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A Tribute to Godly Moms May 10, 2009
Mother's Day 09 - A
Tribute to Godly Moms
Colossians 3:15-20
Introduction: Whether your kids are preschool, elementary aged,
teenagers, college students, or adults raising their own families, you
know that sometimes being a mother can be very trying. Motherhood
is rewarding, but hard work. It is easy to become a mother. But often
the responsibility that comes with having children is not fully
understood. Parents have a serious responsibility in raising their
children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord as Ephesians 6:4
states. That verse is addressed to fathers and teaches that the father
is responsible for the spiritual teaching in his home. The mother of
course has a vital role also, and often fathers shirk their
responsibilities and it is the mother who teaches their children.
Children face serious problems in our general society and
sadly there is little difference among professing Christians. One
real problem for children is divorce. The national rate of divorce
is 33% and a Barna group survey found 32 % percent of those
Christians who say they are "born again" have been divorced.
Working against Christians is the very real influence of
society. TV, video games, the liberal public education and agenda
of the gay-lesbians present a life destroying influence on our
children.
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A Tribute to Godly Moms May 10, 2009
My reason for pointing this out is that today is Mother's
Day, a day in which we honor our mothers. It should also be a day
in which we as a church try and help our mothers fulfill their God
given responsibilities. Mothers need God instruction to help
them in raising their children. A mother who listens to God's
word and follows His teachings will be rewarded and their
children will be greatly blessed.
We can do this by sharing with you, from God's word, a
tribute to several godly mothers that are recorded by God in the
Bible. Let's examine the lives and problems of some of the
mothers in the Bible. God does not just mention them in passing,
but they are given as examples to us all to learn the way of God.
Colossians, we'll gain some encouragement and learn how the
rest of us can honor and help you.
I. Problems for Godly Moms.
A. Eve, Given to Temptation and Mother of a Murderer
(Gen. 3-4).
1. Most of us are very familiar with the Genesis account
of the Fall of man when sin entered the world. Eve ate
the forbidden fruit from "the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil" and she then shared it with Adam and he
sinned too.
2. It seems that Adam was not that different from
modern men because in Genesis 3:12, when God asked
him what happened, he said, "The woman whom You
gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."
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A Tribute to Godly Moms May 10, 2009
He laid all the blame on his wife ignoring his
responsibility in the matter.
3. In chapter 4, we learn that she bore two sons, Cain
and Able. Like any good mother she loved both of her
children.
4. Imagine how she felt when she learned the tragedy
that Cain had murdered his brother Able out of
jealousy. She surely must have understood that because
she disobeyed God she was ultimately responsible for
sin which caused her son to murder his brother. The
Bible makes it clear that this murder was a result of the
sin that has entered the world through human pride,
rebellion, & greed.
5. From Genesis 3-4, we learn that mothers give birth to
their children in an imperfect, flawed, and tragic world,
which threatens children and where children grow up
with the temptation to threaten and destroy each
other.
6. I think the lesson is clear that mothers should believe
God and obey His instructions to us. John states, "For
this is the love of God, that we keep his
commandments: and his commandments are not
grievous." (1 John 5:3)
If a mother truly loves her children the first and the
most blessed thing she can do is be a Godly…a Bible
believing mother. If a mother believes and follows
Jesus Christ she can be a good influence with her
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A Tribute to Godly Moms May 10, 2009
children. God says of the virtuous woman of Proverbs
31, "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her
husband also, and he praises her." (Proverbs 31:28)
B. Hagar, was an abused woman who was abandoned. (Gen.
21).
1. Geneses 16 describes how Abraham, the father of the
Jews, had a wife named Sarah who was barren and past
childbearing years. She mistakenly wanted to help God
fulfill His promise to her husband so she gave him her
Egyptian servant-girl, Hagar as a concubine, a woman
to bear him children. Hagar bore a fine son named
Ishmael, who became the father of the Arab nations.
2. Chapter 21, describes how afterward God
miraculously gave Sarah a son named Isaac, she didn't
want Hagar and Ishmael hanging around any longer.
She abused Hagar and had Abraham send them away.
3. Hagar left their camp with her young son and
traveled through the middle of a burning desert south
of Beersheba in the wilderness of Judea. She was
trying to go back to Egypt; but wasn't going to make it.
Most of all, she was very concerned about her son,
Ishmael.
4. The bread was gone, the water skin was empty. She
had placed her child under a bush so she wouldn't have
to watch him die. Hagar sat down at a distance and
waited for death.
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A Tribute to Godly Moms May 10, 2009
5. Then Genesis 21:17 says "God heard the voice of the
lad." and sent an "angel" to reassure her of His great
promises (vv.17-18). He then provided "a well of water."
6. Many mothers for different causes find themselves in
desperate situations. It may or may be their fault, but
the truth is God is still calling and reaching out to
exhausted, despondent and abused mothers today. His
voice is still filled with hope. We can still say, "God has
heard the cry of your children. Don't give up. Don't
abandon Him. Look there is a well, there is food, there
is living water and the bread of life."
7. The message is, no matter what one's past or
circumstance, a mother can believe and put her trust in
God's promises. She can receive forgiveness of sin and
eternal life. She can begin a new life because God is the
God of new beginnings. The world offers nothing but a
temporal solution to one's problems, but God offers a
real one. Faith in Him, and following His instructions, is
the only hope for real change and success. He can be a
mother's strength.
C. Jochebed was a desperate and deliberate mother.
(Exodus 2).
1. In this chapter that describes the birth of the great
leader Moses, we do not see his mother's name listed
there. It is found in the genealogies (6:20 & Num.
26:59).
2. Jochebed had a tremendous problem. The boy babies
of her people were being drowned in the Nile River by a
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A Tribute to Godly Moms May 10, 2009
cruel and oppressive government. That is not unlike
our modern godless government and society and
education system that teaches children they are simply
biological accidents and not the special creation of God.
3. When her son was born, she hid him for 3 months,
until he was too old to be hidden any longer. In
desperation she conceived of a plan. She made a basket
bulrushes which she daubed it with tar and pitch.
4. Jochebed, put her son in this basket in the edge of
the river and sent her older daughter, Miriam to watch
"at a distance."
5. The daughter of the Pharaoh came down to bathe
and saw that little basket floating in the reeds. She had
one of her maids bring the child to her. Moses' real
mother was hired to nurse him (up to 7 years old).
(sometimes it feels like that is all we’re doing for our
children is nursing them while the “world” raises them!)
6. Moses grew up in Pharaoh's palace. He grew up in
the luxury and splendor of the greatest empire of the
ancient world. But from his real mother he learned
faith and his true identity with the people of God.
7. When he came of age, Moses left the wealth, power,
and ease of Egypt and returned to the oppressed
people of the God (cf. Heb. 11:24-26).
8. You cannot explain Moses' actions or understand the
contributions of his life apart from the story of his
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mother, Jochebed did not give up, but rather she kept
her faith and used her creative imagination, taught her
child and even got paid for doing it.
D. Mary, Fearful and Faithful (Luke 1).
1. Mary was told by an angel an amazing message, that
the Holy Spirit would conceive in her the Messiah.
When she heard this message, she obediently
proclaimed, "Let it be to me according to your word."
Dear mothers, her response was the result of her faith
in God. God wanted to a godly mother to bring the Lord
Jesus into the world. Mary, because of her faith and
faithfulness, was able to be that mother. She was asked
to make a great sacrifice, but she believed and trusted
God. Her trust in God made her understand that
whatever God asked of her was the best thing for her.
2. How many mothers, among profession Christians,
really do not believe God. Mary could not have been
the Lord's earthly mother if she would not have been
faithful to the Lord. God could not have used her if she
had not truly believed and obeyed the Lord.
3. Her example should speak to every mother with the
message of faith and faithfulness. The Roman Catholic
have perverted the who and what Mary was and how
God used her, but the truth is clear from the words of
her cousin Elizabeth, "And blessed is she that believed:
for there shall be a performance of those things which
were told her from the Lord." (Luke 1:45) Mary's reply
reveals her heart as Luke 1:46-54.
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II. Encouragement for God mothers.
A. First, let God's peace rule in your life. (v.15).
1. Notice the important word "let." "Let" means it can
happen if you will "let" it happen. You must actively
choose to "let the peace of God rule in your hearts."
2. God rules in the world. He is sovereign, in control.
However, He does not rule our "hearts" until we "let"
Him.
3. Moms, what rules your hearts? Fear, frustration,
anxiety, anger, apathy? Are the trials of life
overpowering you? Let the peace of Christ give you
inner guidance in keeping priorities straight and in
giving you the wisdom you need.
4. Hold on to your faith. Trust the Lord who upholds
and sustains you and let His inner peace give you inner
strength and inspiration. There will be many
distractions and temptations to abandon your faith and
give up and give in to the world.
5. Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Be careful for nothing; but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known unto God. And the
peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians
4:6-7)
B. Second, learn and obey God's word (v.16).
1. Again, moms, we must "LET the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom." Do you spend time
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studying, meditating on and memorizing the Word?
When problems arise where do you seek advice and
counsel? We have God's word to guide us in every
situation. The scripture we study today may tomorrow
be the very instruction we need. The principles of God
that are mediated on this week will be your strength in
a time of need in the future. The sermon or Bible study
you hear at this church is not given simply by chance,
but is given as God directs your pastor and Sunday
School teacher. For hours each week God's word is
taught here. Are you availing yourself of what God has
provided?
2. Some said, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the
world." You have such a profound influence on the lives
of your children, even your grown children. Let that
influence come from the inerrant Word of God!
3. Notice that the "Word" is to "dwell in your richly."
This means "abundantly or extravagantly." Don't settle
for a passing knowledge of Scripture. Don't be satisfied
with only a cursory knowledge of God's word. Your
children's faith may depend on your grasp of the Word!
4. The "Word" is to "dwell in you... in all wisdom." You
don't need just knowledge about the Bible, you need
the wisdom of the Bible? What do you do when you
don't know what to do? Open the book!
5. Notice how you are to teach and admonish your
children "through psalms and hymns and spiritual
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A Tribute to Godly Moms May 10, 2009
songs." Even if you can't sing a lick, they'll hear the
"grace in your heart."
C. Third, make the commitment to live God's plan (v.17).
1. Moms, "what ever you do in word or deed..." whether
it something you say or something you do, "do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus."
2. Don't ever let anyone say to you that what you are
doing doesn't matter! The greatest accomplishment of
your life is to raise up godly children.
3. Pray for God to work out His plan in your children's
lives and guide them in it.
4. Also, always "be giving thanks to the Lord." Let your
life be an offering in expression of gratitude & praise.
III. Support for Godly Moms.
A. A Word for Husbands (v.19).
1. You are to "love" your wives. The word for love used
here means unconditional, non-judgmental, sacrificial
love. You are not to be "bitter" towards them. There is
a specific warning here about harshness, which means
not just physical brutality but also a cold, judgmental
attitude. Don't call her "honey" and then treat her like
she’s lemon juice!
2. Husbands your job is to support you wife and help
her fulfill her duties. Too often the father is a hindrance
to mothers. Too many husbands have abdicated all
spiritual responsibility to their wives. They leave family
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devotions up to their wife. The kids go to church only if
the mother insists.
3. Many mothers are exasperated because their
husbands have no interest in leading their families.
Their husbands are too lazy or disinterested to act as
godly, biblical men.
B. A Word for Children (v.20).
1. The Bible says children are to "obey your parents IN
ALL THINGS." Why? Because your parents must answer
to God not only for their lives, but yours as well.
2. Obedience to your mother, children, honoring her no
matter how old you are is "well pleasing to the Lord."
Conclusion:
1. What a wonderful privilege and responsibility that
mother's have to bring children into this world. The wise
woman will first make herself right with the Lord and by
believing God's word and receiving Jesus Christ as her Savior
in faith.
2. Then as a child of God, she will accept her God given role
and raise her children to believe and honor the Lord in their
lives. Often mothers and fathers seek material success and
advantages for their children. But dear friends, the most
important thing you can give you children is a Bible
believing, God honoring home to be brought up in.
3. How much do you really love you children? Do you love
them enough to disciple them, to bring them to church
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require them to attend services? Do you love them enough
to teach them God's word? Do you love them enough to live
a godly life before them?
4. Will your children think of you as the virtuous woman of
Proverbs 31:28-29 says, "Her children arise up, and call her
blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many
daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them
all." (Proverbs 31:28-29)
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