How Should I Respond to Laws Against God's Instruction?
Notes
Transcript
The Jews were in captivity in Babylon.
King Ahasuerus was deceived by a wicked man named Haman to sign a decree that kill every Jew in Babylon. People were confused by this decree as there didn’t seem to be any reason for this strong decree.
When Mordecai and others heard the news they acted.
How did they act? What choices did they make?
Their response began through humility
Their response began through humility
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;
Rent his clothes
An outward act depicting an inward brokenness
Sackcloth
A physical irritation of the skin to symbolise the distress of their heart
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.
People all across the land knew the powerful display to show a willingness to humble themselves
This act powerfully pictures the brokenness of the heart and the anguish in their hearts
It displays a willingness to re-think, re-evaluate, and change direction of one’s heart and life
This is a demonstration of humility
Humility is a willingness to follow the Lord and accept His plan
God is just - His way is perfect
God is good - He does that which is good. Even though the situation at hand may not appear good on the surface; we can be assured that everything He does and allows will be good.
God is love - The motive behind all that He does is love. He loves us, and is willing to teach us through love so we may know Him better and understand His plan.
God leads His people
God has given a free will
He wants us to choose a close relationship with Him following His leading and obeying His instruction
Humility is recognising this and willingly accepting God’s ways and His will
Matt 6:9-10
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Jesus taught us to seek His kingdom and God’s will.
Jesus exampled this by His very life and His humility, as God, to follow His Father’s will
Phil 2:8
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
As you look through the Bible and see how people responded well to a circumstance; there is a commonality. The common aspect is a humbleness of placing their desires, their will, their mindset aside, and come to God seeking Him and His will
Humility was joined with prayer
Humility was joined with prayer
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.
Notice they fasted - In the Bible fasting was coupled with prayer.
False witnesses did rise up; They laid to my charge things that I knew not. They rewarded me evil for good To the spoiling of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; And my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
David, when accusations came to him wrongly, humbled himself with fasting and prayer
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Daniel, humbly seeking the Lord, did so with prayer joined with fasting
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Jesus addressed a familiar topic to the disciples about the strength and power found in prayer and fasting
Throughout the Bible, we see these things joined together as God’s people sought the Lord and His will
Prayer helps us gives us an avenue to pour what is in our heart out to the just Judge, steadies our heart and mind, and quiets our spirit
Prayer and fasting are vital in every response to situations beyond our control
We can express our heart to the Lord in complete openness as God knows what our heart is feeling
As we seek the Lord in a spirit of wanting God’s mind and His will; God directs us.
Prayer changes us.
Prayer changes things.
Prayer is essential if we are to respond well.
Pray for those imposing things contrary to God’s instruction.
Pray for those battling the same instruction.
Pray for those enforcing the instruction.
Stephen prayed for those stoning him in Acts 7.
Saul, witnessing the prayer, would later get saved, and follow this powerful testimony by praying for his jailers.
God would give opportunity to preach the Gospel and some got saved.
One was a part of a church in Philippi that would would help him and others preach Christ.
There is power in prayer!
Oh, how we need to bath our actions, our responses, our plans in prayer desiring to follow the leading of our Master, Jesus Christ!
Prayer empowered a stable mindset
Prayer empowered a stable mindset
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. Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was. So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king’s gate. And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.
Mordecai’s broken heart and anguish in spirit brought the attention of his niece, now the queen.
She asked Mordecai what was wrong.
Mordecai did not respond with anger losing control of his emotions.
Mordecai instead stated the situation and gave a copy of the king’s decree to be given to her.
There was no ill-conceived act of vengeance or hurtful outburst. This was done with a heart yearning for God and seeing this as a possible avenue that God may use to help the king realise there was a problem.
In this account, we do not see Mordecai acting out with hate, anger, or vengeance, but rather a heart that is seeking God through love by faith.
The critical part of our response is to have a stable mindset. Let’s look at a time in Israel when they were troubled and in anguish:
Isaiah 28
Israel is going to be shut down and God is using Isaiah to help prepare Israel for this time
2 groups of people being addressed - God followers and God haters
But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, They are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; They err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, So that there is no place clean.
The state is that the priest’s tables are filled with vomit
Coming to my office, filled with vomit - Sorry, that was from last night
They are so corrupt that even the churches could not be trusted
God was going to shut everything down and bring a national time out
Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, And drawn from the breasts.
Are we little children?
We’ve heard all this before.
We know what you’re going to say.
This is stuff for babies and not our society today.
Mocking and scorning God!
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; Line upon line, line upon line; Here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue Will he speak to this people.
God said with those of another tongue (language) they will speak to you as Israel will be their captives.
But God responds:
To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; And this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
People are mocking God as God comes to them with simple truth.
They look to God and scorn the simplicity of which God is trying to help them
God stated, “with My Words you will find rest and a refreshing”
Look at:
But the word of the Lord was unto them Precept upon precept, precept upon precept; Line upon line, line upon line; Here a little, and there a little; That they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, And snared, and taken.
Those that defy will be broken
Those that do hear these words will find rest
Not every one would find rest and get refreshed, but God is still going to speak
Many resist God’s voice
The people, even the priests, have drunken themselves into a stupor resisting God however they can
Sounds like the UK
This is the state of Israel, now let’s look at the instruction God gave Isaiah to these people:
Go back to Isaiah 8
First 8 verses he is speaking to the northern part of Israel telling them that Assyria will come and carry you away
Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; And give ear, all ye of far countries: Gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; Gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.
Associate - gather
These people are going to ignore God’s Word
Mock, ridicule, scorn, do not heed my advice, but ye will be broken
Gird - Strengthen, fortify, come up with your own battle plans
When you make God your enemy you will still lose!
Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; Speak the word, and it shall not stand: For God is with us.
Shall come to nought - none of your plans will matter!
Where does this lead?
For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, And instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
When the world was breaking down and everyone was panicked. Society was breaking down.
God said, “Don’t think like these people. Don’t go the same direction. Don’t take the same approach.”
The answer for anger is anger. Injustice is an alternate form of injustice. Wrath is wrath.
This is what dead minds and hearts do!
God doesn’t want us to go this way!
Say ye not, A confederacy, To all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
Confederacy - qesher - ka-shoe - conspiracy (political) n. — a plot to carry out some harmful or illegal act; especially a political plot.
Don’t buy into their theories or lies. Don’t repeat their imaginative political plots or acts.
Don’t let these conspiracies take over your mind. These things to a mind that is broken/unstable!
Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; And let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Sanctify - To elevate in your mind. Set apart in your thinking.
The world wants your mind, and doesn’t want you to elevate the Lord.
Don’t let their fears lead you.
Let God be the awe of your mind.
To those whom God is their Father; He is an awesome God
To those who reject God; He is fearful and their heart is full of worry and dread.
And he shall be for a sanctuary; But for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, For a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Go somewhere to escape all this?!
Sanctuary - sanctuary n. — a consecrated place where the deity dwells and where sacred objects are kept and worship takes place.
Asylum - Safe place - Protected place
Vs 14a - To those that love My Word - I will be place of wonderful rest to them
Vs. 14b - BUT to those that reject Me.
Gin - trap
I will be bad news
This is unstable
And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, And be snared, and be taken.
The answer is Jesus
Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
Bind - Gather - wrap together - preserve
What? Testimony - The Word of God
It’s the testimony of God
Seal - to seal v. — to fasten with or as if with a seal.
Like a king sealing a decree - changing what was to something unmoveable or unchangeable
Noise
Louder and louder - cannot hear
No one has ever won an argument on social media; instead one destroys relationships and brings hurt and division
And I will wait upon the Lord, That hideth his face from the house of Jacob, And I will look for him.
Wait - to adhere by piercing - Nail my heart to the truth of God
Look - Bind together by twisting in eager anticipation
All of my being and all that I am is bound together in expectation of God
Rope
When one twists their mind together with God’s truth
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on thee: Because he trusteth in thee.
Shalom, Shalom - multiplies the value of the word
Square a number
Shalom is not peace on earth or no problems in life
Shalom is a wellness. A completeness and soundness that is present continually.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
We don’t battle like the world does - we don’t hit some one back
Our battle for a stable, rested mind is by obeying what the Lord has given us to do.
Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me Are for signs and for wonders in Israel From the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, And unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: Should not a people seek unto their God? For the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: If they speak not according to this word, It is because there is no light in them.
Vs. 19 - look for somewhere else for truth
Then: Diviners, sorcerers, witchcraft
Now: News, twitter feed, psychics
Shouldn’t God’s people seek their God? Isn’t He the One that we shoudl seek for truth?
For the living to the dead? Why should living go to dead people for advice? Why should spiritual living people go those without the truth for answers?
Vs. 20a - Jonathan - TO Nandos
NOT to the fearmongering of the news - Fear is a market for the news media
A stable mind focuses upon faith
A stable mind focuses upon faith
And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words. Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
When one sees what God can do, the next step is faith
Faith is hoping and believing upon the Word of God
Faith in action
Mordecai relayed the anguish seeing what God may do with this
Mordecai did not force Esther to make a decision, but he presented the idea to her
He didn’t know what God would do next, but he was willing to act upon the opportunity presented
God gives us opportunities. Act upon them by faith.
Gideon - God gave him the opportunity to fight against the Midianites
At first - You have the wrong man
There’s someone better
He put a fleece out
Fleece wet with dew and ground dry
Ground covered in dew and fleece dry
God took thousands of soldiers and narrowed it down to 300 men
God used those 300 men to defeat an army that filled the valley as far as they could see
David - saw an opportunity to stand for the truth of God
He didn’t take a sword. He came in the name of the Lord, 5 smooth stones, and a sling
Over and over again we see those who saw the opportunity God has given and they chose to take the opportunity
God gives us opportunities to speak for the truth of God - MPs
Testimonies
Your opportunities may look different than Mordecai’s
There was only one Mordecai, but many of the Jews humbled themselves and prayed. God brought the opportunity to the one man who would take a stand for faith!
Faith opens a door
Vs 14
Mordecai realised that the heartache of seeing his beautiful niece, who was like a daughter to him, taken from him as prospect to be the next queen, was God doing something good.
We have the whole story of Esther.
We know Esther is used by God to save God’s people.
Mordecai didn’t have the whole story.
Mordecai came to know that God had a plan and prepared both Mordecai and Esther for this very moment.
God would use Mordecai to make Esther aware of the decree.
God would use Esther to bring the evil heart and desire of Haman to the light of truth.
God would use His people to bring to an end those that fought against the truth of the Word of God.
When God brings an open door to you, will you step through?
Will you decide to act by faith
And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea. And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.
Because of a people that decided to:
Respond through humility
Humbly prayed
Firmly established a stable mindset upon God’s Word
Lived by faith