A Mother’s Inheritance Harold Kimrey May 8, 2016

Introduction: What is an inheritance? Have you ever received an inheritance?

Do you stand to receive an inheritance? Do you know someone who has received

an inheritance?

I. Definition: Inheritance - something of value bestowed upon death. A gift

given to another at death. Money or property passed to an heir. Heirloom,

Legacy or Birthright.

II. Mothers are givers by nature A. She gives herself to her husband in order to have a child. B. She gives her body to give birth to the child. C. She gives of herself day and night in order to raise and nurture that child. D. After the child is married she still gives to that child E. After the grandkids are born, she gives to them F. She is still giving to the great grand children. G. Mothers are givers by nature. III. What is the greatest gift a mother can give?

A. 2 Timothy 1:1-7 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois AND in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. B. Paul reminds Timothy of the legacy passed down from his grandmother Eunice to his mother Lois and then to Timothy.

C. Act 16:1 He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 1. Apparently Timothy’s father was not a believer. 2. Timothy’s mother and grandmother were devout believers. 3. Nobody can guarantee the outcome of a child’s life. a. Each have their own will. b. Each have a sinful nature. c. Each make their own choices. 4. We can however influence our children to live a certain way.

a. Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Influence is the power of persuasion)

b. the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone

c. To affect or influence toward a desired outcome d. To have impact e. To sway f. To promote a certain course or direction g. To shape or mold through contact, power or will h. To guide or direct

5. Timothy’s mother and grandmother had a tremendous influence on his life. Paul saw the SAME faith in Timothy that he saw in the mother and grandmother.

IV. What kind of faith do you have? 1. Strong faith = strong influence 2. Weak faith = weak influence 3. What kind of faith have you shown your children and your grandchildren? 4. Is your faith worth imitating? a. Do you waver? Doubt? Compromise? Fear? b. Do you remain steadfast, confident, dedicated to God and His work? c. Do you trust God through the hard times of life and exhibit faith to your

children?

5. What is the #1 principle that you MUST always show your children? a. ALWAYS OBEY GOD AND LEAVE ALL OF THE CONSEQUENCES TO HIM! b. Do you always obey God??? c. In what ways do you model disobedience to your children?

1) Do you get angry – say and do things that your children know are wrong? 2) Do you gossip and talk about others? 3) Do you lie and misrepresent the truth when you think your children aren’t watching? 4) Do you behave one way when around your church family and another way at home?

V. Children come into this world as a blank slate. 1. There are many influences upon your child in this world. 2. Television, teachers, your relatives, your friends, your neighbors. THIS

WORLD! YOU 3. The typical school system is a pagan society – it is a place that is at

complete odds with your values, with your belief in God. We live in a place where belief in God is attacked, criticized and condemned.

4. How are you preparing your children to face this kind of influence? 5. Your kids are being influenced all day every day in ways completely at odds

with God and His values. 6. How much time are you spending with them to influence them towards

God? 7. A mother’s love requires a huge commitment of time and effort to combat

the influence of a world controlled by darkness! 8. What kind of efforts are you making to help your child understand what it

means to be a genuine disciple? a. Explain how to tell the difference between a counterfeit and genuine

$20 bill. VI. 2Co 6:15-18 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a

believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." 17 "Therefore come out from them and be

separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

VII. God’s instruction to parents Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Deu 6:1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

VIII. The best way to influence your child – (and your husband – and your neighbor)

FAITH 1. Always obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. 2. Have your own quiet times with God – Prayer, bible study and meditation.

(True intimacy with God) a. Love God’s word. Make God’s word your immovable anchor in times of

storm. b. Excitement: God is revealing his will to you. You are learning new truths

about God each day. 3. Exhibit an awareness of God’s presence (that He is always near you).

5. Exhibit trust in God – that you will always obey God even when you don’t understand why…

a. You have a peace that passes all understanding – because of your faith in Christ.

b. Dark times in your life – you exhibit faith that God is working out His purpose in your life.

c. You fight your battles on your knees. d. You thrill in trusting God – God is doing things that we can’t see right

now or understand but 1 day … e. You trust in God to always provide for your needs. Mat 6:33

HOPE 1. Your understanding that you always reap what you sow, more than you

sow, later than you sow. 2. Your treasures are in heaven. Material things may be blessings from God but not the most important… 3. This life is NOT what you are living for. 4. You firmly believe in resurrection – eternally you will be with the Lord! 5. You live with a purpose for God and are His vessel!

LOVE 1. Practice hospitality

a. So that Christ gets the glory - Col 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word

or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

b. Matt 6:33 - Are you putting the kingdom of God first in your life? c. Exhibit your love for brothers and sisters in the kingdom. 2. Bear other’s burdens 3. Reach out to others – seek & save the lost

4. 1Co 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 5. Are you patient? Are you kind? Do you envy …

Mother’s Day Poem:

In the basin the old wrinkled hands are quiet for a while and her head is bowed in reverence while a tear runs down her face and if you should ask about it she would say: “mothers sometimes cry when they speak to the Lord about their children and grandchildren.” Although she is in her winter years she does remember all of her summers and the joyful times spent with her family. She stops knitting and her eyes wander off to the garden without seeing a single thing and a tear runs down her face and if you would ask about it she would only say: “mothers sometimes cry when they think about about their children and grandchildren.” She turns her eyes to the photographs on the wall she knows every face intimately. When she opens her Bible she bows her head to the Lord in recognition and thanks the Lord that she is a mother and grandmother her room does seem somewhat small at times and a retirement village can feel cold and lonely. But when her children’s arms are around her she cries openly and it is very evident that she that she is tremendously glad to see them. Although all of her children are grown up and maybe even her grandchildren she always carries them in her heart because a mother’s work is never done and she will carry them up to the Lord in prayer every day until her dying day because a mother’s work is NEVER DONE!