For such a time as this

[0:00] Esther 4.14 Esther 4.14 Mordecai's words to his cousin Esther.

[0:17] ! Esther 4.14 Mordecai thought that Esther had come to the throne, into that place of royal privilege, into that place of closeness to the king, where she could advocate for the people of God for such a time as this.

[1:17] What kind of time was it in this time of Esther? What kind of time was this time? What of the leadership of this time, of Esther's time?

[1:28] The leadership of the nation was selfish, wicked and immoral. It was a godless nation led by not a God-fearing king, but one who was not such a king.

[1:44] And the leadership was selfish, wicked and immoral. So we could compare it with the proverb in Proverbs 29 verse 2. It says, When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.

[1:58] But when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. What of our time and day? What of our nation and land?

[2:09] Who are the leaders of today, of such a time as this, this time? Who are the leaders that we follow? Could it be the sports heroes?

[2:21] The entertainers, the celebrities, our politicians of various colours? What kind of role models are they to this generation in such a time as this, this time?

[2:35] We are led by media and educators who are largely godless people. And they're setting the agenda. They're setting the agenda for us. There's a conditioning.

[2:47] There's an influence in terms of morals and philosophies that are being spread. And that we are receiving in such a time as this.

[3:01] That is shaping the hearts and minds of us and of our children and our grandchildren to come. The leadership of the nation.

[3:12] What of the culture? Of this time. The culture of this time. If we look in Esther chapter 1. We get a picture of the context of such a time as this.

[3:25] In Esther chapter 1 from verse 3 to 8. It says, In the third year of his reign, this is King Ahasuerus, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants, the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him.

[3:47] When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and fourscore days. So 180 days.

[3:58] And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present. In Shushan the palace, both unto great and small.

[4:09] Seven days. In the court of the garden of the king's palace, where were white, green and blue hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble.

[4:26] The beds were of gold and silver upon a pavement of red and blue and white and black marble. We'll just leave it there for now. What a picture this was of extravagance, of richness.

[4:43] The leaders of 127 provinces were here on this occasion. And they took six months vacation from their business, if you like. Six months off.

[4:54] Six months off. Really to do what? To have this celebration, this kind of vanity fest, if you like, of wickedness and sin, of feasting.

[5:09] It would appear neglecting the nation, its welfare and the homes of its people. The culture of such a time as this.

[5:19] What about this time? For such a time as this time? What about our culture? What about our nation? What about Australia today? It's likewise neglecting righteousness today.

[5:33] Australia is neglecting righteousness. It's out the window. It's scarcely thought of. I wonder, friends, tonight, if we are in the same peril, the same danger.

[5:45] The danger of rebellion against God Almighty. For Australians, for Aussies, the secular agendas consume people's time and energy.

[5:58] And people give little thought today for God and the things of God. The things that please God. For such a time as this time.

[6:10] What is happening today in our culture? The influence of Christianity is ever more limited within schools, even Christian schools.

[6:22] Homosexuality is paraded as a civil rights issue instead of sin. And the murder of innocent babies is legalised and funded by our taxes in this nation, in this time, in this culture, in this city.

[6:47] 2 Timothy 3 tells us that this know also that in the last times, perilous times shall come. In the last days, perilous times shall come.

[7:00] For men shall be lovers of themselves, of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemous, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heavy, high-minded, lovers of pleasure, more than lovers of God.

[7:30] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. From such, turn away. Doesn't that sound like the 21st century?

[7:43] Doesn't it sound like Australia? Sadly, our beloved nation has lost its way. One of the Prime Ministers said we've lost our way. I think she was right.

[7:55] Or was it he? I can't remember now. Our beloved nation, it's headed down the wrong road. It's headed on a crash course to its destruction. Our nation, at such a time as this time, headed on a crash course and the brakes have failed.

[8:13] The Bible says you reap what you sow. And we are witnessing today the seeds of wickedness are producing a bumper crop. Lawlessness, crime, suicide, drugs, hopelessness, sin.

[8:31] It's escalating in its intensity and pervasiveness with a snowball effect as it just seems to gather momentum and pick up the pace.

[8:42] It's as if we're in the midst of a culture war today. We've got smartphones and dumb people. Friends, this is the nation. This is the culture we're living in.

[8:54] And we're living in the midst of a relatively godless society. Let's face it. Let's be honest tonight. And our society is filled with people with hardened hearts and consciences.

[9:06] And we sadly become a nation that calls evil good and good evil. It's as if they switch the labels on things, isn't it?

[9:18] It's as if they've taken the label that says lemonade and put poison on it. And they've taken the label that says poison and they've put lemonade on it.

[9:31] They switch the labels. They're calling evil good and good evil. Everything has been redefined at such a time as this time. In this culture, in this nation, Ecclesiastes 12 says, Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter.

[9:48] Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.

[10:03] Who dictates what's evil and what's good? Is it the government or the lawmakers, the governors of our land? Or is it God? Is it God? Is it clearing God's word?

[10:16] Is it black and white in here? Then it needs to be no clearer. It doesn't need to be redefined. What was once called abomination is now called gay. What was once called adultery is now called having an affair.

[10:32] They're just repackaging, relabeling. Perversion and degeneracy abounds in this nation. Australia is becoming a perverted nation.

[10:44] A polluted nation. Polluted. And the Greenies are the worst polluters of all. I'll put it to you. We're not talking about environmental pollution.

[10:56] We're talking about sinful pollution. About abomination. And as a society we become desensitised. Desensitised to wickedness and degeneration.

[11:07] When there is no God to answer to. At least no God in their mind. In their world view. There is no truth. There is no sin. There is no moral code.

[11:18] There is no morals. This is our nation. At such a time as this time. This time. The mockers of God. Are the ones who have the airplay.

[11:30] On the airwaves. And the popular vote. The mockers of God. As we see this slide into oblivion. Accelerating. For such a time as this.

[11:41] For such a time as this. We're in days alike to the days of Daniel. When we have the nobles and kings. Amongst the drunken mob. Toasting their success with the holy vessels.

[11:54] They'd stolen from the temple of God. And what happened. The handwriting is on the wall. Friends the handwriting is on the wall for Australia today. And in Esther's time.

[12:08] It was such a time as this. As we see in Esther's time. Strong drink. Had a grip on the people. In Esther. From verses 7 through 8.

[12:20] Of chapter 1. Of Esther. It reads. And they gave them drink. In vessels of gold. The vessels being diverse from one another. And royal wine.

[12:31] In abundance. According to the state of the king. The best of the best. The royal wine. And the drinking was according to the law. None did compel. For so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house.

[12:44] That they should do according to every man's pleasure. It was all about the pleasure. It was all about the feasting. And the drinking. And friends. For such a time as this.

[12:55] What of Australia today. We're living in a beer soaked nation. A beer soaked nation. And you see. The foolishness.

[13:06] Of those who chase. After the wine. We're seeing the fall of a premier in our nation. Because of that addiction. I don't think we fully appreciate.

[13:17] The great evil of drunkenness. It leads to violence. And mayhem. It leads to destruction. The destruction. Of homes. And of people. I've seen it all too often.

[13:29] In what is destroying marriages. When drink gets a hold of people. It's devastating. Devastating. What goes on. And drunkenness damages.

[13:41] And destroys everything in its path. And we're becoming a nation of drunkards and alcoholics. And we're governed by them. Friends. Wine is a mocker.

[13:52] And strong drink is raging. And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20. Verse 1. Proverbs 23. 21. It says. For the drunken and the glutton shall come to poverty.

[14:06] And drowsiness shall clothe the man with rags. I urge you tonight. Brothers and sisters. Take the caution of God's word. Take the caution of God's word.

[14:18] For the drunken and the glutton shall come to poverty. And drowsiness shall clothe the man with rags. I've seen it all too often. People struggling in poverty. Sometimes it's because they're drunk.

[14:31] What they've learned. Sad. Sad situation. Proverbs 23. 29. It says. Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions?

[14:41] Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine. They that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine.

[14:53] When it is red. When it giveth his colour in his cup. When it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent. And stingeth like an adder.

[15:03] Thine eyes shall behold strange women. And thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, they shall be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea. Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

[15:14] Now the picture is a sign up in the. Crows nest. In the crows nest of a ship. They have stricken me, shalt thou say. And I was not sick. They have beaten me.

[15:25] And I felt it not. When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. Addiction. Many see the danger. But they persist in drunkenness.

[15:36] Friends, draw the line. Draw the line on it. Your line might be drawn wider than my line. But please be urged today. Drunkenness is damnable.

[15:50] Such a time as this. What was happening in verses 10 through 11. We see of Esther chapter 1. It was a time of immodesty. And of abandon. Of debauchery.

[16:01] In Esther's 1 and 2. The king demanded Vashti the queen to come. So he could shove her off. He wanted to shove her off to the leaders of the land.

[16:13] In verses 10 and 11. It tells how he was merry with wine. He commanded to bring Vashti the queen. With the crown royal.

[16:26] To show the people and the princes her beauty. For she was fair to look upon. And the queen didn't come. At least she had the moral courage to dare to do right.

[16:38] She didn't want to be some object to being displayed and gawked at. But what of our land? What of this time? What is going on in this time?

[16:49] Is there such a question? Is there such a reserve? Or is there such a lack of reserve? And we see just a flaunting and exposing and a lack of modesty in our land.

[17:04] And everything is encouraging more and more of such a thing. Yet in God's word, Paul says in 1 Timothy 2 verse 9.

[17:14] That the women adorn themselves in modest apparel. Things that are modest and becoming and proper. Modest apparel.

[17:24] The Bible commends godly standards. And it reflects our heart's desire to seek after such. And we commended such for our young men and young women.

[17:39] And older ones. For such a time as this. What of us? What of our church? What of you? What of me? Will we have the moral fibre that Queen Vashti had?

[17:50] Not to be some trashy. Tight. But to have some dignity. And decency. Will we have the moral fibre in this time.

[18:03] In this land. In this time that we live. Will we have the moral fibre that we need. When all around is abandon.

[18:16] And just lasciviousness. Just an abandon. A moral abandon. Will we dare to shun the wicked pleasures of the world. And set a standard that's God glorifying.

[18:29] And God honouring. For such a time. As this. In Esther's time. It was a time of moral decline. And it sounds like Esther's times were a lot like ours.

[18:41] A lot like the situation in 1 Kings 17 verse 6. In those days there was no king in Israel. But every man did which was right in his own eyes.

[18:52] They did what was right in their own eyes. Not what was right in God's eyes necessarily. They had their own truth.

[19:03] Their own definition of what's right and wrong. It's like that today too isn't it. Things that the world says are right. And should be glorified and celebrated.

[19:14] And exaggerated and displayed and vaunted. Are things that God says are wickedness. And it's like that. In Judges 17.

[19:25] And in Esther's time too. Whilst there was a king. He was not a godly king. There was no godly authority there. It was a godless time. People disregarded God. And the things of God.

[19:36] In Esther's time we notice. There was a disregard. For what was right. For the sanctity of marriage. The king in Esther's day. Thought little. Just to cast his wife aside.

[19:49] As if she was just some toy. That he'd grown bored of. And it's like that today isn't it. Marriages.

[20:00] Divorces. The king in Esther's day. Was willing to get rid of the queen. For no fault of hers. And in verse 19 of Esther 1. It says.

[20:10] That Vashti come no more. Before king Asheris. Let the king give her royal estate. Unto another. That is better than she. He wanted some new flame. He wanted some new.

[20:23] Item. Of female merchandise. To display. And have in his. Arsenal. In his. In his harem. If you like. And the home is under attack today.

[20:35] Families. Marriages. Homes are under attack today. As never before. It seems. The dishonouring of parents. Is the norm. In the media.

[20:47] And in the home. When they portray fathers. You know. Not that I've seen such things. But I've heard. Like Simpsons. And such things. And modern cartoons. The family guy.

[20:57] I've never watched such a thing. But I'm told that such a thing. Portray the father. As some kind of. Loser. Some kind of. Idiot. Is. Lampooned.

[21:08] Laughter. Scorned. And mocked. And undermined. And dishonoured. By the children. And we see this today. In the media. And we see it. In our homes today.

[21:18] Where are the godly mothers. Godly fathers today. In such a time as this. Now when one. Out of every two marriages. End in divorce.

[21:30] For such a time as this. As this time. Where it says. That a man shall leave his father and mother. And shall plead. Unto his wife.

[21:42] Wherefore. What God has joined together. Let no man. Put asunder. God's got. A wonderful. Honouring of marriage. That we should have too.

[21:53] In. A recent news report. It says that. Americans are overwhelmingly believe. That morals and values are declining. In the US. 77% believe that.

[22:06] It's the most cited cause. For this decline. Is a lack of Bible reading. Interesting isn't it? Values and morals are going down.

[22:17] Three quarters plus of people. Think the reason is. A lack of Bible reading. Families are under attack today. On the home front.

[22:29] There's an onslaught. Against your family. Your fathers and mothers. Your husbands. Your wives. There's a lack of discipline in the homes. Families are under great stress. They're trying to pay off these houses.

[22:41] That are bigger than they really need to be. With mortgages. Beyond. Comprehension. And no wonder. They've got to work their guts out. For a lifetime. Just to have a house over their heads.

[22:53] A roof over their heads. And where do we turn. For the answers. For marriage. For life. We must turn to God. The designer of marriage. Australia has lost its moral moorings.

[23:06] Its moral compass. The nation in Esther's day. Treated human life as cheap. What did they decide to do? The leaders of this time. Of such a time as this.

[23:16] Of Esther's time. Were willing to kill. Two million Jews. Simply because they would not bow. And deferred to this wicked Haman. A wicked scoundrel.

[23:28] Of the day. He plotted against Mordecai and the Jews. And they just thought. Yeah. Let's just wipe them out. They're just a bit inconvenient. And life today is cheap.

[23:39] In such a time as this time. This time. The time that we live. Life is cheap. As we see. The violent video games.

[23:50] It's just a game. Killing people. Running them over. Slaughtering them with submachine guns. Just so long as you win. And you get lots of lives. So you probably will win ultimately.

[24:01] That's the kind of mindset isn't it? Life is cheap. Just kill everybody. And then we see them acting it out. In real life. Life is cheap. In such a time as this.

[24:13] As abortion is just getting rid of an unwanted inconvenience. It's inconvenient to my lifestyle. So I'll just have an abortion. Thank God there's forgiveness if you have had an abortion today.

[24:27] There is forgiveness tonight. Amen. For such a time as this. We need to question these things. Where are God's people? Where are God's people? In such a time as this.

[24:38] In this time. This time in which we live. What are God's people? What will they do for such a time as this? Esther did something. Esther did something.

[24:50] It was a time that needed a good woman. And Esther stepped up. Esther acted with faith and with courage. In chapter 4 verse 16.

[25:02] She called the people. She said. Go gather. Together all the Jews. Fast ye for me. Neither eat nor drink. Three days. Night or day.

[25:13] I also and my maidens. Will fast likewise. And so will I go in unto the king. Which is not according to the law. And if I perish.

[25:24] I perish. First. A woman of faith. Prepared to step into the danger zone. Out of the comfort zone. Into the king's presence.

[25:35] Uninvited. It was dangerous to do. If I perish. I perish. She put her life on the line. Her silence would have been sin. She wasn't silent.

[25:47] She was a woman of God. She found herself in a responsible place. And she did what she was able to do at such a time as this. The time we are living in.

[26:00] Calls for God's people. Likewise. For you and me. At such a time as this time. This time. This place. This city. We're living in a time of spiritual crisis.

[26:12] It's the time to stand up. Stand up like Esther stood up. Stand up in the nation. In business. In education. In the home. It says in Proverbs 14.

[26:24] Righteousness. Exalteth a nation. List it up. But sin. Is a reproach. To any people. A reproach. It means it's shameful. It's a miserable thing.

[26:36] Cut it loose. Sin is a reproach. The late General Douglas MacArthur said. And it was a time of war.

[26:46] I believe. He said this. In the days of gathering storms. As moral deterioration of political power. Spreads its growing infection. It's essential that every spiritual force.

[26:57] Be mobilised to defend. And preserve. The religious base. Upon which this nation is founded. For it has been that base. Which has been the motivating impulse. To our moral and national growth.

[27:09] History fails to record. A single precedent. In whence the nations. Subject to moral decay. Have not passed into political. An economic decline. There has either been a spiritual reawakening.

[27:21] To overcome the moral lapse. Or a progressive deterioration. Leading to ultimate national disaster. Nations and history. You could name them. I had a whole list that I didn't write down.

[27:33] But you know Babylon. There's so many true history. That they've roamed. You know they've been built up. And they've crumbled and fell. And lost their power.

[27:44] Why? Because of sin. Because of a lack of righteousness. In Romans 1 it tells us that. A son they glorified him not as God. They became vain in their imaginations.

[27:56] And their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise. They became fools. And we're living in a land in a time. Where the educators. The ones who are teaching our children.

[28:10] Are fools. Educated fools. Professing themselves to be wise. They became fools. As we see the anti-Christian movements.

[28:20] Escalating all around about. And where is the church? Where is the professing church of God today? Sadly it's ever more astrayed.

[28:31] From godly truth. In 1 Peter 4. Peter says. For the time has come. That judgment. Must begin at the house of God.

[28:44] At the house of God. Martin Luther. He had his faults. But he stood up. According to the knowledge that he had.

[28:55] And he wrote an essay. That was titled. The Babylonian Captivity of the Church. That's an interesting title isn't it? Sort of struck my. Caught my attention.

[29:06] The Babylonian Captivity of the Church. And what he meant was that. The forces and powers that were foreign to Christ. And to his word. Had captured the mind. And heart of the church.

[29:17] She was in bondage. To the Babylonian captivity. In bondage to godless forces. And that's the situation today. Brothers and sisters.

[29:28] At such a time as this. A Babylonian captivity. Millions of church goers think. That they can just act. And think. And go along. Just like the world does.

[29:38] There's no thought. To how they govern themselves. According to the Bible. According to God's truth. The choices they make. Are ever more worldly. Because the culture.

[29:49] That they live in. Has absorbed. Into their thinking. Into their fibre. Into their world view. And the church today. Has the same love affair. With the prosperity.

[30:00] And ease. And the pleasing of self. And flesh. Such that many. In Christianity. Churchianity. Today. Are not that much different.

[30:12] From the world around them. The spirit of Babylon. Is just endemic. When we're meant to be aliens. And strangers. We're meant to actually be. Like refugees.

[30:23] If you like. We're meant to be. This is not our home. Our citizenship. Our real citizenship. Is in his kingdom. And we're really. We don't fit.

[30:37] We don't have to fit. In this world. We don't have to conform. Rather. Not. Conform. So we see. Humanism. There's so many things.

[30:48] That are going on. Where. Christianity's. Routinely mocked. In Hollywood. And popular media. And it's propagated. The word says. In Isaiah 59. Truth is fallen.

[30:59] In the street. See if they drop. The truth. On the street. Like a piece of litter. Just to be scattered. And. Cast aside. Into the gutter. Truth is fallen.

[31:10] In the street. Isaiah 59. 14. Where are God's people. At such a time as this. At this critical time. That is now. The truth of the gospel.

[31:22] Is marginalized. And diminished. By false teachers. And we're witnessing. This rise in false Christianity. It's popular. It draws the crowd. People love it.

[31:32] It's boppy. And jivey. And hypey. And it's got all the bells. And whistles. And the glitz. And the glamour. And the gloss. But does it have the substance? Does it have the word?

[31:45] We're not to conform to this culture. But rather confront it. Friends. We're living at such a time as this. Where there's broken down altars. They've got cobwebs on them.

[31:58] And there's an abundance of idols. That have replaced God's rightful place. The idols are everywhere. We're not talking about idols of stone and clay. And metal.

[32:09] But yet. The idols of Australia. Are all around about. 1 Chronicles 16. It says. Verse 26. For all the gods of the people are idols.

[32:22] But the Lord made the heavens. Now we don't see heathen temples and pagan worship so much. In the understood sense of such a thing.

[32:35] But yet the idols are all around us people. They're all around us. And they're beaming their messages through the tubes in our living rooms. And for such a time as this we need to act like Elijah did.

[32:48] He repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. Maybe there's an altar. Broken down. In your life. In mine. In our homes.

[32:59] In our hearts. Elijah saw the idols. And he repaired the altar of the Lord. That was broken down. Where are God's people? In such a time as this.

[33:11] Lastly they're drifting. Drifting. Drifting. Down to the waterfall. You know. I heard it said. Go with the flow unless there's a waterfall down yonder.

[33:25] You know. We don't want to go with the flow. We shouldn't be drifting. Apathy prevails amongst believers. Complacency. In other words. Sloppy. Lazy. This attitude.

[33:38] She'll be right mate. Conscience is a dullened. And we've rejected his Lordship as a nation. We've committed the sin of backsliding. And it seems like Christians have become very carnal and lukewarm.

[33:52] They've lost their fire. The love of the brethren. The faithfulness in fellowship and service. For such a time as this. People have got. There's compromise all around.

[34:04] People are saying let's refashion the truth. Let's just have a new version of it. In Amos 8 it says. Behold the days come saith the Lord. That I will send a famine in the land.

[34:15] Not a famine of bread. Nor a thirst for water. But of hearing the words of the Lord. Cultural decay abounds. Truth decay.

[34:25] Like it's been said. I've got a sticker in one of my Bibles. It says to prevent truth decay. Read the Bible. Prevent truth decay. Read the Bible.

[34:36] Read your Bible. Australian. Adelaide is no longer truly the city of churches. The church has been weakened. We need women like Esther.

[34:48] We need faithful men. The counterfeit must be withstood and rejected out of hand. We must rise up and speak up. Cry aloud, span off.

[35:00] Lift up my voice like a trumpet. Yes. And show my people their transgression. And the house of Jacob their sins. We must reject error.

[35:11] We need forthright preaching. Error is like a leaven. And leavens, it leavens the whole lump. Truth mixed with error is equivalent to error.

[35:26] It's more innocent looking. It might look more harmless. But it's still dangerous. Because truth mixed with error is still error.

[35:40] And God hates such a mixture. A mixture of truth and error. We should instead stand against it. And so, friends, I urge you tonight. We need a quickening of faith.

[35:51] We need a revival. A real revival. A true revival. Billy Sunday defined it as this. What is revival? Revival? Now listen to me.

[36:03] A revival does two things. First, it returns the church from her back sliding. And second, it causes the conversion of men and women.

[36:14] And always includes the conviction of sin on the part of the church. Such a time as this calls for courage. Such a time as this calls for a people who will fervently seek after God.

[36:29] God has you. You. Here. Now. For such a time as this. This time.

[36:41] God calls you to courage. As he raised up Esther for his glory. For the saving of his people. And in our own day, we need men and women of character.

[36:53] Of courage. Of conviction. Who will you honour and follow? The false gods of this world? Some kind of mixture? Or will you stand fast?

[37:04] The church has lost its voice of authority. Because it's left the authority of the scriptures. That's a quote I read recently. The church has lost its voice of authority.

[37:18] Because it's lost the authority. It's left the authority of the scriptures. And some dare to deny the absolute final and infallible authority of the Bible.

[37:29] 2 Timothy 4. It says that the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. But they will after their own lusts hint to themselves teachers having itching ears.

[37:39] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth. And be turned unto fables. These are the times. This time. These times.

[37:49] That we are living in. Spiritual poison is everywhere. And Christians are ignorant. Woefully lacking discernment. Tuning in to whoever's on the idiot box at the time.

[38:01] Or the radio. Tuning in. Doesn't matter if it's false doctrine. It's got some jivey music. It sounds pretty catchy. And hey. It's talking about health, wealth and prosperity.

[38:11] That can't be a bad thing. We must get back to the Bible. And tune out of that which is not in accord with it. Love the word. Meditate on it. Memorise it.

[38:23] Feast on it. Let it saturate your mind and your heart. And fill your soul with its hope. With its promises. In Psalm 107 it says. He sent his word and he healed them.

[38:35] Psalm 107 verse 20. The word brings healing. The word. He sent his word and he healed them. Maybe we're so sick spiritually today.

[38:48] Because we've lost the word. We've lost it. It's like in Jeremiah 36, 23. There was a man called Jehudi. And he was wrongly dividing the word.

[39:01] He got his pen knife out and he cut out some bits. Maybe it was some bits that spoke to him. We can treat the Bible like that. Oh, I'm not going to. I'll rip that one out. That one doesn't suit my lifestyle.

[39:13] Or I'll buy the Reader's Digest version. There's less commands in that one. You know. Or I'll pick and choose the bits I like. The bits I don't like.

[39:24] And I'll cross them out with a big black marker. So I don't have to read them. Some people treat the Bible like that. Like Jehudi. He had this pen knife in Jeremiah 36, 23. And he cut out bits.

[39:35] Friends, there's Bibles today with lots of words missing. The NIV. Has over 64,000 missing words. That's got to be significant.

[39:47] I would be very, very careful about such a Bible. 64,000 missing words. That's a lot of words. The devil's got his pen knife out. And he's cutting out lots of things in the Bible.

[40:00] Imagine going down to the local car dealership. And you're offered a car that was missing 64,000 pieces. 64,000 car parts missing from that car.

[40:10] I think I'd rather tell the car dealer I'd rather have the proven model with all the parts in place. Thank you. We must get back to the Bible, people.

[40:21] The Word of God. And honestly search it for the answers that we need. Let's ask, what does the Bible say? And let's hear what he says to us. We need God-fearing churches and preachers who'll stand true and not touch the unclean thing.

[40:36] To get rid of the leaven. To clean out. Have a clean out spiritually. To hold fast the faithful word. Even if it be called the foolishness of preaching. Let it be such.

[40:49] Let's not bow to the pressure. But let's stand fast for God. So then faith cometh by hearing. And hearing by the Word of God. We must have the Word of God. Friends tonight, in closing, will you be an Esther?

[41:04] You have an influence wherever you are. In the shop place. In the workplace. In the home place. In the school place. You have an influence where you are. Are you salt? Are you light?

[41:15] Are you an ambassador? A representative of the Most High God? With His royal authority and power? It says in Romans 14, 7. None of us live to himself.

[41:28] No man dieth to himself. We don't live just to ourselves. You have an influence. Every one of you is God's people. Be like an Esther. Thank God for her courage.

[41:39] Through it. The people of God were saved. And God's enemy was destroyed. Make your voice heard at such a time as this time. It's been said that this generation must be reached by this church.

[41:55] By this Christian church. By this people of God of this time must reach this generation. Who else is going in? And it's up to you and me to be an Esther at such a time as this.

[42:10] To rise up as the true church of God. We desperately need men and women who will faithfully stand for the glory of His name. For what truly matters in life.

[42:21] Death is inevitable. You don't know how long you've got. God's love. So do what matters. Do what matters. Do what counts. I urge you today to hold firm your convictions.

[42:33] To seize the opportunity. To the women I say, be an Esther. And to the men I say, some words in 1 Kings 2 verse 2, be thou strong therefore and show thyself a man.

[42:49] Be a man. Let us pray. Let us pray.

[43:08] Thank you.