The Influence of Mother's

I once heard a Welshman preach in his own native tongue. It was a sermon in which he got into the spirit of his subject, and spoke as one inspired. He used a very simple illustration when he said, “The mother has her dear baby on her knee. It is time for washing; she washes its face. The little one cries; it does not love the soap; it does not love the water; and therefore it cries. Here is a great sorrow! Listen to its lamentations! It is ready to break its heart!

“What does the mother do? Is she sorrowful? Does she weep? No, she is singing all the while, because she understands how good it is that the child should suffer a little temporary inconvenience in order that its face, all smeared and foul, should become bright and beautiful again. In this way does the great Father rest in his love and rejoice over us with singing while we are sighing and crying.”

Ours is only a child’s sorrow, sharp and shallow, of which the greatest source is our own ignorance of the great designs of the perfecter of men. The Lord pities our childish sorrow, but he does not so regard it as to stay his hand from his cleansing work.

Beautiful picture of God, isn’t it?

The reason I share it is because this is Mother’s Day. And this illustration exposes and brings to light the truth that mom’s have a great potential to and are often found doing so, being a picture of God’s love and care upon our lives.

Mom’s have a great ability to influence for the glory of God.

Mom’s, everyday your example has the potential and power to influence your children to Christ; to be a picture of his person and work in our lives.

This morning, on this Mother’s Day 2021, I desire to do two things....

THANK YOU for your role as mom and the diligence and care you invest EVERY SINGLE DAY into your children (and grandchildren) and families.

ENCOURAGE you to continue to consider and maximize the influence that you have as mom’s.

If you are a mom of adult children, do not check out. The challenges and encouragements are still for you too!

If you are not a mom, do not check out....truth is, all of what we speak of today is applicable to EACH of us. I direct them towards moms because of the unique role and dedicated influence they can have on children as a captive audience in their day to day lives, but make no mistake, these principles and truths can be applied to all.

Outline

Big Idea: The influence of a mother is a powerful tool in the transforming work of God.

Seven ways mother’s influence is used by God

Courtesy of Billy Apostolon (With a few modifications)

THE INFLUENCE OF MOTHERS

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH PRAYER, LIKE HANNAH.

Hannah was childless; 1 Sam. 1:5, 6.

Hannah prayed for a child; 1 Sam. 1:10, 11.

Hannah’s prayer was answered; 1 Sam. 1:19, 20.

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH DEVOTION, LIKE RUTH.

She was devoted to Naomi; Ruth 1:16, 17.

She gleaned in Boaz’s field; Ruth 2:3.

She was rewarded for her devotion; Ruth 4:13, 21, 22.

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE THROUGH THEIR LOVE OF THE WORD, LIKE MARY. **Changed from original outline

She heard the Word at Jesus’ feet; Luke 10:39.

She chose a good part in loving the Word; Luke 10:42.

She saw the Word in action; John 11:43, 44.

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE BY DECISIONS, LIKE REBEKKAH.

Her decision was the right decision; Gen. 24:58.

Her decision proved a blessing; Gen. 24:67.

Her decision was for life; Gen. 49:31.

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE BY FAITH, LIKE RAHAB. **Changed from original outline - Main point and subpoints.

Through faith she heard; Joshua 2:8-10

Through faith she believed. Joshua 2:11-13

Through faith she was preserved; Joshua 2:14; 6:22-25

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH AN OPEN HEART, LIKE LYDIA.

Her heart was open to a prayer service; Acts 16:13.

Her open heart heard the gospel; Acts 16:14.

Her open heart opened her home; Acts 16:15.

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE IN WORSHIP, LIKE THE WOMAN OF CANAAN.

She worshipped the right person; Matt. 15:22.

She worshipped in a time of need; Matt. 15:25.

She was rewarded for her worship; Matt. 15:28.[1]

[1]Apostolon, B. (1966). Preach the Word(p. 91). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

Sermon Body

Big Idea: The influence of a mother is a powerful tool in the transforming work of God.

Seven ways mother’s influence is used by God

THE INFLUENCE OF MOTHERS

The first way a mother can be an influencer is through Prayer.

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH PRAYER, LIKE HANNAH.

Hannah was childless; 1 Sam. 1:5, 6.

Hannah was one of two wives

As we so often see when multiple wives are involved, jealousy and competition create a tense dynamic.

Peninnah was blessed with children. Hannah was not.

Peninnah “provoked her grievously to irritate her” because Hannah was childless. Peninnah held it over Hannah and used it to show her superiority as a the “better” wife.

And since it was often considered a shame and disgrace to NOT be able to bear children, Hannah felt it deeply.

It was a source of deep grief and sorrow for her. A trial, hardship, and difficulty.

Make it personal - What is your grief, sorrow, difficulty? What causes deep sorrow, grief, worry, fear, anger, etc?

What is worthy to note is how Hannah handled that difficulty.

She took it to prayer.

Hannah prayed for a child; 1 Sam. 1:10, 11.

Hannah could have responded in spiteful, resentful, and angry retorts to Peninnah. She could have returned evil for evil.

She didn’t (at least not that we see).

Instead, she turned her heart towards the one who controlled the power over life and death.

So deep was her grief and so intense her desire that she appeared drunk to Eli (the priest) as he viewed her supplications.

This could also be a commentary in his spiritual state or even that of Israel as a whole that this was his first assumption (drunkenness).

What is important to remember as well is this…Hosea 9:14 exposes that often times barren wombs and dry breasts were seen as a judgment from God.

Her childlessness would likely have more than a mere grief over childlessness and even more than the antagonism of another wife…she would have (or could have) seen it as a judgement raised by God against her. One that she may have not fully understood if she felt she was walking righteously before him.

When was the last time your (as mom’s) or our (as followers of Christ) exhibited this depth of passion?

In her petition, she committed her son, if God would grace her with one, to the service of God all the days of his life.

This promise included the “no razor” to his head…a Nazarite vow…style promise.

In truth, she knew that this would potentially mean that the child, were one granted, would be away from her most of the days of her life. This commitment reveals that her motivation and desire was about more than just a child. For if her desire was merely for a child to love and possess, she would not have been so willing to make a promise such as this to give him up. Her desire for a child was multi-faceted for sure but I do believe this is likely part of it.

Point is though, she committed to prayer that which grieved her, that which concerned her, that which was beyond your power to fix, control, or change.

Mom’s, your influence over your children, your grandchildren, your husband for that matter is MOST seen in your commitment to prayer for them.

Recognize that ultimately you have NO control over what happens and the only influence you have is driven by the power of the Spirit who takes the work you work and is the true influencer over your children.

Thus, if you desire to influence your children and family, you must do so PRIMARILY by being a prayer warrior on their behalf.

Always remember that you are dependent on the person of God and that all change ultimately happens because he takes your faithful work and produces a harvest rich and bountiful out of it.

Hannah’s prayer was answered; 1 Sam. 1:19, 20.

In the end, Hannah’s prayer is in fact answered.

Though, this is not a promise that if you pray or even make a commitment to God that he will grant what you seek.

Just happens God answered affirmatively for her.

However, the principle and lesson is this…influence through a passionate and dedicated prayer life. You can’t go wrong with this commitment.

Mom’s THANK YOU for your influence of prayer for your children and family!

Mom’s guard this commitment and seek to strengthen it more and more!

The second way a mother can influence is through devotion.

In what ways specifically can you influence with prayer?

Making it a priority.

Letting your children see your commitment to prayer, that you value it, cherish it, and consider it important

Pray with them regularly, including over “little” everyday kind of stuff (and by so doing, teach the concept of pray without ceasing)

Point out answers to prayer

Let them see you (and include them when possible) praying with and for others.

Keep a journal of prayer needs and answers that you record and review often.

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH DEVOTION, LIKE RUTH.

She was devoted to Naomi; Ruth 1:16, 17.

Naomi’s husband (Elimelech) and two sons (Mahlon and Chilion) are dead.

One of the sons which Ruth was married to.

Ruth was not an Israelite. She was an Moabite.

Naomi’s husband died first.

The sons married.

They both die.

Naomi is an Ephrathite.

After her husband and son’s deaths, she decides to return home (After living in Moab for some time due to famine) to the land of Judah.

After they had departed, after they were already underway, she urges her two daughter-in-laws to return home to their father’s care, to their father’s oversight. Perhaps through their father’s homes they may yet find another husband who could provide for and care for them.

In ancient custom and law, women did not have the right to own property and were at the mercy of their male relatives to provide and care for them.

This put Naomi and her daughters in law in a grave situation. They had none left to care for them.

Naomi here, then is giving her daughter’s in law an out, a better chance for a future by sending them home to their father’s homes.

By custom/law, if she had more sons, they would be responsible for taking these widows as wives and producing children by them so that a son born to her would be able to provide and care for her.

But there are no more sons. And even if Naomi were to have more, it would be a while before one could marry either of these ladies.

Theirs is a hopeless situation.

So Naomi does what she can for them. She sends (or tries to) them home to give them a better chance of finding someone who can care for them.

At first, both girls resist.

After some urging, Oprah accepts her release and goes.

Ruth, however, refuses still.

She remains devoted to Naomi.

It is not just Naomi she embraces but the people of Israel

It is not just the people of Israel she embraces, it is GOD, Elohim.

In verse 17, SHE (Ruth) refers to him as Yahweh. That is the personal name for the Covenant making, Covenant keeping God special to Israel.

She had become a God follower and (I contend) her devotion to Naomi was derived from her devotion to Elohim.

Mom’s - what fuels your devotion to your children, to your family? Because if it is anything less than devotion for Elohim, it will always fall short.

What is driving your to love them when they don’t love you? When they hurt you, when they fail you? What is driving you to love them and be devoted them when they are ungrateful, unfaithful, unkind?

News flash…your children are sinners. They will fail you, hurt you, disappoint you.

What will motivate your devotion to them to remain faithful when they don’t? Your devotion to and love for God.

NOTHING ELSE BUT DEVOTION TO AND LOVE FOR GOD WILL KEEP YOU LOVING THEM WHEN THEY UNLOVING TO YOU; WILL KEEP YOU DEVOTED TO THEM WHEN THEY ARE FAITHLESS TO YOU.

Your faithful devotion to your children, especially when they fail and disappoint, will influence them for Christ without ever using a word. In this faithful devotion, they will see Christ.

And then they will pair that example with the faithful teaching of His word and they will know and understand what is fueling that devotion to them.

God, in his faithfulness to Naomi and Ruth, providentially directs her to Boaz’s field.

She gleaned in Boaz’s field; Ruth 2:3.

She happened upon Boaz’s field. Knowing what I do of God’s providential hand, I believe God directed it, even unbeknownst to her.

And of course, we know the story, once Naomi founds out, she advises Ruth to go nowhere else and God providentially moves so that Boaz becomes the kinsman redeemer.

She was rewarded for her devotion; Ruth 4:13, 21, 22.

Ruth’s devotion to Naomi, her devotion to God brings her into the genealogy of King David and therefore, of the Messiah.

Again, this is not a promise that your devotion will bring about the affect you desire or something as grand as this, but…the truth is…you cannot know the full extent or end result of your devotion to God and devotion to your children and family. Though you may never see the impact of your devotion, its affect will be there in one way or another.

Do you think Ruth saw that future? Do you think she even knew?

Probably not.

Mom’s think about this…you can influence through your devotion...

First to God

and second, as a fruit of the devotion to God, devotion to your children and those whom God has placed in your life.

And though you may never see the full fruit of that devotion, you can be assured it will be there.

At the very least, devotion to God and to people will find its fullest reward, the fullest expression of reward in heaven.

There are no guarantees in this life, but we know and can trust that devotion to God and love for man will never fail

Mom’s THANK YOU for your faithful and consistent devotion to your children and families!

Don’t stop!

In what way(s) can you influence through devotion?

Let them see your uncompromising commitment to spend time with God

Ensure that they are uncompromisingly spending time with God.

Affirm often God’s love and faithfulness to them. Show them examples. Give them scripture to see it.

Teach them to mediate on God’s word and feast upon it.

Affirm your love and faithfulness to them constantly, even when you must rebuke and correct.

Guard your words from harsh, condemning, or cruelty…unkindness.

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE THROUGH THEIR LOVE OF THE WORD, LIKE MARY.

**Outline point altered by Michael Stitzel**

Original Mothers should be interested in the word, like Mary

She heard the Word at Jesus’ feet; Luke 10:38-42.

This is about priorities.

There is never an end to the list of “good things.”

But not all things are needful things.

Martha, though well intentioned, wanting to serve Jesus and show him the value and worth that he was due as an honored guest, erred. She erred in that she prioritized a good thing and in so doing, neglected a needful thing.

As mom’s your list of responsibilities, tasks, “to dos” and busyness seems like it never ceases.

The urgent, the frantic, the busy will often press out the NEEDFUL.

The Good ideas, discovered and borrowed from others, can often press out the needful.

Unfortunately, Martha here serves as a negative example for us to learn from.

Guard the needful thing, even from the good things.

She chose a good part in loving the Word; Luke 10:42.

Mary chose the necessary (needful) thing.

Mary chose the GOOD portion.

What kind of example are you setting to your children by YOUR OWN PRIORITY of time in the word?

What kind of example are you setting for your children in the USE OF THE WORD in your parenting?

Sometimes, choices in life come down to choosing the best thing over a good thing. The needful/necessary thing over a good thing.

It is not always about choosing the right vs. the wrong thing.

But rather, the necessary/needful things over a good thing.

I realize that at times, that is hard to figure out…hard to discern...

Necessary things..

Time with God

Prayer

Obeying the commands of God as given in scripture regarding your role and responsibility as a follower of Jesus.

Quality time spent with husband

Quality time with children to teach, train, and build them up

Basic NEEDs for health and life.

But if anything in the good category negatively impacts the necessary category, you have an immediate problem.

Mary here, serves as an example of what that choice looks like.

What led Mary to making this decision?

She saw the Word in action; John 11:43, 44.

Mary’s life was forever changed when she witnessed an event that vividly exposed what she already believed to be true....this man was the resurrection and the life.

He was the real deal.

And in seeing that reality, she was better able to choose the needful thing.

Martha saw the same thing. And her busyness does not mean she did not see it and embrace it as well. Just that for Mary, the more needful thing was obvious. Martha’s serving, I believe, was her attempt to show honor for the man who knew to be the resurrection and the life. She simply misinterpreted the needful thing from the good thing.

I do not wish to speak ill of Martha because I do believe her heart was in the right place.

Mom’s as your time is devoted to the word, your view of God will increase.

As your view of God increases, I believe your prioritization of the needful thing over the good thing becomes more clear.

And as you prioritize the needful over the good, your influence rockets into eternity.

Mom’s - THANK YOU for your love for the Word and your investment of time into it!

Prayerfully consider can you continue and strengthen your influence through your love of the word of God?

How is love for the word displayed on a daily basis?

Faithfulness in spending time in it, reading, memorizing, meditating.

Use of scripture in correction.

Use of scripture in encouraging when discouraged, fearful, etc.

Use of scripture when giving advice and counsel.

How you treat your bible.

How you speak about the bible.

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE BY DECISIONS, LIKE REBEKAH.

Mom’s your decisions have a great power to influence. Both the everyday style decisions as well as the bigger, once in a life time style decisions have the power to influence your children and model for them the right manner of living.

Consider Rebekah

Abraham’s servant had gone in search of a wife for Isaac.

By God’s hand, he found Rebekah and upon presenting his request to Laban, was granted consent.

Genesis 24:52-59

Her decision was the right decision; Gen. 24:58.

This was undoubtedly a hard decision.

She knew it meant leaving the comforts and securities of home to go and marry a complete stranger.

Granted, it was customary for things like this to happen in that day, but it did not make it any easier, nor would it have been considering Isaac was a complete stranger.

But, I believe, she trusted God.

She trusted her family to help her make this decision.

If anything, they seemed more hesitant to release her and finally let her go than she was willing to go.

But she heard the story of the servant, she heeded her family’s counsel and desire to go and when the servant urged for a quick departure, and her family left the choice to her, she consented.

She made the hard decisions in trust of God.

Mom’s - What does your decision making reveal about your trust in God?

What does your decision making reveal about your value of wise counsel?

What does your decision making reveal about your value of family?

Truth, for all of us, not just mom’s, is that we are being watched all the time. The decisions we make, how we make them, and the attitude with which we make them, is constantly being observed, teaching, and modeling for those around us.

It exposes our values and convictions

It reveals our trust and security.

It teaches our children what to value and on what basis we make decisions.

Do your decisions show a love for God? A trust of God? An identity rooted in him? A character of integrity? An attitude of contentment, peace, joy, and hope?

Rebekah had to make a tough decision. We are not privy to her innermost thoughts and how she come to the decision we did and being so willing to go with a stranger to marry a stranger, but she made a tough decision, THE RIGHT ONE as she was prompted by God and it modeled a heart decision worth imitating.

Her decision proved a blessing; Gen. 24:67.

She became Isaac’s wife and a key figure in the nation of Israel. Through Issac and Rebekah would come Jacob/Israel and from Israel came the nation, the 12 tribes, the great host of people who are STILL GODS PEOPLE to this day.

Her trust and obedience to the will of God brought her into a place of blessing with God.

And isn't this always true?

When we choose to trust God and obey him, it will always be met with blessing.

Sometimes that blessing is not how we would imagine or think.

Sometimes that blessing is deferred to glory and not represented here on earth

Sometimes that blessing has no physical manifestation but is merely in the form of intensified and deep intimacy with God.

But I do believe that all trust and obedience to God is met with blessing. We must just pray for and discern the form and means of that blessing lest we miss it.

For Rebekah, she never looked back.

Her decision was for life; Gen. 49:31.

Certainly, we know that her life had challenges and she made some questionable decisions along her way.

But of us hasn’t?

She stuck it out. She committed. And she is counted among the men and woman whom God used to bring his people into existence and through whom the world was blessed with a Messiah!

Mom’s, do you stick by your decisions even when it gets hard?

Even when it begins to cost your more than you originally accounted for?

Do you stand by those right decisions even when you have to stand alone?

When it gets uncomfortable or hard?

Do you stand by those right decisions even when it hurts?

Mom’s, THANK YOU for your commitment to making good and right decisions that provide an example and contain a godly influence over your children and family.

Keep dependent upon the Lord, honoring Him, and influencing your families through your daily decisions.

In what way(s) are all decisions we make an expression of faith? Read Romans 14:13-23. What principles/truth’s are mentioned here that help you answer this question? What steps can we take to ensure all decisions are made on the basis of faith in Christ?

Every decision we make is done so because of something we believe. Even decisions that “lack faith.” The “lack of faith” questions so that we believe nothing is certain, reliable, or assured, so we don’t make decisions based on that criteria. But every decision we make is based on something we believe, thus it is a statement of faith in something.

Romans 14:13-23 - What ever does not proceed from faith is sin. God wants our faith. He wants our trust. If we believe something to be wrong, even if it is incorrectly believed to be wrong, but engage in it anyway, we sin. BECAUSE God wants all things we do to be done from faith. Even if in our spiritual maturity we have continued to hold that something is wrong when God says it is not, but we believe it to be and engage in it, we sin because we violate a conviction we believe is wrong.

We need to know the truth. Study, pray, meditate, get counsel, understand truth, understand God so that we can have confidence in the person and work of God. Making decisions in faith means that we need to believe truth and be convinced, convicted of truth so that our decisions can be made in light of those truths. Thus, one of the biggest things we can do to ensure that we make decisions by faith is to know God and to know truth. Our decisions will flow from these two things.

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE BY FAITH, LIKE RAHAB.

Of all the nations that Israel destroyed when they entered the land, few to any saw any repent from their sins.

In fact, Rahab may well be the only one we have recorded for us in scripture that repented.

That in itself is profoundly amazing.

So much so that she makes it into the Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews.

Mom’s as we consider her example, let’s glance back at Joshua 2.

Through faith she heard; Joshua 2:8-10

She was privy to the goings on in the world. She heard stories. She stayed connected.

And perhaps, her chosen occupation (wrong as it was) afforded her more news and tale than even the common person.

However, she heard. She heard.

This hearing was important.

Romans 10:17 reminds us....

As truth is heard, listened it, the Spirit works it so that it becomes an agent of faith.

Without hearing, faith is not possible.

It is also not a guarantee of faith...

They all heard.

And may quaked and trembled in their shoes....but they did not believe.

But for Rahab, the hearing was used of God and translated into faith…into belief.

Which, by the way, see how good our God is?

#1, he waited until the time of the wickedness was at its fullest. He deferred judgment on these people giving them opportunity to repent. When they didn’t, then he sent in Israel to punish them.

#2, even in the destruction of cities, a message was being said and an opportunity was being given. Judgment is coming for your sin. Until it arrives for you, you have another chance to repent. AS Rahab evidences. The destruction of the cities themselves was a message, a call to repentance, another opportunity. Another opportunity to hear...

For many, it was a call met with more rebellion.

For Rahab, it was a call to repent and believe.

Through faith she believed; Joshua 2:11-13

What she heard provoked a response of faith in her heart.

She KNEW from all that she heard, from the reports, the news, the destruction being left in wake, that the God whom these people, Israel, worshipped, WAS THE ONE TRUE GOD.

And she uses Yahweh. She had become a follower from hearing the stories of Israel’s conquest.

And she had to go against the grain of EVERYONE ELSE in her city to do so.

She and her family are the ONLY ones who were spared in the destruction of that city.

When a decision comes at so great a cost, it validates its authenticity and strength.

And it is a lasting legacy that continues to be passed down generations later.

Moms, like Rahab, your expressions of faith will leave a lasting influence upon your children.

Mom’s - How are your expressions of faith influencing your children to be men and woman of faith?

How are your everyday decisions evidence of devoted faith in and trust of God?

How do your words expose faith in God?

How do your actions display faith in Christ?

How do your desires (as seen in your actions, priorities, and values) point to a love for God and faith in His being?

How are you purposefully placing yourself in the hearing of the word?

Are you even praying for greater faith?

How can you model and impart the influence of faith for your children?

What greater influence can you leave than this?

Thank you, Mom’s for your example of faith that continues to leave lasting legacies and influence over the children God has entrusted to your care!

Take courage, take hope…though it may feel like it at times..it is never in vain.

For Rahab, her act of faith brought with it life and legacy.

Through faith she was preserved; Joshua 1:14; 6:22-25

What’s more....she becomes Boaz’s mother, who marries Ruth, giving birth to Obed and Obed gives birth to Jesse and Jesse, to King David.

Rahab was King David’s Great, great grandmother. Four generations removed from the king.

Not only was she preserved, she was brought into the Messianic line, as was Ruth, a Moabite. Two women from pagan nations who repented and were ushered into a place of honor for the remainder of eternity.

Mom’s, THANK YOU for living by faith!

Commit EVERY DAY to growing in faith and influencing through faith!

What examples of faith have you seen in others that have greatly influenced your own faith?

Michelle Smith - Loss of baby son

Driving to NY for Christmas once as kids, it was snowing and icy; all the cars (including a big semi in front of us) starting swerving and sliding due to ice. I remember my mother shouting out a quick reflexive prayer of protection. It was over before we knew it. But it has left a lasting impression

How does this strengthen the case for the influence you can have through faith?

Just serves to show the impression that great acts of faith can leave for others to imitate.

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH AN OPEN HEART, LIKE LYDIA.

Read with me Acts 16:11-15

Lydia exposes for us the influence you can have as mom’s with an open heart.

Her heart was open to a prayer service; Acts 16:13.

Notice what the ladies had gathered to do....Pray.

We considered this aspect of prayer already when we examined Hannah but let me make one more plea for it and expand it just a bit more.

It is important to note her priority to pray...

Such was the value and priority that they had chosen to gather to pray.

AND TO PRAY WITH OTHERS.

And not just private, personal prayer, but praying WITH the body?

There is something different when we pray as a body

It builds, encourages, and strengthens community, unity within the body.

It reflects the image of God in the oneness and unity of the Trinity as we engage similarly with one another in such oneness to pray and intercede in prayer.

Can we honestly say that our prayer life, both personal and community, is up par with the value Jesus placed upon it?

Jesus Himself placed great value on community in prayer. On his final night before his trial and death, we read these words..

Matthew 26:36-46

He invited and pleaded with the disciples to watch and pray with him...

And they failed

And notice his grief at their failure.

There is great power, comfort, and strength in the prayers of community.

Mom (all of us), what value and priority do we really put on prayer? And prayer in community (as a family, as a church assembly)?

I know, for me, sometimes when life gets busy, this is the first area to compromise on.

And I know that my own modeling of this truth in my family is not well reflected because I permit busyness to press it out.

What example of prayer are you imparting to your children?

Do they see you pray?

Do you pray with them?

Do you teach them to pray?

Do they see this community aspect of prayer being modeled, valued, and imparted to them?

Do they hear from you and see in you the importance, value, and priority of prayer?

Lydia and these ladies certainly made it a priority to gather at this place of prayer

Truth is, for us all, but especially for moms, for women, there is never an end to the list of things that are required of you or that demand your attention.

Do you protect, guard, and prioritize prayer as one of the non negotiattbles in your life and family?

Not only was her heart open to prayer, it was open to the gospel.

Her open heart heard the gospel; Acts 16:14.

She was already a worshipper of God

But Paul opened her eyes to Jesus as Messiah, to the events of the cross and she openly accepted that truth.

Not all who heard the truth of Jesus accepted and embraced it.

But because she had an opened heart to God, when the truth was spoken, she heard it and answered.

Does your life evidence an open heart to the gospel?

Does the joy, thankfulness, contentment, and peace in your life expose and proclaim the love and passion you have for the gospel?

Does your life evidence a sensitivity to it in everyday life that translate in your own walk, attitude, and interactions?

Does the gospel consume your conversations, teaching, corrections, and instruction?

Does your life show clear and evidence signs of living at the foot of the cross?

Of living in light in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus?

Of living in the power of the indwelling Spirit?

Are you teachable? Are you learning and growing? Submitting yourself to the teaching of God’s word and the promptings of the Spirit?

Or are you set in your ways, unapproachable, unrebukeable, uncorrectable?

Moms, your influence for the gospel with your own children and home is unparalleled. Where else do you literally have a captive audience?

Moms, your influence with an open heart for the gospel is a powerful tool.

Allow the gospel to saturate and permeate all you do!

Model it. Accept it. Embrace it. Make it yours. Teach it. Live it. Keep your own heart intractable by it.

Her open heartedness also led to her open hospitality.

Her open heart opened her home; Acts 16:15.

She opens her home and after some persuasion, she entices them to come to her home where she serves and cares for them.

Mom’s - your greatest venue for the gospel, for the ministry and work of the kingdom, is your home. Do not be afraid to use it.

Do not insist on perfection before you can use it.

Our homes are our private, safe and comfortable place.

And that is precisely why we ought to use it for ministry.

Doing something in your home has a very different feel than doing it in a public meeting place.

It does something to break down barriers and build intimacy. It just does.

Our homes, our resources are gifts given to use, NOT JUST for our benefit, but for us to use to bless others.

When our hearts our open to God, to the gospel, our homes can and should be too. And I think that it is the natural product and fruit that evidences the openness of ones heart to those things. (this is not to say that if you don’t open your home your heart is not open to the gospel....do not misunderstand me. - but I do believe that an open home is A evidence of an open heart, one in tune with God.

Where did God often go when seeking to reach the lost? To their homes.

He did not have one of his own, or he may well have had them in, but notice he would often be found in the homes of people.

Mom’s you can influence your children through how you model this truth of hospitality and openness.

You can influence others through USING the means and gift of hospitality.

You can help teach and pass down this valuable ministry to the next generation through your use of these things.

It is a lost and dying gift, one that is clearly taught to us in scripture.

Hebrews 13:1

1 Peter 4:9

Matthew 25:31-40

Mom’s the simple use of your home, the expression of hospitality will leave a lasting legacy on your life.

Trust me, I know. My mother was one such example to me.

Mom’s, THANK YOU for loving and caring and influencing with an open heart!

I pray that you continue to display Christ likeness through your open hearts!

How does one foster/promote a heart that is open to God and to others? How do we promote/train that into our children?

Prayer

Time in the word/spent with God

Model it.

Practice is often

Invite our children to participate in the planning and fulfilling of hospitality.

Teaching/modeling empathy, sympathy, compassion.

Teaching our children how to put themselves in another’s shoes/to see the world from perspectives not their own

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE IN WORSHIP, LIKE THE WOMAN OF CANAAN.

Read with me Matthew 15:21-28

Mom’s (and all of us), this nameless woman gives us yet another example of how to influence others.

This non-Israelite woman displays great faith and worship in her cry to Jesus.

She came pleading to God to heal her daughter who was severely oppressed by a demon.

Her faith is evidenced from the very beginning in her acknowledgment of who he was.

She worshipped the right person; Matt. 15:22.

The word “lord” is the just the basic title of respect for someone in authority. It is not Yahweh or any specific name that would reference THE God, the way God was known by Israel.

HOWEVER

“Son of David” is a very different story. This title has Messianic undertones.

Matthew 22:41-46

This title, is used frequently throughout the gospels as a title commonly to refer to Jesus, the Messiah.

Her using this title indicates she knows a thing or two about these Jews/Israelites and their God and it evidences her belief in Jesus as the Messiah.

An outsider, a Caananite woman here is exposing her faith in the right person.

Even without a name, her influence and memory is preserved in scripture.

Mom’s - Who and what you worship will be displayed in your everyday doings, activities, attitudes, and actions. You have great power to influence your children and your families THROUGH WORSHIP of the right person.

In what way do you evidence your love for, trust in, and dependence upon God in your everyday life?

In what way do you reveal your passion, desire, adoration, and sense of awe for God in the day to day activities that keep you so frantic and busy at times?

Moms, Dads, grandparents....the greatest legacy we can leave is to teach our children to love God. To expose for them the grandeur of his majesty and fame!

Mom’s you can influence through worship of God, your giving thanks for all things, your acknowledgement of his character and person, and through frequently, regularly, and unabashedly worshipping Him for His goodness!

Even more so when you do this in a time of need.

She worshipped in a time of need; Matt. 15:25.

She was desperate, pleading.

She was in need.

And she persisted.

Jesus stayed laser focused on the his mission PRIMARILY to the Israelites.

John MacArthur notes that we should not see Jesus as harsh or uncaring here but rather that in treating her as he did, he is tenderly drawing out her confession of faith. He already knows her heart and faith. This is being done for all those watching and for us thousands of years later that we might see and worship God!

Therefore, he initially rejects her but at her persistence and insistence, he stops to engage her.

And even in that engagement, he seems to resist declaring it is not right to take what was intended for the children (the people of Israel) and give it to the dogs (the Gentiles).

But she persists.

She knows that even when the children are blessed with abundance, the dogs (pets) benefit from the abundance, the casted off.

She does not attempt to presume herself to be better than she is.

She knows her place as a Caananite woman but she also in the breath acknowledges that they receive blessing THROUGH Israel (a promise made to Abraham that all the nations would be blessed THROUGH Israel).

And in this is her expression of faith.

Precisely what Jesus was waiting for.

Mom’s, know this....(and all of us) God permits us to be in a place of neediness at times precisely because he wants us to run to him in our desperation and find in him our deepest satisfaction.

This truth must be conveyed and taught, modeled and displayed for our children. They need to see that in our time of need, we turn to God as the source of our hope and help.

By the way, this is worship. When we look to God in those times, it is an act of worship because we are acknowledging the WORTH of God and the reality that He alone is the source of help we need.

Coming to him in our time of need IS an act of worship.

Mom’s - are you influencing through worship?

For this nameless woman, her faith was rewarded.

She was rewarded for her worship; Matt. 15:28.

Jesus saw her faith and healed our daughter “from that hour,” is the literal reading of the text.

Listen, the evidence of scripture time and time again is that God is moved by faith. He is prompted to action on our behalf by faith.

The way to the heart of God is by faith.

Her worship is magnified by the fact that she was an outsider, not even of Israel, and yet she believed and worshipped.

Listen worship is always met with blessing and reward.

Don’t mistake my meaning, that “reward” or blessing may not be what you think (financial and physical prosperity) but it will always be met with the satisfaction of the Lord and that is its own reward.

Mom’s, THANK YOU for loving God and worshipping Him in daily life.

May your worship of God influence your children and families to worship him as well.

What does it mean to worship?

To acknowledge and proclaim the worth, value, or importance of something or someone.

What does it look to worship on a daily basis?

Giving thanks often

Praising and proclaiming the person and work of God.

Living with integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness

Spending much time in prayer/conversation with God

Meditating on scripture

Speaking often of him to unbelievers

Directing other believers to the word, to God in daily conversations

Using scripture and truth as the basis for instruction, correction, encouragement in parenting and interpersonal relationship.

Conclusion

Mom’s - THANK YOU for the devotion and care you put into every day of your life.

THANK YOU for the influence you exert upon your children and families.

I pray that as you consider these truths, you will see the truth that...

Big Idea: The influence of a mother is a powerful tool in the transforming work of God.

And that prayerfully, in dependence upon the Spirit, seek to influence

With Prayer

With Devotion

Through Your Love of the Word

By your decisions

Through Faith

With an Open Heart

and Through Worship

Thank the Lord for the influence you have to point your children and family to God.

And day by day, may that influence bring about a generation that is being transformed by the power of God.

Seven ways mother’s influence is used by God

Courtesy of Billy Apostolon (With a few modifications)

THE INFLUENCE OF MOTHERS

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH PRAYER, LIKE HANNAH.

Hannah was childless; 1 Sam. 1:5, 6.

Hannah prayed for a child; 1 Sam. 1:10, 11.

Hannah’s prayer was answered; 1 Sam. 1:19, 20.

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH DEVOTION, LIKE RUTH.

She was devoted to Naomi; Ruth 1:16, 17.

She gleaned in Boaz’s field; Ruth 2:3.

She was rewarded for her devotion; Ruth 4:13, 21, 22.

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE THROUGH THEIR LOVE OF THE WORD, LIKE MARY. **Changed from original outline

She heard the Word at Jesus’ feet; Luke 10:39.

She chose a good part in loving the Word; Luke 10:42.

She saw the Word in action; John 11:43, 44.

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE BY DECISIONS, LIKE REBEKKAH.

Her decision was the right decision; Gen. 24:58.

Her decision proved a blessing; Gen. 24:67.

Her decision was for life; Gen. 49:31.

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE BY FAITH, LIKE RAHAB. **Changed from original outline - Main point and subpoints.

Through faith she heard; Joshua 2:8-10

Through faith she believed. Joshua 2:11-13

Through faith she was preserved; Joshua 2:14; 6:22-25

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE WITH AN OPEN HEART, LIKE LYDIA.

Her heart was open to a prayer service; Acts 16:13.

Her open heart heard the gospel; Acts 16:14.

Her open heart opened her home; Acts 16:15.

MOTHERS SHOULD INFLUENCE IN WORSHIP, LIKE THE WOMAN OF CANAAN.

She worshipped the right person; Matt. 15:22.

She worshipped in a time of need; Matt. 15:25.

She was rewarded for her worship; Matt. 15:28.[1]

[1]Apostolon, B. (1966). Preach the Word(p. 91). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

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