YOU CAN ENJOY THE BANQUET OF WINE
OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS



MF Blume
August 31, 2003 am

Esther 5:1-6
(1)  Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
(2)  And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
(3)  Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
(4)  And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
(5)  Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
(6)  And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

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Esther's story leads up to the banquet of wine where she experienced victory over her adversary, Haman, the man who instigated the genocide of all Jews in Persia.

Here is how events led up that victory.
  • Let us consider ourselves and the problems we face through life, for the Lord wants you to enjoy victory over your battles.
  • And you will enjoy them at a Banquet of the wine of Jesus' blood.
  • Enjoying the blessings of what His blood paid for us to enjoy!
Esther 3:13
(13)  And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

Esther 4:1-4
(1)  When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
(2)  And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
(3)  And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
(4)  So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.
Esther 4:5-6
(5)  Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.
(6)  So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.


Esther 4:8
(8)  Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

Esther 4:11
(11)  All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

Esther was in trouble and she was waiting for the King to call her in before she would do anything about the problem.

Many people suffer like this.
  • They wait for God to step in and take away all their problems.
One time after a miracle came to me from God, I told a friend who was not saved, though he feared God.
  • I explained the details.
  • How this miracle occurred and how it solved my problem.
  • And he responded saying he wished he could have a miracle from God someday.
  • Then it dawned on me that he had the false idea that miracles just happen at random like winning the lottery.
  • I then noted that anyone can have a miracle.
  • But you do not wait for God to call you to get one.
  • You take the initiative!
I want to apply Esther's story to our lives today.

Esther incorrectly felt the king would simply have to call her before she could make her petition known to him.

She hesitated to go before the king.

This is one of the greatest hindrances today to seeing a miracle or need met.

And the note about entering HIS INNER COURT is so indicative of a truth for us.

In the Old Testament, the INNER COURT of the temple was where the God of Israel dwelt in manifested glory.
  • It was PAST THE VEIL.
  • The MERCY SEAT was situated there.
  • The Bible says God spoke to Moses from that mercyseat on the ark of the covenant.
  • It was like going into the king's inner chamber when one went into the Holiest of Holies, and the ark was like God's throne.
Hebrews 4:16
(16)  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 6:18b-19
(18)  ...we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
(19)  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Notice the terms REFUGE and HOPE and ENTERETH INTO THAT WITHIN THE VEIL.

We can go to His throne to obtain MERCY.
  • We need refuge from despair and trouble!
  • All of this beautifully shows us that the mercyseat behind the veil in the inner chamber of the temple represents with God the very thing Esther spoke about regarding the inner chamber where King Ahasueras sat on his throne.
  • She had to get to the king, just as you have to get to God about your needs.
All this tells us that God simply has not laid things out in such a way that you do not have to do anything so that He will come and meet your every need.
  • You have to take the initiative!
  • But something hindered Esther from taking that initiative.
  • Not only did she not think about taking the initiative, but she was afraid she was not fit to go in.
Notice the terms COMETH TO GOD.

Hebrews 11:6
(6)  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Esther had to COME TO THE KING.

YOU HAVE TO COME TO GOD.

James 4:8
(8)  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you....

Mordecai convinced her that she had to go in.
  • I am in Mordecai's place, now
So she set out to do something and then enter.

She had to deal with her fears first.

Esther 4:16
(16)  Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

She then dressed like a queen and went in.

Esther 5:1-2
(1)  Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
(2)  And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

She found his favour!!!

And after this, we read something very particular to do with our selves and our answer.

Esther 5:4
(4)  And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.

Esther 5:6
(6)  And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

It was a BANQUET OF WINE.

Get the pattern.
  • After she gets the key to entering the inner chamber, she next enjoys a banquet of wine with the king.
Then...

Esther 5:8
(8)  If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.

She now wants Haman come to a banquet of wine again the next day.

Church, we have to learn how to go to God about our problems.
  • First of all, you just do not wait for God to send the miracle.
  • You initiate it.
  • You have to prepare your heart.
The three days and nights that Esther experienced represent the awareness you need to experience of what Jesus did for you on the three days and nights when Jesus died, was buried and resurrected.
  • That speaks of the work of the cross.
  • You have to stop and realize something about the work of the cross.
  • When you experience this realization you went through the three days and nights, and may enter.
  • You WILL not hesitate once you experience this awareness.
Esther put on her queenly robes after the three days.

After you get this awareness, you will have BOLDNESS to enter the holiest and act like the royalty He went to the cross to make you!

Hebrews 10:19-22
(19)  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
(20)  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
(21)  And having an high priest over the house of God;
(22)  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

We hesitate and fear to go to God because we think we're not fit.

Hebrews 10 corrects our thinking.

We need BOLDNESS.

If Esther was not pleasing to the King, then she must LACK SOMETHING.
  • So she hesitated.
  • She said only when the king is pleased can you get the golden sceptre pointed towards you!
  • She felt she might LACK.
  • As though she was not complete.
Well we feel like that as well.
  • But after three days and three nights, Esther put on her royal garments like she belonged in the throne room!
  • And after we realize CHRIST'S SACRIFICE, represented by the three days and three nights that He experienced, made us complete, WE WILL BE AS THOUGH WE PUT ON ROYAL GARMENTS AND BELONG IN THAT HOLIEST OF HOLIES!
We have have boldness!

Jesus' blood makes you fit to go to the holiest of holies any time you have a need!

DO NOT HESITATE, you who are born again of the water and of the Spirit!

And look what happens after you act like you belong in there.
  • Esther had a banquet of wine.
Matthew 26:27-28
(27)  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
(28)  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

The WINE represents the BLOOD.

And Jesus' blood was shed for remission of sins!

Hebrews 10:16-18
(16)  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
(17)  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
(18)  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

YOU ENJOY THE BLOOD OF JESUS like a BANQUET OF WINE, when you are aware of what His shed blood did for you.
  • Drinking and enjoying this wine represents enjoying the BENEFITS OF THE CROSS.
  • When you are saved by His blood, you can enjoy the benefits of being saved.
  • Enjoying these things only occurs, though, when you HAVE NEEDS AND GO TO GOD WITH THEM IN FAITH.
  • We enjoy a veritable banquet of wine when we enjoy the blessings awarded us for being saved by His blood.
Hebrews 10:17-22
(17)  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
(18)  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
(19)  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
(20)  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
(21)  And having an high priest over the house of God;
(22)  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Once you have that faith and understanding, you will get BOLD about going to God!
  • And that solid assurance that he WILL hear you because you are going with the perfect understanding of what PLEASES HIM, is the faith He alone is pleased with.
Hebrews 11:6
(6)  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Esther was going to enjoy a blessing.
  • She had need of stopping that Haman-devil from destroying her.
  • She had a need!
  • And she enjoyed receiving that NEED at a banquet of wine.
When you have a need and go to God with it in faith, because you know He made you fit for these blessings, then you will ENJOY SEEING YOUR NEEDS MET.
  • You are banqueting with wine!
  • Enjoying the blessings of what His blood paid for us to enjoy!
It was at a BANQUET OF WINE that this happened:

Esther 7:2-9
(2)  And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.
(3)  Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
(4)  For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.
(5)  Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?
(6)  And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
(7)  And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
(8)  Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
(9)  And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.

At a banquet of wine she exposed Haman.
  • At a banquet of wine she saw Haman taken by the King's command.
  • At the banquet of wine Haman was removed and hanged on a tree!
Praise God!

If you are not enjoying your needs being met, then you are not at the banquet of wine!
  • You are lacking faith to even go before God.
  • If you had faith and went before God, and the need is not yet met, then relax and keep on enjoying the wine of the truths that HIS SHED BLOOD AWARDED YOU BLESSINGS!
  • It will come!

SERMONS