Boldly Before the Throne
Pastor Darryl Bentley
Midland SDA Church
January 23, 2010
Homiletical Idea: As Christians we can come boldly before the throne of grace. We can come there because of what Christ has done for us. Knowing that the Father welcomes us should allow us to approach without fear or hesitation. Prayer is the vehicle that we use to facilitate this until the day that Jesus comes to take us there in person. We should practice coming before the throne now so that we are prepared for the day when we are there in person.
Fearful People
At some point in our lives we all experience fear in approaching certain people. Perhaps it is someone who we think wants to hurt us. Maybe it is someone for whom we had a romantic desire. Sometimes we simply want to avoid confrontational people because we frankly do not need additional stress in our lives, and sometimes we simply think so little of ourselves that we fear rejection from others.
Kuwait & Uncertainty
I can recall making the flight from Gulf Port, MS to Kuwait International Airport. When we left Mississippi everyone was pretty “gung-ho” about our mission to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. Our airplane hopped from Mississippi to Wisconsin, from Wisconsin to Newfoundland, from there to Hungary, and from there to Kuwait. On our approach to land in Kuwait about thirty minutes prior to landing an announcement was made by the crew that we would be landing soon. It was around 2:00 a.m. Kuwaiti time so we could not really see the landscape, but that did not stop our curiosity. Most of us got quieter and began to look out over the Kuwaiti landscape to see whatever we could see.
The atmosphere of the group changed in those few minutes. The aircraft went from being slightly noisy and jovial to a calm solemnity. Why; because it was starting to settle into our minds that we had arrived at the point where training met reality. All the long months and years of training were about to be tested over the next twelve months. Although no one would have admitted it, I think we were all afraid of the uncertainties on one level or another.
Yes, I was a Christian at the time and I too had some fears. I wondered if I would ever see my children or wife again. I can recall looking around the aircraft and wondering if anyone from our unit would be killed in action. It was part of my job to facilitate memorial services for fallen Soldiers along with my chaplain. I prayed that we would not have to do any memorial services for our unit, and I praise the Lord no one from our unit was lost during that deployment.
Nothing New-Fear is Alive
In Ecclesiastes 1:9 Solomon wrote, “…there is nothing new under the sun.” When sin entered into the heart of men fear came along with it. Adam and Eve hid themselves from the Lord because they were ashamed of their sinfulness (Genesis 3:10). Fear is the emotion that characterizes those who have sinned against God, and all have sinned (Romans 3:23). So while we are separated from God we have a need to be afraid because we will be guilty of our sins in the judgment. When Christ comes the second time the wicked will cry out in fear for the mountains and rocks to fall on them (Revelation 6:16).
I can understand why those that have not accepted Christ live in fear, but why do Christians live in fear. Is it because:
1. They have not fully surrendered their hearts to Christ?
2. They are hiding sin in their lives from the world around them and they remain fearful because they realize God knows their sin?
3. They don’t understand just how much God loves them?
4. They have not forgiven themselves for past sins committed?
5. They simply have not spent enough time with God that they might learn to trust Him?
The reasons why people remain fearful of the Lord can be multi-faceted. If you find yourself fearful of God today have you asked, “Why?” It may be for some of the reasons I just mentioned or it could be for one or two of a thousand other reasons. Whatever the reason you feel fearful in approaching God today, I want you to leave this church today with hope. Hope in knowing that you can boldly approach the throne.
Days of Captivity
The children of Israel have a long history of following and rebelling against God. They were ruled by Babylonians, Egyptians, Philistines, Assyrians, and others. God longed to be their king but they rejected His rule and pled for earthly kings that they might be like the heathen nations around them. Their rejection of God’s leadership led them to be ruled by the Medo-Persians too following their being sent into captivity under the Babylonians.
The citadel city of the Persian Empire was Susa or Shushan. Susa is located in what is now modern-day Iran. There in that city was a girl named Hadassah. She lived with her cousin Mordecai who is believed to have worked in the king’s court. Although they were captives, they had a fairly good life.
Long Live the Queen?
King Ahasuerus or Xerxes was ruling during this time. Like many kings of the day he held a grand party. One so grand it lasted seven days. The queen, Vashti, was also holding a party at the same time. One day when the king was about four sheets to the wind he sent his eunuchs to call for Vashti that she might be brought out for the assembled crowd to gawk at. She was a beautiful woman and he wanted to show her off, but she refused to come and the king became angry at her insubordination.
Wine was not the king’s only influence that evening. His princes of the provinces were there too, and when the king asked what should be done one of the spoke up and said that a decree should be passed that Vashti be removed from her position so that an example would be given to women all over that they cannot just disobey their husbands without consequences. The king agreed and it was done. It was after this series of events that all the young, beautiful virgins across the land were sought out and brought to the king’s palace. From among those beautiful ladies the king would choose for himself another queen.
Hadassah, who became Esther to hide her ethnicity, was among those summoned. She was “lovely and beautiful” the Bible says. She was also apparently pleasant to be around for she quickly found favor in the eyes of the chief eunuch, Hegai. In fact, Esther 2:15 tells us she found favor in the eyes of all who saw her. It is no wonder that the king eventually chose her to be his new bride.
Plotting & Such
Shortly after Esther was crowned queen, a man named Haman was promoted over all the princes in his province and because of this all who met him were to bow and pay homage to Haman. Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, was unable to do this because he would give homage to God and Him alone. Mordecai’s refusal to pay homage enraged Haman. So much so that Haman persuaded the king to rid the land of all the Jews. He told the king that the Jews had laws contrary to his own and that they would only bring trouble. The king agreed and the decree went forth. When Mordecai learned of this horrid news he mourned for his people with sackcloth and ashes at the city gates. He was not alone; many Jews across the land did likewise.
When word reached Esther of these events she sent clothes for Mordecai and sought to understand what was happening. Mordecai refused the clothes and sent word back to Esther asking her to intervene on behalf of her people. Fear was her first response. Esther knew that to go before the king without an invitation was nearly certain death. The only way to escape death was if the king raised his scepter to acknowledge that he accepted the intrusion. Instead of immediately rushing into the king she sent back word of her fear to Mordecai. He was quick to remind her that even she would not escape the decree. Again he sent word urging her to act quickly. He thought perhaps the Lord had put her in the palace “for such a time as this.”
Timid Determination
Finally Esther agreed to approach the king. She asked that all the people fast on her behalf for 3 days and nights. After which she would approach the king and perish if necessary.
I want you to consider what Esther faced to accomplish this task.
1. She was a woman. They were not the leaders of her society.
2. She had not been summoned by the king for some thirty days at this time (Esther 4:11).
3. To approach the inner court she had to ascend the double-ramped stairway that was designed in such a way that one could only approach the king slowly and with dignity.
4. The inner court of the king’s palace was huge and intimidating. From the front door to the throne was about 200ft across and the room was about 200ft wide. There was no special entrance for the queen. She had to approach like any other.
5. This great room, known as the Apadana, had seventy-two columns that supported the roof. Each column was 75 feet tall.
Just to begin to approach the king was intimidating. Not to mention the task that brought her thus. She was basically going to ask the king to reverse a decree that bore his signet. Of course we see wisdom in the way Esther went about her task. She did not ask the king right away. Rather she waited to do it after she had invited him and Haman to a special banquet.
Honor & Humiliation
After the first banquet the king was being read the Chronicles of his kingdom. It was during that reading that he heard of Mordecai’s foiling a plot to kill him. About that time Haman came to the king with the intent of asking him to hang Mordecai on a set of brand-new gallows erected especially for him. Before he could ask, the king commanded Haman to walk Mordecai through the city wearing a royal robe while riding on the king’s horse that Mordecai might be honored for having saved the king’s life. Haman was livid and humiliated.
Banquet #2
The second night that Esther had the king and Haman over for dinner she laid bare her request to the king. She told him that her people were in danger of being annihilated and that Haman was responsible for bringing this about. After learning that Haman had built gallows upon which to hang Mordecai, he ordered that Haman be hanged on them instead. Eventually all of Haman’s house and possessions became Mordecai’s. The Jews were spared and everyone but Haman lived happily ever after.
King vs. king
Most of have never and likely will never have to approach kingly dignitaries. Yes, someday we may have to give a defense of our faith before the officials of our land, but our world has very few kings left. Kings have given way to presidents, parliaments, and a handful of dictators. Esther had to approach an earthly king to seek freedom for her people. Her king was a sinful man who happened to be born within a royal family. Her king was dependent upon men of like passions to offer him counsel. Her king was often controlled by his emotions. Her king was a drunkard and glutton. Yes, her king was merely a man that controlled events on his portion of the earth for a few years.
You and I serve a much different king! You and I serve the King of kings! We serve Him who knows the beginning from the end. You and I serve the Alpha and the Omega. We do not serve a king whose rule is temporal. No, our King reigns eternal, Amen?
Saving Our People
Although our King is much different than the king whom Esther served, we have a task similar to Esther’s. We have people who are in danger of being annihilated. Satan had put out a death decree on humanity. 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us that our adversary the devil is prowling around like a hungry lion seeking someone to devour. The question is, “What are you and I going to do about it?” Are we going to let fear cripple us or are we going to come boldly before the throne?
You see friends the Lord has called each of us to seek and save the lost along with Him. That was what Christ came to do and He has called each of us to do the same thing. I am convinced that each one of you has abilities and spiritual gifts that God wants you to use in His service. That is why He gave them to you. For many of us those tools have been lying dormant, but the time has come to put those tools to work. The first place we have to start is on our knees. First, you and I have to be consecrated to work for the Lord. That means that we make a spiritual commitment to allow the Lord to use us any way He sees fit. That commitment happened before the throne of grace in our daily prayer life.
You and I should be spending time each day before the throne of God. We should ask to be forgiven for our sins of commission and omission. Do you know the difference? Sins of commission are when we do something willfully against God. Sins of omission are the sins we commit when we fail to do what He has tasked us to do. When we are praying we should also have a list of people for whom we are praying. Not only church and family members that have needs, but we should also be praying for those that need to accept Jesus as Lord.
Each One Reach One
We have 89 families in this church. What would happen if every family in this church decided to reach just one person for Christ each year? Our little 144 member church would be overflowing. If we did that each year for about two years we would have to build a new church or plant another one across town. I would not have to wait for the conference to give me a third church we could plant one. Think about the potential of what I am saying to you today.
What if we only had half that many come to Christ and His truth? We would feel so blessed we would have trouble containing ourselves. Esther’s people were facing physical annihilation. Our people are facing possible spiritual annihilation and being eternally lost, and you and I have to be willing to come boldly before the throne of God to plead for God to send His Holy Spirit to convict them of their condition.
What if?
I want you to think back to why you joined this church. I want you to remember who it was that made you feel wanted and accepted. Try to recall how thankful you were that someone cared enough about you to share the truth of the Adventist message with you. Where would you be today if someone had not cared enough about you to share the truth of God’s Word with you? I shudder to think where I would be. It certainly would not be here in this pulpit. Had someone not cared about you would you be here today? Someone went boldly before the throne for you that you might know the truth as it is in Jesus. Yes, it can be a scary thing to share your faith. Because then people expect you to live up to it, but do not let fear cripple you from doing what needs to be done. Fear is not from God friends. God gives love not fear.
Illustration: Training takes over where fear leaves off.
Wrap-up & Appeal
How many of you today would covenant with me today to seek and save the lost in our community? How many of you will covenant with me to daily go boldly before the throne for those that we might reach for Christ? God has called us for such a time as this, friends. May we not disappoint Him. Let us pray?