Mothers Day 2018
Those that make an impact
Happy Mother’s Day!
SermonCentral who have shared some thoughts
Introduction- I thank some contributors of
Today we celebrate those who have made a difference in your life. Wither that this morning is your mother, was your mother, or a sister, friend, aunt, grandma, friend of a friend, a co-worker.
It is good to reflect on those that have made a difference.
One of the God’s Commandments
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
God’s Word says that there is a blessing for honoring your parents and those who have made you who you are.
Because we live in a polluted and dysfunctional world, that may or may not be your parents. It may mean someone else has stepped up to the plate to be a part of your life. It may be blood family or it may mean someone has loved you like blood or maybe better than the blood family you had.
There are a lot of creative commercials that are showing the struggles that moms have to make the right impact in her children’s life.
Illustration-
The one where two kids are arguing at the park and she is drinking her coffee and they are forced to stop arguing every time she puts that coffee cup to her mouth is to me priceless!
I believe that my mother had supernatural powers that allowed her to see everything, hear everything, knew if you were lying, knew if you were planning something, and the few things that I did get away with something, guilt trips are imbedded in my head that I constantly have to ask forgiveness for.
Becky had that same quality raising our children.
They were not afraid of dad hearing them coming in, but mom who would know every creek of the stairs as they were climbing up and would be waiting for them at the top when they got there.
So what does God’s Word tell us about moms? About ladies that make an impact in our lives?
I pray this morning that someone has shared their love with you and their faith in God.
I pray that you call it to remembrance as you journey through life and at those tough times that they are a support rather than a hindrance.
Here’s a verse to get us thinking this morning.
2 Timothy 1:5-
“I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and I am persuaded, now lives in your also.”
Apostle Paul is having a moment with the remembrance of young Timothy. He reflects on how Timothy became the man of God that he was.
Being a mother is not a walk in the park!
There is a quote from years ago- “if daddy ain’t happy, who cares? If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” Bad grammar, but you get the point. That is probably true at your house too.
Ralph Waldo Emerson-
“Men are what their mothers make them”
Old Spanish Proverb-
“An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy.”
There are some great portraits of motherhood in the Bible
Mother of Moses who loved her son so much that she was willing to give him up so that he would be safe.
The mother of James and John who loved her boys and wanted them to sit on the Lords side in the kingdom of God.
I know this can be a hard time for some
Maybe you would want to be a mother and for some reason you are not able.
Some may not have had a great mother.
Some of you mothers may have lost a child.
Some have some wayward children and praying the Lord would speak to them.
Some of you mothers are flying solo and wanting God’s help in numerous areas of your life.
I want you to know that you can only do the best you can and weather you have children or not, you have an opportunity to make an impact on someone’s life if you are willing to do that.
Introduction to Timothy’s Grandmother Lois and Mother Eunice
Eunice was raised by a mother that impacted her life.
She married an unbeliever and had a son named Timothy
Both Timothy’s grandma and mother taught him the things of God
One day a preacher name Paul came into town and talked about Jesus and they saw that Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s Word and they began teaching young Timothy about Jesus.
I don’t know how she did it without veggie tales or videos but she instilled the word of God in his heart and in his life.
We do not know much about Lois and Eunice. They are only recorded in Acts 1:6 and 2 Timothy 1:5
What we do know is she was an encouragement to all mothers and those wanting to make an impact on their children or other children that God has put them with.
They had raised Timothy to love God and serve God and the faith that he was taught stuck.
Moms, you want your faith to stick with your children.
You want them to even in their rough times to remember that Jesus will be their strength.
Eunice was a devout Jew before she encountered Jesus.
When she met Jesus, she served him with her whole heart and she made an impression on her children.
They lived in a polluted world and had many obstacles and distractions just like we do today.
It was because of their Jewish faith that they saw Jesus was the fulfillment of Scripture and it prepared their heart for the Apostle Paul to reach them with the gospel.
It was Paul who remembered the faith of Timothy when he was in prison and purposed that the gospel would still need to be taught. It was Paul who remembered that Timothy had the good upbringing of faith and knew that through trial Timothy would remember what God had done and what God was still able to do with the right people spreading the gospel.
Here are some things to remember when you are talking to people God has brought to you.
What you teach them is buried deep in their heart.
Isaiah 55:11
“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Hebrews 4:12-
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.’
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Do you realize the impact that you make on those around you?
You are appreciated this morning.
Even if the one you are investing in doesn’t show it or act it right now, believe that the word of God is reaching inside their heart and God is doing something!
Your sacrifice does not go unnoticed by God.
Persistent people please God because it Is faith in action.
You are expected to make the bacon, cook the bacon, and clean up after.
But I want you to know that God sees even if it seems no one else does.
Illustration-
A group of high school students who were headed for college were given a quiz about the Bible.
The New Testament was written by Matthew, Mark, Luther, and John.
Eve was created from an apple.
Noah’s wife was Joan of Ark.
The fifth commandment is Humor thy father and mother.
The seventh commandment is “Thou shalt not admit adultery.”
We can see we have a ways to go but God will use us and His Word to accomplish His task.
Do not give up
Galatians 6:9-10
“And let us not weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Hold on!
When you are weary and you think that nobody cares- know God cares. In due season, you shall reap what you sow.
Sow good things and you will be rewarded.
Heaven will be full of people that we thought were not listening.
People who will have a testimony of how we were able to stay the course and not be distracted by worldly things.
You were called to keep on keeping on
We are called to journey with each other and be mindful of each other.
Do not lose sight of the harvest- He has not given up on you and you don’t give up on that challenging person.
2 Cor. 4:1
“Therefore since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.”
I believe God gives most women the gift of persistence- that gear that just seems to kick into overdrive when most others have given up and threw in the towel.
The difference between faithful people and unfaithful people is unfaithful people give up at the first sign of difficulty. Faithful people keep on keeping on.
Faithful people are determined.
Faithful people are diligent.
Faithful people are persistent.
Faithful people don’t know how to quit.
You know how a little acorn becomes an oak tree?
An oak tree is just an acorn that refused to give up.
I have not always been smart, but I do know one this:
It is always too soon to quit.
You are never a failure until you quit.
God uses tough times to test our persistence.
Devotional from David Jeremiah writes:
“One morning last year—it was 3:20 a.m.—Actor Chris Pratt was riding through Atlanta following eighty hours of exhaustive filming on a movie. Looking over the darkened streets, he felt burdened for the downtrodden.
“Pratt, who professes Christ, wrote a note on Instagram. He recalled the many years when he had to ‘hustle hard and go hungry. I had to eat sardines and figure out how to get gas money,’ he said. ‘Don’t give up.’ Pratt credits his inspiration to an encounter outside a liquor store when he was 19. A stranger stopped him, told him about Christ, and gave him a message that changed his life.
When you’re eating sardines and seeing meager results, and when neither sun nor stars appear for many days, it’s easy to give up. In the story of the storm in Acts 27, even the seasoned sailors—even the writer, Luke!—gave up. But God had not given up, and He was stronger than the storm.
When discouragement begins to creep into your life, look to Christ and don’t give up. He will keep you from sinking.”
Don’t Give Up
Rather “take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded” (2 Chronicles 15:7).
Don’t give up when that familiar sin, still crouching at your door after all these years, pounces again with temptation.
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”(1 Corinthians 10:13)
Don’t give up when you feel that deep soul weariness from long battles with persistent weaknesses.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
“Don’t give up when the field the Lord has assigned you too is hard and the harvest does not look promising.”
But as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger . . . (2 Corinthians 6:4–5)
Don’t give up when waiting on God seems endless.
Hope and Help is on the way
Living by faith in “things not seen” is hard (Hebrews 11:1). Jesus reminds us: “the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:14). But the way has always been hard, and you are not alone in the difficulty. You are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who have passed this way ahead of you (Hebrews 12:1). Many have suffered far more and have remained faithful. Remember them and imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7).
Above all, remember Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:8). Jesus knows your works (Revelation 2:2) and he understands your war (Hebrews 12:3). His grace will be given to you in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16) and it will be sufficient for you, even at the very worst times (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Close,
Happy Mother’s Day Mom’s- Don’t you give up
Ladies, you are important to us- we need you, even if we don’t show it properly.
Remember those that have made an impact on you.
Those that have invested in your well being.
Those that have put great value in you.
Then remember that God Loves you and has not given up on you. You are of great value and worth to Him and He shows it by His love for you.
Amen.
