The Magnitude of Motherhood
Abounding Grace Christian Church “Moms make the Difference!” I. Introduction: Today, we want to celebrate motherhood in a special way. As we do this, I realize that Mother’s Day can carry with it many different kinds of emotions. Some don’t know what it’s like to have had a good mother and so this can be a hurtful time. Others, perhaps, have lost their mother to death, making this a very painful time. Whatever your situation is, however, I believe God wants to minister to you this morning in a special way. Christian mothers are probably the world’s greatest asset – the greatest human influence. Mothers are “the prime kingdom-builders, chief soul-molders, conspicuous character-constructors, & the foremost recruiting agents for the eternal realms above!” (Lockyer) HUMOR II. Motherhood has Always been under Attack. A. Satan's first attack on the human race began with a future mom. “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?’” – Genesis 3:1 Destroy the parents and you destroy the human race! A godly mom however can destroy the enemy! B. In the Garden, our adversary, Satan, first went after the woman to destroy her. Her name, Eve, meant; “enliven” and “life-spring” because as the writer states she was “The mother of all living”. Genesis 3:20. God gave women the honor of bearing a new life in their womb. Motherhood is the highest position for any woman. 1. A shift happened in America since WWII. More women went to work outside the home because of the lack of men to fill positions. This didn’t change when the war was over. This affected greatly how children were raised. III. Being a good parent today is not an easy task! The job is made harder by the various enemies of the family unit: A. Drugs and alcohol. B. Busy lives of each family member with separate interests. C. Family life ridiculed by the media, especially traditional family life and the traditional values taught in Scripture. D. The extreme feminist movement and their ridicule of the role of motherhood. E. The fact that many parents work full time jobs and have children too. IV. The Incredible Influence of Moms. A. They Instill Values in their Children. 1. Values are the principles, standards, and qualities which we consider worthwhile and desirable. As Christians we determine our values from God’s Word. 2. The Bible commands us to pass on our values to the next generation. Genesis 18:17-19; Deuteronomy 4:8-9; Deuteronomy 6:5-9. 3. Some Biblical Values to pass on to Children: a. Fear of God – Proverbs 1:7, 29; Proverbs 3:7-8. b. Love for the Word of God – Psalm 119:9-11, 47-48. c. Personal Integrity – Proverbs 11:3 d. Work Ethic - I Timothy 5:8. e. Moral Purity – I Corinthians 10:1-11. f. Respect for Authority – Ephesians 6:1-3; Romans 13:1-4; I Timothy 5:17. Pastor Jay Stillinger – May 14, 2017
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g. Sacrificial Living – I John 3:16. h. The Sanctity of Human Life – Psalm 139:13-16. i. Rejection of Racism – Galatians 3:28; Acts 17:25-26. j. Distinct Purpose to Life – Psalm 139:13-16; Acts 20:24. k. Consequences to Actions – Galatians 6:7-8. V. A Mother is to be Honored! Exodus 20:12 (Amplified Good) “Regard (treat with honor, due obedience, and courtesy) your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land the Lord your God gives you.” A. We go all the way back to the commandments and find it as the 5th thing God lays out in the big 10! B. The New Testament plainly declares it’s still for us as well. Ephesians.6:2. (Deuteronomy 5:16) “Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother--this is the first commandment with a promise - That all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth. ” Ephesians 6:2,3 – Amplified. C. “Honor” - “To attach weight to, to put in the place of superiority; to hold in high opinion; to reverence in the best sense of that word; to treat with dignity.” 1. Some of the Jews were rebuked for not doing this. Mark 7:9-13 “He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. "For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' "But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"; ' (that is, a gift to God), "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, "making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do." 2. In the last days, one characteristic of people will be “disobedient to parents.” II Timothy 3:1-5 a. To disobey parents is to treat them with dishonor. To “dishonor” means; “to treat as common”; “ordinary”, or “menial”. A stronger version of it is “to treat shamefully”, or “to humiliate.” 3. When we don’t honor whom God says honor, we are not honoring God! Matthew 10:40-42. “He who gives honour to you gives honour to me; and he who gives honour to me gives honour to him who sent me.” Verse 40 - Bible in Basic English a. Others we’re to Honor, according to the Word. 1) We’re to Honor God. I Samuel 2:30; Psalm 96:6; Proverbs 3:9; Mark 6:2-4. 2) We’re to Honor Civil Authorities. Romans 13:3-7. 3) We’re to Honor Social Authorities. (I.e. employers, teachers, coaches, etc.) I Timothy 6:1. 4) We’re to Honor Christian Spiritual Leaders. I Thessalonians 5:12,13; I Timothy5:17,18. 5) Husbands are COMMANDED to honor their wives. I Peter 3:7.
Pastor Jay Stillinger – May 14, 2017
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a) Practical ways of honoring our wives (and women in general): i. By realizing that all women are special and deserve respect. ii. By being careful in the tone we talk to them in. iii. By recognizing them as our equals. iv. By not demeaning them. v. By saying “thank you”. vi. By being faithful to whatever vows we have made to them. vii. By accepting them the way Jesus did. 4. Two examples of those who dishonored a parent. a. Ham dishonored Noah. Genesis 9:18-27. b. Absalom dishonored David. II Samuel 15 1) Resentment can prompt a child to dishonor their parent. Don’t allow someone else’s wrong behavior to affect you. 5. Remember there are blessings for those who honor their mother (and father). Ephesians 6:2,3 a. “That it may be well with you…” – The word “well” means; “prosperous”; “blessed”; “to have good done to you”. b. “…and you may live long on the earth.” 6. There are warnings to those who do not honor their parents. Proverbs 1:8 - …do not forsake the law of your mother. Proverbs 10:1 - …a foolish son is the grief of his mother. Proverbs 15:20 - … a foolish man despises his mother. Proverbs 19:26 - He who … chases away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. Proverbs 28:24 - Whoever robs his father or his mother, And says, "It is no transgression," The same is companion to a destroyer. Proverbs 29:15 - The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Proverbs 20:20 - Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness. Proverbs 30:17 - The eye that mocks his father, And scorns obedience to his mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it. 7. Practical ways minor children honor their mothers: a. By doing what is right in the sight of God. b. By doing things she asks you to do at home. (E.g. Clean room) c. By the way you speak and answer her. d. By recognizing that she often pays for the mistakes and wrong decisions you make in life. 8. Practical ways adult children honor their mothers: a. By recognizing that now is the time to give back to her. b. By paying rent if you still live with her. c. By helping her whenever she needs it, and sometimes when she doesn’t think she does. d. By calling regularly, or sending a note. “Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.” Proverbs 23:22 Pastor Jay Stillinger – May 14, 2017
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g. Sacrificial Living – I John 3:16. h. The Sanctity of Human Life – Psalm 139:13-16. i. Rejection of Racism – Galatians 3:28; Acts 17:25-26. j. Distinct Purpose to Life – Psalm 139:13-16; Acts 20:24. k. Consequences to Actions – Galatians 6:7-8. V. A Mother is to be Honored! Exodus 20:12 (Amplified Good) “Regard (treat with honor, due obedience, and courtesy) your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land the Lord your God gives you.” A. We go all the way back to the commandments and find it as the 5th thing God lays out in the big 10! B. The New Testament plainly declares it’s still for us as well. Ephesians.6:2. (Deuteronomy 5:16) “Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother--this is the first commandment with a promise - That all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth. ” Ephesians 6:2,3 – Amplified. C. “Honor” - “To attach weight to, to put in the place of superiority; to hold in high opinion; to reverence in the best sense of that word; to treat with dignity.” 1. Some of the Jews were rebuked for not doing this. Mark 7:9-13 “He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. "For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' "But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"; ' (that is, a gift to God), "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, "making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do." 2. In the last days, one characteristic of people will be “disobedient to parents.” II Timothy 3:1-5 a. To disobey parents is to treat them with dishonor. To “dishonor” means; “to treat as common”; “ordinary”, or “menial”. A stronger version of it is “to treat shamefully”, or “to humiliate.” 3. When we don’t honor whom God says honor, we are not honoring God! Matthew 10:40-42. “He who gives honour to you gives honour to me; and he who gives honour to me gives honour to him who sent me.” Verse 40 - Bible in Basic English a. Others we’re to Honor, according to the Word. 1) We’re to Honor God. I Samuel 2:30; Psalm 96:6; Proverbs 3:9; Mark 6:2-4. 2) We’re to Honor Civil Authorities. Romans 13:3-7. 3) We’re to Honor Social Authorities. (I.e. employers, teachers, coaches, etc.) I Timothy 6:1. 4) We’re to Honor Christian Spiritual Leaders. I Thessalonians 5:12,13; I Timothy5:17,18. 5) Husbands are COMMANDED to honor their wives. I Peter 3:7.
Pastor Jay Stillinger – May 14, 2017
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a) Practical ways of honoring our wives (and women in general): i. By realizing that all women are special and deserve respect. ii. By being careful in the tone we talk to them in. iii. By recognizing them as our equals. iv. By not demeaning them. v. By saying “thank you”. vi. By being faithful to whatever vows we have made to them. vii. By accepting them the way Jesus did. 4. Two examples of those who dishonored a parent. a. Ham dishonored Noah. Genesis 9:18-27. b. Absalom dishonored David. II Samuel 15 1) Resentment can prompt a child to dishonor their parent. Don’t allow someone else’s wrong behavior to affect you. 5. Remember there are blessings for those who honor their mother (and father). Ephesians 6:2,3 a. “That it may be well with you…” – The word “well” means; “prosperous”; “blessed”; “to have good done to you”. b. “…and you may live long on the earth.” 6. There are warnings to those who do not honor their parents. Proverbs 1:8 - …do not forsake the law of your mother. Proverbs 10:1 - …a foolish son is the grief of his mother. Proverbs 15:20 - … a foolish man despises his mother. Proverbs 19:26 - He who … chases away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. Proverbs 28:24 - Whoever robs his father or his mother, And says, "It is no transgression," The same is companion to a destroyer. Proverbs 29:15 - The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Proverbs 20:20 - Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness. Proverbs 30:17 - The eye that mocks his father, And scorns obedience to his mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it. 7. Practical ways minor children honor their mothers: a. By doing what is right in the sight of God. b. By doing things she asks you to do at home. (E.g. Clean room) c. By the way you speak and answer her. d. By recognizing that she often pays for the mistakes and wrong decisions you make in life. 8. Practical ways adult children honor their mothers: a. By recognizing that now is the time to give back to her. b. By paying rent if you still live with her. c. By helping her whenever she needs it, and sometimes when she doesn’t think she does. d. By calling regularly, or sending a note. “Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.” Proverbs 23:22 Pastor Jay Stillinger – May 14, 2017
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