"Booby Trap"

27 September 2009

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

504th Compound’s Multi-Purpose Facility

C.O. B. Adder

Tallill, Iraq

REFERENCES: Sun Tzu: “The Art of War” & other quotes from this military genius; Haman – Enemy of the Jews; Esther 2:7 (ESV) He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther,(A) the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. Hadassah (2:7) means “myrtle.” Her Persian name, Esther, means “star.” Esther was “placed” into the custody of Hegai (2:8).Esther 3:8 (NIV) – The reasoning behind Haman hating the people of God (Jews); Then Haman said to King Xerxes, "There is a certain people dispersed and scattered among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom whose customs are different from those of all other people and who do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them; Esther 7:1-10 (NIV); Revelation 20:10 NIV (The devil tormented in the lake of fire); Revelation 12:7-9 (NIV) There was war in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against satan; 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour; 1 Corinthians 10:11 (NIV) These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come; Note: To appear before the king without being summoned was in itself a sentence of death; (Psalm 30:5b KJV) …. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning; Esther 4:14 (KJV) For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Esther 7:1-10 (NIV)

II. READ THE PERICOPE: Esther 7:1-10 (NIV)

III. READ THE TEXT: Esther 7:9-10a (NIV) Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, "A gallows seventy-five feet high stands by Haman’s house. He had it made for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king." The king said, "Hang him on it!" So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.

IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that the Enemy of our Faith has booby traps set for unsuspecting believers; but our King is going to reverse his entrapments.

V. SERMONIC THEME: “Booby Trap”

VI. INTRODUCTION: Booby Trap. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines “Booby Trap” as an ambush designed to lure and catch someone who is gullible, innocent or unsuspecting.

In other words, my brothers and sisters, a “Booby Trap” CAN BE defined as a PITFALL or a hidden TRAP (SNARE) that isn’t easily recognized as trouble; but it’s aimed at BELIEVERS.

It has been said that “the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” Likewise, the enemy of God (the devil) tries to put us in check without ever throwing a fiery dart; instead he LIKES TO USE DECEPTION to DESTROY US.

Therefore, I feel led of God to momentarily discuss DECEPTION AND SPIRITUAL WARFARE.

******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******

MOVE 1: I’m not sure if you are aware of our circumstances as believers; but just in case you aren’t, I thought I would inform you – this morning – that If you’re going through some tough and challenging times right now;

a. You should know that you’re not ALONE; You’re NOT the ONLY one going through tough times!

b. You’re NOT the only one going through TRAILS AND TRIBULATIONS.

c. Believers, here in Iraq and all over the United States of America AND ACROSS THE WORLD, are “at this present time” in the midst of spiritual warfare … in some form or another!

d. BELIEVERS … are being picked-apart slowly by spiritual I.E.D.s – which are sometimes in the form of DECEPTION.

e. The question, for BELIEVERS this morning, is are you being picked-apart slowly by spiritual I.E.Ds., AND DECEPTION?

******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******

MOVE 2: Sun Tzu, a Chinese general and military strategist, one of the greatest war fighting minds that has ever lived once said, :

a. … “All warfare is based on deception.” On another occasion, Sun Tzu was quoted saying, “He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious.”

b. The Apostle Paul – writer of over a third of the New Testament - admonishes us (in Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV) to be cognizant of the fact that we are a people at war- spiritually.