Sunday, 17th March 2019
Ps Moses Kam
Last week we talked about how Mordecai reminded Esther to go see the king, and that she was in her position for a time like this, so she could save her people. So Esther called all the Jewish people to fast and pray. She knew it was a spiritual warfare, and only after they win the battle in the spiritual realm, then they can win our battle on the earth. As a result, we can see that the king was willing to see Esther, furthermore, prepared a great gift for Mordecai out of a surprise!
I. Serve with a pure heart & God will prepare
“What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered. The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him. His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.” “Bring him in,” the king ordered.When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?”So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes.Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’” (Esther 6:3-9)
We all want to receive a reward from our work. Not only receiving the earthly reward, but moreover we should seek the heavenly rewards! Mordecai did his job by saving the king five years ago, however this was forgotten, and suddenly one day the king read about this.
Mordecai served with a pure heart, he was not seeking for a reward, but only to do his job faithfully, and out of our imagination, God rewarded Mordecai through the king. When we serve and work with a willing and pure heart, God sees everything and will give us rewards unexpectedly, more than we can imagine!
II. Be the one who receives great prize
“Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.” So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!” (Esther 6:10-11)
God prepared a great prize for Mordecai, from his enemy. Mordecai’s name means “little” and “fighting worrier”. On the surface, Mordecai is one of the Jewish captives, a small nobody, but we all know that he stood by God, and was willing to fight for his people. God turned the enemy’s plan upside down, not only Haman couldn’t kill Mordecai, but he became the one who gave Mordecai the great gift!
We should stand strong and be willing to rise up to fight the spiritual battle for God, God has already given us many weapons, such as prayers, to defeat the enemy.
III. Receive the greatest prize
Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!”While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared. (Esther 6:12-14)
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (I Peter 2:2-4)