How should I train my children in this time?
Notes
Transcript
Lee - What do I teach my children?
As we look around us today:
Pandemic
Economy
Protest
Satan wants us to feel alone and without promise to trust, but life for others in the past has changed even more than what we are experiencing now for others. God helped them to successfully navigate their situations.
We just read about a young girl, we don’t how old she was but young enough that she could not care for herself, raised by her older cousin and became a father to her.
She was taken from her home
Her parents died
She was taken as a candidate for the next queen
King was not a moral man - the previous queen was, in practise divorced - she was isolated away from the royal estate, because she would not shew her beauty before the king’s high officials
The king’s advisor, Haman, sought her cousin, Mordecai’s life
Through this decree Haman would seek to kill every Jew, including Esther
Yet, God used Mordecai to instill in Esther character and modelled a spirit that God would use to save His people.
Mordecai was a Christian and the spirit about him that drew his adopted daughter to follow.
Mordecai taught faithfulness
Mordecai taught faithfulness
And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
Every day Mordecai would go to the court to find out how Esther was doing
Certainly news of this reached Esther
She knew Mordecai was faithful, and that she could rely upon his steadfastness
Faithfulness is a learn character trait that parents need to instill
The Bible doesn’t tell us whether or not Mordecai agreed with the command, his situation, or all that happened under king Ahasuerus’ (A-has-u-ere-us) reign
He was faithful in the situation he was placed in
Parents what we do in this time is an opportunity to express God’s faithfulness to us back to Him!
Our hearts are endeared to God through His faithfulness during the difficult seasons of life
Let’s express that faithfulness to our faithful God!
This requires no talent or skill of our own!
Mordecai taught obedience
Mordecai taught obedience
Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
One of the great lessons Esther learned was obedience
Obedience is following the instruction and completing the instruction fully
Esther learned the importance of obedience and this obedience gave opportunity to speak to her husband, the king, for the life of God’s people
Every parent desires for their child to obey
This is a learned tool that needs exampled
Parents, your life is being examined by your children. They are watching to see how you will react to the instruction given and they take careful notes on what you choose to obey
Mordecai did right
Mordecai did right
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 hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name. 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.
Mordecai had some reason to gain from the assassination plot on the king
Esther would be free from the marriage
There was a likelihood of more freedoms or benefits afforded to them as Jews
There were reasons Mordecai could have used to justify turning a blind eye to the plot on the king’s life
However, Mordecai choose to do right
He told it to Esther and Esther in turn did right to expose the plot
Parents, do right - whether or not we agree or whether or not this may be viewed as an opportunity to get “our way”; we need to choose to do right
James 4:17
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
As we learn what is right, we need to do it.
Mordecai took a stand
Mordecai took a stand
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. 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. Then the king’s servants, which were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment? 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. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. 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.
The word bow - means to bend the knee in worship
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Mordecai knew that there was only One worthy to worship, the Lord God
God’s grace helps us to take a stand for right
Doing right is not always easy, but is always right.
Mordecai knew God
Mordecai knew God
And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day. The 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.
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; And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. 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.
Mordecai and many Jews knew where to turn in this dire situation. All Jews were to be killed.
They sought the Lord!
Mordecai knew how to pray, he had a walk with the Lord, and Esther saw this exampled
Need to be taught to Esther, she knew passion of Mordecai’s walk with God and recognised this as her own
Luk 24:32
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Parents our hearts need to burn with passion for our great God!