Genuine Faith; Going God's Way

May 11, 2002

Mothers Day

Morning Service

Text: 2 Timothy 1:5; Proverbs 3:5-6

Subject: Divine Guidance

Title: Genuine Faith, Going God’s Way

Happy Mothers Day!

Mothers are a gift from God. How many of you know that were it not for your mother, you wouldn’t be here today. Moms have a special way of bringing out the best in their children don’t they? It’s too bad that we don’t always live up to the standards that moms attribute to their kids. For mothers tend to think that their children are the best and can do no wrong.

That, of course, is Mom’s thinking when she is telling others about her children. We also know that no one ever wants to incur mom’s wrath. There has never been any series of words that are more spine tingling than to hear your full name called out by a mother who has just found out about your most recent oopsie. Didn’t you ever wonder how they did that? You thought you had cleverly covered your tracks so well that even Sherlock Holmes couldn’t figure out whodunit. But somehow the great detective, your mother, broke the case wide open and now you have been accused, tried, and sentenced with the sound of those words, Dennis Michael Rickman, get in here right now!

For many of you the legacy your mother gave you is more than just an earthly relationship with one who loves you. For many Mother was the beginning of your walk with the Lord. Maybe you had a "drug" problem. Every Sunday morning you were drug to Sunday School and church. You were drug back again on Sunday night. You were drug once more on Wednesday. Thank God for mothers who inflict that kind of drug abuse on their children.

Moms, you have influence over your children. The things you teach them, as children will revisit you in your old age. The spiritual lessons you hand down will equip them for living the Christian life. You can’t make them live it but you can prepare them for it.

2 Timothy 1:5, "I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also."

The genuine faith Paul speaks of here is a faith that was handed down through the generations to Timothy. It was saving faith and it was the faith to rely on God in every situation that might come his way. Proverbs 3:5,6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

That’s the kind of faith that was handed down to Timothy.

That is the kind of faith that believers today need to have. Let’s dissect this passage and see what we can gather from it.

I. God provides guidance. The Hebrew word translated "trust" actually refers to a refuge - a place you can go to be confident, bold, or sure.

Where is that place that Proverbs tells us to go to?

In the Lord! Trust in the Lord. Psalm 32:8, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye." For the Christian this passage has special meaning. Jesus said, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." But it is not an automatic. Only when you seek guidance will you find it. "In the Lord’. On his second missionary journey Paul wanted to travel to Ephesus, a center for occult activity, and the Holy Spirit said, "No!" Ephesus wasn’t ready for the gospel yet. Later, Paul wanted to travel eastward in to Asia. Again the Holy Spirit said "No!" Why? Paul was to go the other direction, into Europe. The vision of the man from Macedonia confirmed it. The Holy Spirit was guiding Paul because he sought guidance. Remember last week when I told you about yellow and red lights in the spirit? In order to receive those you have to be receptive to the Spirit.

"With all your heart." If you have given your heart to Jesus Christ He now reigns in our life. He, in essence, sits on the throne of your heart dwelling in you in the person of the Holy Spirit. Jesus restored communion with the Father that was lost whit the sin of Adam. Now the Holy Spirit wants to reveal to you that communion in you. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God." (Romans 8:14)