Happy Mother’s Day

1. Happy Mother’s Day

2. WOMEN AND THEIR INFLUENCE

3. Crime is rampant • There never seems to be an end to drug and alcohol abuse. • Gambling is being legalized by more and more state and local governments. • Abortion and illegitimate births are spiraling upward. • Television programming is filled with sleazy talk shows airing every kinky relationship imaginable and then some. • Abnormal life styles are presented on prime time “family” shows as if they are the norm. Educational systems are influencing our children to be more worldly. • Marriages are falling apart, and children are out of control.

4. Is there an alternative to the declining standards and way to increase immorality or should we just shrug our shoulders and accept things as they are?

5. The details of her life can be read in I Kings 16:31; 18:4-13; 19:1, 2; 21:1-24. Revelation 2:20 "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

6. 2 Kings 11:1  When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being murdered; and they hid him and his nurse in the bedroom, from Athaliah, so that he was not killed. 3 So he was hidden with her in the house of the LORD for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.

7. Esther 4:14 "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

8. Matthew 14:3 For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. 4 Because John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5 And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. 6 But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. 7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter." 9 And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her.10 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. 11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

9. Acts 16:14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us.

10. Acts 16:40 So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.

11. 2 Timothy 1:5 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. 2 Timothy 3:15 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.

12. We could consider many other women of Bible times whose lives affected the course of history: Eve’s fall to temptation, Sarah’s taking matters into her own hand and not waiting for the promised son, Rebekah’s deception of Isaac, Jochebed’s saving of her baby Moses, Deborah’s judgment of Israel, Delilah’s betrayal of Samson, Ruth’s faithfulness to Naomi, Hannah’s rearing up of Samuel, Bathsheba’s sin with David, Huldah’s prophesying, Mary’s role in the Virgin Birth, the Samaritan woman bringing her townspeople to meet the Christ, Mary and Martha’s hospitality, Mary Magdelene’s taking the word of the Resurrection to Jesus’ followers, Dorcas’ generosity to the poor of her community, Phoebe’s encouragement of Paul, as well as the multitudes of others, named and unnamed, whose deeds are recorded in God’s Word.

13. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

14. John Gray said, “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” Abraham Lincoln attributed any success in his life to his mother. Harriet Beecher Stowe correctly stated that, “The mother’s heart is the child’s schoolroom.” Ezekiel 16:44 reads, “As is the mother, so is the daughter.”

15. Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

16. Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

17. Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

18. There are two basic areas in which such judgments are made: Ethics in conduct (Rom. 12:17; Prov. 11:16; Dan. 1:8) and purity of life (Phil. 4:8; I Cor. 6:9-11, 20; Gal. 5:19- 24).

19. Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

20. If we each determine, I can be strong. I will not compromise that which I know to be right. I will teach my family. I will show kindness and deal ethically with others. I will put the Kingdom of God first and pray for all, then this world will be a better place because we all did our part in serving God and being the best influence that we could.