2 Timothy 1:5-7

Intro:

Elizabeth was sitting in the pediatrician’s office, filling out a form to register her three year old as a new patient. She answered all the questions about her daughter’s immunization record and medical history. She gave information their family’s insurance, her full name, her address, and her telephone number. All the usual stuff.

Then Elizabeth saw something that she had never seen on a form before, something that instantly told her this would be her child’s doctor from now on. Beside the blank marked “occupation” were these words: “If you devote the greater part of your time to loving, caring and making a home for your family, put a big star in this space.”

Mothers deserve a big star, don’t they?

I heard about a little boy who was making a presentation in Sunday school and forgot his lines. His mother was in the front row to prompt him. She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it did not help. Her son’s memory was blank. Finally, she leaned forward and whispered the cue, “I am the light of the world.” The boy beamed and with great feeling and a loud clear voice said, “My mother is the light of the world.”

Mothers can shine like lights and stars in their homes to bring their families closer to God.

Today, we’re going to look at an example of a mother’s faith.

Background:

Paul – the great preacher and missionary – along with Barnabas, came to a town called Lystra. Began to preach and teach about Jesus. His death on the cross. His resurrection from the grave. The eternal life and salvation Jesus gives to everyone who trusts in Him. Not an easy place to preach. People got mad. Began to throw rocks. Ran the two missionaries out of town.

But before that happened, a lady named Eunice and her mother Lois, began to follow Jesus. Up to that point, they had been devout Jews. They knew the OT Scriptures. Paul’s preaching convinced them that Jesus was the Messiah God had promised, and that salvation could only be found through faith in Him. So, they trusted Jesus.

A young son. May have been just a boy then. Taught him the Scriptures. Told him about Jesus. He became a Christian and a great servant of the Lord Jesus. His name – Timothy.

Timothy’s father was not a believer in Christ. He was a Gentile. He was a pagan. But Timothy’s mother and grandmother instructed him in the faith.

MI: In Lois, Eunice, and Timothy, we can see the power of a mother’s faith.

What kind of faith did they have?

1.    A True Faith

TEXT: 2 Timothy 1:5 When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you . . .

EX: v. 5. “Genuine.” Lit. “not hypocritical.” No pretense. No deceit. No show. Real. Completely true.

AR: 2 Timothy 3:15 From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

IL: Family taking a hike up a mountain trail for a picnic. Came to a creek. Two bridges crossed that creek. One was close to where the family was. The other bridge was a good distance up the creek. They decided to cross on the closest bridge. First father, then two girls, then the oldest boy, then the mother began to walk across. When the family reached the middle of the bridge, the boards began to creak and groan. They heard a sharp cracking sound as one side of the bridge collapsed, sending the whole family into the creek. Their clothes were soaked, their backpacks were drenched, and all the sandwiches they had brought for the picnic were sopping wet.

Thankfully, no one was hurt. But everyone was pretty soggy for the rest of the day.

Why had they fallen? Not because they didn’t have faith in the bridge, but because they had placed their faith in the wrong bridge.

AP: What does it take for faith to be true faith?

1)   Right kind of faith – really trusting.

2)   Right kind of faith in the right person – really trusting in Jesus.

2.    A Transferable Faith

TEXT: 2 Timothy 1:5 . . . the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

EX: The truth of the gospel had been passed along. First to Lois, then to her daughter Eunice, and then to Timothy. Paul saw a heritage of faith in this family.

IL: On the beach in Garden City, South Carolina recently. Hundreds of young men were gathered, in five groups of 50 to 60. They were getting ready for something. I stopped one of the leaders and said, “What kind of group is this?” He said, “These are members of Fellowship of Christian Athletes from across South Carolina. We meet here each year for a retreat.” I asked, “What are they getting ready to do?” He answered, “They’re going to run a relay race down the beach.” We sat and watched. The race began and the first group of men – at least 50 of them at once – began to run. You could actually feel the beach shake as they ran. Each young man held a shirt in his hand. They ran up to the next group and handed off the shirts like batons. Then the next group of men ran. They passed off their shirts. Then the next. Then the next. Until the race was over.

That’s exactly what we’re called to do with the message of Jesus. We are to pass along the truth of our faith to others.

Mothers and fathers to children. Grandparents to grandchildren. Neighbors to neighbors. Friends to friends. Even to people we don’t know. We can pass along the faith of Jesus Christ.

AR: You cannot inherit salvation from your parents. No matter how godly your mother or father were, God holds you personally responsible for trusting Jesus Christ as your Savior and living for Him.

But, do you realize that God intends for entire families to come to Christ? That’s His plan. He wants every member of your family to know Jesus personally.

Paul and Silas were in prison in Philippi. As they prayed and sang to God, the foundations of the prison were shaken, the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unshackled. The keeper of the prison awoke in a panic. He thought everyone in the prison would escape. He drew his sword to take his own life when Paul called out: “Do yourself no harm. We are all here.”

Acts 16:29 Then he [keeper of the prison] called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

Acts 16:30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Acts 16:31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Acts 16:32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

Acts 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

Acts 16:34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

AP: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Our faith is a transferable faith. We can share it with others.

And, by the way, mom’s a recent survey on religion in America by the Associated Press asked people what or who had the most positive influence on their religious faith. From every ages group the most frequent response was: Mother.

Do you want every member of your family to be saved?

1.    Come to church together.

2.    Spend family time praying and reading the Bible together.

3.    Look for opportunities to share Jesus with the members of your family.

3.    A Transforming Faith

TEXT: 2 Timothy 1:6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

EX: Timothy struggled. He struggled with discouragement. He struggled with fear. He struggled with doubts about his own abilities.

Moms have struggles as well. One well-known author has identified some challenges that are most common to mothers. They are:

1)   Low self-esteem

2)   Monotony

3)   Loneliness

4)   Stress

5)   Too many demands

6)   Lack of time

Paul reminded Timothy that his faith in Jesus Christ could give him victory over those struggles.

v. 6 Stir up the gift of God – rekindle. Reignite the fire of your faith in Jesus Christ.

v. 7 Not a spirit of fear – timidity

v. 7 But of power – Can-do-ability. God’s ability to do whatever He calls us to do.

v. 7 of love – Agape love. Love flows out of us whether the people we love are appreciative or not.

v. 7 of a sound mind – Discipline. The gift of being able to continue in the calling God has placed on your life.

AP: The faith we have in Jesus transforms us forever. It transforms our future. It transforms our present. Because it transforms our hearts.

IL: "I'm concerned about your little boy. I believe he has meningitis," the doctor said.  In the corner of the tiny examining room, Tonya cradled baby Jared. An hour earlier, as their family enjoyed a normal weekday dinner, she had noticed her son looking ill.  His face was pale and cold, and his rosy lips had turned a disturbing shade of blue. Her husband had called the doctor’s after-hours number while Tonya held him, "Get him to a hospital as soon as you can," the nurse said.

By the time they arrived at the emergency room, Jared's face had faded to a ghostly white; his lips had darkened to a deeper blue. Tonya tried to wake him.  He breathed naturally but didn't respond.  "Dear God, what's happening?" she said.

In the examining room, a nurse came in to draw blood.  Jared didn't budge as the needle pricked. Tonya wrapped him in her arms like a cocoon; her shoulders bent over him in a protective cover.  He looked lifeless.

The diagnosis of meningitis stunned them. With tears cascading down her cheeks, Tonya rocked Jared. The harsh fluorescent lights accentuated his colorless appearance.  He was deadly still.

"Come on Jared," Tonya said softly.  "It's okay, Little Man.  Mama's here."  Her eyes strained in agony.  "You can snap out of this.  You can do it."  She bent lower and kissed his forehead.

Nurses continued hustling in and out of the room.  Tonya seemed unaware of their activity; her attention was fully concentrated on our precious son.

"Wrap yourself around him, God,” she prayed. “Please heal him.  Please heal him. Guide the doctor's hands.  Help him bring Jared back." 

Then she stopped talking. She still cried, but her eyes were relaxed, peaceful. 

"He's going to be okay," she stated calmly.  She wiped her tears and took a deep breath.  "I heard a voice.  A very clear voice said, 'The child will be all right.'  It was the most peaceful sound I've ever heard."

"He's going to be all right," she repeated, stroking Jared's cheek.  Her voice was clear and strong.

Within minutes the doctor returned, saying Jared required a strong antibiotic and fluids.  "In a normal situation, this antibiotic shot causes a great deal of pain," he said.  "We'll take good care of him, but we recommend you go into the waiting room while we administer the medication."

"No, I'll stay," Tonya replied.

"The reaction is hard on parents, especially the moms.  Even if he doesn't respond, it'll probably be a long night.  The break would do you good," he said.

"He'll need me when he wakes up.  I'll stay," she said firmly

Tonya snuggled Jared to her chest as the nurse prepared the syringe.  She cleansed his leg and inserted the needle into his vein.

Instantly, Jared's eyes rolled back.  His lips parted slightly, and he grimaced.  A quiet whimper grew into a louder whine, then a cry, and finally a scream. His eyes opened in confusion and pain - darting around until they found his mother’s face.

Her soothing fingers combed his blond hair.  "There, there," she said.  "You're going to be fine."

"Thank you," Tonya whispered.  She dried his cheeks with a tissue from her pocket, as tears of joy poured down her own face.

They took Jared back home that night. The doctor said that the blood work did not point to meningitis. In four years, there’s never been a relapse. Jared is healthy and active.

AP: Did that boy acquire a harmless illness that hit hard and left quickly, or did his mom and dad witness a miracle? Well, you tell me. I think I know what it was.

But I’ll tell you this – everyone in that emergency room that night witnessed the power of a mother’s faith in Jesus.

When you’re trusting Him, when you know Him personally, He has the power to transform your doubts into certainties, your sorrows into joys, your fears into peace, and your defeats into victories.