This morning our Fire-starter reading is found in Esther 2. Our Fire-starter thought is before becoming the show make sure you know 

I was at a preachers fellowship a couple of weeks ago and there was a man there that I knew went to this certain church and I knew I had seen his picture on Facebook and I said, hello brother you probably do not know who I am but we are friends on Facebook Unbeknownst to me he didn't have a Facebook. What happened I became the show at that point. I became the laughing matter if you get what I am talking about. 

Many times in my life I have become the show instead of becoming the know so Christian. What do I mean by this? Everyone of us is guilty of this, we like to get the hearsay and run with it than to get the actual statement from the person himself or herself. 

Most people have an issue with this. We either hear a little in the matter and run with it or we misread what has been said and we think that we know for sure and we really don't. 

Notice what Proverbs 11 states.

Proverbs 11:13 KJV

A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

For example, I can listen to someone tell me what happened on the night of a store being robbed but if the clerk has a different story the matter needs to be taken to court to find out who is right and who is wrong. With Mordecai he probably had others at the king's gate with him that could testify of what Mordecai was about to bring up and therefore he brought it up to Esther the queen and she brought it up to the king. 

I want to remind us this morning, your recognition may come later for you doing right but mark it down it will come!!!! 

According to our text they just didn't hear the words of Mordecai, they searched the matter out. Some need to learn to search out the whole matter before bringing it up!!! 

You will become the show if you do not know!!! 

Before accusing someone of something make sure it is true. 

I was working for a flower company and was on the phone with some friends and walked in a building and put my headset down around my neck. This was a church building I was in and they were singing a song and i started singing along with the song and totally forgot that I had someone on the phone. They were trying to get my attention and by the time I realized it this person hung up and then started telling me how rude it was for me to sing while I was on the phone with them and he was trying to talk to others on the line. I said, I didn't hear you trying to get my attention and he began to tell me that I probably did and just didn't want to listen. We got both sides of the story apologized and we have moved on. My point is Before becoming the show make sure you know. 

Before you start doing hearsay get the facts from the horses mouth. 

I've heard about preachers stepping down from the church they are at and leaving to go preach at another church. First thing I want to do is call the preacher that has been mentioned and ask are you leaving? Get your facts right. 

I was in a similar situation where someone told me in a meeting where there was a pastor that they had HEARD had stepped down from this certain church I stated that I hadn't heard that. I called the man and he said if I am stepping down I didn't know about it. I've been at this church for two full years. 

All I am saying this morning, Mordecai just didn't do something off of hearsay he had facts. 

Let me say this in closing. Preachers, Sunday school teachers, Christian workers, we must never teach off of hearsay; we must preach and teach thus saith the Lord. Remember that. 

What are you doing this morning, living the show or do you know?

Have a great day!!!!

Esther 2:1-23 KJV

After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. [2] Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: [3] And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them : [4] And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so. [5] Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; [6] Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. [7] And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. [8] So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. [9] And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. [10] Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. [11] And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her. [12] Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) [13] Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. [14] In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name. [15] Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. [16] So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. [17] And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. [18] Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king. [19] And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate. [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. [21] In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. [22] And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name. [23] And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.