The Anonymous Times
Pastor Erickson preaches from Esther 4:13-14 on the anonymous times of life, the dormant seasons when hard working people feel unseen and are not where they thought they would be. Using the Chinese bamboo, Shamgar and Esther, he calls believers to grow deep roots, use the gifts God gave them, refuse to force God's hand, and stay faithful until God opens the door.
The message in 6 points
The anonymous times of life
He reads Mordecai's words to Esther, who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this. Before Esther was queen she lived in anonymous times, and he says everyone who works hard meets seasons of obscurity, when they must either wait on God or try to force his hand.
27:00Seasons and the Chinese bamboo
The Chinese bamboo shows nothing for four or five years, then grows three feet a day. Like the seasons in East Tennessee, Ecclesiastes 3 teaches there is a time for everything, including dormant seasons and productive seasons.
35:02Dormant does not mean dead
A bare tree planted in his yard became the most beautiful one, and trees bloom at different times. Comparing ourselves with others brings trouble, since early bloomers fade while winter bloomers stand strong. A dormant season can be God's protection, like a plane held in a holding pattern.
43:56First, grow roots below the ground
The bamboo spends its hidden years growing roots deep enough to hold it up. David kept sheep and Jesus waited thirty years before his ministry. Those who wait on the Lord, he says from Isaiah 40:31, are those who serve him.
58:23Use what God gave you
Stop trying to imitate someone else's voice or ministry and let God work through who you are. Shamgar had only an ox goad, yet he delivered Israel. Third, do not force God's hand by following the wrong leaders or copying what others are doing.
1:03:22Esther, the hidden tree
Seeing Purim celebrated, he learned that Esther's names point to a hidden myrtle tree. An orphan who simply lived as she was taught was raised up to save her people. He tells of serving wherever he could before God led him to Maryville, and calls everyone to stay faithful and content until God opens doors.
1:13:41
In his words
“There are seasons in our life when we may appear dead, however God is just trying to protect us from the environment that we're in.”
“If we're not careful and we're comparing ourselves among ourselves and trying to be somebody else and trying to do it like somebody else is doing it, God has already called them to do it like they're doing it, and God has called you to do it like he wants you to do it.”
“Just keep on being faithful to church, be faithful to house of God, be faithful to prayer, be faithful to Bible reading, and over time just give it some time, and God sees the faithfulness.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
Esther 4:13-14
13Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. 14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
King James Version.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
King James Version.
Isaiah 40:31
31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
King James Version.
Judges 5:6
6In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
King James Version.
Judges 3:31
31And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.
King James Version.
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