THE SECOND MOST BEAUTIFUL WORD IN OUR LANGUAGE IS M-O-T-H-E-R. MOTHER. ON TOMORROW, ALL ACROSS THIS LAND WE’LL BE JOINING IN TO HELP HER CELEBRATE HER DAY. AND SO, OUR PROGRAM TODAY IS DEDICATED TO ALL THE MOTHERS IN OUR AUDIENCE BUT IT’S "FOR" ALL THE FATHERS OUT THERE. SOME PORTIONS MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR LITTLE EARS SO YOU MAY WANT TO DISMISS ANY CHILDREN FROM THE ROOM UNTIL WE’VE FINISHED. OUR TOPIC FOR TODAY IS "HOW TO MAKE YOUR BABY’S MOTHER HAPPY EVERYDAY".
MOST OF US, WHEN WE HEAR MOTHER’S DAY MESSAGES , TRADITIONALLY HEAR ABOUT HOW MOTHERS HAVE SUFFERED AND SACRIFICED AND ENDURED HARD TIMES AND, WE SET ASIDE THIS ONE DAY TO RECOGNIZE HER FOR HER UNSELFISHNESS. BUT THAT WAS THEN AND THIS IS NOW... 2003.. AND ALTHOUGH SOME MOTHERS STILL SUFFER, IT’S NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO. TODAY I WANT TO FOCUS ON TWO AREAS OR SETS OF THINGS THAT BROTHERS (MEN / FATHERS) CAN DO TO HELP THEIR BABY’S MOTHERS’ LIFE BE HAAPPY EVERYDAY.
THE TWO AREAS ARE...
1. LET YOUR BABY’S MOTHER SEE YOU BEING A STRONG GODLY FATHER EVERY DAY.
2. LET YOUR BABY’S MOTHER KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT SHE IS TO YOU EVERY DAY... TREAT HER RIGHT
ON BEING A STRONG GODLY FATHER. FIRST OF ALL LET’S ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MOST MALES INHERIT THE ABILITY TO IMPREGNATE OR PRODUCE CHILDREN. NO BROTHER HOWEVER; INHERITS THE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO BE A GOOD & GODLY FATHER. SO IF HE DOESN’T AUTOMATICALLY KNOW, THEN IT’S LOGICAL THAT HE SEEK SOME HELP IN THIS AREA. MANY BROTHERS ARE BLESSED TO HAVE STRONG TEACHERS IN THEIR OWN FATHERS. JUST AS MANY OR MORE HOWEVER; DON’T. SO THEY NEED TO FIND A GODLY MENTOR TO HELP THEM LEARN HOW TO BE STRONG GODLY FATHERS. ALONG WITH THE MENTOR, THEY NEED STRONG SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL TO STUDY.
"THE WORD" PROVIDES EXPECTATIONS FOR GODLY PARENTS (FATHERS) AND THIS IS AN EXCELLENT RESOURCE AND PLACE TO START. FOLLOWING ARE SOME FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPALS AND INSTRUCTIONS THAT ARE FOUND IN THE WORD TO HELP MEN BE GOOD GODLY FATHERS.
1. STRONG GODLY FATHERS SHOULD COMMAND OR INSIST THAT THEIR HOUSEHOLDS FOLLOW THEM (THEIR EXAMPLE) AS THEY FOLLOW CHRIST AND LIVE , IN FRONT OF THEIR FAMILIES A GODLY LIFE STYLE. (GEN 18:19)
2. STRONG GODLY FATHERS SHOULD TEACH THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT GOD IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEIR GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AND GENERATIONS TO COME WILL KNOW GOD IN AN UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WAY AND BE ANXIOUS TO BE OBEDIENT TO HIM. (PSALMS 78:4-7)
3. STRONG GODLY FATHERS WILL REHEARSE (OR CONSTANTLY REMIND) THEIR CHILDREN OF THE VICTORIES IN GOD THAT THEY’VE EXPERIENCED. DEUT: 4: 9,10)THIS ALLOWS THE CHILDREN TO EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTAND (AMONG OTHER THINGS) THE REWARDS OF BEING OBEDIENT TO GOD.
4.STRONG GODLY FATHERS WILL TEACH THEIR CHILDREN HOW TO SUCESSFULLY LIVE IN THE WORLD AND DEAL WITH WORLDLY THINGS. (ENTIRE BOOK OF PROVERBS) IS DEVOTED TO THIS
6.STRONG GODLY FATHERS WILL CORRECT THEIR CHILDREN WHEN NECESSARY. (PROV 29:17) THIS SAVES HIS BABY’S MOTHER FROM BEING BROUGHT TO TEARS AND SHAME AS THE CHILD GROWS OLDER AND BECOMES INVOLVED IN THINGS THAT HE OR SHE SHOULDN‘T PROV 29:15)
7.STRONG GODLY FATHERS ARE SKILLFUL IN HANDLING THEIR CHILDREN SO THAT THEY DON’T PROVOKE OR DISCOURAGE THE CHILDREN. (EPH 6:4 AND COLOSS 3:21)
8.STRONG GODLY FATHERS CONDUCT ALL THEIR AFFAIRS IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY ARE FRUITFUL ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE AN INHERITANCE THAT IS EVEN ENOUGH FOR THEIR GRAND CHILDREN (PROV 13:22) .
A MAN WHO DOES ALL THIS FOR HIS CHILDREN WILL SURELY PRODUCE SOME GOOD CITIZENS FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.. AND IN SO DOING.. TRULY MAKE HIS BABY’S MOTHER HAPPY AND JOYFUL EVERY DAY.
NOW BROTHRS, LETS SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT MAKING YOUR BABY’S MOTHER HAPPY EVRY DAY BY "TREATING HER RIGHT". FIRST OF ALL LETS LOOK AT HOW FEMALES ARE TREATED IN OUR SOCIETY. EVERYTHING IN THIS SOCIETY IS GEARED TOWARD THE SUPPORT OF THE “LIFE AND PLEASURE” OF THE MALE. AND SO, IF YOU’RE NOT A MALE, THEN YOU’RE PART OF ALL THAT IS PRESENT, IN THE SOCIETY , TO MAKE AND KEEP THE MALE HAPPY. FURTHER MORE, THE FEMALE , IN THIS SOCIETY, IS HIGHLY VICTIMIZED AND PROBABLY THE MOST ABUSED AND EXPLOITED MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY. THAT’S THE WORLDS WAY.
SO NOW, WHAT DOES THE WORD HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE PROPER TREATMENT OF WOMEN.
1. FIRST IT TELLS US THAT OUT OF GODS’ LOVE , COMPASSION AND PURPOSE, HE HAS GIVEN THE WOMAN TO THE MAN ,TO BE A COMPANION AND HELPER (GEN 2:18) . THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS IS, THE PART THAT SAYS THE WOMAN IS A HELPER. THIS STRONGLY IMPLIES THAT THE MAN IS TRYING OR IS DOING SOMETHING THAT GOD APPROVES OF AND NEEDS SOME HELP. THE GREATER MESSAGE HERE IS THAT THE WOMAN WASN’T MADE FOR NOR, DOES SHE NEED A MAN THAT ISN’T GOING ANYWHERE OR TRYING TO FULLFILL HIS PURPOSE. SHE CAN DO BAD BY HER SELF. SHE CAN DO BAD BY HERSELF.
2. THE WORD TELLS US THAT IF A WOMAN ISN’T MARRIED, MEN ARE TO TREAT HER WITH ALL THE KINDNESS AND RESPECT AND PROPER INTENTIONS THAT THEY WOULD AFFORD TO THEIR OWN MOTHERS OR BLOOD SISTERS (I TIM 5:2) AMONG OTHER THINGS, THIS MEANS THAT BROTHERS SHOULDN’T BE -- TRYING TO GIVE WOMEN BABIES BEFORE THEY GIVE THEM A WEDDING RING.
3. THE WORD TEACHES THAT IF A MAN DECIDES TO MARRY A WOMAN, IT IS GOD’S EXPECTATION THAT THE MAN WOULD...
* DEVOTE HIMSELF TO HER ONLY
* LOVE HER AND TREAT HER WITH THE CARE AND RESPECT WITH WHICH HE REGARDS HIMSELF AND HIS OWN BODY. (GEN 2:24) THIS MEANS THAT UPON MARRIAGE, THE (NUMBER)OF WOMEN IN THE MAN’S LIFE DROPS TO TWO --AND THE ORDER CHANGES. IT BECOMES WIFE NUMBER ONE AND, HIS MOTHER NUMBER TWO... AND ALL THE OUTSIDE WOMEN ALONG WITH THE LITTLE BLACK ADDRESS BOOK BECOME LIKE YESTERDAY, (GONE FOREVER).
THE BROTHER WOULDN’T HURT HIS OWN BODY SO HE SHOULDN’T BEAT ON OR OTHERWISE MISTREAT HIS WIFE.
4.THE WORD SAYS THAT IF A BROTHER ABUSES OR MISTREATS HIS WIFE.. THIS IS SUCH A SEROUS OFFENSE BEFORE GOD THAT GOD WILL RETALIATE BY HOLDING UP THE ANSWERS TO THE BROTHERS PRAYERS (I PETR 3:7). (AMONG OTHER THINGS, THIS MEANS THAT THE LITTLE DIRT THAT A BROTHER DOES AGAINST HIS WIFE, GOD SEES. AND SO, IF LIKE MOST OF THE REST OF US, A BROTHER IS HOLDING OUT AND BELIEVING GOD FOR A LOT OF THINGS.. HE CAN NOT AFFORD TO HAVE ANY OF HIS BLESSINGS STOPPED OR DELAYED. SO HE NEEDS TO BE SURE TO TREAT HIS WIFE RIGHT.
FINALLY , A STRONG GODLY MAN AND FATHER REALIZES THAT JUST SHOWING UP WITH SOME FLOWERS AND A JIVE BOX OF CANDY ON BIRTHDAY AND MOTHERS’ DAY DOESN’T GET IT. IF THE SISTER IS GOOD, AND SHE MUST BE BECAUSE HE CHOSE HER... IF THE SISTER IS GOOD AND HE LOVES HER, THEN SHE NEEDS TO SEE IT EVERYDAY... AS WELL AS HEAR IT. SO TO SUMMARIZE WHAT HAS BEEN SAID TODAY. . .
WE SAID THAT A WISE GODLY MAN GIVES HIS BABY’S MOTHER SOMETHING TO BE HAPPY ABOUT EVERY DAY WHEN HE...
1. FULLFILLS HIS ROLE AS AN ACTIVE GODLY FATHER TO HIS CHILDREN.
2. MAKES HER KNOW OR DEMONSTRATES TO HER , EVERYDAY THAT SHE IS HIS QUEEN , THE MOTHER OF HIS CHILDREN AND JUST HOW SPECIAL THIS MAKES HER TO HIM.
DO THESE THINGS AND MAKE YOUR BABY’S’ MOTHER, HAPPY EVERYDAY.
