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Esther 4:14-16

Queen Esther received a message from her uncle Mordecai, who also lived in exile in Persia. It contained the following warning.

If you keep quiet at a time like this, help will come from heaven to the Jews, and they will be saved, but you will die and your father’s family will come to an end. Yet who knows — maybe it was for a time like this that you were made queen!” Esther sent Mordecai this reply: “Go and gather all the Jews in Susa together; hold a fast and pray for me. Don’t eat or drink anything for three days and nights. My young women and I will be doing the same. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. If I must die for doing it, I will die.”

Quiz it

Esther was a Jewish girl whose family was taken into exile, like Daniel. When the King of Persia needed a new queen he threw a big beauty competition. Esther was the winner.

· Have you ever won a competition? If so, what for?

Amazingly, one of God’s people was now queen of the most powerful empire in the world. But Esther’s uncle advised her to use her position and influence to serve God and not to look after herself.

Think about where God has placed you.

· In what ways might God have put you there to serve him and help other people?

In Persia, God’s people had enemies

· What evil plot did Esther uncover?

Esther had to be very brave to stop a plot to kill all God’s people. She feared for her life as the King could have turned against her instead

· So what did she ask all God’s people to do first? See Esther 4:16

· What brave things might God be calling us to pray about and take action on?

Haman hated God’s people and wanted to wipe them out. Still today in many countries around the world Christians are threatened and persecuted.

· Out of the following, which are the three most dangerous countries to be a Christian today?

North Korea / Brazil / Norway / Afghanistan / Somalia / United Kingdom

[Find out the answer as part of Do It! At the end of the session.]

Esther is the only book in the Bible that doesn’t mention God by name. But he is behind the scenes like a secret agent working out his plan in surprising ways. So, remember, even when life is scary or things seem impossible God is at work.

· How does it make you feel to know that God has a secret plan for our lives and can use us. Even when things seem impossible?

Pray it

Dear God

Thank you that we are free to worship you in safety. Help us to be brave like Esther and to use our influence to serve you. Please strengthen Christians around the world in danger because of their faith. Thank you that even when we can’t see it, you are working out a good plan.

Amen

Pray it+ Pray for the persecuted church – see “Do it”

Do it

Find out about Christians who are persecuted. Pray for them.

Check out answers about most difficult places to be a Christian

Look up the Open Doors watch list to find out more.

https://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/countries/?ref=footlnk

Place it

Finally - have a look at the back of your card. What does it say? You can now place your card onto your story line.