Godly Offspring

Psalm 127:3–5 NKJV

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

The War on Mothers and Children

Psalm 139:13–18 NKJV

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.

Women are told that children are an inconvenience, nuisance, and trouble.

Women are told that having children robs them of their independence, career advancement, and happiness.

Women are told that abortion is to be preferred over motherhood.

Women with children are encouraged to let daycare, government programs, and schools to raise them.

This war on mothers and children goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Satan hates children because God promised that through a CHILD, his head (power, authority) would be crushed.

Genesis 3:15 NKJV

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Satan hates children because they are made in the image and likeness of God and can carry the Spirit of God.

The Gift of Mothers

God made mothers. He made Eve, the mother of all the living.

God gifted mothers with qualities unique from those of a father. (consciousness of needs, nurture, comfort, counsel, unconditional love, forgiveness, discernment, boundaries, correction, protection, etc.)

God has assigned to mothers a distinct spiritual influence in the formation of children.

1 Timothy 2:15 NKJV

Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

The Example of Susanna Wesley: Susanna Wesley was the twenty-fifth and final child born to the Annesley family. Her father was a well-known and power minister. Susanna was taught the Christian faith as well as domestic duties but she enjoyed learning more. She studied theology, metaphysics, philosophy and French. Susanna married Samuel Wesley and together they had nineteen children, nine of these dying in infancy. Samuel eventually became a rector in the Anglican Church. The nature of his job required him to be gone to convention for several months out of the year. This left the church having only one service per week. Out of concern for her children, she began a Bible study for her children and servants. They gathered in her kitchen to sing songs, pray and read the Psalms. She also read some of her husbands most inspiring sermons. News of the meetings spread and people from the neighborhood began attending. As many as two hundred began attending these simple prayer meetings. This turned into a sort of spiritual revival. It is believed that the structure of these meetings inspired the Methodist movement.

Deborah Joyner Johnson, “Susanna Wesley, A Woman of Faith”:

"Susanna took the responsibility of raising her children very seriously. She spent individual time with each of them on a weekly basis, answering questions, and talking about their commitment to God. She also did this with her neighbors. Committed to bringing up her children in the ways of the Lord, she began a daily school for them. They were educated in academics, taught to be respectful and well-mannered, and were instilled with the value of daily reading the Word and singing Psalms. All the Wesley children grew into bright and intelligent men and women, giving credit again to the power of their mother's faithful teaching. Susanna believed that self-will was the root of all sin, and she consistently corrected them in this area so that they would be of an obedient temperament. It is evident that Susanna was kind to her children and that they deeply loved her. Even after they were grown and left home, they consistently wrote her for advice...Susanna wrote this about educating her children: 'Though the education of so many children must create abundance of trouble, and will perpetually keep the mind employed as well as the body; yet I consider it no small honor to be entrusted with the care of so many souls. And if that trust be but managed with prudence and integrity, the harvest will abundantly recompense the toil of the seed-time; and it will be certainly no little inheritance to the future glory to stand forth at the last day and say, "Lord, here are the children which Thou has given me, of whom I lost none by my ill example, nor by neglecting to instill into their minds, in their early years the principles of Thy true religion and virtue!' Susanna ran a household, home-schooled all her children, spent time with each of them individually, and preached to her neighbors. And she did all this from home. A mother's teaching is so influential in the lives of her children for it is usually the mother who spends the most time with them. This is no menial task, rather it is an honor and great calling from the Lord. Look at the difference that Susanna Wesley made in the lives of her own children, and through them impacted the world. We, too, can do the same!" [Deborah Joyner Johnson, "Susanna Wesley, A Woman of Faith", The Morning Star Journal (Vol. 16, No. 3), pp. 91-92]

The Gift of Children

Children are made in the image and likeness of God.

God foreknows every child.

God has a plan for every child.

God gives life to every child conceived in their mother’s womb.

God forms every child in their mother’s womb.

The Stewardship of Children

Malachi 2:15 NKJV

But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.

Children ultimately belong to God who gave them.

Children are to be raised in the training and admonition of the LORD.

Children are to be raised in a godly manner that causes them to know, honor, love, and fear the LORD.

Children are to be formed and fashioned as instruments of God.

Many of the Proverbs were written to give a child wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and discernment for life.

The Blessing of Children

Children are a heritage from the LORD.

Children (“the fruit of the womb”) is His reward.

It is a blessing to have a quiver (family) full of children.

Of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Children help us to see through their eyes and with simple faith.

Children inform and transform our perspective on the meaning, purpose, and priorities of life.

Caring for children helps teach us the importance of sacrificially caring for those who cannot care for themselves.

Caring for children helps cultivate their future care for you in old age.

Response to the Word

Thank God for mothers.

Thank God for children.

Embrace the importance of motherhood.

Embrace the stewardship of children.

Purpose to raise “godly offspring” for the glory of God!