The Word This Week – THE VIRTUES OF A NOBLE WOMAN; A TRIBUTE TO MOTHERS

11 May 2014 by Rev Dr Jai Kumar –

Prov. 31:28-30

…Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: “Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.…

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Behind every great man, is a great woman (mother)”. You know what? People are what their mothers make them!. Lincoln also said, “All that I am or hope to be, I owe it to my angel mother”.

I guess it’s a very special day for mothers all over the world today! Happy Mother’s Day! You know what? You are very special and awesome! In the sight of God this morning. For all the tireless sacrifices that you have made in your lifetime, towards your children! Towards your husband!, Towards your household! Your worth is unequal and unmatched! No measure, no price, can be compared to your dedication! Your sacrifice! And your unfailing love is beyond any measure. You need to know that in your heart this morning that what you have given towards your children and your family is priceless!!

This morning I wish to take this privilege to pay special tribute to the precious memory of my late mother and to all mothers who are living today. God bless you mothers! Thank you moms! Thank you for all your goodness and all your sacrifices, thank you for all your love that has influenced us and shaped us in our lives. How can we ever return so much of what you have given us!! That precious gift of life will speak volumes about you. God bless you moms! Thank you moms!

SACRIFICE OF A REAL MOTHER

A story was told about a young mother who was desperately making her way across the hills of South Wales, and she was apparently carrying her tiny little baby in her arms.

Suddenly, she was overtaken by a blinding snow storm. Sadly she never made it through that storm. Her body was later found by the recovery team buried beneath the snow. Surprisingly, the search party discovered that before her death she had taken off her clothes and wrapped it around her baby. But you know what? As they unwrapped the child, they discovered to their greatest joy that this child was alive and well!

This woman had given her own life for her child and that is the very depth of a mother’s love and sacrifice. That’s the heart of a mother!

Never forget that mother’s make sacrifices all the time.

A GODLY MOTHER

(1 Samuel 1: 27- 28,) speaks about some exemplary qualities of an ideal Mother. As you read this passage you will notice the godly characteristics of Hannah as a mother.

Hannah was desperate and longing for a child. Her barrenness caused so much sorrow and grief, and the stigma was hurting her tremendously. The Bible says, despite her situation of grief, sorrow and bitterness, Hannah was a woman of prayer! She knew that there was a God out there who could change the circumstances of her life. Indeed because of her faith and trust in God, ultimately God answered her prayer.

You know what? Nothing but prayer can breakthrough for us in such circumstances.

Listen to this: Hannah was a God fearing woman who took a stand and promised the Lord that she would give that son that God was going to bless her with, back to him to serve him all the days of his life.

1Sam1:11

Then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life and there shall no razor come upon his head.

And it came to pass, after Hannah had conceived, she bore a son and called his name Samuel. Hannah won her victory through prayer. Isn’t our God an Awesome God?

It is very encouraging this morning to learn that we too can win our battles through prayers.

You know what you and I have? You and I have the ‘Power of Prayer’ at our disposal! Prayer is the greatest weapon that you and I have to overcome and change situations in our lives.

Hannah must have loved and adored her son so much and she knew he was a gift of God. The scripture says in verse 24-28, Hannah returned to the temple a year later and dedicated the boy Samuel to the Lord ( as a gift to Him)

Unlike worldly mothers today, who want their sons and daughters to be placed in high office in the secular world, Hannah not only gave her son back to God but she gave the best gift to her son. She knew heart to heart, there is no better place! There is no greater place! There is no safer place! Than to give her son back to serving God all his life.

GOD LISTENS TO THE MOTHER WHO PRAYS

The mother who prays will see results no matter what! And that’s the secret that I want to tell you this morning. Remember what you believe is what you will receive! You think yours is a unique situation! You think yours is an impossible problem! You think yours is the end of the road! I am not going to buy that from you! Because I know my God is a God who can change anything! He said if you believe, nothing is impossible with Him.

How many of you know the story about poor old mama Newton? Poor old mama Newton has been tirelessly praying and crying for her son John, day in and day out. Her face was swollen grieved with sadness and tears night and day.

Her son was a rebellious run-away kid. Later John became a sailor. He was a very ungodly wicked man, a drunkard, disowned by his own father, and everyone who knew him kept a distance from him.

But Mama Newton never gave up on God. She believed in two things, the power of prayer and the faithfulness of God.

Years later, one day God answered the prayer of Mama Newton’s cry. The power of prayer convicted her son John Newton. The drunken wicked sailor who apparently became John Newton the sailor preacher. At the age of 54, he wrote the famous song “Amazing Grace How Sweet Thy Sound….. “ God used this very man, once a wicked, rebellious, hopeless drunkard to reach thousands for Christ. Can you ever imagine!! Through this one man who God changed, he was able to touch thousands. Great man of God like Thomas Scott and William Cowper broke through for the Lord and they in turn wrote the song , you remember the song.”There is a Fountain filled with Blood”? Which broke the hearts of thousands of people and brought them to Christ. Just imagine what the power of prayer can do!!

1 Cor. 1:27

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

Can you imagine what God can do?

You know what’s the secret behind this?

One poor believing, godly old mother who trusted that ” Prayer “can change situations.

A Godly Mother is different from all others. She is special in the sight of God. God will hear her prayers. She has a worth that is unequalled because of her love for God.

You know what’s the problem with many people today? So often we limit God! We put God in the box!! We allow our human reasoning to overrule the sovereign power of God. We are so greased up with our own human reasoning that our minds are unable to contain the supernatural power of God.

A GRATEFUL SON

I am going to tell you a real moving story.

Once there was a very poor widow who discovered some very special abilities in her son. She did everything within her ability and power to give him the best education. She struggled in her life, she grew vegetables, kept chicken and did all the low menial jobs and worked very hard day and night to send her son to university.

The day finally came for her son’s graduation and he gave his mother the invitation to attend. The mother declined the invitation, she said to the son she wouldn’t be able make it as she had nothing decent to wear for the occasion. But the son insisted and finally out of great persuasion managed to take her to the ceremony wearing her simple plain cotton dress.

The son took her to sit with his classmates- elite wealthy -parents. At one point she felt out of place, so the poor humble mother moved very humbly to the back of the auditorium and sat at a far left insignificant corner only to be able to get a glimpse of her son.

The turn came for her son to deliver his speech and finally he was handed his degree (a piece of paper) and a medal was also given to him for his excellent performance. With the crowd cheering and the loud sound of exploding applause, he walked straight over to his mother and pinned the medal on her saying, “Mom! This belongs to you! You earned it!!” The mother replied I would have never made it through if it had not been for the Lord Jesus who was my sustaining hope and strength throughout my struggles to make it this far.

We are to praise our mothers because of the wonderful things they have done to bless us. Think of all that she has done to give you life: offered her body, her time, her own physical nourishment, her attention, her affection, her pain, her care, her sleep and her LOVE. Think of all those special moments in your life. Moms! I want to tell you this morning you are the greatest!!

Isaiah 49:15,

“Can a women forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for her child of her womb?”

DISAPPOINTED AND HURTING MOTHERS

On the contrary, for some of you mothers I can understand that unfortunately life isn’t fair for you. Sometimes it’s difficult for us to understand why it’s so. I know some of you are hurting this morning there is so much of incomprehensible pain in your hearts.

There may be mothers here who may be disappointed with your children. Despite all your sacrifices for them throughout your life you may feel you are not proportionately rewarded with the kind of gratitude and praise that you duly deserve.

I want to tell you what the Lord has placed in my heart for you. Never forget that you are a human being just like anybody else capable of making mistakes. You are not perfect just like none of us are perfect. Perhaps, sometimes you have missed the mark! Or even rocked the boat and fell below the expected standard. God understands you.

Jesus is saying: Why are you carrying the load of pain and hurts upon your shoulders? Why are you crying! When I have paid it all on the cross for you! Caste your care upon me for I care for you. ( 1 Peter 5:7)

The Lord is reminding me to tell you what you gave is nowhere compared to what God has given you. ( John 3:16)

What you gave is perishable and likely to fade away. You gave human life to your children but God has given you eternal life. A life that will never perish! An everlasting life, incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away, kept in Haven for you.

You know what? The real superstar women in our world is not the shooting stars who twinkle for a while and diminish away,….. the true superstar women are those who have sacrificed their love in the form of service to the children and family.

Mothers! Once again, you are so special! You are awesome!!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! God bless you richly.