MOTHER’S DAY 2007 (ELISABETH)

Pastor James J. Barker

Text: LUKE 1:5—14




INTRODUCTION:


1.     I want to speak today on the important subject of motherhood. 

2.     The word “mother” occurs 320 times in our English Bible.  The first time we see the word “mother” is in Genesis 2:24, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

3.     Back in the very beginning, God created man & woman, husband & wife, father & mother.

4.     But today the devil is trying to change all that.  We get a local paper delivered to our church called the Franklin Square/Elmont Herald.  In their “Mother’s Day” issue they published an article entitled, “Mothering is mothering.” 

5.     The article features two lesbians from Malverne who are raising two children, a little boy and a little girl.  The article says, “I don’t think there’s any real difference.  Parenting is parenting.”  

6.     No – there is a difference.  A big difference.  And all the social engineering and liberal brainwashing and new laws and policies cannot change what God has established (cf. Romans 1:24-28).

7.     The second time we find the word “mother” in our Bible is Genesis 3:20.  “And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.”

8.     Every Mother’s Day I preach on this subject and I often preach about famous mothers in the Bible.  Last year I preached about the Shunammite woman in II Kings 4. 

9.     You may recall that she and her husband built a little guest room for Elisha the prophet. 

10. On other Mothers Days I preached on Jochebed, the mother of Moses; Hannah, the mother of Samuel; and Mary, the mother of our Lord.

11. Mary had a cousin named Elisabeth, the mother of John the Baptist (cf. Luke 1:35-37).  This morning I would like for us to look at what the Bible says about Elisabeth, the mother of John the Baptist.

 

I. ELISABETH WAS RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD (1:6).

1.     Luke 1:6 tells us that both Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth were “righteous before God…”

2.     It is a blessing when both husband and wife are right with God.  Unfortunately this is not always the case.  Often we find godly wives with unsaved husbands, and visa versa.

3.     I do not want to offend those here today who are in a situation like this.  I pray God will save your mate and then you can enjoy a truly Christian home. 

4.     But I would like to say a few words to those who are still single.  It is wrong to marry an unbeliever (cf. II Cor. 6:14—7:1).

5.     To Christian wives with unsaved husbands: read I Peter 3:1-7.

6.     George Mueller told of a wealthy German whose wife was a good Christian.  This man was a big drinker, often spending late nights in the tavern.

7.     His Christian wife was very patient with him.  She never scolded him, nor did she ever complain.  In fact, she often had to undress him and put him to bed.

8.     One night in the tavern, the man said to his drinking companions, “I bet if we go to my house, my wife will be sitting up waiting for me.  She will come to the door, give us a royal welcome, and even cook us a meal if I ask her.”

9.     His friends were skeptical at first, but eventually decided to go along and see.    Sure enough, his wife came to the door and received them courteously (even though they were all sloppy drunk).

10. And she willingly cooked a meal for them without the slightest sign of resentment.  After serving the meal, she excused herself and went into her bedroom. As soon as she left the dining room, the men began to rebuke her husband.  One man said, “What kind of a man are you to treat such a good woman so miserably?”  With this he got up and left without finishing his food.

11. Then a second man said the same thing and he too left the house, then a third, and within a couple of minutes they were all gone.

12. Left all alone the husband felt ashamed of himself.  He felt convicted of his sin, especially the shabby way he treated his wife. 

13. He went to his room and apologized to his wife.  They prayed together and she led him to Christ.   George Mueller said that from that day on this man was a devoted Christian (I Peter 3:1, 2).

14. I recall visiting a couple and the Christian wife kept insulting her unsaved husband.   She got up to leave the room and he turned to me and said, “Now you see what I have to endure every day.”

15. Cf. Proverbs 21:19 and 27:15.

16. I heard about a man who went into the hospital for major surgery, and was coming out of the anesthesia.  He kept asking, “Am I in heaven?  Am I in heaven?”  His wife looked down at him and said, “No, Joe – you’re down here with me!”

17. I heard about one lady who talks so much nonsense that she uses a special toothpaste with shoe polish in it – it’s for people who are always putting their foot in their mouth.

18. Note in First Peter 3:4 it says, “a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”

19. Note the word “subjection” in First Peter 3:5.  Sara was in subjection to her husband Abraham (I Peter 3:6).  Elisabeth was in subjection to her husband Zechariah.  This is what the Bible teaches (cf. Eph. 5:21-33; Col. 3:18-21).

20. I know this is considered old-fashioned but it is Biblical.  I realize this is not “politically correct,” but it is Biblically correct!

21. Elisabeth was a godly wife and mother.  She and her husband had a good testimony before God and men.  They were “blameless” (Luke 1:6).

 

II. ELISABETH WAS BARREN (1:7).

1.     Back in Bible times there was a reproach to being without children (cf. Luke 1:24, 25; Gen. 25:21; 30:22, 23; I Sam. 1:5, 6, 19, 20).

2.     Elisabeth was barren but she and her husband prayed for a child.  Luke 1:13 tells us that God answered their prayer.

3.     Today many couples do not want children.  We have many “dinks” today – “Double income, no kids.”   There are many selfish people who prefer material things, big homes, fancy cars, nice vacations, etc.  To them, children are a bother.

4.     Psalm 127:3 says, “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”

5.     Genesis 1:28 says, “Be fruitful, and multiply” (cf. Gen. 9:1, 7; 35:11).   God’s plan has not changed.

6.     Worldly people look down upon women who choose to stay home with their children, have large families, home-school, etc.

7.     Because of birth control, many women have chosen to be barren.  Many women prefer making money. They are deliberately delaying motherhood by putting money and their career ahead of giving birth to children.

8.     The feminists and the liberal media have deceived many women into believing they can establish a career and hang out at worldly parties and bars and not even think about having children until they’re in their 30’s or even 40’s.    How foolish!

9.     Many women think their biological clock is just another of nature’s inconveniences which can be reprogrammed by modern science.

10. But this is all contrary to the Bible. “And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living” (Gen. 3:20). 

11. It is a good thing they did not have “Planned Parenthood” in the Garden of Eden, or we would not be here today.

12. It’s a good thing they did not have “Planned Parenthood” in the days of Elisabeth and Mary.  It’s a good thing there were no abortion clinics back then (cf. Luke 1:39-44).

13. Politicians like Rudy Giuliani talk out of both sides of their mouths regarding abortion.  Mr. Giuliani wants to be president of the USA.  But I would not vote for any politician who supports abortion. 

 

III. ELISABETH WAS CHOSEN TO BE THE MOTHER OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (1:13).

  1. What an honor!  Mothers – it is an honor to have a godly preacher for a son! 
  2. John’s name was given by God (Luke 1:13).  His name means, “The LORD is gracious.”  He would be “great in the sight of the Lord”
  3. John was filled with the Holy Spirit “even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15).
  4. Certainly John the Baptist is one of the greatest preachers that ever lived (Luke 1:14-17).
  5. Our Lord said of John, “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).
  6. “What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?  But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.  For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee” (Matt. 11:7-10).
  7. That is a very important OT prophecy, fulfilled by John the Baptist (Luke 1:76; cf. Isaiah 40:3; Mal. 3:1).
  8. Since John the Baptist was such an important preacher, we can be certain his mother Elisabeth was a very special mother.  Mothers – some day your little boy may grow up to be a great preacher like John the Baptist.
  9. Or a great missionary like David Livingstone.
  10. Or a great evangelist like DL Moody.
  11. Maybe your grandson will grow up to be a great preacher like Timothy (cf. II Tim. 1:5).

 

CONCLUSION:


I took a piece of plastic clay

And idly fashioned it one day;
And as my fingers pressed it still,
It moved and yielded at my will.

 

I came again when days were past,

The form I gave it, still it bore,
And as my fingers pressed it still,
I could change that form no more.

 

I took a piece of living clay,
And gently formed it day by day,
And molded with my power and art,
A young child’s soft and yielding heart.

 

I came again when years were gone;
It was a man I looked upon,
He still that early impress bore,
And I could change it never more.



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