Mothers Day 2024

Good morning children of God! Today, we honor mothers. I have shared with Pastor Dakota and Pastor Paul, as well as with some of you, that there are two holidays I feel completely unqualified to stand up here and speak on. Veterans day and Mothers Day.

I hold the vocation of motherhood and mothers in such high regard that it is impossible for me to put together a sermon that I think adequately relays the importance of mothers. When I say mothers, I am talking about physical and spiritual mothers because both are of great importance to the Kingdom of God.

The sacrifices that mothers make, and the example of Yeshua’s love that so many mothers reflect can be mind boggling. In my mind, other than Jesus’ death on the cross for us, a mother’s love is the closest human example of God’s love for us that exists.

None of us are born deserving love. Think about it. From the beginning, we caused our moms discomfort in the womb, morning sickness, hormonal imbalance, and the pain of labor. Yet our moms loved us.

When babies are born, all they do is eat, sleep, poop, pee, and cry. Yet our moms loved us.

As we got older, we argued with our moms, made stupid decisions, fought with them, maybe said and did some terrible things, and probably broke her heart on more than one occasion. Yet our mothers loved us.

THAT IS A PICTURE OF GOD’S LOVE FOR US! Undeserving, yet we are loved anyway.

Am I saying that mothers are perfect and do not make mistakes? Well, are you perfect and without sin? No, none of us are. It can be convenient and easy to blame our moms for things. I think we forget at times that she was, most likely, trying her best to do better for you than what was done for her.

I remember my own mother. She was married four times, divorced three times. Her first three husbands were abusive, emotionally and physically, to her and us kids. Later in life, standing on her back porch, she shared with me that she lived with a fear that we would one day end up hating her for how we grew up.

Let me tell you something, as horrible and traumatic as our childhoods were at times, I know only a portion of how she grew up, and it was horrifying. She did the best she could for us with the hand she was dealt. Someone needs to hear that and think about that with their own mother this morning, and offer some grace and forgiveness for her today.

Now, some moms may not love like Christ. There may be strings attached. “I will love you if...” What blows my mind is how some mothers and some older children will withhold love as a way of punishing the other person. That is sins corruption of God’s love. That is someone who was not shown the love of God. That is someone who does not understand the love of Christ.

As we continue this morning, as a family in Christ, I want us to be sensitive to some things.

There are those within the body of Christ that are estranged from their mothers.

There are mothers estranged from their children.

There are mothers among us who have suffered miscarriages and never got to hold their child.

There are mothers among us who have suffered the death of a child.

There are those of us whose mothers are no longer with us.

There are aunts, sisters, daughters, and even some men among us who have had to fill the role of a mother.

Wherever you may be in your relationship with your mother or with your children this morning, you are a child of God. Nothing can pluck you from the Father’s hand.

Now, I am going to speak directly to the women of God here and online:

New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition 1332 בִּתְיָה (Bithyah)

בִּתְיָה Bithyah

You are a “Bat-yah, a daughter of the Great I Am, YHVH, Adonai, the One True Sovereign God. You are beautiful, and the LORD delights in you. At your best, at your worst, and everywhere in-between, you remain God’s daughter.

Men of God, here and online, it will do you well to remember that she is a daughter of God in how you speak to her and how you treat her.

We are going to look at a couple of women in the Bible this morning that exemplify the power of a mothers pray and a mothers influence.

I believe that one of the most powerful prayers of a mother in Scripture is Hannah’s prayer for a child in 1 Samuel.

1 Samuel 1:10–11 NIV

10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

Hannah had been childless for so long, that she was convinced that only God could do a miraculous work. God answered her prayer later on by giving her a son, Samuel, one of the first Major Prophets in the Bible. In Hebrew, Samuel or Shmuel, means “heard by God.” Mothers, the LORD hears you. He knows your heart and He is near.

I want you to notice how she went to the LORD. Hannah was done! She was a train wreck. She was so overcome with emotional pain that she was weeping bitterly. When scripture says a person is weeping bitterly, it means that they are inconsolable.

Hannah goes on to make a promise to God. She vows to give her child back to the LORD. The razor to the head is invoking a Nazarite vow. A Nazarite vow was usually a temporary vow in which the person did not drink wine, avoids contact with the dead, and does not use a razor on their head. It is a sign of separation to God. Her vow was not temporary, it was a permanent vow.

A mother’s prayers are powerful. Your prayers go to the ears and the heart of God. Your prayers influence those around you. Some of the purest and selfless prayers I have ever witnessed come from the hearts and mouths of mothers. I kind of have this joke that may have some truth to it: When I am praying to the Father, He will put me on hold when Carolyn calls in.

I am telling you, I have been in the war room praying more more than a few mothers. It is awe inspiring. Mothers and mothers to be, continue to pour out your hearts to the LORD. The LORD hears you.

Let’s look at what happens next as Hannah is praying in the Tabernacle.

1 Samuel 1:12–16 NIV

12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.” 15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

We see a woman who brought IT ALL to the LORD in prayer. As she prayed, the LORD filled her heart with His presence. As she poured her heart out to God, she found a new peace within herself and her circumstances. She went from weeping bitterly to being able to carry on a conversation. Going into communion with the Father deescalated her and brought her to a place of peace.

This encounter between Eli and Hannah contains an ironic twist. Eli represents the corrupt and apostate leadership of the priesthood, and Hannah the simple faith that can result from suffering and pain. Yet Eli mistakes her earnestness in prayer for drunkenness. The spiritual leader of the nation is unable to discern the spiritual significance of this woman’s struggle. In the end, he recognizes in her the faith he was supposed to represent.

Women of God, pray. Pray for your children, husbands, other’s children, other’s families. You never know who your prayers are going to influence. You have no idea how the power of Christ in you and the work of the Holy Spirit in your life can bring others to God through Christ.

A woman by the name of Lydia is a great example of the influence a spiritual mother has over others. Lydia is an often overlooked, yet important woman in the book of Acts, and to Christianity. Let’s look at what Luke records in the Book of Acts.

Acts 16:13 NIV

13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.

I love this verse! Right here, we see the heart of God part ways with Jewish law. This is important! Jewish law required a minimum of TEN men to be present for the law (the Torah) to be read. Jewish thought considered women to be so unimportant that they were not worthy of the law apart from the presence of men. That is not the heart nor the mind of God.

Philippi was too small for a synagogue, so this group of women went outside the town for a prayer service by the river. The reason the river is mentioned is because the water was necessary for ceremonial washings involved in Jewish worship.

These four men, Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke, also go outside the city, expecting to find a gathering of at least ten men, but come across this group of women instead. You know that the Apostle Paul did not shy away from sharing his testimony about Christ, regardless of Jewish law or tradition.

Acts 16:14 NIV

14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

We know that Lydia was a professional women, a gentile, who converted to Judaism. Royal purple fabric was in high demand as it was used for togas and outer garments for the royalty of Rome. She had homes and business establishments in both Thyatira and in Philippi.

A mother influences others with an open heart like Lydia. Lydia’s heart was open to a prayer service. It did not matter who was or was not there. She showed up to pray with these other women, to fellowship, and to learn from one another. Because of that, Lydia’s heart was open to receive the Good news of Jesus Christ. This next verse shows the influence that your open heart can have over others.

Acts 16:15 NIV

15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Biblical scholars pretty much agree that Lydia was single and did not have children at the time. The change that Christ made in her heart, her attitude, and her actions had such an impact on those around her that it influenced those who worked for her, business associates, and servants to be baptized.

Why is that important? Lydia, a woman, is known as the first European Christian convert in Scripture. The first person in all of Europe to become a Christian. She assumed the role of a spiritual mother to everybody that knew her. She gave herself over to the Lord in such a way that the church at Philippi actually met in her home. It was not the money she had, it was not the people she knew, it was her open heart and Christ in her that influenced those around her.

So important are both physical mothers and spiritual mothers in the Word of God, that Jesus addressed it from the cross.

In his third of seven utterance from the cross, this happened:

John 19:26–27 NIV

26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Jesus was not talking about himself. He was talking about the Apostle John. Even from the cross, Jesus was teaching us. He was making sure that his mother would be cared for in this life. Jesus was also, again teaching us that this family, the body of Christ, transcends physical family.

John was not only to help care for Mary, but became a spiritual son to Mary, and Mary, a spiritual mother to John.

Women of God, the Lord has tasked you with great responsibility. He knows the influence that you hold and the people you touch, even when you do not know yourselves. In raising your own children, in standing in the gap for others, in assuming the role of a spiritual mother for other women, men, and children. Never underestimate your value, do not discount your influence, and recognize the power of your prayers.

Worship Team/Alter Call

As a small token of our appreciation for our mothers, our mothers in the faith, and our sisters in the faith, we ask that all women in attendance come up and receive a gift this morning.

Before you come up, I remind you that the Alter is always open in this church, and that we have prayer warriors ready to pray for you and with you.

If you need to forgive a mother or a child this morning, lay it down and forgive. If you need to seek forgiveness this morning, go and ask for forgiveness. Do not let another day pass without releasing that burden. If you are able, tell your mom and show your mom that you love her today. God bless you, and Happy Mothers Day!