Series: All Nations & All Generations
May 10, 2015
Moms in All Generations
Generation after generation after generation, the need for the blessing of
a mother remains.
Picture of Dad’s family
Picture of Josie & Dolly
Picture of Hazel Crank & Dolly
Picture of Mom & Grandma
Picture of Mom with Grandma & two siblings
Picture of Jimbo, Mom & Me
Picture of Mary, Mom, Sharon and me in Philippines
Picture of Randy & Sharon
Picture of Anna & Sharon
Psalm 68:6 - God places the lonely in families…
Following up on our message from last Sunday –
The Next Generation is often the Unrecognized Mission Field
Throughout the Bible there is a strong emphasis on each generation
passing the blessings of God on to the next generation – This places a
responsibility on all generations.
If we recognize that we are called to pass this faith along to “the next
generation” – then those here who still consider yourselves in “the next
generation” you must be open and willing to receive from those who
have gone before you!
There is an emphasis throughout the Bible of the faith being passed from
one generation to another – Sometimes the generation passing it down
did well – other times they did not –
Sometimes the generation that was receiving the pass did well – other
times they did not –
Each generation has an obligation to pass the faith to the next –
and each generation has an obligation to receive this faith from
their predecessors!
Moms are key to this –
Deuteronomy 11:18-21 - So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these
words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead
as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you
are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed
and when you are getting up. Write them on the doorposts of your house
and on your gates, so that as long as the sky remains above the earth,
you and your children may flourish …
Dads can do this – but often Moms are more likely to. Dads need to …
look for opportunity … force opportunity …. But often Mom has more
natural opportunity –
Often Mom is doing more of the getting ready in the morning … dropping
the kids off at school or day care … staying home with the kids …
teaching the kids at home … reading the Bible stories at bedtime …
If you have a living mom today – especially if you are still young and
under her influence – you need to respect her, place yourself under her
influence and receive from her influence – as long as she is following
and teaching the ways of the Lord. She deserves your respect either way
– but if she is trying to pass the faith along to you – you have an
obligation to receive it – and respect her all the more!
This is the two-way street – the Bible tells us to pass the faith along to
the next generation – but the next generation must receive it – and Mom
is key to this – Dad is too – but this is Mother’s Day!
Prop: How do godly moms pass the faith on to the next
generation?
T.S.: 8 Godly Moms in Scripture show us 8 ways:
1. A Godly Mom Redeems Her Mistakes
Genesis 3:20 - Then the man—Adam—named his wife Eve, because
she would be the mother of all who live.
This comes right after the Fall …
Next chapter – Cain and Abel …
Genesis 4:25-26 - Adam had sexual relations with his wife again, and
she gave birth to another son. She named him Seth, for she said, “God
has granted me another son in place of Abel, whom Cain killed.” When
Seth grew up, he had a son and named him Enosh. At that time people
first began to worship the LORD by name.
This doesn’t tell us much – But Eve recognized this as a second chance.
She had two sons – one went bad – the bad one killed the good one –
How would any Mom feel? The bad one is still loved – but had to leave –
she is alone – a mother who has lost both her children –
God gave her another – and he grew up, had a son – and people began
to worship the Lord by name –
Mom – you made some mistakes – we all have. Maybe your kids haven’t
turned out the way you thought – maybe life hasn’t turned out the way
you thought –
But in this business of passing the faith along to the next generation – we
don’t give up because we’ve made mistakes – because God doesn’t give
up on us. God gives us more opportunities!
Eve put her mistakes behind her – she took advantage of the additional
opportunity God gave her – and people began to worship the Lord by
name!
Where have you messed up? Confess it and receive forgiveness –
Hardest thing: “I can’t forgive myself” – Some can’t bring themselves to
admit mistakes – some can’t forgives themselves –
If Christ has forgiven you, who are you not to forgive yourself?
Realize along with our first mama, that Godly Moms redeem their
mistakes – they realize God is the God of second chances – This is
something our kids notice – and by our receiving God’s grace for our
own mistakes, the next generation can not only learn from our mistakes,
but learn how to receive God’s grace when they make their own
mistakes!
2. A Godly Mom Doesn’t Play Favorites
Sarah – unique situation, but she was part of the problem …
Rebekah – Jacob favorite – played him against Esau – divided the family
If there is a cardinal sin of child-rearing, this is it! You can hide this from
everyone … grandparents, church people – except the kids! They know!
What happens when you play favorites with your kids?
-
You affect the attitude of the favored child – snobbish – not just
in the family, but with others –
You affect the self-confidence and self-worth of the child not
favored …
In a situation like Isaac and Rebekah, the children then became a wedge
between the parents – the children became more important to the
parents than their own relationship … That often leads to divorce –
No doubt the favoritism of the parents contributed to the sibling rivalry
between the boys. Sibling rivalry can happen naturally due to unknown
and unexplainable circumstances, but when there is favoritism shown,
this problem will increase!
In “How to Raise Children that Love the Lord”, Dr. James Dobson says in
order to minimize the natural antagonism which children feel for their
siblings, the “first step is to avoid circumstances which compare them
unfavorably with each other.” The root of all feelings of inferiority is
comparison – The question is not, “How am I doing?” It becomes, “How
am I doing compared with John, or Steven, or Marion?”
The issue is not how fast can I run, but who crosses the finish line first. A
boy does not care how tall he is; he is vitally interested in “who is tallest.”
Each child measures themselves against their peers and is very
sensitive to this inside the family. The parents cannot contribute to this.
Parents must guard against comparative statements which favor one
child over another.
- Physical attractiveness
- Intelligence
- Athletic ability
In one family an 8 year old beat his 9 year old brother in a race –
The 9 year old wrote this note: “Dear Jim: I am the greatest and you’re
the badest. And I can beat everybody in a race and you can’t beat
anybody in a race. I’m the smartest and you’re the dumbest. I’m the best
sport player and you’re the badest sport player. And your also a hog. I
can beat anybody up. And that’s the truth. And that’s the end of this
story. Yours truly, Richard”
Godly moms are sensitive to this and they don’t make it worse.
(ILL) - Jimbo beating me up on the basketball court …
Rivalry is there – it doesn’t need our help.
Sarah and Rebekah - these women were imperfect – like we all are –
and like Eve, the show us the need to receive God’s grace in our lives.
If we’ve made mistakes – fess up! Ask for forgiveness – and move on!
3. A Godly Mom Pours Out Her Soul in Prayer
Hannah –
1st Samuel 1:9-16 - Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up
and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside
the entrance of the Tabernacle. Hannah was in deep anguish, crying
bitterly as she prayed to the LORD. And she made this vow: “O LORD of
Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer
and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for
his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the
LORD, his hair will never be cut.”
As she was praying to the LORD, Eli watched her. Seeing her lips
moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. “Must
you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!”
“Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything
stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to
the LORD. Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying
out of great anguish and sorrow.”
Hannah poured out her soul – The word for soul here refers to appetite –
hunger – It is referring to that part of us that craves –
What made Adam different from the rest of creation – God breathed … a
living soul … God has put spiritual desire within every human being. The
Bible promises that when our souls long after Him, we will be satisfied!
Hannah had bitterness in her soul. Just like the priests had to pour the
blood of the animals out on the altar, she had to pour the bitterness of
her soul out to God before He could fill her.
We have to pour out the bitterness of our souls to God in order to receive
what He has for us!
Moms – you can be a tremendous influence upon your kids, and pass
the faith along to them, as you pour out your soul to God in prayer!
Don’t hold onto bitterness. Don’t hold onto grudges. Don’t fail to forgive.
Don’t hold on to jealousy. Pour it all out. Be a woman of prayer, so that
God can pour great things into your life and the lives of your children!
4. A Godly Mom’s Influence Extends Beyond Blood
Story of Naomi …
She loved those girls like her own daughters – she wanted what was
best for them – She put their welfare above hers – even though they
were not her blood children –
A godly woman will strive to have her influence go beyond her blood
children –
- Adopted children
- Taking children into her home
- Influence the lives of her kids friends
- Accepting the people that her children marry as her own
- Influencing the next generation in the church – being a godly
mom and influence to younger women in the church …
Naomi had even more influence on Ruth – she really did become her
daughter and Naomi made sure that Ruth was taken care of for life – but
for that to happen – Ruth – the next generation – had to put herself in a
position to receive from the older generation –
5. A Godly Mom will be Loyal to the Godly
Generation Before Her
Ruth 1:14-18 - And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her
mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi. “Look,” Naomi
said to her, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her
gods. You should do the same.”
But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back.
Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will
be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die,
and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow
anything but death to separate us!” When Naomi saw that Ruth was
determined to go with her, she said nothing more.
Mom – are you going to expect the next generation to honor you, if you
are not honoring the generation that has gone before you and is ahead
of you?
We reap what we sow!
6. A Godly Mom Pursues Righteous Obedience
Luke 1:6 - Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful
to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations.
Righteousness – it is a gift –
Romans 3:23 –
Romans 6:23 –
God gives us righteousness as a gift, but we maintain that gift by
endeavoring to obey God. We make it our pursuit to obey the commands
of the Lord –
Love the Lord … and your neighbor as yourself –
Moms that do that have a profound influence on the next generation –
they set an example and a pattern for others to follow. We go our own
way, it leads to destruction – We follow God’s plan and pattern, we live in
obedience to Him – we find blessing and give our children a better
chance at living in God’s blessing –
John the Baptist sure did! Elizabeth’s obedience led to her son being a
man of God who paved the way for the Messiah! What can your son or
daughter become because of your obedience?
7. A Godly Mom Finds God’s Favor in Submission
Luke 1:26-38 - Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything
you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Mary being the mother of the Messiah was only for Mary – but Mary is
not the only woman who can find favor with God.
You can find favor with God – as a mother – as a woman – as a man –
as a father – as a son – as a daughter – as a follower of God –
You can find favor with God when you submit your will to God’s will.
God knew this would be Mary’s reaction. He knew her heart. He chose
her.
He can choose us for greatness and great things when He knows we will
submit to His will!
This is the attitude of Christ Himself –
Luke 22:42 - “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering
away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Philippians 2:5-11 - You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus
had.
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as
something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took
the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he
appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and
died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the
place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on
earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Just like Mary – and just like Jesus – we can find God’s favor in
submission.
8. A Godly Mom Shares Her Faith
2nd Timothy 1:5 - I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith
that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I
know that same faith continues strong in you.
Grk for faith – persuasion … moral conviction (of … truth, or the
truthfulness of God …), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation;
… constancy in such profession…—assurance, belief, believe, faith,
fidelity.
It started with the grandmother – went to the mother – eventually went to
Timothy – who became a pastor and an elder in the second generation
of Christianity –
Genuine faith – these women had it – and they passed it on from
generation to generation – so that all nations and all generations might
know the truth of Christ for salvation.
We need to share our faith – godly Moms need to share their faith – and
their first mission field is their knees when their children sit upon them.
All of these characteristics are not just for Mom – Mom can lead the way
– Mom can be an example – but this is what the Church should be to the
next generation – and the next generation must receive.
When a church plants another church it is called a “Mother Church” –
Our church needs to be a mother to the next generation –
Concl: How do we pass the faith on to the next generation? Next
generation – what should you be receiving from us?
- Redeeming our mistakes
- Not playing favorites
- Pouring out our souls in prayer
- Influence extending beyond blood
- Loyal to the godly generation before us
- Pursuing righteous obedience
- Finding God’s favor in submission
- Sharing our faith