KINGDOM AUTHORITY
Esther 4: 15 – 5:1- 3
Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.
Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter. And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!”
The story of Queen Esther with King Ahasuerus is a story of authority in the Kingdom.
Intro: The captivity of Israel kingdom.
The Kingdom of Israel experienced division and tragedy. From one united nation it was divided into 2 kingdoms. Due to idolatry and sin both kingdoms were taken into captivity.
The Northern Kingdom was captured in 720 BC and its people were taken captive to Mesopotamia. They are called the “Ten Lost Tribes.” The Southern Kingdom, the more glorious one was also taken captive to Babylon since 597 BC to 586 BC.
The power of the kingdoms of Assyria, Babylon and Persia is a picture of the power of the kingdom of darkness that keeps on threatening, attacking, enslaving and destroying many lives. The people of Israel represent a “kingdom people” who have lost their identity and authority.
The Jews were under pressure to the point of losing their lives and were about to become the “lost last 2 tribes.” And this is where, God used Esther to regain kingdom authority.
Title:
KINGDOM AUTHORITY
- The Kingdom Authority
- The Lost Flow of Authority
- Regaining Kingdom Authority.
- A Life to Lose in Order to Gain.
I. THE KINGDOM AUTHORITY
In Hebrew, the word authority means “having dominion, the ability or power to do something based on a higher power, or to multiply.” The Bible calls this Exousia, an ancient Greek word meaning “governmental power.” It is the power backed by the King of Kings and His heavenly government.
Exousia is power – the ability or strength to do something. It is authority or the right to control or govern. It means rule or the power to make decisions that others must follow. It means privilege or the power of right or influence and liberty or freedom to do as one pleases. Thus, kingdom authority is the ability to act on behalf of God’s Kingdom.
One of the most well-known prayers that Jesus taught His disciples, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” The kingdom authority which exists in heaven now being called to come and be evident on the earth.
Kingdom authority refers to the authority of God over all things as He continues to create the evident presence of His kingdom that will outlast time. Thy kingdom come…
In our day and time we are a people not easily willing to be under any authority. Kingdom authority, however, asks more of us than just a tolerance or acknowledgment. It declares that we are people of The King, citizens of His kingdom and people under Kingdom authority.
Walking in Kingdom authority is not reserved for a select few. It is for every believer who chooses to align themselves with the will of God.
Application: The believer with kingdom authority has the ability or strength to do something. He has the right to control or govern. He makes decisions that others must follow. He has the power of right or influence. He brings peace, healing, joy, hope and love as God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. He has the ability to act on behalf of God’s Kingdom.
II. THE LOST FLOW OF AUTHORITY
The people of a glorious kingdom have come under the shadow of a powerful kingdom, Persia.
They lost kingdom authority because they lived under the shadow of:
- Familiarity – a mindset that makes them think it is normal to live inglorious lives. They have lost the will to fight and pursue.
- Fraudulence – they were deceived. They were forced to think they deserve worse; that they will be slaves and fugitives forever. They have lived with “cursed” mentality.
- Fear – They have become slaves to fear because the right to fight back was taken away. They cannot fight for their lives.
Many lives are similar to what the children of Israel went through:
- We are bound by fear of branching out. We are afraid to take risk.
- We are losing our purpose. We are only surviving, not thriving
- We are deceived. Deceived into thinking that suffering is our lot in life.
- We are oppressed. We are going through afflictions, perplexities, persecutions and being stricken of troubles that come one after the other.
- We are threatened.
Authority can be regained despite of captivity.
III. REGAINING KINGDOM AUTHORITY.
Esther 5: 1- 3 Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter. And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!”
Although Esther earlier deferred to Mordecai, she now bravely responds with an act of faith.
Esther takes the lead in the effort to deliver her people by:
- Uniting them. She knew that there was no other way except to fight together on their knees.
- Utilizing her God-given position. “She put on her royal robes.” She understood her calling.
- Undividedly taking the risk. She came out of her comfort zone to approached the king which could mean death.
Esther’s action gained the favor of the king in 2 ways:
- The golden scepter was held out to her.
The golden scepter was a representation of power and royalty. A person must have the scepter pointed to them before they can make any request before the king.
- The king asked for her wish.
“What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!”
“Half the kingdom” means that the king is willing to grant a request, no matter how large, even if it means giving away half of his kingdom.
Application: In order to regain your kingdom authority you have to come out of your comfort zone and take the lead. We should use our God-given position by understanding our calling and by being undivided in taking the risk and seek the favor of the king.
IV. A LIFE TO LOSE IN ORDER TO GAIN
Esther said, “if I perish, I perish.”
The king saw her inside the court on her royal robes therefore she did not die. Instead she had the favor and authority to save the Jews, the people of her Kingdom.
The royal robe she put on was a reminder to the king of who she was. She was the ‘chosen” among many women. She came in total submission to the king.
She was prepared to perish but the robe she wore tells the king to recognize royalty and show his favor or scepter towards her. Then the queen had kingdom authority to save her people – the Jews.
But there is another One who did the ultimate submission to the King, Jesus the Son of God whom angels worship, submitted himself to perish on the cross. He was looked down at by the very people He gave His life for. There was no golden scepter held towards him for favor only thorns and nails, so that the golden scepter will be held towards us. He died naked outside the city, without any robe and was not recognized by the father so that the royal robes will be given to us.
Jesus our greater Esther, gave up his own garments to give us the royal robes that symbolize kingdom authority. He also gives us the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Jesus perished without honor so that greater authority and honor will be given to those who are deprived of honor and authority.
CONCLUSION:
What Jesus has done, gives us the kingdom authority because the Kingdom of God belongs to us and we belong to God’s kingdom. And it is not just half of the kingdom as the king promised to Esther but the whole kingdom because Jesus rose from the dead and He has all the power and authority in heaven and on earth. He can give you more than you can ask for and more than you’ll ever need.
Do not underestimate what He can do. When you have kingdom authority, you will not be deprived because it flows from the very throne of God.
