Mother lode

Happy Mother’s Day!

Thank you Richard for the practical teaching on serving with the fear of the Lord. Very heartfelt!

If you’re visiting, we are currently studying through the New Testament as it was written historically and we are currently in the book of Romans and we will return to Romans 13 next week because I want to focus on motherhood as the mother lode! I’ll explain this later.

Now I realize that some of you may not have fond memories of your mom, perhaps there’s a lot of anger or hurt, maybe you’re currently estranged or maybe she’s passed away and this day is always hard.

Or you might be a mom who feels like a failure in raising your kids but this topic this morning speaks to all of us as believers for the biblical characteristics of a godly mother can be applied to everyone!

Turn to 2 Timothy 1

Let’s read verses 1-5

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I am grateful to God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I unceasingly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing or desiring to see you, having remembered your tears, so that I may be filled with joy, being reminded of the unhypocritical or genuine faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced or persuaded that it is in you as well.

Three generations, two faithful mothers who saw Timothy’s potential raised him to know YHWH from the age of 12 but His father was a Gentile, possibly a Roman resident. Word gets out that the Jewish Messiah had arrived in Israel and was doing miracles and fulfilling many prophesies but when he was crucified, there were reports of his resurrection. 50 days later the church was born and a revival began in Antioch about 95 miles away. But we read in Acts 14 Timothy likely met Paul during his first visit to Lystra when he and Barnabas caused quite a stir when this lame man had faith to be healed and Paul said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he leaped up and began to walk. Little did Timothy know his life was going to change drastically.

When Paul and Timothy met there was an instant bond. Timothy was around 20 years old. Their relationship grew close, Paul referred to Timothy as his "own son in the faith" "beloved, faithful child in the Lord" and a "coworker in the gospel".

Timothy would end up assisting Paul traveling to found churches and represented Paul’s instructions to these churches. Timothy's role got so significant that Paul included him as a co-sender in several of his letters.

Throughout their time together, Paul mentored him, gradually increased his responsibilities and prepared him for leadership roles in the early church eventually landing in Ephesus which remained quite a challenge. I can’t imagine working with the Apostle Paul!!

When Paul wrote this Second letter to Timothy, he was under house arrest in Rome awaiting his appeal to Caesar and asked that Timothy would come see him before winter to bring a few things he left behind in Troas; a cloak, and some parchments. If Timothy went to Rome, it’s probable he witnessed Paul’s martyrdom.

But the thing I want to point out is how Timothy was trained so well that the Apostle Paul was confident enough to leave him to refute the Greek philosophers of early church!! We know it wasn’t his Greek Dad but rather his Jewish grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. And in chapter three we the results of their tutelage.

But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra. What persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. [we are witnessing this in our day as we speak] But watch what Paul says....verse 14

But you, continue in the things you learned and became convinced of, knowing from whom you learned them, [grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice] and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, [Reproof and correction are closely related. Reproof involves verbal admonition or rebuke, while correction is more verbal direction and physical discipline] ....for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.

You see,once again, the focus wasn’t performing signs and wonders, seeking subjective experiences or giving prophetic words promising revival is coming but it was teaching the word of God! That’s what profit us and literally training us in righteousness! Only then are we equipped for every good work God has for us. If that involves miracles or healing praise the Lord! But the important thing is teaching the word of God the abides forever!

It’s important to note, the New Testament hadn’t been compiled yet. Paul was referring to the Old Testament or Tanakh, which is: the Law (Torah), the Prophets (Nevi'im), the Writings (Ketuvim). or the historical accounts. It was Jesus who told his disciples “All things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me”.

So by the age of 20, Timothy had been well trained in righteousness by Grandma Lois and his mother Eunice. And no doubt he knew the value of honoring their guidance. And little did he know, God had a wonderful work for him to walk with the Apostle Paul!!

Now, these precious moms didn’t know this is how things would happen for Timothy but they saw potential and God he was privileged to serve Paul the Apostle faithfully and I’m absolutely sure it wasn’t an easy thing to do! Paul took the mantle of Lois and Eunice and took Timothy to a much deeper level of maturity.

Ironically, after Paul's martyrdom by Caesar Nero in 67 A.D., Timothy continued to pastor in Ephesus, mimicking the ministry of Paul by combating false teachings and overseeing the church of Ephesus and just like his friend and mentor Paul as some 23 years later Timothy was martyred in Ephesus by Emperor Domitian.

What a legacy for two moms to instill into a young boy the word of God and hoe God used this man because of their diligence.

Now I want to make something clear this morning: this account is not a promise for our kids or grand kids. It’s a principle for us to glean from. With anyone we choose to train or disciple in the word, we increase the possibilities of what “could be” for them and how God will use them!

So Moms, Dads, Grandmas, Grandpas, brothers, sisters and mentors: Don’t be discouraged if you did all this with somebody and didn’t see the same result. That’s not the point. The student must choose as well. It will depend on their personality, environment, who they hang out with, seeing their passion at a young age, and God’s purpose but whoever we try to work with, the goal is to prepare them for any potential we might see. But mothers have a special gift to instill the word when kids are young while fathers tend to take the mantle when they get older.

I think it’s so sad to see the decline of the family unit, a mother’s value today is looked down on as so many young women are being told to chase careers not kids and if they get pregnant they can eliminate the child because it’s their body and their choice. They’re being trained in unrighteousness!!

Then I thought, no wonder our youth culture lacks true leadership. They are not interested in Christianity because it’s more exciting to be a Swifty! And could it be that potential leaders were denied birth or the moms or grandmas didn’t take the time to study God’s word to teach their kids. I don’t know but so many young people are just wandering in life, depressed, suicidal or find it popular to be an atheist! All I can ask is: How’s it working for them?

But nothing has changed with God, His word still make us wise unto salvation! [if short on time - skip to Mom]

Last week I went to my old church for a memorial of a mother named Yolanda and they were unaware I was going to be there. It was a surprise! I met this family in 1984 when they just moved to Medford and came into the church on a hot summer day during the week. I happened to be there preparing for the worship team.

This is Mike and Yolanda Gentile with their four little girls. As years passed, I watched those girls grow up and later become moms as well. I found out at the memorial that Yolanda was a women of prayer who used to rise up between 2am-4am to look through all the prayer notes she gathered the previous day to offer to the Lord. Her husband Mike found hundreds of notes in her prayer closet. But one night she simply went to sleep and never woke up.

Their daughters are in their 40’s and their kids are starting to have kids and I felt really old! They were so sweet introducing me to their kids which are eight altogether and most of them are still serving the Lord.

Ironically, my final wedding at the Applegate fellowship included one of the daughters, Alisha who was going to marry Joshua Clark. Of course, I had fun with that because Joshua was going to marry a Gentile!!. It was the only time I was asked to recite the “princess bride” wedding scene. But sadly, her husband Joshua recently died of cancer so Alisha is now a widow of three kids.

I met her son Josiah who is now a handsome young man and looks just like his dad! Sorry the picture makes him look out of it but these were quick pictures. Later on I told him about his parent’s wedding. Now I’m sure these kids were raised in church but I’m not sure if a woke America did them any favors. The fact that politicians are fighting in the courts over men in women’s sports or promoting gay and transgender literature in our public schools from age 6 and up could be the reason we’re not seeing many Timothy’s today!

For centuries, motherhood was an honorable pursuit but these days it seems to be more of a barrier or hassle for women who’d rather be single and live with a guy or pursue the party life and claim the right to eliminate the child if they get pregnant.

Some have lots of kids out of wedlock just to get government assistance. And Sherri have seen it; the system is tragically full of many unwanted foster children. According to recent data, there are about 438,000 children in foster care in the United States. Each year, 20,000 get adopted, leaving over 400,000 kids getting more detached no matter how much you attempt to raise them in the ways of the Lord.

Like everything else, what God meant for good and honor has been perverted or corrupted by culture. Yet to be fair, there was a time when offering your firstborn child to Molech was commendable,  they were motivated by the belief that such sacrifices would bring them divine favor, prosperity, and success. Sounds like the same demonic influence today.

My mom was a mother of five boys [Lord, have mercy] and our only sister sadly died at birth in 1968. She’d be 57 today! But I’m sure when mom died, she was there to greet her!!

My half brother Demian came later in 1975. But here’s the irony.

My grandma or my mom’s mother was and into Christian Science and my mom played organ in the catholic church so neither raised me in the scriptures like Timothy but upon my conversion and regeneration, I was privileged able to lead my grandma and mom to Christ! My Dad as well with Sherri by my side! Such is the grace of God!!

My wife Sherri struggled with self worth growing up in a stoic family who offered her no encouragement. But God drew her and she was delivered from sin. God brought us together and the main thing we had in common: We both loved the word of God!! After two tubal pregnancies we realized we couldn’t have her own children so we became foster parents and Sherri became a loving mom overnight!

After fostering nine different kids within 5 years we eventually adopted two: Salina and Coleman. 1 Tim 2:15 fits her perfectly.

1 Timothy 2:15 LSB

But she will be saved [delivered] through the bearing of children, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with self-restraint.

Sherri was a natural, instilling scripture and care over our kids and still does even in her current illness as she continues in faith and love and sanctification for our granddaughter Skylar! Did we produce Timothy’s? Nope! But they know of whom we serve. The rest is up to them.

And who knows, Skylar may be different.

I entitled this message as "mother lode" because it is a term that refers to the principal or main vein of ore or mineral in a system. Metaphorically “Mother Lode” describes the highest or most significant of anything, or the ultimate of concepts. So the word of God is the Mother lode of the gospel. the highest, the ultimate and most significant truth!!

The term "mother" is used figuratively like Mother church, Motherland, mother ship. The "mother" in apple cider vinegar is a byproduct that contains beneficial bacteria and enzymes, contributing to the health benefits. In the Bible "mother” many things. Deborah in the book of Judges is described as "a mother in Israel." Paul refers to Jerusalem as the “mother of us all” yet he referred to the Galatians as His children, with whom he was again in labor until Christ is formed in them — we can all apply the benefits of motherhood!

So thanks to all the moms and grandmas here today but also thanks to all of you who have cared for others like mothers. You gave them the mother lode: the highest, ultimate and most significant truth! The word of God!

SHALL WE GIVE THANKS?