Introduction:  Sometimes the Christian life can be discouraging because of the things that surround us.  We see the wicked prospering on every hand and at the same time we see the righteous as they suffer.  We wonder if it will ever change.  When are the tables going to turn?  Mordecai went through much of the same in his day.  What can we learn about our hopes by looking into his life?

1. THE HEROICS OF MORDECAI (Esther 2:21-23 [21] In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus. [22] And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name. [23] And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
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1. Sitting in the King’s Gate (Esther 2:16-19 [16] So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. [17] And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. [18] Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king. [19] And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
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1. Esther was brought into the king’s house in the seventh year of Ahasuerus’ reign (Esther 2:16So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
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2. It was sometime around this event that Mordecai began sitting in the king’s gate (Esther 2:19And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
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2. A Plot Against the King (Esther 2:21-23 [21] In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus. [22] And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name. [23] And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
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1. In the days while Mordecai is sitting in the king’s gate a plot is made against the life of the king (Esther 2:21In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.
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2. This plot was made by two of the king’s seven chamberlains (Esther 2:21In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.
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3. The chamberlains were people who served in the presence of the king (Esther 1:10On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
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4. Mordecai knew about the plot and let Esther know (Esther 2:22And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.
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5. Esther told the king and did so in Mordecai’s name (Esther 2:22And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.
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6. When the plans were investigated it was found to be so and the two were hung (Esther 2:23And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
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7. The heroics of Mordecai were written in the book of the chronicles before the king (Esther 2:23And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
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3. Heroics Overshadowed (Esther 3:1After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
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1. “After these things” links the events in Esther 3:1After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
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2. Haman is promoted above all the princes that were with him (Esther 3:1After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
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2. THE SUFFERINGS OF MORDECAI 
1. The Betrayal of His Peers (Esther 3:1-4 [1] After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. [2] And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. [3] Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment? [4] Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
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1. The command to bow before Haman (Esther 3:2And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
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2. The refusal of Mordecai to bow before Haman (Esther 3:2-3 [2] And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. [3] Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
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3. The peers tell Haman of Mordecai’s rebellion (Esther 3:4Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
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2. The Wrath of Haman (Esther 3:5And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
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1. Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow.
2. Haman became full of wrath.
3. The Danger of Mordecai’s People (Esther 3:6-9 [6] And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. [7] In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. [8] And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. [9] If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.
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4. The Continued Rise of Haman
1. Promoted above all the princes (Esther 3:1After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
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2. The gift of the king’s ring (Esther 3:10And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
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3. The boast of Haman (Esther 5:11And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
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1. The glory of his riches
2. The multitude of his children
3. All the things wherein the king promoted him
4. His authority over the princes and servants
5. His favor with Esther
5. The Mourning of Mordecai (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.
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1. Mordecai perceived what was done by Haman (Esther 4:1When 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;
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2. Mordecai rent his clothes (Esther 4:1When 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;
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3. Mordecai put on sackcloth with ashes (Esther 4:1When 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;
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4. Mordecai cried with a loud and bitter cry (Esther 4:1When 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;
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5. Mordecai refused the raiment from Esther (Esther 4:4So 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.
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6. The Gallows for Mordecai’s Death (Esther 5:14Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
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1. Gallows of seventy five feet were built for Mordecai to be hung on.
2. On the morrow Haman was to tell Ahasuerus of the need to hang Mordecai.
3. THE TURNING OF THE TABLES 
1. The Cause for Change (Esther 6:1-3 [1] On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. [2] And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. [3] And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
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1. King Ahasuerus could not sleep (Esther 6:1On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
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2. Ahasuerus commanded that they read the book of the chronicles (Esther 6:1On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
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3. They read of Mordecai’s heroics anywhere from a short time to five years after (Esther 6:2And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
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4. The king asked what had been done for Mordecai (Esther 6:3And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
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2. The Turning of the Tables
1. Haman’s honour given to Mordecai (Esther 6:6-11 [6] So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? [7] And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, [8] Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: [9] And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. [10] Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. [11] Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
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2. Mordecai’s mourning is over but Haman’s mourning begins (Esther 6:12And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
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3. Mordecai’s gallows are used on Haman (Esther 7:10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
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4. Haman’s ring given to Mordecai (Esther 8:2And 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.
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5. Shushan’s countenance changes
1. The city of Shushan was perplexed (Esther 3:15The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
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2. The city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad (Esther 8:15And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
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6. The Jews went from fasting to feasting (Esther 4:16Go, 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.
   See All...; Esther 8:17And 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.
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7. The Jews went from mourning to gladness (Esther 4:3And 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.
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8. The Jews went from fear of being killed to being feared

Conclusion:  Do you feel as though your service for the King is going unnoticed?  Are you struggling to stand against the wickedness of the world around you?  Consider the life of Mordecai and realize that soon and very soon the tables will be turning.