Call to Worship: Psalm 18:46 “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! 47 He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, 48 who saves me from my enemies.”
Songs: Days Of Elijah - Robin Mark
War - Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago
Every Giant Will Fall - Rend Collective
Every Giant Will Fall - Rend Collective
Scripture: Psalm 9
Song: Warrior - Steven Curtis Chapman
Awake My Soul - Hillsong
Sermon: “The Rise and Fall of the Arrogant”
Closing Song: Great I Am - Phillips, Craig & Dean
Benediction: Psalm 126:1 “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. 4 Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. 5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”
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Sermon: “The Rise and Fall of the Arrogant”
This week we will continue our look at the book of Esther. As you can see by the title we will be looking at the rise and fall of our enemies. Just in case you were not aware our enemies are arrogant. Arrogance can be defined as “having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride.” Another definition describes it this way. “Unpleasantly proud and behaving as if you are more important than, or know more than, other people.” And then finally “exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one's own worth, showing an offensive attitude of superiority.” I think you get the picture. Scripture has a lot to say about the arrogant and today we will be looking at the vile Haman and his desire to destroy the Jews.
I have often said our enemies are so arrogant they will even tell you what the problem is and why you should beware; if you listen closely. This is why we were told to test the spirits. 1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” For example test this. Many in the church do not believe in prophets or apostles since the time of Paul but we are told watch out for false prophets. For them they either don’t exist or they are okay just having false prophets but not true prophets. Their arrogance is usually the give away. The leader of the arrogant is satan. Isaiah 14:12 “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! 13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. 15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.” Ezekiel 28:17 “Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth.” Narcissism (excessive interest in or admiration of oneself) and arrogance go hand in hand Revelation 12:9 “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” So the devil is filled with fury and the only way to win is by the blood of the Lamb.
satan has been hard at work deceiving the nations and the church. He tried to stop Jesus and he has continued ever since. How is it even possible for the church to be so deceived? The answer is simple; the church did not listen to the word of God and has been deceived. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” Not only do we have deception from satan, we have delusion brought on by God. Most don’t even know this has happened already and continues to happen. Again scripture warns us. 1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 2 Peter 3:17 “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.” People have been devoured because they have not stood firm, yet they still think they are on the right path. satan has been allowed this kind of power due to our disobedience just as the Babylonians were allowed to conquer the land and leave just a remnant alive. When you read about the destructive power that came against Israel and Judah when they were attacked, you can then see the destructive power of satan’s attack against the church. This is why we were told Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” The war with satan is like the virus. You can’t see it but it is there and deadly.
So this is what we are up against and you cannot defeat satan in your own strength. satan is the one who gets you to question God as he did in the garden when he said “did God really say.” He also offers you anything if you would just bow down to him. When we turn away from the word of God and go our own way we loose, eternally. You must remember that satan is trying to turn you away from God and take you with him to hell. Matthew 25:41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Since most in the church refuse to listen to God’s word, the church is filled with the deceived. Jeremiah 9:6 “You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me, declares the Lord.” Because the church did not follow, satan has ravaged the land. Like Judah, the church has been told over and over to repent and turn from their own ways but they won’t listen. The instructions have been in our hands from the letters to the bibles we have now. Jeremiah 18:11 “Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.’ 12 But they will reply, ‘It’s no use. We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.’” The disaster that followed was the onslaught from the Babylonians. The description of this attack is very important for the church to understand as that attack is what has happened to the church because the church continued to follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. Here is just a brief description of the onslaught. Jeremiah 19:3 “Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah and people of Jerusalem. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Listen! I am going to bring a disaster on this place that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.” Jeremiah 1:14 “The Lord said to me, “From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. 15 I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord. “Their kings will come and set up their thrones in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem; they will come against all her surrounding walls and against all the towns of Judah. 16 I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made.” Jeremiah 20:4 “For this is what the Lord says: ‘I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; with your own eyes you will see them fall by the sword of their enemies. I will give all Judah into the hands of the king of Babylon, who will carry them away to Babylon or put them to the sword.” The church has been following other gods / gospels for generations and we have paid a high price for this adultery.
Israel had already fallen and now Judah would fall also. 2 Chronicles 36:15 “The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. 17 He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men or young women, the elderly or the infirm. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. 18 He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the Lord’s temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19 They set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there. 20 He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power. 21 The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.” There is a lot more that could be said about this but the severity of this attack is well laid out in scripture. This is what satan has done to the church.
This devastation is the backdrop to Esther and why they were there in captivity. This is also the backdrop as to why the church is powerless and in captivity and desolation. This last week we saw on a single day the church void of power and defeated. They had already been defeated this just made it clear to everyone. From Baptists to Pentecostals to Catholics, the church united and shouted to the world and is still shouting, we are one, we are just like you, we have no power but I hope we can open for Easter Sunday and celebrate the power of the resurrection (my words). There is power for all who believe but not when the church has disobeyed His commandments. Disobedience keeps us in captivity. I have talked about this lack of power a lot this week in the blogs. The truth is, the church needed to close because they are just like everyone else. The reason for this is because the church has not followed God’s word wholeheartedly; God turned His face and our enemies have defeated us. Paul says in Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” satan has been allowed to reign for a time as we saw in Thessalonians. “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” God allowed this just as he allowed the Babylonians to destroy Israel and Judah and take them into exile. This deserting of the gospel has been going on ever since Paul said he was astonished. When you look back in history you see the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox church split in 1054. They each say say they continue speaking the truth. Then Reformers (1517-) say that they now speak the truth yet all went in different directions with very different beliefs. Every church split or new leader since all say they are led by the truth but all of a sudden truth is nowhere to be found and for the first time the world saw the church become one in their rebellion. I saw another church sign the other day that said closed. If the church as a whole would wake up and realize the disastrous situation they find themselves in, no not the virus it is actually far worse than that, they would all put out a sign that says Closed to till further notice; Closed for Renovations! Under New Management- Opening Soon! We will not open until these renovations and restorations are complete! The renovations are turning from their wicked ways but the virus will slow down and things will go back to normal but that is not going to happen because God is about to move in power.
Remember that satan / enemy is arrogant and thinks he is victorious with no worry of defeat. He says proudly I have conquered the church. Our enemy is satan and the good news is Jesus has already defeated satan but have you. This can only be done in the power of the Holy Spirit. Many churchgoers gain a feeling of security because they celebrate Easter and the victory over the cross. When Jesus said it is finished, that was just the beginning for us. The problem is Deuteronomy 29:9 “when such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,” they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. 20 The Lord will never be willing to forgive them; his wrath and zeal will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will fall on them, and the Lord will blot out their names from under heaven. 21 The Lord will single them out from all the tribes of Israel for disaster, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law.” Again read Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 and while you are at it read Proverbs 1-9. Hebrews 6:4 “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” They shout together crucify Him, crucify Him! Hebrews 10:26 “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” This is why most do not want to know the truth because it means they would have to repent for their wickedness.
Remember that satan / enemy is arrogant and thinks he is victorious with no worry of defeat. He says proudly I have conquered the church. Our enemy is satan and the good news is Jesus has already defeated satan but have you. This can only be done in the power of the Holy Spirit. Many churchgoers gain a feeling of security because they celebrate Easter and the victory over the cross. When Jesus said it is finished, that was just the beginning for us. The problem is Deuteronomy 29:9 “when such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,” they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. 20 The Lord will never be willing to forgive them; his wrath and zeal will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will fall on them, and the Lord will blot out their names from under heaven. 21 The Lord will single them out from all the tribes of Israel for disaster, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law.” Again read Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 and while you are at it read Proverbs 1-9. Hebrews 6:4 “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” They shout together crucify Him, crucify Him! Hebrews 10:26 “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” This is why most do not want to know the truth because it means they would have to repent for their wickedness.
Yes Jesus died, rose and is coming again but have you been empowered by Jesus. Has he given you authority to carry on His work, to defeat satan? Have you been clothed with power by His Spirit? The answer is no hence the powerless church but God said he will keep his promise to David and the remnant will rise up in power. Romans 11:3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me? 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.” God will protect His remnant from the arrogance of the enemy and save the church even though we do not deserve. Ezra 9:15 “Lord, the God of Israel, you are righteous! We are left this day as a remnant. Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence.”
This time has come. The good news is our enemies are about to be defeated just like when queen Athaliah tried to destroy the royal family and for six years she thought she had won. But 2 Chronicles 23:1 “in the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength. 3 Jehoiada said to them, “The king’s son shall reign, as the Lord promised concerning the descendants of David.” When Sennacherib attacked Jerusalem who were the last to stand as Israel had already fallen, the King in arrogance spoke against God. 2 Kings 18:28 “Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! 29 This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you from my hand. 30 Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, ‘The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” He had said, 2 Kings 19:10 “Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, ‘Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.’ 11 Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? 12 Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my predecessors deliver them.” Isaiah then spoke the word of the Lord against that arrogance. 2 Kings 19:21 This is the word that the Lord has spoken against him: “‘Virgin Daughter Zion despises you and mocks you. Daughter Jerusalem tosses her head as you flee. 22 Who is it you have ridiculed and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel! 23 By your messengers you have ridiculed the Lord.” 30 Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. 31 For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors.” 34 I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.’” 35 That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp.” Sennacherib was then struck down by the sword. We say the same to our enemies.
The promise to David still stands and the remnant will rise up just as God promised David. God will begin to defeat our enemies and the church will stand in victory. Though the enemy in arrogance says I am victorious, little do they know God is about to pay back the enemy for what they have done to God’s people? Jeremiah 50:31 “See, I am against you, you arrogant one,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty, “for your day has come, the time for you to be punished. The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up.” Job 24:22 “But God drags away the mighty by his power; though they become established, they have no assurance of life. 23 He may let them rest in a feeling of security, but his eyes are on their ways. 24 For a little while they are exalted, and then they are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain. 25 “If this is not so, who can prove me false and reduce my words to nothing?” Psalm 31:23 “Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. 24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” Psalm 94:2 “Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve.” God said Isaiah 13:11 “I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. 19 Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the pride and glory of the Babylonians, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.” Isaiah 14:3 “On the day the Lord gives you relief from your suffering and turmoil and from the harsh labor forced on you, 4 you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury has ended!” Isaiah 10:12 “When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes. 13 For he says: “‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings.” Jeremiah 51:24 “Before your eyes I will repay Babylon and all who live in Babylonians for all the wrong they have done in Zion,” declares the Lord. 25 “I am against you, you destroying mountain, you who destroy the whole earth,” declares the Lord.” Isaiah 2:11 “The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. 12 The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted and they will be humbled”
One of the deceptions we have been warned about are those who say with their lips they are one thing but in reality are another. Jesus told us Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Paul warned us about these people when he said Acts 20:29 “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” Another type of deception are people who use their lips against you. Proverbs 26:24 “Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. 25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. 26 Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.” 2 Peter 2:17 “These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” These people are all about to be exposed for who they really are. The enemy will not get away with their arrogance. As God rises up we will see the church once again move out in power. It will be just as when they entered the promised land. Joshua was told Joshua 1:2 “Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
God has given us the land, but not just the Promised Land; He has given us the world. Revelation 11:15 “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and He will reign for ever and ever.” This is what we have been offered and this is what we are to do. Isaiah 42:6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” Paul was told in Acts 26:7 “I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Isaiah 50:7 “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.” So we have great hope. Our enemies are about to be defeated the word of God spread to the ends of the earth.
So what about this Haman guy? He too decided he would dispose of the Jews. He is a perfect example of the arrogant narcissist. His rise to power and his fall are laid out clearly in Esther. Esther 3:1 “After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.” The stage is now set for the rise and fall of Haman. Once again the arrogant are focused on themselves but he missed just before in chapter two, Mordecai saved the king. The plot thickens and Haman’s power increases. The king even gives Haman his signet ring. Then the edict was issued and the Jews were to be destroyed. After the plan was hatched, “the king and Haman sat down to drink.” After Mordecai reveals Haman’s plan to Esther, she invites the King and Haman to a banquet and then to another just for Haman and the King. Haman was feeling pretty good about himself, Esther 5:9 “Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits.” On the way home Mordecai infuriates him again when he refuses to bow to him. 10 “Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 11 Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. 12 “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow.” They then plotted to kill Mordecai the next day. On the way to ask the king to have Mordecai killed, his fall begins. The king then cannot sleep and finds out that nothing was done for Mordecai. Esther 6:4 “The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had set up for him. 5 His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.” “Bring him in,” the king ordered. 6 When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” 7 So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, 8 have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’” 10 “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.” Haman’s fall is picking up speed because he did not know he was fighting against the God of the Jews. Now the family changed their tune. 12 Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, 13 and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!” He then was rushed to the banquet. Esther then comes before the King. Esther 7:3 “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!” Haman pleads for his life and then He is gone. His arrogance was no more. Not only did he die and the Jews live, Mordecai was exalted Esther 9:4 “Mordecai was prominent in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful.” Esther 8:1 “King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. 2 The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate.15 When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration. 16 For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. 17 In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.”
They told Haman too late that because Mordecai was Jewish, he would come to ruin. Haman came to ruin, as did his sons and he lost his estate. Acts 5:38 “Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 1 Corinthians 4:5 “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” Matthew 10:26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
The church is a disaster. The enemy has prevailed and the church has been sitting in darkness for a long time, powerless to defeat our enemies but God has heard our cries and like Haman was defeated, our enemies will be defeated also. Your enemies are those who do not have God’s purposes in their heart. Matthew 16:23 “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Some people don’t even know they are being used by satan and others willfully stand against the way but we know Psalm 5:5 “The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong.” Psalm 31:18 “Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.” Psalm 75:1 “We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds. 2 You say, “I choose the appointed time it is I who judge with equity. 3 When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. 4 To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns. 5 Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak so defiantly.’” Psalm 108:12 “Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. 13 With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.”
Yes God will save the remnant in captivity but he will also free us to retake the land. Jeremiah 29:10 “This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” So while this shows us the release of the Jews in captivity we also know that God will free us to. Daniel talked about our enemies Daniel 8:23 “24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.” Daniel was appalled by this vision of the future where Daniel 9:27 “at the temple[j] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” Jesus warned us about this abomination that causes desolation Mathew 24:10 “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” We have seen this desolation today where all around the world the church is filled with doctrines of demons, false teaching, false teachers, antichrists standing behind pulpits, truth no where to be found but as Paul gives us hope when he said that’s what some of you were.
Today is a new day. The end of the end is coming and Jesus will come to take us home but until that day, the remnant will rise up just as God promised and see the defeat of our enemies. As we read earlier Jeremiah 50:31 “See, I am against you, you arrogant one,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty, “for your day has come, the time for you to be punished. The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up.” So stand firm on the word of God. God is about to move in power and rescue His church. Isaiah 49:6 He says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” Luke 24:48 “You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
