Bro. Tim Baker
First Baptist Church Festus/Crystal City
May 10, 2009 — Mother’s Day

Celebrating Mother’s Day is a wonderful day for us to celebrate; however, according to the Scriptures, celebrating our mother’s special place in our lives should be something we do everyday.

Eph 6.1-3

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.

NASU

When God created the woman in Genesis, He didn’t just create a person of the opposite sex.  In fact, He created the weave within the family, which He instituted.  God then gave the command to man and woman to multiply and replenish the earth.  As a result, the institution of the family was formed with

  • Structure – Man and woman
  • Purpose – To follow His command and bring glory unto Himself as His plan is fulfilled.
  • Blessing – A family will experience the blessing of God as it responds to God’s purpose.

The man is to be the head of the family.  From the very beginning of a child’s life, there is a special bond that begins to be created between a mother and her child.

  • She is given the privilege to carry the child during the pregnancy until the time of delivery.
  • She is given the burden of childbirth, in which she goes through a time of both joy and pain in bringing her child into this physical world.
  • Next, the maternal instincts which were given from God begin to kick in and a mother desires to care for her child by loving, feeding, and nurturing her child.

A woman is the special gift unto the family by God whom was created to be a helpmeet for the man and a loving / guiding mother for her children.

I.                   A sincere faith  1.5

A.    God’s plan includes a personal relationship with the woman within the context of the family.

1.      A mother’s greatest place is to understand her need for Christ and to make a decision to follow Him.

2.      Eunice came to know Christ as her Savior, through the preaching of the gospel.  Acts 14.6-7.

3.      Knowing Christ will give a mother the potential of becoming what He created a mother to be.

B.     This sincere faith, which is known by the mother, is to be passed down from the mother to her child.

1.      The child of a believer should have a greater opportunity to know Christ’s salvation.  I Cor 7.14

2.      She must model the love of Christ and the work of Christ as she takes care of her children.

3.      She should love them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as their own personal savior.

4.      A woman’s greatest heritage is godly children that are devoted to Jesus and His plan and purpose for their life.

II.                The responsibility of discipleship  1.5 (Sincere faith and passed down)

A.    A child’s greatest opportunity to learn comes from his mother.

1.      Unfeigned, genuine, sincere all speak of a faith that is lived out in action and behavior.

2.      Timothy benefited from having a mentor from both his mother and grandmother.

3.      Timothy learned that being a Christian was a lifestyle that revolved around Christ and not Christ revolving around a lifestyle.

4.      There should be a hunger and high respect for the authority of the Word of God taught unto a child.

B.     A mother enables her child to become ready for mentoring by other godly people.

1.      A foundation is laid in the home.

2.      A love for God and His Word is developed.

3.      Appreciation and respect for godly men and women will be healthy.

4.      Guidance towards others will be encouraged.

III.             A yearning for duty  1.6; Acts 16.1-3

A.    Timothy had been given a desire to serve his Lord.

1.      He was recognized as a worthy disciple  16.1

2.      He had proven himself to others in his devotion  16.2

3.      He was in a place in which he could be selected by the Apostle Paul  16.3

B.     A woman’s greatest heritage is godly children that are devoted to Jesus and His plan and purpose for their life.

Prov 31.28-31

28 Her children rise up and bless her;

Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

29 “Many daughters have done nobly,

But you excel them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,

But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

31 Give her the product of her hands,

And let her works praise her in the gates.

NASU