Untitled Sermon (3)

What Mama Teaches Us About God

Motherhood is a learning experience.

There are things mothers never know until you have children of your own.

For instance, you’ve learn that a 3-year-old's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

You learn you should never use the words “Play Doh” and “microwave” in the same sentence.

Mamas learn when you hear the toilet flush followed by the words "Uh-oh", it's already too late.

Way too late.

Sooner or later mama learns to always look in the oven before you turn it on.

You learn that, up to a certain age, a kiss and hug can always make it better.

You learn that the same child who makes you angry enough to cry can make you laugh so hard you lose your breath.

Mamas learn how to love somebody past the pain.

Motherhood is a learning experience.

Not just for moms, but for the rest of us.

That’s what I really want to talk about this morning.

What you and I can learn from mama.

More specifically, what you can learn from mama about God.

Turn with me to

PRAYER

Behind every great figure in history is a mother.

But we don’t remember many of their names, do we?

Anybody here remember the name of Abraham Lincoln’s mother?

Rosa Parks’ mother?

Billy Graham’s mother?

And yet these nameless mothers helps make their kids what they became.

They have a hand in changing history.

That is true about the nameless mother introduced in these verses.

We know next to nothing about her.

Yet God chooses to include her in His inspired Word.

Her story reveals many lessons about God we can all learn from our mamas.

First of all,

1. Mamas teach us about God’s compassion. (v. 21-22)

How many of you know that mama knows?

She just knows.

You try to pull a fast one.

Try to pull the wool over her eyes.

You’re so sure you got away with it.

But let me assure you...

Mama knows.

How are you feeling?

I’m fine mama.

She knows you are not fine.

She knows something is bothering you.

She just knows.

Mama knows because you are not just her pride and joy...

You are her very heart.

Elizabeth Stone writes: Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.

Another way of describing this is the word compassion.

The best definition I’ve ever heard for compassion is this:

Compassion is your hurt in my heart.

This is the compassion flowing from the heart of this mama.

She’s a Canaanite, born and raised in the region of Tyre and Sidon…

A coastal community of sea-faring folk.

Ancient enemies of Israel.

Idol worshippers.

You don’t see many Canaanites and Israelites crossing paths.

But this mama is so desperate she’s willing to chase a Jewish rabbi for help.

We have no idea how this demon got hold of her daughter.

It doesn’t really matter, does it?

All that really matters is her heart is hurting for her child.

“Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is cruelly tormented by a demon.” (v. 22).

The daughter’s hurt is in the mother’s heart.

Every mother here has felt that pain, haven’t you?

Whether it’s the pain of a colicky baby...

Or the emotional pain of a heartbroken teenager...

Or that helpless hurt you feel for your adult children who are suffering...

Trust me…

Mama knows.

She feels your hurt in her heart...

Her compassion reflects the compassion of God.

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus demonstrates His great compassion.

When He looks out over a massive crowd of people…

Sick people…

Tormented people…

Lost people…

The Bible says in

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

When He meets a widow, leading a funeral for her only son, the Bible says in

When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.

Jesus knows.

He feels your hurt in His heart.

There’s never a tear you shed alone.

Never a sorrow you bear by yourself.

Surely, He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…

The compassion of a mama teaches us about the compassion of God.

A second lesson:

2. Mothers teach us about persistence in prayer. (v. 23-27)

Mama knows, but sometimes she can be flexible.

How many times do I have to tell you…?

You know it’ll be at least one more.

This is the last time I’m going to say it…

Not really.

One…Two…!

Now she’s starting to get serious.

Most kids know how far to push mama.

But once mama makes up her mind…

That’s a different story.

You are not getting up from the table until you clean your plate…

You can cry all you want to, but you’re going to take this medicine…

I don’t care how you feel, you are GOING to school…

Mamas can be pretty persistent.

This Canaanite mother surely is.

But He answered her not a word…(v. 23a)

Well that’s discouraging, isn’t it?

Not yes not no.

Just seems to ignore her.

But she doesn’t give up.

She keeps pressing Him.

And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”

(v. 23b)

Get rid of her! She’s getting on our nerves!

But you never get the idea that she gets on Jesus’ nerves.

It’s almost as if He invites her persistence.

But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (v. 24)

Here’s strike #2.

He explains His mission is mainly to the people of Israel.

That doesn’t slow her down.

Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” (v. 25)

She may not be a Jew…

But she recognizes what many of Jesus’ own people miss.

She bows low before Him…

She calls Him Lord…

And how does He respond?

But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” (v. 26)

Strike #3!

He insults her!

Now surely she’ll give up.

And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” (v. 27)

Boom!

She knocks it out of the park!

She recognizes she has no right to ask Jesus for anything.

Yet she still believes He will hear and answer…

Not because of who she is.

But because of Who He is.

This mother teaches us that persistence always pays off with Jesus.

Why?

Why does prayer require persistence?

Why doesn’t Jesus answer her prayer the first time?

Does He really enjoy seeing people grovel at His feet?

No.

The key is in Jesus’ response in

Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith!...” (v. 28)

What makes her faith so great?

Her persistence!

You see, it doesn’t take lot of faith to pray like a vending machine.

Slip in your prayer and out comes the answer.

What grows your faith is when you pray and you get no answer.

But you keep praying anyway.

You keep believing He hears even when it seems like He’s ignoring you.

Keep praying past all the obstacles and all the discouragement.

Keep believing in spite of it all, He hears you, He cares for you, He loves you.

This is when, like this mother, your trust is tested.

And it is this persistent praying…

This continual trusting…

That your faith is purified.

… that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…

Mama teaches us how precious persistence in prayer really is.

Which brings us to one last lesson from this mother:

3. Mothers teach us about walking by faith. (v. 28)

One of the things I remember about my mom is the way she walked.

I could see her coming and knew her state of mind was before she ever said a word.

When she was angry, she’d walk kind of stiff, each stubby little leg hitting the ground like thunder.

When she was happy, she’d almost glide across the floor.

And as she grew older, like most mothers, her steps slowed down.

She became a little unsteady on her feet.

But she never lost that certain way of walking.

Praying in faith is important.

But walking by faith is just as important.

This nameless mother shows us how to walk by faith.

Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (v. 28)

Because of her great, persistent faith, Jesus tells her I’ve answered your prayer.

Now this woman who’s been following so hard at His heels…

She gets off her knees and heads home.

She doesn’t ask for a sign.

She doesn’t demand more proof.

She just walks away, believing Jesus’ promise.

Every step she takes is a step of faith.

When she gets home, she’s not surprised to see Jesus is as good as His word.

This is perhaps the greatest lesson a mother can teach her children.

To walk by faith.

To live out your faith in Jesus.

Not just to read your Bible.

But to live your Bible.

Not just to butter God up on Sunday.

But to live for His glory every day of the week.

Not just to trust Jesus to take you to heaven…

But to walk with Him every moment of your life here on earth.

Maybe you’ve had a mama like that.

She didn’t send you to church.

She brought you to church.

She prayed for you and prayed over you.

She weeps when you stray.

She prays you will come back.

Most of all she clings to the promises of His Word.

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

The word of God guides her every step.

You see it’s not just about coming to church.

It’s not about being religious.

It’s about walking by faith.

Believing Jesus is as good as His Word.

Many years ago, there lived an old saintly woman, whom everyone in town called, “Mama Newton.”

She was like a mother to every child in the neighborhood.

She had hair like a halo of silver, hands worn with calluses, and cheeks stained by tears.

Every day, and every night, you’d find Mama Newton crying, and

praying for her son John. John ran away from home as a teenager to become a sailor.

At sea he grew to become a blasphemous drunkard.

In fact, even the most hardened men on board blushed to hear John speak.

Yet day and night, Mama Newton kept praying for her boy.

And one day, God answered her prayer.

After a storm at sea, John’s heart is seized with fear.

He cries out to God for mercy.

He is gloriously saved.

John becomes a preacher of the Gospel.

A pastor of a church.

He leads many others to Christ.

Blesses them as their pastor.

And today, Mama Newton’s boy is still blessing people all over the world.

Because Mama Newton’s son, John Newton, write what may be the most well-known hymn of all time.

John Newton writes the words to the hymn Amazing Grace.

You never know how far the prayers of a mama will reach.

The prayers of this nameless, Canaanite mother touches Jesus’ heart…

And they still teach us today.

They teach you not just how much mama loves you…

They teach you how much Jesus loves you.

They teach you not only of the power of prayer…

To teach you the power of persistent prayer.

They teach you not only to have faith…

They teach you to walk by faith.

This is what mama teaches us about God.