Sermon Series: The Nobility of God's Nobodies

Esther and Mordecai: Responding to Life, God's Way

Esther 3 and 4

PSBC AM 10/29/00

In a nutshell: Making up our minds to respond to the circumstances of our lives in a godly manner is very important for our usefulness in doing Great Commission work. Esther and Mordecai demonstrate three keys to responding in a godly way that we can apply to our daily living. They are: learn the right thing to do; take it to God; and let God worry about the results.

I. Introduction

A. Glenn Cunningham story

His name was Glenn, and he was born on a Kansas farm and educated in a one-room school house. He lived a tough and difficult existence with his mom, dad and brother on the small family farm. Glenn and his brother, in order to help the family make ends meet, took on the job to keep the fire going in the school's coal stove.

One morning , they threw what they thought was kerosene on the live coals–but the liquid they threw on the coals turned out to be gasoline. Tragically, the stove blew sky high, and took most of the school building with it. Glenn would have escaped, but his brother, Floyd, had been left behind. Rushing back to help, Glenn suffered terrible burns as did his brother. Later, Floyd, died, and Glenn's legs sustained severe burn and tissue damage.

For many people, the story would have ended there. But not for Glenn. You see, he had a dream–he dreamed of setting a track record in running. Through a long recuperation that included deep discouragement, disappointment, and plenty of opportunities to give up, Glenn somehow kept going.
-In fact, he made up his mind that he would walk again–and he did!
-Then, he made up his mind that he would run again–and he did!
-Then, he made up his mind that he would discipline himself to be an athlete–and he did!
-Then, he made up his mind that he would master the mile–and he did!
-Then, he made up his mind that he would break the world record in the mile–and in 1934, he did!
-Then, he made up his mind that he would win a medal in the 1936 Olympics–and he did!

Glenn Cunningham, known as the Kansas Flyer, was a man who made up his mind to do something significant, despite it being difficult. And its this concept of making up our minds to do something significant, that I want you to keep in mind this morning!

B. Theme of the morning
Pastor, teacher and seminary president, Chuck Swindoll, was quoted in a magazine article a few years ago as saying, (front of bulletin) "Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitude toward life. The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it." (Charles R. Swindoll, Christian Reader, Vol. 33, no. 4.)

This morning we are going to examine what I believe has become this present Christian generation's greatest challenge– the challenge is this...making up our minds to respond to the circumstances of our lives in a godly manner.

And this morning the Old Testament story from the book of Esther is going to show us three important principles to help us make up our minds to meet this challenge. The principles that are demonstrated in the lives of the Old Testament characters of Mordecai and Esther, have been designed by God to give us the courage to respond to the circumstances of our lives, God's way.

You see, when the ordinary people of Palm Springs Baptist Church respond to life's circumstances God's way, then God is able to use our lives as sources of LIGHT to illuminate a world that has been darkened by sin. When we respond to life's circumstances God's way, we give Him the opportunity to do what He wants to do most–Great Commission work in the Coachella valley and world–through us.

II. Why We Don't

But have you noticed... we don't always reflect God's light very well. I've fallen down. You've fallen down. We compromise the integrity of our faith through our decisions and actions. And we seem to care more about what's expedient, rather than what's godly. Why is that? We're supposed to be Christians–followers of Jesus Christ. Why is it, then, we find it so easy to follow anyone or anything other than Jesus Christ? I think there's three answers to that question...

A. Not popular

First, doing what's right and godly usually isn't popular. When was the last time someone you work with, or a neighbor, or someone you go to school with, or even someone in your family came up to you and said, "Thank you for making an effort to be morally upright in your life." or "Thank you for trying to demonstrate high moral integrity in your life." I'll bet that's seldom happened to you.

More often than not, we get comments like, "So what makes you think you're so special." "Who made you better than us?" or "Why don't you get off your high horse?"

The fact is, a lot of the times acting godly isn't popular! That's one reason we don't always do it.

B. It isn't easy.

Second, doing what's right and godly usually isn't easy. In most circumstances, doing what's right and godly demands a price to be paid. A lot of times it causes us to have to go the extra mile, spend more time, or wrestle with.., and weigh the outcome of our decisions. It's more work!

C. Not sure it really matters

Third, were not always sure that doing what's right and godly really matters. After all, what difference does it make if we allow inappropriate images of the opposite sex, or racially demeaning stories, or the moral filth of Hollywood to invade our minds? It's no big deal.

Who cares if we're totally honest when it comes to our taxes, or in correcting a cashier's mistake when they've given us too much change? That's trivial.

What does it matter if we allow ourselves to become addicted to food or cigarettes or alcohol or pornography or some kind of substance or some sort of behavior. Hey, everybody's addicted to something. We're only human.

What difference does it make if we're generous and compassionate and forgiving? It won't make any difference if just one person lives that way. Might as well cover my back like everyone else.

Have you ever thought that way? If you have, then you're not responding to the circumstances of your life, God's way.

So, the ultimate question this morning is simply this... How do I change? Is there any guidance or examples to help me make up my mind to respond to the circumstances of my life in a godly manner?

Yes there is. The examples are a duo named Esther and Mordecai. They were Jews living in Persia during the historical period of Jewish captivity. Turn to Esther 3...

III. The First Principle to Godly Response–learn the right thing to do

A. Mordecai and Esther both learn the right thing to do

1. Re-cap the story

If you've never read the entire story of these two, I'd encourage you to go home this afternoon and read it. It's short, but filled with intrigue, suspense, romance, injustice, and heroism. Actually, in the book of Esther, there are four main characters:
-Xerxes or Artixerxes, the King of Persia
-Haman, his right hand man, and the villain of the story.
-Esther, a young Jewish woman, and the winner of the first Miss Persia contest and the queen of Persia, and
-Mordecai, Esther's uncle and step-father, who was a prominent the Jewish community who was living in Susa, the capital city of Persia.

2. Mordecai knew what to do

We are told that both Mordecai and Esther had risen to positions of prominence in King Xerxes' court. But the king didn't know Mordecai was Esther's uncle–and he also didn't know that Esther was a Jew. We'll pick the story up about in the middle...

Esther 3:1-4
1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles.
2 All the royal officials at the king's gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.
3 Then the royal officials at the king's gate asked Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's command?"
4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai's behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.

Basically, Haman was proclaimed to be a god by Xerxes. Mordecai was a Jew, who had been taught from his earliest years the law of the one true God. So, he knew what was right and what wasn't right in God's eyes...

Exodus 20:3&5a
3 "You shall have no other gods before me....
5a You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God...

So, without taking a survey, or conducting a poll, or doing what the rest of the Israelites who were in Persia were doing, he refused to bow down to the man, Haman. This would be a direct violation of God's law. But that stance came at a high price...

Esther 3:5-6
5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged.
6 Yet having learned who Mordecai's people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.

And by telling the king only a half truth, Haman received authority from the King to destroy all the Jews living in Persia.

Can't you just imagine the reaction of some of Mordecai's Jewish kinsmen? "What a mess you've gotten us into, now, Mordecai! If you'd just get off your moral high horse and bow down, the whole nation of Israel would be saved. What's more important–your righteousness or our nation's safety?"

Good question, huh? Do I compromise what's right for what's easy? Do I go against what God says, for what human beings are saying is better? Well, the good news is that Mordecai sticks with God, but at the same time he shows good wisdom. He calls on his niece, Esther, the queen ,to intercede on the Jewish people's behalf and talk to the king. Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it?

Well, things were different in that culture, than in ours. Go to the next chapter...

3. Esther learns what to do

Esther 4:10-11
10 Then she instructed (her servant) to say to Mordecai,
11 "All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king."

In other words, "I may be the king's wife, but I think I'm on the outs with him right now. He hasn't wanted to see me for the past 30 days. Besides, the law clearly states that if I or anyone else goes to see him without being summoned, and he doesn't extend his golden scepter to that person, that person will lose their head."

This was a huge risk on her part to stick her nose into the middle of this situation. She didn't know what to do. Actually, she wanted to do the easy thing–which was nothing. But her step-father, Mordecai, gave her some wise counsel and godly advice...

Esther 4:12-14
12 When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai,
13 he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape.
14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

Do you see what he's saying? "Esther, it matters greatly that you do the right thing in this situation. In fact Esther, there is a very good chance that God put you in this circle of influence of the court of the King of Persia, at this time in history, in these circumstances, just so you could do the right thing and save your people"

B. Know What Is Right to Do

Now, here's the first principle that you must know if you're going to respond to the circumstances of your life in a godly manner... Know what is the right thing to do.

Mordecai didn't come to the conclusion that he shouldn't bow down to Haman, all by himself. God specifically stated that in the 10 commandments. As a good Jewish boy, he had been taught this command from an early age. So, Mordecai didn't have to guess at what was the right thing to do–he knew it based on God's Word.

Esther, on the other hand didn't know what to do. Even in her godly upbringing, she wasn't prepared for what the decision she had to make. So, what did she do? She told the situation to a godly person (uncle Mordecai) and got his advice on the right thing to do.

Friends, too often we Christians make mistakes that hurt our testimony to the unbelieving world, because we don't know the right thing to do. I think this happens because of one of three reasons:
1. We don't have a firm enough grasp on the Word of God to do what God wants; (And if that's the case with you, start taking more advantages to learn the Word by attending worship services and Adult Enrichment Classes and Bible studies, regularly–turn off the TV and start putting something into your life that's worthwhile and that will matter for eternity)-OR-

2. We neglect to ask godly people for godly advice, and we become like the rest of modern society, and wind up making up our own truth as we go along; (More of you men and more of you women–especially you younger men and women–need to get into an accountability relationship with a Christian man or woman that you respect, who will take the time to share their struggles, victories and application of God's word to their lives over the years. And more of you older women and men need to make yourselves available to our younger adults to mentor them in their Christian faith and decision making. That's not my idea, that's God's idea...)

Titus 2:2-4 & 6-7
2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.
4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children..,
6 Similarly, (speaking to an older man-Titus) encourage the young men to be self-controlled.
7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good.

3. or a third reason we don't know what is right is that We ask ungodly people or immature Christians for advice, and follow a path that is no where near to God's path in a specific situation. (It would be sheer foolishness for me to ask Pastor Darrell or Greg James for advice on motorcycle safety. Pastor Darrell wants to get a motorcycle someday, but his knowledge is very limited. He's basically ridden a motorcycle once–and he fell that time. Greg owns a driving school–but its for cars, not motorcycles. In fact, Greg doesn't even want to own a motorcycle. So, it would make a lot more sense if I talked to Al Farrell or Shelby Pittman or Cris Cronin's dad, Bill Snell, who have all been riding for a lot of years and are familiar with motorcycles, if I wanted advice on motorcycle safety. That just makes sense. But what doesn't make sense to me is Christian women going to their non-Christian mothers to ask advice on how to be a godly wife or a mother; or a Christian man going to his non-Christian friends asking how to be a good husband. Friends, use your brains and not your emotions or what's convenient to get godly and right advice.)

Let's move on to the next principle for responding to the circumstances of our life in a godly manner...

IV. The Second Principle to Godly Response–take it to God

Esther 4:15-16a
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:
16a "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law... (stop there)

This step is easy to state, but we don't do it enough. Simply put, Esther said, "let's fast (and that included prayer–that's understood) about this." In other words, let's take the matter to God.

Friends, when some of you began expressing concern about the sound volume in our Sunday morning worship, Pastor Darrell, Pastor Darrin and I met and talked about why this was happening in some places of the auditorium and not in others; why it was bothering some people in our congregation and not others; and how do we maintain the unity of the Spirit that God wants us to have in our church. Then, without resolving the problem, we did what one of our Core Values expresses– we prayed about it.

After we took it to God, speaking for myself, its as if a burden was lifted, and God said, "I'll take care of it." And as Pastor Darrell and I have talked this week, God gave us some direction. And we see some solutions being provided when we go to our two service format next week.

If you want to respond to the circumstances of your life in a godly way–stay connected to God. The second you dis-connect, you will begin to veer from a godly direction.

V. The Third Principle to Godly Response–let God worry about the results

I am so impressed by Esther's last sentence at the end of verse 16...

Esther 4:16b
16b ...And if I perish, I perish."

Most of us are rarely in the life and death situation that Esther was in. But here was a young woman who received godly advice, took her situation to God, then without a hint of remorse said, "...if I perish, I perish." In other words, Let God Worry About the Results.

Most of us deal with day to day stuff, that pales in comparison to Esther's situation. We deal with things like money–popularity/reputation–pride–comfort–being right–getting what I'm due. But the principles remain the same–do what you know is right; take it to God in prayer; THEN LET GOD WORRY ABOUT THE RESULTS!

VI. Conclusion

The end of the story, as far as Esther and Mordecai are concerned, is that Esther was successful. The King welcomed her. Haman was executed for his wicked plot against the Jews. The Jewish nation was saved from annihilation. And, even beyond that, Mordecai became the number two man in the kingdom. What a great ending to Ester and Mordecai's story!

Now, let's bring this home. The application is really very simple...What's the end of your story going to look like? Most of us sitting in this room are facing at least one pressing issue that requires us to make up our minds:
–Either to make up our minds to that issue in a godly way;
–or respond to it in a way that doesn't include or care about God. When that issue is all said and done, how will people view your life? Will they find you faithful to God or unfaithful? Let me re-cap what helped Esther and Mordecai make up their minds to handle their decision in a godly way...
1. Learn the right thing to do
2. Take it to God
3. Let God worry about the results

Amen.