Welcome to the Pearls from the Word program. My name is Miisu Piipari -
and today we're talking about influencing the society.
First of all the passage we're starting from is 1 John chapter 5, verse 12.
"He who has the Son has life; -
he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
The Greek word used for life here is zoe, -
which means an abundant and blessed life.
It's wise to look for and to want such life -
that is in connection with Jesus, the Son of God, -
because then we can enjoy a blessed, abundant life, -
and God can raise us up and teach us.
It says in Isaiah 11:2 that above God there is the spirit of wisdom.
So it's wise to listen to what God wants us to do.
It says in Proverbs 9:10 that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
When we look at the Bible and the way Jesus taught, -
He told a lot of stories, examples and parables.
He taught so that the teachings stuck in people's minds, -
and there was a lot of hidden wisdom in those stories.
Let's see what happened in the book of Esther and the story of Mordecai.
In the Old Testament, book of Esther we meet Mordecai -
who was of the tribe of Benjamin and a great influencer in the society.
He lived in Persia and had been brought into exile from Jerusalem.
Mordecai had adopted the daughter of his uncle, Esther, -
who was left without her parents. Her parents had died.
When we talk about Mordecai as an influencer in the society -
we must see how it happened.
You'll notice that Mordecai wanted to have an influence in the matters.
Already in the beginning of the story we see that he didn't just stand by -
when his niece was left orphan and was suffering, -
but he did something, made things right and offered her a safe home.
Mordecai also revealed a conspiracy against the king Ahasuerus.
It was about the wonderful story of Esther -
and how she became the main wife of king Ahasuerus.
Ahasuerus asked young women from different places to come -
to the court and wanted to meet them after they had been treated for a year.
On those days women's beauty was treated for a year. Sounds great, right?
After that the king chose a suitable wife for himself.
He was especially pleased with Esther. While Esther was at the castle, -
Mordecai often came there to find out how she was.
He came to the gates and courts of the king's castle.
Mordecai often spent time at the gates of the castle -
and while there he happened to hear two gatekeepers talk against the king.
They were upset with the king about something and wanted to hurt him.
Mordecai heard this and told it to Esther, who told it to the king.
So the conspiracy was revealed and the king was of course happy.
In those days it also happened -
that Ahasuerus promoted prince Haman above all the princes.
Haman was an Amalekite and Mordecai was a Jew.
The king had ordered everyone to bow down and pay homage to Haman.
I don't think Mordecai had anything against paying normal respect, -
but there was a spiritual battle going on in the background, -
because Mordecai said the reason he didn't bow down to Haman -
nor paid homage to him was that he was Jewish.
It might be hard for us to understand it without knowing the background.
Moses had a big battle against the Amalekites.
It says in Exodus chapter 17 verse 16: -
"...for he said, 'Because the Lord has sworn: -
the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.'"
This was there in the background and I'm sure Mordecai knew it.
He refused to bow down in front of Haman, and Haman got angry.
Because Mordecai had said the reason was he was a Jew, -
Haman of course started to harbour thoughts of revenge against the Jews.
If we look at this from the point of view of influencing the society, -
Mordecai really had a tendency to make a difference.
He didn't just stand by and watch but wanted to change things.
When he noticed something was wrong he really wanted -
to make a difference and tried to influence the matters.
Why am I talking about this? Because of the time we're living in.
I feel God wants to raise influencers in Finland.
Let this story speak to you. Ask what the Holy Spirit wants to say -
because so often we just stand by when something wrong happens -
but don't lift up our voices or make a difference.
Mordecai certainly refused to compromise in front of his God.
He refused to do something he felt was wrong, -
to bow down in front of Haman the Amalekite.
He wanted to respect his God by doing what he felt was right.
I don't think it was any kind of a political protest -
but it was about the spiritual background of the matter.
Mordecai also didn't stand idle in front of great terror.
One reason why we don't do things is that fear paralyzes us.
You probably remember from the book of Esther -
that Haman ordered the whole Jewish people to be destroyed.
Mordecai managed to get the word about this to Esther -
and Esther had to fast for three days -
and asked all the Jews to fast and pray for her.
First Esther appealed to Mordecai and asked if he understood -
that if she went uninvited in front of the king -
and the king didn't point her with his scepter, she would die.
So Esther approached the king from her own initiative which meant -
she might die, but Mordecai refused to fall into wrong pity.
He reminded Esther of her position and said -
that even if she thought she was protected as the king's favourite wife -
and that the problem wouldn't concern her, it did, because she was Jewish -
even though at that point she hadn't yet revealed her background -
because Mordecai adviced her so. So let's see what happened.
Let's see what Mordecai did. As I said he never stood idle.
Let's read from the book of Esther, chapter 4, verses 1-9.
"When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes -
and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city.
He cried out with a loud and bitter cry.
He went as far as the front of the king’s gate, -
for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth."
As an influencer in the society he went to the market place -
and raised his voice. He didn't care what other people might think.
If we move this into the present day, think of what you could do.
You could raise your voice in the social media about something that is wrong.
It might be the position of single parents or how the elderly are treated.
He continued long enough for someone to pay attention.
He went to the king's gate until someone came to ask him.
"And in every province where the king’s command and decree arrived, -
there was great mourning among the Jews, -
with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes."
Sackcloth was as sign of deep sorrow and mourning.
"So Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her, -
and the queen was deeply distressed. Then she sent garments -
to clothe Mordecai and take his sackcloth away from him, -
but he would not accept them."
So Mordecai refused to compromise in this matter.
He showed his sorrow, fear and horror publicly in a powerful way.
Esther couldn't persuade him to keep quiet.
"Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs -
whom he had appointed to attend her, and she gave him a command -
concerning Mordecai, to learn what and why this was. So Hathach went -
out to Mordecai in the city square that was in front of the king’s gate.
And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, -
and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay -
into the king’s treasuries to destroy the Jews.
He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, -
which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther -
and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king -
to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people.
So Hathach returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai."
So Mordecai refused to give up.
He raised his voice and demanded attention as long as he got it -
in spite of what people might think of his outfit.
And Mordecai wasn't afraid to talk frankly about things.
He really said to Esther: "Who do you think you are?
This is also your problem even if you have a good position at the court."
He refused to go into wrong pity. Sometimes it's so important -
that we say things the way they are even if it causes sorrow to others -
because there is life in the God-given truth.
That of course requires wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
The consequence of all this was that Esther took action, -
and we know that the story had a happy end.
It want to share these words because I believe it's important.
Mordecai said to Esther these famous words: -
"Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom -
for such a time as this?"
We know from 1 Peter 2:9 that we are a holy nation, a royal priesthood.
We have a royal position in the kingdom of Heaven.
Who knows if you have gained a royal position in front of God -
for such a time as this, so that you would make a difference -
and God's will could happen through you?
So if you passionately desire wisdom, search for it in the fear of the Lord, -
respect His will and have the courage to trust God more than people.
Don't compromise for wrong pity or under fear, but rise and shine.
Don't care about the fear of man or people's opinion.
Care about what God wants you to do. Rise, shine and be courageous.
To end with I want to share Psalms chapter 111, verse 10.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; -
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments."
For verily we need the fear of the Lord and His encouragement -
also to have the courage to get up. Amen.
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English translation: Anni Lähteenmäki / TV7