say that He is more than enough, however to says He is the source of salvation or "eternal life" is to equate Himself to being God Himself. (compare Isaiah 43:10-11)  The phrase "eternal life" is used elsewhere in John to describe salvation from God's wrath on sin. (John 3:16)  Positively speaking, the gift of eternal life also refers to the actual knowledge of God the Father that is obtained whenever anyone trusts in Jesus Christ. (John 17:3) As mentioned before, physical bread is the most basic staple of physical life.  In times of extreme famine, whenever all other foods are gone or consumed, the one food that is viewed as most fundamental is bread. (compare 1 Kings 17:8-16)  Jesus Christ as the bread of life saves every believer from judgment and the penalty of their sins. (John 3:16-21; Romans 5:8-10)  So Jesus Christ as the bread of life is sufficient, saves and thirdly sustains.

Jesus alone as the bread of life sustains.
John 6:53-56
Jesus makes this startling statement in John 6:53-56 "So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him."  In essence, Jesus is saying that as the bread of life, anyone who takes Him in by faith is sustained and nourished.  What happens whenever you and I eat any food? That food becomes part of us.  Jesus is speaking of His role in the Christian life following regeneration and conversion in faith and repentance.  At salvation Christ is revealed to me as all sufficient and saving.  In the remainder of the Christian walk (sanctification), Christ is progressively revealed in me as my sustaining hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27) 

How Jesus' statements about being the bread from Heaven tie into the celebration of the Lord's supper
The living bread is in me, and I am in Him.  He sustains.  How? By talking to Him in prayer and hearing from Him in the scriptures.  Whenever I partake of the Lord's supper, I am enjoying His presence as the Spirit brings to memory all that is said about His accomplished work on the cross and His continuing work in heaven on my behalf.  This is one reason why Jesus used bread and fruit of the vine to institute the Lord's supper, to symbolically communicate the fact He is present with and in His people by His Spirit whenever they come together to dine at His table.  At the table of the Lord we reaffirm in the partaking of the bread and fruit of the vine that Jesus alone is sufficient, saves and sustains.

Conclusion
So when Jesus identifies Himself as the bread of heaven, what is He meaning?  First, that He alone is sufficient.  Secondly, that He alone can save from wrath on sin all who by grace take Him in by faith.  Then thirdly, Jesus alone sustains the Christian throughout their life and into eternity.  We also saw how these meanings aid us greatly in understanding better the Christian celebration of the Lord's table. May you and I feed on Jesus, the Bread of life. 

P3 Jesus wants a church with a conviction to be overcomer

Revelation 2:25-26 "Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. 26 He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations."

Review
For the past couple of days we have explored Jesus' message to the church at Thyatira.  Why is it important to have Godly convictions as a church? The following convictions from Revelation 2:18-29 have been proposed: 

1. Conviction to grow in Christ Rev 2:18-19
2. Conviction about Godly tolerance           Revelation 2:20-24
3. Conviction to be overcomers.  Rev 2:25-29

We looked at the first two convictions, and in today's post we will consider the third conviction that Jesus wants for His church: namely the conviction to be overcomers.

Jesus wants his church to have the conviction to be overcomers
The theme of "overcoming" is one of the major themes you will find throughout the Apostle John's writings:

1. John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” 

2. 1 John 5:4-5 "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

The word translated "overcome" is the same word from whence we get brand name "Nike".  To wear "Nike" shoes literally means to where the shoes of victory.  Jesus is saying to this church at Thyatira that for those who hold fast, hold on and hold dear to Him, the reality of reigning with Jesus will be theirs.  They have had to overcome the pressure of their culture and they needed to overcome the godless influences operating in the church.  Think of those three terms: hold fast, hold on and hold dear as three essential ingredients to what it means to have a conviction of being an overcomer in the faith.

First ingredient to being an overcomer - "Hold Fast"

To "hold fast" in Revelation 2:25 means to cling to whatever ground you have gained thus far in your Christian walk.  Just as it was in the days of Elijah and wicked queen Jezebel, there were 7,000 that had not bowed the knee to Baal. (1 Kings 19:18) In that little church at Thyatira, not everyone had bowed the knee so-to-speak to the false prophetess Jezebel.  Jesus encourages these people to "hold fast" to what they have.

Second ingredient to being an overcomer - "hold on"

To "hold on" refers to continuing in the process of gaining more ground in your Christian walk.  A conviction of being an overcomer not only means "holding the line", but also looking for more opportunities to serve the Master - Jesus Christ. Undoubtedly this second element of being an overcomer is spelled out most clearly in Revelation 2:26.  

As you and I aim to gain more ground for Jesus' sake, we will understand better our destiny as co-heirs with Him.  For now the child of God is a co-heir with Jesus Christ by position. (Ephesians 2:6-8)  However when Jesus comes back, that position will become fact.  By quoting Psalm 2, Jesus through John is telling the Christian that His destiny in being the King of the world includes the royal heritage His Father destined for every believer.  So in being overcomers, we hold on, we hold fast and thirdly we need to hold dear.

Third ingredient to being an overcomer - "hold dear"

The idea of "holding dear" is found in Revelation 2:29, wherein we are commanded to take what the Spirit is saying through the scriptures and follow through in obedience.  "Holding dear" something means you and I are to live out the life of an overcomer.  This is what Jesus wants.  He wants us to become more and more in experience whom He has declared us to be in position: more than conquerors in Him who saved us by His grace. (Romans 8:37-39).

Conclusion:
So as we close our time in Jesus letter to the church at Thyatira, we can note the following convictions that He desires for a church at a crossroads:

1. Conviction to grow in Christ Rev 2:18-19
2. Conviction about Godly tolerance           Revelation 2:20-24
3. Conviction to be overcomers.  Rev 2:2

P2 The necessary conviction of Godly tolerance

Revelation 2:20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

Review from yesterday
Yesterday we began exploring Jesus' message to the church at Thyatira.  Why is it important to have Godly convictions as a church? The following convictions from Revelation 2:18-29 were proposed: 

1. Conviction to grow in Christ Rev 2:18-19
2. Conviction about Godly tolerance           Revelation 2:20-24
3. Conviction to be an overcomer.  Rev 2:25-29

In today's post we continue exploring Jesus' letter to the church at Thyatira, noting that Jesus desires His church to have a conviction about Godly tolerance.

Christ's desire for a conviction about Godly tolerance. Revelation 2:20-24
The church at Thyatira was a church at the crossroads.  In this letter we see two types of tolerance: ungodly and Godly tolerance.  Only Godly tolerance can be regarded as the proper conviction for promoting the desired Christianity unity in Jesus' church.  Godly tolerance is another conviction that Jesus wants for His church.

The story of two Jezebels and the problem of ungodly tolerance
The type of tolerance that Thyatira was evidencing was ungodly tolerance.  When we say ungodly tolerance, we are referring to the type of tolerance that operates on preferences to achieve an alleged unity.  Christian leader Josh McDowell defines the godless type of tolerance we see being touted today as: "accepting that each individual's beliefs, values, lifestyles and truth claims are equal."2

The text tells us that the church "tolerated" a godless individual that had the same name as one infamous queen in the Old Testament - Jezebel.  The account of Jezebel in 1 Kings 18-2 Kings 9 sheds much light on how the Jezebel at Thyatira operated.  Jezebel of the Old Testament was the wicked queen wife of Ahab.  Her characteristics can be summarized in three words: ruthless, religious & reckless.1   The Jezebel of Thyatira operated in much the same way as her namesake.  She claimed to be a prophetess and thus was religious. (Revelation 2:20)  This New Testament Jezebel was also reckless and ruthless in how she led people astray to combine spirituality with sensuality. (2:21)  Jesus stated that unless she repented, she would be severely judged upon a "bed of affliction", along with her followers.  Both Jezebels illustrate the fruits of ungodly tolerance.  In ancient Israel, The prophet Elijah said to the Israelites who were exercising godless tolerance of Jezebel and her ilk: "how long will you hesitate between two opinions?" (1 Kings 18:21) It was preference and opinion that ruled the day in Israel, at Thyatira and sadly dominates our own 21st century, rather than conviction and objective truth.  

Godly tolerance is the necessary conviction needed for Christian unity
In contrast to ungodly tolerance, Josh McDowell notes that Godly tolerance means: "accepting others without agreeing with or sharing their beliefs or lifestyle choices". Now compare the definition with what he said about ungodly tolerance: "accepting that each individual's beliefs, values, lifestyles and truth claims are equal."3  When we speak of Godly tolerance, we are referring to the type of tolerance that operates on convictions to achieve actual unity, rather than operating on preference to achieve alleged unity.  As others have noted, tolerance today does not merely mean accepting other people, but demanding that I conform myself to the beliefs and lifestyles of those people.  The Thyatiran's godless tolerance of the New Testament Jezebel resulted in chaos.  Jesus states that He was trying to give her space to repent, however this New Testament Jezebel refused to repent. (2:21)  

Here is a question - Is God a tolerant God? Obviously! Otherwise none of us would be breathing! We come to discover that it is the tolerance or "forebearance" of God that makes repentance possible. (Romans 2:4-5)  We are also reminded that He is not willing that any should perish, but all come to repentance. (2 Peter 2:9-10) God's tolerance is based on His Divine convictions of holiness, justice and mercy. Without those convictions, God could not practice tolerance towards sinners without violating His own character.  God Himself models for us the conviction of Godly tolerance necessary for Christian unity. In order to perhaps better see the difference between Godly tolerance and the godless tolerance in our world today, let me tell you the story of Old Jean Goshorn and the fish pond.

How Old Jean Goshorn illustrates Godly tolerance versus godless tolerance 
Old Jean Goshorn was a really good friend of my dad's who for years owned a little fishing pond up above our home.  Jean was a godly man who loved the outdoors and loved to ride around in his 6-wheel all-terrain amphibious vehicle.  The highlight of our summer was when Jean would come and take my sister and me fishing.  We would climb in his little vehicle and off we would go.  The vehicle was neat because it could float on the water and so for hours on end she and I would catch Blue Gills and sometimes stuff ourselves with blackberries.  Over the years Jean had tolerated other people coming to fish in his pond with the one conviction that you leave the pond as you found it.  One year we found "No Trespassing" signs all over the entry way to the pond.  We found out that someone had taken some old gasoline and dumped it in the water.  Jean practiced a "Godly tolerance" with the conviction that as long as the welfare of people are not in jeopardy and morality and truth are preserved, accepting other people is actually a good thing. Farmers, hunters, young people and families would often frequent Jean's pond. 
However when the well-being of people is jeopardized, then toleration must be balanced with justice in order for there to be liberty.  Jean had to draw limits in order to ensure the welfare of the pond. I don't think hardly anyone would dare fault Old Jean Goshorn for prohibiting people on his pond after the incident of thoughtless pollution.  After a couple of years of restrictions, Jean was able to get the pond back to health and opened the pond up once again with the same principle as before: "leave it as you found it".

Now lets switch the story around a little bit. How would the story unfold if Jean attempted to run his pond by opinion rather than conviction? Lets say Jean chose to operate on the basis of the godless tolerance of all truths being equal and all behaviors being morally the same.  Old Jean would have no choice but to let the vandals dump their gas in his pond. According to advocates of the "new tolerance", who is to say what is right and what is wrong? As odd as it may sound, Jean would have to welcome vandals to practice their destruction, since according to godless tolerance: Jean has to embrace any and every lifestyle, since no truth is above another truth.  Is Jean not promoting the unity of the community by tolerating all and every belief system as equal while denying the concepts of ultimate truth and morality? What would result? A swamp full of dead fish and an eye sore in the community. How tolerance with no belief in ultimate truth and morality is hypocrisy 
Jesus' point to Thyatira was that unless they deal with Jezebel, unless she repents and unless her followers repent, the church would be no better off than a fishing pond full of dead fish.  Unity without truth is nothing more than a uniformity with no stated purpose.  Any system of tolerance that will not tolerate belief systems that make exclusive claims about truth and morality is hypocrisy.  

Jesus wants a church with the conviction of Godly tolerance
We need convictions about Godly tolerance to ensure healthy Christianity and important principles such as liberty and justice.  When the church tries to be like the world, she will never win the world.  So we have seen thus far that Jesus wants the following convictions in His church: convictions on Christian growth and Godly tolerance.

More tomorrow.....

Endnotes:
1. Jezebel of the Old Testament was ruthless in her killing of God's prophets (1 Kings 19:2); religious in her affiliation with nearly 900 pagan prophets and prophetesses (1 Kings 18:19) and reckless in her power over Ahab and the affairs of the nation. (1 Kings 19:1) The nation of Israel tolerated Jezebel for nearly 30 years until someone had the courage to have her executed in a grizzly but effective fashion. (2 Kings 9)

2. Josh McDowell. The Last Christian Generation. Green Key Books. 2006. Page 22

3. Josh McDowell. The Last Christian Generation. Green Key Books. 2006. Page 22

 

P1 Jesus wants a church of Godly convictions

Revelation 2:20 "But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols."

A small church enduring immense pressure and dealing with a big problem
Thyatira - the little church under big pressure to conform
Out of all the churches that John wrote to in the Book of Revelation, Thyatira was the smallest.  The only other mention of Thyatira is when we meet the first convert from Europe, Lydia, the purple trader from this little city in Acts 16:14. Although most likely the smallest of the seven churches, the letter that Jesus dictates to John is ironically the longest one.  It goes to show that in the eyes of Jesus - the size of a church does not measure its importance.  Thyatira is described by Bible teacher John MacArthur: "Thyatira was noted for its numerous guilds (roughly the equivalent of today's labor unions). Thyatira's main industry was the production of wool and dyed goods (especially purple goods, dyed with purple dye extracted from the madder root.)1 Reliable New Testament scholar Robert Mounce notes: Since the trade guilds were inseparably intertwined with local religious observances, they posed a special problem for the economic well-being of Christians."2 

The pressure weighing upon the congregation at Thyatira was immense.  Nevertheless Jesus commends this church in Revelation 2:19 ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first."  Jesus commends this church as the One whose all-seeing eyes are described as "flames of fire". (Revelation 1:14; 2:18) 

Thyatira's big problem - conflicting convictions
Despite her improvement in the face of incredible pressure to conform, Jesus states in Revelation 2:20 that the church was at the same time tolerating error and immorality within her walls.  The problem had a name - Jezebel. The woman in question was functioning much like the infamous Jezebel back in the Old Testament. (1 Kings 18-2 Kings 9) Thyatira was a church at the cross-roads.  She needed to have convictions about not only how she would respond to outside pressure, but also certain inside persons.  As we will see in today's post, Jesus' message to a church at a crossroads is not to be a church of preferences, but of Godly convictions.  Preferences are harmless choices we make between one thing and another.  Convictions are what we would be willing to die for at all costs. Why is it important to have Godly convictions? What kind of Godly convictions does Jesus want His church to have? Note these thoughts: 

1. Conviction to grow in Christ Revelation 2:18-19

2. Conviction about Godly tolerance Revelation 2:20-24

3. Conviction to be an overcomer.  Revelation 2:25-29

Conviction to grow in Christ 
Revelation 2:18-19
After introducing Himself with the same title as we find in Revelation 1:15, Jesus says these words in Revelation 2:19 "I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first." This first thought of Christian growth as a Godly conviction is not to hard to prove from this text.  The "deeds" or "works" that Jesus speaks of in 2:19 result from the Thyatiran's convictions concerning love, faith, service and perseverance.  In the original language, those four words have the word "the" attached to them, meaning that the convictions are rooted in "the love", "the faith", "the service" and "the perseverance". 

The commitment they had in the beginning to these four areas had grown to become "greater than at first". Though they were under much pressure, the Thyratiran Christians grew in their faith as a result of these convictions.  Scriptures such as Romans 5:1-5 and 1 Peter 1:6-7 speak of these types of grace-based convictions driving Christian growth in the face of such trials. 

James 1:2-4 states - "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance  have its 
perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."  The course of your Christian life will either be driven by preference or conviction.  Objective Biblical standards are the engine behind Christian growth, not opinions.  Jesus commended this church for at least having convictions that lent to her growth in increasing works of Godliness. The conviction to grow in Christ is one of the convictions Jesus desires for His church. 

More tomorrow.....  

Endnotes:
1. John MacArthur. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary - Revelation 1-11. Moody. 1999. Page 98. 
MacArthur writes later on: "The pressure faced by Christians in Thyatira came from the guilds. To hold a job or run a business, it was necessary to become a member of the guild. Each guild had its patron deity, in whose honor feasts were held-complete with meat sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality."

2. Robert Mounce. The New International Commentary on the New Testament - The Book of Revelation. William B. Eerdmans. 1977. Page 101

Reasons to encourage youth to pursue the Lord

Esther 2:5-7 Now there was at the citadel in Susa a Jew whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, 6 who had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the captives who had been exiled with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled. 7 He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had no father or mother. Now the young lady was beautiful of form and face, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

A Quick Introduction to the Book of Esther
The Book of Esther is an interesting book in that we're not told who wrote it.  Furthermore, the name of God is never mentioned once.  Regardless of those two traits, the Book of Esther bears the marks of Divine inspiration and the presence and providence of God is clearly operating through all of its pages.  The heroes of the story are Mordecai and his much younger cousin Hadassah (Esther).  The villain attempting to destroy the Jewish people is Haman.  The plot unfolds around the antagonism that Haman has towards Mordecai and his plot to destroy the Jews.  The King who falls in love with Esther is Ahashuerus (identified in history as Xerxes I).  Through the efforts of Esther and Mordecai God Providentially foils the plot of Haman, with Haman being hung on the gallows he had built for Mordecai.  

With that brief introduction to Esther, we now will turn specifically to one of the key elements of the account: Mordecai's Godly encouragement of Esther.  Why must you and I, dear Christian, offer Godly encouragement to our young people to pursue the Lord? Note the two thoughts below:

1. Call of God
From what we saw already in Esther 2:5-7, Mordecai was raising up Esther.  As the plot of the book unfolds, we read these words in Esther 3:8 "Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the king’s laws, so it is not in the king’s interest to let them remain."  Haman's words would soon become an edict sent by the King in Esther 3:13 "Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to seize their possessions as plunder."

The plot was underway, however God providentially had arranged Esther to have favor with the king.  As events were unfolding, she had come to have the ability to gain an audience with the King.  The only issue was that she was a Jewess keeping her identity secret from the King.  Mordecai informs her that she needs to plead with the King on behalf of the people to stop the horrible plot, lest the whole nation perish.  Esther's famous response is recorded in Esther 4:16 “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.”

We must encourage the next generation to pursue the Lord because we never know whom he is calling to serve Him.  God used Esther in a mighty way to save her people.  So encourage young people to follow the Lord because of God's calling and secondly...

2. The Cause of the Kingdom
As we already mentioned, Haman's plot to destroy the Jews had been providentially overturned, resulting in Haman's death.  In Esther 9:28-29 we read these words about Esther - "So these days were to be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, every family, every province and every city; and these days of Purim were not to fail from among the Jews, or their memory fade from their descendants.

29 Then Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim."

This young lady was called by God to advance the cause of His Kingdom.  Because of God's work through Esther's courage and grace driven motivation that the Jewish people were saved.  It was to be through the Jews that God would send His Son into the world to be the Savior.  

Conclusion

We never know how God is going to advance His kingdom, nor at times the people He will choose to use.  However whenever those two things come together, the surprise is always pleasant and God gets the glory.  Encouraging our young people to pursue the Lord is worth it, due to the calling He may be having on their lives and the cause of the Kingdom purposes He wants to accomplish.