Mom’s of great faith
Introduction-
Matthew 15:21-28
This is an unusual passage for Mothers Day.
Jesus is at the height of His ministry and is confronted by a Mother who claimed that her child was demon-possessed.
The disciples are annoyed that this Mom keeps bothering them and crying out for the help of Jesus.
Jesus answers that He was sent only for the “lost sheep of Israel” and she was a Canaanite women.
She acknowledges Jesus, and she is willing to settle for the crumbs that would fall from the masters table.
Is there a greater love than the love of a mother to her children? (Human love)
I am very sensitive this morning as I know mother’s day is hard for some.
If your mom is no longer with you, I pray that you get great joy from the memories and legacy that she has left behind.
If your mother was not the best, I pray that God allowed someone special to step up and be the mother that you lacked.
If you are a mother and you suffered any loss of loved ones, may the Lord comfort you and give you continued strength to be and do all that He needs you to do.
(28) Jesus sees this mother’s great faith and grants her request of healing at that moment.
There are some tremendous mothers recorded in the Bible
The greatest mother of all- Jesus mother
Elizabeth- the mother of John the Baptist.
Hannah- the mother who was barren, who promised and did give her child back to God as a dedication.
Sarah- wife of Abraham- late in life child, drama with a concubine, laughed at God, but was one of the matriarchs of the Bible.
There are many righteous mom’s recorded in the Bible, and many not so much, but all were used to bring about God’s design.
This weekend, as we give thanks for the mothers, or special ladies that are a part of our lives, consider how we can embody the traits that define a godly women.
The pressures on a mom today are greater than ever before.
I think it is the toughest job in the world. To say to a stay at home mom “your just a housewife” is not to understand the full responsibility of being a mom.
Mothers today are expected to excel in a success-driven society.
Have a successful career.
To keep a perfect house.
Have perfect kids.
Be a great cook.
Never get tired.
Look like a model at all times.
If moms ever went on strike, it would affect the whole world! That labor union is strong.
I. celebrate your mom-
If she is no longer with you, what memories do you hold unto and model in your life?
If your mother is still with you, how can you show her how much she means to you?
If she is still here, you can honor her.
Ephesians 6:1-3
“Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right, ”Honor your father and mother” which is the first commandment with a promise. That it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
God tells us that there is a blessing for honoring your parents.
No place does it say that they are perfect.
No one says that you must agree with them 100 %, but we are to honor them and that there is a consequence if we do not.
I don’t know about you, I try to remember the special things mom does. Those special stories, I won’t share any, but I hope we all have them.
I still believe my mother at 78 years old can see behind walls.
Her arm is able to reach however far away I am.
Mom can just give me a look that stops you in your tracks.
What I honor most is her faithfulness to God and to her children.
While being tough at times, I always felt her love and knew that there was no length she would not go for her children.
Just like this Canaanite women who came to Jesus- she was not going to be denied an opportunity to bring her child before the one who could heal.
A country hostile to Jews
Disciples trying to get her to go away and stop bothering Jesus.
We do not even know her name-
I believe because there are a lot of moms that would do that for their kids.
We should honor her, not because of being perfect, but because of the love she has for us.
Illustration-
Jimmy Dean had an illustration that has stuck with me. He tells the story of cleaning out his wallet and finding an I.O.U. in it for his mom. (Won’t tell the story)
How many I.O.U’s are in your wallet to buy your mom back?
Chances are we could never pay them back.
Mom, I owe you many things
Services rendered- cooking cleaning, running everywhere we need to go.
Being a body guard- taking care of the bogey man, nightmares, and thunderstorms.
Medical attention- kissing boo-boo’s, measles, mumps, made sure I had clean underwear on for those accidents
Medical attention- countless games and birthdays.
Presents given, and as we get older, we realize the sacrifices that were made for us to have it.
2 pieces of apple pie and three hungry people and it was mom that “decided to not want one”
Celebrate Mom, celebrate the special people God has put before you.
Learn what they have taught you.
Model principals from God’s word that you first saw in them.
II. Model godly principals from Mom
What do we see from this Canaanite women?
What can we learn from our mothers?
(1) Persistence
They did not give up when the going got tough.
They were not intimidated when criticism came their way.
They stayed positive in a negative world. They did not quit.
Persistent people sort through obstacles and practice persistence, while others only work their plan.
The quality of persistence grows stronger as you recognize that it helps you get where you want to go.
There will always be roadblocks. If you do not model these principals in your life, you will fall short.
Phil. 3:13-
“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it, but one thing I do , forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. “
The main reason there is so many failures among those who started out with high hopes is that they get bogged down with their past and lacked “staying power.”
Staying power is persistence, and operates like “The little engine that could.” I think I can ! I think I can!
1009 times Colonel Saunders was turned down for his chicken recipe.
302 times Walt Disney was turned down for financing Disneyland.
You want people to see you as a role model so that they won’t quit when they face obstacles and roadblocks.
(2) Authentic faith
Sincere faith- Faith that took up residency in our hearts.
The faith of the Canaanite mom who worked past obstacles to get her kid in front of the God who could heal her child.
Real!
I believe everyday that mom lived out her faith in front of that child that was now healed by the Lord.
I believe it came up often of the time Jesus healed her child and that only strengthened her faith.
2 Tim 1:15- “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mom Eunice, and, I am persuaded now live in your also.”
There is a craving in our world for realness. The buzzword authentic is a buzzword for a reason.
We want the people we do life with to be authentic.
We expect those who lead us to be authentic.
We want the things that matter to be real.
But what about our faith? Are we willing to have an authentic relationship with Christ? The heart of the definition is in the few words of Jesus “Follow me”
(3) Praying mom- (faith that moves mountains)
Mom, don’t you give up praying for your family
“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.”
“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Don’t pray like a double-minded person - be authentic and be true to God
“The prayer of a righteous man (women) is powerful and affective.”
The prayer of Mother Teresa:
Dear Jesus, help me to spread Thy fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with Thy spirit and love. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of Thine. Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Thy presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus. Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as you shine, so to shine as to be a light to others.
We need to be mentored, and moms play a big part in that.
Anonymous
“Mothers write on the hearts of their children what the rough hand of the world cannot erase.”
Close
Mom, Don’t give up
God is still answering prayer and doing some amazing things.
Model godly principals and make an impact-
Be persistent
Be authentic
Be Praying
Amen.
