I am who He says I am

Well, this morning we are celebrating / / Mothers Day!

Mothers Day and Fathers Day are always days I like to highlight because I truly believe / / God highlights motherhood and fatherhood.

In the book of Exodus God leads Israel out of captivity in Egypt. 400 years they were captive to the Egyptian people and God sends Moses to lead them out of their captivity. So, in their new found freedom, pretty much right away, it says in Exodus 19, / / Exactly 2 months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai…and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai.

So this is one of the first things God does with Israel, his chosen people. He leads them out of Egypt to the base of a mountain and they camp there and God said to Moses to come up the mountain because He wants to make a covenant with Israel.

Exodus 20:1 says, / / Then God gave the people all these instructions:

These instructions, this covenant with His people is what we now call the Ten Commandments. No, we’re not going to be talking about the Ten Commandments today. That would be a terrible Mothers Day message. BUT, The reason this is so important is because in this covenant and instruction, #5 of the 10 commandments, going down in history for all time as God’s rules for life.

/ / Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Seems the key to a long, full life is learning how to honor our mothers and fathers.

So, today’s message is a bit two-fold in it’s design as we look at US honour our mothers, but also, I want to talk directly to each of the women in this room and honor you today as an incredibly important part of God’s purpose and plan for this earth. And I know for some this is a difficult day. Some have lost their mothers, and so today is a reminder of that. Some have tried to be mothers and found they physical are unable. Others have lost children, lost babies. Some didn’t have, or don’t have a very good relationship with their mothers. Some struggle in their relationship with their children. These are difficult things to endure. Relationship isn’t always easy.

But whatever your situation is. And whether you are a mother or not, whether you have experienced loss or joy, pain or fulfilled promise, I believe that each of you are born with the capacity to mother and that women are created uniquely for a purpose. And that is a God-given gift that can NOT be taken away AND is very much needed in this world today!

One of the great wonders of God’s creation, is that as men and women we are of course so similar and yet so very different. / / And some choose to focus on those differences as the reason we encounter conflict, but God designed us to be different in order to / / complement each other. Even across the board of humanity, each of us is so very different and unique, and yes, sometimes that is an opportunity to be a point of conflict, but it is also an opportunity to be a source of strength!

God created men and women for different roles. A couple weeks ago we talked a little bit about the encounter that Adam & Eve had with the serpent in the book of Genesis. He convinces them to eat from the one tree that God had told them not to and as a result there were consequences. And when God speaks to them about the consequences he actually highlights what he had given them as part of their true purpose.

To Eve he says, Pregnancy and Child Birth are going to be more difficult now. And there’s going to be a dynamic in your relationship with Adam where there’s going to be a struggle over who is in control.

I think God basically said, “you’re gonna end up arguing over who wears the pants in the relationship...”

And to Adam he says, Work is going to be a lot more difficult now. See, I created this garden for you, and it was yours to tend in its beauty and paradise, but because you didn’t listen, the ground is going to be a lot harder to work now. Making a living is going to be tough and it’s going to take hard work.

If you look at the things God says to them, he’s speaking to the very core identity of the genders.

To Women - Being a mom isn’t going to be easy, not from day one! 9 months of carrying, and then wow, we’re not even going to talk about how that ends… OH, And........ you’re going to get accused of being controlling, and that’s going to be something you’ll always have to work at, and work out with your husband.

To Men - You’re going to be the provider, but that’s not going to be easy. You’ll feel the burden of being the breadwinner, you’ll feel the weight of having to provide.

But see, here’s the thing. We KNOW it doesn’t stay that way and that these consequences are the result of the fall. God’s redemption story is the redemption of all that was lost in the Garden of Eden. So, our destiny, our lot in life is NOT conflict between the sexes, but actually complement for the purpose of greatness.

One of the things I’ll be doing as I share this message today is really laying out some of our stance as a church. I think it’s important for people to know what we believe and why. And just as a brief aside, if you’ve ever been to our website and wondered why we don’t have any of that information on there, the why we believe what we believe, there’s a really simple explanation. See, our web designer and editor, which is me, has not received the content to include yet from his client, which is also me. So, give it some time and we’ll have all the information on our website for people to read through.

But one of these beliefs, or stances has been highlighted recently in the Christian news world. Women and their capacity and ability to operate within the church and ministry of God has come up again in the past few months. If you know who Beth Moore is, she’s an incredible teacher of the bible, and she recently, and publicly, left the Southern Baptist denomination over differences in view and she felt she could no longer be connected to them. But in the process, an uproar ignited within the Southern Baptists about whether women should even be allowed to preach. One prominent minister within the denomination even said, “There’s just something about the order of creation that means that God intends for the preaching voice to be a male voice.”

So, as we go through today we’re going to establish some things and we’re going to celebrate how incredible God made women. Because each and every one of you carry incredible gifts from God that are desperately needed in the church!

And we’re going to start with this...

/ / 1. God gave women a VOICE.

I think someone like Beth Moore is a prime example of the power and integrity and closeness to God found in the voice of a woman who knows the word of God.

Kelley and I went to Bible school up in Toronto, Canada, and the ministry we were part of there, that we got to travel with the main leaders all around the world, and they became close personal friends. And they are champions in the faith. And it was a really great place to grow in our faith because one of their foundational practices that was modeled for us so well, was that almost every pastor of a church was not a man pastor, or a woman pastor, but the couple pastored together. They recognized the complement of each other.

Kelley doesn’t like being called Pastor Kelley, but when it comes to the leadership of this church, make no mistakes, if both voices aren’t heard, we’re missing half the conversation. And what Kelley brings to the table, so to speak, has just as much value if not MORE value, depending on what we’re dealing with. See, She doesn’t love being in business meetings, that’s not her gifting or her desire, but get in to planning and managing what we’re doing, and leading, mentoring and equipping , I don’t just want her voice, I NEED her voice.

There’s a woman in the bible who is going to come up a few times today. Her name is Deborah, and if you are following along in the Daily Bible Reading, you just read about her this past week. She’s in Judges 4, and we’re going to start with just a couple words that will define the first two points we are looking at this morning.

Judges 4:4, / / Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet...

A prophet, or a prophetess, as some translations say, is someone who speaks out the word of God. And so much so, and so accurately that the title implies you really need to listen when she speaks.

Deborah is going to be our poster child for today, because she is a prime example of the true nature, ability and potential of a Godly woman!

Being a prophet means you have something to say to PEOPLE. This is different than being an intercessor, which is someone who focuses on talking to God, to prayer. Deborah has something to say to the people, on behalf of God, words from God, and the people need to listen.

So, to you women in the room this morning, I want to affirm you, celebrate you and encourage you, / / YOU have a VOICE. You have words in you that others need to hear. You can NOT stay silent when you feel that thing rise up inside of you. And it’s not just that you’ve got some things you can add or share, but that God himself wants to share some things THROUGH you. Because...

/ / 2. God SPEAKS to women

See, being a prophetess is great, except it only works if you can hear God. It’s not a title that is given to someone who can teach, or preach, or read the bible and explain what it means. Prophet means you have a relationship with God, take the time to listen and HEAR the voice of God.

If there’s one encouragement I could give you this morning, and this goes for both women AND men, for both mothers AND fathers: / / learn everything you can, develop, and practice hearing the voice of God.

Do everything you can to create a life of hearing God’s voice. Of seeking after Him. It will establish you far more than anything else in this world. It is by far the most important thing we can seek. To hear Him, to See Him, to be with God in His presence.

And trusting and understanding that God speaks to women frees us to then listen to women. See, when we recognize and celebrate the gift that God has put in a person, no matter their gender, we empower them to USE that gift.

/ / And we recognize and value the fact and truth that God shares his heart with women, that God speaks to women.

/ / 3. Women have the EAR of God

Maybe just as important in hearing God’s voice, is knowing that God hears YOUR voice. Now, I know that God hears all of our voices, but there’s something that I’ve heard said a whole bunch of times in my life and I have experienced this in the most incredible way, and you’ve probably heard it to, / / “A mother’s prayers are powerful...”

A moms prayers are powerful. It’s true. They are. Maybe we say that because it seems more natural for moms to pray for their kids than dads. I think men try to fix things, figure things out, help in ways we know how, and moms just know when they need to turn to God and ask Him to help their children.

I remember this one time. I was in my early 20s and I was living in Toronto at the time and I was to visit my parents in my home town, which is about a 4 hr drive or so. I had left late and it was into the middle of the night. I was getting super tired and of course you don’t notice when you fall asleep at the wheel do you? I was on the main highway between the two cities going 70 miles an hour or so and I woke up just in time to pull back on the road and right myself and not crash and die...

I remembered the time exactly. I don’t anymore, it was nearly 20 years ago, but I finished driving home, of course my parents were asleep when I got there so I just went in and up to my old room and fell asleep, and in the morning I was talking with my mom and she said, “I woke up last night at ___:___ and just really felt to pray for you...”

Guess what time that was? The moment I fall asleep at the wheel, is the moment my mom is praying asking God to keep me safe and to protect me...

Listen, YOU have the ear of God.

If you see your children going through things at school. Pray for them.

If you see your kids hearts hurting. Pray for them.

If you don’t know what to do, what to say, how to fix it or help or intervene, pray. You have the ear of God. It is truer than true that a Moms prayers are powerful!

/ / 4. Women are BORN leaders.

It’s not just that women CAN lead, it’s that women SHOULD lead. And not in a way that means men can’t lead, but that when we recognize that women have great leadership qualities, and we benefit from them when they are free to do so. Like I said earlier, if we don’t allow women to lead, to speak, to have a voice, we are missing half of the conversation and half of the story, and we are literally setting ourselves up to fail. And this is not men giving permission to women to lead, like that’s a call we get to make. This is humanity recognizing that women are called to lead JUST AS MUCH as men.

Going back to the book of Judges, chapter 4, it says, Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time.

Deborah happens to be the only female judge mentioned in the bible, but it only takes one!

And women in leadership wasn’t new, this wasn’t the first mention and this wasn’t the last mention

Micah 6:4, who was a prophet relaying a message from God speaking to the people of Israel, he says, / / “For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron AND Miriam to help you.”

There’s no doubt that God created men and women both with the capacity to lead, and where many have gone wrong is to think that God somehow intended women to be subservient to men, which is not the case. For two very clear reasons.

/ / Leadership is not about having servants, it’s about servanthood.

- The moment we think being a leader is about anyone being our servant is the moment we’ve lost God’s idea of true leadership.

And the second reason, which is our next celebration of women today:

/ / 5. Women carry the LIKENESS of God

You look like God.

You were designed by God.

You carry His authority on this earth.

Listen to how Genesis 1 describes the creation event of human life. starting in vs 26, / / Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

/ / God made women in his image.

God made women to reign over the fish, birds & livestock, wild animals and small scurrying animals.

God created women to govern over it, reign over all creation.

Why? Because you carry His likeness. He is Your father. Ever had one of those moments where someone says to you, “Wow, do you ever look like your mom!” or “Wow, you’re the spittin’ image of your daddy!”

You are a carbon copy of God.

So, how could anyone ever tell you that you’re second to anyone else?

How could anyone ever tell you that you don’t belong?

How could anyone ever dare to say that you are less than?...

This is possibly the most important thing we need to understand when we look at each other. You were made in God’s image. Yes, so was I, but YOU were made in God’s image. WOW...

See, I said earlier in the fall in the garden of Eden, God says to Eve, there’s going to be relational conflict, a struggle for who’s boss. And how true do we see this in our world. This is not God’s intent, it’s not what God is saying is the end of the story, but it is the fallen condition of a fallen world.

By Fallen, I mean those who are not living in the redemptive grace of God. See, the redemption of Jesus Christ redeems us, but our desires outside of that redemption are to assert ourselves. To be in control. To dominate.

So the unredeemed, or the fallen woman desires to wear the pants, to dominate over men, and fallen men do the same, they try to take control at all costs, show who’s boss, be the dominant one in the relationship. Why? Because they think there needs to be a dominant one in the relationship. But here’s the REDEEMED state:

Ephesians 5 says in vs 22 that wives should submit to their husbands, or how the CEV says it, / / A wife should put her husband first, AS SHE DOES THE LORD. And then vs 25 says, and don’t ever let anyone read you vs 22 without ALSO reading you vs 25, / / For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. HE GAVE UP HIS LIFE FOR HER.

This is the redeemed nature of the relationship between men and women. Respect and Honor. Love and Preference FOR EACH OTHER. “I’m willing to put you first...” “I’m willing to die for you...”

Romans 12:10 says, Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

The ESV says, / / Outdo one another in showing honor.

No dominant party. No control. No forced servitude. Both recognizing that both are made in the very image of God. His likeness, both created with the authority of God to rule and reign and lead in this earth.

/ / You aren’t waiting for someone to give you permission, God already has!

So, Now I want to talk to the moms for a minute. Because today is Mothers Day, and I want to encourage you in this. I want ot encourage you to take these things INTO being a Mom.

First of all, did you hear these things. THIS is who you are:

/ / YOU have a VOICE

You need to learn how to use it.

Having a voice means knowing when to speak, when to listen, when to exercise that authority. It means recognizing when your kids need mama’s gentle voice, and when they need your strong, encouraging voice, and when they need that push to get a move on.

/ / God SPEAKS to YOU

You need to listen.

God speaking to you means there’s something to practice, something to learn, something to grow in. None of us hear God as clearly as we can. None of us hear God as often as we can. None of us hear God every time He speaks. But, this is one of your great super powers. You are made to hear the voice of God and it will be your greatest encouragement when you are struggling. It will be your greatest advocate when you feel down. It will be your greatest source of wisdom when you need the right thing to say or do.

/ / God HEARS you

You have God’s ear, pray, pray, pray.

Having the ear of God means learning what it means to have the ear of the king. One of my absolutely favorite verses in the bible is Philippians 4:6, / / Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

/ / Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.

This is your mission. Don’t be shy. If your husband comes to you with something. If your kids come to you down, sad, hurting. Don’t shrug it off, don’t go into human power mode, teach your family what it means to pray. Use this great gift you have to create in them a life long journey of turning to God! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been complaining and Kelley will say, “let’s pray about it.” And in the moment, sure it stings a little, because I’m like, “Man, why didn’t I think of that...” but quickly it turns in to, “ya, you’re right, we need to pray about this...”

Be quick to pray for healing. Yes, medicine is good. Essential oils are awesome. Bandaids are a little girls best friend. But always remember, the healing power of Jesus is alive in you! Pray. If you don’t see something happen, it’s ok. pray again and continue to pray, while cleaning it with some peroxide and putting a bandaid on it. That’s not having little faith, that’s being practical and believing for God to move in the midst of your life!

/ / YOU are a LEADER

Whether that is in your home, workplace, church, wherever, you have every right and every ability to be an incredible leader!

Have confidence. You are born to lead. And that means taking action when action is what is needed. Remember Deborah, the super awesome prophetess Judge of Israel? In Judges 4 she calls a commander in Israel’s army, his name is Barak, and she tells him that God has said to gather 10,000 warriors and go to war against an opposing army.

His response, “Sure, I’ll go, but only if you go with me.” Want to know her response to that?

Judges 4:9, / / “Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.”

Whose victory is it? It’s the Lord’s victory. But who’s getting the recognition here? Deborah, the prophetess, judge, leader, warrior! Recognize when it’s time for you to lead. Recognize when it’s time for you to step up.

Have confidence that you are meant to be there. You are meant to lead. You are equipped for the task at hand. And remember what I said, you’re not waiting for permission, God has already created you to rule and reign in His image!

And bring this to your children. Lead your family. Know when you’re equipped for the task. Take charge. Look at your husband and be like, “Ya, you can come with me, but this Walmart trip is gonna know it was me that conquered it…you were just along for the ride sweetheart!”

/ / YOU LOOK GOOD

You bear the image of God. You are made in his likeness. Which isn’t just looks, but it’s His character, His very essence, His resemblance.

On this Mothers Day I want you to hear this louder than you hear anything else... / / You are made in the image of God. There is no one like you. I’ve been saying it a lot lately, but God broke the mold with you. You are unique, special, equipped and have all that you need for the life that God has in front of you.

This means two things:

/ / Take time to ask God what HE thinks of you. Take time to ask God what HE says about you. Take time to listen to His voice and His heart for you. Take time to rest in His love, in His presence.

And the second part:

/ / Do the same with your family. Teach your kids what it means to be made in God’s image. Because they were.

Teach your daughters to be confident, strong women. Teach your sons to be courageous, loving gentlemen.

Be the hands and feet of Jesus to your husband and to your children. And allow them to be the same for you. Grow in a life together of learning what it means to walk on this earth carrying the heart, the character and the likeness of Almighty God!

Let’s pray this morning. I want to bless the moms and then we have some gifts for you and we have a photo booth for you to get a photo with your families today.