Sunday, May 12th, 2019 - Faith of Our Mothers (2 Tim. 1:5, 3:12-17)

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.

2 Timothy 3:12–17 KJV 1900

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 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. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Writing of Timothy, his son in the faith, Paul could say, with unaffected frankness, “I have no man likeminded (Philippians 2:20), or, as another translation reads, “There is no one like Timothy.” What in Timothy justified such a commendation? Part of the answer is given in our text; recalling Timothy’s sterling qualities, Paul singles out his “unfeigned faith” for special mention (2 Timothy 1:5), and then immediately affirms that this faith dwelt first in Timothy’s grandmother Lois, and in his mother Eunice. Paul implies that but for the faith found in Lois and Eunice it is unlikely that there would have been any faith found in Timothy! We have here, then, the faith of three generations—Lois, Eunice and Timothy. What a commentary this is on the faith of our mothers! [Stephen F. Olford, Institutes of Biblical Preaching, Volume One (Memphis, TN: Olford Ministries International, 1980).]

Body:

I. An Assured Faith (2 Tim. 1:5)

Acts 16:1 KJV 1900

Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

A. Assured in the Scriptures

2 Timothy 3:15 KJV 1900

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.

Romans 10:17 KJV 1900

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Note - show the importance of how a daily devotional time impacts the heart

B. Assured in the Savior

Note - Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey - he brought the fulness of the knowledge of Christ to their Scripture-saturated home.

Illustration-

e.g. An African chief wanted to know the secret of Britain’s greatness. Queen Victoria, holding a Bible in her hand, said, “Tell the chief that this book, the Bible, is the secret of our greatness.” [Stephen F. Olford, Institutes of Biblical Preaching, Volume One (Memphis, TN: Olford Ministries International, 1980).]

II. An Authentic Faith (2 Tim. 3:14-15)

Note - No one can communicate the deep things of life on a daily basis like mom.

A. Personal Education

2 Timothy 3:14–15 KJV 1900

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 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.

Note - “…thou hast learned...” Discuss the importance of communicating God’s truth from the parents to the children in the OT.

Deuteronomy 4:9–10 KJV 1900

Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

Deuteronomy 6:6–15 KJV 1900

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; (For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 11:15–21 KJV 1900

And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full. Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; And then the Lord’s wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you. Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.

Proverbs 6:20–21 KJV 1900

My son, keep thy father’s commandment, And forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, And tie them about thy neck.

Proverbs 7:1–3 KJV 1900

My son, keep my words, And lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; And my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, Write them upon the table of thine heart.

Proverbs 22:6 KJV 1900

Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.

B. Practical Example

Note - “…been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them...” There was a reality in their lives that showed and backed up the faith that they taught Timothy.

Illustration-

e.g. John Newton, in his most profligate days, could never forget his mother at whose knees he had learned to pray, but who was, taken to heaven when he was only eight years old. My mother’s God, the God of mercy, have mercy upon me!” was often his agonizing prayer when in danger or in trouble. That prayer was gloriously answered—not only in Newton’s life, but also in his subsequent ministry.

In another family, such was the impression that Susannah Wesley made on her son, John, that she has been called “The mother of Methodism.” [Olford]

III. A Faith to Be Admired (2 Tim. 1:5)

Note - Paul stated when I call to remembrance...

A. An Abiding Faith

Note - “…first in thy grandmother… mother...” The most priceless treasure any person can gain is to have faith. See Hebrews 11:4; 5; 11; 31.

Illustration-

… the preciousness and power of a living faith.

F. B. Meyer once said: “It is not the quantity of faith, but the quality of faith, that is important. A grain of mustard seed and a pellet of dust are similar in appearance, but the difference is immense. The one has no life burning at the heart of it, while the other contains life as God kindled it. Faith that has in it the principle of life is a faith with God in it.” [Olford]

B. An Ageless Faith

Note - “…the unfeigned faith...” Seasons may come and go, but a mother’s heart is never out of date.

Illustration-

… e.g. William McKinley, as a lawyer, congressman, Governor of Ohio, and President of the United States, kept in touch with his mother every day.

When he didn’t see her, he wrote or telegraphed. In mid-October of 1897, he quietly left the White House and took a train to Canton just so he could walk to church with her again. When she became ill, he arranged to have a special train standing by at full steam, ready to take him to her bedside. Then one night she did call for him. Immediately he wired, ‘Tell Mother I’ll be there.’ Mrs. McKinley died December 12, 1897, in the arms of her 54-year-old son. Her gentle, Christian virtues helped mold the President’s character, for when he was gunned down in Buffalo, New York, about 4 years later, he showed no bitterness toward his assassin. With Christian courage he said, ‘God’s will be done.’ Before he died, he asked to hear once again the hymn, ‘Nearer, My God, to Thee,’ which his mother had taught him. Our Daily Bread (Dennis J. DeHaan) [Olford]

Conclusion:

Faith of our mothers! living still,

In spite of dark’ning days of doubt;

O how our beings glow and thrill,

When that word “faith” is sounded out!

Faith of our mothers! gift of grace,

Born of the Spirit from on high;

Nourished by Scripture, strong to face,

Forces of evil when they re nigh.

Faith of our mothers! Lord preserve,

This priceless treasure to us all;

That through our families we may serve

Duty or danger when they call.

So bless our mothers! every one,

Bless them for holy faith and love;

God bless them now for work well done,

Then honor them in realms above.

S. F. O. (Tune: Faith of our Fathers)

Stephen F. Olford, Institutes of Biblical Preaching, Volume One (Memphis, TN: Olford Ministries International, 1980).

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