Mordecai: Recap

This is a recap of the Mordecai series that I wrote for our Men's Group; when I was praying about what to do, the Lord kept bringing the Book of Esther to me. “Really Lord? That's a book women love! I'm praying about the MEN'S Group!” He told me to focus on Mordecai so reluctantly, I did. Well, once again, He was right & a book I once wrote off has now become one of my absolute favorites in applying it to my Christian walk.

7 Attributes of Mordecai

#1 = A Man of Responsibility

Esther 2:7 "And Mordecai had brought up (āman = to support, foster- father/mother, pillars/supporters of the door) Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took (lāqaḥ = to take in the hand, carry along, to lead) her as his own daughter."

We tied it into this verse:

James 1:27 “Religion (thrēskeia = religious worship/discipline) that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit (episkeptomai = to look upon or after, have care for, provide for) orphans (orphanos = of those bereft of a father/parents, bereft of a teacher, guide, guardian) and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

The Bible defines orphans as those that not only have lost their biological parents, but also those who have no mentor, no guide in life, etc. How does this apply to your family/church family/community? Are there “orphans” in your sphere of influence who need fathers/father figures/mentors/teachers? Are you taking responsibility for being a positive example to those around you (examples: serving in your fellowship, in faith, in worship, etc)?

#2 = Man of Love & Compassion

Esther 2:11 “And Mordecai walked every day (yôm = time, period) before the court of the women's house, to know (yāḏaʿ = perceive & see) how Esther did, and what should become (ʿāśâ = to be produced) of her.”

Four kinds of love in the Bible:

agape = divine love,

phileo = brotherly love

storge = family love,

eros = physical/sensual

Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort (parakaleō = to encourage, strengthen, instruct, teach) one another daily (kata = through out) (hekastos = each, every) (hēmera = the space of twenty four hours), while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

The Early Church met single every day… in person, in groups… to encourage each other & this was so important the writer of Hebrews used three different words to emphasize this point. Also look at Acts Chapter 2 for references to meeting daily.

How do we truly love & care about others (other men, church family, neighborhood, community, city, county, etc) as Mordecai did & as Jesus commanded us to?

#3 = A Man Planted

Esther 2:19 “and when the virgins were gathered together a second time, [then] Mordecai sat (yāšaḇ = to be set) within the king’s gate (sa'ar = marketplace, public meeting place).”

- Mordecai was exactly where God wanted/needed him to be

- Mordecai was doing exactly what God wanted/needed him to do

Be Planted in your Community

Be Planted in your Fellowship

Be Planted in the Word

- be sure of where you're supposed to be ministry-wise in your fellowship

- there are positions for ministry (greeting, tech, security), find your place

- there are opportunities for ministry outside of the fellowship (food trucks, booths at schools, building homes, homeless shelters, etc), volunteer!

#4 = A Man of Wisdom

Esther 2:10, 20 “Esther had not showed (nāḡaḏ = tell, announce, declare) her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not show it.”

Mordecai knew this information [that Esther was a Jew] would have maximum impact at the right time & advised her accordingly.

Ecclesiastes 3:7b “… a time to be keep silence (ḥāšâ = quiet, still, inactive) a time to speak (dāḇar = to converse)”

James 3:13 “Who is wise (sophos = learned, of Jewish theologians, of Christian teachers) and understanding (epistēmōn = experienced) among you? Let them show (deiknyō = to show by words or teach) it by their good life (anastrophē = manner of life, conduct, behavior), by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”

Every fellowship should be connecting w/ every generation & the older I get, the more I'm trying to connect w/ those who have battle scars, who've been through a few things, who've walked the path before me & can help me navigate the rough waters.

I Corinthians 1:24 “But unto them which are called (klētos = divinely selected & appointed), both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power (dynamis = moral power, excellence of soul, influence) of God, and the wisdom (sophia = the act of always giving the sagest advice, the wisdom of God as evinced in forming and executing counsels in the formation & government of the world & the scriptures) of God.”

I want you to see this about Christ:

- the power of God

- the wisdom of God

Here's the cool thing: He's in us (Colossians 1:27).

I Corinthians 1:30 “and because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom (sophia) from God...”

James 1:5 “if any of you lacks wisdom (sophia), let him ask of God, who gives generously (didōmi = to supply necessary things, give forth from one's self)”

#5 = A Man who Bowed Not but Stood

Esther 3:2 “And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed (kāraʿ = kneel in reverence), and reverenced (šāḥâ = to bow down before a superior in homage, to bow before God in worship, to bow before false gods) Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed (kāraʿ) not, nor did him reverence (šāḥâ).”

QUESTION:

- Why did Mordecai “honor” the king but not Haman?

ANSWER(S):

- Haman was an Amelakite, they were enemies of the Jews

- Haman wanted what amounted to 'worship' & Mordecai refused

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

We DO NOT:

- BOW to our enemy/enemies in any way, shape, form or area!

- GIVE worship to anyone but God the Father & God the Son

- GIVE the enemy anything but hell

Ephesians 4:26 – 27

“Be angry, and do not sin': do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give (didōmi = to grant, let have) place (topos = opportunity, power) to the devil”

This is a great verse, look at the Greek words used here = grant/opportunity or have/power, to the enemy.

DISCUSS:

How do we practically apply this verse in our Christian walk?

Ephesians 6:11

“Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand (histēmi = to stand in the presence of others, to cause a person or a thing to keep his place) against the wiles (methodeia = deceit, craft, trickery) of the devil.”

Ephesians 6:13

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (histēmi)”

These Ephesian verses deal w/ us as Christians standing, keeping our place & not bowing to the enemy nor giving him any place in any area of our lives, not bowing to them (much like the example of Mordecai 2500 years ago).

#6 = A Man of Perception

Esther 4:1 “When Mordecai perceived (yāḏaʿ = to perceive, discern) 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 voice and a bitter cry”.

Mordecai “perceived” the situation, not that someone told him what had been issued or like before in the natural when he overheard the plot against the king, but he “perceived” in his spirit something was wrong.

John 4:19 “The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive (theōreō = to view mentally, to discern) that thou art a prophet.”

The woman “perceived” that Jesus was a prophet. Note that these two instances took place before Acts 2; as men of God we're filled with the Spirit, perception (seeing beyond the natural) should be normal for us.

I John 3:17 “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth (theōreō) his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love (agapē) of God in him?”

The word theōreō comes from the root word horaō = to see with the mind.

#7 = A Man of Choice & Powerful Words

Esther 4:14 “and who knoweth (yāḏaʿ) whether thou art come (nāḡaʿ = to touch, reach, strike) to the kingdom (malḵûṯ = royal/sovereign power, dominion, realm from the word mālaḵ = to become king/queen, reign) for such a time as this (zō'ṯ = now, in this place)?”

Look at the choice words that Mordecai used in inspiring Esther: words of war, words of offense (not defense), words of a militant/purpose-driven nature:

reach, strike… sovereign power, dominion... reign… now, in this place

Imagine how these words stirred Esther, imagine how that inspired her. As men of God, our words should be choice words, inspired by the Spirit for the specific situation, person or tribe we are speaking to: words of power, words of challenge.

Our words contain incredible power, use them wisely (Proverbs 18:21)

We were born in this time/era/nation for a reason (Jeremiah 1:5, Acts 13:36)

We are to live/operate/manifest the Kingdom of God/His name (John 17:6)

We are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9)

We have the victory (1 Cor 15:57, 1 John 5:4)

All authority has been given us (Luke 9:1, 10:19)