A Mother's Tears

Pastor’s Bible Class Thomas Road Baptist Church

Mother’s Day Dr. Elmer Towns

A Mother’s Tears May 13, 2007

A. INTRODUCTION

1. A mother’s tears: nothing so tender, so convicting, so touching and so powerful. Why?

- Because mothers are more tender and gentle than any others

- Because mothers care deeper than any others

- Because all life comes from mothers

- Because mothers have great hopes for the family

- Because mothers are more remarkable

-­ Because mothers reflect God’s love to us

2. Mothers shed tears of joy when they share happiness with their husbands and children.

3. Many children who could not be reached with spankings or punishment are changed with mother’s tears.

4. Weeping is the result of a sinful world, "A time to weep" (Ecc. 3:4). God knows so He created tear ducts.

5. Mothers pray and weep over their children more than any others. "And she (Hannah) was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore" (I Sam. 1:10). If mothers didn’t pray over their family, who would?

B. WHAT CAN WE KNOW ABOUT TEARS?

1. Temporary. "Weeping many endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Ps. 30:5).

2. Discouragement. Jesus said to the woman with a dead son, "Weep not" (Luke 7:13).

3. Different degrees of tears. "Wept very sore" (Ezra 10:1). "Wept bitterly" (Matt. 26:75).

4. Release of emotions. "Paul said to them, ’What mean ye to weep and break mine heart?’" (Acts 21:13).

5. Physical pain (involuntary diversion), "Let not thy soul spare for his (physical) crying" Prov. 19:18).

6. Loss. "Why weepest thou?" (John 20:13). "Mary . . . goeth into the grave to weep there" (John 11:31).

7. Desperation. "He also will hear their cry" (Ps. 145:19).

8. Facing danger. Robbery, storm, etc. "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself." - F. D. Roosevelt

9. Tears of joy. "With joy unspeakable" (I Peter 1:8). "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest" (Ecc. 9:9).

C. WHAT TO DO ABOUT TEARS

1. Realize that God knows, "The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth and delivereth them" (Ps. 34:17).

2. Don’t quit, keep doing right, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing" (Ps. 126:6).

3. Remember the example of Jesus, and weep for the right reasons. "Jesus wept" (John 11:35). Why Did Jesus weep?

-­ His natural love for Lazarus (John 11:5).

- Identify with Mary and Martha (John 11:21, 32).

-­ The unbelief of His disciples (John 11:16)

-­ The hardness of the Jews (John 11:46).

-­ Satan’s temporary victory

4. Look through your difficulty to see God’s plan and purpose. "Weep not" (Luke 7:13).

5. Get encouragement from family and friends. "Weep with them that weep" (Rom. 12:15).

6. Realize it won’t last for long or forever. "Weeping many endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Ps. 30:5).

7. Look for points of joy in the night. "In the night his song shall be with me" (Ps. 42:8). "God my maker, who giveth songs in the night" (Job 35:10).

8. Learn to pray about it and look for God’s deliverance. "Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh" (Luke 6:21).

9. It’s alright to weep. Jesus wept, so did most others in scriptures.

10. There is coming a day when we will have no more tears. "No more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain" (Rev. 21:4).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.