Amen. All right, well we're there in Esther chapter number seven and of course on Sunday
mornings we've been going through the series entitled For Such a Time as This
and we've been doing this verse by verse study through the book of Esther and if
you remember in chapter six and chapter seven there is a theme in these chapters
which is the theme of God working on the other side. We've been watching God work
on the other side. In chapter six we saw God work on the other side for Mordecai.
In chapter seven we're gonna see God work on the other side for Esther. Now
just to kind of set up the context and the story of course in this passage in
the first four verses we finally see Queen Esther plea for her life and the
life of her people and we've kind of been building up to this. If you remember
in chapter five she stepped out by faith, went into the presence of the king
though she could be killed for it and he gave her the scepter and he offered
her whatever she wanted and we saw there in chapter five that she requested a
banquet with the king. Then in chapter six we saw God work in regards to
Mordecai and helping Mordecai. In chapter seven we see Esther now at the
second banquet on the second day. If you notice there in Esther chapter seven
verse one the Bible says this so the king and Haman came to the banquet with
Esther the queen and the king said unto Esther notice these words on the second
day at the banquet and I want you to just make note of that on the second day
of the banquet of wine what is thy petition Queen Esther and it shall be
granted thee and what is thy request and it shall be performed even to half of
the kingdom. Then Esther the Queen answered and said if I found favor in
thy sight O king and if it pleased the king notice what she says she says let
my life be given me at my petition and my people at my request for we are sold
I and my people to be destroyed to be slain and to perish and this is of
course what we've been seeing in the book of Esther that Mordecai has
manipulated the king excuse me Haman has manipulated the king and has
orchestrated this day where the Jews are all going to be destroyed Haman hates
Mordecai and as a result he wants to not only kill Mordecai he's built a gallows
50 feet high that he's put in his front yard just to hang Mordecai but he also
wants to just kill the people of Mordecai all the Jews and Esther comes
and to the king she says for we are sold there in verse 4 I and my people to be
destroyed to be slain and to perish but if we had been sold for bond men and
bond women I had held my tongue and what she says she says look if we she's
speaking to the king saying if we had simply just been sold as slaves she said
I wouldn't even bring it up but we have been sold for our lives we're gonna be
killed she says although the enemy could not counter veil the king's damage
and what she's saying there is she's saying if we had been sold for slaves I
wouldn't even bring this up although if we had been sold into slavery the the
enemy could not counter veil that word means offset the effect of the king's
damage she's saying the the the Jews Mordecai and Esther and and their people
have been such a benefit to the king that even if he would have sold him for
slavery he would have brought great damage upon himself it would have been a
bad thing for him and in this chapter what we're going to see in this chapter
is two very specific lessons very similar to chapter six because in
chapter six we saw God working on the other side for Mordecai here we see God
working on the other side for Esther we're gonna see a lesson on patience
and we're going to see a lesson on pride but I want to begin with this lesson on
pride and to help you understand this idea and this lesson that we can learn
regarding pride regarding Haman now I want you to notice and if you're taking
notes maybe you can jot these things down the first thing we're gonna look at
is this lesson on pride once you notice that Haman was a very haughty man the
word haughty is just a synonym for the word pride it means to be proud or
arrogant notice verse number five the Bible says this then the king Ahasuerus
because remember they're having this banquet it's the second banquet on the
second day and Esther has invited both Haman and Ahasuerus the king and
Ahasuerus has asked you know what is your request what can I do for you why
are you inviting me you know what what do you need and she says our people are
sold she says we're gonna be put to death here's a response from the king
verse five then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen
who is he and where is he that durst presume in his heart to do so now the
king does not know that it's Haman his his second man and second hand man who's
done this so he's asking Esther who is he and where is he that durst presume in
his heart to do so I thought I think it's interesting that the king refers
to the fact that whoever is doing this is being very presumptuous that they
that they could get away with killing Mordecai and killing Esther we saw in
the last chapter last week that Haman was a very presumptuous man notice verse
six and Esther said the adversary and the enemy is this wicked Haman then
Haman was afraid before the king and the queen and the king arising from the
banquet of wine in his wrath went into the place of the into the palace garden
and I'm not preaching on this this morning but I want you to notice that
the king Ahasuerus you know he does a lot of bad things in this book and he
does a lot of good things in this book and here we see one of the good things
that he did when he got upset and when he got wrathful the Bible says here in
verse 7 the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into
the palace garden you know that's some good advice for you whenever you're mad
and angry and upset you know it's sometimes good to just kind of go be
alone and cool down instead of you know just start saying all sorts of mean and
angry and vicious things here the king you know realizes that you know I just
found out something really upsetting I just found out that you know my best
friend basically my second man in command you know the vice president or
the Secretary of State Haman has orchestrated and has moved and
manipulated the king into creating laws that would result in the king's wife
being put to death and he's very upset about this and he takes a good step here
he walks out he goes to get some fresh air the Bible says he went into the
palace garden and Haman stood up to make requests for his life to Esther the
queen for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king and
it's very interesting it's very interesting how things have so quickly
turned around for Haman I mean in chapters 1 2 3 4 5 Haman is the man
Haman is in charge hundreds of people are bowing before him as he's coming in
and out of the kingdom and in chapter 6 he's parading Mordecai around and
honoring Mordecai and here in chapter 7 he is pleading for his life the Bible
says there that he stood up to make requests for his life to Esther verse 7
the queen for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king
notice verse 8 then the king returned out of the palace garden in the place of
the banquet of wine and Haman was fallen upon the bed where on Esther was then
said the king well he forced the queen also before me in the house as the word
went out of the king's mouth they covered Haman's face and of course we
read the chapter you know that Haman ends up being hung and we're gonna talk
about that in a little bit but before we talk about that I want to just kind of
explain to you and teach you that there is a lesson here in regards to pride
that is taught all throughout the Bible and it's highlighted here in regards to
Haman keep your place here in Esther chapter 7 that's our text for this
morning go with me if you would to the book of Proverbs Proverbs chapter number
16 you have Esther, Job, Psalms and then the book of Proverbs Proverbs 16 do me a
favor when you get to the book of Proverbs put a ribbon or a bookmark or
something there because we're gonna leave Proverbs and we're gonna come back
to it Proverbs chapter 16 Haman was a very haughty man he was a very arrogant
man I won't take the time to run through the entire book and highlight all of his
pride but if you read the book it's very clear he's very petty he has so many
people bowing before him he does not even notice that Mordecai does not bow
before him but when somebody points it out to him and said hey have you noticed
that Mordecai that Jew hasn't been bowing down to you he just gets fixated
on that you know everybody else is bowing everybody else is honoring him
and he's just fixated upon the fact that this one guy look be careful in your
life when everything's going well in life and you just have one area that's
maybe not how you want it to be be careful about just fixating on that one
thing and just you know I can't be content with anything else you know so
more you know I know these hundreds of people are bowing to me but Mordecai
needs to bow and I'm gonna kill him if he doesn't and I'm not just gonna kill
him I'm gonna kill his daughter and I'm gonna kill his people and of course he's
a very prideful man even we saw in the last chapter when he walks into the
presence of the king and the king asked a question he says what do you think I
should do for the man who I want to honor and he assumes that the king is
talking about him he says well I think you should do this and I think you
should do that this is a very prideful man and we see that in his haughtiness
and in his arrogance and in his pride we get to chapter 7 and Haman is destroyed
as a result of his pride the Bible teaches this all throughout the Bible
and it is this concept that pride will destroy you Proverbs chapter 16 and
verse 18 Proverbs chapter 16 and verse 18 says this this is this is just a
principle of life God has told us that this will happen pride goeth before
destruction pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before
a fall God has ordained there's certain spiritual laws in the same way that we
have physical laws like you know gravity or or things that just happen in nature
there are some spiritual laws that God gives us in the Bible one of them is the
fact that you reap what you sow another one is found here in this chapter in
Proverbs 16 verse 18 that it is this pride goeth before destruction
whenever somebody allows pride to enter into their mind and their heart and
their life just jot it down
eventually that person will be destroyed because pride will destroy you
pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall go to
Proverbs chapter 11 look at verse 2 Proverbs chapter number 11 and verse 2
notice what the Bible says Proverbs chapter 11 and verse 2 when pride
cometh then cometh shame but with the lowly is wisdom the Bible says when
pride cometh then cometh shame pride goeth before destruction and a haughty
spirit before a fall go to Proverbs 29 look at verse 23 Proverbs 29 and verse
23 Proverbs 29 and verse 23 notice what the Bible says the Bible says a man's
pride shall bring him low but honor shall uphold the humble and spirit look
the Bible is very clear that pride will destroy you whether you're safe whether
you're unsafe there are certain laws just like we have the laws of nature
there are certain laws of God spiritual laws and they apply to both saved and
unsaved people like I gave the example you reap what you sow that applies to
both saved and unsaved people the law of pride applies to both saved and
unsaved people the Bible says whenever you allow pride to enter into your life
look get ready jot it down mark it down you will be destroyed you will be
brought to shame you will be brought low this is this is a law of God that pride
will destroy you
I mean remember and I won't take the time to look at in fact you go with me
to the book of James keep your place right there in Proverbs if you would
Proverbs 16 go to the book of James in the New Testament towards the end of the
New Testament you have the book of Revelation if you go backwards you have
Jude 30 second first John second first Peter James James chapter 4 James
chapter 4 if you remember Satan if you look at that passage in Isaiah regarding
Lucifer and just filled with pride as he says that I will ascend I will you know
set my throne above the stars of God he says he says I will be like the most
high and what does the Bible say that God brought him down pride will always
bring you down like it doesn't matter who you are it doesn't you know here's a
very contemporary example we recently had an election where I think every
single one of us every single one of us you know was probably surprised at the
outcome especially since you know it looks like the whole thing was stolen
anyway and you know it's funny because go you know going to the election I'm
watching Joe Biden can barely you know connect a coherent sentence and I'm
thinking to myself like there's absolutely no way there's absolutely no
the way this guy is gonna win you know I'm watching the map you know light up
and it's all red and then just you know most people went to bed thinking okay
Donald Trump is president no surprise there whatever you wake up and Joe
Biden's president and you say how in the world did that happen let me tell
you something there is a spiritual law there is a spiritual law that says that
pride goeth before destruction there's a spiritual law that says when
pride cometh then cometh shame there is a spiritual law that says a man's pride
shall bring him low and I don't know about you but I don't know that I've
ever met I've ever I've never met him but I've never known of a man more
prideful than President Donald Trump and I thought to myself we don't when I
realized okay this is real he's not gonna be the president you know what I
thought I thought a man's pride shall bring him low it doesn't matter how how
many followers you have it doesn't matter how many people you have
supporting you it doesn't matter how many voters come out for you God says
and God promises that when pride comes into your life he's gonna bring you down
he's gonna put you low there's gonna be shame there because pride goeth before
destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall what is pride pride is an
inflated view of self pride is a puffed up view of self pride is thinking of
yourself more than you ought to think pride is giving yourself credit for all
of your success giving yourself credit for all of your riches and wealth and
health giving yourself credit thinking man I must be something special I must
be something big pride is thinking too much of yourself and God promises God
promises that pride goeth before destruction because pride will destroy
you it's here we see we see Haman and you think no one can touch Haman nothing
can happen to Haman Haman I mean he's promoted above the princess he has all
this power he has all this wealth no nobody can mess with him everybody must
bow to him but yet so quickly he's destroyed look just mark it down mark it
down pride will destroy you so be careful when you start having success
when business is going well and the bank is full and and things are happening and
and you know whatever area of life whatever you call success in in your
arena of life be careful when you start having success to start thinking a
little too much or too highly of yourself because there's no better way
to self-destruct and to allow pride in your life pride goeth before
destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall this is what Haman learned when
pride cometh then cometh shame a man's pride shall bring him low go to James
chapter 4 not only will pride destroy you but pride will also set God against
you James chapter 4 look at verse 6 James chapter 4 and verse 6 the Bible
says this but he giveth more grace wherefore he saith God resisteth the
proud I mean notice those words do you want those words to be said of you God
resisteth remove your name and remove the words the proud and put your name
there I mean I don't know about you but that's not what I want I don't want that
to be my life first God resisteth brother so-and-so God
resisteth sister so-and-so the Bible says that God resisteth the proud but
giveth grace unto the humble you say why is that why is it that God says I'm
gonna put this spiritual law that whenever pride comes it will be followed
by destruction whenever pride cometh then cometh shame when pride shall bring
a man low why is it that God resist the pro of the product here's why because
pride pride is a forgetting of is a failure to acknowledge God because the
truth is this everything you have was given to you by God you say oh no why I
work hard that's why I'm as successful as I am you work hard because God allows
you to work hard you work hard because God allowed you to get up in the morning
you work hard because God allowed you the strength to work hard or you you're
smart because God gave you a brain that is intelligent whatever you whatever
talent you have whatever ability you have whatever success you have it all
came from God and the minute we start thinking oh no it's all me God says I
resist the proud God resisted the proud but giveth grace unto the humble here's
a takeaway for you we must never allow ourselves to develop an inflated puffed
up view of self we must always maintain a proper and humble view of self and
that view is this that everything I have look everything I have every success I
have everything I've done that that that that could be called a success or a
victory to God be the glory is because God has allowed us is because God has
helped us like they said in 1st Samuel when they had that great success they
put up the marker of Ebenezer hitherto hath the Lord helped us and in your life
and in my life in this church's life in this ministry in your personal life and
in your business every success of life we should always hold up this banner of
Ebenezer hitherto when somebody asks you know how did you do it how did you make
it how did you accomplish it our response must always be hitherto hath
the Lord helped us because everything we have came from God so you see this
lesson on pride that pride will destroy you and that pride will cause God to
come against you God resisted the proud but giveth grace unto the humble not
only do we see go back to Esther chapter 7 if you would keep your place in
Proverbs we're gonna go right back to it not only do we see that Haman was a
hottie man but we see that Haman was a heinous man what heinous means hateful
shockingly evil or hurtful and see these two things go hand in hand to be hate
hottie and to be heinous to be prideful and to be hateful because the problem
see one of the problems with pride one of the problems with pride and one
reasons that I try to fight pride so much allowing pride to enter into our
church and allowing pride and allowing prideful people to minister in our
church one of the problems is that as soon as you allow as soon as you begin
to develop an over-inflated overly puffed up view of self it doesn't just
end there I mean if that was it that'd be bad enough I mean if that was it if
all it produced was an arrogant view of self that would be annoying but maybe we
could put up with it the problem is that it doesn't always end there at being a
hottie and often takes this next step at being heinous see when we begin to have
this puffed up view of self we also begin to have a very low view of others
we not only start thinking we're the greatest thing on earth but we start
thinking everybody else you know is just just stinks they're not worth it they're
not worth anything they're not needed see one of the problems with pride is
that it rarely ends there at pride first it is an over-inflated puffed up view of
self and then it is a lower and disdainful view of others this is what we
see with Haman it's one thing if he's just mr. arrogant but it's not that's
not enough he's mr. arrogant I'm so great and let me kill God's people
because they're so terrible see pride and haughtiness often leads to someone
being heinous hurtful trying to hurt people trying to manipulate situations
in order to hurt individuals you know we have a documentary we made called
psychopath reprobates and I believe that psychopath reprobates you know
psychopaths are reprobates but you know there's another layer there of people
and this is psychological terms if you'd excuse me for a minute you know called
sociopaths and I think sociopaths are different than psychopaths I don't
necessarily think they're reprobates but I think that they are people who
have just allowed pride to take such control over their life they begin to
manipulate situations I mean you probably work with someone like this you
might have gone to school with somebody like this I mean you meet these people
and it's like they're their pastime their hobby is to like orchestrate
situations to turn people against the person they don't like I mean they'll
spread rumors they'll spread lies they'll subtly implant things into
people's minds to try to manipulate situations to try to get people to turn
on their enemy the person they've chosen to not like you've got these sociopaths
who want to you know turn all their resources and ability you know to try to
get everybody to just be against this one person against this one individual
this individual that they don't like that's Haman I mean Haman was a
psychopath but you can even see non psychopaths do this he manipulates the
king he he orchestrates this big I mean this is big and we're gonna see it in
the next few chapters it's a big deal this big ordeal where the Jews are all
gonna be put to death why cuz he's petty I mean he builds a gallows 50 feet in
the air and he puts it on his front yard I mean how petty and how heinous
and how hateful do you have to be it's not just enough to say I want to kill
Haman no I want to kill Haman and I want everybody to see it and I want it done
on my front yard and I want every I want to send a message to everybody out there
this is what happens when you don't bow to me and this is Haman this is someone
who's heinous notice verse 9 esther chapter 7 verse 9 and harbonah one of
the chamberlain's now who's harbonah we don't really know who harbonah is but
here's what harbonah teaches us is that nobody liked Haman I mean nobody said
anything against a Haman because he's the king's best friend and he's got all
his power but as soon as those things turn you know it's funny as soon as the
tables turn how many people come out and say well let me tell you what I you
know let me tell you about Haman let me tell you what Haman did and harbonah one
of the chamberlain said before the king behold also King let me tell you
something else you don't know about Haman the gallows 50 cubits high which
Haman had made for Mordecai remember Mordecai King Mordecai who saved your
life Mordecai who you honored in the last chapter I don't know if you know
this king but he actually Haman built gallows 50 cubits high which Haman had
made for Mordecai who had spoken good for the king standing in the house of
Haman then the king said hang him thereon in this chapter we see Haman play
he plays hangman and he builds these gallows to him to to to to hang Mordecai
on and the last and the Bible says in verse 9 the last part of verse 9 then
the king said hang him there on verse 10 so they hanged Haman on the gallows
that he had prepared for Mordecai then was the king's wrath pacified see we not
only see a spiritual law regarding pride but we also see a spiritual law regarding
being spiteful or evil there's a spiritual law for those who are haughty
and there's a spiritual law for those who are heinous go to Proverbs 26 if you
would let me share it with you Proverbs 26 the spiritual law for those which are
haughty is this pride goeth before destruction pride will bring a man low
when pride cometh then cometh shame it look if things are going well and you've
got some momentum going stick huh stay humble stay make sure you don't allow
this over-inflated view of self look how great I am look how amazing I am look at
me because that's gonna be the one thing that God's gonna begin to resist you and
bring you down a spiritual law regarding haughtiness but then there's a spiritual
law regarding being heinous you say what is it well look at Proverbs 26 verse 27
who so diggeth a pit powers 26 verse 27 notice this who so diggeth the pit and
the understanding here is that someone is digging a pit so that they can make
somebody else fall in it here's what God says who so diggeth the pit shall fall
therein don't miss that if you go and you dig a pit gotta make
so-and-so fall in this pit God says who so diggeth the pit shall fall therein
and he that rolleth a stone he said you know you start rolling a stone you say
I'm gonna roll the stone upon so-and-so be careful because he that rolleth a
stone it will return upon him for Haman here's what it looked like who so
buildeth gallows will get hang thereon here's how Jesus said it they that live
by the sword must die by the sword see the Bible teaches this the Bible teaches
that when you set out to hurt people when you set out to plot and plan when
you think you're gonna be mischievous and you're gonna be conniving and I'm
gonna dig I'm gonna I got this plan I'm gonna dig this hole and I'm gonna get
Mordecai to fall in it who so diggeth the pit shall fall therein and he that
roll of the stone it will return upon return upon him I mean this is this is
throughout the Bible go to Ecclesiastes chapter 10 if you would
Ecclesiastes chapter 10 you're there in Proverbs just one book over
Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes chapter 10
look at verse 8 Ecclesiastes chapter 10 verse 8 very similar Proverbs he that
diggeth the pit shall fall into it and who so breaketh a hedge breaketh a hedge
is like breaking a fence or a border a boundary they're doing this in a
negative way mischievous way who so breaketh a hedge a serpent shall bite
him you say what does this mean here's what it means go to Psalm if you watch
Psalm chapter 7 Psalm 7 if you go backwards you got Proverbs from
Ecclesiastes you have Proverbs in the book of Psalm Psalm 7 say what does it
mean here's what it means don't plot to hurt people don't plot to hurt people
or your plans may come back upon you
here's the lesson here's a lesson for Haman sociopath don't start getting so
overly filled with pride look at me look at everything I do look how amazing I am
look how awesome I am I must be so great and allow that to lead you to start
looking down on people say well they're not worth anything and they don't do
anything and they're they don't work as hard as I do and they don't give as much
as I do and they don't do as much as I do and then you decide well if they're
not worth anything let me start manipulating let me start plotting let
me start hurting look look just listen to me before you decide that you know I
want that promotion and in order to get that promotion I'm gonna spread all
these lies about so-and-so because they're really my only competition just
just remember who so dig of the pit shall fall therein and he that roll of
the stone it will return upon him look as Christians we ought to live in light
we ought to do righteously if we want to succeed in life we should do it in the
light we should accomplish things look we should want to be promoted based on
our own merit if you have to tear someone down in order for you to go up
then don't do it it'll backfire on you because he that dig of a pit shall fall
into it so if you find yourself having to whisper if you find yourself having
to hold secrets if you find yourself having to be conniving and manipulative
and well I've got the I'm gonna make them think I'm doing this but I actually
have this secret agenda if you find yourself living like that don't be
surprised when they hang you on the gallows you built I mean Psalm 7 look at
verse 15 Psalm 7 15 could be Haman's life verse Psalm 7 15 he made a pit and
digged it and has fallen into the ditch which he made he made a pit and digged
it Haman he built gallows and set them up and has fallen into the ditch which
he made and is hung upon the gallows which he built here's the takeaway don't
look down on others in pride don't plot to her others connivingly because your
plans will come back on you they'll backfire on you see the lessons we
learned from Esther chapter number seven is we see this lesson on pride this
lesson on haughtiness what is it that pride goes before destruction and a
haughty spirit before a fall that pride will bring a man low that when pride
cometh then cometh change and then we see this lesson on being heinous when
you decide I'm gonna attack somebody I'm gonna hurt somebody I'm gonna plan
against them look if you gotta fight somebody at least come out in the light
at least look him in the eye and say hey I got a problem with you why did you do
this and why you say oh no I'm just gonna I'm just gonna manipulate the
situation I'm gonna spread rumors about them I'm just gonna work things out to
try I'm just gonna take a ditch you're gonna fall in it I'm just gonna build
gallows you're gonna get hung on them don't plot to hurt people your plans
will come back upon you go back to Esther chapter 5 if you would Esther
chapter 5 we're in Esther chapter 7 but I want you to go to Esther chapter 5 I
said there's two major lessons in this chapter the first lesson is on pride
we've seen that I'd like to shift gears for a minute and look at the second
lesson it is it is a lesson on patience we saw the lesson from Haman he was a
haughty man and he was a heinous man he was destroyed as a result of his pride
and he felt into the pit which he dug for other people here's a lesson on
patience we learned this regarding Esther now if you remember the way that
the story started was that Esther set up a banquet for the king and Haman Esther
chapter 5 look verse 4 and Esther answered if it seemed good unto the king
let the king and Haman come this day notice the words this day what day that
first day because remember Esther goes to the king she goes he gives out his
scepter he says what is your request what is your petition and she says let
the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet what banquet the first
banquet that I prepared for him look at verse 5 then the king said cause Haman
to make haste that he may do as Esther had said so the king and Haman came to
the banquet that Esther had prepared and the king said unto Esther at the
banquet of wine at which banquet of wine the first banquet of wine what is thy
petition and it shall be granted thee and what is thy request even to have for
the kingdom it shall be performed here you have a house there saying look what
Esther what do you need I mean you you you put your own life in jeopardy to
come speak to me when I had not called you when that's a law against our land
obviously you need something obviously there's a reason why you came you may be
in trouble what do you need number seven then answered Esther and said my
petition and my request is if I have found favor in the sight of the king and
if it pleased the king to grant my petition and to perform my request I
don't know about you but when I read that it sounds to me like Esther
stalling a little bit I mean the king's saying hey what do you need to the half
of the kingdom you think she just come out and say Haman's trying to kill me
you know you're my husband defend me protect me but it almost seems like
Esther's just kind of you can see the wheels kind of turning in her in her
head and the Kings asking what do you need even to the half of the kingdom is
shall be performed and she's she's speaking methodically slowly almost
trying to decide you ever have to talk to somebody while you're trying to
decide what you're gonna say as you're saying it she says my petition and my
request is if I have found favor in the side of the king never pleased the king
to grant my petition get on with it Esther what do you need and to perform
my request she says this let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I
prepared for them and I will do tomorrow as the king has said Esther decided
the timing was wrong she needed more time she decided to wait I mean the
king's like what do you need Esther what do you want Esther until the half of the
kingdom it shall be performed to thee and she's trying to decipher this thing
and she's maybe playing in her heart as she's even talking through it she's
saying well if if I found favor in the side of the king and if the king wants
to perform and she's thinking through this thing and then she gets to the end
and she says come back tomorrow and she waits now we don't know why she waits
the Bible doesn't tell us why she chose to wait but what we know is this that
she waited and I will say this sometimes in life we must wait on God
sometimes in life sometimes in life we need things and we want things and we
ask for things and what we need to do is be more like Esther what made Esther
decide to wait I don't know I mean maybe she was just scared maybe there was just
something about the situation maybe the Holy Spirit of God was just pressing
upon her it's not right the timing is not right maybe she's looking at has
yours and she's looking at Haman with a little smirk on his face and she's
thinking it's just not the right time it's just not right yet and she decided
to wait look sometimes we need in life to wait on God you will find yourself go
to the book of Acts if you would in the New Testament Matthew Mark Luke John Acts
Acts chapter number 7 Matthew Mark Luke John Acts in life you will find
situations where you could push forward if you wanted to but we must learn in
life we must learn to be sensitive to the calling of God and the Spirit of God
and sometimes we have to be smart enough to realize that maybe we just need to
wait sometimes we need to wait on God you say why why did I need to wait
doesn't that sound like a what a teenager would say what I need to wait
well here's why because every time we don't wait we mess things up every time
we don't wait on God every time we push forward without God every time we push
our agenda we push our timing instead of God's timing mark it down you'll mess
it up now there's a lot of examples I can give you about this way I can reach
a whole sermon on this subject I'm not gonna do that I'm gonna give you one
example acts chapter 7 and it is the example of Moses acts after 7 in verse
22 of course acts after 7 we have Stephen preaching this great sermon and
he's going through the history of the children of Israel it is the Holy Spirit
giving us a commentary on the Old Testament when the Bible is its own
commentary you can't get a better commentary than that and here we have
Steve and he's going into the story of Moses I want you to notice what he says
in verse 22 and Moses was learned in all wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty
in word and indeed and when he Moses was full 40 years old you know the story of
Moses the children of Israel are in captivity Pharaoh has put a death
sentence upon every man child that is born Moses his mother Jochebed puts him
in a little canister and sends him down the river he's gonna die anyway and she
thinks well maybe God will work on the other side and God did and Pharaoh's
daughter takes Moses from the water names of Moses because she drew him from
the water she raised him as her own the Bible tells us here in verse 23 and when
he was full 40 years old Moses now 40 year old man it came into his heart look
this was not a bad thing this was a good thing it came into his heart to visit
his brother and the children of Israel and seeing one of them suffer wrong he
defended him and avenged him that was oppressed and smelt the Egyptian Moses
40 years old he decides to go visit his brother and he knows that he's a Jew he
knows he's that it is of the excuse me of the nation of Israel he knows that
he's a Hebrew and he goes out there to see his brother and while he's out there
he sees an Egyptian beating down one of his brethren and the Bible says he
defended him and smote the Egyptian look verse 25 and he Moses supposed there's
your assumptions again when we talked about assumptions last week and he
supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand
would deliver them but they understood not Moses is looking at his life and
he's thinking himself huh I wonder I wonder if I was brought to the kingdom
for such a time as this I wonder if there has been a series of unfortunate
events in my life that has brought me to this place Moses thinks I wonder I mean
I'm here in the palace I'm 40 years old I'm strong in word and in Mike I've got
authority and power and I'm a Hebrew and my people are enslaved and maybe just
maybe God has put me here to deliver my people for he suppose his brethren would
have understood that God by his hand would deliver them but they understood
not he says I mean God has to be at work here right I mean I'm a Hebrew and I am
a son of the princess affair of Pharaoh maybe God put me here to deliver my
people it was a good thought but as we'll see it was the wrong timing
looking for 26 and the next day he Moses showed himself unto them as they strove
so now you got two Hebrews fighting and he comes out to them and he's thinking
well of course I'm the hero I just saved one of these guys yesterday and would
have set them out one again saying search your brethren why do you wrong
one to another why do you wrong one to another verse 27 and he that did his
neighbor wrong thrust him away saying who made thee a ruler and a judge over
us why don't you remember those words here we have Moses 40 years old trying
to save his people trying to help his people good thought wrong timing they
thrust him away and they said who do you think you are who made thee a ruler and
a judge over us look at verse 28 will thou kill me as thou didst the Egyptian
yesterday then fled Moses at this saying and was a stranger in the land of Midian
and Exodus were told he was a stranger in a strange land where he begat two
sons look at verse 30 don't miss this and when 40 years were expired 40 years
later we have Moses's timing and we have God's timing Moses is 40 years old he
says well God obviously put me here to save my people that's Moses's timing
we're about to see God's timing and when 40 years were expired 40 years
later Moses now a 40 year old man an 80 year old man there appeared to him in
the wilderness of Mount Sinai an angel of the Lord and a flame of fire in a
bush we won't take the time to look at all the verses skip down to verse 34 for
sake of time notice what the angel Lord says to Moses I have seen I have seen
the affliction of my people which is in Egypt and I have heard their groaning
and him come down to deliver them look at these words and now is that word now
there that's timing not 40 years ago Moses that was your timing and now 40
years later and now come I will send thee into Egypt and Stephen says Stephen
as he's preaching his sermon says this in verse 35 he says this Moses whom they
refused when did they refuse him 40 years earlier 40 years earlier they
thrust him away and said who made thee a judge and a ruler over us then Stephen
says this Moses whom they refused 40 years earlier saying who made thee a
ruler to judge the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand
of the angel which appeared to him in the bush what was the difference it was
on God's time see Moses had the right thought just the wrong timing Moses
would have done well to take a lesson from Esther and to say maybe I was
brought to the kingdom for such time as this but maybe I shouldn't push it maybe
I should wait on God see God did put Moses there God did orchestrate all this
for Moses in his timing Moses want to do it he was 40 years old God said you'll
do it when you're 80 years old I need you to spend 40 years on the backside of
the wilderness you see you and I would say you and I would say well that's such
a waste of time see let me give you a lesson on on on timing what do you do
when there's nothing you can do what do you do when God puts you in a pause in
life when God says no I want to do this the guy says no I want to go there God
says no what do you do when God puts you in a pause when God puts you in a
freeze what do you do when there's nothing for you to do but wait you know
what you do you learn see Moses Moses and I would look at God and say God
really 40 years on the backside of the wilderness why do you need Moses to be
spend 40 years on the backside of the wilderness why do you need Moses to
spend 40 years he's 40 years old I mean you're gonna the prime of his life from
40 to 80 years old you're gonna have him waste his time just running in circles
in the wilderness God why little did we know that God knew that Moses would
lead the children of Israel for 40 years in the backside of the wilderness
which he knew like the backside of his hand because he'd already spent 40 years
there so what do you do when there's nothing for you to do you wait and you
learn you realize that if God has you on hold God has you on hold for a reason
you realize that if God is asking you to wait then God is asking you to wait
for a purpose and you don't push forward and push in and decide well I'm just
gonna do this myself anyway whenever whenever we decide to go forward without
God look sometimes we need to wait on God but I can say this every time we
don't wait on God we mess things up so what do you do when there's nothing for
you to do you wait you learn go to Esther chapter number six if you
wouldn't let me just talk to some of you singles you're all panicked and in
panicking I'm getting so old and I haven't yet met my you know prince
charming and my prince and shining armor I'm getting so old and I've you not yet
met you know that girl I'm getting so old I mean I'm I'm 23 years old I'm
getting so old let me tell you something it said about instead of worrying about
when you're gonna meet mr. and or mrs. Wright why don't you worry about
becoming the right type of person so that when you meet mr. Wright you're
ready for him so when you meet mrs. Wright you're ready for her look
teenagers we're nobody's trying to hold you back and you're in this awkward
stage where you're not really a kid you're not really an adult and you're
just kind of this freak of nature and you just want to grow up and be big and
God and mom and dad and pastor keep holding you back maybe there's a reason
why they're asking you to wait maybe you should quit trying to push forward and
messing everything up in life and just realize that if they're asking me to
wait if God has asked me to wait then and when there's nothing else to do but
wait maybe I should wait and learn and prepare and be ready because sometimes
in life God asks us to wait and every time every time that we don't wait on
God we mess things up but oftentimes while we get wait on God God is at work
on the other side well I met this girl and yeah I mean she's not even saved and
you know I'm gonna get her saved you know right after the honeymoon and and
she's worldly and she hates God but it's gonna all work out because I don't want
to wait hey why don't you wait why don't you wait and realize that maybe God is
having you wait because he's working on your spouse that you've not yet met on
the other side oftentimes while we wait on God oftentimes while we wait on God
God is at work on the other side see in Esther chapter 5 in Esther chapter 5
Esther was moved we don't know why the Bible doesn't tell us but she was moved
of the spirit we assume I assume the time is not right I'm watching Haman
with that little smirk on his face and it's just not right King says what do
you want she says I want to make a second banquet for you tomorrow and
tomorrow I'll tell you what I need that's your chapter 6 look at verse 1 on
that night what night the night after the first banquet the night right before
the second banquet the night in which Esther decided to wait on God on 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 we saw this last week
you're familiar with it it was found written that Mordecai had told big fan
and tearish two of the king's chamberlains the keepers of the door
who sought to lay hands on the king of Hasieris and the king said what honor
and dignity have been done to Mordecai for this then said the king's servants
that ministered unto him there is nothing done for him see between the two
banquets during that time in which Esther said I'm not gonna push forward
I'm not gonna be impatient I'm just gonna wait on God the timings not right
I'm just gonna wait what happened between those two banquets the king was
reminded that Mordecai saved his life and that nothing had been done for him
what happened between those two banquets skip down to verse 10 then 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 has spoken if you remember in verse 4 Mordecai Haman came in to
speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on that night and on that morning Haman
shows up and he says I'm gonna get permission from the king to hang Mordecai
and Haman shows up and the king says what should I do for the man that I want
to honor and Haman assumes that he's speaking about himself and he says well
here's what I think you should do give him your clothes and give him your horse
and give him your crown and parade him around town and have somebody walk
before him and say this is what happens to the man who the king wishes to
honor and then the king looks at Haman and says good make haste and do even so
to Mordecai the Jew in that night Haman is forced by the king to parade Mordecai
as a hero look at verse 11 then took Haman the apparel of the horse and
arrayed Mordecai and brought him on horseback through the streets of the
city and proclaim before him probably sound there's something like this shall
it be done unto the man and the king delighted to honor that's what happened
that night while Esther waited while Esther was patient God was at work on
the other side what happened that night that night Haman's fortunes turned that
night Haman's friends turn on him look at verse 12 and Mordecai came again to
the king's gate but Haman hasted to his house notice morning and having his head
covered this is this is the way that you would dress this is the way that you
would act if you were mourning somebody's death Mordecai is mourning
his own death he just came from his own funeral Haman hasted to his house
mourning and having his head covered and Haman told Zerush his wife and all his
friends everything that had befallen him then said the wise man and Zerush his
wife unto him if Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews before whom thou has
begun to fall thou shalt not prevail against him but shall surely fall before
him see before that night Haman that the Jews were falling before Haman during
that night Haman began to fall before the Jews look at verse 14 and while they
while who Haman's wife and Haman's friends because remember Haman shows up
mourning and having his head covered tells his friends and his wife everything
that happened they kick him all this down and says well you know I hope you
put me on the life insurance because you're probably gonna die verse 14 and
while they were yet talking with him came the king's chamberlain's and
hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared while he's in
mourning while he has his head covered while he's in that state talking to his
friends the Chamberlain shows up and says hey it's time for you to go to
dinner with Esther you didn't forget about dinner did you look kind of bad I
mean think about this Haman shows up with King Ahasuerus the first banquet
like this with a smirk on his face he shows up to the second banquet like
this in mourning with his head covered you know what Esther thinks the time is
right look at verse 1 Esther chapter 7 so the king and Haman came to banquet
with Esther the Queen and the king said again unto Esther on the second day at
the banquet of wine on the second day after Esther chose to wait what is thy
petition to Queen Esther and it shall be granted thee and what is thy request and
it shall be performed even to half of the kingdom she asks for Haman to be put
to death and he does here's the takeaway if God is making you wait it's for a
reason if God is making you wait is for a reason he may just be working on the
other side and Esther you can push it you can push it at the wrong timing like
Moses did you can push it and it'll all fall apart or you can wait on God
because God will make all things beautiful in his time Mordecai could not
have orchestrated this Esther could not have orchestrated this no one could have
orchestrated this but God Psalm 40 in verse 1 you have to turn there the Bible
says this I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me and heard
my cry Isaiah 40 31 says this but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew
their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not
be wary they shall walk and not faint look sometimes we find ourselves in
states of life where we think why does God want me to wait and it may just be
that God is at work on the other side so while you wait teenager while you
wait single person while you wait in that career and it's right after 2020
and coronavirus happened and you were getting ready to do this and do that
you're getting ready to start this business you're getting ready to go
there and now things have kind of messed up and now you just kind of feel like
God just has you in wait while you wait just wait and learn because God might
be orchestrating something for you that you could not orchestrate for yourself
we see this lesson on pride we see the spiritual nature of hottiness that pride
goes before destruction and a hottie spirit for a fall we see this lesson on
being heinous to not plot to hurt people because your plans will come
back upon you don't decide you're gonna roll a stone on someone because that
stone might roll back on you and we learned this special on this lesson on
patience that sometimes we need to wait on God and every time we don't wait on
God we mess things up and oftentimes while we wait on God God the unseen hand
of God is silently at work on the other side let's bow our heads and have a word
of prayer heavenly father thank you Lord for your word think for this Bible
thank you for these stories you've taught us these in samples and examples
that you've given us what I know it's very difficult to wait sometimes but
help us to learn to wait upon the Lord help us to realize that sometimes the
thought is right but the timings wrong and we just need to wait we love you in
the matchless name of Christ we pray amen