2026.06.07 Sunday 1st Service
「Crises are Opportunities」(Es 4:1-16)
Esther 4:1–16
01 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry.
02 He went as far as the front of the king’s gate, for no one was to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.
03 In each and every province where the command and decree of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing; and many lay on sackcloth and ashes.
04 Then Esther’s maidens and her eunuchs came and told her, and the queen writhed in great anguish. And she sent garments to clothe Mordecai that he might remove his sackcloth from him, but he did not accept them.
05 Then Esther summoned Hathach from the king’s eunuchs, whom the king had appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was.
06 So Hathach went out to Mordecai to the city square in front of the king’s gate.
07 Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.
08 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict which had been issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show Esther and inform her, and to order her to go in to the king to implore his favor and to plead with him for her people.
09 Hathach came back and related Mordecai’s words to Esther.
10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered him to reply to Mordecai:
11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court without being summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.”
12 They related Esther’s words to Mordecai.
13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.
14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai,
16 “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
Summary
▣ Introduction_ 5 Things to Know in Advance
Background of the Passage
When the Jewish people were all about to be killed due to a false accusation, Mordecai asked Queen Esther to inform the king of the situation. Mordecai said, was it not God who had prepared you for such a time as this? Esther said “if I perish, I perish” and asked all the people to fast and pray for three days on her behalf. She knew the power of prayer. We must recover this secret of prayer. The king who welcomed Esther when she came before him accepted her invitation to a banquet along with Haman, and through Esther came to know that Haman had been plotting to kill the Jewish people. As a result, Haman was put to death and the people of Israel were saved.
Esther knew several things in advance.
1. The reason suffering came (the reason for captivity) — because there was no spiritual strength.
2. Why has this kind of crisis come at this moment?
3. What does God’s Word prophesy?
4. What happens when we pray?
5. Why are we here? — She knew what mission was.
▣ Main_ Do Not Fear the Crisis.
1. The crisis that came upon all of Israel — an opportunity for world evangelization (prayer that moves the throne)
1) The reason God sent them as slaves to Egypt — an opportunity for world evangelization (237, 5000)
2) The reason God caused them to be taken captive to Assyria — an opportunity for the recovery of missed world evangelization
3) The reason God caused them to be taken captive to Babylon — the timetable and opportunity for world evangelization
▷ If you don’t know this, even if you come out of Egypt you cannot come out from under Satan.
Throne — The prayer of one who knows the gospel and knows the reason moves the throne (Isaiah 62:6–7).
2. Clan, family, and personal problems — a springboard for the future (prayer that brings the kingdom of God)
1) Esther 2:7 Mordecai who adopted and raised Esther the orphan
2) Esther 2:20 Mordecai, a man of prayer, who told Esther not to reveal that she was Jewish
3) Esther 4:14–16 “Speak now.” “If I perish, I perish.” — Because they held the secret of covenant, faith, and prayer, everything became a springboard.
Kingdom — When you know the covenant and pray, the kingdom of God comes (Esther 4:16).
3. When the wicked cause many difficulties — an opportunity to bear witness to the light (prayer that brings about the work of the kingdom of God)
1) Mordecai who reported the plot to assassinate the king
2) Mordecai who did not bow to Haman
3) The resolve of Mordecai and Esther who brought down all the forces of darkness — Haman’s evil failure and the Festival of Purim commemorating this event
Work — When you truly pray with the covenant, the work of the kingdom of God is accomplished.
▣ Conclusion_ 3 Things to Enjoy Daily
1. The power of prayer
1) Go to meet problems with the power of prayer.
2) Go seeking problems with the answer.
3) Prayer and life go together.
2. Gospel — Making opportunities in every field
3. Evangelism
1) 3 Camps — The Holy Spirit being 300% with you in your life.
2) Changing the forces of darkness with fundamental strength. You are spiritual summits.
3) Our standard — 237, 5000, TCK
Transcript
▣ Introduction_ 5 Things to Know in Advance
Those who are captured by clerical power, political power, and institutional power originally do not even listen to their parents. Even those who believe in God do not listen to God’s Word.
※ Background of the Passage — You must know the power of prayer and recover the secret of prayer.
Today’s passage involves a great incident. It is a scheme devised by a man named Haman who was fighting for political power. The decision had been made legally to kill all the people of Israel. It is a serious matter. Queen Esther is now in the palace, and Mordecai is making a request to her. “Our Jewish people are all about to be killed, and since you are inside the palace you will not die.” He is telling her to go and speak to the king now. “Inform the king that due to a false accusation, the Jewish people are all about to be killed.” And then he said this: “If you do not speak, God will accomplish it through another means. But you and your father’s house will perish.” And then he said the important thing: “Is it not possible that you were made queen precisely for such a time as this? The people of Israel are all about to be killed right now — could it not be that God raised you up as queen in order to use you at this moment?” A tremendously serious thing had taken place.
Why is that? No one can just go before the king. The situation is a bit different from now. Many extraordinary events happen around the king. There are people hiding and waiting, trying to kill the king. So without the king summoning you, no one is able to go before him. If you appear there, you are legally subject to the death penalty. Now the people of Israel were in a desperate situation. They were all about to die, you see. Haman had orchestrated this. He spent a great deal of money, persuaded people, and arranged for all the Jews to be killed. The appointed day had come and the situation was desperate. But even so, Esther cannot go before the king. That is when the request is made. Go and speak. “God prepared you for such a time as this.” Those were the words Esther heard, and what she said in response to them.
“If I perish, I perish.” That is what she said. “Even if I die, it’s all right. I will go and report this.” And then she left one important word. What was the important word Esther left? “Please fast and pray for me for three days, all the people.” She knew the power of prayer. You still have an important conference ahead of you and there are important timetables for each of you, so you truly must recover this secret of prayer. There is nothing we are hiding and there are circumstances where we all need to pray, but Elder Jo Ki-beom fell and was injured, and is in somewhat of a dangerous condition. In other times, if I had a gathering elsewhere I would not have been able to visit, but this time I came to Busan and was able to go see him. So I saw his condition. The next day, Friday, when I came and couldn’t sleep. This doesn’t happen to me often. Of course praying for church members is natural. I didn’t sleep — I prayed all night. Truly not resting for even one minute, not sleeping, and continuing in prayer. And from the next day God kept prompting me to pray. So I thought: I need to ask our church members to pray. Those of you who know how to pray 24 hours — please pray intensively. And even those who don’t know prayer — set a specific time and pray. Pray, because there will certainly be a special plan for God to work.
Esther saying “please pray for me” was not a simple request either — it was “please fast while praying.” Because the situation had become so desperately urgent, she asked all the people to fast and pray for her. Such a tremendous thing has taken place.
And then Esther went to the palace. You cannot enter without any permission. At the moment the king saw Esther — not knowing the situation, the king should have asked “why have you come?” — but instead he extends the golden scepter. Isn’t a rod held by a king called a scepter? When this is extended, it means “welcome.” If not, you are immediately seized. The king extended the golden scepter brightly. “How did you come?” he asked. Because if it were not something urgent, she could not have come like that. Then Esther said: “Ah, I would like to hold a banquet at my home — would you come to dine?” The king said “yes.” Now at that time, dining was not simply eating a meal. Because this was the kind of nation that moved great nations, “coming to dine” meant there was an extremely important reason for it. The king came to dine. And the moment he arrived, it was not a matter of eating first — he was asking her to speak. What great concern did she have that brought her to do this? He was asking her to say it. And then the words came: “I could give you even half the kingdom. Speak.” This Esther is a person who prays, a person who knows prayer. She didn’t speak at that moment and asked once more: “I will prepare this dining occasion once more. Please come one more time. And when you come that time, please bring Prime Minister Haman with you.” The king became tremendously curious. What is this about? He agreed.
Then the banquet was held and the king came. He asked again with urgency: “What in the world is the matter?” She said: “The truth is, all the Jewish people are about to be killed.” “Is that so?” “It is the making of one person’s complete lies. So because of that one person, an entire people is about to be killed.” And then finally she said: “And I too am Jewish.” At this the king was so shocked that — according to the scriptural record — he was so overwhelmed he couldn’t breathe and went outside. Only then did the wicked Haman get on his knees and beg the queen to spare his life. The king thought: “How can this be happening?” and after stepping out to catch his breath, he came back in and this man was grabbing her legs. The king misunderstood this. And so this Haman was hanged and killed. The entire people of Israel were saved.
Today here we need to discover a few important things. The most important things for God’s person — Esther already knew these. Though they come out in the conversation between Mordecai and Esther, there are several things she knew in advance.
1. The reason for captivity — without spiritual strength, one becomes a captive.
You need to know the reason first, right? Why was Israel taken captive? She knew. You need to know that first. Praying is also tremendously important for you, but why were we brought here as captives?
2. Why has this kind of crisis come at this time?
Why has this kind of crisis come at this time? She knew. That’s what wicked politicians do. She knew. Those who want to kill people, those who are seized by Satan — they absolutely do not change.
3. What does God’s Word prophesy?
Mordecai and Esther already knew what God’s Word prophesied in various places.
4. What happens when we pray?
More importantly, she knew what prayer was. So she didn’t make any other request — she made a prayer request. She didn’t ask anyone “please help me” — she made a prayer request.
5. Why are we here? She knew what mission was.
Why did the people of Israel end up like this? She knew what mission was.
We Christians cannot start anything at all without knowing these five things.
Why did suffering come upon Israel? But why did this unjust false accusation incident happen right now? And what does God’s Word prophesy? What in the world happens when we pray? And why have we come here — what is mission? She knew all of it. Boldly, without fearing death: “If I perish, I perish.”
The world as it goes today is all the same. When our Remnant go out and face great difficulties, there is no need to be shaken. They need to know the five things.
If God’s people, the people of Israel, have no spiritual strength, they become captives. Right? Keep this in mind. If we are without strength, your future generations will become captives of Satan. That is certain. A little bit of success is not success. They suffer for a lifetime. You must know that first.
When you go to the field, people with no strength whatsoever do all kinds of wicked things just to survive. It is happening even now. It has happened a second time. At each of those times we must not be shaken. What does God’s Word say? What should be prayed for? And what did we miss that caused things to become like this? They held these answers exactly.
▣ Main_ Do Not Fear the Crisis.
Today you do not need to fear the crises that have come.
1. The crisis that came upon all of Israel
First. A national crisis has come — a crisis has come upon all of Israel. What does this tell us? If you grab hold of the wrong thing, you miss it. This is the very opportunity for world evangelization. You must not grab the wrong thing. Everyone who grabbed the wrong thing has had it taken away.
1) The reason God sent them as slaves to Egypt
Why did God send them as slaves to Egypt? There is where the 237 and 5,000 peoples are — it was giving the opportunity for world evangelization.
2) The reason God caused them to go as captives to Assyria
Why did He cause them to go as captives to Assyria? No matter what else you try, no answer comes. It is an opportunity for recovery of the missed world evangelization. Those two people knew that.
3) The reason God caused them to become captives to Babylon
The reason God caused them to become captives to Babylon is to give us through this the crucial timetable and opportunity for world evangelization.
※ If you don’t know this, even if you come out of Egypt you cannot come out from under Satan.
If you don’t know this you cannot escape from Satan’s slavery. If you don’t know this, even if you come out of Egypt you cannot come out from under Satan. The one purpose God has given you is this: through you, let the darkness be broken — carry out world evangelization. It may look like nothing, but if you don’t know this, you will struggle and die. There are people I know very well, people I like very much — there are many such people. They are precious individuals. How hard they live. They graduated from Seoul National University. How hard they live. Even while at university they passed the bar exam. They live so hard. Their lips are perpetually cracked and dry. They served as judges. And as famous lawyers, and as members of the National Assembly. They worked at the Blue House. A person very close to me. Such a genuinely good person. But so very driven. Early on, one day they hit their limit and fell ill and passed away. I know. They were an extraordinarily capable person. But as far as I know, they did not seem to know what Esther knew and what Mordecai knew. They helped me so much and were a senior older than me, so I couldn’t just speak freely — I should have said it back then.
[Throne] — The prayer of one who knows the gospel and knows the reason moves the throne (Isaiah 62:6–7).
Today you must firmly grasp this important covenant. The prayer of one who knows the gospel and knows the reason moves the throne. Today, even if you have nothing, it is all right. When you truly know the reason and truly pray toward God, you move the throne. “Give Him no rest night or day.” Not just anyhow. The prayer of one who truly knows the reason and truly knows the gospel moves the throne when it meets a crisis. You must certainly find this bartizan.
2. Clan, family, and personal problems — a springboard for the future (prayer that brings the kingdom of God)
Second. Your clan problems, your personal problems — all of these become a springboard for the future. How? If you know the five things mentioned earlier. If you know why you were taken captive. If you know why crisis has come in the field. If you know what God’s Word says. If you truly know what the gospel is, what prayer is. If you know what world mission is. It was because Israel didn’t know those things that they collapsed. This person’s prayer moves the throne. But what is important is our clan, family, and background. This becomes a springboard. See what kind of springboard it is.
1) Esther 2:7 Mordecai who adopted and raised Esther the orphan
Esther lived in the city of Susa. Her original name was Hadassah. This woman was an orphan. So what does that mean? She had no parents — she was an orphan. But her older cousin relative was Mordecai. This Mordecai adopted Esther. It appears in Esther 2:7. And then he taught Esther, built up her faith, and supported her.
2) Esther 2:20 Mordecai, a man of prayer, who told Esther not to reveal that she was Jewish
One day she became queen — she was chosen as queen. At that time, in verse 20 of chapter 2, we see this. How much of a man of prayer was Mordecai? What did he say? “Never say that you are Jewish.” Even though you have become queen.
3) Esther 4:14–16 Speak now. If I perish, I perish.
But now this great crisis has come, and today’s passage says to speak now.
A person who grew up without a background, a person who lived through hardship, cannot live well. But if that person knows the gospel and prays, it becomes a great springboard. People who live in poverty, if they don’t know prayer and don’t know the gospel, they become soaked in poverty. But one who knows this gospel, prayer, and covenant — it becomes a springboard for them. Though she grew up as an orphan without parents, because she had faith and prayer and the covenant, all of this became a springboard.
[Kingdom] — When you know the covenant and are praying, the kingdom of God comes (Esther 4:16).
Without fearing death. “If I perish, I perish.” That was said. Where there is prayer, the kingdom of God comes. You must remember this. The prayer you offer knowing the covenant moves the throne. Don’t be discouraged. When you know the covenant and are praying, the kingdom of God is set to come.
3. When the wicked cause many difficulties
Third. The wicked arise and cause many difficulties, but at this time an opportunity comes to bear witness to the light.
1) Mordecai who reported the plot to assassinate the king
Mordecai was a person holding a fairly low position. But there was someone who had devised a plot to assassinate the king. Mordecai had once reported that fact through Esther. The king came to know it. This led to Mordecai being promoted somewhat. He was placed in a good position. Haman disliked this. Politics — it is frightening. Esther had done nothing wrong, but perhaps the people caught trying to assassinate the king were on the same side as Haman.
2) Mordecai who did not bow to Haman
And when politics goes wrong, one goes mad. This Haman had another dream too. He had thought “someday I could become king.” As evidence of that, he demanded that many people bow to him as they would bow to a king. What a ridiculous fellow. But everyone did it at the time. Because they were afraid. But Mordecai refused. So what was this? For that one thing alone he would kill all the Jews. How ridiculous the world is. That is the world. What Satan does is ridiculous.
3) The resolve of Mordecai and Esther who brought down all the forces of darkness
Mordecai and Esther were not shaken at all. That is the resolve they made.
But God even matched the timing so as to move the king’s heart and completely brought down all the forces of darkness. You must remember this.
The fact that a national crisis has come is an opportunity for world evangelization. If you truly know the gospel and know prayer and know evangelism, you can offer prayers that move the throne. No matter how bad your clan, family, and environment is, the kingdom of God can come. That’s the second point. Right?
[Work] — When you truly pray with the covenant, the work of the kingdom of God is accomplished.
But though the wicked cause many problems, if you truly pray with the covenant, God will begin from that point to bring about the work of the kingdom of God. The work is accomplished. She appeared before the king in violation of the law, and the king extended the scepter brightly. My prediction is that the king very much wanted to see Esther. The king couldn’t just summon her whenever he wanted either. Even that was regulated. Kings have it difficult. But all those events where Mordecai had already saved the king were recorded. This wicked Haman had lost his sight in his mindless self-pursuit of greed. He didn’t know two things. He didn’t know that the king greatly valued the queen. More importantly, he didn’t know she was Jewish. So this wicked man’s wickedness completely backfires. So what memorial remains? The king said “record this in history.” Record the wicked man’s actions in history. Record in the history books that the Jewish people were completely innocent. That is the Festival of Purim. Today you must hold the covenant that remains in history.
▣ Conclusion_ 3 Things to Enjoy Daily
So enjoy three things in daily life. What?
1. The power of prayer
Enjoy the power of prayer in daily life. You must remember this.
1) Go to meet problems with the power of prayer.
When problems come, you can pray then. No — we are the ones who go to meet problems with the power of prayer. You must truly recover the power of prayer.
2) Go seeking problems with the answer.
When various difficulties come, we can pray. But truly praying means going with the answer. A person who truly prays goes seeking problems with the answer. The 7 Remnant figures all did this.
3) Prayer and life go together.
Our Remnant must remember this. What is true prayer? It is not prayer and life being separated. They go together. If study and prayer are separate, you will struggle with study for your entire life. A person who knows prayer — work and prayer go together. Don’t worry about sick people. Prayer and your life go together.
2. Gospel — Making opportunities in every field
Making opportunities in every field. That is knowing the gospel. It is enjoying it.
3. Evangelism
1) 3 Camps — The Holy Spirit being 300% with you in your life
In your life, the Holy Spirit is 300% with you. That is evangelism. It is 3 Camps. All right? You are already enjoying this. You must always be enjoying it.
2) Spiritual summit changing the forces of darkness with fundamental strength
You change the forces of darkness wherever you go. You change them with fundamental, spiritual strength. So even without any strength, you are fine. You are spiritual summits.
3) Our standard — 237, 5000, TCK
Always remember this. Our standard. Our standard is 237. Our standard is 5,000 peoples. If you lose this, you lose everything. TCK. So right now, tremendous doors are opening.
Now, today’s message is rather important, so you need to get a clear resolution regarding prayer. So today you must find the blessing that turns crisis into opportunity. Whatever the problem, it is all right. I bless you that this becomes the greatest opportunity of your life, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Prayer. Please make today a day of receiving the answer of a lifetime. We thank God who gave the opportunity of world evangelization to Israel in the midst of crisis. Please make us find the greatest opportunity of our lives. Please give us the true power of prayer. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.