The King’s Next Move: full transcript and answers

▶ 0:00 With Esther starting in 8th through chapter 10. Matthew 11 25 I want to start with this scripture it says at that time Jesus said I praise you father Lord of heaven because you’ve hidden this these things from the wise and learned people and revealed them unto little children now we want to understand that. Wise and learn there’s a lot of Harvard graduates in our day there’s a lot of people that are really smart they work for banks they rock it you know they can do rocket science they they just have natural understanding down but you see when they go to the scriptures. Their spiritual understanding is not that great because God Jesus Christ has to reveal it to you it’s not something that you get because you’re smart.

▶ 0:56 It’s something you get because you submit because you allow God to speak to you you go to his word you read it you pray you follow his process. You know just like a Harvard graduate he went through schooling he did all the work he did all those projects he you know worked his butt off to get through college and we have to apply that same kind of effort in the word and allow Jesus to open up our understanding and it says he revealed them unto little children and we know because we’ve been taught that there are stages in our growth when you are born as a Christian you are a new believer you are a baby you start as a baby and then you grow into the child stage and the adolescent stage this is a teenager and then the young adult and the maturity stage. See a child.

▶ 1:48 Is seeking after the father a child is following the instructions a child is. Listening responding and that’s what we need to be. I have family members that are very smart naturally but they do not know the word of God they do not understand the very basics. And it’s so important because you like it says in Luke you can gain this whole world but what is it if you lose your own soul I mean come on amen. A lot of people are losing their souls in our day and hour. This is a very important message. We want to be reminded that you know Jesus came this is an illustration of him coming and dying on the cross but he also wants us to rule and reign he also wants us to be conquerors.

▶ 2:51 Spiritually. In Esther 8. Esther was given the house of Haman so Haman was hung on the gallows and that sounds pretty rough but. He was hung and Esther was given rule over his house Mordecai was given the king’s ring that Haman had so now Mordecai is the one who is in second in second command second in command. Esther has been given rule over Haman’s house and we know that Haman was an example of the scribes and Pharisees the old covenant you know this all fits when you read it together and God is repeating things here amen so it’s very clear.

▶ 3:47 Esther set Mordecai over Haman’s house I mean I don’t know why God takes the time to share these details I mean here we have Persia. Is being taken over by you know Jews are now having influence and God’s taking time to tell us about these little things Esther setting more it’s for a reason. And we were last week we’re reminded that when Esther went before the king it was a law that you were not allowed to go before the king you’re not allowed to enter the inner court without being invited and we know that in the old covenant you can’t you couldn’t just go in to the inner court to the holy place or the holy of holies. You had to put on certain clothing you had to be a certain person.

▶ 4:40 You couldn’t just be anyone but we know when Jesus died he rent the veil into inviting everyone who has a desire like Esther. To be with Jesus to know Jesus can come in and go and meet you see the holy of holies is where the presence would come the word of God was there and you could understand God’s word you could meet with him and that’s what we need to grow amen and we need all those things again here’s Esther doing the same thing and she’s accepted again see God is confirming saying the new covenant is the accepted thing the new covenant is and I’m doing away with the old covenant and I’ve said that probably 20 times I’ll say it again Esther 8 6.

▶ 5:34 . So now we have a problem. Haman. Had written a law that the Jews were to be killed on the 12th month on the 13th day he wrote the law in the first month so you have a span of a year going on here and I don’t know when this occurred maybe the third month I’m not sure but they have a lot of time. But on the 12th month nonetheless the Jews are going to be slaughtered. So Esther she says for how can I endure to see the evil that shall come upon my people or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred. And you see Esther here is having she has a desire. She has a desire for her people she had us a desire she’s looking at she’s saying I I don’t want this to happen to my people she’s not just concerned about herself here she is in the palace here she is with her awesome clothing on here she is with her food all she can eat all can she can want in the palace and she’s concerned about some people.

▶ 6:44 Out in in the country you know this this this empire is not a small place. This is 127 provinces and the law went out to all of them and she’s concerned about all those people. And in the same way we are the church we are the example of the new of Esther and somewhere we need to get a desire for the people in this world. We need to get a desire that they are not destroyed you see the destruction coming is that people stay in their sin people are staying in their sin church people are staying in their sin you see our brothers and sisters are staying in their sin they need to be reached.

▶ 7:42 Not just people that are lost that don’t know God at all people in the church. Are following the path of destruction. And also people. Outside of the church. And we need to get a heart like Esther move to actions you see she was moved to action she cared so much that she said I am willing to die I am willing to go before the king and if I perish I perish see. She’s putting her life on the line and somewhere that’s got to come and that’s got to come in our hearts and that’s got to penetrate and somewhere we need to have a desire you know when we leave here and we go home you know I know what’s going on you know Laura and I get home the kids are are home and they you know just the whole routine starts again and it’s like when am I getting a break.

▶ 8:45 And some of us you know I I say this having a heart and and some of us are just like what do you mean I’m already dying as it is what do you want me to do. But. You see God’s not looking for you to kill yourself he’s looking for you to submit he’s looking for you to have a responsive heart a heart that says you know what I’m working hard right now but Lord Jesus I I want to lean on you I want to lean on your power I wanna like it like the song was saying that song was excellent take me use me fill me I want to be available for you and for your use we learn in Esther 8 verse 8 the writing which was written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s ring may no man reverse and I’m bringing this up because I’m just confirming her again that God is talking about the old covenant the old covenant it says in numbers you see when God says something when he makes a promise he doesn’t go back on his promise when he made his promise to Abraham to Isaac to Jacob and to Israel he’s not going back on his promise ever when Jesus came up with the shadow laws or

▶ 10:15 the ceremonial laws he’s not going back on those laws when he made the moral laws and said don’t do this and don’t do that he doesn’t go back on those problems he doesn’t go back on those things in Numbers 23 20 I have received a command to bless and I cannot reverse it this is when Balaam was trying to curse Israel and you see Jesus God had come to Balaam and had made him bless Israel Balaam didn’t have a choice it could not be reversed and we know God is not a man that he should lie. Amen so here we have a span of two thousand years before Christ is coming and God has made promises to Abraham God has made promises to Noah God has made promises to Israel God has made promises and he’s not going back in his promises it’s just like the king of Persia the law was written in the the law of the Medes and Persians that could not be reversed you see when they wrote a law it could not be reversed even the king could not reverse it in Matthew 5 17 Jesus says I’m not come to destroy but to fulfill the law and you see this is an example of God coming up with a way.

▶ 11:43 To keep the old covenant. But. There’s a new way it’s being fulfilled and we want to look at that in the Old Testament. We know about the sacrifices that had to be made and we know that there’s five sacrifices the burnt offering the grain offering the peace offering the thank offering the sin offering and the trespass offerings we know that there were rules about being clean you couldn’t touch a dead thing when a woman was on their period that was unclean it was a time of uncleanness and all these things the feasts that they had they had peace on certain days they would have festivals. The diet that they had to eat they weren’t allowed to eat certain food they weren’t allowed to do certain things God had laid it out saying you can’t eat the hawks you can’t eat certain birds you can’t eat of course we know about the pigs and they had to wear certain tassels on their clothing this and that on their clothing wear their hair a certain way all these things.

▶ 12:51 Yeah and of course the real seal that we know about in the old covenant was the circumcision that was the big one the males had to be circumcised and of course the Passover and the Passover is where Egypt the Israelites came out of Egypt. God initiated the Passover and that was an illustration again of Jesus death but today we don’t sacrifice we don’t come in and start bringing in animals and killing them and spilling the blood out and we don’t bring in our grain and we don’t we don’t do that okay because now Jesus Christ is our sacrifice we go to the cross we go to the blood he’s the one that forgives us of sin. Thanksgiving and praise and prayer see those are the things now that our sacrifices when we come in on Sundays and we’re tired and maybe we’re upset maybe we’re not having a great day but when we come in and submit ourselves and give thanks and praise to God that is fulfilling the old covenant you see these things in the old covenant the ceremonial laws were called shadow laws and when you stand up and you see your shadow on the ground normally you don’t look at shadows but if you look at a shadow and you follow it it has a form it has a shape.

▶ 14:21 But if you follow it it leads to what. The real thing the person that’s casting the shadow. And you see that’s exactly what these ceremonial or shadow laws were there were pointing they had a form. But they’re pointing to the real thing which is Jesus Christ. Which is and also a lifestyle thanksgiving and praise you see that’s what God wants. God wants to be honored God was going to sacrifice his life God was going to die on the cross. For our sin he he had already had this set up at the beginning and he’s pointing to it from the Old Testament. [unclear] we bring in our tithes and offerings ten percent that never went away that is not a shadow law offering your money sacrificing is not a shadow law.

▶ 15:26 And the word is our food our daily bread. And in Romans we find out about the circumcision of the heart basically he says in Romans Paul says in Romans that if you are a righteous person and you’re not on and you’re uncircumcised. And you have a unrighteous person who is circumcised what good does your circumcision do you. The person that is uncircumcised that is living for Christ like Timothy. He was a half-breed Jew and he wasn’t circumcised he was living for Christ Paul’s saying he has circumcision of the heart which is what it was pointing to not that God has all these rules that need to be followed he’s pointing to something the old and the new you see before I had two separate.

▶ 16:24 Things here now it’s the the moral law stays okay it doesn’t go away you know me going out of my wife committing adultery that’s still something we need to follow amen. Amen. No other gods Jesus says the greatest commandment. If you guys know it it’s really hard it says love God with all your heart all your strength all your soul and love your neighbor as yourself and that’s exactly what these ten commandments are talking about no other gods no graven images don’t take his name in vain six days shall you work so this first three talking about God loving him doing nothing to dishonor him. Six days shall you work and remember the Sabbath you see Jesus from the beginning is instituted work we’re supposed to work people that think we’re not supposed to work you’ve got I don’t know what five-year-old reading you know you got this and then you’ve got him saying in the New Testament if you don’t work you shouldn’t eat and that’s just ugh honor your father and mother and mothers and fathers we like that right.

▶ 17:40 Do not commit adultery do not murder do not steal covet you guys know all of them do not bear false witness see all these have not passed away they are not shadow laws they are not ceremonial laws they are moral standards. Amen. And they line up with God when he came when he came and they asked him what the greatest commandment was he said love God and love your neighbor these do exactly that so he confirms it in the New Testament. So back to Esther. In Esther 8 verse 9 it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews to the lieutenants. The deputies the rulers.

▶ 18:34 Of the provinces from India to Ethiopia so you know in our day we think of America America is huge okay uh. Russia’s China is huge. Okay but we have planes and jets and cars right but in their day this is this is a big place India to Ethiopia 127 provinces this is a big empire a big kingdom huge the Persian empire. And here we have Mordecai and Esther Jews getting involved with politics getting involved with the government getting involved with lieutenants and deputies and rulers these people are listening to Mordecai and to Esther.

▶ 19:31 They’re listening they’re obeying they’re following and we’ve got to understand we can’t just say we can’t be involved in politics we can’t be part of the government system. Of course we should be God wants us to have influence Esther here’s an example of the church she’s got influence. Amen. And that’s where God wants us to be but we can’t forget that as the church God wants to show the whole world the beauty of the church God wants to influence the whole world amen. Esther 8 verse 11. The Jews were granted to stand and destroy all the power so here it is.

▶ 20:28 Haman made a law that they’d be destroyed Esther and Mordecai come up with a different law that will save everybody. Jews the Jews were granted to stand and destroy all the power of the people of the people that would assault them both little ones and women and to take the spoil of them for a prey now. Again this story is an illustration okay and also a historical event this actually happened the Bible is truth the Old Testament is not a book of baloney it’s amazing that God can take a historical event. And use it as an illustration how can God do that it’s not just a story it’s not made up this is history. This occurred in a kingdom and God knew it would happen and he’s bringing out something to illustrate what’s going to happen when he comes it’s amazing it’s amazing God’s word is amazing you can’t you can’t make this stuff up.

▶ 21:34 I mean do we understand do we understand that this isn’t a story it’s history in Luke 10 verse 19 he says behold I give unto you power to tread upon the scorpions and serpents and over all everybody say that oh. The power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you you see Jesus said this when he had sent out the disciples and the apostles into all the land he sent out 70 people two by two he sent them out and he said I give you all the power you see first Jesus Christ as Christians he’s given you power over the kingdom of darkness he’s given you power to rule and to reign you know we can’t forget that his death on the cross his blood his power his spirit is limitless and we’ve got it.

▶ 22:35 Nothing shall by any means hurt you. You know not just naturally but spiritually here you are you’re trying to live a spiritual life maybe you will get hurt physically but spiritually you’re rocking and rolling nothing’s stopping you spiritually you are bringing down the kingdom of darkness spiritually the kingdom of darkness can’t touch you. Because Jesus Christ. Is more powerful. But. In Luke 24 49 this is also an example this scripture saying I will get I gave you all the power you see Esther it says all the power over your enemies. In Luke 24 behold I send the promise of my father upon you but go and tarry in Jerusalem until you be clothed with say it say it power from on high power.

▶ 23:37 So here you have Mordecai and Esther Haman has been hung. The old covenant has stopped. That Esther is now being accepted you see Jesus uh or New Testament terminology Jesus has just died he’s rent he’s rent the veil into. And now Esther and Mordecai are given all the power you see his church now is being granted the power and in Esther 8 verse 11. This is the same verse we talked about before all the power of the people that would assault them all the power over the enemy both little ones and women and to take the spoil of them for a prey now we got to be reminded that Jesus Christ remember he’s using this as an illustration in Psalms first two I’m sorry chapter 2 verse 8 he says ask of me and I will make the nations your inheritance the ends of the earth your possession are we talking about killing them and just going out and killing everybody is God just out to kill everybody no.

▶ 24:50 How can how can he bring people to himself if he kills everybody now that’s not the purpose he is saying I want the church. To reach people. To go and take them as a. Possession. They were once part of the kingdom of darkness now they are part of God’s kingdom Esther 8 15. So Mordecai. Has given all the power. And this terminology or if you read it you know there’s these just these little things if you notice it says Mordecai went from the presence of the king. And he was clothed in fine linen he had on royal apparel.

▶ 25:47 And a crown of gold. It goes on to say that the Jews had gladness they had joy they were had honor. And they. Uh had feasts. And lastly the end of chapter 8 it says many became Jews. For fear of the Jews had fallen upon them now we’re going to look at the New Testament now this is talking about again in Luke 24 49 I send the promise of my father upon you but terry until you be clothed with power you see Mordecai is an illustration of the Holy Spirit he’s being sent forth from the presence of the king you see Jesus said go and tarry in Jerusalem till you be clothed I’m sending the promise of my father to you which is the Holy Spirit and they went and that’s what this is talking about Mordecai.

▶ 26:51 Going out in Acts 2:46. They continually they continued daily with one accord in the temple you see they had been given power and now they were in in the temple daily. Breaking bread from house to house eating their meat with gladness and singleness of heart or unity. Singleness of heart we need to have seen on this apart we need to have a love for one another that supersedes all of the issues we may have within one another. You know our love for the church our love for God’s kingdom should be above all of the issues that we have with people breaking bread it says in verse 47 47 in Acts 2 praising God having favor with all the people like it says favor before in Esther they had honor it says here they had favor with all the people same thing and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved in Acts 2 verse 43 fear came upon every soul now I know when you look up here it looks like I’m saying the same things twice.

▶ 28:12 But these are actually 400 years apart from each other okay. Okay and I’m showing you this because we need to understand that as this story in Esther is an illustration fear came upon every soul many wonders and signs were done by the apostles and we know that on the day of Pentecost 3 000 people came to Jesus Christ they were converted and they were not just people they were actually devout men seeking after God. And you see Mordecai and Esther. They influenced their nation they fear came upon the Jews the fear of God. And the same thing happens in the New Testament it’s a great illustration and it’s amazing that God can again use history historical events.

▶ 29:13 To bring this about so just reviewing real quick. So first the new covenant. It’s been given authority over the old covenant no longer can the scribes and Pharisees continue to do things the old way they’ve got to come the new covenant way having a desire in their hearts for Jesus submitting to the way they’ve got to come to Jesus his way they gotta please the king and you see they weren’t doing that they came and they wanted to kill him they they hated Jesus talk about the furthest thing from the church here these scribes and Pharisees were at opposite ends two Jesus fulfilled the old law the old covenant. The ceremonial laws the shadow laws he fulfilled those things three he was given power he gave power over the enemy.

▶ 30:10 The spirit gives us power Jesus in the cross and his blood gives us power over the kingdom of darkness a Holy Spirit clothes us with power to live for him and no lastly people turn to Jesus Christ and we want to look at the end chapter 9. What happened the Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword killing and destroying them and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. Haman’s ten sons were destroyed. 500 and Shushan were destroyed these these people wanted to kill the Jews they were coming after the Jews but God turned it around. And all together there were 75,000 killed throughout the empire and this is a pretty rough story to take you got to remember God is the judge.

▶ 31:08 Okay and I’m not going to get all into that but when you read the Old Testament and you read it sometimes you just say oh my gosh how could God do this you guys you got to find answers for those things you know that God is love but he’s also holy he’s also a judge he also has to keep his word he also expects the world to respond he also expects people to listen and obey and there’s a consequence and a penalty and of course he is merciful and he shows his mercy for 400 years he didn’t judge a nation I mean that’s people lived and died for four generations and he’s not setting on more than four generations generations are going by for 400 years and nobody is turning to God nobody is submitting nobody is following God. You see God is merciful but somewhere he’s got to bring judgment.

▶ 32:06 And somewhere you gotta find in your heart and say I understand that and we got to understand that in the end he is going to have to judge everyone. And that he does love his people he does love people. In Luke 13 34. Oh Jerusalem you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you Jesus is speaking to the scribes and Pharisees and he’s talking about how their forefathers the people before them stoned killed ridiculed the prophets that were sent to turn them to God you see thousands of years before prophets came we know all about Isaiah Jeremiah Obadiah you read the little prophets the major prophets all those people came with a message trying to get Israel to turn and they did not.

▶ 33:07 Some did. But. Many did not and these scribes and Pharisees are great examples of people that did not turn in Acts 7:59 they stoned Stephen see here is a messenger when when they brought Stephen before the synagogue and the Sanhedrin he began to preach to them like a chapter’s worth of a message and he was just laying it out and he at the end of it it says they were pricked in their heart they were convicted and they just turned that conviction into hatred for Stephen and they stoned and killed him. You see here it is again the scribes and Pharisees are killing God’s messengers. God’s people.

▶ 34:02 You know Stephen didn’t come in with a gun he didn’t come in with a stone throwing rocks at everybody he didn’t come in punching people you know what is wrong with these scribes and Pharisees they’re killing this man that didn’t do anything to them. And we know in Mark 12 if you read the story. The story about the master who had a vineyard. And he rented it out to farmers and God Jesus Christ these are red letters right he’s speaking to the scribes and Pharisees he’s speaking to the people and he’s giving him this illustration this is a story it’s not a historical event a master had a vineyard he’d run it out to farmers the master sent servants to collect.

▶ 34:54 Money but they were beaten and killed and you see that’s an example of the prophets God sent prophets to Israel to get them to turn their hearts to get them to you know to not just keep the Jewish religion within themselves God wanted to show it to the whole world he wanted to show the blessing and he sent his son. God sent his son Jesus and they killed Jesus. When the scribes and Pharisees again I’ll I’ll tell you again when they when Jesus came the scribes and Pharisees hated his guts. And there’s a penalty for the farmers in 70 AD this is an actual historical event 35 years after the death of Jesus Christ or uh or more plus or mine plus probably Josephus writes and he tells us about when Titus.

▶ 35:56 Brought judgment to the city of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Titus who was a roman. Went into the city and destroyed everything. And 1.1 million people were killed during the siege. In Luke 21 verse 20. Jesus says when you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies. You guys remember this you will know that the desolation is near then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains let those in the city get out and let those in the country not enter the city you see Jewish people that were converting to Christ into his ways God was giving them instructions you guys you need to get out of the city when you see armies surrounding you get out because I am bringing judgment upon these scribes upon these Pharisees that put so much trust in the temple they put so much trust in the ceremonial laws that are actually pointing to me.

▶ 37:11 And you saw you see he’s giving them a warning he’s giving the scribes and Pharisees a warning why because he loves them he still wants these scribes and Pharisees to turn he still wants them to respond. But many stayed in the city 1.1 million people were killed during the siege this is a national historical event and Josephus this is Josephus writing this is not in the Bible this is a secular historian telling us of this event you could look it up on a Wikipedia and the only reason I’m I looked it up there is because it has Josephus’s quotations and this is what Josephus wrote all were hewned down in indiscriminate carnage. You know Jesus is being true to his word and he warned them he told them.

▶ 38:05 You guys are putting too much trust in this old covenant get rid of it get rid of your philosophy turn to me listen to me. There’s a judgment coming. And Josephus writes that Titus refused. A a wreath. He refused honor for this event. Because actually it wasn’t an easy thing for Titus there are 1.1 million people there were people defending Jerusalem people that were zealous defending that city and when he went in it wasn’t easy for him to destroy the city but he said that he merely served as an instrument of God’s wrath. And these are his words.

▶ 38:59 As we’ve already stated the book of Esther is not just historical event it’s not just a a book written it’s not just things that happen it’s an illustration of Jesus coming it’s an illustration of his death on the cross it’s an illustration of his people being filled with the spirit being filled with the power of God going out and being conquerors in the land. Now as you know in 70 AD or 68 AD after the death Peter was killed a lot of the apostles were already killed. And Nero was now in charge and when you read that history you say to yourself how can this be. The church ruling and reigning and conquering you see naturally.

▶ 39:57 A lot of people are getting hurt. And we know later on that even more people were hurt but spiritually the kingdom of darkness. Was being torn down this new way the the message of Jesus Christ the lies being transformed was spreading like fire. And that’s why in America today we have the message because God back there he spread it. This kingdom of darkness could not contain the kingdom of darkness. Influence these people like Nero these all these evil people to kill to to just to destroy slaughter all these Christians. But it could not stop the message it could not stop God from reaching everyone.

▶ 40:58 Amen. So lastly. How does this apply to us in our day. We must understand in America today there are people that hate God’s word there are people that hate. The gospels there are people that hate Jesus Christ there are people that refuse to submit to the king just like vashti it not necessarily hating like Haman but maybe like vashi where that refuse. And if you watch your tv like I do and you see the things that I do because you’re living in this world you know that people are publicly declaring war against Jesus Christ they publicly mock him they publicly will say things that are just so awful about Christ.

▶ 41:57 And you sit there and you watch it and you say uh. Uh. Why does God allow him to do that. People law they mock God’s word they mock righteous living today in our hour if you’re a young person and you’re trying to save yourself for marriage you are mocked you’re trying to do something good and you’re mocked. You’re put down if you don’t do live a certain way. I went to college I went I were I worked as a young person at a company people knew I was different and they mock me they might I said I’ve met Jesus where’d you meet him in the mall. You know they they saw me jaywalking and they said why are you doing that you’re not following God’s word.

▶ 43:00 You know they want to mock you they want to they want to accuse you. But when we look at Esther and Mordecai. Mordecai would not submit to Haman he would not submit. He would not allow. He would not bow down to him and you young people and us old people people are trying to get us to submit. They want us to yield to a popular opinion they want us to bow down per se. They want us not just to tolerate but to accept their beliefs. Except their system except their philosophy.

▶ 43:57 But Mordecai would not do that and you see church we’ve got to look at these two examples and we’ve got to be reminded in our hearts somewhere we’ve got to have a heart like Mordecai. A heart like him you see. He never pulled out his sword at Haman and and slew him. He didn’t do that he just submit he just he wouldn’t bow no I’m not going to do that. And Esther Esther. Had to put her life on the line you look at these two examples of these two people they had to put their lives on the line they had to make sacrifices. But we know in the end the results are so powerful they’re so magnificent. Thank you.