Mordecai was faithful at the gate.
Even after his adopted daughter became queen he didn't leave his post.
The gate represents the marketplace and the place of legislation - it's the heartbeat of the city.
Because he was faithful in his position at the gate God orchestrated an event for him to overhear.
If he wasn't in his place of responsibility he wouldn't have heard it.
He was faithful in the king's gate so one day God could elevate Him to the king's court!
The court represents access to authority.
8:2 - Mordecai got what was Haman's (a position in the court) and Haman got what was Mordecai's (hung on the gallows).
8:10-11 - Now Mordecai had access to the king's authority.
Matt. 16:19 - the keys to the kingdom represent access to authority - God gives us these keys when we're properly aligned with Him. So whatever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.......
Mordecai wrote a letter in the king's name - it was his idea but the king stamped his approval on it.
Because he was in the king's court and properly aligned under the king's authority it was as if the king wrote the letter himself.
This means when we're aligned under God He grants us His authority, so when we say or do something it's as if God Himself said it and did it - it's stamped with His name!
The key is to be in His court, properly aligned under His rule - we get there by being faithful in the gate He's placed us.
Esther 2:21 & 8:10-11 (8/21/14)
Accessing Authority
August 21, 2014 • Benham Brothers
Esther - General Overview (7/20/14)
July 20, 2014 • Benham Brothers
This is a lesson we did in our home-group several weeks ago, so we thought we'd post it here for you. CHAPTER 1 - The king gets drunk and Vashti gets stubborn. God uses the weaknesses of people to get us where He wants us. 1:19 - A royal edict could not be repealed. CHAPTER 2 - Esther becomes Queen / She keeps quiet about her heritage. Esther found favor with the king. 2:21 - Mordecai was faithful in his post at the gate. He didn't ask Esther to elevate him - he didn't let his ambition get in the way. His faithfulness allowed God to orchestrate circumstances which led to his rise to power. CHAPTER 3 - The BATTLE is DEFINED 3:2 - Mordecai wouldn't bow. 3:13-15 - Haman's plot. Haman was an Amalekite - Deut 25:17-19 - Blot them out! It appeared the Amalekites were going to win. CHAPTER 4 - The two spirits of Esther 1) 4:11 - "it may cost my life" 2) 4:13-14 - Mordecai's response 3) 4:16 - "if I die I die" CHAPTER 5 & 6 - Esther's Patience Butter him up!! Esther didn't reveal her plan immediately. This allowed God to move: 1) 5:13-14 - Haman prepared his own death-trap. 2) 6:1 - God was orchestrating the rise of Mordecai - He gave the king insomnia. 3) 6:4 - Haman in the court / Mordecai at the gate. CHAPTER 7 - Esther's plea / Haman hanged 7:10 - He died by the weapon he used to fight (just like what Jesus said to Peter in the garden). CHAPTER 8 - The BATTLE is DETERMINED 8:1 - Mordecai got what was Haman's and Haman got what was Mordecai's. 8:5 - "Revoke the letter" / 8:8 - "It can't be revoked!" 8:9 - Mordecai draws up the battle plan. The first decree said they could kill the Jews, but the second decree said the Jews could fight back - the battle was ON! 8:17 - BLUE PAINT! CHAPTER 9 - The BATTLE is won! 9:2 - The day of battle - the Jews destroyed their enemies. God didn't want to just deliver the Jews, He wanted to destroy their enemies. He allowed the Persians to fall in love with their own wisdom so that they made their laws irrevocable. CHAPTER 10 - Mordecai! 10:3 - Mordecai was faithful in the gate and now he was elevated to the court! It wasn't about Mordecai or Esther, it was about God's kingdom!
Esther 1:1 & 14 (7/18/19)
July 18, 2019 • Benham Brothers
* God blessed not only the Jews who obediently went back to Jerusalem, but also those who refused to leave. * The book of Esther shows us how God took care of those who didn’t join in with the other Jews who faithfully followed God’s leading back to Jerusalem. * It shows how God’s hand was behind the scenes working things out to protect His people. * vs 10 - on the “seventh” day the king made a mistake. * vs 10 - There were seven eunuchs who found the girls. * vs 14 - There were seven princes who gave the plan. * God was on the throne working things out and His name was never once mentioned. * Esther 3:7 - Roll the Dice. * Haman kept rolling the dice until everything lined up just right. * Proverbs 16:33 - God used this method to direct people. * Haman had to wait 12 months to execute the plan. * The minute the dice fell into place God’s plan kicked into action. * Esther 9:23-24 - the enemies of God were destroyed because Haman decided to roll the dice and attack them.