12 July 2009
Pentecost Sunday
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Fortress Chapel
Contingency Operation Site (C.O.S.) Sykes
Tall-afar, Iraq
BIG IDEA: Adult Christian children are to pay attention to the advice of Christ-like parents and think twice about the guidance given by unbelieving parents.
REFERENCES: Te-trarch: a ruler over a forth of the kingdom (pronounced Te-Trahrk) – (although Mark calls Herod Antipas a King – he was really a governor who thought himself to be a king. All of the Herods in the Bible had Edomite Blood in their veins and hated Jews. They typify the god of this age – the devil); Mark 6:14-29 ESV (The Death of John the Baptist): Matthews 14:1-12; Luke 9:7-9, 19-20; Romans 3:4b - … let God be true, but every man a liar …; Romans 10:13-15a (KJV) …Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?; Psalm 85:8-13 (ESVV); Ruth 1:8-9 (ESV) Naomi an “Iron Mom” gives good guidance to her daughter-in-laws (Orpah and Ruth): But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me; Genesis 27:6-17 (ESV) – Rebecca gives poor advice to Jacob; Matthew 10:37 (ESV) Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; John 3:3 (ESV) – John the Baptist exalts Christ – “He must increase, but I must decrease.”; Titus 2:3-5 (ESV) Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled; Proverbs 22:6 (ESV – The best known verse in proverbs on child training) Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it; Proverbs 29:17 (ESV) Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart; Proverbs 22:15 (KJV) Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him; Ephesians 6:1-4 (ESV) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. Fathers do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline of the Lord; Deuteronomy 6:20-25 (ESV); Deuteronomy 6:7 (ESV) You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise; Note: Rules for Christian households – Colossians 3:20 (ESV) Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord; 1 Kings 3:22-28 (ESV) - the mother of the infant brought to Solomon by the harlots;
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Mark 6:16-29 (ESV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Mark 6:16-29 (ESV)
III. READ THE TEXT: Mark 6:24 (ESV) And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that adult Christian children are to pay attention to the advice of Christ-like parents and think twice about the guidance given by unbelieving parents.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “Because mama says it doesn’t make it right”
VI. INTRODUCTION:
This past Mother’s Day, in honor of mothers everywhere, I was led by God to preach a message dubbed, “Grace under Fire”. In that particular message we passionately addressed the behaviors of the Biblical Hannah and good mothers.
Today, I feel led – by God - to momentarily address the behavior of bad mothers – those that negatively influence their children. In other words, “Because mama says it doesn’t make it right”.
The Good Book says in Titus 2:3-5 (ESV) …“Older women … are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled” … (or unloved or hated); In order for our young women not to hate or detest the Word of God they must be trained and taught the Word by Godly mothers.
Therefore, in light of these scriptures, I submit to you today that we are living in dangerous and unsafe times. And it’s not just because we are a nation at war fighting against the insurgents in Afghanistan and here in Iraq;
but I contend, today, that we are living in dangerous and unsafe times because we are running short on Christ-like mothers. We are living in an age and time when there has been a huge drop in morality and Christian Ethics.
Things such as good Biblical teachings, training of young women to love - their own husbands and children, faithfulness, sobriety (moderation), cleanliness, decency, integrity, and honor, are seemly rare even amongst believers.
Seeing believers today that are actually living out the Christian Creed and Values as in scripted in the Good Book are seemly rare.
We are truly living in perilous times; and parenting and training-up children in 2009 is of primary concern!
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 1: One of the best known Proverbs on child training and child rearing (Proverbs 22:6 ESV) says to Godly parents: Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
a. Colossians 3:20 in the English Standard Version of the Good Book says:
b. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord - but I submit to you today that these instructions (given by the Apostle Paul) was not directed to unbelieving and unchurched parents.
c. These instructions were directed to Christian parents about running Christian Households.
d. These instructions were not intended for unbelieving parents to hold their adult Christian children feet to the fire of obedience.
e. But, today, this is exactly what is happening in our society!
f. Many adult Christian believers have unbelieving parents that are giving them instructions and guidance on how to live life to the fullest without Christian values and Christian Ethics.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 2: In fact, it has been said that Mothers know best. But I contend today that Christian mothers know better.
a. In other words, my brothers and sisters - “Because mama says it doesn’t make it right”.
b. It’s high time that adult believers put brakes on the immoral and ungodly advice and guidance that is sometimes given by unbelieving parents.
c. In other words, Adult Christian children should pay close attention to the advice of Christ-like parents; and think twice about the guidance given by unbelieving parents.
d. For many unbelieving parents through their instructions (and guidance) are encouraging inappropriate relationships through their own life modeling and examples.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 3: Many are encouraging their children to get out of the kitchen of marriage, and get a divorce, as soon as the kitchen gets hot.
a. Whereas the Christian vows says otherwise!
b. So, I stand here today to remind you that are in Iraq“Because mama says it doesn’t make it right!”
c. In our text, this morning, we find … after Jesus sent out the twelve disciples two by two giving them authority over the evil spirits …
d. … and ordering the disciples … not to take anything with them on the journey except a walking stick – no bread, no beggar’s bag, and no money in their pockets.
e. In our Savoir instructed the disciples to wear sandals, but not to even carry an extra shirt.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 4: He tells them “wherever they are welcome, they are to stay there until they leave the area;
a. and if the disciples come to a town where people do not welcome them … or will not listen to them, they are to leave it … and shake the dust off their feet which will be a warning to those that will not listen.
b. Therefore, in the backdrop of our text today, we find that because of Jesus’ reputation and the ministry and obedience of the disciples, the Word of God was spreading fast everywhere.
c. Some even thought that Jesus was Elijah; but when King Herod Antipas heard about the miracles and the spreading of God’s Word;
d. he assumed that it was John the Baptist having come back to life.
e. In fact, Herod Antipas said to himself “I had John the Baptist head cut-off, but he has come back to life.
f. Now, my brothers and sisters, as you may recall it was Herod Antipas who had ordered John to be arrested, tied-up and put in prison.
g. But, he did it because of Herodias whom he had married - even though she was married to his brother Phillip.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 5: For don’t you remember, Chaplain - Baptist kept telling Herod Antipas – he was wrong for marrying his brother’s wife;
a. .. And as a result, of Chaplain Baptist sermons and teaching, Herodias held a huge grudge against John and wanted him killed.
b. But she couldn’t have him killed because Herod was afraid of John and he knew in his heart of hearts that John was a Man of God; and he was right!
c. So he kept John safe. In fact, the Good Book alludes to the fact that Herod in a weird sort of way liked listening to “the fire and brimstone messages of Chaplain John the Baptist”.
d. But, according to our text, today, Herodias didn’t like the messages and she hated John.
e. She also knew that Herod Antipas was going to celebrate his birthday soon – and as it was customary – for dignitaries to do – Herod Antipas would send invitations to the bigwigs of the community, and surrounding areas to “come out in attendance to his birthday party banquet!
e. So, Herodias had her plans all laid to spring a trap for her husband and to make him do as she wish with Chaplain John the Baptist.
******* TAKE BEATS ***********
MOVE 6: And she had planned, all the nobles and senior leaders of the community and the surrounding areas came out to Herod’s Banquet.
a. And toward the end and the close of the supper portion of the birthday banquet – after everyone had had drank freely of the wine …
b. Herodias persuaded her daughter (Salome) to go out and dance.
c. Now, such dancing was almost unprecedented for women of rank or respectability.
d. Salome was princess and dancing like this was beneath her – but because her mother told her do so – she did.
e. For you see my brothers and sisters, dancing at occasions like this one were usually conducted by professional prostitutes.
f. Still, the Good Book says Salome pleased Herod Antipas with her dancing and his guest that sat at the supper table.
f. They had been thrilled by the immoral dance of the half-naked princess.
g. Afterwards, Herod Antipas – was so moved by his lust and having unknowingly been caught in the trap of Herodias said to Salome, “What would you like to have? I will give you anything you want.”
h. He went on to promise her even half of his kingdom if she so wished.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 7: Salome the princess hurried out to ask her mother for some parental guidance. In other words, mom – what should I ask for?
a. At a time, when this mother could have momentarily altered history for the Good.
b. She chose not to do so! Instead, she told her daughter to ask for the Chaplain to be killed!
c. In other words, our text implies both the power of persuasion that some unbelieving mothers have over their children;
d. As well as the blind sheep like adherence (and obedience) that some children have for their unbelieving mothers.
e. Salome’s own weak morals and lack of Godly Ethics and lack of having attended weekly Bible Studies and Women Monthly Bible Studies – she didn’t even sense or give a second thought to the request for the “Head of The Man of God”.
e. Though it was murder! It was like mother like daughter;
f. Therefore, I submit to you today that if your mother isn’t saved and for whatever reason she constantly displays a weakness in her moral compass. Don’t follow the ungodly guidance.
g. Now, is the time to say “I’m grown!”
******* TAKE 5 BEATS ********
MOVE 8… It doesn’t matter how much you look like her; you don’t have to be like her!
a. The Good Book says, in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) … if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
b. In our scripture today, Herodias personality had been passed on to Salome.
c. In fact, in the Greek language Salome requested the king to bring “Chaplain Baptist head immediately! She wanted blood … right here, and right now!
d. My brothers and sisters, God has me reminding you today that there is no honor in obeying the instructions of our ungodly parents when the instructions are sinful. “Because mama says it - doesn’t make it right”
e. The Good Book says – in Romans3: 4b - … let God be true, but every man a liar …
f. In other words, when you’re confused and don’t know what to do – Stick with God and Christ-like behaviors … as a believer, I need to hear what the Lord has to say …
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
CELEBRATION: (Psalms85:8-13; Romans 10:13-15a)
“Because mama says it doesn’t make it right”
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace …
Yes the Lord will give what is good, …
…Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
