Maganda hapon sa inyong lahat!

At salamat po sa Panginoon sa pribilehiyo na makapagbagi ng ating

devotion ngayon hapon. Bago po niyan, gusto ko pong magkwento muna ng nangyari sa akin ngayong
lingo. So, hindi ako mahilig manood ng mga movies, pero this week nanood kami at ang title ay
“TOGO”.

In 1925, there was an epidemic tragedy in Nome, Alaska. Due to heavy storm, it was not possible to
transport the medicine by air, nor by the frozen cracking seas. The only option was through sled dogs to
travel 1085 kilometers in 30-40 degrees below freezing. It was a race against time as some children had
already died. Togo, the lead dog, who courageously travelled the longest and most dangerous leg of the
journey, was able to successfully deliver the life-saving medicines and saved the lives of many.

In honor of Togo, the wonder dog hero, a statue was erected at Seward Park and his body preserved at the
museum of Wasilla, Alaska.

Anyway, why am I sharing this to you? Kasi, maganda siya, panoorin niyo😊, iiyak din kayo kagaya ni
Bevs. I’m going to make an assumption today. What if “Togo” the courageous Siberian husky dog, was
intelligently created by God in such a time as that for a special mission - to courageously act to save the
lives of the children in Nome. Isn’t that exciting?

But here’s more! What if God, likewise, made/designed you and me, in such a time as time as this, so that
like Esther, we must act courageously to save the lives of others? Let me invite you to open your Bibles in
Esther 4:14. Esther 4:14 For 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?
Esther 4:16 is a famous statement of Esther, lets read “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in
Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: 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, I perish.”

Esther had the courage to act. But how did Esther gained that courage? How did she displayed that
courage? And what is her motive behind her courageous act? Let’s go the Lord and ask Him to help and
insights on this. “Lord, we come to you, asking for your help and insights so that we too can have the
courage to act and do Your will in our lives. This we pray in Jesus name. Amen.”
As a background of the book of Esther, it is a book written during the Babylonian captivity. And this
could be one of the reasons why there was no mention of the word “God”, “Lord” or whatsoever. And
because of this many scholars debated if the book of Esther should really be included in the Bible. But
here’s what one of our Bible teachers said, “When we think God is absent, He is actually most present”.
When we think God is silent, God is not doing anything, He is very much present working behind the
scenes.

I know most of you already know the story, but let’s just have a quick preview. Hadassah, also known by
her Egyptian name, meaning “star” was raised by her older cousin, Mordecai. Queen Vashti was
dethroned as a queen, hence God providentially placed Esther to be the new queen. Yet, there was this
wicked Haman who wants to destroy/annihilate all the Jews, including Esther. So Mordecai commanded
Esther to appeal to the king. Yet, here is a dilemma of Esther, Esther 4:11 All the king's servants, and the
people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king
into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the
king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the
king these thirty days. Esther’s life will be endangered as she approached the king.
So where and how did Esther gained the courage to act? Someone please read Esther 4:16 Go, gather
together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days,
night or day: 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, I perish.
Number one, the main reason is Esther’s

1. Dependence on the Lord (v.16)

- having the confidence that comes from knowing the Lord.
Did you notice what Esther said? She said, “fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or
day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise”
Before she courageously went to the king, Esther first went to the Lord. This reminds me of God’s
command in Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Fasting is means abstaining yourself of physical things (like food or drink) to spend time in seeking the
Lord, talking to Him earnestly, and pouring out your hearts to the Lord.

And I believe as soon as we go to the Lord, we can be confident as we be reminded of His words, “Do
not fear” “Be strong and of a good courage” “I will be with you always, even” “I will never leave you,
nor forsake you”

Knowing that God is with us, having the Lord as “my light and our salvation; whom shall I fear? the
Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? whom shall be afraid? Ps. 27 Psalms 56:3-4
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. 4 in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do
unto me.
Sa atin kaya, how many times when we are faced with dangerous situation, and we do not have the
courage to act because prayer has been our last resort. Nakwento na natin sa lahat ang ating problema,
and when there is really no way out, it’s only the time we remember to go to the Lord in prayer. The song
says, “oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry,
everything to God in prayer” We fail to depend on the Lord.

Secondly, let’s continue to read

Esther 5:1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the
inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in
the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
Esther 5:2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained
favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther
drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

Part of Esther’s courage is her, I believe is her

2. Faithfulness
- being trustworthy in doing the best you can
We can see here that Esther obtained favor in the sight of the king? But how?
I believe it is by the Lord’s working that’s why Esther obtained favor from the king. But it could also be
that it happened because Esther faithfully did what Mordecai told her to do. And I also believe that she
did her best in what she can.
Notice, it says here, “Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house”
“So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.”
She placed her royal apparel. Could it be that Esther meticulously chose her clothes? Pinili nya ang
isusuot niya. Pinaghandaan nya ang pagharap nya sa hari. Could it be that she wore her best dress, make
ups, perfumes, etc? Yes, she did! She gained courage because she prepared herself before going to the
king. This is just my thoughts, but could it be that Esther also rehearsed what she’s going to say?

My point is that, we too can have the courage to act when we also do our part to prepare for the task.
For instance, sabihin sayo, pwede mo bang witnessan siya? Ay, nahihiya ako. Hindi ko alam sasabihin ko.
Siyempre kailangan mo magpray, pero at the same time, magmemorize din ng mga verses.

Natatakot ka kasi terror iyong teacher mo at may recitation kayo o exam. Hindi ka lang basta magpray,
mag aral ka din.

You are asked to do special music in church. Ay, hindi ko kaya, wala akong courage gawin yan. Well,
huwag ka lang basta kanta ng kanta, magpractice ka din.

Fellow ladies, let’s be faithful in doing our best to the task God has given us.

Thirdly, how was Esther’s courage displayed? Let’s continue reading Esther 5:3 Then said the king unto
her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the
kingdom.
- Wow, half of the kingdom. By the way, this does not mean literally half of the kingdom, but the king
simply means “since my kingdom is so great, then you can ask anything, and I will give it to you.”
Esther 5:4 And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day
unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
Esther 5:8 If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition,
and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and
I will do to morrow as the king hath said.

How was Esther’s courage displayed? By Esther’s

3. Tactfulness
- wisdom in saying the right words, in the right way at the right time

a) Right words
- this means, being careful in our choice of words, being truthful, sincere, not exaggerated
Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Ex. There are times kapag nagbibihis si Bevs, ang daling sabihin na, “pangit naman niyan” But instead of
saying it that way, I could say, “I suggest palitan mo iyong blouse mo kasi hindi maganda ang color
combination sa shorts mo” I’m saying the same thing, but in a more carefully chosen words.
Or minsan tatanungin nya ako, “maganda ba suot ko?” It’s very tempting to say, “oo maganda” kasi ayaw
natin masaktan siya sa pagsasabi ng totoo.

b) Right way
- how did Esther say her request?
Respectfully. Humbly. Not angry tone.
Pwede niyang sabihin sa asawa niya, “hoy” Hindi na hari, “hoy” nalang, “bakit mo pinirmahan ang aking
death sentence? hindi ka ba nag iisip?”

This is a reminder to our mom’s, how do we discipline our children? To the children, do we talk back to
our parents? Minsan, sasabihin natin, bakit ko naman siya irerespeto, eh hindi naman siya karesperespeto?

When we look at Esther, she was both respectful and humble in her words.

c) Right time (v. 8 I will do tomorrow was the king hath said)
- knowing the right circumstance when to open your mouth and when to keep your mouth shut, when to
speak and when to keep silence.
- Esther was not in the rush, I believe she already want to say her request, but then she did not say it right
away, she waited for another day. If you notice, the king will ask him this question three times.

Di ba minsan, meron tayong mga family problems sa ating mga asawa? Budget, etc. Gusto natin,
pagdating nya galing sa trabaho, sasabihin ko sa kanya. Hindi ba pwedeng pakainin mo muna?

Theres a right time to speak, and to keep silent. When do we keep silent? When you’re angry, keep silent.
Ang bilis magsalita kapag galit eh. Ang bilis din mga daliri magtext. When you are tempted to gossip,
keep silent. Mga kababaihan, dito tayo prone, mga salitang “alam ba, sig ganito? O kaya’y, “pagpray
natin sig anito” kasi…” When you don’t have anything good to say, keep silent. Naalala nyo mga
kaibigan ni Job? Its better to keep silent.
Part of Esther’s courage to act is through her tactfulness. Saying the right words, in the right way at the
right time.

Why is Esther have the courage to act? What was her motive?
For the sake of time, let’s go to Esther 7:3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found
favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people
at my request:
4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for
bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's
damage.
4. Concern
- putting your interest on the good of others and in God's agenda
Notice that Esther emphasized the words v.3 “my life and my people” v.4 “we, I and my people”
-Esther did not only think of herself, but she was courageous because she is mindful of others

The bible says, “Bear ye one another’s burden” Look not every man on his own things, but every man
also on the things of others”
Narinig nyo na ba mga katagang ito, “bahala kayo, basta ako…”
Minsan, kapag kumakain tayo, may mga nahuhuling kumuha at minsan, wala na natira. Ano dapat
reaction natin? “bahala kayo, basta ako, dalawa chicken ko”

Apostle Paul was very concerned with his fellow Israelites and said in Romans 9:3 “For I could wish that
myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:”
One time may nagkwento sa akin nito. Nagshare siya ng gospel, ayaw nilang tanggapin. Sabi daw niya sa
isip nya “Bahala kayo, basta ako, pupunta ako sa langit.” Pagkatapos noon, narealize din nya, mali ang
inisip nya.

Let’s continue reading

Esther 7:5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is
he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?
Esther 7:6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid
before the king and the queen.

5. Boldness
- willingness to expose sin though it may involve risky things
Esther 7:6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman.

Who is Haman? He seems to be one of the high-ranking counsellors of the king. He holds a high position.
Yet, Esther has the boldness to expose Haman that he was not a faithful servant of the king, he was
instead an adversary and is more interested in his own fame, status and benefit.

The bible commands us in 2 Tim. 4:2 “to rebuke, reprove, exhort”

Halimbawa sa office, alam mong mali ginagawa ng boss mo. Ay, ayaw ko siya pagsabihan, baka tanggalin
ako sa trabaho.
Paano kung classmates mo nangungopya? Ay, ayaw ko sabihin kay maam, baka magalit sila, sabihin
sumbungera ako.

Minsan sa church diba, may ginawa ang isang kapatiran. Instead na lumapit tayo directly sa kanya, sa iba
pa natin sinasabi. Ikaw na magsabi, nahihiya ako eh, baka sabihin pa nya, eto naman kala mo kung sinong
banal.

Noong BJ undergraduate pa ako, isa ako sa mga Student reps, at part ng aming responsibility ang
magbigay ng demerit. For instance, sa dorm, kapag nakita mo hindi niya hinugasan pinagkainan, demerit
iyon. Kapag umalais siya sa room, hindi nya pinatay ilaw at electric fan, ngmamadali, demerit iyon.

Alam nyo, may time na ayaw ko magdemerit. Nahihiya ako, ayaw ko ng confrontation, at madami akong
mga assignments pa na dapat gawin. Pero alam niyo po ba ang tawag doon? Selfishness, kasi mas iniisip
ko ang sasabihin ng ibang tao, mas inuuna ko sarili kong kapakanan. At eto ay very prone tayo na mga
Pinoy dahil sa cultura nating “pakikisama” na nagiging “pakiki-sama”

Lastly,
6. Obedience
- submission to authority knowing that God is sovereignly in control
-part of Esther’s courage is because she knows she is doing God’s will when she obeys authority. And
though the authority maybe wrong, God is sovereignly in control.

Esther 7:6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid
before the king and the queen.

When we look back at the last sentence of v. 6, “Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.”
Suddenly, Haman was astonished and terrified, because he never knew that Esther is a Jew.
Nagulat siya na Judio pala si Esther
And why did Haman and the king did not know? Because Mordecai charged Esther not to tell.
2:10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not
shew it. 2:16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus 2:17 and made her queen instead of Vashti. 2:20
Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the
commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
Esther may say, but the charge of Mordecai is illogical and unreasonable, why can I not show and be
proud of my own parents and people? Why can’t I tell them of my background that I am a Jew who fears
God? Esther can also say, I am already the queen, I can do what I want, why should I obey Mordecai.
Nevertheless, Esther choose to obeyed her God-given authority. –
You know, sometimes we may think that our parents, our pastors, our authorities are illogical and
unreasonable, hindi nila tayo naiintindihan. Yet we must obey the charge of our authorities. Asawa ko
naman, kill joy, ayaw man lang akong gumala kasama mga barkada, nakakaboring naman dito sa bahay?
Si pastor naman, napaka-strict. Bawal magpaligaw ng wala sa church, buti sana kung may mga guwapo.

In my personal experience, someone courted me and so they asked permission from my pastor. My pastor
said, “No”. Another guy came to ask permission from my pastor, and then another guy came. But my
pastor said “No”

I could have said, bakit? Mukhang mabait naman sila, pastor naman iyong dalawa, missionary din iyong
isa. Nasa edad naman na ako, 27 na nga ako eh. I could question my authority, but rather I obey because I
know that God is still sovereignly in control.

Esther’s life circumstance isn’t far different from ours. God used her mightily to save His people, yet we
see that even Esther didn’t come from a perfect environment. She too experienced her own struggles in
life. God also can use us whatever walks of life we came from.

In our times of trials, our humble response should not questioning God’s plans and wisdom, but on crying
and pouring out our hearts to Him, weeping and of mourning for our own sins, fasting for God’s divine
leading and favor

Est 4:14 ...who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
- God had allowed Esther to become queen on purpose, so that she might in such a time, used by God to
save the lives of her people. We too, were born in our generation, in such a time as this for a unique
purpose and plan by God.

Est 4:16 ...so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
This example is written for us to evaluate how determined we are in following God’s will in our lives in
spite of all odds, and how much are we willing to give up for the cost of Christ.