"Wind Beneath My Wings"
July 17, 2005

The New Testament Lesson: Romans 12: 1 - 2
The Old Testament Lesson: Esther 2: 5 - 11

To call people to awareness of God principle of positioning

I.  The Master Strategist moves people into the Right Place so they are there at the right time
   A. Jill and I were at the right place at the right time in Yellowstone.
        1. three years ago, Jill and I witnesses a natural miracle.
        2. We were camping at Yellowstone and touring some hot pots.
            a. places where the thermal pools have created bubbling mud
            b. They are very interesting.
        3. All of the sudden, there was some excitement just behind us.
            a. a geyser had erupted behind us
            b. I thought, “how unusual!  It’s splashing on the boardwalk!”
            c. Usually, the keep people well away from the water.
            d. That’s when I notice the rangers were running with excitement.
        4. We were witnessing the first eruption of a new geyser!
            a. until that point, all it had done was bubble a little
            b. We were in the right place at the right time.
            c. It occurred to me that many people just missed this event.
            d. Some were in the wrong place, looking at other sites.
            e. others had come earlier that day, but it was the wrong time.
            f. Both time and place must coincide.
   B. God as the Master Strategist moves people into the Right Place so they are there at the Right Time
        1. The story of Esther is one such example.
            a. She is a member of the Hebrew people in exile.
            b. There were many people jealous of the Jews and their success.
            c. They caused a law to be passed that would wipe out the Jews.
            d. Esther is in just the right place at the right time to stop the slaughter
        2. But the real Hero of the story of Esther is Mordecai.
        3. He and his wife adopt Esther as their daughter when she was in need.
            a. like all parents, they raise her at great sacrifice to themselves.
            b. Recognizing her beauty, they position her to be notice by the king.
            c. Their faith in her is rewarded and she becomes the queen.
        4. When the plot is unveiled, Esther has the opportunity to save them.
            a. But she is fearful.
            b. Her position as queen does not give her the right to go see the king.
            c. She must be summoned, or she might be executed.
            d. She hesitates to take the risk.
        5. That’s when Mordecai reminds her that God has a purpose for her.
            a. The words themselves are inspiring.
            b. Who knows?  Your royal position may have come to you for just a time as this.
        6. Today, we see that Mordecai is the unsung hero of the story.
            a. He allows himself to be positioned by God to be a useful tool.
            b. He himself was in the right place at the right time to remind Esther.
            c. What might have happened but for his timely prompting?

II.  God places us in people’s lives for specific purposes of inspiration.
   A. Often, we are in place for a long time before it’s the right time.
        1. Notice that Mordecai had been God’s instrument for many years.
            a. He was nurturing and guiding Esther like a father.
            b. teaching her about God’s will and plan for her.
            c. He spent many years without knowing Esther’s special destiny
        2. Most of our labor in people’s lives takes a long time to develop.
            a. We spend years building relationships.
            b. We develop friendships that create trust.
            c. We sincerely appreciate the qualities that make them unique.
        3. Only when we have done all these things are we in the right place.
            a. Then, when a time of challenge comes, we can be God’s tools.
            b. Though us, God can minister the love and grace of Jesus.
            c. But only if we have allowed ourselves to be in position.
        4. We are most effective when we are aware of how God works.
            a. when we know that we might be the inspiration for another.
            b. When we expect God to use us to encourage another in faith.
            c. when we are looking for the opportunity to be God’s tool
        5. No where is that more true than in the lives of our young Christians.
    B. We have a special opportunity in the lives of the youth at this church.
        1. Each one of them is incredibly special.
        2. They have unique abilities and gifts.
        3. God has important plans for every one of them.
        4. What are we doing to fulfill our call as inspiration for them?
    C. There are things we must do to be in the right place at the right time.
        1. We must express to them how precious they are to us!
        2. We must be warm and welcoming, greeting them with God’s love.
        3. We must be flexible in the way we do our ministry and in our form of worship.

You are an agent of the work of God in the world.  At this very moment, God is positioning you so that you can be an inspiration for other people.  You can be just like Mordecai, the Wind Beneath Someone’s Wings.  Are you aware of God’s work through you?  Are you ready to let the Spirit of God blow through you?

And as you go from this place, may you walk in the way of Christ Jesus and May God always find you faithful!