Download... May 8, 2011. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
This is a day we are glad to honor mothers! This day may bring for some or many, memories generating sorrow, great fondness, regrets, etc. Some we still have, others rely on only memories of those that have passed. Yet we still honor this day for all mothers! Bro Goble referred to the concept of motherhood “lived” all around,..as in his neighborhood. That one mother that lives nearby, as a protector, or mother “substitute," looking out for all the children while “growing up”, that live on their block. Whatever the situation, we are just grateful for good mothers. Here are some thoughts on mothers we have to share with you this morning;
TEXT: III JOHN 1:4,...II CORINTHIANS 9:15
III JOHN 1:4, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
and
II CORINTHIANS 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Two thoughts are presented here this morning; 3 John 1:4 No greater joy, than to know and hear my children walk in truth. And in 2 Corinthians 9:15...And the unspeakable gifts, that God has given to us! Mother’s day is a blessed time to think about someone else! You may say that’s why I came to church this morning, ...for my mother. Yet we do live in a world that is dominated by self motivations. Gaining fame or “personal gain,” getting a job, getting ahead monetarily,..”pushing past other’s to get ahead, etc. Today is a good time “focus” on somebody else. The greatest joy is to take responsibility for causing a joy in someone else.....
We studied approximately a year ago, what it takes to demonstrate love in a family. (“The 5 Love Languages...The Secret to Love That Lasts”..by Gary Chapman). It focused especially on, between a husband and wife, but also benefited a family as a whole, and in addition towards others. The thought centered on “how” to demonstrate that love, and how to find out how others like to receive that love. Ultimately love is a “choice,” The world generally likes to think of love as a passion, romance, and what follows in that way. Today people often talk about “falling” in and out of love. The thought of love is used in all kinds of ways. Scripturally and “more usefully” love is defined as a Choice. In true love, Christ chose to sacrifice Himself, for the benefit of all humanity. It wasn’t simply based on passion, certainly had nothing to do with romance. The decision He made to go to the cross was the essence of our Salvation! The choice He made for us, was also the example for how a good mother chooses to love her children.
Now we’re not always lovely people,..are we? We are sometimes difficult to love. You might say, “No,..I’m always easy to love.” Well,..you are the unrealistic exception! Most of us have at one time or another, perhaps often, been difficult to love. As a mother biologically, or relationship wise, cannot separate from her child, so Jesus cannot separate Himself from His Church. Just as DNA, comes from a biological mother and father, so there is a spiritual DNA that comes from Christ,.. the bridegroom, and His Bride the church. Just as we are biologically the product of our father and mother,..so Christians are spiritually the product of our mother the church, and our Father in heaven! One might consider and say, “ that seems a bit odd,..or a stretch.” It is because you need to be “born from above! You might again think how odd it seems to be thought of spiritually being born from above. How odd is it though to think of perhaps this morning sitting next to your mother, from which you are a product? How odd is it for you to have a knowledge of your biological birth or adoption? In the church, as a Christian, it’s no different to think of our spiritual birth, and mother. It’s the very same thing,..and not odd at all ! If though, you have never been born from above,.. it Will seem unusual to you.
The two things we are talking about this morning is:
1) The greatest joy you can have.. is to be responsible for some else joy.
And
2) The greatest joy you can be responsible for, is not through a request,..but through a gift!
If somebody asks for something, you and they can be thankful. But it is a greater joy when you give what is not asked for! To see a person light up when receiving a gift not asked for, and knowing you were responsible for that,..produces a real joy in people.
Again, 3 John 1:4.. this is how a true mother feels! Those here that are mothers, that are also Christians, there is no greater joy than to know confidently that your child is walking in truth. Before a single woman, and single man come together in marriage, this is how they feel when they have children, ..if they are Christians. Before children, they have natural desires to please one another. Ultimately if the marriage produces children, their natural desires then becomes centered on their child. Their desires are no longer centered on their own interests, but now predominately in their children. How to raise them, help them, provide for them. In a godly mother, it never stops, your interest and burden for your children, is for all of your life!
Bro Goble used as an illustration, his observation of a mallard family of ducks, adult male, and female leading their chicks. In this unique example in nature, it seems like a “marriage, with the adult male, leading them, and the adult female hovering and attempting to protect their young, from any perceived dangers. Likewise how humanly a mother by biological or adoptive means, usually has a life time commitment to that child or children. A godly mother even later on in life, is often “checking in” on her children, to see how they are doing, praying for them, etc. Bro Goble spoke of his own family, how the older children have now shared their new-found wisdom, to the younger. “You better be thankful for the roof provided, meals, transportation, etc.” You don’t realize how good you have it, until you are on your own. For after you are grown and on your own, you have to do it by all yourself. “You better enjoy it while you got it.” Like the eagle that gets pushed out of the nest,..you have to learn to fly in a hurry. Then if you “hit” the ground, you still have to get up and fly on your own.
God puts something special in the heart of a woman, whether she be single, married, or also a mother. He provides according to the need. He put something different in each, according to the need. In the mother He places the necessity for nurture that is there. The single woman does not have the heart of a mother. You may think you do, but you don’t because there is no need for it. A married woman with no children also does not necessarily have a heart of a mother,..she cares for the things of her husband. And he cares for the things of his wife. But God gives a mother, the heart of a mother! Even if your experiences do not match the natural order of things, God has placed many forms of mothering around us, from others with that gift of nurturing.
Galatians 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
This verse declares Jerusalem as the mother of us all. You may not agree, but this is God’s word. Obviously this is the heavenly Jerusalem and not the literal Jerusalem which was as filled with idolatry, and many other sins, as ay fleshly city. We all need to know who our mother is both temporally, and desire even more so for our soul. “Jerusalem is from above,” the spiritual mother of us all.” Are you part of spiritual Jerusalem today? “I would like to be,” you might say. You have to know that you are! It is a necessity to know who our spiritual mother is.
Bro Goble illustrated with the thought, that when he calls his mother up (which he did), he must locate her number from the proper location in his little phone book. He "needs to know who she is," and her voice, as well her knowing his voice and location. He is known of her, and she is known of him,..there is a true connection! It is a knowledge that does not go away. this thought made him feel sympathy for those with no connection with God. Those same ones may think they have the connection they need, but their connections are ever changing. It is a function of what you learn from other men and women. Some of it will be useful, and some will not be. But the One who created all of this,... desires that we should know who He is, and to have a connection with Him! Not just a connection that “we” declare, but something that Both God and we Know, simultaneously .
Some are “claiming” a connection with God,..but is God claiming a connection with you? I am known of him, and he is known of Me. If I know who my spiritual mother is,..I Will be connected! Honest hearts that are not yet connected, will desire that connection . If we “call” her, we will “know her number.” We will recognize her voice, and she will recognize ours. Of course for that possibility, there had to be a physical birth. If one is adopted, there is a legal and moral contract, often bringing also a “sense of spiritual connection.” This connection will exist, if there has been a physical/adoptive or spiritual birth. All spiritual children can only originate from that spiritual birth, and will bear the fruits of that “event.” A Godly mother (the Church) and Godly Bridegroom (God),.. will produce children from above.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: God desires more children to be spiritually born, as time goes on. Naturally,.. offspring comes not from man and man, or woman with woman, but with a man and woman, as was miraculously designed. God declares there to be offspring of children “birthed” to The Church, and The Bridegroom (Christ) who is from above. We as the Church, have a responsibility to all spiritual “offspring.”
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. We see here that there is a needed spiritual birth, ..and of that, there has to have been, a spiritual mother.
Ephesians 5:27-32 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Some might “struggle” with the example of the church being a mother,..this is an ageless heritage handed down and not some “new” theory of production. We are of the spiritual that are “born from above” and not of ignorance, but experience. We may be ignorant to many worldly theories, but God’s children (or Christians), are born from above.
Bro Goble testified how he had traveled other continents, and being accused of ignorance, because of his choice of truth. He might become a victim of many things, i.e. alcohol, drugs, destructive relationships, etc.,etc. But God saved and spared him from that bondage and deception! So how can he now go back,.. and talk about all this as being of “myths and fables?” If we can accurately believe that an astrophysics can figure out how to run an observatory, and “find black holes,” discern the “nature of stars,”etc.,( “and also for instance,.. the manufacturer of the car I drive, had to be convinced whether or not that car would properly run or not”)...”Why then should one be surprised at why I am not be ashamed, in being convinced, regarding what God has done for me?” Someone has to be convinced! Someone needs to tell it!
There is no stability in following something that one has not first been convinced of. Secular or godless advocates speculate on so many different theories,.. illustrating an insecurity of convictions. People often find fault today,..with apologetics,..One that is an advocate, or dramatically convinced of this spiritual truth. ”You’re narrow minded”, You’re a bigot,”...are some of their accusations. There is an “internal tension” in the gospel. It’s like glass, which when fired, if it is not safety glass, it will shatter. This causes shards of glass to fly everywhere, making it extremely dangerous. That’s why in the building of your home there are building codes, that dictate that any glass by doors, or “lower down,” has to be safety glass which only will break into little “circles”, instead of dangerous shards. This product of safety glass only comes from a tempering process of extreme heat.
The same is true of the gospel, there is an internal tension that “bonds” that holds us strong to God and together. It is a tension that is fired by the crucible of the gospel. That’s why you don’t have to worry about backsliding, if you truly love God! It is hard to break these bonds, and is why we are not ashamed,..why we don’t back up! This is why some might say”it seems like you will not have your mind changed.” This is because of the bond and tension of the gospel that holds us fast! Too often today, religious people even do not see properly the need of the Spiritual Tension, which is the cohesiveness, and identity! With that lack, there is only a scattering, or floating away of those spiritual bonds. It then becomes undefined, as with anything not tested and tried in spiritual fire.
This is why we are not apologizing for what God has done for us. We have the DNA for both our spiritual Father and Mother! Just like everyone in the natural human sense,.. has DNA from both a mother and father. That’s why all born from above, have a spiritual mother, with characteristics from her. She’s pure, and holy. That is why when another “mother” out here, says “we all sin," we then know that she cannot be the bride of Christ! She doesn’t have sinful habits or condone sinning more or less every day. She doesn’t mix up with everything,..for she’s not a harlot! She’s not down “at the tavern, when she needs to be taking care of her children.” Thank God she’s not only not down there, but she is praying for you, when you might be there. Thank God she is without spot or wrinkle.
John 3:3-5 3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Why? Because you were of the flesh born with a sinful nature. Although perhaps even with wonderful parents, they could not do what Jesus did on the cross. That’s why we need to know what the spiritual mother “looks like.” We can’t just wander to any religious “gathering” and find her. We must locate her from the bible descriptions and standards. Her name, attributes, “locations”, etc. Otherwise without the fullness of God’s word, we may find “a mother”, but not the one from above. The true Church and the One who “purchased her with His blood, has been tried in the “fire”. She has suffered and been through some things. She has become aware of the dangers “out there.” Her children from this spiritual birth, also are like her, without sin or spot, pure and holy,.. as She is.
This spiritual Mother is her children's future.. and present joy. She knows what happens when her children “walk in truth.” And when her children become spiritual mothers and fathers they also will know what she knows. For as the bride of Christ, and spiritual mother, her offspring have her same “DNA”. It can be no other way. You cannot change the inherited genetics from your mother. Superficially, of course many do change their appearance. Regardless their DNA has not changed. The outward can change while the inside can only be of that one’s spiritual mother. The born again,.. from this heavenly mother, are born with Christ's image, ... a new DNA. That’s what happens with a birth. The image the “old” man inherited,..was from Adam. The new image is inherited from the new Adam, which is Christ. To make heaven, you have to be born again,.. because of that inherited sinful nature.
Again, II Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. A gift..A mother is more apt to take care of her health while carrying that child within her. She is “laboring” for that one. She is constantly giving gifts to her offspring. A wise child will receive the gift of wisdom from their mother. Mom’s wisdom may come like “nugget on the head or softly like a warm rain.” Some offspring think they have wisdom for their parents. That scenario often comes in the “late teenage years.” But fortunately some later see that their mother’s or parents did have wisdom, that they did not then "get." A wise child will accept her wisdom. One of the greatest gifts a mother can give her child,.. is faith,..so other generations can also have a godly mother. Faith is an unspeakable gift that comes from Jesus!
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Jesus laid down His life, for His friends. No greater love than to lay down Your life for your brother and fellowman.
Bro Goble relayed how lately he has been reading about the recipients of the medal of honor. It is the highest medal that the military gives to men and women in the service. Many have lost their lives before the awarding of that medal. Some are still living when it is awarded. It is given for valor, courage, sacrifice, above and beyond the call of duty and true heroism, in the fulfillment of their duties. The thought then occurs that Jesus fought for and went through much more in His great sacrifice, ...and without a medal. No one at that time seem to see His worthiness,.. of a great medal of recognition. He knew what He was doing. In His going to the cross and dying for our sins,..someday all of will have to deal with that. If we are able to be redeemed by His sacrifice, it will be because a “Godly mother” somewhere was praying for you. That Godly mother had to like all of us, come to a fork in the road, and make a choice for God, to become “a Godly mother” themselves. All,..you,.. will make that choice when you come to that “fork in the road,”so you can inspire faith, courage, valor to someone else.
Christian or not, mother’s day is a good time to think of the sacrifice a mother made for us. To recognize how “that” mother was also the recipient from a gift of sacrifice, before them, ….for someone else.
They have no greater joy, to hear you are walking in truth
