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.
c. As a result, we should “be strong … in the Lord and in THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.
d. Paul says, “We should … put on the full armor of God … so that we … can take our stand against the devil’s schemes” … or Booby Traps.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 3: For our struggle … in this life … is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world …
a. … and against the spiritual forces of evil in HIGH PLACES.
b. Therefore, as believers, Paul reminds us all … that we should be prepared … for the booby traps (in life) … that the ENEMY OF OUR FAITH … HAS HIDDEN IN OUR PATH … IN HOPES OF DESTROYING US.
c. The manner in which believers prepare for SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS BY FASTING AND PRAYING.
d. The Good Book encourages us (in 1 Peter 5:8 ) to be alert … for the enemy of our faith, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
e. Some situations – IN OUR LIVES - will remain UNCHANGED until we call for the Elders of The Church … and the PRAYER WARRIORS!
f. So, he uses unsaved folk and sometimes saved-folk (when they let him) to set-up Booby Traps for believers.
g. But, I stop by here (this morning) to let every BELIEVER KNOW …. that … Help and Deliverance IS ON THE WAY! (Psalm 30:5b KJV) …. weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
h. As BELIEVERS, we are going to FAST AND PRAY OUR WAY TO VICTORY!
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 4: In our Scripture Reading this morning we find ourselves …. Being introduce to an individual in the Old Testament who represents DECEPTION, AND THE DEVIL HIMSELF.
a. His name was Haman. Long before Hitler was even thought of … THERE LIVED A DEVIL BY THE NAME OF HAMAN.
b. For don’t you remember, Haman plotted to destroy the Jewish People in the Persian Empire?
c. All because the Jewish People mannerism was different; AND THEY WOULDN’T BOW DOWN. Their WORSHIP WAS GOD-CENTERED; AND NOT MAN CENTERED!
d. But, God reversed his Booby Trap so that he himself was victimized by the Booby Trap that he had set for Mordechai and the people of God.
e. Who can ever forget … the BAD COUNSEL HAMAN RECEIVED FROM HIS WIFE (Zeresh) and his friends?
f. The Bad Counsel encouraged Haman to Set a BOOBY TRAP for God’s people!
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 5: Later, Haman’s deception persuaded the king to decree a law to annihilate the JEWS.
a. For don’t you remember - the King entrusted his ring of authority with Haman which allowed Haman the power to basically POLICE THE LAND!
b. Now, my brothers and sisters, in order to protect the king’s life, Persian law prohibited anyone from entering the King’s Inner Court without invitation (4:11).
c. As a Jewess, Esther the queen was subject to Haman’s death edict (4:13).
e. The Good Book says Mordecai was convinced that God would somehow intervene and save the Jewish people from obliteration (4:14).
d. As believers, we can’t always see how God is going to work-out devastating situation in our lives; So, we have to TRUST that He will.
e. For don’t YOU REMEMBER, MODECIAH SAID TO ESTHER: “God may have brought you the position as Queen – Supply Sergeant, First Sergeant, Commander, etc., - FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS!
f. As a result, I can hear Esther – with my sanctified imagination – saying PRAY FOR ME … IF I PERISH, I PERISH …
g. In Esther 6 - God’s sovereign hand is seen working through seemingly insignificant events.
h. Haman was a living illustration of Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall.”
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 6: The Good Book tells us that AFTER ESTHER MADE HER REQUEST KNOWN TO THE KING … THE CIRCUMSTANCES BROUGHT THE DEVIL & HAMAN TO THEIR KNEES …
a. For the enemy was begging for MERCY.
b. But the King had no mercy … ON THE DEVIL AND HAMAN.
c. Likewise, the Good Book says in Rev. 20:10 … that the devil with his DECEIVING POWER WILL BE THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.
d. In fact, the King interpreted Haman’s behavior as a physical assault on Esther.
e. Haman was condemned AND EXECUTED!
f. For the Good Book says in 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.
g. Likewise, my brothers and my sisters, the King of Glory has already condemned the enemy of our FAITH … He’s going to the Lake of Fire!
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
CELEBRATION: (Ephesians 6:10-12; Psalm 124)
Like Esther and … Mordeciah …. We are ALSO a people at war –
s-p-i-r-i-t-u-a-l-l-y …
SO…. We … got to be … strong… in the Lord …and IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT!
“We HAVE TO … put OUR WAR CLOTHES …. ON ….
PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD …. … so that we … can take our stand against the …Booby Traps.
I CAN HEAR … ESTHER SAYING …
If it had not been …. the LORD …. who was on our side, … when … HAMAN …. rose up against us: … WHERE WOULD WE BE …?
BOOBY TRAPS …
WOULD HAVE TAKEN US OUT …!
IF IT HAD NOT BEEN … FOR THE LORD … WHO WAS ON OUR SIDE ….
WHERE … WOULD WE BE? WHERE WOULD WE BE?
