Untitled Sermon

What does it mean to be a Godly mother? roles have changed over the years, it is now normal for what used to be a woman's job, to stay at home and raise the kids but now it is normal for the man to stay at home and be a stay at home dad. But today we celebrate our mothers for all they have done for us.

I look to my own mom and Grandma for what it means to be a Godly mom. We lived on the same yard as my grandparents for a long time. I remember My brother and I would climb on to the peak of the barn roof and grandma would catch us up there and tell us to “ get down from there or she would give us a spanking”. We where thinking no thanks I will stay up here. My Grandma was not perfect by any means but she showed me what it meant to be a prayer warrior. When they moved away to Wadena she called the farm a lot, I think she missed it. I got annoyed sometimes at the daily or multiple times a day calls, but during those calls she would always say something about praying for us or someone. God would place it on her heart to pray for a certain person and she would do it. My mom worked hard to make sure we had enough. She was gone a lot working shift work as a nurse. But she would always make sure we went to church, my parents made it a priority to send us to Bible Camp[, even though they didn't have much, so we could continue to learn about God. She taught herself how to play guitar in university and she taught me to love music and singing and me and her and my grandma would go around singing for people. I miss those days.

We have ladies in our lives that have influenced us, mad us into better people. Some of us maybe didn't have the influence of a loving mother, maybe it makes us scared to be parents ourselves. Maybe it was not your birth mother that built into your life but someone else mom that took you in? What does it mean to be a godly mom? did you know that the example we are going to look at today applies to all people not just moms? but today we encourage the moms and grandmas, the moms to be and every other lady out there, the ones that want to be moms but cant for whatever reason.

Story of the Shunamite woman. I wanted to go to an example of a godly women in the Bible to learn what we can from their life. Though the example given is for all as well, but an encouragement to others as well. What we are going to look at today is that as children of God we need to remain content where God has led us as we strive to live for Him and show God to those around us through the giving of what God has given us.

8-17 - Priorities on God

In 2 Kings we read about the story of the Shunamite women, she has no name, I am not sure why we do not know her name but the true story of what happened in her life is amazing to read.

2 Kings 4:8–10 CSB

8 One day Elisha went to Shunem. A prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to eat some food. So whenever he passed by, he stopped there to eat. 9 Then she said to her husband, “I know that the one who often passes by here is a holy man of God, 10 so let’s make a small, walled-in upper room and put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp there for him. Whenever he comes, he can stay there.”

Shunem was about 20 miles from Elisha’s hometown and mt Carmel was about 25 miles past Shunem. So the place would have been the perfect resting spot for Elisha to stop at on his travels to mt carmel. Elisha would pass through Shunem on His way to Mt Carmel and would probably stay the night there.

The Shunammite women say this. She was a prominent women which means she was was of great importance in her community, well respected, maybe had some money. She discerned that He was a man of God. So she decided to care for Elisha by feeding Him.

It would appear that the husband lacked the spiritual insight that the women had. She wanted to build a little apartment for him in the upstairs of their house, sparsely furnished. Separate from the family so that there would not be any chances for inappropriate contact.

In response to the need the prophet had, she opened up her home and showed Hospitality. Went out of her way to give her home and food to Elisha.

We are all exhorted to practice this virtue. to open up our hearts and our homes to those around us. 1 Peter 4:9

1 Peter 4:9 CSB

9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.

sure it may be referring to believers but it goes farther then that. This woman gave of herself and her stuff to make sure this prophet had what he needed. and she wanted nothing in return. When asked what he could do for her in repayment for her services she essentially said she was fine.

There are many people who have the ability to keep their house spotless and always have cookies or something ready to serve. That is amazing, I am not one of them. But one thing I learned growing up is my mom and dad would always invite people in for something to eat and drink when people stopped on the yard, it is what you did at the time.

I knew a couple who told me they knew their kids where going to hang out with their friends somewhere so they mad a fun place for them to hang out with their friends at home. They would cook for all the kids that came and give them snacks no matter how many came. Someone was going to have an impact on the kids, it might as well be them. we are to practice this as well. It is something my mom and grandma showed me and something that stuck with me. To allow people into your lives and to serve them.

but why do we do it anyways? not just to help those in need, though that is a good thing. The goal of this is to share with them the love of Jesus through the message of the gospel. How are we being hospitable to those around us.

Elisha wanted to ask her what could be done for her kindness, she said essentially I am fine. Content where she was at. What if we kept doing this? This used to be fairly normal, in rural communities when someone came to the door you would offer coffee or lunch or whatever. The act of hospitality and contentment shows a lot when following God. But not just any hospitality but one that points people to Jesus. We need to remember that the goal is always presenting the message of the gospel.

18-24 - Faith in Trouble

we do not do these things to get rewarded here on earth. We do them because God has called us to do them and our reward is in heaven. But sometimes God does bless our faith while here on earth. Not the rule though. For her faith and hospitality the woman was offered anything. And when Elisha’s servant noticed that they where an older couple and childless

2 Kings 4:14–17 CSB

14 So he asked, “Then what should be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 “Call her,” Elisha said. So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 Elisha said, “At this time next year you will have a son in your arms.” Then she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your servant.” 17 The woman conceived and gave birth to a son at the same time the following year, as Elisha had promised her.

Similar to the story of Abraham and Sarah. past the age of being able to bear children it would seem and this miracle comes along that she didn't really want to believe at first.

An important thing to understand is that to have a son in that time was a big deal for them. The son is the one that would carry the family name, with no son the family name would die with them. So it would have been huge to hear this.

A Godly mom, one who would do anything for her kid. Her faith was tested. I was not an easy kid to raise. We never had much money growing up even though my mom and dad worked hard to make ends meet. It didn't help that I grew so fast they could never keep me in clothes that fit. But they trusted in God to provide for them and for the family.

When faith is tested the example of a godly woman that we have is still to trust in God. as it is, the child was a miracle, you would think that the father would have been a little more concerned over their only miracle child. The kid is sick and died in her arms and she laid him on the bed that was set for Elisha.

Showed faith in a horrible time. She should have buried Him, or started mourning but instead ran to get Elisha. All this points to great faith on her part. God promised and she believed so her first reaction was to go find the man of God who declared this would happen. I am not sure what she thought the man of God would do, but instead of mourning, she ran to meet with the man of God.

we do what we can to live a life for God, sometimes we struggle but when life seems to be crumbling around us where is it that we turn? Like the Shunammite women will we turn to God and seek him for answers to our problems? will we drop everything and get on our knees and seek His wisdom? It is easy to look to ourselves and fall away from God but when life is crumbling, how is it that we can instead turn to God.

25-36 - God Provides

She had great faith in the promise God gave her that she would have a miracle son in her old age. And now the son was dead. so she threw appropriate behavior out the window and ran to Elijah.

2 Kings 4:28–29 CSB

28 Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not lie to me?’ ” 29 So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your mantle under your belt, take my staff with you, and go. If you meet anyone, don’t stop to greet him, and if a man greets you, don’t answer him. Then place my staff on the boy’s face.”

She was distraught but she sought the Lord for answers to what had happened. God promised and now the promise dissapeared. But it doesnt end there, the Lord provided a miracle for her.

2 Kings 4:36–37 CSB

36 Elisha called Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite woman.” He called her and she came. Then Elisha said, “Pick up your son.” 37 She came, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; she picked up her son and left.

A miracle is performed. A godly mom shows trust that God will provide. It is not always the miracle we see here but trust God will be true to His word. What God says will always come to pass. When life is crumbling we can trust God to provide. Now miracles do not always happen, sometimes the healing happens in heaven when we go to be with Jesus. but the idea of running to God for answers is what we need to learn.

and knowing that our Lord will always provide for His followers. Provide for our needs not our greeds. We can trust in God to provide. My mom showed me this even when we did not have much to begin with. She always trusted in god to provide, though she worried sometimes about it, I am sure more when I went to bed.

The on true God we have learned is the creator God, the all knowing God, the all powerful God. And as His children we can learn that we can trust in Him. He will provide for what He knows we needs to accomplish His will here on earth.

So What?

an example of a Godly woman. But it is an example for all of us to do well to follow. An encouragement for you moms out there as you try to raise your kids to Be godly, to be an example for them to follow as they grow older.

Be hospitable

when I first got here one of the things that struck me is how hospitable everyone was. We where driven around by Lee, no one really knew us yet but everywhere we went people fed us, talked to us, loved us. It is one of the things that drew us here, how loving you all where to us. I don't know if you quite know how much of an impact it had on me. Continue that with those around you. But remember as we love others by inviting them into our homes and lives that it is for the goal of pointing them to Jesus.

Run to God

this is not always easy to do though, sometimes life gets us down, we struggle, we go through hard times. But like the Shunammite woman we must run to God for our answers. Drop everything and seek Him with all of our hearts in all that we do.

God will provide

and remember in everything that we do, God will provide for what we need to fulfill His will for our lives here on earth. As God’s children we can trust in God the provider.