Kingdom Overtakers And Overcomers (1)
CHRIST overcame and took over the reins of authority from Satan, paving the way for us to be kingdom overtakers (Revelation 1:18; 5:5). The Christian overtaker is not a mere nomenclature, but a mandate to spiritually overtake or take over kingdom authority from Satan.
The Christian overtaker is called to live out the victory of the cross of Calvary. He is called to take back kingdoms, cities, territories and nations where Satan holds sway.
In the Bible, such verbs as, overthrow, prevail, restore, destroy, overcome, among others are used to characterise the operations of God at different times (Ex.14:27; Rev.5:5; 1 Peter 5:10; Jeremiah 30:17; 1 John 3:8; Revelations 3:21, etc). So, it is not out of place to say that Jesus is an overtaker, and we, his children are also called to overtake and overcome.
An overtaker is called to establish the kingdom of God (Jere. 1:10, 18-19). He has the mindset of a humble overcomer and conqueror. Mordecai and Esther were Old Testament figures, who had the mindset of overtakers. They were initially underdogs, but with the power of God, took over the reins of authority in Shushan or Susa, the capital city of the Persian Empire.
When Cyrus conquered Babylon, he gave free passage to the Jews to return to their homeland. Mordecai and Esther were among the few remnants who stayed behind in Shushan. As exiles in Shushan, they were oppressed and subjugated, but by faith in God, and perseverance they overturned the circumstances they faced. Not succumbing to intimidation and threats from Haman, God gave them favour over their adversaries in Shushan. Through fasting, prayers and faith they turned the table against their oppressors; the victim became the victor.
According to John Mcarthur: “The events of Esther occurred during the wider time span between the first return of the Jews after the 70 year captivity in Babylon (Dan. 9:1–19) under Zerubbabel ca. 538 B.C. (Ezra 1– 6) and the second return led by Ezra ca. 458 B.C. (Ezra 7–10). Nehemiah’s journey (the third return) from Susa to Jerusalem (Neh. 1–2) occurred later (ca. 445 B.C.).”
The book narrates the historical conflict between Mordecai (a Benjamite descendant of Saul — 2:5) and Haman (an Agagite — 3:1, 10; 8:3, 5; 9:24) which goes back almost 1,000 years when the Jews left Egypt (ca. 1445 B.C.). Because of his lineage from Agag, Haman carried deep hostility toward the Jews. Haman was very obsessed with Mordecai for not bowing down for him. In his obsession, he prepared a gallow with which to hang Mordecai and got King Ahasuerus to enact a decree to eliminate the Jews in the entire Persian Empire. The Jews succeeded in breaking the shackles of their oppressors due to several factors. First, God’s sovereignly helped them. Even though the name of God was not mentioned in the book, yet, God was on the side of the Jews from start to finish.
Second, Esther was strategically elevated to take over from Vasti as the Queen. Her position gave her access to the king.
Third, Mordecai succeeded in sensitising Esther to intervene on behalf of the Jews when they were threatened with extermination.
Four, once sensitised, Mordecai and Esther then united to silence Haman and his plots and to take over the reins of authority.
Five, Esther’s courage in making demands on the king that are favourable to the Jews.
Six, the Jews were able to rewrite the oppressive laws that were against them.
Seven, the Jews established the feast of Purim, which united the Jews to a common cause. •Contact:pastoracukachi@g mail.com