There's More To It
Sermon for Mother's Day May 8, 2011
by T.A. Gaskill
Introduction
Today is Mother's Day. When little girls you probably had some cute baby dolls. They never cried in the middle of the night. They never produced a terrible smelling odor caused by dirtying their diapers. These cute little dolls never required being fed. They were just cute, cute, cute! In fact, if you grew tired of playing with these little dolls, you could just throw it into a corner or toy box until the urge to play with it comes again. As you grew up, you could see others cuddling their babies and think to yourself that someday you will have one of your very own as well. But there is more to it; the thought of agonizing pain at childbirth seldom crossed your mind. Dirty diapers that would about cause you to puke seldom,if ever, crossed you mind. Diaper rash, cries in the middle of the night, cries throughout the day, always needing to be fed, spitting food back, burps with messes – sometimes at the most inopportune times, Colic – oh the cries!! Teething – thank God for Oragel!
Were the makers of all these cute little babies purposefully misleading the little girls into a utopia of motherhood? Were they secretly hoping to increase business for doctors or producers of products such as Oragel or Desitin diaper rash ointment? Do you hear conspiracy in any of this? Well, before you call your lawyers to issue a lawsuit against the producers of all the cute baby dolls of the world, you need to know there's more to it.
What would this world be like without a mother's love and compassion? What would mothers today be like if they were not encouraged at an early age to cuddle and cherish these cute little baby dolls? What if they only played hotwheels with the guys? Would we be seeing babies at the car wash for their daily wash? Not to belabor, let's move on.
When we hear happy Mother's Day we don't think of the little girls playing with the cute and convenient little dolls at their leisure; but hopefully, we automatically reflect on the sacrificial steadfast love a mother has for her children so they could prosper in the things of life.
What would come to mind of some who hear “happy Christian's Day”? It would be like one thinking of the little girls playing doll when they hear the word "mother" if at the mention of "Christian" we think only of a person has who has said the sinner's prayer to leisurely avoid the flames of hell and secure their spot in heaven while thinking he or she can "do the Christian thing" at their own personal convenience and set it aside when inconvenient? Wouldn't it be better if at the sound of "Christian" we think of God's sacrificial steadfast love?
Main Body
1. As the mother seeks to conceive her child, so does God.
Mother finds the man, gets married, shares her intimacy
God finds his spokesman, proclaims Jesus, shares His prevenient grace
Romans 10:14,15,17 GW But how can people call on him if they have not believed in him? How can they believe in him if they have not heard his message? How can they hear if no one tells the Good News? (15) How can people tell the Good News if no one sends them? As Scripture says, "How beautiful are the feet of the messengers who announce the Good News." (17) So faith comes from hearing the message, and the message that is heard is what Christ spoke.
1 Peter 1:23 NIV For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
2. As the mother seeks to birth her child, so does God.
Mother: by the time nine months has passed the mother has endured:
morning sickness, stretch-marks, back pains, kicking, and uncomfortableness when sitting lying walking. Men, in order to better relate with what your mother went through prior to giving you birth, go home, grab a bowling ball (not a 7 lb one but get a 16 lb), tie it around you above your waist and see how much of a delight that is! The only delight you might have is knowing that you're ready to bowl 24/7!
God: has patiently and mercifully endured his people in their unregenerate state as the unborn persons struggle in their captivity to sin. (name some)
The Gospel of John tells us: John 1:12-13 NIV Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— (13) children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
John 3:3 NIV Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
I was born again in 1994. My life has never been the same since and I so thank God. The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! --- Praise God!!!! Hallelujah!!! Glory to God!!!!
Are you born again? There's more to it!
Mommy is ready and pleading for the birth of her child desiring to cuddle her baby and so it is with God.
3. As the mother seeks to be with her child, so does God.
Mother: playtime, bouncing on the knee, singing lullabies, to grow close, bond, connect
God:
Genesis 3:9 NKJV Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"
Revelation 3:20 NKJV Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
James 4:8 NKJV Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Knowing God seeks to be with Me gives me great confidence and value. It reminds me, as it should you, that I am precious to Him. The Creator of the universe seeks to be with little ol' me!
4. As the mother seeks to nourish her child, so does God.
Mother: feeding them – There's more to it – encouraging them, giving them attention, praising them,
God:
Matthew 6:33 NKJV But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 11:28 NKJV Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
While in Bible College, there were many times God provided our needs.
Knowing God has my best interest in mind gives me great nourishment for the journey.
5. As the mother seeks to protect her child, so does God.
Mother: establishing healthy boundaries for play, friends, hobbies, intimacy, leading them in the right paths, warning of dangers,
God according to the Psalms is our rock, fortress, deliverer, strength, shield, strong tower, strong refuge,
one of my favorites: Psalms 17:8 NKJV Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
We pray “deliver us from evil”
A child holding the mother's hand will venture into many unknown to them territories and fear no evil.
While serving the Lord in County Jail Ministries, I would go into several jails on a weekly basis knowing I was protected by God's powerful hand.
6. As the mother seeks to empower/equip her child, so does God.
Mother- education in reading, writing, arithmetic, homemaking skills, teach responsibilities, choices and consequences,
God –
Holy Spirit
John 14:26 NIV But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Pastors
Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, (12) to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
There has been many times I didn't know what to do, how to respond, or what to think. When I go to God asking Him for wisdom, He never fails – sometimes it might take awhile, but as I continued to seek – He gave. As I continue to seek, He gives.
Listen to James 1:5 NIV If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
7. As the mother seeks to purpose/destine her child, so does God.
Mother: hopes for her child to live a long and prosperous life and pass the family heritage onto the next generation.
God:
Romans 8:29 NIV For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
1 Peter 2:21 NKJV For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
1 John 2:6 NKJV He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
Matthew 5:48 NKJV Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
1 Peter 1:15-16 NIV But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; (16) for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
Many of us find our identity in what we do or where we live. Our true identity is to be found in God's purpose and destiny for our lives. In relation to this, our earthly occupations and residence is of secondary importance.
Remember:
Colossians 3:1-2 NIV Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. (2) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Conclusion
There's More To It!
God not only has saved us from hell and reserves a place for us in heaven. He has called us to Christlikeness. A Christian is called to be a holy one who follows Christ in all their ways. God not only seeks our conception and birth; He also seeks to be with us, to nourish us, to protect us, to empower and equip us, and to destine/aim us. God wants us, as born again Christians, to manifest His sacrificial steadfast love through our lives in all of life.
Little girls who desire to be mothers, don't just continue playing with dolls the rest of their lives – There's More To It – they press on to motherhood.
Christians who are saved shouldn't just stop with being born again – There's More To It – they press on to Christlikeness. They press on to growth in holiness. They press on to fellowship with the Holy Spirit. They press on in the plan God has for their life to walk as Jesus walked. Christians delight in Gods love by sharing His love with others.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 NKJV For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (12) Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. (13) And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Invitation
If you haven't yet believed in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, I invite you to do so now.
I also invite the saved to a journey of Christlikeness. Will you surrender your all to Him? Will you delight yourself in a relationship with the Holy Spirit? Please do. This is God's plan for you.
There's More To It!
In Jesus' Name We Press On!
