Agora Church

Whose timing is better - mine or God's?

Ha - If you are like me you get kind of frustrated with God's timing. We know His timing is good, but occasionally He just seems to move a bit slow for some of us.

Today we're looking at a super exciting part of the book of Esther where God's timing is so perfect it is almost unbelievable...or is it? 

Last Sunday we found Mordecai and Esther in danger and with a lot to fear. In chapter 5 we see the hand of God at clearly at work. Esther takes chances and things start to turn around. Keep reading through the chapters on your bookmarks to prepare for what happens next.

Fight, flight, or freeze?

We pick up the story in Esther 4 with Mordecai and Esther in danger and with a lot to fear. They each have a different response. Life often takes unexpected turns and when troubles come and fear rises, what's your natural response? Do you fight, run, or just freeze not knowing what to do? In those times how can you find the courage to step forward and be part of God's bigger plans?

Have you ever yelled this - either just in your head, or out loud to the universe?
Sometimes it so feels like God has forgotten about us when we are in a hard or difficult place feeling totally overwhelmed, lost or confused. 
Is God on vacation or just having a good sleep in and has actually forgotten about you? Or is something much deeper and more powerful happening.

What is God's love dependent on?

Humans are pretty fickle. We seem to fall in and out of love - or at least in and out of 'like' - with people all the time. Is God like this? Does He love us more when we are being 'good' and less when we are being bad?

We are starting a 6 week series looking at the book of Esther today, and in there we see a clear message about God's love. 

Some of us love to care for others, while some of us - ha - just don’t.
The story of the good Samaritan (Luke 10) is a great example of the gift of Mercy. To care for someone suffering so deeply and completely, shows the love of Jesus through the beautiful gift of Mercy.

I’ve spent the week digging into 1 Corinthians 14 and the gifts of tongues and the interpretation of tongues. I have found this hard study to do as although Paul is very clear in this chapter, it is very counter cultural to who we are as a church at present. On Sunday I simply unpacked this chapter and discussing what these gifts mean as Paul has explained them. Whoa.

When did you last see the mighty power of God?

I know our relationship with Christ is based on faith, but sometimes we need to see the clear mighty power of God displayed. A mighty power that we cannot dismiss or explain away. A mighty power that will greatly strengthen our faith. 

If you love to start new ministries that bless people, love encouraging people and building them up (especially leaders), and if you love to teach people how to follow Jesus more deeply, you might have the gift of Apostleship.

I know it sounds wild, but we are ALL invited to be God’s hands and feet in the world. God has gifted us in diverse and creative ways. He loves Christians to enjoy each others gifts and invites us to work together. Christian life in action is about the “WE”, not the me! Firstly the "WE" is God in us, secondly the "WE" is Christians working and encouraging each other.