The Hands that Shape Destiny
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 43 viewsMother's Day
Notes
Transcript
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, But thou excellest them all.
Mother’s Day is always a special day!
The day we set aside to honor in many ways the most important person in our lives.
The bible would say that she would literally walk to death’s door to brig us into this world!
Write one adjective on the paper, describing your mother.
Mothers, write one on the back describing the mom you want to be.
While the dictionary only states that a mother is a female parent, BUT there are other adjectives that can help us define a mother…
Self-sacrificing
Discipline (regiment and stability)
Unconditional
Merciful
Loving
Stability
What we understand as adults is that mothers are hands that truly shape destiny.
Biblical Mothers:
Mother of Moses
Jochebed was the wife of Amram and the mother of Moses. We learn about her the most in Exodus 2.
Pharaoh commanded the mid-wives to kill all boy Hebrew babies.
The mid-wives feared God more and Moses was born anyway.
Imagine Jochebed's fears!
Moses was born into a super hostile world.
Eventually she placed her baby boy in a basket and let him float down the river.
He was found by Pharaoh's daughter and spared.
Pharaoh's daughter saw a beautiful child and needed some one to nurse him.
Jochebed was the woman hired to perform this task.
Moses was taught about God during this time
She would raise him to 4-6 years old and in that time instill principles that would guide his life, all his life!
No matter how hostile the environment a godly woman can teach her children about God.
I said that Exodus 2 was the only real place to learn about Jochebed but that’s not true.
If you want to learn about Jochebed, study Moses!
Mom, never be afraid to teach your children!
Mother of Samuel
Hannah was the wife of Elkanah, but she was barren, 1 Samuel 1.
She prayed to God for a child.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no rasor come upon his head.
This woman dedicated her son to the Lord. After he grew she weaned him and took him to Eli.
There is no definite age, however we do know this child was very young
We know also that after she left him, she would go every year and bring him a “little” coat.
19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
Her dedication to God and to her son was the strength that would shape the boy Samuel into the Prophet Samuel!
Mother of Isaac
Sarai was barren.
Great shame in her day...
She seemed to be the problem, stopping the fulfillment of God’s purpose in her families life.
Then God would taunt her with a name change…
The changing of Sarah's name was more than a play with words.
Sarai: princess
Sarah: princess, mother of nations - or the princess who became the mother of princesses
God would change her name and for years to follow, every time she said her name, it was a statement of what was to come!
I am not just a princess, I am the mother of princesses!
10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
Sarah eventually gave birth to Isaac.
Mother of Timothy
Lois was the mother of Eunich, 2 Timothy 1:5 the mother of Timothy.
We also know that Timothy's father was a gentile, Acts 16:1.
We also know Timothy learned the Holy Scriptures while growing up, "from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures" (2 Timothy 3:15).
Lois and Eunich worked as a team in teaching Timothy.
More than likely, his father had not converted.
These two ladies would shape the destiny of this young boy and he would pastor one of the most significant churchs in the New Testament.
Never under estimate the power of a praying, godly mother or grandmother!
Mother of Jesus
Mary the mother of Jesus, although a virgin and engaged to marry to Joseph, was with child.
She was not asked how she felt about this situation.
No doubt they thought she was a lier, that her and Joseph had to have been messing around...
Yet to Mary, the most important thing was the purpose of God!
There is nothing more important that a mother that loves the purpose of God!
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
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.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Look at her response!
OK! Let it be!
This was during a time where young unmarried pregnant women at that time were stoned.
Yet her response was... be it unto me according to thy word.
She was going to have the Savior of the world
During her life she would get to see him grow (Luke 2:52), perform miracles (John 2:1-11), gather large crowds (John 6), and God's Word spoken by Gabriel fulfilled.
These mothers shaped future events...
Are responsible for what their son’s became!
They held the future in their hands!
Conclusion:
Many years ago, into a young family was born a son. To the young mother, it seemed that there was not a boy anywhere exuded more potential than her young son.
Named him a popular name of the day; George.
With each passing day, the proof of that mothers ideal of greatness was apparent, if only to her.
As he grew, he became fascinated with the military. George proclaimed early that he was going to serve his country. He never wavered even though his worried mother tried to push him in other carrier choices.
He was 14 when his mom overheard him talking to a friend about a warship that had just came into port, looking to sign on a cabin boy. She heard the wistfulness in his tone and so when he disappeared she knew where to find him.
History records this mother whose name was Mary, marching up the gangplank of the huge warship, finding her son George and marching him home by his ear.
What happened to George?
We tell stories of him today, stories of...
Battles
Bitter retreats
Hard fought victories
He grew to become a man known for his military genius...
Cross frozen rivers on Christmas, 1776
Yes, there is also a story from his youth we know… something about a cherry tree
I wonder, how history would have read for America if Mary Ball Washington had not marched onto that British war ship that day when he was 14 and dragged George Washington’s off by his ear!
Mom’s your hands shape destiny!
Before we pray… moms to the front, kids and dad around her.
Jesus pulled a similar “stunt”
As just a boy he would disappear and they would find him in the temple, astonishing the wise and learned of the day.
Joseph came in like a typical father... all authority...Jesus said, I must be about my fathers business!
Yet when his mother called him He followed her...
Fast forward to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry
Wedding supper
No wine
Mary said, do what he says...Mom stopped him and then started him!
Mary would shape Jesus like Mary Ball Washington shaped George, like you shape your children!
NOTE: Over the years I have watched parents waver in their convictions because their children made different life choices…
The most important thing you can do is stand as the beacon of truth, wrapped in all the love you have for that child!
Sunday, May 8, 2011 Mother’s DayFOL