"Even if you altogether hold your peace at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise to the Jews from other sources; but you and your family shall be destroyed: and who knows whether you have not attained your position for such a time as this?"  Esther 4:14
 
Introduction:

1. Times and Seasons: Scripture speaks of the last times, times of apostasy; perilous times, times of ignorance, times of refreshment, etc.
 
2. It is good to ask ourselves about our times as Mordecai had done himself: What are they and what does God require of me?
 
3. Who am I?  Who am I to God?  Who am I to my church?  Who am I in my nation?

Is my Christian life a vacation? vacatio - to be exempt; privileged; freedom from duty
Is my Christian life an avocation? avocatio - process of diverting the attention; distraction; diversion
Is my Christian life a vocation?: vocatio - a calling

4. Today is a time like no other, for today is all that we have.
 
5. I ask you today: What time is it?
 
I. It is a Time of Powerful Persecution  -- Esther 3:12-14
 
1. Mordecai's Time: Haman the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews, had plotted the destruction of all the seed of the Jews. He had even managed to achieve legal sanction for this plot
 
2. Today: It's that time again!

The age-old struggle between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman has intensified.

II. It is a Time of Profound Mourning & Warning -- Esther 4:1-3
 
1. Mordecai's Time

"When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly. He went as far as the king's gate, for no one was to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth. In each and every province where the command and decree of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing; and many lay on sackcloth and ashes."
 
2. Today: It's that time again!

The evil one attacks the moral values that God has revealed in His word.
 
III. It is a Time of Practical Honesty --  Esther 4:4-9
 
1. Mordecai's Time:

Mordecai clearly informed Esther of Haman's plot and what was at stake: Haman promised to pay the king to destroy the Jews.
 
2. Today: It's that time again!

Bribes in the name of political contributions are used to call in favors to change laws to suit the moral perversions of twisted people.
 
IV. It is a Time of Personal Urgency -- Esther 4:10-13
 
1. Mordecai's Time: Esther was told that being in a place of security is no security when the enemy of God is on the prowl. 
 
2. Today: It's that time again!

The words of the righteous are seized upon to attack the faith "once for all delivered to the saints" in the name of political correctness.
 
V. It is a Time of Purposeful Faith -- Esther 4:14
 
1. Mordecai's Time:  It was a time that all Jewish people needed to fix their faith upon the God of their promise. He would deliver His people from distress.
 
2. Today: It's that time again!

We need to do our part to support each other and to remember that God will never forsake us, so we need to stay focused on putting His kingdom and His righteousness first.
 
VI. It is a Time of Persistent Prayer -- Esther 4:15-17
 
1. Mordecai's Time:

Esther called for solemn fasting on her behalf as she prepared herself for service.
 
2. Today: It's that time again!

We each need to spend more time in prayer and fasting for those who put themselves on the line for the Kingdom and that we might have boldness to speak ourselves.
 
VI. It is a Time of Patient Obedience --  Esther 5:1-3
 
1. Mordecai's Time:

Esther did not hold her peace, but joined with the people of God and risked her life for the sake of the promised seed.
 
2. Today: It's that time again!

All of us are called to be His witnesses, and if there ever was a good time to be about the Lord's work, it is now.
 
Conclusion:

1. These are dark times for the church... "It is the best of times... it is the worst of times."

 Times of immorality call for a time of holiness.
Times of apostasy call for times of faithfulness.
Times of persecution call for times of prayer.
Times of intolerance of Christianity call for times of increased witness.

 2. Who are you?  "Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"