Honoring Mothers

Happy Mothers’ Day

Second Sunday in May

Mothers recognized world-wide

Mexico always May 10

Serenades and poems and gifts.

About Womanhood

As a pastor, I've had the privilege of learning so much about different people. Today I want to talk about womanhood in general and motherhood specifically. We live in a day and age when a person being interviewed for the highest office that can be bestowed upon a judge, claims to not be able to define what a woman is.

Genesis 1:26 NKJV

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Man was planned and created after God's own image. Not the result of some cosmic accident nor the product of evolution. He was created with a specific purpose and relationship.

He was given authority over the Earth, but if we look at that closely, he was given a very different kind of authority. It was an authority of servanthood. God made man to take care of His creation.

Man was also created to multiply. To rule under God in the place that God had given Him.

God created the species as male and female presence. Chapter 2 talks about the time gap between male and female... verse 7

Genesis 2:7 NKJV

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

God Himself formed the man out of the dust in the earth. He was first a formation, then a creation. Like Pinocchio... He was made in the form then God breathed life into him.

God immediately then gives the man a clear task to accomplish - he's no baby. He's immediately given work to do. The first thing that man was given was a job- all of this even before he gets a wife.

Genesis 2:18–25 NKJV

And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

The Creation of Woman

It is not good that man should be alone... everything else was good. This is the first time God says it's not good. And He says "I will make him a helper"

The animals were brought to Adam. Gave them names. But no helper was found amongst them by Adam. Adam slept. Woman made from a rib.

God added to Adam's responsibility not just the garden but naming too. In order to name them he had to understand the nature of the animal (names in ancient antiquity had a serious meaning).

Adam was put to sleep - Anesthesia.

Why a rib? It is located under the arm for protection and by the strength of the body for support. But the rib offers protection the heart of man. Her job was to protect his heart as he protected her.

We as a church were formed out of the wounding of Jesus to be His partner. Jesus had a wife that was created, but he didn't get anesthetic like Adam.

God didn't just take another pile of dirt to make a woman. But it was more intimate.

verse 22 The first wedding was officiated by God Himself, and it was a garden wedding, but not just any garden – it was held in the garden.

It wasn't a surprise. It wasn't accidental. God brought this woman to the man. Can you imagine how awesome that must have been? She was His highest stewardship because she was given to him. But God was bringing this woman, and she must have been filled with awe at the thought that God was actually bringing her to His best friend - His daily delight! What a sense of wonderment must have fallen over both of them.

The Adam speaks his first words- what a poet.

Bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh... woman so different from all other creation. The only one who could fill that need in his life. Given by God Himself.

God answers with His own word. Verse 24 The one flesh verse. This was not a continuation of what Adam was saying, because in the Gospels Jesus talked about it when speaking to the scribes and Pharisees. Adam had no understanding of families yet because up to this point there was nothing.

One flesh means you share thinking, feelings, hope, sorrow, happiness pain, everything. The oneness that those shared experiences impart is a holy thing before God.

They were naked and unashamed- not just about no clothes, it was that there were no barriers - they respected one another - completely transparent. This divine partnership is the beginning of families. Adam called her eve because she was the mother of all living, even before she had children. The mothering nature was in her - he could see how she took care of things. So, Adam named her.

This is a foundational principle to understanding what life is about, understanding it is often missed because of ignorance. Over the years, men and women have focused more on their differences than on their shared purpose and so in many societies women have been given a lesser place. Even in the church women have been excluded from fulfilling what God has ordained for them because of a false doctrine of submission. Because we misunderstand God's intention.

God’s Call Upon Women’s Lives

Women you are a child of God, and HE is calling you to be all that you can be in Him. Especially in God's church and among the men of God. Because we should understand the heart of God. Have you been given a lesser place at the banquet table of Christ? Of course not! Were you baptized with a lesser Holy Spirit? Were you saved by a lesser blood? That's ridiculous. You are heirs of God and joint heirs of Christ.

Galatians 3:26–29 NKJV

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

What Went Wrong?

God made women different than men, but different didn't mean lesser. But that's what has happened. The attitudes of male or female superiority are issues of prejudice. This is so primary it leads to other types of prejudices. Look at that passage again. What you do, where you're from, male female- no difference. We are all heirs of the promise of all that God has to give to us.

Man lost their identity during industrialization. In the agricultural society men were out in fields working the ground THEIR ground in their homes. They started working machines and, in many ways, they themselves became part of the machines.

Women lost their identity too. The women then no longer had a partner in the home. They had to prepare children for an industrial society and so they sent their children away and thus the family was totally dismantled.

Then nepotism came about.. Husband and wife weren't allowed to work together, but that's precisely why God created women in the first place. Why do you think there are so many workplace affairs? Women and men working together is God's order of things. Workplace affairs occur because men and women are in a position that God originally created for husband and wife.

Jesus doesn't do anything without His bride - the church. He gives her authority, power and character. You and I really are Mrs. Jesus Christ.

If Jesus is allowed to work with His wife, shouldn't we similarly welcome our wives to work with us?

The one who bears the most pain of all of this is the wife. The mother. The Bible says the woman is the weaker of the two, but God has a weakness. His love for us - it has caused Him deep pain. Same with women!

1 Peter 3:7 NKJV

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Wisdom for Husbands

Husbands live with them wisely!

There is a mutual submission. Jesus laid down His life for the church.

- Heirs together that your prayers be not hindered.

God says if you don't treat your wife right-give her the honor she is due. your prayer life is at stake. Give your wife her rightful place in the Lord. Honoring your wife has eternal consequences.

This is very similar to children and their relationship to parents.

Ephesians 6:1–3 NKJV

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

Why is it so important? Well sometimes we pray for blessings that will not be answered because we are violating basic principles of life that God has ordained. If God's not going to bless you, you're in big trouble.

We've talked about the promises of God, most of which have a requirement that we must put forth from our part. Here He's saying, "if you want things to go well with you and that you will live long, obey your parents." But on the flip side, He's also saying, "if you don't obey and honor your parents, things won’t go well with you." So then, children should look at their lives and assess if are things going well? Hmm, no? Well, are we following through with this basic life instruction? There's two parts to this though. Long life and things going well. Who wants a long life if things aren't going well?

So then, if you want things to go well you must honor your parents. So, if you as a husband are not honoring your wife, how will your children ever learn to honor their mother. This goes for grandparents as well. If you want your children to be prepared for life, teach them to honor their parents.

That's why it's so difficult for single moms who are alone, wrestling against the attacks of the devil against their home and their family while suffering the dishonor of men who have left the home, and the children don't know who to trust or believe. "Dad rejected her so she must be bad." And so, these women call out to God and become the true heroes of the faith because, God comes in and becomes a father to these children and they often go on to become some of the best kids.

Mothers’ Day is Important

This is why Mother's Day is so important. To make us remember; to make us understand. Moms make us believe we are the most special thing in the world. They tell us how wonderful and precious we are, except when we're not behaving, but a good mom will tell you that it's just your behavior and not who you really are. You grow up believing that you're this great person because mom must be right! I've noticed how Lizzie likes to inspect Elisha before he goes off to school in the morning. She is very particular about how he looks – especially making sure that his socks match. Proverbs says that the commandment of the mother and the law of the father are light, put them around your neck like a necklace and wear them every day. Why? Because even though father lays down the law and is a disciplinarian, mom explains why.

When I'm disciplining Elisha, I will often tell him to do something or else. Lizzie doesn't, she lovingly explains why. Why? because she's a mom and that's what they do. That's what is coded into their DNA. From the time of conception, the mother carries the child 24 hours a day. They are given God's love for their child. That's why it's so hard for a mother to give her son up to be married. You see who this man is, who God has called him to be and unless that girl knows it too, you have a problem with passing him over to her. Likewise with dads and daughters. "Who is this monkey that is asking me to be the special someone to my little girl?"

Mothers are God’s Amazing Gift!

As amazing as it is that God has given me a woman who will walk with me and love me, it is even more amazing how God makes a mother out of a woman, who will love not only our child we have together, but my daughter as well, but you see, it's a God thing. Something that God has wired into her and when the time comes, He activates within her.

But that kind of love makes them vulnerable, it causes them pain. Children couldn't be free and strong; they couldn't be themselves if they understand the sacrifice and pain that is required to raise them. They never really know until they become fathers and mothers themselves, and while it doesn't seem fair it really is a reflection of the grace of God.

As the people of God, we need to understand this great blessing, this great gift of God that we call mothers.

Mothers in Israel

What about women who don't have children of their own, or whose children have grown and left? Well, they too have a special ministry. They can be closer to God and become mothers of the Kingdom.

The Bible calls these women Mothers in Israel.

Judges 5:7 NKJV

Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Arose a mother in Israel.

These women are Intercessors called to care for the unlovely or to step up and be spiritual leaders where one is needed. She had a very specific purpose and calling and accomplished great and mighty things, but having children was not one of them. Yet she refers to herself as a mother in Israel! See women, even if you don’t have kids there is a special calling for you to be a mother. Grow close to God until He becomes everything to you just like Deborah.

Look at Deborah’s song to the Lord:

Judges 5:1–3 NKJV

Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying: “When leaders lead in Israel, When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the Lord! “Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I, even I, will sing to the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.

So, to you, Happy Mother's Day as well. We thank God for you and we want to honor you today because God honors you. You have all the same abilities to nurture to care, to bless because God has written upon your heart.

Pray.