First delivered 19th February 1995
THEME: CHRIST’S AMBASSADOR
TOPIC: The Man God Uses
TEXT: The Book of Esther
OUTLINE:
Introduction
I The Ambassador on Test,Chapters 1, 2
II The Ambassador in Trouble,Chapter 3
III The Ambassador in Trial,Chapter. 4
IV The Ambassador in Triumph,Chapters. 6, 7
V The Ambassador on the Throne,Chapters 8, 9, 10.
This same message had also been delivered with the outline below:
Introduction
I The Preparation of The Man God Uses,Chapters 1, 2
II The Persecution of The Man God Uses,Chapter 3
III The Proofing of The Man God Uses,Chapter. 4
IV The Presentation of The Man God Uses,Chapters.6,7
V The Promotion of The Man God Uses,Chapters 8,9,10.
INTRODUCTION
The story was told of a very wealthy man with many slaves and servant. For six (6) months he displayed his glories. After this, he declared a seven-day feast for his friends, servants, and all that were in the city with him.
While these surfeiting were on, he called upon his wife to display her beauty to the guests. But she refused. He got angry with her, and, with the counsel of his close men, decided not to have her as his wife again.
What happened afterwards, as the scriptures has it, is what we want to dwell on today. Therein lies a man and woman who made themselves available for God to use.
I. The Ambassador on Test, chp. 1,2 - Preparation
It was king Xerxes, ruler of the ancient empire of the Persian and Medes who was angered by the refusal of Queen Vashti to display her beauty that he got her deposed as the queen.
After four (4) years, there began a search for a virgin to become queen. Mordecai, a Jew, presented his cousin who is an orphan, Esther by name, to compete for the post of the queen.
The story is in chpt. 2:7-9.
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.
o The girl pleased Hegai and won his favor, v.9.
After 12 months of her beauty treatment, it came to the turn of Esther to appear before the king.
Read Chp. 2:17
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.
o The King was attracted to Esther MORE THAN the other women.
- In business, or promotion, or having favor with man, what you need is this grace of God that makes you to be MORE favored.
- They all had the same qualifications and passed through the same period of beauty treatment; but she had an edge that made her win the kings approval MORE THAN the other virgins did – It is the favor of God. Pray for this.
o Esther suddenly became Queen Esther.
From Grass to Grace.
God has a plan for your life though He allows you to pass through difficult situation.
o Test No. 1 passed.
o Queen Esther reported assassination plot to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 2:22
Mordecai’s earthly loyalty is now on Test.
You are an ambassador on earth. You must be loyal to the laws of the land you are resident in as far as the word of God permits.
Read Chp. 2:22-23
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.
o Your deeds are being recorded in the books before God.
o Test No. 2 passed.
II The Ambassador in Trouble, chp. 3 –Persecution
o Mordecai’s heavenly loyalty on Test.
Should he obey the laws of the land and disobey the law of his own land in relation to worshipping God only?
He decided to obey the law of his own land – being a Jew - to worship God ONLY and not a man. This got him into trouble.
When it comes to conflict of law, an ambassador of Nigeria in another country must keep the laws of Nigeria more than that of the land in which he is. – Read chp. 3:1-4.
o Promotion of Haman made him to be proud, arrogant and ready to kill. 3:5-6.
He offered money to destroy all Jews, 3:8 and 13.
o Because of position or what to eat, do you sell your Christian identity at work, at home or in your family circle? How do you use your privileged position?
Haman got the king to sanction a decree to annihilate the Jews from India to Ethiopia (127 province of Persia and Media).
Afterwards, he sat with the King to drink. But the city of Susa was bewildered. 3:15.
15 the posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
III The Ambassador on Trial, chp. 4,5 – Proofing
° Mordecai was now in serious dilemma.
To Obey or not to obey?
To bow down for Haman or your life and that of your whole tribe?
Some Jews might have denounced Mordecai’s refusal to bow down to Haman. They might have for fear of their lives renounced their Jewish nationality and consequently bows down to worship Haman.
° There was great mourning, fasting, weeping and wailing among the Jews, chp. 4:3
Illustration:
Some Christians were being beheaded for their faith. As their heads were being cut, the eyes of one of the executors was opened to see into the spiritual arena that crowns were being put on the heads as they were being cut.
As the head of one of the Christians was to be cut, he renounced his faith. Gladly, the executor who saw what is happening in the spiritual stepped in and offered to die for the faith.
Remember: Quitters don’t win
Winners don’t quit.
Remember also that the sufferings of the present time cannot be compared to the glory that awaits us in the hereafter. Roams 8:18.
Whenever in trouble, what do you do? Where do you go for help?
° An Ambassador must be sensitive to things affecting his land and the people he represents. Chp. 4:7-8
° Esther’s attention was called but she hesitated to help.
- Read Mordecai’s word of faith in chp. 4:13-14.
13Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.
14For 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?
Make these confessions: My enlargement and deliverance shall come from the Lord God. Chp. 4:14
° How do you use your position? To oppress or to help others?
° Do you recognize God as the one who placed you in that position?
° Do you allow God to use your position for His glory?
° How meaningful is Mordecai’s word in 4:14b to you:
“…And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this.”
° Esther took the challenge and called for 3 days of prayers and fasting among the Jews in Susa.
Your prayers in your little corner can affect the lot of Christians worldwide.
Do you identify with God’s people?
Do you identify with the programmes of the church?
° Let’s model Esther’s self sacrifice and courage for her people. “If I perish, I perish.” 4:1b (Note that the Jews outside the capital did not know of this move of Esther and the call for 3 days fasting and mourning.)
° As planned, on the third day, Esther risked her life to go before the king.
She had sought God’s face for 3 days and now could go before the king Xerxes with confidence that God will grant her favor before him.
See the result of Faith in action – read chp.5:2,3.
2And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
3Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
° Esther invites the king and Haman to a banquet.
o Can you prepare good food, not to talk of a banquet, for your enemy? Chp. 5:5,8
o Do you pray for your enemy?
o Not the prayer of Is. 49:26. It is not for you to pray such prayer. Do not tell God what He should do with your enemy. Let God decide for himself what He will do.
o Jesus has commanded us to pray for our enemies. That is the spirit of the new Millennium that resides in us. So pray and do not curse, Mt. 5: 44; Rom.12: 14.
° With all the riches and wealth of Haman, he was still a miserable man. Read chp.5: 11-13(KJV). Note v.13.
11And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.
13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.
° Haman now receives evil counsel from his wife and friends – a case of “what you sow you shall reap.” Haman had given the king bad counsel concerning the Jews earlier.
o He built a gallows – 75 feet high – to hang Mordecai
o God is with you in your trial. Hold on to Him and He shall prove sufficient for you.
IV The Ambassador in Triumph,Chp.6,7 -Presentation
Read Chp. 6:1 – 3.
1On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
3And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
° That Night, the king could not sleep.
o Mordecai’s good deed remembered.
o What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?, the King asked, v.3
° Note Haman’s recommendation concerning the man the king delights to honor, 6:7 – 9
7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honor,
8Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:
9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honor, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor.
° Why this recommendation? 6:6
6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?
° Read Chp. 6:10 –14.
10Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.
11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor.
12 And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
14And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.
° You might be saying, “What a coincidence in Mordecai’s life!”
° No! It was not a coincidence. It was God’s divine intervention.
o This is to confirm that Prayer works!
o Note that Haman didn’t have the chance to talk about the gallows to the king.
o Your deeds shall be remembered and rewarded at the right time.
° Mordecai could have been expecting reward for his deed before now, but at the right time, God honored him – A CASE OF GOD’S TIME IS THE BEST!
Illustrate:
A man used to hand out tracts on a street corner. After years of not seeing anyone trust Christ as savior, he quit.
Two years later he happened to pass that same familiar corner and saw a person handling out tracts. He walked over to the stranger and struck up a conversation. He learned that a little more than two years earlier the man had become a Christian after reading a tract he had received at that corner.
“Many a time, I’ve come back here to find the man to thank him,” said the stranger, “but he never came back. So I decided he must have died and gone to his reward. That’s why I’ve taken his place!”
Application
o The reward of your good deeds is sure if you faint not.
o Don’t do good and then stool by it
o God’s book of remembrance is before Him. Read Malachi 3:16.
o Is your name there?
o Is your name in the book of life?
o Your deeds (good or bad) are being recorded
o After all, we have nothing to do with the way our life began, but we have a lot to do with the way it ends. Your deeds today are indications to your end.
o Would you be remembered for good?
Illustrate: IBB’s Book of Remembrance.
- In 1991, a National essay competition was organized to mark the 50th birthday of Nigeria’s military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB for short). The essay was on what IBB will be remembered for on leaving office as President, and the sum of six thousand Naira (=N=6,000.00, about £200.00 then) was for grab. The birthday – 17th August - witnessed a flamboyant Nigeria!
- I wonder who won the competition and what were the things written which he should be remembered for. Today, four years after, all the good he did have been submerged in his act of annulling the June 12 1993 Presidential election, one which has been adjudged the best, free and fair election ever in Nigeria. In fact, he “stepped aside” amidst local and international pressure in 1993. His works do follow him.
YORUBA DIALET SUPPLICATION SONG
Ranti mi si rere o Oluwa, Rantin mi si rere o }2ce
Nigba asale, lojo aye mi;
Tile ba su; Toru ba ran o,
Ranti mi si rere o.
Transliteration
Remember me for good, O dear Lord
At my old age,even at the last hour of my stay on earth
At night and when the sun is shinning
Let me remembered by You for good.
° Haman receives a rude shock of his life.
- He had to robe Mordecai and led him on horse back through the town. 6:11
- Grief and humiliation covered him.
- If God is for us, who can be against u.
- The triumph of the man God uses - Round One Triumph.
° Read Esther’s request to the King. Chp. 7:4
o Haman’s deed brought into remembrance 7:6
Sin embarrasses when exposed.
Haman suddenly found himself in the bad book of the King. His sin has found him out.
° Haman’s fate. Chp. 7:9-10
9And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.
° Does prayer works?
° See the need for wisdom in tackling problems.
° Pray for such wisdom. Wisdom is the principal thing. Get it. Prov.4: 7.
° Learn from Chp. 7:10. Haman fell into his own prepared trap.
V The Ambassador on the Throne,Chp.8,9,10 –Promotion.
Mordecai brought before the King Chp. 8: 1-2, 9-10
o Promoted to Haman’s position with all the honors. v. 2
An edict issued overruling Haman’s decree
o The Jews were granted the right to defend themselves from any attack and to destroy their enemies come 13th day of the month of Adar
o Read Chp. 8:11-14.
11Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
13The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
14So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
Mordecai left the presence of the King crowned. 8:15
The city of Susa held a joyous celebration, 8:15.
15 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
17And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
Compare Chp. 3:15.
15 The posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
“for the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor”. 8:16.
I can visualize the Jews singing like Ron Kenoly’s song:
He’ turned my mourning into dancing again
He’s lifted my sorrows
I can’t stay silent
I must sing for His joy has come.
See another group gathered singing,
He has given us victory,
I will lift Him Higher,
Jehovah, I will lift Him Higher.
He has given us success – progress.
There was joy and gladness among the Jews Vs 17.
Many people of other nationalities became Jews. Chp. 8:17B. You should become a Christian today.
Your life should challenge others to becoming Christians.
What would have been the position of a Jew who had denied being one or renounced his Jewish nationality on account of the earlier threat of extermination?
Would you abandon God simply because things are going badly for you at the moment?
God is always timely. He restored Mordecai and the Jews at the right time.
Mordecai not only became powerful, prominent and reputable but also fearful to the nobles of the provinces. – read Chp. 9:1-4.
The tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over their enemies.
The Vengeance meted out by the Jews against their enemies may be right for their period. The commands of the Lord for us now are in Mt. 5:43-48, Rom. 12:19-21.
° Feast of Purim established. Chp 9:21-22, 28.
Do you remember to thank God for His past blessings and deliverance over you?
° Mordecai’s greatness
Read Chp. 10:1-13.
1 And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.
2 And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?
3 For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.
Conclusion
Just a little has been said of what God can do through an available vessel.
God is ready to use you. Present yourself now to Him as a ready and willing vessel.
