Mother's Day 2017 (Timothy)

Joel Gilbert

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My aim in this sermon is to honor motherhood and in this way glorify Jesus Christ who designed it, created it, and blessed it.

What I want to honor in this message is the biblical calling on a woman’s life to weave a fabric of family life:

out of commitment to a husband and his calling, and

commitment to her children and their training, and

commitment to Christ and His glory.

· commitment to Christ and his glory.

In other words, I want to honor the biblical calling that makes marriage, motherhood, and home-management,

in the context of radical Christian discipleship,

the central, core,

dominant commitments of a woman’s life.

My aim to encourage the women—who believe that God’s call on your life is marriage, the joyful support

of a husband and his calling

as you display what the relationship between Christ and the church looks like,

and motherhood, the transmission of a God-centered, Christ-treasuring vision of life to your children,

and home-management, the creation of a beautiful and simple place

and a living organism called a home.

This is a very high and holy and crucial calling that you need to embrace, and

you won’t get any understanding or encouragement for God’s calling, from the world.

You are the ones who have heard not as oppressive

but as liberating.

Paul said to Titus that the older women should “train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blashphemed.”

You have heard that calling as

rich and

deep and

precious and

high and holy and

confirming your heart’s longings, and

as absolutely essential for the shaping of

a God-centered, Christ-exalting church and culture.

To you I direct this message as a word of honor and encouragement.

And to do that I want to spend part of our time together in 2 Timothy.

Let’s pray and see what God says to us today!

— 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

You’ll have a clearer understanding of this letter if one keeps in mind that this is a personal letter written to a very dear friend.

Also, that it is—in a very real sense—Paul’s last will and testament, since it was written during the last months before his death.

Persecution of the church was at its height under the Emperor Nero, and we should try to

enter into Paul’s feelings of loneliness and isolation as he awaits martyrdom in his cold prison cell.

The greeting

— Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

Although Timothy is a very dear friend, Paul is concerned at the outset to make it perfectly clear

Although Timothy is a very dear friend, Paul is concerned at the outset to make it perfectly clear that this letter is not simply ‘a substitute for a friendly confidential chat’.

that this letter is not simply ‘a substitute for a friendly confidential chat’.

Hence he begins by stressing his apostolic authority because he wants Timothy to understand

that he has some very serious matters to bring to his attention,

as even today, where God’s plan for women is being erased

right in front of our eyes and needs to be restored, for God’s glory.

The value of a godly home

With the greeting at an end, Paul strikes the personal note, which is, one of the hallmarks of this letter.

— 3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy,

He says, I thank God. And we don’t find out what he is thankful for until you go the end of the sentence in v5.

Because, what really rejoices Paul’s heart

is the reminder of Timothy’s faith,

which owed so much to his spiritual upbringing.

— when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

Timothy was a third generation Christian and owed his ‘sincere faith’ ‘un-hypocritical faith’

Timothy was a third generation Christian and owed his ‘sincere faith’ ‘un-hypocritical faith’ to the groundwork done in his life by his mother and grandmother who had taught him the scriptures from infancy (:15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.).

to the groundwork done in his life by his mother and grandmother

who had taught him the scriptures from infancy

— and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Throughout the Bible, the role of the family and godly parentage is clearly taught:

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.).

Throughout the Bible, the role of the family and godly parentage is clearly taught: ‘Honour your father and your mother’ (). ‘Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it’ (). ‘Children obey your parents in the Lord, … Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord’ ().

‘Honor your father and your mother’ ().

‘Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it’ ().

‘Children obey your parents in the Lord, … And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. ()

Being a parent in today’s society is a difficult task, especially if

there is no godly father to act as a role model

as was true in Timothy’s case.

But God gives a special grace for the task as is evident from

the good job Lois and Eunice did in bringing up Timothy

who was to become a powerful preacher of the gospel, missionary, and the pastor of the church at Ephesus.

We cannot under estimate the power of a godly mother and grandmother.

But in Scripture there is the contrast put forward.

I want to show you that contrast. Look with me in chapter 3.

Here Paul is speaking of perilous times that shall come in v1.

He goes through and describes the characteristics of people in these last days

(very much what we see in our world we live in- as we read, see if you are seen).

2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Then he says this in 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Here’s a description that contrasts a godly woman with a woman described as a gullible women laden with sins who are lead captive.

That phrase “gullible women” is a way of speaking of women with contempt.

This is God’s description of all women who are not saved.

And you’re not saved because you are led captive.

Look with me in chapter And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

That they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil!

This is our prayer for you dear lost woman.

That you would come out of the deception of the devil.

There is an intoxicating effect to deceit.

Lies flatter and we easily take in too willingly and too deeply.

This is how Satan works, he throws down various temptations in your thoughts,

through Facebook,

friends,

the culture you live in, and

you have a nature that is fallen and corrupted because of

original sin and actual sins you’ve committed.

So as you start down the devils way it seems easy and comfortable and fun even,

but then you become laden down with many sins and are bound captive to your lusts and desires and

you have no way out!

Except one, v25 “Perhaps God would grant you repentance”.

You need light, because you’re in darkness.

Repentance is described as being given by God because man by nature is impenitent,

because he does not know or think himself to be guilty.

There are many sins you do that you don’t see as sin,

even the ones you know aren’t right

you still don’t perceive the depth, the horrible enormity of the sin which you are involved in.

For example while most admit that they sin,

but people refuse to believe that there sin

will send them to hell to burn forever!

This is because of the darkness and captivity of the devil who wants to destroy your soul!

So eye-salve is one of the first medicines which the Lord uses with the soul.

Jesus touches the eye of the understanding, and the man becomes guilty in his own sight, as he always was guilty in the sight of God.

When God grants repentance,

sins there were long forgotten start up from the grave where your forgetfulness had buried them;

sins, you thought were no sins, suddenly rise up on their true character, and

· sins, you thought were no sins, suddenly rise up on their true character, and

acts, which you thought were perfect, now reveal themselves to have been so mixed with evil motive

· acts, which you thought were perfect, now reveal themselves to have been so mixed with evil motive that they were far from being acceptable with God.

that they were far from being acceptable with God.

The eye is no more blind, and therefore the heart is no more proud,

because the seeing eye will make a humble heart.

Many have never experienced this, here’s how one preacher wrote about it, “If I must paint a picture of penitence in this first stage, I should portray a man with his eyes bandaged walking through a path infested with the most venomous vipers; vipers which have formed a horrible girdle about his loins, and are hanging like bracelets from his wrists. The man is so blind that he knows not where he is, nor what it is which he fancies to be a jewelled belt upon his arm. I would then in the picture touch his eyes and bid you see his horror, and his astonishment, when he discovers where he is and what he is. He looks behind him, and he sees through what broods of vipers he has walked; he looks before him, and he sees how thickly his future path is strewed with these venomous beasts. He looks about him, and in his living bosom looking out from his guilty heart, he sees the head of a vile serpent, which has twisted its coils into his very vitals. I would try, if I could, to throw into that face, horror, dismay, dread, and sorrow, a longing to escape, an anxious desire to get rid of all these things which must destroy him unless he should escape from them. And now, my dear hearers, have you ever been the subject of this divine illumination? Has God, who said to an unformed world, "Let there be light," has he said, "Let there be light" in your poor benighted soul? Have you learned that your best deeds have been vile, and that as for your sinful acts they are ten thousand times more wicked than ever you believed them to be? I will not believe that you have ever repented unless you have first received divine illumination.”

In 3:6 these are

morally weak women.

Deceived, on their way to hell and taking down their families with them and destroying their homes.

Deceived, on their way to hell and

taking down their families with them and

destroying their homes.

Let me show you how you destroy your home. In The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

The term ‘builds her house’ isn’t like a carpenter building a house.

No, it’s speaking of the many other components that go into making a house

a home and

that are often supplied by the woman Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; 4 By knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches.

Women were clearly involved in commerce ( She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens., 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.).

The woman provided the daily needs of her family ( She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.).

She is actively involved in the training and discipline of the children ( My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:).

She tirelessly works for the good of her husband ( A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.) and

children ( She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.).

She leads in ministry to the needy ( 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.).

Her labors free her husband to be a community leader ( Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.).

All of these things, and the innumerable other ways a wife and mother serves her family, are in view here.

This is how a woman builds her house.

But the foolish woman pull down, throw down utterly with her own hands.

But note the foolish woman—her idleness, waste, love of pleasure, lack of all forethought and care.

She allows her children to do just as they please;

their souls are neglected, and their happiness [as God intended- for God to dwell in their hearts, be saved and granted eternal life/ not game boys etc] is ruined.

their souls are neglected, and

their happiness is ruined

[as God intended- for God to dwell in their hearts, be saved and granted eternal life/ not game boys etc]

happiness is ruined.

We see her house torn down in confusion. It would have been a sad result if this had been done by an enemy. But it is the doing, or rather undoing, of her own hands.

How important it is, then, to make the right choice when you marry. It is linked to the highest interests of unborn generations.

If ever there was a matter for special prayer and consideration, this is it. To err in this matter may result in the ruin of ourselves and our future families.

Go back to . Contrast the difference between the wise and godly Lois and Eunice ( When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also;

— 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

and the disastrous results of those ‘weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,

always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth’ ().

So let’s say, today, you’re one who hasn’t built your house according to God’s plan and it’s currently unraveling. What you need is grace.

For those grandma’s who don’t know how to reach your grown children or grandchildren, you need God’s grace as well.

You needs is power and influence and full sway in your life.

For this first group of mothers, who’ve not build their house according to God’s plan, look in Timothy 1:1 — Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

Life is found in Christ, not in

a lifestyle, or

a bottle of alcohol, or

drugs.

And it’s a promise of “life”!

As God desires it to be and meant it to be, and it begins here on earth, and goes on into God’s eternity!

He said the same thing in For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Paul was sent in order to make clear that in Christ we find the realization of eternal life.

So the source of such life is Christ Jesus and that such life only becomes actual experience in the sphere of a relationship with Him.

You need to be united to Christ (by believing into Him, trusting that the sacrifice of Christ on the cross paid for your sins, that He bore the wrath of God you deserve for your sins, that He arose triumphantly from the grave to conquer sin and satan and hell itself!) United to Christ to receive life!

Get this principle today, God’s promise of and ability to give me “life” is not hampered by the particulars of my current failures and sins.

Paul awaits execution (4:6). It is the salvation of God (by which he is now “Paul,”), the call of God (“an apostle”), and the will of God that have landed him in this dungeon with a death-sentence upon him.

Nevertheless, while facing death, Paul is fixated—not upon his impending beheading, but upon the “promise of life in Christ Jesus”! This needs to be your focus as well, not on the circumstances you’re in, but upon the promise of God!

When you come and by faith embrace the promise of God you receive a trinity of blessings, —To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is New life in Christ

It brings us into the very life of God himself.

A new life-principle enters into the center of our being

as the Holy Spirit directs our hearts and minds.

v2 Grace It points to the unmerited favor of God that is extended to hell deserving sinners, through Jesus Christ.

It is both the initial grace by which one is saved from the penalty of sin (which is the wrath of God)

and the ongoing daily grace

for life and service above the power of sin.

We cannot save ourselves, or earn our salvation. We can only receive it as the free unmerited gift of God.

‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast ().

Mercy

All who have received the gift of salvation are the recipients of God’s mercy.

It’s actually an emotional word. Pointing to the compassion of God toward those who suffer, particularly because of sin.

In the Septuagint it comes from a OT Hebrew term to designate God’s faithful, loyal covenant love.

This mercy is promised and based upon not you faithful you are, but upon the faithfulness of Christ, therefore it’s a firm objective commitment of a covenant relationship, you receive the mercy of God by being united to Christ, being in Christ.

Peace

God’s peace is a treasured possession but to have it we must first be reconciled to God, or

be at peace with him instead of being alienated from him.

Prior to conversion, a person is the enemy of God, and remains under God’s wrath and judgment.

That person’s life, thoughts and feelings are all in opposition to God. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. ().

Through Christ’s death on the cross to bear the judgment of our sin, we can be reconciled to God, and when that happens, we immediately begin to experience the gift of peace in our hearts.

I pray, it’s an honor and an encouragement to all of you women who embrace the biblical calling of marriage,

the joyful support of a husband and his calling

as you display the relationship between Christ and the church,

and motherhood, the transmission of a God-centered, Christ-treasuring vision of life to your children,

and home-management, the creation of a beautiful and simple place and living organism which becomes a refuge of Christ’s peace.

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