A Mother's Dream

Intro: This morning my message is entitled “A Mother’s Dream.” What is a Mother’s Dream? That her children will be blessed, prosper and will surpass the success that mom has had.

Parenting requires a lot of versatility; and it can be downright confusing. But making the decision to be a parent — a good parent — is important beyond measure. It’s nothing short of accepting a sacred trust. Parents accept responsibility for the future by taking good care of children today. I want to give you a “Job Description” for being a parent.

Minimum Qualifications: No previous experience required, but on-the-job training is offered on a continually exhausting basis. Be of sound body, unselfish mind, and big heart. Knack for tender, loving care. Experience in relating well to others highly recommended.

Responsibilities: Must keep this job for the rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule. Must be willing to tackle stimulating technical challenges such as small gadget repair, sluggish toilets, and stuck zippers. Must handle assembly and product safety testing, as well as floor maintenance and janitorial work. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars, and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and levels of mentality. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute and an embarrassment the next. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of end product.

In addition, must be able to: breathe through mouth while changing diapers, stare down a tantrum, respond stoically to vomiting, ignore bathroom humor, discreetly save the dignity of overweight dinner guests who a child innocently announces is “really fat,” get grass stains out of athletic uniforms, remain calm in face of a pebble found inside a toddler’s nose, host “the perfect” birthday party, and explain nuances of human reproduction without blushing.

Hours: Perpetual 24 hour shift, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

Vacation: Negotiable after 18 to 25 years of service, dependent on successful completion of job duties.

Contract Terms: Lifetime obligation, non-negotiable, contract can not be severed.

Wages: None. In fact, you must pay those in your charge, offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 and attend college. When you die, you give them whatever income you have left.

Benefits Package: Expanded opportunities for contentment and self-fulfillment offered in lieu of monetary compensation. Free license to spoil adorable grandchildren and then send them back home. Stock options not provided, but long-term dividends include family to share holidays with, someone to read to you when your eyes have gone bad, a chance to contribute to the future and free hugs for life.

Within this job description are the truths about parenting. And even if we do all these things right, it is no guarantee they our kids will turn out right. But I want to encourage you this morning as parents/“mothers”, to never give up on raising your child in these crazy times we live in, and if you will invest Jesus in their lives, one day you may receive “A Mother’s Dream.”

Text; 2 Kings 5:1-3

2 Kings 5:1–3 NKJV

1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. 2 And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.”

No parent would ever want a child to be abducted/kidnapped as this young girl, but I know every mother would want to know that her child would be able to endure these terrible circumstances because of what she had instilled in her child.

1. Have a Personal Relationship with God; 3

She was an Israelite by birth. In her early childhood she was trained to believe in and worship the God of her fathers.

Train- guide, educate, coach [a coach educates the team in their game-plan by studying their opponent]

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 NKJV

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Her home was not darkened with atheism, skepticism, materialism, or woke-ism, but with the guidance to a personal relationship with God! That relationship with YHWH allowed her to have peace in a turbulent time.

2. Live in the Peace of God; 2

Syria was an enemy of Israel. Often they raided the border towns of Israel and captives would be taken as slaves. Female slaves were prized because of free labor and also for sexual pleasure. This young girl was in a bad way, but God had given her protection that she became the servant of Naaman’s wife.

The girl must have wept bitterly as they violently took her away. But with no way out, she settled in Syria. The young girl served her mistress faithfully. She was a victim of life's unfavorable circumstances, yet she refused to dwell in a victim mode. On a certain day, she saw Naaman's leprosy, and felt sorry for him. She could have rejoiced in his suffering, but instead, she thought of how to help him. She felt compassion on Naaman, even though he didn't had compassion on her people. Though he was an enemy, she still looked at him with concern. She could easily have been bitter against the Syrian, but she showed love.

How could she do this? “The Peace of God”

The “Peace of God” is not the absence of trials but calm in the midst of them. Knowing He has a plan and purpose for our lives and that He will never leave nor forsake us if we will walk according to His will!

Matthew 5:43–48 NKJV

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Proverbs 16:7 NKJV

7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

3. Know the Power of God; 3c

This young girl had either seen or heard of the miracles Elisha had done. But she also knew that the miracles he had done were by the power of God!

All the miracles of Elisha up unto this point had been “miracles of mercy” to people in need.

The miracle of increase in the widows oil, the reviving of life to the Shunammite’s son, the miracle of curing the deadly stew of the sons of the prophets and the miracle of the multiplication of barley loaves for the people.

Why couldn’t God have mercy on her master Naaman by Elisha?

We need to teach our children to understand the “power of God” in everyday life and not to become dependent on the government!

Naaman was a general in the army and occupied a powerful position in the nation. He was respected, admired, and followed by many. He had an impeccable military record and great success as a warrior. He had a full compliment of trained officers, professionals, soldiers and other servants in his command. He was favored by the king of Syria. His successes brought him honor, fame and glory. He had the power of the government of Syria at his disposal, yet none of that could help him with his problem, leprosy.

Leprosy is like sin, there was no cure except by God! We need to teach our children to trust God in all things!

Romans 8:32 NKJV

32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Ephesians 3:20–21 NKJV

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

4. Practice the Presence of God; 3a

Content- to accept as adequate for the circumstances, sufficient, state of peace.

Though I’m sure this young girl missed her family, friends and home, she was content knowing that God was in control of her circumstances.

She called Naaman her master. She accepted her circumstances and was willing to help her captor.

Philippians 4:11–13 NKJV

11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

We live in evil times and parents need to practice the presence of God so we can be content in Him and teach the next generation to do the same. That doesn’t mean that we are to be silent about wrong, but we are to help people see the error of their way by the grace of God not the wrath of God!

1 Peter 3:15–16 NKJV

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

5. Bring Praise to God; 4-6, 14-15

This young girls attitude and compassionate actions towards her captors brought praise to God from her enemy.

[4-6] God was given praise through Naaman trusting the words of the young Israelite girl and asking the king for permission to seek healing from another god than his own.

[14-15] Naaman praised God after being healed of leprosy and confessed that there is no God like YHWH!

This only happens when we become a testimony/witness of Christ living in us!

Close;

If we teach our children all the things I read about in the “Parents Job Description”, you very well may raise some good kids. But if you only raise good kids and not Godly kids, you will have failed as a parent and your dreams for them will fall short.

I believe every “Mother’s Dream” is to see their children living life abundantly and the only way that happens is when they know Jesus Christ as Savior.

John 10:10 NKJV

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Mom, satan wants to steal and kill your children. Don’t let him do it! Lead them to Jesus so he can’t, and they will love you forever for doing so!