THE SOLUTION TO THE POST-CROSS
DILEMMA
Part 2
February 14, 2010 pm
MF
Blume
Esther
8:7 Complete
Apostles' Bible (7) And the king said to Esther, If
I have given and
freely granted you all that was Haman's, and hanged him on a gallows,
because he laid his hands upon the Jews, what do you yet further seek?
Haman had the ring of Ahasuerus, with the king's signet emblem on it to
validate any law that it never be reversed.
The Law cannot be reversed, BUT THE CURSE AND EFFECTS CAN BE.
THE LAW must always EXIST, but we can be saved FROM THE EFFECTS OF THAT
LAW.
After Haman's death, the ring was given to Mordecai and so was the
house of Haman given to Mordecai.
Esther 8:2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from
Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the
house of Haman.
But the mischief of Haman was still in the land!
- The
letters were issued forth demanding the Jews' deaths.
- And they
were sealed with the King's signet ring.
- Despite
Haman's death, the law was still in effect.
- There
was a dilemma after the death of Haman.
- Haman
died knowing that the Jews would still be destroyed, due to his law.
He knew the king himself could not reverse the law.
- They
might kill him, but he was not going down alone, in his mind.
- What
could be done?
- What a
dilemma!
- Many
Christians ask how it is that Christ defeated Satan on the cross, and
yet after the cross there is such a great dilemma.
Christians
are told these truths:
Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye
should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not
under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of
righteousness.
Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him that loved us.
How can it be that we have such a great victory in the cross and yet
Christians backslide and are defeated in falling to temptations?
- There is
a dilemma after the cross as much as there was in Persia after Haman's
hanging.
- What can
be done about Christians' defeats?
- Satan
was defeated, but it is as though he knew he would not go down alone,
just as Haman.
- Its as
though there is a law that Satan instigated before the cross that still
stands after his defeat at the cross.
- What can
be done about this Post-Cross dilemma?
- The
answer is found in the story of Esther.
But there was one way that the dilemma could be solved.
- Here is
the solution.
- Read it
carefully.
Esther 8:8 Complete Apostles' Bible (8) Write also
in my name, as it seems good to you, and seal it with my ring; for
whatever orders are written at the command of the king, and sealed with
my ring, it is not lawful to revoke them.
Notice it says to WRITE THE LAW IN THE KING'S NAME.
He told Esther and Mordecai to write some letters, themselves.
- The king
would write nothing.
- His work
was done.
- He told
them to write whatever they wanted to see accomplished for them, and to
use the king's name to validate it.
- Anything
spoken in the king's name cannot be reversed.
The cross is a finished work.
- God did
all that needs to be done for us through the cross.
- We just
have to LEARN ANOTHER LAW.
- THE LAW
OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE makes us free from the law of sin and death.
- Learn
how the Spirit works.
- Learn
what part yo play in seeing His Spirit operate and benefit you.
- You have
to act in certain ways for the Spirit to work, and learn what acts we
are supposed to make.
The king allowed Mordecai and Esther to have a law THAT OVERRIDES THE
LAW OF HAMAN.
- This is
a perfect picture of how the LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE overrides the
LAW OF SIN AND DEATH, while not reversing that law, but rather
CANCELLING IT OUT.
Here is how the law of the Spirit of Life works:
After telling them to WRITE A LAW in the NAME OF THE KING, we read:
Esther 8:9-10 Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the
third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day
thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded
unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of
the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and
seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof,
and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according
to their writing, and according to their language. And he wrote in the
king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent
letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young
dromedaries:
And here is what they wrote:
Esther 8:11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city
to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy,
to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and
province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to
take the spoil of them for a prey,
Here is the answer, church!
- An enemy
of the Jews could confront any Jew on Adar 13th, and slay that Jew, for
the law allowed it.
- But a
second law was instigated by the king and said that anything Mordecai
and Esther wished to occur, would not be reversed any more than
Haman'/s law could be reversed.
- And that
law involved the permission given to the Jews to stand up against their
enemies who sought to slay them according to the older law, and resist
them and kill the enemies instead.
- They
were given authority to do that in the name of the king.
Church, the law of sin and death allows devils and demons to confront
you and threaten you with temptations and lies of all kinds.
- And a
law exists in this world that allows him to do it.
- God does
not stop demons from tempting you and using the law of sin and death
from killing your Christianity.
- And if
you just stand there and not do anything about it, you will be defeated
and your christianity will die.
- But
there is a new law, also.
- And if
you fulfill the requirements of the new law, then you do not have to be
defeated!
- That law
is this: USE THE AUTHROITY OF THE NAME OF JESUS, THE KING,
and speak up whatever you have need of at the time of trouble, and
demand it by that authority!
- And that
command cannot be reversed, for you have used the name of the King of
Kings, Jesus Christ!
- Church,
when the enemy comes against you, don't just stand there and take it!
- SPEAK UP!
- Go after
him!
- Call on
the name of Jesus for strength against temptation and against the devil
and attack him head-on!
THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST is used in prayers and commands that we make.
- People
cast demons out of people by invoking the name of Jesus Christ.
- We need
to understand what speaking to the devil in the name of Jesus Christ
means.
- It means
we are just as good as if we were Jesus Christ, Himself, commanding the
devil.
A police officer is recognized by our country as someone whom the
police force will back and stand behind when that officer speaks a
command to a person.
- He is
authorized to speak in the name of the law.
- Nobody
else can do that.
- Only a
police officer.
- Why?
- That
police officer experienced training and commitment to allow the entire
police force to TRUST HIM ENOUGH to stand in its place and deal with
people who break the law.
Likewise, a Christian who is saved from sin by the cross of Jesus
Christ is authorized by God to come against sin and the devil and even
sickness as though he were Jesus Christ, Himself, doing it.
- And God
backs such a person up just as much as He backed Jesus Christ up.
- This is
because, like the officer who experienced training to get
qualifications to speak in the name of the law, the Christian has
experienced the CROSS.
- Christians
DIED AND PAID THE PENALTY for their sins and resurrected with Jesus
Christ.
- Their
lives are actually STANDING IN THE PLACE OF JESUS CHRIST NOW.
- Just
like a police officer's job is standing in the place of the law.
- And that
means the Christian has POWER over sin and death as much as the officer
has power over criminals.
So, Mordecai and Esther's authority was given by the King to WRITE A
LAW IN THE NAME OF THE KING to destroy the people who come to destroy
them!
- Haman's
law still existed and did not die just because Haman died.
- The law
of sin and death still exists despite satan's defeat.
- But just
as Esther and the Jews could destroy anyone that tried to destroy them
IN THE NAME OF THE KING, we have the authorization of God upon us to
OVERCOME the law of sin and death IN THE NAME OF THE KING, IN THE NAME
OF JESUS CHRIST!
I once spoke to a backsliding believer, and saw their weakening
condition.
- So I
asked him, "Have you ever spoke to the devil and commanded him to leave
you alone, and rebuked him?"
- He
answered, "Never."
- I said,
"No wonder you are backsliding!"
- Church,
we need to use the authority that we have and deal with the post-cross
dilemma!
- If you
just stand there and take all the trash the devil has to throw at you,
and not fight back, you will be defeated.
- You can
have the most powerful weapon in your hands, but if you don't use it
you will be defeated by the weakest enemy.
- Demons
are not only restricted to bongo drums in Africa somewhere.
- They are
everywhere.
- And they
hate you and want to see you defeated.
- But
there is a higher law that has been given to you.
- And you
need to take advantage of that law and defeat the devil.
You do not have to live a defeated life with sin wrecking your
Christianity.
- You need
to understand the position the cross put you in when you died to sin
through Christ's death.
Esther 8:11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city
to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy,
to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and
province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to
take the spoil of them for a prey,
THE NEW LAW SUPERCEDES THE OLD LAW!
- All the
Jews were commissioned to fight their enemies.
Paul the apostle spoke of how Christians will experience defeat in
their Christian lives, but showed the found the solution in Romans.
THE PROBLEM:
Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is
present with me.
He discovered that whenever he tried to do good in his own human power,
evil was present there to defeat him every time.
AND HE CALLED IT A LAW!
Galatians 5:17 Complete Apostles' Bible (17) For
the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;
and these things oppose each other, so that you do not do the things
that you wish.
Satan set in motion the law of sin and death.
- And it
could not be reversed by God.
- Back in
Eden, Satan hated mankind and tempted man, causing man to voluntarily
relinquish the dominion over the earth, that God gave to man, over to
the devil.
- And God
could not simply say, "Okay, Satan, you're now zapped out of existence,
and Adam, you have the dominion back again."
- God is
righteous and since He gave dominion to MANKIND, and mankind lost it,
then MANKIND has to get it back.
It reminds me of the analogy of giving my son a new car for a gift.
- And
should my son take those keys and gamble them away in a foolish card
game, and lose the car, I cannot go to the winner and demand the car
back again.
- I gave
my son the responsibility and authority when I gave the car to him.
- And he
lost it of his own free will.
Similarly,
the Bible says:
1 Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the
resurrection of the dead.
But the problem is that every man was born in sin and could simply not
resurrect from any death!
- What a
dilemma!
- But God
solved the answer by INCARNATING IN FLESH AS A MAN, HIMSELF!
- Satan
was thus defeated on the cross.
- But the
law of SIN AND DEATH still existed in the world.
- And MAN
would have to deal with that also.
- YOU AND
I must deal with it.
- God
cannot wipe that law out.
- BUT GOD
CAN HAVE ANOTHER LAW THAT SUPERCEDES THE OLDER LAW.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made
me free from the law of sin and death.
The new law is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
- It
counter-attacks the law of sin and death.
- But you
have to fulfill the requirements of the new law in order for it to help
you!
- YOU
CANNOT JUST STAND THERE AND LET THE DEVIL BEAT YOU.
- You have
to do something.
- You
might ask, "I thought that by doing something on my own energy was what
Paul said caused evil to be present with him! What do you mean we have
to do something?"
What we have to do is not combat anything in our own power.
- We have
to SPEAK FORTH AND DEMAND WHAT WE REQUIRE and SAY IT IN THE NAME OF THE
KING, JESUS CHRIST!!
- That is
what Esther and Mordecai were told to do!
- Resort
to Christ's power and call upon His name to strengthen you.
- Satan
does not fear your name one bit.
- Your
power is nothing to him.
- And not
only that, but you have to be living a holy and righteous life in order
for the name of Jesus to be of benefit to you, also.
We have to realize the CROSS affected us and joined us to the power of
Jesus, because we became one with his death, burial and resurrection,
and also one with his power on the throne of God!
- By
speaking in the name of Jesus, while realizing that means we have HIS
POWER because we united to Him in the work of the cross whenb we got
saved, JESUS' POWER WORKS and defeats sin.
But you have to submit your life to God, first, in a true experience of
the cross and holy life.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he
will flee from you.
Notice that submission to God must occur before you resist the devil.
- And
notice what occurred when the Jews acted upon the new law.
Esther 8:17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the
king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness,
a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews;
for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
Want to win souls
- Live a
life of victory where you enjoy every day as a good day.
- Ever
have a bad day?
- Its
because you did not call upon the higher law and claim victory even in
troubles.
- Both
sides of the bed can be good sides of the bed.
- You
don't have to wake up on the wrong side of the bed and see your entire
day ruined.
- Go forth
in Jesus' name.
- You
might say, "Well, Bro. Blume, the devil should be able to kick me in
the head every now and then! We can't live a perfect life!"
- OH YES
WE CAN!
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not
fulfil the lust of the flesh.
So long as you walk in the Spirit, leaning on the power of Christ,
fulfilling the HIGHER LAW, you can stay above fulfilling the lusts of
the flesh and sinning!
- Granted,
it takes time to learn to do this in life.
- So long
as you have this understanding of WHY you can speak in Jesus' name and
see God's power defeat sin and death, you will live in victory.
But its there!
- Don't
excuse your fleshliness and laziness in not learning to walk after the
Spirit by saying you simply cannot have that kind of victory.
- It’s
in the Book and we need to believe the Book!
- And this
is how the following verses are enjoyed by us!
Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye
should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not
under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of
righteousness.
Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him that loved us.
The solution to the post-cross dilemma!
- Its
similar to trying to defeat the law of gravity.
There is another law that defeats the law of gravity.
- Its
called the law of aerodynamics.
- You
fulfill this second law and you can defeat the law of gravity.
- Gravity
demands that objects suspended in the air must fall.
- But
aerodynamics teaches us that if we get ourselves in a certain shaped
object with wings shaped a certain way, and air blown beneath those
wings fast enough, that we can remain suspended in air and not fall!
- We can
defeat the law of gravity!
- It’s
the same in the Spirit.
- The law
of sin and death says that when you try to do good, evil is present
with you.
- (Haman
hated the Jews who served God -- and Christians who try to live right
are the objects of Satan's hatred also.)
- This was
the devil's way of destroying God's church.
- But the
law of the Spirit of life says that if you refuse to live by your
fleshly powers, and choose to call upon His name for strength and
victory, and then yield yourselves to that power from God, waiting for
it, you will overcome the law of sin and death and enjoy life above sin!
- THE
SOLUTION TO THE POST-CROSS DILEMMA!
I had preachers ask me how can it be that we can live above sin without
sinning if so many believers are defeated by sin.
- These
people need to know as much as you do that there is a higher law that
we must abide by in order to see the victory we need.
- Israel
was ready to enter Canaan, and could have taken it.
- But they
didn't.
- Why?
- They
FEARED the enemy and DOUBTED.
- And the
reason they did that was because they looked at their weak abilities
alone as their means of victory, and they knew their power was not
strong enough.
- GOD
COULD HAVE EMPOWERED THEM HAD THEY ONLY LOOKED TO HIS POWER AND ENTERED
CANAAN!
- But
their unbelief caused God's hands to be bound in helping them.
- Church,
loose the power of God in your life by fulfilling the law of the Spirit
of life!
- When the
day arrived for the slaying of the Jews, the Jews had taken advantage
of the NEW LAW!
Look what happened!
Esther 9:1-5 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the
thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree
drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the
Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the
contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) The Jews
gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the
provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their
hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon
all people. And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants,
and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because
the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. For Mordecai was great in the
king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for
this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. Thus the Jews smote all
their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and
destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.
Its in your hands!
- Will you
take this truth and live by it this week and win the battles?
- Or will
this sermon go in one ear and out the other before you get home?
- Its in
your hands!
- SPEAK UP!
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