Uncaged Bible Podcast

For Such a Time as This - Esther

What if God has positioned us exactly where we are for a specific purpose?

The book of Esther tells an incredible story of a young Jewish woman who became queen of Persia at precisely the right moment. When an evil advisor named Haman plotted to commit genocide against all the Jewish people, Esther's cousin Mordecai asked her a profound question: "Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

Esther had to make a choice. She could stay silent and safe, or risk her life by approaching the king illegally to save her people. After three days of prayer and fasting, she decided: "If I perish, I perish." Her courage not only saved the Jewish people from extinction, but expanded God's message throughout the kingdom.

Here's what gets me - Esther's bravery wasn't just about saving lives in that moment. The Jewish people carried God's promise that the Messiah would come through them. If they had been destroyed, Jesus couldn't have come. God's plan depended on one woman's willingness to act when it mattered most.

The contrast between Haman and Mordecai is striking. Haman obsessed over power and recognition, building a 75-foot gallows to execute Mordecai simply because he wouldn't bow to him. Meanwhile, Mordecai had saved the king's life without seeking any reward. In the end, Haman died on the very gallows he built for Mordecai, and Mordecai took Haman's position of honor.

We are often the cause of our own destruction through pride and sin. But when we humble ourselves and respond to God's call, even when everything seems to be falling apart, God can use us for purposes we can't even imagine.

So ask yourself: Is there somebody who will respond best because of YOU? Is there something God is calling you to do that only you can do because of your unique position, relationships, or gifts? Were you born in this generation for such a time as this?

God's sovereignty means He sees the big picture even when we're hanging on by a thread. Esther couldn't see 600 years of history that led to her moment, but God did. And He's still working today through people willing to stand up when it matters.

What is your "such a time as this" moment?

From Despair to Mission: 1 Kings 21

God sees every injustice and will judge rightly. But here's the beauty: no one is too far gone for His grace. Even the most wicked king repented and received mercy. The punishment we deserve was paid on the cross. We get to extend that same grace to others. #Grace #Redemption

Nehemiah...Building for God and the arrival of Messiah

The book of Nehemiah isn't just about rebuilding walls. It's about setting God's prophetic clock in motion. When Nehemiah asked King Artaxerxes for permission to rebuild Jerusalem's walls in 445 BC, he unknowingly started a countdown that Daniel had predicted nearly 100 years earlier. Do the math and those 483 prophetic years land exactly on Palm Sunday, the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem as the chosen Lamb of God, according to the work of Sir Robert Anderson

 

Think about this: Nehemiah's simple request to rebuild a wall pinpointed the date of Christ's arrival. He also helped preserve the genealogical records that would prove Jesus came from David's royal line. One man's mission, divinely orchestrated to point directly to our Savior.

 

But here's the personal challenge: Nehemiah had everyone responsible for their own section of wall. They built with a tool in one hand and a sword in the other, ready to defend what God called them to build. What section of the wall has God given you? What are you building for His kingdom? And how are you defending it against the enemy's attacks?

 

We all have a part to play in building up the body of Christ. The question is: are we taking responsibility for our section while standing guard with the sword of Scripture? When we do what God calls us to do, the whole kingdom grows. Just like that wall was completed in an impossible 52 days, God can do the impossible through us when we're faithful to our calling.

The Trinity and Victory; John 15:18-27

Even when it looks like all the chips are down, when culture seems to be winning, when Christians face persecution, remember this truth: you're on the team that already defeated death. The enemy's strongest weapon has already been conquered.

Jesus told His disciples on the way to Gethsemane that the world would hate them just as it hated Him. He didn't promise an easy path. He promised persecution. But He also promised victory. If the world persecuted the perfect Son of God, why would we expect better treatment as imperfect followers?

Here's the game-changing reality: the mission doesn't end with one player. When the quarterback gets sacked, the team keeps playing. When apostles were martyred, the church expanded. When Christians are canceled today for standing on truth, the gospel continues to advance.

Death was the enemy's ultimate weapon, and Jesus already defeated it. We're not fighting for victory, we're fighting from victory. The second half is ours because we serve the God who rose from the grave.

Count it all joy when you face trials for His name. It means you're running in the right direction. The Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus, convicting the world of sin and drawing people to the Father through the Son. This is the path of redemption, and nothing can stop it.

Keep fighting. Keep digging. Keep standing for truth. You're on the winning team.

Finding the Mission Through the Despair; 1 kings 19

Ever feel like you're doing everything right for God, but then one setback sends you spiraling into despair? You're not alone.

This week we looked at Elijah – the prophet who just defeated 850 false prophets, called down fire from heaven, and watched an entire nation turn back to God. Epic victory, right? Then he gets one threatening letter from Queen Jezebel and runs for his life, hiding in a cave, begging God to let him die.

Maybe you've experienced a spiritual high only to crash when things didn't turn out the way you expected. Maybe you've wondered if you're making any difference at all.

Here's what God taught Elijah in that cave: When we take our eyes off the mission and focus on ourselves, despair creeps in. When we expect God to show up in the earthquake, wind, and fire – but He comes in a still, small voice instead – we miss Him because He didn't meet our expectations.

God's response to Elijah's despair? He gave him a new mission bigger than himself. He reminded him he wasn't alone – there were 7,000 others who hadn't bowed to false gods. And He gave him Elisha, someone to share the work with and pass it on to.

The mission must be bigger than you because it's for God's glory, not yours. You're not alone in this. And sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is be still and listen for that small voice.

What mission has God called you to that's bigger than yourself? Don't let despair or unmet expectations keep you from it.

The Book of Ezra

We often measure significance by size, beauty, or worldly standards. But heaven sees things completely differently.

The rebuilt temple in Jerusalem looked shabby compared to Solomon's magnificent structure. The people who built it were disappointed, thinking they had failed God. Yet that "lesser" temple became the very place where Jesus walked, taught, and ultimately brought peace to all mankind.

An unnamed usher at a revival meeting simply refused to let two teenage boys walk away without hearing the gospel. We still don't know his name, but those two boys were Billy Graham and Grady Wilson, who went on to share the gospel with more people than anyone in human history.

Your small act of obedience matters. That conversation you have, the person you encourage, the simple task you do faithfully - you have no idea what God will do with it from an eternal perspective.

Don't discount what seems insignificant by the world's standards. The little things matter to God. He often uses what we overlook to change the world.

What "small thing" is God calling you to be faithful in today? Don't despise it. You never know what kingdom impact it might have.

Showdown on Mt. Carmel: 1 Kings 18

Standing for truth isn't always safe, but it's always right. Like Elijah facing 450 false prophets alone, God calls us to confront corruption with courage. You're not isolated—God is with you. Embrace the holy, cut off the wicked, and persevere. Faith requires risk.

 

#Faith #Courage #Elijah #Sermon

Gog and Magog - Ezekiel 38-39

The prophet Ezekiel gives us one of the most fascinating glimpses into the future of Israel and God's protective power. After centuries of exile, Israel is regathered, the land becomes fruitful again, and the nation dwells in peace and prosperity. But then comes an unexpected attack.

A leader called Gog gathers a coalition of nations—potentially including modern-day Turkey, Iran, Libya, Ethiopia or Sudan, and possibly Russia—to invade Israel during this time of peace. They come for plunder, drawn by Israel's wealth and security. But God supernaturally intervenes with earthquakes, fire, and confusion among the enemy ranks. The victory is so complete that it takes seven months to bury the dead and provides Israel with seven years worth of resources.

What's remarkable is that this isn't just about military strategy or political alliances. This is about God making His name known. Through this miraculous deliverance, both Israel and the nations will recognize who the one true God really is. The people of Israel will finally know their Lord completely, and God promises never to hide His face from them again.

Whether this happens before the tribulation, during it, or at the Battle of Armageddon, the message is clear: God protects His people and His purposes cannot be thwarted. The ambiguity in timing isn't a weakness—it's intentional. Jesus said no one knows the day or hour, and that keeps us watchful, faithful, and dependent on Him rather than our own calculations.

The real question isn't exactly when these events will unfold, but are we ready? Do we trust in God's sovereign plan? Are we living in light of His ultimate redemption?

 

#EndTimes #Eschatology #LastDays #Prophecy #Ezekiel #Jesus #SecondComing

October 31st: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, and The Murky

October 31st. A date wrapped in controversy, celebration, and Christian history. Every year the questions come flooding in about Halloween, and every year the answers remain the same: it's complicated, but it doesn't have to divide us.

Here's what most people don't know: the earliest documented origins of Halloween come from the church, not from paganism. All Hallows Eve, the night before All Saints Day, was established by the Catholic Church centuries before any written record of Celtic festivals. Yet modern paganism has claimed this date, and many Christians have simply surrendered it.

But here's the real question: does your conscience allow you to participate? Paul's words about meat sacrificed to idols in 1 Corinthians 8 give us the framework we need. Some are free. Some are convicted. Both positions can honor God.

If you celebrate, focus on the good: community, imagination, connecting with neighbors in an increasingly divided world. Avoid the darkness. Respect those who abstain. If you abstain, honor your conviction without condemning those who participate. Your conscience matters, but so does grace.

And let's not forget: October 31st is also Reformation Day. The day Martin Luther stood against corruption and declared that salvation comes through faith alone, by grace alone, through Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, for God's glory alone.

Whatever you do today, do it for Christ. Here I stand. I can do no other.

 

#Halloween #Reformation day #October31 #ForrestFrank

Unexpected Sustaining: 1 Kings 17:8-24

When life doesn't make sense and you're at the end of your rope—that might be exactly where God needs you.

Elijah's story reminds us that God doesn't have to meet us on our terms or where we feel comfortable. He sent his prophet out of hiding, across dangerous territory, to the homeland of his enemies, to be sustained by a starving widow with only enough food for one last meal.

It made no sense. But God's gifts are often found in unexpected places.

This widow had nothing—just a handful of flour and a little oil. Yet when she put God first and trusted His prophet, that little bit never ran out. Every day there was just enough. For years.

Here's the truth we need to hear: Miracles don't mean life will be perfect. This woman experienced a supernatural provision and still faced heartbreaking tragedy when her son died. Following God doesn't make us immune from pain or difficulty. But it does mean we have somewhere to take that pain.

She went straight to God with her anger and confusion. And that honesty—that raw vulnerability—opened the door for God to move. Her son was raised to life, and she declared, "Now I know that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth."

Life is found in God's word. Not just in the scriptures, but ultimately in the Word made flesh—Jesus. He's the greater Elijah who provides bread for thousands, raises the dead, and offers eternal life through His own resurrection.

So the question for us today: Will we respond to God even when it doesn't make sense? Will we give Him our first and best, not our leftovers? Will we trust Him with our honest pain and anger instead of holding it in?

God's economy works differently. Faith requires the first, not the leftovers. And when we trust Him, He always provides exactly enough.