A Sermon on Esther 4:5-17 - "Esther & Mordecai Make a Difference"

1. Introduction to theme

God is actively calling us to make a difference in the world, both in small ways and in big ways. We just can’t escape this fact! God had redeemed us to himself so that we can partner with him in righting society’s wrongs. This aligns with how Jesus taught us to pray – “God’s Kingdom come, God’s will be done … on earth, as it is [already] in heaven”. Today we study two characters within one story that made such a difference – Esther and Mordecai. Just as God chooses to use us in all our imperfection, Esther and Mordecai in their imperfection were used as instruments to alleviate a real threat to God’s people.

We shall notice that the reversal of fortune for the Jewish people in this story occurred when the banqueting stopped and the ‘fast’ began. For those who have read on past chapter 4, you might notice that the decisions made when the fasting stopped and the banqueting recommenced were not so ethically sound – in fact we could go as far as saying that subsequent events were downright horrific. This is a controversial narrative in many ways, especially as we read it far removed from its culturally bound context, but we will focus on the one and most famous incident where the action of two people supported by a community in prayer really changed a people’s future. This little segment of the book shines out as a moment of good sense and courageous action.

2. Background to story

The story of Esther is set in the Persian Empire about five centuries before the birth of Jesus – in the reign of King Ahasuerus also known as Xerxes. This was a very powerful king reigning over a vast kingdom, which included Jews who were descendents of those taken into exile in this region a century or so earlier. We read of this king in party mode expecting his queen Vashti to comply with any of his wishes including displaying herself for the pleasure of his banquet guests. Her understandable yet culturally rebellious unwillingness to comply led to the king’s irrational anger, and an implied national threat to male dominance and control, and a concerted plan to replace the queen with another woman.

For all the indecency of this, it did open the opportunity for Esther to be pushed up as a potential queen through the efforts of her guardian Mordecai (who had assumed parental responsibilities for Esther following the death of her parents). Some commentators react critically of the way such a morally bankrupt system and Esther herself were used here, including the denial of Esther’s Jewish background, yet we might reckon that drastic times require drastic means, or that the ends justify the means, or that we gain nothing if we simply throw our hands in the air and choose to let things be. For example, council politics (or any politics) can be a very rugged business, but should we refuse to participate just because it has many deficiencies and corrupt dealings? With such a volatile and erratic king in power, Mordecai would have known that to have Esther as queen would one day provide great advantage.

Ultimately Esther won favour and became queen. Esther was also able to inform the king of a devious assassination plan against him that Mordecai had overheard and passed onto Esther. While there was no reward for Mordecai in the short term, when it became known later that it was Mordecai who had really saved the king, this saved his own life, and Mordecai subsequently became a high ranking official on the king’s staff. At the same time as Esther became queen, a man by the name of Haman was promoted and gained great influence over the king.

We read that Mordecai, who was initially some sort of royal attendant, refused to bow down to Haman as he passed by, which was a huge rebuff to Haman. Mordecai seems to so refuse to bow because Haman has descended from traditional enemies of the Jewish people. But it also could be that Mordecai knew that Haman was an evil man with selfish intent, undeserving of his respect. As a result, Haman, hearing that Mordecai was a Jew, launched a vengeful plot against all the Jewish people of the region. This plot was based on a personal and violent obsession stitched together with half-truths. This sent Mordecai into deep grief, mourning for the future of his people. Something had to done! In symbolic witness to this injustice, Mordecai tore up his clothes, then wore sackcloth and covered himself in ashes, and took up residence at the gate of the king’s palace.

3. Biblical Text

As we pick up the narrative in chapter 4, Esther had been living in her own secluded world in the king’s palace and thus had become distant and isolated from human affairs. She had not really gained any sense of the reason why she might have so incredibly become queen in the first place. Esther became aware of Mordecai’s brave and rebellious action of tearing up his clothes, wearing sackcloth and ashes (denoting great mourning), and wailing loudly at the entrance of the king’s palace, which no-one was permitted to do.

However all Esther could think of to do at this time was to try to minimise embarrassment and controversy by offering Mordecai some new clothes. Mordecai has made his stand – Esther is yet to! But she does investigate; and in this investigation makes such a significant discovery. There has been a vicious plot launched by an official named Haman, who has both fooled and bribed the king, which will lead to the destruction of all the Jewish people living in the region. Haman’s bitterness had derived from Mordecai’s prior refusal to bow down to him. Such was the evil in Haman’s heart that one singular piece of resentment would lead to a revengeful desire to destroy a whole people group. And according to Mordecai, it was she, Esther, that would have to foil this plot by making an appeal to the king (which would also involve revealing her own Jewish identity).

Esther now knew what was required of her, yet standing in the way was the threat of death … if she was so presumptuous to approach the king without having first been invited. As we read in chapter 4 and verse 11 – absolutely everyone knows that anyone who approaches the king inside of his inner court without invitation is definitely a ‘dead duck’! Here is a serious test for Esther’s availability and commitment to this challenge. The fact that she hasn’t been called into the king’s presence for the last thirty days suggests that this is not likely to happen anytime soon and that she may have even lost the king’s favour – Esther is in no position to wait with any confidence of being invited. And death is a serious threat against Esther here if she makes the first move. Esther understandably faces fear.

When Mordecai hears back word of Esther’s dilemma, he considers that Esther is at real risk of succumbing to her fear, and thus requires somewhat of a reality check. This plot of Haman is not a threat removed from Esther personally; it is not simply targeted at some other random group, it is directly pointed at her own people, and Esther herself will no doubt be caught up in it. Whereas Esther fears the mortal ramifications of approaching the king herself, she can’t remove herself from the larger threat of death hanging over her whole national community.

Secondly Mordecai points out that this is Esther’s moment! Even though “relief and deliverance will rise from another quarter” if Esther keeps silent (code for ‘God will find another way’), all that has led Esther to being in this place at this time points to the fact that this is indeed Esther’s moment to put up! We could say that God has placed Esther in this situation for this very important time in the lives of many people under extreme threat. The opportunity stands to be embraced or to be ignored! But to ignore it would bring its own personal consequences.

Esther now sees the truth of what Mordecai has said, and thereby stands committed to approaching the king and making a stand on this issue. But there is still the matter of the mortal threat for approaching the king, even for the queen. In the confidence of the rightness of the cause, Esther’s fear may have dissipated somewhat, but still of concern would be how Esther will be able to live long enough to make her case to the king?

And so Esther did the best thing she could possibly do in the complexity of these difficult circumstances. She ordered a fast. Esther said that Mordecai should gather all the Jews he could find and get them to abstain from eating and drinking for three days and nights. Esther and her staff would also fast over the same period. This fasting was the complete opposite of all the banqueting that had been going on, showing that there needed to be a serious reversal in national thinking. Esther was now on the front foot leading a campaign to undo the evil that had been unleashed on her people.

It would be normal and natural for these people to connect prayer with their fast, for they would now not be distracted by their partying from a singular and complete focus on God, seeking his wisdom for the matter at hand. Prayer customarily went hand-in-hand with fasting in times of sorrow, anxiety or repentance. As we read in verse 16, this was to be done on Esther’s behalf, so that Esther would know how to go about her mission, get her message to the king, and if possible survive the whole experience. Yet this prayer was not so much targeted at personal safety, but rather towards the action that would be required to change the king’s edict of destruction. Esther was now committed to such action (wherever this led) – she just needed to know she had back-up. Mordecai left his post to pass the word around about the fast, knowing that Esther had now firmly taken up the cause.

4. Significant Results

And the results were remarkable, which led to a complete reversal of outcome. Despite the fear of approaching the king, we read in chapter 5 and verse 2 that, “As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won his favour and he held out to her the golden sceptre that was in his hand” – which meant that she had permission to approach him; then the king went on to say, “What is it Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to half of my kingdom”. From there, Esther is able to get the king onside and demonstrate the evil injustice that Haman was seeking to perpetrate. A large and heavy door, as it were, had been opened.

At the same time, the king discovers that Mordecai was the one responsible for his earlier survival, and thus Mordecai receives the reward that Haman had expected for himself. Haman rightly suffers the indignity of having to lead the procession of praise toward Mordecai. Subsequently, Haman himself suffers death on the gallows that he had built specially for Mordecai. The Jewish people are saved.

In the following chapters there are many ethically dubious actions (carried out in the name of Esther), which include a complete lack of mercy and a very violent reprisal disproportionate to what might have been required, and I think we are entitled to look at these happenings with great shock and horror. We might interpret these happenings as the result of people resuming their banqueting (with all the attached excesses) and ceasing their fasting completely. These banquets in the Book of Esther basically represent the celebration of self-interest. In fact this book may be just as much about the problems and tragedy that occurs when the people don’t fast, as it is about the great outcome when they did actually fast!

This may serve to challenge (or even warn) us to maintain our prayerful focus on God even when we have seemed to have gained a great victory. So often we can take our relationship with God for granted, and regress back to our own agendas and our old nature when things seem easy.

5. Application to life

Sometimes it will be necessary for us to travel through an open door, that we have been encouraged to enter, even though we don’t know fully why or don’t know where it will lead. This of course will require good discernment, which is best found within prayerful Christian community.

Sometimes we might not know why we are in a certain position … why we have gained some level of influence or responsibility; it might just seem part of the mundane side of life. But we should try to work through deeper and higher reasons for where we are and consider where God might be in this. Before Esther understood the seriousness of the matter at hand, she just tried to stick a ‘band-aid’ over it by offering Mordecai some new clothes. But this would have been avoiding the issue, and missing the God-given opportunity to make a difference for good.

We have to understand as Esther had to understand, that our humanity is connected to the humanity of others – not just those in our family units or church congregations, but all of humanity – all those we interact with and live near, for our well-being in society is interlinked with the behaviour and decision-making and life situations of these. We will need some of these to give us a job or produce our food or provide good government. Some of these co-citizens may oppress or hurt us, which is so unfortunate and so anti-God; yet brings the challenge of addressing the societal issues that breed such behaviour.

And as followers of Jesus we will never escape our God-given responsibilities to make positive contributions to others in practical and spiritual ways … those close to us, those far away, and those seeking asylum amongst us. I personally feel so angry when I see the results of bullying, hear stories of problem gambling, or see evidence of animal cruelty, and at times feel so powerless to make any sort of impact in these areas. Yet I’ll explode if I don’t find a way to do at least something positive to help.

When Esther was convicted over the plight of her people and connected that up with her level of influence and responsibility, she finally knew that she had to do something, and started by calling for a fast … with a view to taking whatever action it turned out she could.

Just as Esther was chosen to make a difference here as the person best placed to do so, we are called to partner with God to bring about the outcomes that align with God’s will for the community and the world where we are best placed to do so … our family, our neighbourhood, and our places of study, work, recreation and worship. And some of us, like Mordecai firstly, then subsequently Esther, will need to be prepared to take the lead.

Yet it’s very difficult for any person, on their own, to make such a huge difference in society. In Esther’s case, the ground for change had been prepared by another … Mordecai. Mordecai had been alert to the possibility of his ward Esther gaining a place of influence and responsibility, and ushered and supported her into this role. This is a credible example to us, despite how we might feel about the cultural practices involved at the time. Mordecai was never deterred from taking the action that led to Esther’s own heroic activity.

Some of us will be preparing the way for others to more publicly make a difference. And let’s not forget the other partners to the success here … those who fasted (and prayed). These are the ones who put aside for a time their own needs and comforts, and focussed solely on the bigger issue of the future of the Jewish people in exile in a foreign and potentially hostile land and prayed concerning Esther’s role in saving them.

The results following Esther and Mordecai’s efforts were generally good, at least for the Jewish people involved, and they were certainly successful in undoing Haman’s evil intentions. Yet the results of our particular missions are always God’s business and often only seen with a broad vision. Our responsibility lies in embracing opportunities – walking through open doors, bashing on a few that appear closed (but just may not be), and standing against injustices of all kinds whatever the cost.

"From Trials to Triumphs" (James 1:1-4,12-18) Purpose Driven Series Sermon Five

(A) Previously …

1. God is the centre of the universe

2. We have been chosen by God to partner with him to right the world’s wrongs

3. We need to have Jesus in the driver’s seat of our lives

4. We need to live with the implications of eternity foremost in our mind;

and now …

5. We need to see our trials as opportunities for triumphs.

(B) The Nature of Trials

‘Trials’ are part of being human in this fallen world. Such trials are not a judgement against us – rather they are just things that happen as part of our journey of life. Bad things happen to good people just as much, if not more, as they do to people who only please themselves. Yet, we should never trivialise or generalise our suffering or the struggles of others, for such trials can truly be heart-breaking.

Having said this, as followers of Jesus, we should try to look at our trials differently, not just for the pain and difficulty they cause us, but also for what we might learn from them that strengthens us for the future, and also for what benefits they may bring to us spiritually in terms of our relationship with God and others. We may even come to see that we have actually gained a quality or an insight that would never have been possible prior to our testing.

Yet, this does not mean that tragedies are anything other than tragedies. Terrible things happen, and they are still terrible, regrettable and contrary to God’s will, even though God can still in time bring some good out of them. Abuse and violence is always wrong, and always derives from broken humanity and not from God.

When tragedy occurs, we can say for sure that God dwells in the midst of our suffering. Where one of God’s children is under a trial, God is never far away and always available to us. God offers us a measure of calm that quells the power of the threat against us.

‘Trials’ come in many forms. These are generally tests to our faith and our ability to cope with the challenges of life. Trials usually occur naturally as part our normal daily living. We know that as soon as humanity stepped out of the will of God things were going to get difficult. Of course we know that all is not lost, for, as we have already stated, God can use our trials and testings to strengthen us and grow us in maturity.

One definition of a ‘trial’ is, “a trying experience or person”, showing that particular incidents or interactions can cause us difficulty. We have heard people say that this or that or so and so was sent to test us!

I’ll now share the story of the unlucky bricklayer.

Another definition of the word ‘trial’ states: “testing the qualities of something”, which puts the existence of trials in a much more positive light. There is a purpose behind the onset of some ‘trials’. Just like our Christian lives, any new invention must go through rigorous testing before it reaches its final form or its full potential.

‘Trials’ would include very serious occurrences like: ill-health, loss and grief, unemployment, bullying and being a victim of violence, broken relationships, financial worries, loneliness, work issues, addictions, depression, hurt, and generally feeling time pressured by competing responsibilities. These could be seen as very personal trials, while there are also corporate trials where institutions or communities like churches feel the pressure of complex demands or hostility or external opposition.

Then there is the whole area of ‘temptation’. This is our internal inclination to sin or do the wrong thing (that in turn we need to bring under the control of God’s Spirit). To give in to temptation is to turn our back on God and decide that we would prefer to address our own desires in our own way. This normally turns out to be roundly destructive.

As we “repent” of such behaviour i.e. declare that what we did was wrong and commit to not repeating it, and thus seek and gain forgiveness, we can learn a very profound lesson that improves the quality of our lives, and then be better equipped for the next temptation or challenge that comes long.

Someone has said that a Christian is like a tea-bag – not much good until it has gone through hot water!

Whatever ‘ruins’ we might at times interpret our life to be in, God is available to bring something good out of this – not just something good, but something really beautiful.

"Something beautiful, something good,
All my confusion, [God] understood.
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife,
But [God] made something beautiful of my life."

(C) The Significance of Triumphs

Triumphs in life occur as we deal wisely and creatively with our trials. Triumphs occur as we are able to rise above the temporal and earthly to a higher plain of eternal meaning. Triumphs occur as we begin to see the positive side of the trials we face and thus learn all the lessons there are to be learned. Such triumphs can be unparalleled success stories.

The story is told of an ant who thought it a major imposition that he had been instructed to carry a long heavy piece of straw back to its nest, until he discovered that he needed to find a way to cross a major crack on the path in front of him!

A ‘triumph’ is defined as, a “great achievement”, or to “prevail over enemy, opposition or obstacles”, or to be in a “state of being victorious”. Yet, such triumphs might just be small, nearly invisible changes in attitude or thinking or behaviour that have nonetheless been very liberating and helpful. Your ‘triumph’ might have been a new empathy for others who are suffering as you have suffered. The one who endures their trials well can find themselves so mightily used by God in the service of other people who themselves are stuck in the mire of their troubles.

Have you got any stories of trials becoming triumphs to share with us??? Would anyone like to share briefly about how any trial (or temptation) you have endured may have turned into a triumph in your life (through God’s grace)? It could also be that your triumph over a particular trial is a work in progress, and you may like to share about this journey (possibly from the depths of some pain), and seek some support and prayer.

What is the greatest example of a triumph we could draw on?? Jesus’ resurrection!! Here was a case of an unjust and cruel torture and execution which was meant to end the cause of Jesus forever. Yet despite physical death, Jesus was raised to life. God said ‘No!’ to this attempted evil, and reshaped this whole event toward the salvation of the world. This was not only the greatest victory ever over the forces of evil, but also paved the way for the new life we experience having decided to follow Jesus.

As we read in 1 Peter 2:24, “[Jesus] himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed”. Then we read in 2 Timothy 2:11, “If we have died with Jesus [meaning that we have given up our old self], we will also live with Jesus”. This text then goes on, “If we endure, we will also reign with him” … now that’s a triumph!!!

Jesus not only is our primary example of triumph over trial and victory over defeat, but also is our primary source of understanding and empathy as he suffered much on the way to his ultimate vindication. In Hebrews 4 (v.15-16) we are encouraged to approach Jesus the ultimate source of grace and help in our time of need.

As this is Pentecost Sunday, we should also mention another major biblical example of trial becoming triumph. When Jesus was arrested, tried and crucified, Peter fled and even denied knowing Jesus. Such was the pressure, disappointment and fear Peter felt, that he completely lost his way. Yet through the restorative compassion and forgiveness of Jesus, and then the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter preached some seven weeks later with such passion and confidence that thousands committed their lives to the Jesus cause.

(D) The Way Forward – Endurance (James 1:3-4, 12)

Enduring our trials and working through our inclination toward temptation and coming through to the other side, brings us to maturity and completeness. And this is a goal that we should aspire to anyway – our character becoming conformed to the ideal model of Jesus.

It’s not suffering under testing circumstances in itself that helps us – for this would be pointless struggle that just arouses the human desire for survival. Nor is just a stoic grin-and-bear it type response going to help that much. It is the way in which we positively deal with such trials – what action we take – our commitment to following God through such trials – that actually strengthens us and helps us grow … so much so … that we can see ourselves lacking in nothing (nothing that is important anyway).

Endurance is staying power or perseverance, the energy and commitment to go beyond the first and second efforts. We decide not to passively submit to difficult circumstances, nor get bogged down in the ‘why questions’ that might never be satisfactorily answered, rather seek to deduce what we can learn from the situation we find ourselves in, and thereby grow in our human and Christian experience and in our usefulness to God.

There is a special place in God’s heart I think for the person who suffers and endures much (just because of what life hands out to them) and manages to find their way through. This person in their very selves is a triumph of God’s grace. There are many people here who are triumphs of God’s grace … for they have endured, and God has said a big ‘Yes’ to them!

Such a person has their roots grow deep into God, so that when any strong winds come along, even a hurricane, he or she will be able to maintain their position. The person who struggles under all sorts of pressure, but doesn’t hurt, oppress or make prisoners of others, truly receives what James describes as the “crown of life”. What form might this “crown of life” take? Is this the discovery of one’s ultimate (and unique) purpose in life??

Trials like loneliness and sorrow can be seen as gifts that drive us right to the very heart of God and actually increase our capacity for receiving God. Various trials can sharpen our sensitivities and understanding toward the situations of others and allow us to become greater agents of mercy for them.

For the one who is truly committed to endure – nothing can separate that person from the overflowing love of God (Romans 8:35-39) and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit … not hardship nor distress nor persecution nor hunger nor poverty nor danger nor violence. God can use all of life’s twists and turns to reshape us into more Christlike persons … if we let him! Every day, no matter how bad things appear, is another gift from God and an opportunity to grow closer to Jesus.

As author Ron Ash wrote:

"We are where we need to be and learning what we need to learn. Stay the course because the things we experience today will lead us to where [God] needs us to be tomorrow."

Amen!!

"Living with Eternity in Mind" (Hebrews 12:12-17) Purpose Driven Series Sermon Four

1. Introduction

In the first three sermons in this series we have been reminded that God (not ourselves) is the centre of the universe. To fight this principle and seek to put ourselves in the centre, so that everything around me is interpreted through my needs, will lead nowhere other than disappointment. But placing God in the rightful and central position connects me with my purpose in life, allowing me to see which of the various connecting jigsaw puzzle pieces I fulfil.

We saw that our presence on earth and our connection with our church community allows us to participate in God’s plans in our neighbourhood and the world in general. We have been called into significant roles for the benefit of others that will bring ultimate purpose to our own lives. However, if we are to fulfil such purpose, we are going to have to have Jesus in the driver’s seat – not the co-pilot’s seat, not the passenger seat, but the driver’s seat – where all the action is.

This all leads to a certain philosophy of life; far away from the carefree anything goes laissez-faire type lifestyle we see in the world; but also far away from the stressed out over-performing sort of life orientation at the other end of the spectrum. This is new life – the life of the resurrected Jesus lived out every day in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is where we put aside earthly success as a goal and give preference to our God-given purpose – our real reason for being.

For we cannot take our success into eternity; we can only take our character. Education and learning and high achievement in various areas, and lots of material resources, can be very encouraging and helpful to us in many ways, but will not get us anywhere, when it comes to admission to heaven. We can only take our character into eternity, character built on the basis of effectively following Jesus in life. Our character begins to be built anew upon our repentance and receiving the gift of the grace of God offered through Jesus, and having Jesus in the driver’s seat through the challenges that follow.

2. Our Eternal Quest

Because we are saved and our eternity is secure, sometimes this can make the Christian person way too comfortable and apathetic. The affairs of earth and the difficulties faced by other people can become very much removed from our vision … for we feel that we will be alright thank-you very much! But this is not the Christian life at all, not the Christian life as described in the New Testament. If we are sure about our eternal destiny, and that we are citizens of a heavenly kingdom, then this should raise our level of concern for others, especially those who have not found relationship and peace with their creator. The more certain we are, the more activist we should become!

A Story of a Man and his Dog

"A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. The man remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them. After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. The man and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?' 'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered. 'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' he asked. 'Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up. 'The man gestured, and the gate began to open. 'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveler asked. 'I'm sorry sir, but we don't accept pets. 'The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog. After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book. 'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?' 'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.' 'How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog. 'There should be a bowl by the pump,' said the man. They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, and then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree. 'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked. 'This is Heaven,' he answered. 'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.' 'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell.' 'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?', the traveler asked. 'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'"

Our surety of eternity should give us a higher level of concern for those without Jesus in their lives. Having become more concerned as such, then in turn we should become more concerned about the integrity of our witness … the intensity of our light. Do we actually present a good representation of God in our everyday living? Yes, we are only human and we can be forgiven after all – isn’t that enough? No, it isn’t! Are we actually seeking to grow in the image of Christ Jesus as the Bible recommends?

Let’s have a bit of a discussion! What do you think gets in the way of our spiritual growth and our effective witness??? And what can we do about these things??

Here are some ideas from me:
· Unforgiveness
· Bitterness
· Intolerance & hard-heartedness
· Tiredness
· Wavering ie. serving more than one master
· Lack of peace (cause by any one of above)

The writer to the Hebrews challenges us regarding these things. We can see here various implications if we don’t take seriously the importance of our daily walk with Jesus.

In Chapter 12 and Verse 14 we read again, as we do in so many passages in the Bible, of the importance of pursuing peace in all the interpersonal aspects of life. People are often selfish and abrasive, but this we should not be! Combined with this is the notion that the absence of a tangible and visible holiness in us will not only diminish our spirituality, but also mean that other people will not have the opportunity of seeing the Lord.

What does being “holy” mean?? Of course to be holy does not mean that holier-than-thou superior type attitude, but rather refers to being ‘set apart’ – being obviously and thoroughly given over to God – to belong to God first and foremost and completely. It is this ‘set-apartness’ or pure character that allows a person to really gain a vision of God, and for a vision of God to be seen in them.

Verse 15 begins with the words, “See to it”, which suggest a real oversight … a role of oversight over our field of influence and interest … investing real leadership into the lives of others. This ‘oversight’ targets no-one missing out on the grace of God.

We read here of the consequences of allowing bitterness to build. It not only leads to our own destruction, but also compromises the opportunity of others experiencing the grace of God. We can’t allow our feelings of woundedness (no matter how justified) to block the possibility of another experiencing forgiveness – our forgiveness and God’s forgiveness. Bitterness and unforgiveness and relational disconnection and any desire for revenge can only lead to what the Bible describes as defilement or corruption – the complete undoing of the human spirit. Bitterness is a poison that destroys all in its path.

3. An Eternal Mindset

So, if you knew today that tomorrow would be your last day on earth, what would you do to prepare for eternity?

We’ll listen to a song entitled “Live like you were dying”; and we can note words like … “I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter, and I gave forgiveness that I’d been denying”.

"Live Like You Were Dying"

(Written by Tim Nichols & Craig Wiseman; performed by Tim McGraw)

He said … I was in my early forties with a lot of life before me,
when a moment came that stopped me on a dime.
I spent most of the next days looking at the x-rays,
and talking ‘bout the options – and talking ‘bout sweet time.

I asked him when it sank in – that this might really be the end,
how’s it hit ya when you get that kind of news.
Man what’d you do? He said …

I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fumanchu.
And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
and I gave forgiveness I’d been denying.
And he said some day I hope you get the chance
to live like you were dying.

He said I was finally the husband that most the time I wasn’t,
And I became a friend a friend would like to have.
And all ‘a sudden going fishin’ – wasn’t such an imposition,
And I went three times that year I lost my dad.
Well I finally read the good book – and I took a good long hard look,
at what I’d do if I could do it all again … and then …

I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fumanchu.
And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
and I gave forgiveness I’d been denying.
And he said some day I hope you get the chance
to live like you were dying.

Like tomorrow was a gift,
and you’ve got eternity to think about what you’d do with it,
what did you do with it – what did I do with it
– what would I do with it?

… sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fumanchu.
Then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
and I watched an eagle as it was flying.
And he said some day I hope you get the chance
to live like you were dying.

So let’s live with some urgency about us. Let’s be known for the joy that comes from a relationship with Jesus. Let’s be active with our faith, rather than just seeing it as an insurance plan! When we live with eternity in mind, our values change – for what is uppermost in our mind is where our life is leading; and not just our life, but also the lives of all those living around us, all those living within the sphere of our influence. As we see in our Hebrews text, it is important for God’s people to live as God’s people; and to take our standards from God and not from the ungodly.

Verses 12 & 13 sound like a coach’s half-time address when our team is five goals behind! The coach might say, ‘Get your bodies over the ball and get it running our way’! Some within the team, or in this case, some within the church, may just have lost their energy levels or momentum which has affected the whole vision. This image depicts those who are spiritually paralyzed. They are urged to put things right and get moving. There may be real hurts, distractions, doubts or even fear involved, but the writer to the Hebrews is quick to remind us that there is a huge and important task to be addressed i.e. the number of people around us who have never had the chance to truly experience God in their lives (and thus their destiny is in doubt).

Last Monday night when Carlton played St.Kilda, Chris Judd, in being pushed to the ground, badly dislocated a finger. Now if that was me, I’d be quickly looking for a trainer and a strong anesthetic and a rest on the bench for the remainder of the game. But the great Chris Judd just put his finger right back in joint himself and got straight back into the play. In a way that’s the level of toughness we need in being followers of Jesus. Because for a lot of people their eternity is at stake! You don’t want anybody to miss the grace of God. We have to be actively about the business of helping people reconnect with God.

Of course many of our number from time to time will need support if they are going to be able to keep their eyes on the goal. This will be achieved through broad tangible loving practical care (much more so than just verbal correction). We are to be supporters of one another, cheering and helping each other on toward our combined victory!

[This mission of ours will always require us to quickly and continually repent of our own misdoing, so that we never lose touch with God, and so that we find ourselves fully free (of conscience) to engage with others, without guilt weighing us down or holding us back or restricting our effort.]

4. Making the right decision

This text provides the example of Esau as one who never found the “straight path” because of his poor decision-making. Despite being hungry, it still showed a thoughtless mindset, to give up his divinely ordained birthright for a single meal. This was an outward sign that Esau was not spiritually minded but rather taken up with the things of the here and now. This was a decision that could never be reversed, for it was too late. Despite a later desire to regain his father’s blessing, he could not escape the consequences of his earlier decision. Esau was not able to find a way to change what he had done earlier. The choice was made and the choice stands. Esau could have come back to God, but what he really wanted (his inheritance rights as firstborn son) he couldn’t recover.

This all reminds us dramatically about our need to be so closely tuned into God as to limit making bad decisions (sourced from improper priorities). There is a certain finality about each action we take. At the beginning of verse 16 we again (like verse 15) read “See to it” bringing forward that ‘oversight’ role again. We certainly don’t want to see anyone fall into the trap that Esau did. This is not what we would want for ourselves, and this is also not what we would want for anybody else. Whereas forgiveness still remains available to the repentant, we would want our families and neighbourhood spared from all the ongoing destructiveness that derives from selfish decision-making.

5. Conclusion

The small group discussion guide that is being followed through this series asks participants to think of someone they know who does not know Jesus – then imagine meeting them in heaven and hearing them say, ‘Thank you … I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you’.

How might this change the way we think??? Wouldn’t everyday interactions take on new meaning and significance! Wouldn’t the level at which we reflect the light of Jesus become more crucial!! Wouldn’t having more idea how to share the story of our faith be really important!

The Apostle Paul is so thoroughly our example here. Following all of Paul’s dangerous and successful missionary journeys, he found himself under house arrest in Rome. He must have known his days were numbered. Yet we find him still on the job sharing the Gospel. The very last two verses of the Book of Acts read that Paul, “… welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance”. Paul continued to touch people with the Gospel because he cared about them and how their eternity would look – all out of his love for God.

"The Motherly Care of God" (Psalm 121)

Life can seem very difficult and complex at times. When we look at our own situations, or the situations other family members are in, or just at the world in general, we can easily have a sense of dread. This is where Psalm 121 has its context.

Possibly the psalmist was in exile, removed from familiar places, unable to worship as he had been previously in the habit of; unable to sense any hope, or any factor that could change the situation for the better. Perhaps the psalmist was just lost in the complexity of life.

Psalm 121 commences with a question that expresses the feelings and concerns we have just considered. The good news is that the rest of the psalm answers this question.

The psalmist it seems has thrown his hands into the air and raised his head to the sky, and then looked about filled with exasperation. This is what life can do. How many parents, how many mothers, can relate to this level of desperation when they feel ill-equipped or too tired to
respond to their child’s need, with so much hanging on their response! How often people who have lost their job would feel such disappointment and frustration! Here in verse 1 we have a needy soul desperately looking for help in a difficult situation.

Sometimes, when the situation is so grave, we are not too fussy where the help might come from. It is suggested of this psalm that the very idea of raising one’s eyes “to the hills”, suggests a cry for help from any available source, even if this be one of the false religions that existed where the people of Israel lived. Sometimes we will look for answers in the wrong places, and certainly our young people can be prone to seek guidance from places where there is simply no light to be found.

Yet, despite the deep level of exasperation expressed at the beginning, no sooner than the question is put, just about in the same breath, the answer – the one true answer, comes back to the psalmist’s mind! There was a quick ‘ah hah’ moment – he already knew what to do!! Whenever we have a problem, we should go to the One True Living God – the Creator of everything, the God of Israel and the God who sent his Son Jesus to save the whole world.

This is how it might go down. “I am at my wits end … I am without answers … what shall I do? I know! I know!! My help will come from the Lord who made heaven and earth and me. Now this is a very mature response, especially as it came so quickly and decisively. It may not have come so quickly and decisively once upon a time, but fortunately it does now. This psalmist has learnt well. This is the sort of maturity that people need to consciously desire and progressively develop … that leads them to such instant and decisive common sense responses.

This wasn’t a bad question at verse one, just very human. Life can be quite hard, especially for parents bringing up children, or any of us dealing with loss or change, and we are going to get frustrated and tired and scared and feel short on resources – and we are going to cry out for support. The part of this which is so instructive is how quickly the psalmist realised that help was close at hand. Christians (followers of Jesus), will be seen to be growing in maturity as they are able to immediately recognise the ultimate source of help … and go there!

Now often God will choose to bring us help through the hands and feet and mouths of our fellow life travellers, most effectively through those who have the same orientation to God as we have. Thus maintaining our fellowship within our Church community will be important and life-giving. But ultimately God is the source of all good resolutions to our problem areas. We can be assured of this. Then there is a release of anxiety. Trust grows. Experiencing joy is possible again.

Let’s now look at some of the ways God cares for all of us. Of course, just like there needs to be a level of maturity that quickly knows where our ultimate source of help comes from, there needs to be a willingness to allow God to fulfil these types of roles in our life. God does not force himself on us. God’s love, mercy and help are offers to be taken up! So in times of apprehension, we first acknowledge who God is for us, and then say ‘yes’ to what God is offering to bring into our lives.

(1) A Good Foundation (verse 3)

God will help us build our life on a firm foundation from which we will not be easily moved. Our lives will be built upon the rock, and our home will be known for serving the Lord. We have good behavioural boundaries that mean that we are helpful, reliable, caring, loving, sensitive people who are always interested in the welfare of others. We have strong inbuilt attitudes that can only benefit our community and world and never harm it. No matter how strong the winds blow, our house will not be blown down – for a careful building process has been undertaken, with God as architect, Jesus as project manager and the Holy Spirit as building inspector.

(2) A Constant Watch (verse 4)

Apparently giraffes only sleep between 10 minutes and 2 hours per day. Now just one night as sleep deprived as that and I could hardly function. But being able to survive well with just an hour or so of sleep per day would mean that giraffes are very good observers of what is going on around them – they would be specialists in seeing what was happening while others slept. God, of course, never sleeps. God chooses not to sleep, nor even to take a cat-nap, nor indulge in forty winks, so that he can watch over us.

Lighthouses protect ships as they travel close to coastlines at night. I sometimes think of God as a lighthouse, high on the hill, shedding light onto dark places, so that the danger involved in my life will be minimised. But God is not just high on a hill, but also close-by as my constant companion. I think of the celebrities who when they go out in public have a couple of bodyguards or security personnel accompanying them. Often you can’t see them but they’re close by and vigilant nonetheless. We know that the guards protecting the US president have to be prepared to take the bullet aimed at the one they’re protecting. Doesn’t that remind us of Jesus’ commitment to us! G. Campbell Morgan wrote that God keeps his children safe in “the faithfulness of his tender vigil”. This ‘watching over us’ is never oppressive (nor even controlling), but rather tender and loving.

And God does not easily let us go once we have turned our heart to him. There are various references in this psalm to God “keeping” us or being our “keeper”. God wants to so much keep us as his children. This not like a ‘zoo-keeper’ who ‘keeps’ us in a cage, but God does offer us defining boundaries and protective fences within which we can live. God offers this benevolently and in our best interests. This of course remains a matter of choice for us. We might want to escape from God’s view for any number of reasons, and we can decide to go off track in our own direction, but because of the special interest God has developed in us, it is so very difficult for God to let go of us.

(3) Provision for Completing Life’s Tasks (verse 5)

When working hard out in the hot sun, God can provide what is most needed, a little bit of shade, just to make the toil a little easier. The help we receive in our daily responsibilities is personal, wise and immediate. Before the words ‘help me Lord’ are out of our mouth, in some form or another God is there. Especially when you are well out of your comfort zone, as a parent, at work, or in serving God amongst others, God provides remarkably and brings about good outcomes. God is there opening and closing doors, so that we find ourselves in the places of blessing. God has always got plenty of time to offer to us to our benefit, as long as we don’t start wasting that precious time on trivialities.

(4) Protection against Adverse Conditions (verse 6)

In the day that this psalm was written, it was believed that harmful influences came from the moon. So here is also a promise of protection from the power of adverse influences, whether this be from known or unknown dangers. God is constantly seeking our good; this is not a promise of a cushioned carefree existence (as we well know), but rather brings the opportunity of a well prepared life – a life ready to face and cope with any impending ‘dark valleys’.

(5) A Defence against the Negative Energy of Evil (verse 7)

God well knows the overpowering forces of violence that exist in the world. As the insulation in our house protects us from the rages of heat and cold, our general daily sense of peace and well-being needs to be insulated from any outside evil! God hugs us tightly, most especially concerned for the inner life of our soul. God does not want evil to touch us so that we lose our joy and become distrustful or bitter or removed from active social interaction. God wants to preserve our human worth and dignity.

(6) Guidance over our Passage through Life (verse 8)

God and his guidance is available to us in all times and all places – all of “our going out and our coming in”; from our home base, out into the affairs of life, back home again – God is with us all the way. Ultimately our relationship with God is a matter of our freewill, but God seeks to be involved, and once involved … is fully involved in all our ventures and enterprises.

So we emerge from this psalm with such a confidence in God. God draws deeply into the difficult circumstances and challenges of our lives, and we discover him helping us. Our response can only be worship! When we accept God’s invitation of his company, God will not be passive where we find ourselves in need. God is continually advancing forward toward developing a living relationship with us.