A HAPPY MOTHER
May 8, 2016, the year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Happy Mother’s Day to the wonderful ladies of our Church fellowship. Happiness for a mother is having healthy, happy, children who love and serve the Lord, who grow into responsible, interdependent, productive adults.
That sounds easy except along the way there are many influences from the world (kosmos) who tempt and test our children. We are only stewards of the children whom the Lord gave us. We have them at home for a very short time in their life.
In the Christian home, they learn healthy habits, morals, relationships, discipline, integrity, love, giving, sharing, growing, responsibility, virtues, forgiving, trust, and more.
We have this promise in the Word of God: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Prov. 22:6
Training a child is not how much wisdom we get in their head, but how much wisdom is applied to their heart.
The greatest gift a child can give their parents is forgiveness for our failures.
I wish to honor my mother who is 95 years young and still living in her home. She is well reported for good works. She brought up her children. She lodged strangers. She washed the feet of saints. She has received the afflicted. She diligently followed every good work. (1 Ti. 5:10).
Yesterday there were ten of us from Eastgate Church who were guests of Destiny Life Church Mother’s Day Luncheon. I was blessed to minister to this precious congregation on the healing of the soul.
The scripture for the event was:
Luke 1:46-48: “”…my soul does magnify the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”
This is a healed soul and a restored soul. When we are born again, we receive the Spirit of God, but our soul is still being redeemed. Salvation is all-encompassing. The new birth is the beginning. We have been saved when we were born again. We are being saved by the redeeming of our soul as we progressively grow in grace. We shall be saved with the climax of the redemption of our body (Ro. 8:19-23; Phil. 3:21).
As children grow to maturity, even though they are born into a Christian family, and their mind is being developed through education and work ethics, their soul is also maturing. Salvation is past, present and future.
As we grow in Christ, we as little children, young adults, and mature believers eventually learn to respond in our spirit through the mind of the Spirit, to be governed by the knowledge of the Word of God. Children will have the same journey their parents have traveled. In order to be an overcomer, they will have to overcome the world (kosmos). They will make choices whether to choose the Kingdom of God or choose the world.
We have this comfort as we place our children into the Hands of the Lord –“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace, In the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
I was a very protective mother. If I could have raised my children in a bubble isolated from the “kosmos”, I would have done it. However, this is neither healthy nor God’s way.
I have told you many times the story of when the Lord visited me when Kelly was an infant and asked me for both Kelly and Shanna. It was a total giving. It was a complete trusting the Lord that he loved them more than I did. Oh, that visitation was tested many times as they grew up in a fast changing world full of many traps and snares. But I can declare that My God has kept them and is keeping them.
It is the Lord’ divine order and purpose that older women should teach younger women.
Titus chapter two Paul writes to Titus that he must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. This is a recurring demand in the Pastorals, but the emphasis that Paul makes here is that Titus should instruct them in behavior in accordance with their faith.
Verse 3, “Older women are to be reverent “in behavior as becomes holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teacher of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober to love their husbands, to love their children; to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”
The commands may imply a connection between the devastating sin of slander, and the tongue loosening effect of wine. Thoughtless gossip indulged in on social occasions remains a prevalent evil in the early church. The danger should be overcome by occupation with private instruction in what is good and by the recognition of duty to train the younger women both by word and example.
Younger women in character must be self-controlled and pure. Paul’s main recommendations for them is to relate to their home responsibilities. They are to be devoted to their husbands and children. Husbands and wife you should never trash your spouse.
In the New Testament, women have been granted new dignity by the ennobling influence of Jesus Christ and His gospel. We must not abuse this liberty. Any failure in these matters will expose the Word of God to contempt in the world.
In the Book of Proverbs, there are two women: The virtuous Woman and the Strange Woman of Proverbs 7. There are two kinds of minds as well as two kinds of churches, the freewoman and the bondwoman of Paul’s allegory in Galatians 4: 21-31.
I wish to honor all the woman of our church today with the blessing of the virtuous of woman and through the Blood of Jesus, we are freewomen, no longer bond slaves.
The virtuous woman is a lady of some position, who has servants to mange and money to invest. As her husband’s trusted partner, she has sole responsibility in her domain, which extends beyond the house to the management of her lands and to dealings in the market, where she is a shrewd seller and a shrewd buyer. Her prosperity is not a means for self-indulgences but as a widening of her responsibilities. She is a tireless worker. There are the poor to help and life to meet forearmed.
31:10: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.
This is a woman of Abraham’s seed, a woman of Faith. She is a woman of beauty, a freewoman and has the mind of Christ.
She is a good woman: 31:13-14:”She seeks wool and flax and works willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she brings her food from afar.” (16) “She considers a field and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good; her candle goes not out by night. She lays her hand to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.”
She works diligently – “she works willingly with her hands (vs. 12, 15, and 19).
She contrives prudently – “She considers…and then buys (v. 16).
She behaves uprightly – Strength and honor are her clothing.”
She seeks husband’s good - “She will do him good all the days of her life.”
She keeps his confidence – “The heart of her husband does safely trust in her.”
She aids his prosperity – “Her husband is known among the elders of the land.”
She is a Good Mother: 31:15:
She clothes family wisely – “All her household are clothed with scarlet.”
She feeds household well – “She rises and gives meat to her household.”
She shops sensibly – ““She brings her food from far.”
She is moving toward the perfect day. Her day begins at night.
She occupies herself with all areas of daily home life. Her interests are in her vineyard (her children, her husband, the local church and her livelihood). She leads in the way of righteousness.
She is a Good Neighbor: 31:20:
She helps the poor – “She stretches out her hand to the poor.”
She uplifts the needs – “She reaches forth her hands to the needy.”
She speaks graciously – “In her tongue is the law of kindness.”
She is loving, kind, and strong, gracious, respected, sensible, understanding, diligent, sturdy and fruitful.
31:24: “She makes fine linen, and sells it; and delivers girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Her value “Her price is far above rubies.”
Her Praise – “Her children arise and call her blessed.”
She is a great teacher and dispenser of the Love of God.
Her Pre-eminence – “Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excel them all”
She is an overcomer. She is the choice one – Song 6: 8-9.
Her secret – “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Her Reward – “Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”
Her day gets brighter, and her way is stable. (4:18) Hers’ is the path of the just. Her house dwells in safety and is quiet from fear of evil. She dwells with discernment, experience, and wise counsels. She furnishes (spreads) her table. Her ways bring health and healing. Her mouth is Wisdom. Her words are excellent things. She speaks kindly instruction, truth and righteousness.
Blessed are those who keep her ways. (8:32) “Her path leads to happiness and the favor of the Lord. Her purpose is to increase days and years of life.” (Prov. 9:11; 4:5-8) Her purpose will deliver a crown of glory. (4:9) Her place is the building (the encouraging) of her house (14:1).
To hate her is to love death. (8:36)
She is a tree of life! (3:18)
She is confident because she knows that she has done well! Her prayer life; overcomes her circumstances.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Scripture from K.J.V.