For Such a Time as This: Pride Goes Before a Fall - Esther 7:1-10 September 10, 2023, by Pastor Kenny Proverbs 16:18, “_____________________ goes before _______________________, and a haughty ___________ before a ________________.” Haman is hanged: (1) The _______________: Esther_____________ for her _____________- 7:1-6 7:1, “So the________________ and _______________ went to Queen Esther’s _______________,” 7:3, “Then Queen Esther ______________, ‘If I have found ___________________ with you, Your _______________, and if it pleases you, _________________ me my ______________—this is my ____________. And ____________ my _______________—this is my ________________.” 7:5-6, “5 King Xerxes __________ Queen Esther, ‘__________ is he? ________ is he—the man who has___________to do such a thing?’6 Esther said, ‘An adversary and __________! This________ Haman!’Then Haman was _______________ before the king and _______________.” (2) The ____________: Haman ___________ for his ___________: 7:7, “The king__________ up in a _____________, left his _______________ and went out into the palace _______________. But Haman, ____________________ that the king had already_________________ his fate, stayed behind to________________ Queen Esther for his _________________.” (3) The ___________________: Haman _________________ his _______________- 7:8-10 7:10, “So they _________________ Haman on the _____________ he had _____________ up for Mordecai. Then the king’s___________________ subsided.” 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God ______________him who had no____________ to be____________ for us, so that in him we might___________________ the ______________________of God.” Jesus was _________________ to crucifixion on the cross and he died for our sins, so that we might ______________ for God. If you_______________ Jesus, you will be ________________ for your sins. If you ________________ Jesus by grace through faith, you will not be _______________ for your sins._____________________ Jesus into your life today. Announcements The Joy Sunday School class will be meeting in the fellowship hall on Saturday, September 9th at 5 pm. The Leadership Council will be meeting at the church on Tuesday, September 12th at 6:30 pm. Ladies Weekend of Fellowship and Fun through Crafts, Scrapbooking, Puzzles and/or games. Come and stay all day or come for an hour or two and just visit. We will be meeting in Fellowship Hall. They will be meeting during the month of September at the church on Friday and Saturday, September 15thand 16th. The group will be starting at 1 pm on Friday and 9 am on Saturday. Please see Deb Hepler if interested in attending. What do you believe about ANGELS among us? September 19th at 6:30 PM will be our first CWC meeting of the fall. I will be presenting what I believe have been Angel Encounters in my life. Please come and be willing to share yours! Refreshments will be provided by Gwen and Darlene. All ladies are welcome. Patience Rogers is our new administrative assistant and will be leading our youth with her husband, Tyler. Welcome, Patience and Tyler! The new church office hours will now be from 8 am through noon on Monday through Friday. The Sunday School program is from 9:30-10:15 am. In the church library room in room 9, Bobby Steadman is teaching the Joy Sunday School class and Sondra Spradlin is teaching the Ambassadors class in the fellowship hall. In room 8, Autumn Beeman is leading the preschool class. In room 4, Sorina Howard teaching the grades 1st through 5th children’s class. In room 2, Tyler and Patience Rogersare teaching the middle school and high school youth class. Join us for our midweek service on Wednesday at 7 pm. Pastor Kenny will be leading us in a study from the Book of Acts. Pastor Tim leads in worship. Bonnie Taylor will lead us in our testimonies of praise and Doris Cox leads us with our prayer concerns. The service is also on Facebook Live. Patience and TylerRogersare meeting with the middle school and high school youth called, “Eleven:Eighteen” in the youth room.Sorina Howard is leading the grades 1-5 children’s class called, “Kids 4 Christ.” They meet in room 4. Autumn Beeman is leading the preschool class and they meet in room 8. What is the Jewish Queen Esther supposed to do when her king, King Xerxes makes a decree that all of the Jews are to be murdered in his kingdom of Persia? That is precisely the situation Esther finds herself in Esther 4. God not only had a plan for Esther during troubled times, he also has a plan for each of us during these difficult days. Join us during our Sunday morning services, as Pastor Kenny will be leading us in a new series titled, “For Such a Time As This.” The church playground is for ages 2-12, it has 10 activities, it has a capacity for 40 kids, and it’s called, ‘the Gorilla.’ Also, the new basketball court is up and is being used by the children and youth! Leadership Council Sub Committees: 1. Missions/Worship/Spiritual Emphasis (Pastor Kenny Howard, Pastor Tim, Cox Dave Hepler and Gloria Clay), 2. Physical Facilities/Vehicles/Custodial Supplies (Bobby Steadman, Chuck and Russ and non-Leadership Council members Bob Chapman, Frank Vega), 3. Christian Education and Evangelism (Myron Coonand Sam Harding) Watch Pastor Kenny’s morning online devotions on Tuesday and Thursday on our Facebook page (First Church of God (Winter Haven, Florida)). Please see Sorina Howard or Autumn Beeman if you would like to help be a Children’s Church worker or a nursery worker during our Sunday morning services. Scripture reading for Sunday morning, September 10, 2023 Esther 7:1-10, “1 So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet,2 and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, ‘Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.’3 Then Queen Esther answered, ‘If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request.4 For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.’5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, ‘Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?’6 Esther said, ‘An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!’Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen.7 The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.8 Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, ‘Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?’As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, ‘A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubitsstands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.’The king said, ‘Impale him on it!’10 So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.”