In this chapter, Esther's request to the king was not for the kingdom, nor was it an immediate plea for the king to pardon the Jews. Instead, she requested Haman to attend two banquets in the palace. Moreover, the proud and conceited Haman also wanted to eliminate Mordecai. When Esther faced a life-and-death predicament, what enabled her to have such strategies and courage? Let us explore together.

Questions for Reflection:

• Why did Esther dare to go to the king against the law, and did she consider the consequences of this action? Could she foresee the king's actions?

• Esther relied on fasting and prayer, and the situation turned around. What spiritual principle does this reveal, and what can we learn from it?

• What is the root cause of Haman's reactions, whether joy or anger, and why would he react in this way? What does this illustrate?

Behind Illness and Crisis Lies a Spiritual Root: Use Prayer as Warfare to Turn Things Around

Chapter 5 marks the beginning of the turnaround. So, what propelled the situation to begin to turn around? It was prayer. Do we all remember a passage in the Old Testament? When the Israelites fought against the Amalekites, as long as Moses held up his hands on the mountain, the Israelites prevailed; when Moses lowered his hands, the Amalekites prevailed. Later, Aaron and Hur kept supporting Moses' hands, defeating the Amalekites utterly. Therefore, the problems and crises we encounter in the world all have spiritual roots. Today, I want to challenge everyone: What lies behind illness? It must be a spiritual root. Illness and crisis all have spiritual roots. Precisely because of this, what did Jesus tell His disciples when He sent them out? Heal the sick, release those who are oppressed by demons, and cast out demons. Today, we must be particularly clear that these illnesses and disasters that people encounter in the world all have their spiritual roots. If this is the case, if you want to turn things around, you must pray and wage war.

A Faith That Wins Through Prayer and Warfare

Everyone must know that the Christian faith is a faith that wins through prayer and warfare. The Christian faith is definitely not a you're good, I'm good, everyone's good kind of faith. That is not Christianity; that is Santa Claus. Our Christian faith is this: Do not think that Jesus came to earth to bring peace to the world, but rather to actively expand a territory in this world, making that place the kingdom of God. This is the mission of Christians. Any opportunity, crisis, or disaster has its spiritual background. Once we know this, we engage in prayer and warfare. Everyone has heard the song that says: We wage war through worship and change the world with prayer. We may hear a term – intercessor. In my heart, I have a vision for our church: that everyone in our church is a person of prayer, everyone is a valiant warrior, and everyone tramples on the enemies of the devil.

God Controls the Thoughts and Intentions of All People

Today, let us carefully read Esther Chapter 5. How did the turnaround begin? Three days of fasting and prayer, the spiritual atmosphere changed, and as a result, Esther went to see the king against the law. You will see that the king's thoughts and intentions are actually under God's control. Do not think that the thoughts and intentions of any non-believer are not under God's control. Know that people's thoughts and intentions are closely related to the spiritual realm. If you are a Christian, then your boss's thoughts and intentions are also closely related to the spiritual realm.

If at this time the devil controlled the king's thoughts and intentions, Esther would surely die. But at this time, because of people's prayers, God is in control of the king's thoughts and intentions. What was the result? The result was that the king granted Esther whatever she wanted, and the turnaround began to show signs. If Esther approached the king when he was in a bad mood, Esther would be courting death, would she not? If Esther approached the king when he was in a very good mood, very happy and joyful, then seeing Esther would greatly please him.

First point: People's moods are very spiritual, and people's thoughts and intentions are also very spiritual. If you try to please people in a human way, you will surely fail, because human ways can never resist the devil. But because people's thoughts and intentions are spiritual, Esther prepared the opportunity through three days of fasting and prayer. So, when Esther went to see the king, she received rewards and good opportunities. The king's intentions were also under God's control. People's thoughts, people's moods are closely connected to the spiritual world.

Being Strong and Courageous is Key to Winning Spiritual Warfare

Second point: Esther's strength and courage were key. Esther put on her royal robes and went into the king's presence, standing in the palace gate. If she was very afraid and trembling in her heart, then the king would not be pleased when he saw her. I want to encourage everyone that since you are a Christian, then be a strong and courageous Christian, not even afraid of death. I am not here because I came, but because God prepared me to come. You will find that God is doing the work of control in your life. The term be strong and courageous has been used many times among us. Everyone must know that timidity is not the way to solve problems.

Let us look at a passage of Scripture:

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)

This is not saying that a person will experience the second death only if he is cowardly, unbelieving, and vile. Just one of these is enough. The cowardly will surely go to the lake of burning sulfur. Today I ask you, do you want to be a cowardly person? Never be a cowardly person. What is so great about death? This world is not my home. Ten years is enough, twenty years is enough, thirty years is enough, a hundred years is enough. As long as I am in this world, I will please God.

Today you are believing in the Lord with me, and we are serving each other. You must know for sure that I have set my heart, and nothing and no one can stop my determination to cast out demons. In my heart, it is very clear that I will never please people. Offending one or two people does not matter! You do not have to tell me: Pastor, look, you said a few words and people are not happy. If they are not happy, then they are not happy. But one thing I want to tell you is that I have never sought my own benefit. If I were to please you for my own benefit, to ingratiate myself with people, then I would not be a servant of Christ Jesus. These are the words in Galatians. A long time ago, God told me that He had given me everything He had given to Paul. I am very grateful, thank God for giving me such a determination. Today my service is becoming more and more like Paul's service.

Being strong and courageous is key to a person's victory in spiritual warfare. Do you want to win your family? If you want to win your family, then you need to be strong and courageous. Do you want to win the land you stand on? You also need to be strong and courageous. God told Joshua again and again, have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! (Joshua 1:9) What was the result? God gave Joshua a promise: that no enemy will be able to stand before you, that in all the days of your life no enemy will be before you.

Let us look at a passage of Scripture:

They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Revelation 12:11)

We are able to triumph, first, by the blood of the Lamb; second, by the word of our testimony; and third, not loving our lives so much as to shrink from death. If you possess these three things, you will be as strong and courageous as Esther. Among us, all those who have won the land we stand on for God and won their families possess these qualities.

Pride Comes Before a Fall

In the third point of Chapter 5, you will find that pride comes before a fall, and a haughty spirit before destruction. Esther understood this very well, so she adopted a strategy of playing hard to get, allowing Haman to become proud, arrogant, and conceited. A proud person cannot stand firm. Haman's behavior was evident in his words, which blinded his advisors and his wife. In fact, his wife and advisors were very clear that opposing the Jews would lead to ruin and they could not stand firm.

If Haman had chosen not to plot against the Jewish people of Israel, not to completely exterminate them, and had not sought to destroy the Jews because of Mordecai's actions, he could have remained prime minister for many years. But God began to drive Haman to seek personal glory. I believe Esther received this revelation from God, not from her own wisdom, which caused Haman to become arrogant. As a result of his arrogance, Haman's advisors and his wife were all blinded. Haman did not realize the impending disaster, nor did he understand that opposing the Jews was a path to destruction, that it was a trap. Therefore, Haman's intentions were under God's control, leading him step by step towards ruin!

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, we must begin to know that prayer can drive the turnaround of crises; prayer can transform crises into opportunities. So when you are in a crisis, you do not need to fear at all. Begin to be strong and courageous, begin to pray, and you will see the crisis begin to turn around!

Being strong and courageous is key to winning spiritual battles.
Do you want to win your family?
If you want to win your family, then you need to be strong and courageous.
Do you want to win the land you stand on?
You also need to be strong and courageous.

Scripture:

Est 5:1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.
Est 5:2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
Est 5:3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”
Est 5:4 “If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”
Est 5:5 “Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.
Est 5:6 As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “What is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
Est 5:7 Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this:
Est 5:8 If I have found favor in the king’s eyes and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
Est 5:9 Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and Mordecai neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, Haman was filled with rage against Mordecai.
Est 5:10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife,
Est 5:11 Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials.
Est 5:12 “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she gave. And tomorrow she has again invited me to be her guest with the king.
Est 5:13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
Est 5:14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of seventy-five feet,[a] and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.