The Older will Serve the Younger

CHURCH ON RANDALL PLACE SERMON NOTES 3/8/09

“FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS” A STUDY IN ESTHER

TODAY’S MESSAGE: “THE OLDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER” ESTHER 3

I.       Introduction

a.       The consequences of not eliminating completely that which seeks our demise.

                                                              i.      Old enemies (sins) may lay dormant for years but eventually will erupt.

II.    Mordecai the Hero (2:21-23)

a.       Assassination plot discovered.  Logged into the kings record.

III. Introducing the Villain (3:1-9)

a.       Haman gets promoted (how unfair).

                                                              i.      Haman is an Agagite

b.      Honor required

                                                              i.      Mordecai will not give honor to Haman.  Why not?

1.      This has nothing to do w/ worshipping men; it is simply a form of respect.

                                                            ii.      Haman responds w/ rage, wants to kill all of the Jews in Persian Empire.

1.      A little over the top don’t you think.

c.       Flesh wars against the spirit

                                                              i.      Our “old man” constantly wars against the “new man”

1.      The struggle between Mordecai and Haman is a struggle between the flesh and the spirit, old nature/new nature.

IV. The Way Back Machine

a.       Isaac and his two sons

                                                              i.      Genesis 25:21-23: Struggle= Physical contest to gain superiority

1.      2 nations, 2 people.

2.      The older shall serve the younger.  The younger is to have dominion over the older

                                                            ii.      2 boys.  Esau-older, Jacob-younger. 

1.      Jacob had a name change.  What was his new name?

b.      Fast Forward

                                                              i.      Israel became a great nation, numerous. 

                                                            ii.      Delivered by God from bondage in Egypt.  Journeyed to the promised land

1.      In the wilderness was great trial and testing.

2.      Have come out of bondage, now are following God to Promise

                                                          iii.      Then came Amelek (Exodus 17:8)

1.      The first enemy.  Attempted to keep Israel from obtaining God’s promise.

2.      Strategy (Deuteronomy 25:17)

3.      Amelek defeated

a.       God promised that Amelek would be blotted out from the earth.

b.      An altar erected.  The Lord is my banner.  Yahweh Nissi.

4.      Who is Amelek? 

a.       The younger fights the older to hinder from inheriting God’s promises.

c.       Fast Forward II.  (1 Samuel 15)

                                                              i.      Saul (Benjamite) was order to destroy Amelek

1.      They had been a constant thorn in the flesh to Israel.  Attempted to keep God’s people from inheriting God’s blessings.

2.      Not completely obedient.  Keeps what he thinks is of value including the king.  Agag.

d.      Back to Esther

                                                              i.      Reason for the hatred

1.      The old battle continues.  The older is ever seeking to destroy the younger.  But remember the older is to serve the younger.

2.      Explains why Haman wants to destroy all of Israel.

a.       Until Amelek is utterly destroyed the battle will rage, he will ever seek to keep God’s people from God’s promise.

V.    Back to the Future

a.       OT often pictures NT realities.

                                                              i.      Followers are new creations.  Old man/new; old nature/new.

1.      Old man is to serve the new man.

                                                            ii.      New man is redeemed-purchased from bondage, travelling to receive the promises of God.

1.      Then came Amelek.  Old man continually attacks

a.       As you travel from deliverance to promise

b.      How does he fight?

b.      Our call

                                                              i.      To crucify the flesh-Like Saul we are to utterly destroy the older

1.      Many of us don’t want to give up all of the old ways (nail in door).

                                                            ii.      If allowed to live he will rise up to kill you.

c.       Yahweh Nissi

                                                              i.      The Lord is my banner (signal pole).

1.      Moses raised an altar on the hill above the battle ground declaring God is the Victor.

2.      To look to a flag, banner, signal pole would cause one to be strengthened.  Declares victory.

                                                            ii.      On Calvary a banner (signal pole) was raised declaring victory over Amelek. 

1.      The old man is dead, let the new man reign.