The Greatest Mother, According to Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Handout
The Greatest Mother Ever according to Jesus
The Greatest Mother Ever according to Jesus
Luke 1
Luke 1
Text: Luke 1
Date: May 14, 2017;May 10, 2020
Introduction:
Introduction:
Moms are great teachers, yet there are some things you will probably not hear a mom say:
“How on earth can you see the TV sitting so far back?”
“Just leave all the lights on...it makes the house look more cheery.”
“Let me smell that shirt—Yeah, it’s good for another week.”
“Go ahead and keep that stray dog, honey. I’ll be glad to feed and walk him every day.”
“Well, if Timmy’s mom says it’s OK, that’s good enough for me.”
“The curfew is just a general time to shoot for. It’s not like I’m running a prison around here.”
“I don’t have a tissue with me...just use your sleeve.”
“Don’t bother wearing a jacket—the wind-chill is bound to improve.”
If we could locate a mother that had raised the best child that was ever born then we could study her life and pattern child raising after what she did. We have found such a mother. She is located in the Bible. She is the mother of John the Baptist. As far as I can find, John the Baptist is the only man that Jesus ever said that there was none greater.
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Therefore if John the Baptist was the greatest person ever born of woman then his mother must be the greatest mother who ever gave birth to a child.
It would behoove us to examine such a mother and follow her methods in child raising.
What makes Elisabeth a great mother and one that raised a man that God called Great?
What makes Elisabeth a great mother and one that raised a man that God called Great?
I. She was a Godly Mother- vs. 5-6
I. She was a Godly Mother- vs. 5-6
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
What made her a Godly Mother?
What made her a Godly Mother?
A. She believed God- vs. 6
A. She believed God- vs. 6
She trusted God for her salvation.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
B. She walked with God
B. She walked with God
(Ill. Once a little boy asked his father what a Christian was. For a long time, the father sat with the son explaining in great detail exactly what a Christian was supposed to be. When he was finished, he felt like he had done a pretty good job of describing a Christian, as well as himself. His illusions, however, were shattered when his son asked, “Dad, have I ever met one?”)
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
C. She was blameless
C. She was blameless
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
God is seeking a lady that will decide to live her life a Godly woman?
God is seeking a lady that will decide to live her life a Godly woman?
Will you decide today to continue to live Godly?
Will you decide today to continue to live Godly?
Will you decide to become a Godly woman?
Will you decide to become a Godly woman?
II. She was a Patient Mother- vs. 7
II. She was a Patient Mother- vs. 7
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
A. Patient with the Lord
A. Patient with the Lord
She had waited many years on God to do something in her life.
Too often we become impatient with God because He is not working on our timetable….
Unmet expectations are an issue that all of us must deal with. Too often we are frustrated when our expectations are not met; then we become resentful; then we become angry; then we become bitter and that is where our lives begin to be affected to the point that we take it out on everyone around us.
“Gods delays are not always Gods denials”
B. Patient with her husband
B. Patient with her husband
Still serving and ministering with her husband in the service of the Lord.
When the wife becomes impatient with God/husband this leads to wife becoming overbearing or the wife will take over being the family leader…ladies you may be smarter, quicker, than husband but when you take over the leadership role in your family you cause your husband to become less of a man and you become less of a woman!!
Too often when God does not come through like one thinks He should they begin to become bitter, cold, distant…
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
C. Patient with her children
C. Patient with her children
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Don’t let your patience be controlled by your fatigue
D. Patient with others
D. Patient with others
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Godly
Patient
III. She Was a Humble Mother- vs. 24-25
III. She Was a Humble Mother- vs. 24-25
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
“Hid herself”
“Hid herself”
She could have shouted from the housetop the miracle that God had performed in her body, yet she went alone to praise God.
A. Humility is required for service
A. Humility is required for service
8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; And what doth the Lord require of thee, But to do justly, and to love mercy, And to walk humbly with thy God?
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
B. Humility required to be heard by God
B. Humility required to be heard by God
12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: He forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
Godly
Patient
Humble
IV. She Was a Grateful Mother- vs. 25
IV. She Was a Grateful Mother- vs. 25
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
She spent 5 months in hiding to praise and Glorify the Lord.
V. She Was an Example of God’s Power- vs. 36-37
V. She Was an Example of God’s Power- vs. 36-37
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
The miraculous power of God
27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
VI. She Was an Encouraging Mother- vs. 40-47
VI. She Was an Encouraging Mother- vs. 40-47
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Young frightened Mary came to live with her.
A. Encouraged herself in God’s goodness
A. Encouraged herself in God’s goodness
6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
B. Other Christians need Someone to encourage them.
B. Other Christians need Someone to encourage them.
36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
VII. She Was a Surrendered Mother- vs. 57-61
VII. She Was a Surrendered Mother- vs. 57-61
57 Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
Sometimes God doesn’t make sense to us, but if we will obey then He can work.
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
VIII. She Was an Influential Mother- vs. 76-80
VIII. She Was an Influential Mother- vs. 76-80
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord To prepare his ways; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people By the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God; Whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace. 80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
John would be the forerunner of Jesus Christ
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
His short ministry was influenced by a Godly mother….
You and I will never know the influence that we have on other believers and Non-Believers.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
How many of these qualities can you see in your life?
How many of these qualities can you see in your life?
Which of these are missing?
