THE IMPACT OF A MOTHER’S FAITH
2 Timothy 1:5
Mother’s Day is a good time to consider the contribution our parents—moms especially— have made to our life.
Our world is becoming increasingly hostile—increasingly vocal in its opposition to our faith.
More tolerance is expressed for those who commit violent crimes,
than for those who talk about a life-transforming faith in Christ.
People who uphold biblical values are considered oppressors,
harassers, who force their views on others.
Our schools actively promote atheism, humanism, sexual experimentation,
New Age ideas, Muslim faith, even Satanism and witchcraft.
But teachers are dismissed for presenting creation as an option,
mentioning their faith in Christ, or carrying a Bible
Students aren’t allowed to pray publicly at school events
—Though some have observed, prayer was allowed on campus at Littleton!
This trend is NOT likely to be reversed!
The day may come when we are forced to make a choice:
to go underground about our faith, to act like everybody else,
not to let anyone know what we believe,
or, pay a price for our faith.
This wouldn’t be new for Christians.
Since the birth of the church people have been persecuted for their faith in Christ! (Acts)
Around the world, our brothers and sisters in Christ face persecution because of their faith.
Some believe more Christians have been persecuted in our time than at any time in history
In this country, our suffering is usually limited to ridicule,
Though some have sacrificed jobs, friends, and family,
or taken pay cuts for their convictions.
Cassie Bertrand DIED for her faith at Littleton H.S.
How do we prepare our kids for life in a hostile world?
In one sense, I welcome the opposition—
... holding a minority view forces us to define clearly what we really believe and why
... opposition forces us to define what issues we’re willing to die for
... opposition is a purifying agent, driving away people who just hang on for social reasons
The church never remains healthy and faithful to God for long,
when it’s popular to be a Christian.
(From Acts to our day, . . .) When opposition grows, the church grows.
It’s pruned back to healthy branches
—what sticks around is vital and growing.
How do we prepare our kids to live for God in the midst of a hostile environment,
in the face of criticism and persecution?
40 years ago Helen and I were asking whether we wanted to bring children into the world to endure the pressure that would undoubtedly come during their lifetime.
10 years ago our children were asking the same question!
And their children–our grandchildren and great grandchildren? Will they even ask?
How can we prepare our children to live godly lives in a pagan, ungodly context?
PAUL’S PERSPECTIVE ON TIMOTHY’S HERITAGE 2 Tim 1:5
The line of the “faith of our mothers” . . .
begins with Lois, his grandmother (we aren’t told who she learned from)
She passed it on to her daughter, Eunice.
Eunice passed it on to her son, Timothy
Because of their godly influence, Paul says he’s convinced that
the same sincere, genuine faith they had, is apparent in Timothy also.
Elsewhere we see that he passed it on to others also.
When Paul thinks of Timothy, he thinks: “here’s a young man, marked by sincere, genuine faith.”
Then he remembers where it came from.
He saw it first in Timothy’s mother and grandmother.
Each of them passed on a heritage of faith.
Timothy’s mother and grandmother pass on their heritage!
—the normal pattern in Scripture: Godly parents pass on a heritage of godly living!
THREE BIBLICAL MODELS:
We’ve met these godly women previously.
In each case the mother passes on the heritage!
In 2 cases we don’t know how the father was involved, but we know the mother’s role
In 3rd case, part of the cause of her role is a passive father who fails to fulfill HIS role!
What heritage do these godly women pass on to their sons?
JOCHEBED PASSES ON HER FAITH Exod. 2:1-10; Heb 11:23-28
MOSES' BIRTH 2:1-2
AMRAM & JOCHEBED decide to hide Moses, rather than obey the decree.
These were not encouraging times to raise a family.
It’d be better not to have children, to avoid suffering children would have to face!? “Quality of life” would be abominable!
Heb. 11:23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child [NAS = “they saw the child was special], and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
MOSES' PRESERVATION 2:3-10
The passage describes his mother’s action.
We don’t know the father’s role; but it happened under his authority.
When Jochebed could no longer hide him,
she fixed a basket to protect him,
and put it among the reeds in the Nile.
Pharaoh's daughter found the baby and felt sorry for him.
She adopted him, but hired Moses' mother to raise him.
MOSES’ CHOICE 2:11-14
As time passed, Moses had to choose: his royal inheritance,
or his natural people, Israel who were in slavery
He could’ve chosen to avoid the pain, to escape persecution.
But he didn’t! What led him to make this choice?
Heb 11:24-27 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
MOSES BECOMES A MAN OF FAITH
BECAUSE HE HAS A MODEL TO IMITATE:
HIS PARENTS ARE PEOPLE OF FAITH
Though “God’s people,” weren’t living by godly standards, Moses learns a distinct attitude/lifestyle. Where did he catch the fever?
The example and teaching of godly parents!
JOCHEBED TRAINS HER SON TO WALK IN GOD’S WAYS
Her pre-school orientation trains him for a lifetime of walking with God.
Spanish proverb: "An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest."
Robert Ingersoll, notorious skeptic; 2 students went to hear him.
After lecture, one says to other,
"I guess he knocked the props out from under Christianity!”
The other said, "No. Ingersoll didn’t explain my mother's life;
until he can explain my mother's life, I will stand by my mother's God."
That’s the fruit produced by a godly mother.
None of us are perfect. Jochebed wasn’t perfect. Neither are you!
But our children learn the value of walking with God in a pagan world by watching us.
[Three biblical models:
1. Jochebed ]
Second biblical model: Hannah
HANNAH PASSES ON HER FAITH 1 Sam. 1-2
1 Sam. begins under the same sad conditions that characterize the Judges.
They are losing interest in following God.
For lack of national leadership everyone does as he pleases.
Rebellion and scandal are prevalent => oppression by other nations.
In contrast to the nation at large, and the priesthood in particular, . . .
Hannah is an example of faith and submission–to God’s will
She is childless.
Children are a sign of God’s blessing.
Inability to conceive is considered a curse from God. [Like Christy in Bilaspur]
Her only recourse is to cast herself on God’s mercy 1:10-16
When Eli observes the intensity of her prayer, he thinks she is drunk.
That’s an interesting commentary on the times.
It seems more natural for him to expect to see a drunken woman in the temple,
than to expect to see a woman intense in prayer before the Lord
She trusts God and cries out to Him.
Once he understands her cry to God, . . .
Eli assures Hannah that God will answer her prayer. 1:17
SAMUEL’S BIRTH 1:20-28 1:20-22
Hannah keeps her vow, though she would prefer to keep her son.
Hannah’s commitment (to God) sets pattern for godly parents today
1:24-28
Hannah's commitment to God is reflected
in Samuel’s commitment to please God.
Their commitment to God stands in stark contrast to Eli's family.
Eli's sons have reputation for wickedness and lack of respect for God 2:12-17
In contrast, Samuel's love for God is demonstrated by his faithful service 2:18-21
Samuel’s mother has given him to God, yet she retains love and responsibility;
she comes to see to his needs, and continues training him.
What made the difference between Samuel and Eli’s sons?
Samuel’s mother continually modeled godliness before him.
Doing what God wants
is more important than having a child,
or keeping him happy.
God’s will comes first.
J. R. Miller, a 19th C. writer, was influenced by the example of his mother.
"Once when I opened the door of her room, I saw her on her knees beside her chair and heard her speak my name in prayer. ...
I never forgot that glimpse of my mother at prayer,
nor the one word–my name–which I heard her speak.
What I had seen was only a sample of what happened every day.
This consciousness wakened me to my need of Christ
and later strengthened me a thousand times in life's struggles.
When death at last sealed her lips, my worst sense of loss was
the knowledge that she would no longer be praying for me."
[Three biblical models:1.Jochebed2.Hannah
The third model is that of Rebekah . . . ]
REBEKAH PASSES ON HER FAITH (?--sort of) Gen. 25-27
When we study heroes, our idealistic stereotypes of godly people are eventually shattered!
We just don't find any perfect saints!
They are godly and they are saints—but NOT because they’ve reached perfection
REBEKAH'S FAITH—There’s no question Rebekah was a woman of faith
Rebekah meets Abraham’s requirements for a wife for his son
Abraham didn’t want Isaac to marry a pagan woman, a (Canaanite)
Abraham wanted his son to marry someone who loves God!
Rebekah is committed to obey God, to follow His plan 25:23
God told her Jacob would be the blessed son.
She understood God’s plan, and tried to help make it happen.
REBEKAH MAKES THREE BIG MISTAKES:
1. She undermines her husband’s authority (works against husband) 27:5-10
2. She teaches her children that it’s OK to cheat, scheme and manipulate people, if it’s for a good cause! 27:11-17
3. She schemes and manipulates to get her husband to do what she thinks is right. (what SHE wants!) 27:42-28:1
Positively, She DOES teach JACOB to seek a wife among God’s people
—NOT among the pagans in the land.
BUT she never told that message to Esau!
He didn’t have a clue! But Jacob did!
WHAT’S REBEKAH’S REAL PROBLEM?
Rebekah thinks she has to help God out.
To be sure, things DO happen the way SHE thinks they should!
God could have accomplished it a better way!
Because she does it this way, she has to pay a price.
She has to send Jacob away
She lives with fear Esau will kill him
We get the idea that God can't handle things for Himself.
If we don’t help Him, “God might lose!”
Because of that lesson, Jacob learns to be a “schemer” to get his way too!
THREE GODLY WOMEN TRAIN THEIR SONS FOR LIFE IN A HOSTILE WORLD —actually 5 godly women!
The impact of the sons is the result of the faith of their mothers!
Timothy’s name is recorded in the Book, because of the faith of his mother—and of his grandmother!
Will our kids achieve greatness in God’s record because of OUR faith?
—not JUST moms!—this isn’t just the role of godly moms, it’s role of godly PARENTS!
Are we leaving an example of godliness and faithfulness for OUR kids to follow?
Question that hounds me: “Will those who come behind US find US faithful?”