A Godly Mother

Pro 31:10-31

A passage authored by King Lemuel. Nothing else is known of him, other than this chapter; but, it seems as if he is writing his own mother’s resume. In so doing, in these wonderful verses, he plainly distinguishes a godly mother from all others.
In these verses, he seeks to point that a godly mother is different from all others, because she has:

I. A WORTH THAT IS UNEQUALLED (V. 10-12)

A. SHE IS A LADY OF VIRTUE (10a)

B. SHE IS A LADY OF VALUE (10b-12)

II. A WORK THAT IS UNMATCHED (V. 13, 15, 19)

A. IT IS A DESIRED WORK (v. 13)

B. IT IS A DEVOTED WORK (v. 15)

C. IT IS A DEDICATED WORK (v. 19)

III. A WISDOM THAT IS UNFEIGNED (V. 26,27)

A. THERE IS WISDOM IN WHAT SHE SPEAKS (v. 26)

B. THERE IS WISDOM IN WHAT SHE SHUNS (v. 27)

IV. A WEALTH THAT IS UNSHARED (V. 28-31)

A. BY THE PRAISE OF HER FAMILY (v. 28)

B. BY THE PRAISE FROM HER FATHER (v. 30)

C. BY THE PRAISE FOR HER FRUITS (v. 31)

He's Everything To Me

It has been estimated that there are more than 3000 names of God revealed in scripture. Perhaps some of the greatest names of God are found in Isaiah 9:6.
He is called "Wonderful , Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace."

In other words, He is all of these things, both in name and in nature. These names of God suggests that He is everything.

I. He is REASON for my praise - "Wonderful"
Everything about God is wonderful! He is worthy of all my praise. His is WONDERFUL. He is beyond anything we have ever seen,. He is singularly unique. "Wonderful" denotes something indescribably great, so tremendous, and so amazing. That which it’s literally beyond all description. It speaks of that which goes beyond human comprehension.
A. Wonderful in His passion No greater love. We love Him because He first loved us.
B. Wonderful in His pardon Free, full, and forever
C. Wonderful in His provision

II. He is the REMEDY for my problems - "Counsellor"
He is my problem solver. He is the only one in the universe who requires no counsel. In Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He looks to no one else, and He leans on no-one else.
Our lives are filled with problems. Our lives are filled with predicaments. Our lives are filled with perils. Many people will write Dear Abby, read self-help books, go to non-Christian psychiatrists and talk to everyone they know except the only One who is able to help them and handle their problems.
God is wonderfully qualified for the job of counsellor. As counsellor He is always available. As counsellor He has unimaginable insight. He can see the end from the beginning. He knows all there is to know about anything.
He has the answer for my heart problems.
He has the answer for my home problems.
He has the answer for my hurting problems.

III. He is the RESOURCE for my power - "The mighty God"
He is the creator of all. There is nothing He cannot do.
However, I think of a little Sunday school class who was studying, for several weeks, the awesome power of God. After a few Sunday sessions, the teacher decided to quiz the class on what they had learned of God’s power. She asked, "Class, can anyone tell if there is something that God cannot do?" Silence filled the room, then suddenly little Johnny, in the back of the class, raised his hand. Needless to say, the faithful Sunday school teacher was shocked. She had spent countless hours studying, preparing, and teaching the class of the awesome power of God. She said, "Johnny, is there something God cannot do?" Johnny looked her square in the eye, and said, "Yes ma’am, He can’t please everybody!" That may be true He is the God who created all things, the God who controls all things, and the God who conducts all things. He can do anything for this world, through this world, with this world, to this world, or in this world that He chooses to do. He is the MIGHTY GOD, and the Mighty god is the resource for my power. I am glad I know the Mighty God.

IV. He is the REFUGE for my perils -"The everlasting Father"
One of the most precious, and blessed names of God is "The everlasting Father." If you are a Christian, you may be without an earthly father; but, friend, you have a Heavenly Father, and as a father He is a refuge when the storms of life come.
He is the unending Father, the unchanging Father, and the understanding Father.
He that rules the vastness of eternity, He whose being stretches from everlasting to everlasting takes the time to care for me as a Father.

V. He is the RESERVOIR for my peace -"The prince of Peace"
Peace is one of the deepest needs of the human heart.
There was a widow who had "Rest In Peace" put on her husband’s tombstone. When she found out that He left her out of his will, she had added, "Till I come." We live in a world which is striving, seeking, and starving for peace. However, peace is not found in possessions, programs, politics, or parties. True peace is only found in a person, and He is "The Prince of Peace."
A. We can REST in Him!
We read in Isaiah 26: 3, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."
If we are to know His peace, then we must rest in the fact that He is God, He's still on the throne, He's still in control, and He's got the whole world in His hand.
B. We can RELY on Him!
Listen again to the words of the prophet in Isaiah 26: 3, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." The word "stayed" comes from a Hebrew word that gives us our English word "staff."
As you know, a staff was something closely related to the shepherds of that day. The staff was what the shepherd used to count and correct his sheep. It was something which played a vital role in the everyday life of a shepherd.
However, the staff had another important use to the shepherd. The shepherd's staff was often used for support. At the end of a long, hot, tiring day, the shepherd leaned on his staff for support. It was used to support him when he could not support himself. You could say that the shepherd relied on his staff to hold him up.
In the same way, you and I can rely on the Lord. He is our support. When we cannot support ourselves us, we can rely and lean on Him, and He supports us. We can rest in Him, and we can rely on Him for all things, in all things, and with all things.
Conclusion:
Jesus is everything to me.

Making a Difference

This is the message I preached in the Maximum Security Assembly of the Lansing Federal Prison, yesterday morning and it was a blessing to the men.

Jude 22

God gives to every man a gift called "potential" and as we reach that potential by His grace we can make a difference.

I. We Make a Difference by Staying - When we are faithful over a period of time, other will start to realize it is real to us and not just a fad or faze we are going through. “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” – Spurgeon

II. We Make a Difference by Planning - You must plan to serve God it won't happen by accident. “Excellence never happens by accident.”

III. We Make a Difference by Participating When other start duplicating my ministry that is when "my ministry" has become a success. Quote – “It is only as we develop others around us that we permanently succeed.”

IV. We Make a Difference by Developing We never arrive in our Christian life we must always be moving forward in our own development. Quote – “If you don’t have time to do it right, when do you have time to do it again?”

V. We Make a Difference by Caring Realizing and seeing the needs of other then having a heart to do something about it will have an eternal impact on others. Quote – “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

THE WORD OF GOD IS:

1. A Mirror To Show Us Ourselves (James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:)

2. A Hammer To Break The Will (Jer. 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?)

3. A Fire To Melt The Heart (Jer. 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?)

4. A Sword To Pierce The Conscience (Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.)

5. A Seed To Quicken The Soul (1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.)

6. A Laver To Cleanse The Way (Eph. 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,)

7. A Light To Show The Path (Ps. 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.)

PRODIGAL SON’S BIOGRAPHY

Luke 15:11-24. And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

1. His Rebellion. Vs. 12.

2. His Riches. Vs. 13.

3. His Remorse. Vs. 14.

4. His Resolution. Vs. 18.

5. His Return. Vs. 20.

6. His Reception. Vs. 20.

7. His Restoration. Vs. 22.

8. His Rejoicing. Vs. 24.

9. The Older Son’s Rejection. Vs. 25-28.

SEVEN FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS

1. The Inspiration Of The Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:)

2. The Trinity Of The Godhead (Matt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:)

3. The Divinity Of The Lord Jesus (John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God )

4. The Atoning Death Of Christ (Heb. 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?)

5. Justification By Faith Alone (Rom. 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.)

6. Salvation, Present And Eternal (Heb. 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;)

7. Future Punishment Of The Wicked (Matt. 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.)

WALKING WITH THE LORD

Ps 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.Ps 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
2 Sam 22:37 & Ps 18:36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slipJob 31:4 Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
Ps 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1. WALK OF DISOBEDIENCE. EPH 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

2. WALK OF GOOD WORKS. EPH 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

3. WALK WORTHY OF CALLING. EPH 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

4. WALK NOT AS GENTILES. EPH 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

5. WALK IN LOVE. EPH 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

6. WALK IN LIGHT. EPH 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

7. WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY. EPH 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

SEVEN AREAS OF FAITH

1. One Newly Come To The Faith (1 Tim. 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.)

2. One Weak In The Faith (Rom. 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.)

3. One Who Kept (Guarded) The Faith (2 Tim. 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:)

4. Some Who Erred From The Faith (1 Tim. 6:21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.)

5. Some Depart From The Faith (1 Tim. 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;)

6. Some Deny The Faith (1 Tim. 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.)

7. Some Overthrow The Faith (2 Tim 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.)

IF THERE IS NO RESURRECTION

1. "Easter Sunday" is an annual holiday celebrated by many...
a. Millions of people commemorate the resurrection of Jesus on this day
b. Many consider it as "the most holy" of religious holidays
c. For some, it marks the only time they attend church services
(Christmas runs a close second)

2. Christians in the 1st century did not have an annual observance of this event...
a. The word "Easter" is found only once in the KJV Bible - cf. Ac 12:4
b. The word in the Greek is "Passover", elsewhere in the KJV
c. "It is certain that the NT contains no reference to a yearly celebration of the resurrection of Christ"
d. The annual observance is a human tradition, introduced in the 2nd and 3rd centuries

3. Churches today who follow the New Testament pattern do not celebrate "Easter" per se...
a. They note Paul's teaching regarding religious holidays
b. They value Jesus' warning regarding the traditions of men

4. This does not demean the importance of the resurrection of Christ...
a. It has great significance to the Christian
b. It is something we should think about often (certainly more than once a year)

5. It is an appropriate subject even on "Easter Sunday", just as sermons...
a. On thankfulness are around Thanksgiving
b. On mothers are on Mother's Day
-- Even though churches may not celebrate such holidays per se

IF CHRIST WAS NOT RAISED

A. GOSPEL PREACHING IS VAIN... (vs 14)
1. The preaching of the apostles is empty, meaningless
2. Because they proclaimed nothing more than a fairy tale, a story of fiction

B. OUR FAITH IS VAIN... (vs 14) 1. Our belief in Christ would also be empty, meaningless
2. For our faith would be in a lie, a story of make believe, not truth

C. THE APOSTLES WERE FALSE WITNESSES... (vs 15) 1. They swore that God raised Jesus from the dead – Ac 2:32
2. They claimed to spend 40 days with Him after the resurrection, eating and drinking
3. There is no way they could have been deceived or mistaken; either they told the truth or they were deliberate liars, deceivers, and frauds!

D. WE ARE STILL IN OUR SINS... (vs 17) 1. It would have been a liar or lunatic that died on the cross
2. No such person could have provided a sacrifice that was holy and without blemish

E. BELIEVERS HAVE PERISHED AT DEATH... (vs 18)
1. Their faith would have been in a false Messiah
2. They would have had no atonement for their sins
3. Dying in their sins, there would be no hope

F. CHRISTIANS ARE TO BE PITIED... (vs 19) 1. Because we believe in a false Messiah
2. Because our faith in Him leads us to refrain from much worldly pleasure
3. Because we are often ridiculed or persecuted for our faith