2023.05.14.Sermon Notes. Honoring Mothers on Mother’s Day
William Akehurst, HSWC
BIG IDEA: I learned faith from a Bible reading, Bible memorizing, Bible speaking and Bible praying mother. Today we Worship the LORD for HIS Promises and give honor to our Mothers on this Mother’s day.
Proverbs 1:7-9
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;
9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck.
Honoring Mothers on Mother's day.
How old are you? 120? Over 70? Age is just a number, right?
What does the Bible say about age?
120 years
Genesis 6:3 (NKJV) And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
Moses was exactly 120 years old when he died. And the Bible tells us so…
Deuteronomy 34:7 (NKJV) Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.
70 years
But then in Psalms…
Psalms 90:10a “The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years…”
Why am I asking ‘how old are you?’ to a bunch of women on Mothers’ Day?
I see so many of you that are over 70 years old…pushing towards 120
Because it has to do with a promise of the LORD. A promise based on HONOR.
Exodus 20:12 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
Today we are here to Worship the LORD for HIS promises
And give honor to Mothers on this Mother’s Day.
Proverbs 1:7-9
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
Proverbs 31:10 (KJV)
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Ephesians 6:1-3
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Proverbs 31:28-30 (NKJV)
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Today we honor mothers.
Let us look at some of the mother’s of the Bible and the examples we can learn from them.
THE BLESSINGS OF A MOTHER, AND THEIR EXAMPLES TO US.
OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD FOR HIS PURPOSE.
Mary and Elisabeth
Luke 1:26-55
The 2 most highly known and revered mothers of the Bible. Mother of Jesus, and Mother of John the Baptist.
They were obedient to the LORD as God fearing women.
MARY, Mother of JESUS
Luke 1:26-38
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
ELISABETH, Mother of John the Baptist
Luke 1:39-45
39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
AMBITION, HUMILITY AND SERVANTHOOD
Salome, mother of John and James (Matthew 20:21, 23)
Wanted the best for her children, had good intentions, and even though rebuked by Jesus, still continued to serve him.
Matthew 20:20-23 (NKJV)
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.
21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?”
She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”
22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
They said to Him, “We are able.”
23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”
PROTECTION
Jochebed Moses’ Mother (Ex. 2:3)
A mother’s love shown in protecting her child.
Created the basket, hiding Moses, then was able to nurse and nurture him in the LORD until he was about 7 years old. Was a great influence in his life.
Exodus 2:1-10 (NKJV)
1 And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. 2 So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. 4 And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.
10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.”
TRAIN UP A CHILD
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
DEDICATION
Hannah, Samuel’s mother (1 Sam 1:11)
Prayed for a son and promised that his life would be dedicated to the LORD.
She kept her promise of dedication and at age 3 gave Samuel back to the LORD for his service.
1 Samuel 1:11 Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
TRAINING
Eunice and Lois, mother and grandmother
Train up a child. Timothy was taught by his mom and grandmom in the ways of the LORD.
We are to teach our children in the ways of the LORD.
2 Timothy 1:5 “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”
USED BY THE LORD IN OLD AGE
Sarah, mother of Isaac – USED BY THE LORD IN AN OLD AGE. Genesis 21:2-3
It was a joy for her, made her laugh. Isaac means laughter.
How many 80-90 old women are ready to have a baby these days?
Genesis 21:2-3 2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
PRAYERS
Ishmael’s mother Hagar (Genesis 21:16-18)
Hagar was sent off with Ishmael after Sarah gave birth to Issac. Hagar called out to the Lord to spare her son, and HE did.
Genesis 21:16-18 (NKJV)
16 Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”
SACRIFICIAL LOVE
2 mothers standing before Solomon (I Kings 3:26)
The true mother was willing to give up the child in order to let it live.
A mother’s love is sacrificial even if it means giving up her child to another.
1 Kings 3:26 (NKJV)
26 Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king, for she yearned with compassion for her son; and she said, “O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!”
But the other said, “Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide him.”
TRIUMPH
A mother and her daughter (Matthew 15:25-28)
A mother’s faith was rewarded in the healing of her daughter.
Matthew 15:25-28 (NKJV)
25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”
26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
PRAISE
Let’s take a look at Mary’s Song of Praise as recorded in Luke.
MARY’S SONG Luke 1:46-55 (NKJV)
46 And Mary said:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.”
These are all examples of Mother’s in the Bible, there are many more than discussed here today.
But one thing all these mothers have in common is their fear and reverence for the LORD.
Today we honor our Mothers. Blessed are they who fear, honor and reverence the LORD.
Be blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
Illustration 1: Reasons Why I Owe My Mother
My mother taught me RELIGION.
'You better pray that koolaid stain will come out of the carpet.'
My mother taught me LOGIC.
' Because I said so, that's why .'
My mother taught me FORESIGHT
'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident.'
My mother taught me IRONY
'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.'
My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.'
My mother taught me about STAMINA.
'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone.'
My mother taught me about WEATHER.
'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.'
My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE .
'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.'
My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
'Stop acting like your father!'
My mother taught me about ENVY.
'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do.'
My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
'You just WAIT until we get home.'
