SERMON -- MOTHER'S DAY 2020

WELCOME: Pro 31:25-30  Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future.  (26)  She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.  (27)  She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.  (28)  Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:  (29)  "Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all."  (30)  Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

WORSHIP IN MUSIC#26 (Softly and Tenderly) - #1 (Amazing Grace)


SYNOPSIS: Five years ago on May 14, 2015, I was blessed to deliver my very first formal sermon at the Beacon. Robert was one of those who shared that Mother's day celebration with so many in the community. I've reached back in time to that sermon and and bring forward some of its elements for today's message.




PRAYER: Oh Lord, our God, we lift our voices together in the name of Christ Jesus and give thanksgiving for this Lord's day and this time that you have granted us so that we might bring great glory to You on this Mother's Day. Father, it is through Your great wisdom that man was created, and from man, woman. It is through this hallowed bond, Oh Lord, that we fulfill Your commandment to be fruitful and to multiply and to receive the rich love, a mother's love, that was received first from You. Bless all those here gathered, in Your name, who wear the Title Mother or Mom, and bring richness to their days, and great respect from our collective hearts, We pray this in the Name of JESUS, AMEN.


SERMON:

Gen 2:21-24  So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.  (22)  The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.  (23)  The man 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."  (24)  For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

Gen 1:27-28  God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  (28)  God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Thus we have our beginning. Man and Woman, soon to be someone's Mom and Dad.

This was the start. God's mighty plan to join one man and one woman into a lifelong bond, providing THE method of producing families, children, natural brothers and sisters who themselves would grow up be joined together by the Lord and produce families all in the loving grace of a mighty and wondrous God.

In Exodus 20:12, God lays out by a commandment that we should honor our Father and our Mother. This is repeated in Leviticus and in Deuteronomy.


In (Jdg 5:7) The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel. Deborah became the Chief Judge and Ruler of the Israelites and a great leader in battle. She called herself a "Mother in Israel".

In the book of Ruth, (Rth 1:14) And they (the two widowed daughters) lifted up their voices and wept; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, then returned to her people, but Ruth clung to her mother-in-law NAOMI.

In 1 Sam, a man named Elkanah had two wives. One, named Hannah, who could not have children. Hannah prayed to God while at the Temple in Shilo and God granted her favor, allowing for the birth of the future Prophet Samuel. Hannah through prayer, by the grace of GOD became a mother.

Sarah, wife of Abraham, she had been baron her whole life. In her 90's, Sahrah became a MOM. IN HER 90'S..........!!!

Then there was Mary: (Luk 1:30,31,34,35) The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.

(Luk 2:7) And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

(Luk 2:17) When they [The humble Shepherds of sheep] had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

This Child, fully MAN, fully GOD, named JESUS was introduced to the world not to High Potentates, or Kings, or Movie stars, or any other influencial human beings, this JESUS our SAVIOR was FIRST presented to a group of SHEPHERDS who had been attending their sheep when God extended the invitation to witness this miracle, in the presence of a young MOM.

The word MOTHER appears 320 times in the Bible. Some mothers were famous. Eve, Sarah, Rebecca, Rahab, Deborah, Ruth, Bathsheeba, and of course Mary, Mother of Jesus.

On this Mother's Day, let us take a journey through the Bible, specifically to scripture highlighting Mothers of Biblical times.

King Solomon demonstrated his great God-given wisdom in the matter of the two mothers who argued over the life of a surviving baby. By the KING offering to divide the living child in two, the true mother was wisely acknowledged and the real mother of the living child was rejoined. A mother's love could not tolerate injury to her precious child.

Not all mothers of Biblical times had happy outcomes. The wife of LOT, Abraham's nephew was turned into a pillar of salt as she looked back towards Sodom and Gomorrah in defiance of a command by the Angel of the Lord.

Jezebel, wife of King Ahab set a horrible standard for her children as she became truly a terror and killer taking many lives in pursuit of her selfish and lustful Pagan beliefs and greed. Her story begins in 1 Kings, Chapter 16.

When you were a child and was hurt, or you were sick, who made it all better? It was Mom. Who taught you how to count to ten, to say thank-you and please? It was Mom. Who taught you to pray; Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take? It was Mom. Who introduced you to the power and truth of the COOKING SPOON? Of course, your loving Mom!

Now, when the Shepherds came to call on young Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, well, to say it was a bit overwhelming for Mary would be an understatement....

(Luk 2:19) But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Mary, the Mother of Christ, the most cherished and adored MOM of all time.

It is those special and unique talents, instincts, and nurturing temperaments given to Mothers, by the grace of God, that anoints Mothers to be so very special and to hold eternal places in our hearts. Whether good or bad, strong or weak, she will always be more than just a woman, she will forever be your MOM. Happy Mother's Day.

LET US PRAY: Father, we praise You for Your great wisdom in creating Mothers. Those who carry us while You knit us together in her womb, those who nurse us, hold us, care for us, teach us, and Love us, just as you have first loved her. Continue, we pray O Lord, to hold Mothers in special regard, keeping their hearts pure and soft as the great nurturers of your Kingdom. Although visitation of family and friends is undermined presently, know that in our hearts and in the heart of our Creator, You MOM hold a very, very special place in our lives. In the name of Jesus, we lift you UP in prayer, Amen.

DOXOLOGY

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, Ye heav'n-ly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

BENEDICTION: (Psa 89:52) Blessed be the LORD forever! Amen and Amen.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

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