Troubling Times Are Coming Series

TROUBLING TIMES ARE COMING

7/29/09 Esther 3:1-15

1. PROMOTIONS ARE BASED ON CRONYISM 1

A. Questionable Advancement

1. No Mention of Haman before this

2. Not recognizable as man of prominence

a. possibly passed others more qualified

3. All - conjecture - believe its close to reality

B. Possible Reasons

1. Very rich & didn’t mind buying – wanted v9

a. not dare to offer unless readily available

b. some say would get from Jews – v. 13c

c. conservative estimate> 70% of expenses yr.

2. Drinking Buddy of the King 15c

a. many jobs sealed at the bar – or party

b. tend to surround self w/people like self

2. PRAISE IS DICTATED NOT EARNED 2

A. Real Respect Seldom Rests in Titles

1. Just Like Our New President – few months

a. reality begins to set in – who is this man

2. Might have been murmuring – concern

B. Real Respect is Earned not bought

1. Bowed and Scraped – still questions

2. Mordecai would not

a. not religious for Mordecai was secular Jew

b. religion was kept in the closet – if at all

c. even Joseph and Daniel bowed to their king

3. Mordecai either knew/sensed something

3. PEER PRESSURE TRUMPS TRUTH 3-4

A. Majority in Society is Seldom Righteous

1. Might Rule, but Still Not Right

2. Truth Majority seldom determines action

a. Usually Vocal Minority

B. Tattlers Always Out to Tear Down 4b

1. Like the 10 Time Talkers in Nehemiah

a. keep saying same thing over and over

b. eventually accepted as truth

2. Mordecai would not listen –to Haman

a. classic – “Do you know what they said …

b. person that says that is a rat – unbiblical

c. receive or believe charge against brother

3. Only thing reported - Mordecai Jew

a. Don’t know why Mordecai even brought up

b. Probably one of many things said

c. Devil has always hated Jews – destroy

d. Devil hates everything God loves

no middle ground

e. God hates everything Devil loves

4. POSITION IS BIGGER THAN THE PERSON 5

A. Mordecai was to little to notice

1. Rate people by race, riches or culture

James 2:8-9 If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well: 9 But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

2. Yet Haman based his worth on Mordecai’s

a. Others might see him as Mordecai did

b. soon no one would scrape and bow

c. One word to the King & this would be over

B. Haman’s Anger was Unchecked

1. Power Without Character – when H. saw

a. Felt he deserved the reverence

b. liked strutting to the front and fawning

2. Power Without Control – full of rage

a. room for nothing else – focus on one

b. night and day thought of nothing else

c. conversation – not long Mordecai

3. Power Without Conscience

a. One man had disrespected - response?

b. Kill men, women and children – entire race?

5. PAST SIN PRODUCES ITS CROP 6

A. Word Used 5xs in describing Haman

1. Agagite – descendent of King Agag

a. Saul was told to Kill off of Amalekites

b. Did not do it – Samuel killed

c. Others escaped – Took David’s city Ziklag

i. Deuteronomy 25:17-19 Remember what Amalek did unto you by the way, when you were come forth out of Egypt; 18 How he met you by the way, and smote the hindmost of you, even all that were feeble behind you, when you were faint and weary; and he feared not God. 19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies round about, in the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it, that you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget it.

2. If Saul had obeyed God this wouldn’t be

a. no such thing as individual sin

i. Personal yes – but always effects others

ii. Affair – divorce; children Pay great price

iii. Alcohol – wreck many could pay price

6. PLANS FOR REVENGE RULE HEARTS 7-10

A. Doing God’s Work is Always 2nd Best

Romans 12:17-21 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 Therefore if your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head.