What would you do if ordered to violate your religious convictions on pain of death? What if you were told to take an abortion pill? Watch pornography? Worship Mary? This is what happened to Mordecai, Esther's cousin (Est. 3:1-15). There will come a time in our life when we will face a challenge to our faith. Will our convictions lead us to take a stand? Do we trust in God's providence to get us through? This lesson looks at: 1. God’s people must be resolute in their conviction. 2. Avoid that which God hates. 3. Trust in God’s providence.

2. Esther
What would you do
If ordered to violate your convictions?
✲ Take an abortion pill
✲ Watch pornography
✲ Worship Mary

3. Esther
There will be a time when we face
A challenge to our faith
✲ Will we take a stand?
✲ Will we trust in God’s providence?

4. Esther

5. Esther
Mordecai refused to bow, Est. 3:1-6
✲ Not out of disloyalty to king, Est. 2:19-23
✲ Not from personal pride
✲ Possible lack of respect for Haman
✲ Loyalty to God, Est. 3:4, 6

6. Esther
Pressured daily to give in, Est. 3:4
✲ Pushed to compromise
✲ Joseph pressed daily, Gen. 39:10
✲ Firm after sentence of death, Est. 5:9

7. Esther
Christians must refuse to bow, 1 Cor. 16:13
✲ Satan will attack, 1 Pt. 5:8
✲ Stand in truth, 2 Thes. 2:15
✲ When facing temptation, Eph. 6:10-13
✲ Under pressure of false doctrine, Phil. 4:1
✲ To encourage others, 1 Thes. 3:6-8

8. Esther
Haman embodied what God hates, Prov.
6:16-19
✲ Proud look
✲ Lying tongue
✲ Hands that shed innocent blood
✲ Heart that devises wicked plans
✲ Feet that are swift in running to evil
✲ False witness who speaks lies

9. Esther
We must beware the “Haman” in us
✲ Pride, 1 Jn. 2:15-17
◇ Position at work
◇ Achievement in life
◇ Attainment in education
◇ Accumulation of wealth

10. Esther
We must beware the “Haman” in us
✲ Revenge, Rom. 12:19-21
◇ Personal insult
◇ Mistreatment of loved one
◇ Material damage
◇ Persecution

11. Esther
Death decree on 13th day of 1st
month, Est. 3:7, 12-15
✲ Nisan: 1st month on Jewish calendar
✲ 14th: Passover & Feast of Unlvn. Bread
✲ Many Jews received news this week
✲ Is this what Mordecai had in mind,
Est. 4:14

12. Esther
Death decree on 13th day of 1st month,
Est. 3:7, 12-15
✲ Subsequent events
◇ Esther before king day 3/4, Est. 5:1
◇ 1st banquet day 3/4, Est. 5:4
◇ 2nd banquet day 4/5, Est. 5:8; 7:2
◇ Haman hanged day 4/5, Est. 7:10; 8:1

13. Esther
The same God still rules the world
✲ We are His people, Psa. 100:3
✲ Trust in God come what may, Psa. 18:1-3
✲ Power to deliver, Psa. 85:2
✲ Power to judge enemies, Psa. 5:1-8