Sermon Central
-
Legacy Of Lois
Contributed by Rich Vanarsdalen on May 25, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: A mothers day message that looks at the impact we can have on our children and grandchildren.
LEGACY OF LOIS
I would like to say HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all of you mothers out there and because today is Mother’s Day, we are going to be looking at a passage of Scripture that focuses on the impact mothers can have in the lives of their children.
Who here has heard of Lois? She is only mentioned one time in the Word of God. The Bible doesn’t say really all that much about her – she will go unnoticed by most of us; however, for any of us who have spent any time in the New Testament – though we may not know who Lois was, we certainly have heard of her grandson: Timothy.
2 Timothy 1:1-5 1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
What is it that Paul thanked God for?
What came to Paul’s mind when he thought of Timothy?
What filled him with joy?
When he called to “remembrance” the UNFEIGNED FAITH in Timothy.
1) UN-FEIGNED FAITH
UNFEIGNED = SINCERE OR GENUINE
This passage tells us that Timothy had this kind of sincere and genuine FAITH – just as his mother Eunice had, and just like his grandmother Lois also had!
There was a FAITH transfer from one generation to another – but how did this happen? What was the key to this transfer?
How did it happen?
2 Timothy 3:14-15 14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
What was it that impacted the life of Timothy to make him the man he was?
It was his mother – just as his grandmother investing the Holy Scriptures into his life.
The Bible tells us: Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Acts 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
The Word of God is the CRITICAL ELEMENT necessary for people to Learn of Christ, Repent of their sins, and Come to faith! Unfeigned faith that is sincere and genuine!
LOIS UNDERSTOOD THIS AND MADE WISE INVESTMENTS IN HER CHILDREN THAT PASSED EVEN TO HER GRANDCHILDREN.
LETS LOOK AT THE FIRST MENTION OF LOIS’ GRANDSON AND SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT HIM:
Acts 16:1-3 1Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: 2Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
Timothy – the product of a mixed marriage between a believing Jew and a Greek / Gentile.
Not much is told to us about Timothy’s father – we are told here that he was a Gentile, however, most do not think that he was a proselyte believer because Timothy was still uncircumcised.
Many believe that he either remained unconverted, or may have been dead at this time.
Notice what the Bible says about his character here: he was well-reported of by the brethren.
He had an incredible testimony among the believers in Lystra and Iconium.
He had a reputation that was above reproach with the brethren!
AKA – MAMMA AND GRANDMAMMA DID A GOOD JOB!
WHAT A LEGACY!
They were used of the Spirit to invest the Godly values and attitudes found in the Word of God into this young man – God was at work in this young man’s life.
Paul saw this young man and took him under his wings and spiritually adopted him.
2) UN-ASHAMED ADOPTION
In kind of a “pick up where mom and grandma left off” fashion – the Apostle Paul invested his life into this young man. They had an incredible relationship.
