What a Mother Expects

Happy Mother’s Day

(Share thoughts about moms - encourage women who aren’t mothers to mother spiritual children)

Mom’s I want to encourage you today.

I want to speak into your lives today and let you know just what a gift you are.

A Godly Mother

A Godly Mother is a treasure – A gift more precious than gold… Her children rise up, and call her blessed, And in high esteem do hold. Her love is like that of our Savior Who sacrificed His own life… That we might live joyful, Godly lives In a troubled world of strife. Her heart is like His, holding us close No matter how far we roam, And her arms are always open wide… To forgive and welcome home.

Her hands are busy molding our lives From the moment we are born… Planting seeds, loving, disciplining, Even when weary and worn. Her feet are always careful to go Where her child can follow there… How could we thank our Mother enough For her tender loving care? A Godly Mother fervently prays For that child she loves so much, For she knows the fruit of her vineyard… Depends on the Master’s touch.

-Connie Campbell Bratcher

Thank God for Mother’s Love ~Anon

There is no love, like a mother’s love, no stronger bond on earth... like the precious bond that comes from God, to a mother, when she gives birth.

A mother’s love is forever strong, never changing for all time... and when her children need her most, a mother’s love will shine.

God bless these special mothers, God bless them every one... for all the tears and heartache, and for the special work they’ve done.

When her days on earth are over, a mother’s love lives on... through many generations, with God’s blessings on each one.

Be thankful for our mothers, for they love with a higher love... from the power God has given, and the strength from up above.

paraphrase for Mothers

THE LOVE CHAPTER FOR MOTHERS

“If I talk to my children about what is right and what is wrong, but I have not love, I am like a ringing doorbell or pots banging in the kitchen. And though I know what stages they will go through, and understand their growing pains, and can answer all their questions about life, and believe myself to be a devoted mother, but I have not love, I have nothing.

If I give up the fulfillment of a career to make my children’s lives better, and stay up all night sewing costumes or baking cookies at short notice, but grumble about lack of sleep, I have not love and accomplish nothing.

A loving mother is patient with her children’s immaturity and kind even when they are not; a loving mother is not jealous of their youth nor does she hold it over their heads whenever she has sacrificed for them.

A loving mother believes in her children; she hopes in each one’s individual ability to stand out as a light in a dark world; she endures every backache and heartache to accomplish that.

A loving mother never really dies. As for home-baked bread, it will be consumed and forgotten: as for spotless floors, they will soon gather dust and heel marks. As for children, right now toys, friends and food are all-important to them. But when they grow up, it will be their mother’s love that they will remember and pass on to others. In that way, she will live on.

So care, training and a loving mother reside in a home, these three, but the greatest of these is a loving mother.”

So Happy Mother’s Day Ladies. I want to speak to you (in keeping with our theme of living expectantly) of What a Mother Expects

Actually, it has to be “What a Believing Mother, one who is following and living for Christ, expects. Because how many know that the expectations of the world are different than the expectations of God’s people

And even where those expectations run along the same lines, there is a limit to what a woman who doesn’t believe in God will be able to trust God for.

So Moms, Here are things that I believe you should be expecting from God in your home and family.

2 Kings 4:8–37 NKJV

8 Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. 10 Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.” 11 And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there. 12 Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’ ” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” 14 So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 So he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 Then he said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!” 17 But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her. 18 And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, “My head, my head!” So he said to a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door upon him, and went out. 22 Then she called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come back.” 23 So he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.” And she said, “It is well.” 24 Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, “Drive, and go forward; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” 25 And so she departed, and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel. So it was, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look, the Shunammite woman! 26 Please run now to meet her, and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ ” And she answered, “It is well.” 27 Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, “Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me, and has not told me.” 28 So she said, “Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?” 29 Then he said to Gehazi, “Get yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but lay my staff on the face of the child.” 30 And the mother of the child said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. 31 Now Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, “The child has not awakened.” 32 When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. 33 He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. 34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.

2 Kings 4:8-

We learn a lot here about what a believing mother expects as we look at the life and experience of this Shunamite Woman.

1st

The Believing Mother Expects and Makes Room For God in Her Home!

This Shunamite woman, recognizes the position and presence of God upon Elisha’s life.

She starts by making sure his need are met and then she makes a place for him to abide.

Ladies, it’s not about making making a room for a pastor or an evangelist (and if you do that, there is blessing in that), but we now know the father through the son.

Your home and family will be blessed as you make room for the Son of God in it.

For the Shunamite, it was building an actual room (an addition) onto her house.

She was looking after the welfare of the prophet of God, why?

Because she knew that he was a holy man

She knew that his calling kept him busy and that he travelled back and forth pretty regularly in his schedule

But She also knew that this was her time to have that presence in her house.

Ladies, for you it won’t be the building of an actual room or an addition or your house, but your expectation of God in your home will cause you to make room or an addition in your life and the life of your family.

It will set priorities in your home, because you will want and need the Spirit of God to move in your home

It will cause change to some of the things that your family will do, because you will want your family to bring glory to God in their lifestyles

It will cause an exchange - some things will be taken away and other things added

It will cause you to look differently at your husband and your children and your neighbors.

This woman spoke up for this cause - she told her husband, we need to do this. Yes it will cost us something, yes it will mean work for us, but this needs to happen.

God is looking for such women today, ladies

Women that will contend for their faith, especially in families where others may not share your faith

Women of action, because faith without works is dead faith.

Women that know that with God in their home, in a place that is carved out, and created for him, there is peace, blessing, power and purpose.

Will you be that believing mother today?

2ndly

The Believing Mother Expects the Deep Presence of God over her life!

The prophet wants to repay the woman for what she has done. He tells his servant to speak to her and find out what it is and he will use his authority to make it happen.

It doesn’t appear here that she actually asked for the child, but somehow Gehazi knows about it, so he heard it somewhere.

I wonder if it wasn’t a prayer that he heard uttered constantly from her lips or some other form of faithful expression from her mouth.

I’m praying for this, or I’m believing God for this. This is in God’s hands, and when he wills, he will.

Notice it wasn’t for the healing of a big toe, or the hiccups, but it was serious stuff.

She had opened up her home to the presence of God, but it wasn’t the goose bumps she wanted, but the full powerful presence of God’s Holy Spirit upon her home. She wasn’t playing games here.

And we know that from verse 16 when the prophet tells her that at such and such time she will be holding a son.

What is her reply? Man of God, don’t you be lying to me. In other words, this touches such a deep part of my life that cannot be no joke.

This is not an area of compromise with me. It better either happen, or not.

Some would read that and say that it was a lack of faith in her heart. I don’t see that. and maybe it’s just me, but to me it seems that this is something that her and the Lord have spoken about and that she has worked it out with God to the degree of God so be it.

But if he is saying that it is going to happen, then it has to happen. There is no middle ground here.

Sisters, this is speaking about many deep places in your lives. Things, prayers, faith utterances and even tears that you have shed over your families

For your husband, for your children, for your grand children

It’s the place in your life where the rubber meets the road. It’s serious, it’s no joke.

It’s the place where your heart has come into agreement with God that this is the way that it is going to be.

God you have said it, maybe He hasn’t done it yet, but he has said it, promised it, spoken to your heart about it and that settles it.

This is your place of spiritual standing Ladies - it declares who you are in God.

This is your place of spiritual battle ladies - it is what you are willing to give your life for. What cannot be compromised on. It’s a situation of the heart that cannot be settled any way, but for the deep, powerful presence of God to move right here and now.

expect that. Don’t allow less

Believe for it, pray for it. Speak the scriptures over it and when it comes down the nitty gritty of it, stand and fight for it.

Employ your husband into the battle with you. Grab other warrior woman and ask them to stand with you.

But no matter what, “man of God, you better not be lying to me.

The believing mother wants the serious things of God over her life and over the lives of the ones she loves.

She is willing to go the extra mile to make it happen.

She is not content with just the mundane things, but wants to see Heaven moved for the desires of her heart

And do you know why it will? Because the desires of her heart have become the desires of the Kingdom of heaven itself.

She understands in her prayer time the section that Jesus taught us to prayer when he said in

Matthew 6:10 NKJV

10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

She expects that. She prays that way. She believes that way. She battles that way.

Is that you today, believing mother? Expect it.

And then lastly,

A Believing Mother Expects Life in Her Home

She has made a place for God - it has cost her time and work to do so.

She has come to a place of standing with God that She just takes him at His Word - In her Home, In her life - HE IS GOD!!!

But how many know the enemy comes to test those things.

Her boy dies. It is probably an aneurysm, stroke or something like that, he grabs his head, complains of a headache and in a couple of hours is gone.

What does she do? Most of us would be mad at God. Life would stop. And the pain would take over for at least a time

She doesn’t have time for pain. She had this conversation with the prophet before. This had been settled. Do you remember that - man of God, you better not be lying to me.

So she saddles a horse, and goes herself to the man of God

She will not speak to his servant. This thing has been settled

There will be no appeasement other than the boy being alive in her arms again. This thing has been settled. This battle has been fought

The Spirit of God and the presence of God is in her house

Look at verse 26

2 Kings 4:28 NKJV

28 So she said, “Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?”

And the prophet gets ready to send his servant.

Oh no, that won’t work - this is between me and you. You are the representative of God.

I made a place for you in my life

I told you before this is no joke

Now you come with me and make this happen. I will not leave your side.

And we know that the boy lives again

What is this? Is this obnoxiousness? Is this irreverance for the man or presence of God?

No - this is faith.

This is faith in the God who space has been cleared out for in someone’s life

When God has space in your life, you can expect things from him that others cannot

This is faith in a God who has given his word to someone who knows how powerful the Word of God is

When you learn to hear his voice and when you hear what he is speaking over you, there is nothing that can hinder that word from being fruiful in your life.

That’s what this is. Faith in the heart of a woman who dared to take God at his word.

Faith in the heart of a woman who has declared life over her life, her home, her children, her husband and every other facet of her life

Faith in the heart of a woman who believes in this God and who will fight for everything that he has promised her.

That’s what this is, and that’s why at the end of the story, life is restored to her home and to her family through her resurrected son.

Sisters, what has died in your home? Is it a dream, is it a way of life, a belief or a relationship?

How’s your relationship with your husband? Hows the relationship with the children

Let me ask you this first, how is your relationship with God? (That effects all the rest)

Expect life in those things. You serve the God of life. You are a daughter of the Heavenly Father of Life

If you haven’t noticed it this morning, I spoke as if these expectations were actions. And that’s because they are. What you really believe in will dictate what you do when those beliefs are tested.

This Shunamite woman reacted according to her beliefs

She built a place for the presence of God

She dared to stand up to God when the promise was made

And she held God to his word when death came against it.

I want to encourage you, today, my sisters to step out in your faith.

Expect and live out in the promises and power and God.

Be women of faith. Be mothers who believe.

And see the power of God released in your life, and your home.

AMEN.

A Prayer in Gratitude for Our Mothers

Good and Gentle God, we pray in gratitude for our mothers and for all the women of theory who have joined with you in the wonder of bringing forth new life. You who became human through a woman, grant to all mothers the courage they need to face the uncertain future that life with children always brings. Give them the strength to live and to be loved in return, not perfectly, but humanly. Give them the faithful support of husband, family and friends as they care for the physical and spiritual growth of their children. Give them joy and delight in their children to sustain them through the trials of motherhood. Most of all, give them the wisdom to turn to you for help when they need it most.

- Author Unknown