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May 9, 2004Tod Kennedy “But
as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.” Women are honored and important1. The Bible emphasizes leaders, and God delegated primary leadership to men. This began with Adam and continues through history. We have God’s inspired word on the subject in many places such as Ephesians 5.22-23,1 Timothy 2.12, 1 Peter 3.1-7, and 1 Corinthians 11.3.2. But God singled out these and other women and recorded their stories in Scripture to honor them, and to show the invaluable influence for God’s will and good in the lives of people.Proverbs on Mothers1. Proverbs 1:8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching2. Proverbs 4:3 When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother3. Proverbs 6:20 My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother4. Proverbs 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.5. Proverbs 15:20 A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.6. Proverbs 19:26 He who assaults his father and drives his mother away Is a shameful and disgraceful son.7. Proverbs 20:20 He who curses his father or his mother, His lamp will go out in time of darkness.8. Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.9. Proverbs 23:25 Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.10. Proverbs 28:24 He who robs his father or his mother And says, “It is not a transgression,” Is the companion of a man who destroys.11. Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.12. Proverbs 30:11 There is a kind of man who curses his father And does not bless his mother.13. Proverbs 30:17 The eye that mocks a father And scorns a mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.14. Proverbs 31:1 The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him:.What do these mothers teach us?1. Hannah (1 Samuel 1)2. King Lemuel’s mother (Proverbs 31.1-9)3. Elizabeth (Luke 1.57-80)4. Mary (Luke 1.26-40, 46-56)5. Lois and Eunice, Timothy’s grandmother and mother (2 Timothy 1.5 and 3.14-15)Are you doing what these mothers did?1. Do you pray for, Prepare, and Give your children to the LORD for life-long service; you will only gain blessing from the LORD, not loss (Hannah).2. Do you teach God’s wisdom and its application for life to your children (King Lemuel’s Mother).3. Are you humble, willing, and thankful for your place in God’s plan (Mary).4. Are you thankful and can you rejoice that your son or daughter is in the Lord’s ministry (Elizabeth)?5. Do you teach the God’s word—the gospel for salvation and doctrine for Christian living—to your children, and start when they are young (Lois and Euodia).Hannah (1 Samuel 1)1. This happened during the Judges period.2. Parents were faithful worshippers of the LORD (1 Samuel 1.3,7)3. Father was a Levite living in Ramah, Ephraim (1 Chronicles 6.33-38).4. Children are gifts from the Lord (Psalm 127.3-5).5. Hannah Prayed for a son to give to the LORD for life service (1 Samuel 1.9-18).6. Samuel born and raised at home until weaned (1 Samuel 1.19-23).7. Mother dedicated him to the LORD (1 Samuel 1.24-28).8. The LORD blessed Hannah and Elkanah: they regularly visited Samuel, and the LORD gave them three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2.18-21).9. Served at Shiloh with Eli (1 Samuel 2.11, 18; 3.1).10. The LORD confirmed Samuel as his prophet (1 Samuel 3.10-21; 4.1).11. Samuel a Levite and served as Priest—anointed Saul and David (1 Samuel 10).12. Last Judge in Israel (1 Samuel 7.15; 12.11).13. First Prophet after Moses (1 Samuel 3.10,19-21).Hannah’s Lesson1. Pray for, Prepare, and Give your son (s) to the LORD for life long service; you will only gain blessing from God, not loss.2. These sons will be the next generation of Pastor-Teachers, Missionaries, Teachers, LeadersKing Lemuel’s Mother (Proverbs 31.1-9)1. She taught her son, the king, God’s wisdom and its applications for life.2. Who is King Lemuel and who is his mother? We do not know.3. Some think he is Solomon and his mother is then Bathesheba. 4. This wise advice ended up in Lemuel’s daily reminder (What…? Proverbs 31.2).5. Avoid sexual promiscuity (31.3).6. Avoid alcoholic intoxication (31.4-7).7. Defend the defenseless (31.8).8. Judge justly and righteously (31.9).King Lemuel's Mother's Lesson 1. Mothers should teach God’s wisdom and its applications for life.Mary, Jesus’ Mother1. Are you humble, willing, and thankful for your place in God’s plan (Mary). (Luke 1.26-40, 46-56)2. Luke 1.29. Mary was perplexed. She did not understand. The verb is διαταράσσομα (diatarassomai), to be deeply troubled, to be very much upset.’ She was deeply troubled by the (angel’s) message’.3. She kept pondering διαλογίζομαι (dialogizomai): reason thoroughly, argue, think out.4. Luke 1.30. Favor is χάρις (charis), kindness, grace, thanks, good will, favor toward someone.5. Luke 1.37. “Nothing will be impossible with God.”6. Luke 1.38. “Bondslave of the Lord.” doulos (doulos), slave, servant. “May it be done to me according to your will.”7. Luke 1.46-55. Mary’s response to the Lord’s will.Mary’s Lesson1. Are you humble, willing, and thankful for your place in God’s plan.Elizabeth (Luke 1.5-80)1. Elizabeth was old and childless (1.7).2. The angel Gabriel told Zacharias that Elizabeth would have a child who would announce the Messiah—John the Baptizer (1.11-20).3. Elizabeth was glad that her son would serve the Lord (1.41-44).4. She and Zacharias agreed that John would have a unique ministry (1.57-80).5. Elizabeth was thankful and rejoiced that her son would have a part in the Messiah’s ministry.Elizabeth’s Lesson1. Mothers, are you thankful and can you rejoice that your son (or daughter) is in the Lord’s ministry?Lois and Eunice (2 Timothy 1.5; 3.14-15)1. Lois was Timothy’s grandmother; Eunice was Timothy’s mother (Acts 16.1; 2 Timothy 1.5).2. Both had faith in Christ and a knowledge of the God’s word (2 Timothy 1.5).3. They taught Timothy that salvation comes by faith alone in Christ alone (2 Timothy 3.15).4. They also taught Timothy God’s word for living (2 Timothy 3.14).5. Timothy was ready to meet Paul and to enroll in Paul’s Traveling Bible Seminary (Acts 16.11-3).6. Timothy became a fellow spiritual soldier with Paul the Apostle (Philippians 2.19-23).7. Timothy was sent as Paul’s representative to help Paul in his ministry (Philippians 2.19-23; 1 Timothy 1.3).8. Timothy received Paul’s last letter and with it Paul’s request to quickly come to him (2 Timothy 1.2 and 4.9)Lois and Eunice’s Lesson1. Mothers, from soon after their birth, teach the Word of God—the gospel for salvation and doctrine for Christian living—to your children.2. You are preparing them for fruitful Christian service.What about other women who are not mentioned as mothers?1. God has singled out many women throughout biblical history for service, blessing, and greatness.
2. If you are not married or not a mother, God want to bless you and others through you.Applications: Are you doing what these mothers did?
Applications: If you are not married or not a mother, God wants to bless you and others through you.1. Deborah wisely and courageously led her people during a crisis when men would not lead (Judges 4.1-14; 5.1, 7, 12, 15).2. Jael wisely and courageously did what was necessary (Judges 4.17-22; 5.6, 24).3. Ruth, before she was married, was loyal, humble, gracious, faithful to God’s will (Ruth).4. The wise woman of Abel did what was necessary and right for her city and her king (2 Samuel 20.16-22).5. Priscilla explained God’s word without taking authority away from her husband (Acts 18.1-3, 18-19, 24-26; Romans 16.3-5).6. Phoebe humbly and faithfully served in the church (Romans 16.1-2).
“But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary
of doing good.”
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