Download... May 9, 2010. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
We appreciate the hand of God through a mother, that without, we all are less than we should be. A good mother is the glue that holds her children together. To honor mothers, goes back throughout the centuries of time, if not always a day set aside.
Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
The first commandment with promise is to those who honor their father and mother, that your days will be long in praise to Him.
God will show us how to rejoice even in those difficult times. This principal of honor never changes, if we do our best to apply it to our lives.
Leviticus 19:3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.
Often in earlier times of history, (and even now in some male dominated societies) the wife was treated differently, or inferior. People of those times and places have mistakenly misplaced their honor. God never intended that the mother be treated as a "step child" to the father. God's plan was always for both mother and father to stand side by side.
Proverbs 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Just because people change the nature of God's plan, we must not judge God by that. People let down God, but God does not let down people. Let God's word stand. Romans 3:4 God forbid: let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. If people will allow God's word to produce, He will be revealed! God doesn't let people down. Because people don't feel or "see" God's presence, does not mean God is not there. Let God's plan work, and His word will stand.
We each one, are obviously all a product of a father and a mother. We also need both to be born again spiritually. A bride and a bridegroom. Have you ever heard of a mother and father not being involved in the procreation process? Not if you exist! The spiritual church mother has a holy companion. We are born again from both the spiritual mother and spiritual father. We must not forget either!
Our particular attention to honor of the mother, is because she has given birth to the child. In the natural or earthly birth, we inherit color of eyes, hair, skin,and other characteristics of our parents image. Physically, we know our mother has a lot to do with who we are. Even though later we are also shaped by our environment and other paths we may choose.
As children of God, we want our spiritual mother's spirit to be our spirit. We want to honor her, by how we behave. When we come to the place of life's decisions, God's children want to honor our spiritual mother by living according to God's principals of a holy life. Even a natural mother that is not saved, can be honored by her children choosing to honor God in their life. A mother can be thankful for that demonstrated spiritual honor in her children.
I Samuel 1:10-28 Samuel had a godly mother, Hannah, who was troubled in the beginning years of her marriage, for she had been barren. In those times, being barren was like a curse, although too often today children are not necessarily a desire. The desire and agenda not to have children, is not from God.
We find by reading this scripture about Hannah, that "Samuel" means ,..to be asked of the Lord.
Many others no doubt can identify with Hannah's request. We read in this passage that Hannah kept Samuel only until he was weaned, before she took him to offer him to be raised entirely for God's service. Then she sacrificially let go, and lent him to the Lord for the rest of his life.
How many mothers here could do this,.. and walk away? How could a Godly mother do this? Only through the spiritual honor that comes from a full surrender. We naturally want to see our children through all the milestones of their life, even to marriage. Hannah had no such certainty once she gave Samuel back to God.
I Samuel 2:1-11 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
Hannah is praying without any sorrow in her words. No self pity, but in a voice of rejoicing.
She was able because she had received her son from her promise. And she had kept her promise. She did not attempt to negotiate, or look for another easier way. She unreservedly kept her commitment in how she served God. She trusted in her God and her covenant to Him. Even in the test of after bonding with him, to then surrender her son forever to God's house. She was not discouraged, but able in all this to have a heart of rejoicing. She showed her continuance of dedication by each year taking him his needs of garments when she went to sacrifice to God. Even with the natural trials of separation from her son, she did not try to back up on her promise.
God also wants us to keep our children "on the altar" in dedication. A godly mother will keep that commitment. Even when a child might stray, her desire will be "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord." Through this a godly mother will be encouraged to raise her children accordingly, until as adults in independence, they must choose for themselves. A godly mother will want to "reveal" God to her children. A godly mother has it settled to teach a child the way they should go, and to keep them on that spiritual "altar." Even when a child needs a hard correction in their life, a godly mother will allow that discipline for their spiritual benefit. A honorable and/or godly mother realizes that she cannot protect her children from every problem. To do otherwise is to run a parent "ragged", and does a disservice to the child. Correction (not abuse) is a necessity to give hope for that child's wholesome upbringing.
Therefore even when they need it in the classroom, a honorable parent will support that discipline. You cannot prevent "negatives", to teach reality, as there will always be problems to face. Sometimes mothers can be too hard on themselves, so it is good to remember just to do your best and then commit them. You cannot prevent their unfortunate choices in life. We have one intercessor, Jesus, that we must give our problems to, for commitment. You cannot always be with them, for as adults they must take responsibility. Mom cannot always "hold their hand." Because Hannah was a godly mother, God blessed her with more children after Samuel.
Luke 1:46-53 Mary's "song" here, is very much like Hannah's. It emphasizes that God will exalt the lowly, and set down the "mighty", (or proud), and a re-warder of faith. Mary knew also, what it was to be of a humble and faithful spirit that had endured suffering. God was a re-warder of both Hannah and Mary for their consecration.
Galatians 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Spiritual Jerusalem is our spiritual mother of freedom.
Revelations 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
This is regarding the fall and desolation of spiritual Babylon, a type of confusion, and captivity, which is the opposite of God's spiritually free church, The mother.
Revelations 18:23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
The spiritual light of the candle, and the voices of the bridegroom and bride which speak with the same voice of unity, were removed. In other words the spiritual light of God's ministry is taken away from wherever the message of falseness, and spiritual or literal idols are permitted. It is a choice when souls become ultimately deceived spiritually.
Revelations 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
The holy city of Jerusalem, came down from heaven, known as the bride (The Church) for her husband,(Christ).
Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
The city was prepared for God's people (His saints,or children), the heavenly Jerusalem, ...a holy dwelling place.
Hebrews 12: 22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
The city is the Church, and the Church is inhabited by His people. His people who inhabit this city are saints, which are not people who are dead, but alive. So we can as God's people, inhabit the heavenly Jerusalem, as the bride of Christ. Back in Revelations 18:23, the voices of the bridegroom and bride, are Christ voice, and of the Church's voice, speaking the same thing and which are heard in this city of God, a spiritual city.
Song of Solomon 2:16 My beloved [is] mine, and I [am] his: he feedeth among the lilies.
A type of Jesus (beloved) and the Church's (the bride's) love for that bridegroom. God's plan for a godly mother is to be married to a godly father. It will be their child's privilege to follow that godly example. If a soul will allow God's plan to work,..it will. God's plan applies to every soul without exception. Somehow the spiritually bad or negative things must be stopped. You don't have to live a life of sin. A soul can start fresh and put behind them, their dark sinful past. It can be changed. The voice of the bride and bridegroom have the same love song of honor. So that their offspring can look above from their spiritual parent's holy message of unity, with No dissension. If we "see" a spiritual mother and father "singing" a different "song",.. that is not of unity. It is "song" of falseness, that is confusion or spiritual Babylon (which God has "cast down"), something is "not right", ...it is of error. Our help is found in the song of salvation. You need to be born again,.. of a Godly mother.
