Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. We are rejoicing at this dramatic reversal which has taken place in our lives. Once we were lost, Now we're found. Once we were blind, but now we see. And we're going to look at Esther 8 now and celebrate the goodness of our God in accomplishing brilliant reversals.
Welcome to the verdict with Pastor John Monroe, senior pastor. At Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. In Esther chapter 8, the Jewish people went from facing genocide to receiving royal protection courtesy of divine intervention. Today, we'll see how this ancient story beautifully illustrates God's salvation. not just for Israel, but for each one of us.
Now, here's Pastor Jean Monroe with his message titled, A Dramatic Reversal. One of the exciting aspects of being a follower of Jesus Christ is that our great God over and over again creates brilliant reversals. What seems to be a hopeless situation may turn out to be one of the greatest experiences of your life. And what seems to be the worst thing that ever could happen to you turns out to be the source of the greatest blessing. The great example of this, of course, is the cross of Christ.
From a human perspective, the cross of Christ seemed a tragedy. But as Jesus Christ rises from the dead, the shame of the cross is turned to glory. From death there is life.
So never lose the wonder of God's amazing grace and His power. Listen now as we continue to think of brilliant reversals. In Esther chapter eight, if you have your Bible there, turn with me. And we're going to read of a reversal in power. Esther chapter eight verses one and two.
On that day, King Ahasuerus. And he gave to Queen Esther. The house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. At the end of seven, we see Haman. This evil man Who wants to annihilate the Jews, he's hanged on the gallows.
So now King Azuerus. Gives to his queen Esther the house of Haman, who is the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king. For Esther had told him what he was to her. And the king took off his signet ring.
Think of the amazing reversal here, reversal of power. He took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman. And now, in this incredible reversal, it is given. to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
Here is a reversal in power. Secondly, there is a reversal in law. First of all, we have Esther's request, verse 3. Here's Esther's big moment. Then Esther spoke again to the king.
She fell at his feet and wept. And pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot he devised against the Jews. Notice what happens now. The King's Decree verse 7. King Hashuara said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman.
and they've hanged him on the gallows, because he intended to lay his hands on the Jews. But you may write as you please. With regard to the Jews in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring. For an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked. The king's scribes were summoned at that time in the third month, which is the month of Savannah on the twenty-third day.
And an edict was written according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia. 127 provinces. to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language. and also to the Jews. In their script.
and their language. And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud, saying, That the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather. and defend their lives. To destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them.
children and women included, and to plunder their goods. On one day throughout all of the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province. Being publicly displayed to all people, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies.
So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out hurriedly. urged by the king's command and the decree was issued in Susa the sitter's door.
So Hussar is is in present day Haran. Isn't this a isn't this marvellous? The king is now on the side of the Jews. He's now opposed to the decree to annihilate the Jews. And he's giving Mordecai the authority to write in the king's name and to seal it with the king's Signature, a decree which would neutralize the earlier irrevocable edict.
And the Jewish nation, very important today, isn't it, what are they given? They're given the right of self-defense. Not only are they given the right of self-defense, they're given the right to make a preemptive strike against any Persian if someone's got going to attack them. And present Israel seeks to defend itself. Seeks to carry out, yes, preemptive strikes in order to defend itself.
in our legal system here in the United States. And then Every civilized legal code, there is a right of self-defense. What is true of an individual is true of a nation. A nation has the right to protect itself against terrorist attacks. We did that as the United States.
We will do it again, I trust. And then Esther, in this marvelous way, in this reversal of the law We see the hand of God protecting his ancient people. And he does so in this way remarkably with reversal in law. There is one law, one edict. to destroy, to annihilate all of the Jews.
And in the miracle of this reversal, The nation. It's safe.
Now at the end of verse, end of chapter. Eight, we have a reversal in emotions. We've had a reversal in law. Adiversal in In power, now a reversal in emotions, verse 17. Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes.
of blue and white. with a great golden crown. This is amazing, isn't it? And a robe of fine linen and purple. Can you see them?
And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. The Jews had light. and gladness and joy and honor. And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and holiday. and many from the peoples of the country.
Declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them. This remarkable nation for 3,000 years now. God's hand. has been on them. A reversal in emotion.
Bloom is turned to joy and celebration. The picture of Mordecai with his royal robes and crown was a visible sign to everyone that King Ahasuerus was now on the side of the Jews. True, the king could not revoke the earlier edict made by Haman, but by appointing a Jew as his prime minister, as it were, the word is going to spread throughout the provinces that the king is supportive of the second edict to protect the Jewish nation. And if anyone attacks the Jewish nation, there is going to be an immediate and a very effective response. in this miraculous way.
God is preserving his ancient people. from the wicked hatred of him and others who were anti-Semitic. And when each province And Siddhi received this new edict, there was great rejoicing. At FaceTime, can you imagine of it? And many of the pagan Persians now, as it were, are converted to Judaism because of the.
The dread of the Jews had fallen on them. Where once there was darkness, there's light. Where once there was gloom and despair, there's now gladness, celebration, and joy. Yes, the Jewish nation is going to survive. What a a reversal of emotions.
and attitudes. Her varsal in power. A reversal in law, a reversal in emotion. These are examples of God again doing what only God can do. doing the unexpected, reversing the irreversible.
I ask you today. Are you facing some Seemingly irreversible situation.
So driving you to despair, to despondency? You think some situation is hopeless? I want you to be encouraged. We believe in a God, here's an example, a God who can do the impossible. The question is asked in Scripture, is anything too hard for the Lord?
To ask the question gives you the answer. Of course not. God is omnipotent. God is absolutely in control, and we have a God, and our hope is in a God who reverses the irreversible. If if Haman's edict had been implemented, the Jewish nation would have been annihilated.
That, in a sense, would have ended God's redemptive purposes as the Messiah. comes from the Jewish nation. Jesus himself said, salvation is from the Jews. Our Lord Jesus is born a Jewish man. And Satan, right from the Garden of Eden, has sought to destroy the royal seed, to destroy God's ancient people.
And our adversary, the devil, continues to attack Israel over and over again. People ask: why is it that Israel is always attacked? Why is it in the United Nations Israel continues to be condemned and other atrocities and injustices throughout the world seem to be minimized? Why is it? that people have this terrible hatred against Israel.
This tiny country. Ultimate answer is it's the enemy. Satan himself. He attacks What God is doing. And we know from scripture that God has a future for Israel.
But you know that Satan is also attacking us, the church. Do you believe that? Do you believe that Satan always attacks what God is building? You're newly married, you're very excited. I always tell couples be careful.
Satan wants to destroy your marriage, wants to destroy your home. He is an invidious enemy. But Jesus says, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. We're in a spiritual battle.
So Paul says, Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the enemy. No, our struggle is not against flesh and blood. Our struggle is against the forces of darkness in heavenly places. Wickedness. But just as Esther was burdened for our people, We the people of God are to be burdened for others.
A mark of Christian maturity. is A lack of self-absorption. Selfishness. We love it in children. We see them growing up and they begin to think of others.
Our flesh only thinks of itself, and one of the marks of spiritual maturity is that we are burdened for others. We think of our Fellow citizens in our state whose lives have been devastated and our. answer our question instinctively is what can we do to help? And praise God for the wonderful responses which continue for relief in our own state. The other thing I thought of, just as these couriers, Quickly.
On their horses. Span throughout the Persian Empire bringing the good news of Jewish deliverance.
So, we, as the people of God, what do we do? We go throughout the world proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. And I praise God. to be part of a church. that is passionate About the gospel, not just for ourselves, not just for Charlotte, not just for North Carolina, not just for the United States, but for the whole world.
And we send missionaries throughout the whole world, not on their horses, perhaps on camels, perhaps on donkeys. Jeeps, bicycles. We buy motorbikes for some of our people we support. Why?
So they can bring the gospel. to those who are under the sentence of death. The message of salvation. In the middle of the darkness, we, the people of God, are to shine as light. I heard the wonderful story this week.
At UNC. Chapel Hill, not a bastion of spirituality. But there, this week it was a hot spot for anti-Israel protests. Amazing, isn't it? The people on our campuses.
Of such a hatred of the Jewish nation. But when that was going on, something else was marvelous happening. among the Christian students at UNC Chapel Hill, and what are they doing? The writing on the sidewalks. I would never have thought of this.
I would have been tempted to get into an argument. with the uh protesters. But they did something much better. They have written on the sidewalks around the campus the Gospel of John. Isn't that marvelous?
Here are people protesting against Israel, and here are the modern-day couriers with the gospel riding the wonderful gospel of John throughout the campus. In the middle of the darkness, there is light. In the middle of hatred, they are telling the wonderful story that John presents: that God so loved the world. That he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. And just as the Jews celebrated with joy and gladness and celebration for their deliverance, we, the people of God, as part of our worship, as part of our life, we are people of joy, we are people of praise, we're not people of despair, we're not people of gloom.
We're not people wringing our hands and saying the world is a terrible place. It is a terrible place. But we look up. to the magnificent salvation that we presently have and which is just a foretaste of something far, far better. Let me say this is a close.
I want to make this very clear. Original edict meant that the Jewish people were under the sentence of death. I began by saying that this is true of all of us. Not just for Jews or Gentiles. We're under the sentence of death, you say, in what way?
The wages I've sinned. It's death. Any sinners here? Yes, I'm the chief of sinners. Yes.
And because of that, because of our sin, we're under the sentence of death. And by ourselves, We will never ever defeat death. I don't care how resourceful you are. How wealthy you are. How much you try to be fit and keep your youth, you will never ever escape death.
It's appointed unto man once to Die. Here is the brilliant reversal of the gospel. That to people living in the shadow of death In a condemned cell. Into our world comes our Lord Jesus Christ. Not just shouting a message, but coming right to us, Emmanuel, God with us.
And he comes as the savior of the world. What a counter-reversal. And I have to ask you. personally Have you had This reversal. This brilliant reversal.
He said, what are you talking about, John? We're stood in full. We're heading for destruction. Jesus told us that you're on the broad road which leads to destruction. And the Lord Jesus comes, and what's his message?
Repent. Repent and believe in the gospel. Stop. Stop what you're doing. Realize that you are living a life which is headed for hell itself.
Stop. And our Lord Jesus Christ comes and calls on us to repent of our sins and to trust in Him. You know, we have people who tell us And we do ourselves. How terrible our world is. Hello.
What country with a conflict? And so many problems that we have. internationally, not just with Israel, but in other places. One would have thought human civilization would have done better. But think of all of the problems of the world.
Think of our own individual problems. Paul As he writes in Ephesians 2, as he presents the gospel to the Ephesians, he tells them that in chapter 2 that they were dead in trespasses and sins. And then in verse 4, we have this brilliant reversal. With two words. Do you know what they are?
But God It is true we're spiritually dead. It is true the world is in a terrible mess. It's true that there is darkness and gloom and problems all over the place. Here's a Christian response. But God There is no hope in the world.
There is no salvation in the world. You yourself will never ever get it right, but. God, with this brilliant reversal, the decrees of death and destruction which were against us. Have been reversed through our magnificent Lord Jesus Christ, who has conquered death and who delivers us into his eternal kingdom. There is a reversal of sorrow to joy.
Of shame to glory, of condemnation to justification, of death to life, because our Lord Jesus Christ is triumphant over all of the enemies. And we who are united with Christ through faith in Him, we share in His triumph. We are not people of despair. We are people of hope. We are not people of fear.
We realize that our hope is not in this world. It's not in the United Nations. It's not in a political candidate. It's certainly not in a political party. Our hope is in God.
And we trust in God. He's the only one who can deliver us from the problems of sin. and despair and despondency. If you've never put your trust in Christ, Will you do that? How wonderful that each one of us would have this remarkable reversal.
Like Paul. On the road to Damascus and the Sees that bright light. And his life is one of hate against the Church of Jesus Christ. And in a moment, there's a brilliant reversal.
Now He's a follower. Have you ever had that experience? Stand with me and read. These words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here Is the reversal.
The reversal Which is only found in Jesus Christ, the reversal. Of death to life. Read with me. I am. The resurrection and the life.
Whoever believes in me, though he die, Yet shall he live. And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never Die. And all the people of God said, Amen. This is the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. and the conclusion of his powerful lesson, a dramatic reversal.
John will be back to close today's message in just a moment. As John emphasized in today's study of Esther, this story foreshadows the ultimate divine reversal accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ. We all stand under a sentence of death because of sin. an irrevocable edict with no human solution. Yet through Christ's work on the cross, God transforms condemnation and death.
into life and salvation. To help you explore these powerful truths more deeply, be sure to get your copy of our Esther Listening Guide. This printable workbook helps you follow along and apply the lessons we've explored in this remarkable book. Whether you're facing relationship challenges, health concerns, or spiritual doubts, Esther's story demonstrates that our God specializes in dramatic reversals. Download your free copy today by visiting our website at theverdict.org.
Your partnership makes it possible for these biblical messages to reach people worldwide who need to hear about the God who turns mourning into dancing. When you support the verdict with your financial gift, you help share the hope of the gospel with those facing despair. to make your tax-deductible donation today. Visit theverdict.org. And if you are in the Charlotte area, we want to invite you to visit us at Calvary Church, Home of the Verdict.
If you're in the area, come join us for Sunday worship on our campus located at Highway 51 and Ray Road. or join through our live stream online. To find service times and directions, just go to theverdict.org.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe with closing remarks.
Well, what's your verdict? Have you been to the foot of the cross and repented of your sin? Have you been to the empty tomb and confessed that Jesus is God risen from the dead and eternally alive? You may be going through some extremely heartbreaking situation at the moment. Don't lose hope.
Don't be discouraged. God is a God who reverses the irreversible. With God, nothing is impossible. He watched over the Jewish nation at the time of Esther, and He still watches over you and me. God is faithful.
So trust him. Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies. Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
