What has just happened? Haman has been given the king's ring, and he is in control; he has the king's authority and power. Mordecai starts grieving.

Picture: When our flesh is in control of our lives, what is Holy Spirit doing? Grieving.

Why is He grieving? Is it because He is disappointed in us, He thinks less of us, or He finds us less acceptable? No —

Though it is not good in itself when Holy Spirit is grieved, there is something good that happens.

Holy Spirit is a Person with emotions and a will. [It is hard to shake the impression that Holy Spirit is just some kind of influence.] When Holy Spirit is grieved, He does something about it:

Holy Spirit's prayers are:

Application: Some times the depression we feel (or possibly, a restlessness or a disturbed feeling) could very well be that Holy Spirit has been grieved, and He is praying for us. Why would that make us depressed? Because when Holy Spirit starts praying, our flesh gets killed off, and whenever our flesh gets killed off, we go through somewhat of a depression.

God's Providence: Holy Spirit does not passively pray for us; He actively does things!

Mordecai (a picture of Holy Spirit) starts to take action…

Mordecai sends a personal message to Esther by a man named Hathach, meaning the truth.

Picture: When Holy Spirit starts praying, He starts telling us truths.

What is the truth here? Haman is out to destroy all Jews.

Picture: That is the truth Holy Spirit is telling us:

Is this not a unique picture? The flesh is not an external enemy; he is an internal enemy. The flesh is in your own house — he is in your basement! [Like the worst horror movies of all times -sic!]

Now Esther knows Haman is the enemy of all the Jews (the flesh is exposed), but she does not know exactly what she should do.

Picture: Most of the time, we are at the point where Esther is. We understand the truths about Holy Spirit and our flesh. We are not ignorant anymore, and we know what the flesh does and that the flesh is our enemy. We also know Holy Spirit is fighting against our flesh and He is praying for us. However, we tend to stall right there.

Let us find out…

It is essential the king (a picture of our will) understand that Haman (a picture of our flesh) is not his friend.

Esther does not try to kill Haman herself. What does she do? She says to Mordecai:

Application: We do not try to conquer our flesh ourselves Flesh, I can conquer you. We say:

First, Esther asks everybody to gather together to fast [and pray] on her behalf.

In the book of Romans, Paul says:

Why does Paul say that? He is exposing the flesh.

If every time a sin comes up in our life (whether it is something we think or do), we say:

Then…

If we do not have that interpretation of Romans 7, and instead, we see it as a struggle to the life of the believer, then Romans 7 has no power and it is depressing. However, if we see Romans 7 as a triumph through exposing the flesh — No! That is not the real me, that is the flesh — then, it is not powerless or depressing.

Esther has recognized who the real enemy is. She exposes him, he is busted, and her people are fasting. And now she waits three days and three nights before doing anything.

Picture: Have we heard that expression (three days and three nights) elsewhere? Of course, the most famous:

What is important is that after three days:

After three days and three nights, Esther prepares to go to the king and she is concerned:

Someone could go before the king only when they presented a scroll with the king's waxed seal on it. Based on the law of the Medes and Persians, if anyone showed up for an audience without the scroll and seal prominently displayed, then the bodyguards, who were formed around the palace, pulled out their swords and killed the person — no questions asked.

Understandably, Esther was apprehensive of whether or not she would be welcomed. And her primary fear was not that her own husband would slay her, but that she would be killed before she had the chance to be in front of her king.

Application: If we would go into the presence of God in our present bodies, what would happen to us…

We would be vaporized — annihilated — because of our sin nature. However:

Esther waits three days and she goes in with resurrection life to see the king.

Picture: After three days, Messiah Jesus came out of the tomb with resurrection life.

Although he has seen her before, the king is captivated by Esther's beauty — her resurrection beauty.

Picture: This is exactly the way God sees us!

The Song of Solomon presents the picture of the beauty God sees when He looks at His own children. It is not embarrassing, because God is not looking at us in the flesh. Though He is really describing His Anointed One (Messiah Jesus) since God sees us the same way He sees His Son, God is captivated by us.

The king tells Esther Ask whatever you want, and it will be given to you, up to half of the kingdom.

I do not know about you, but I would have said Kill Haman! Kill everybody who knows him! Since the king said Ask for whatever you want, up to half of the kingdom, my request would be less than half of the kingdom, so kill Haman, his family, and everybody who knows him. Kill them all!

Application: Sometimes that is what I think about the flesh. God could just zap the flesh. But He does not. Why does He not zap the flesh [particularly] of all those others who hassle me? Of course, I do not want Him to zap my own flesh, because My flesh is not a BIG problem! I think we all believe Yes, my flesh is a problem, but every one else's flesh is worse.

Esther's request seems strange: Can I have dinner with you and Haman tomorrow?

Obviously, she is under the advice of Mordecai, because that is not something she would have asked for on her own. However, Mordecai has a master plan and she is in tune with it. So Esther requests something that is not obvious.

Application: During our prayers, do we request things that seem strange to us? Or is our communication with God limited to flesh praying, whereby we only pray for obvious and mundane things?

A possible sign we are in tune with Holy Spirit is:

Do our plans show the mark of Holy Spirit working in us? Do we ask for strange and different things, or do we make plans that replicate those of the unregenerate?

One of the themes of this book is:

Obviously, Esther is listening to Mordecai, although she is grown. And she does not have to listen to Mordecai; after all, she is the Queen of Persia. Regardless, she always listens to Mordecai. Why? Because, by her will, that is what she wants to do.

Application: We are not under obligation to do what Holy Spirit tells us to do. God wants us to follow His leading because, by our will, that is what we want to do.

Esther does not know what is going on, but Mordecai is working out a master plan to let Haman entrap himself.

Haman is invited to dinner with the queen and king. He goes home and he starts bragging Not only does the king like me, but so does the queen. And I am going to her house for dinner tomorrow night!

Application: When we get what we want, our flesh is thrilled and we are emotionally happy. And it is obvious who is wearing our ring = the FLESH.

Why? Because it is proof to the flesh that:

Haman was full of joy until he sees Mordecai. Haman goes into a rage every time he sees Mordecai, including this time:

Application: When our flesh just sees Holy Spirit, he gets angry. What does this tell us about our flesh?

Haman's emotional mood changes when he sees Mordecai. To top it off, what does his wife say? Kill him! Hang him!

Application: Again, the flesh says:

However —

Back To: Esther Home Page

Back To: Radical Grace Bible Study Page

© Worldnet Grace Ministries

This data file is the sole property of Worldnet Grace Ministries. It may be copied only in its entirety for circulation freely without charge. All copies of this data file must contain the above copyright notice.

This data file may not be copied in part, edited, revised, copied for resale or incorporated in any commercial publications, recordings, broadcasts, performances, displays or other products offered for sale, without the written permission of Worldnet Grace Ministries. Requests for permission should be made in writing and addressed to: