02/12/2023 - Baby Love! Baby Dedication (Love Month)

Grace Place Atlanta COGBF 4700 Mitchell Street Forest Park, GA 30297 Website: atlantacogbf.org Email: info@atlantacogbf.org Phone: (404) 241-6781 Wayne D. Mack, Pastor / Pastor Wayne D. Mack Sermon Notes February 12, 2023 Week 2 – Love Week - Baby Dedication – Baby Love Baby Love Proverbs 31: 1-9 New King James Version 31 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him: 2 What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows? 3 Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; 5 Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all [a]the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart. 7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more. 8 Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy. Start Here: GM, GP This morning’s service will feature a double-header: First our celebration of Love Month and secondly our first Baby Dedication since the pandemic. So exciting! I am going to skillfully attempt to blend the two celebrations together into one seamless service. In the first round of the double-header, in keeping with our tradition at GP during the month of February, I will minister from the theme of a familiar Love Song of which I will correlate its intended message with a deeper spiritual truth. It’s the same way Jesus made parables in the Gospels by taking an everyday practice to illustrate a spiritual principle. Just to reiterate, Love Month is a time in which we make it our priority to be intentional about celebrating the love among us as a church family, as well as amping up the love Christ declared we should have in our hearts as His children. The second half of our service will focus on Christening [or Knighting] Master Benjamin Elijah Knight – son of Greg, Sr. and Sonja Knight, and little brother to Greg, Jr. [Welcome to Ben’s entourage] Let’s begin . . . Today’s love song is another “Oldie but Goody” -- one that I selected in order to blend both our Love Month tradition with our Baby Dedication. The title of this morning’s Love Month song is: BABY LOVE! "Baby Love" is a song by American music group the Supremes [or should I say: Diana Ross and the Supremes]. This hit is from their second studio album, Where Did Our Love Go. It was written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland and was released on September 17, 1964. This sweet and innocent Motown classic is about the hopeful romance involved in teenage love. It became one of ten Top 10 hits in the United States for The Supremes. The lyrics were inspired by writer Lamont Dozier’s first love, who he said he never got over. I’m sure this song resonates with most anyone who has ever been in love; but even more poignantly for those whose first love came along during their teenage years. And, equally notable is the fact that although female phenom Diana Ross is leading this song, it really originated from the heart of a male. The song writer himself – a young man who never got over his Baby Love. So, just like a man, he left it to the woman to tell his story and to sing about his need for his baby and how broken his heart was because he felt “treated so bad”. Listen to the Baby Love Lyrics: Ooh baby love, my baby love I need you, oh how I need you But all you do is treat me bad Break my heart and leave me sad Tell me, what did I do wrong To make you stay away so long 'Cause baby love, my baby love Been missing ya, miss kissing ya Instead of breaking up Let's do some kissing and making up Don't throw our love away In my arms why don't you stay Need ya, need ya Baby love, ooh, baby love Play it Uriah . . . Whether this song emanates from a boy or girl, or a man or woman – it’s clear that one or the other was mighty in love and committed to his or her Baby Love [aka: Their Boo, Beau, or Boi]. So much so, until he or she was willing to endure hurt, pain, sadness, mistreatment, loneliness, and separation. This range of emotions . . . is a demonstration of how resilient and enduring true love is. It is the epitome of how far-reaching one’s love will go to defy odds, tolerate humiliation, and/or persevere beyond doubt and uncertainty. [All this, to rise above what seemingly is to what could be]. Did you know that these descriptions of resilient and defiant love are the supernatural traits that God wires into parents when it comes to bringing little sons and daughters into this world? Serious parents, especially mothers [no offense dads] – possess a will beyond the natural to procreate, conceive, and bring forth a bundle of life for God. And, from a spiritual perspective, that is the embodiment of true Baby Love! You don’t know true Baby Love until you’ve looked into the face of God through His Word. Given that, here are three snapshots of Baby Love from the Bible as portrayed by three sets of parents [mothers in particular; no offense dads] – who represented what real Baby Love entails. Our FIRST snapshot is found in the Book of First Samuel, Chapter 1, Verses 1 – 21. I call this example of Baby Love: Hannah’s Bold and Courageous Hope Against Hope that Changes God’s Mind. {A love for your baby or a baby with do that} Let’s read . . . . hop scotch . . . 1 Samuel 1 New King James Version 1 Now there was a certain man of Ra-ma-tha-im Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. 4 And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat. Hannah’s Vow 8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” 9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. [She went to church and prayed, I had a praying grandmother] Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Hannah’s Prayer and Vow 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.” 11 12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!” But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.” 15 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” 17 And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. 18 Samuel Is Born and Dedicated 19 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.” 24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.” So they worshiped the Lord there. Now, Our SECOND snapshot is found in the Book of Exodus, Chapter 2, Verses 1 – 21. I call this example of Baby Love: Amram and Jochebed (Moses’ Parents) Risking Everything for the Love and Life of My Baby {A love for your baby or a baby with do that} Let’s read . . . . hop scotch . . . Exodus 2 New Living Translation 1 About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married. 2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. 4 The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him. Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. 6 When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said. 5 Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked. 7 “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother. 8 “Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him. 9 10 Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.” Now, Our THIRD snapshot is found in the Book of Luke, Chapter 1, Verses 26 – 21. NLT I call this example of Baby Love: Giving Birth to the Son of God -A Holy Conception [Embracing God’s Providence] {This is akin to perhaps an untimely pregnancy [or for someone an unwanted pregnancy]; but a love for your baby is God’s mystery to the woman. Even when you’re not ready, because you’re accepting, God will make it good. } Luke 1:26 – 21 Let’s read . . . . hop scotch . . . In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 26 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you![e]” 28 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” 34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 35 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For the word of God will never fail.” 36 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. 38 [Mary and Joseph endured much because of the Love for their Baby: • Registering as citizens • Born in a stable • Enduring Herod the King who wanted to slay Jesus • Fleeing to Egypt for protection • Enduring the murder of all babies Jesus’ age. Massacre of the Innocents Finally, What Mothers and Fathers who possess a true Baby Love for their sons, must teach them: Three Things Proverbs 31: 1-9 - New Living Translation 1 The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him. 2 O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, 3 do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol. 5 For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed. 6 Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress. 7 Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more. DO: 8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. 9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. In other words, 8 Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy. BABY LOVE END