Disclaimer:
Due to the large amount of sermons and topics that appear on this site I feel it is necessary to post this disclaimer on all sermons posted. These sermons are original to the author and the leading of the Holy Spirit. While ideas and illustrations are often gleaned from many sources including those at Sermoncentral.com, any similarities and wording including sermon title, that may appear to be the same as any other sermon are purely coincidental. In instances where other minister’s wording is used, due recognition will be given. These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely. May God richly bless you as you read these words. It is my sincere desire that all who read them may be enriched. All scriptures quoted in these sermons are copied and quoted from the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Pastor James May
A Mother’s Dream!
May 13, 2001 – Mother’s Day Sermon
Today we celebrate the institution of God called Motherhood. There are no words which can justly honor our mothers but I will endeavor to express a little of my gratitude for my mother as well as those of the church and to encourage every mother in the raising of her family and in the work of the ministry.
One thing that we must always remember is that God chose your mother for you and you for your mother. None of us could make that choice as newborn babes but God knew who would be the best for us. God, in His infinite wisdom and knowledge, knew just which mother you needed to teach you those things that He wanted you to know.
Whether your mother is here today, or whether she has gone home to be with the Lord, or perhaps she is in a far away place where you could not see her today, we want to recognize their contributions to our lives and give them honor for the job they did for us.
There was a time when every mother had great dreams for her children. Sad to say, we are in the last days where too many mothers are not fulfilling their role and training up their children in the ways of the Lord. Jesus told us that these times would come when parents and children would turn against one another. Scripture also bears out the fact that we are going to see the family relationship deteriorate even more before the coming of Christ to bring peace to the earth once more.
Thank God for your mother if she was a mom who cared for you, taught you right from wrong, and watched over you. There are many who aren’t Christians who still follow the God-ordained path to raising their children.
Any mother, who truly is a mother, lives with a prayer on her lips that her children will grow up to be strong, healthy and model citizens who are living for God.
The great Preacher, Charles Spurgeon, once heard his mother praying. She said, “I cannot tell how much I owe to the prayers of my good mother. I remember her once praying, "Now Lord, if my children go on in sin it will not be from ignorance that they perish, and my soul must bear swift witness against them at the day of judgment if they lay not hold on Christ and claim Him as their personal Savior."
Just as Spurgeon’s mother prayed, so too do all Christian parents pray. We cannot force our kids to serve Christ but we must do all we can to teach them about Christ so that they can know what is the way of Salvation even if they choose not follow it.
My wife and I have great hopes for our children and we have done and continue to do all we can to help them to become the best they can be. It is the life-long job of a mother and father to encourage their children to learn more, become more, and mature into the greatness that God has placed within them.
Some mothers have dreams of their children becoming doctors, lawyers, astronauts, firemen, policemen, ministers or any one of a host of honorable professions. Of course it’s the children’s right to make up their own minds to become what they desire. It is a testimony to the love of a mother that no matter how far from God her children may run or what kind of life they are living, she never gives up on them but that hope for their becoming great is ever alive and burning within her heart.
On those long sleepless nights when her baby is ill, mother cares for the child even though she is so very tired. The mountain of clothes never seems to disappear for as soon as a load is washed, dried and put away, 3 more appear in its place. What mother has never experienced the total frustration of never getting caught up on the dishes, the dusting and cleaning and a host of other chores? Add to this the fact that most mothers of our day also work outside the home adding to their load, and yet, they carry the load without regret or complaint because of the love they have for their family.
There is a picture of a mother in the Bible that I want to call your attention to. She is not even named but she is identified as the mother of James and John, and the wife of Zebedee.
Here was a mother who had two rowdy boys. They were so rowdy that they were known as the Sons of Thunder in Mark 3:17. I can’t help but believe that this mother had her hands full with these two sons. I wonder how many times she had to “meet with the school officials”, or “treat a skinned knee”, or “mend a torn coat”, or “put them in time out”? One thing is for sure, they didn’t earn their nickname because they were mama’s boys and sat in the house all day long.
I don’t think that this mother had ever dreamed that her sons could become the disciples of the Messiah of Israel. Her greatest hope was that they could carry on the family fishing business and become successful according to the world’s standards.
There is every reason to believe that this mother did her best to teach her sons the ways of God and the Law of Moses. She had recited the commandments over and over again until James and John finally began to understand and live by those commandments. She had talked about the coming of the Messiah to deliver Israel. These two boys had a godly mother who wanted the best for her sons.
Matthew 4:21, "And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them."
One day, while they were fishing, Jesus passed by and called James and John to become fishers of men. From that day forward life took a very different road for this mother. The scripture doesn’t say but I wonder if she ever was concerned that her sons were abandoning their life to follow a stranger. I wonder if she was concerned for their safety and for their future. I know that she felt the heartbreak of separation when they left home to follow their ministry. I know that she held them in her heart and prayed for them often that God would keep them safe in their journeys. I know that she could not help but worry for them every day. I can see the gladness in her heart as her two boys would send letters or come home for a visit from time to time. She knew that her children had to make their own decisions and follow the path that they would choose for themselves but she could never stop being mother and quit worrying about them.
She recognized the great calling upon her son’s lives as they walked with Jesus. She began to hear of the miracles and great teachings and it began to dawn upon her that God had blessed her children far above the dreams that she had held for them.
A mother’s love never weakens and so it was with this mother of James and John. She never ceased trying to make things better for her sons. As the ministry of Jesus was nearing its end, she came to Jesus on behalf of her sons with a special request.
There is nothing so bold or courageous as a mother who is protecting or fighting for her children.
Matthew 20:20-21, "Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, what wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom."
Possibly, this mother still believed that Jesus was going to be the next King of Israel and establish his throne upon the earth. Perhaps she understood that the Kingdom of Christ would be heavenly but wherever this kingdom would be, she wanted her two sons to be honored beside the King’s sides.
Thank God for mothers who never give up on their kids. Thank God for our mother who never gave up on us. Thank God for a mother who cared enough to teach us about God. Thank God for a mother that stuck by us when we didn’t deserve her loyalty.
For those mothers who are here this morning - I want to encourage you to dream big dreams for your children and to never give up on those dreams. When times are hard, hang in there and be the strength of your family. When the children push you to the breaking point, hold on to the hand of God and keep walking.
Above all else mothers, you along with your husband are responsible to teaching and raising your children in the fear of the Lord. Our society today is in trouble because too many mothers have forgotten their responsibility to their children or even have led them away from God and His word.
Illustration:
I wish every one of us had inscribed on the walls of our home the words of Dorothy Law Nolte’s work, “Children Learn What They Live,” and then kept this constantly before us in our daily activities.
If a child lives with criticism,
He learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility,
He learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule,
He learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame,
He learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance,
He learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement,
He learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise,
He learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness,
He learns justice.
If a child lives with security,
He learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval,
He learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
He learns to find love in the world.
I want to add one more important line to this illustration:
If a child grows up in church and learns the love of God, He or she will never forget it!
To every mother who hears this message I want to say, first of all, that God has given you a great blessing in the form of children. He has given you a life or lives to mould and to train in the ways of righteousness. This is the most important job of motherhood and a great responsibility.
On this day of the year when all of us honor your position and your commitment of love to your family, let me say to you that we are so proud of you.
As a church we thank you for your dedication and hard work. As husbands and fathers we praise you and love you for your great love to us and for your patience and endurance. As your Pastor I greatly appreciate all of the kindness and grace that you have shown toward me. All of us applaud you.
We wish for you a great day. We hope that this day, each of your children will come to you and say, I love you Mom! I pray that God gives you the strength and guidance to train your children and to hold on to the “horns of the altar” for them. You are a special person, not just today, but everyday. May the Lord Jesus Christ smile upon you and bless you all the days of your life. May all of your children called you blessed and may your homes experience that perfect peace that only God can give.
Have a great day in the Lord and a Happy Mother’s Day.
