Happy Heralds, IncLAYING FOUNDATIONS FOR A SPIRITUALLY SUCCESSFUL FAMILY LIFE (Ex. 2:1-10: Gen.12:1-8) by Dr. Fred Wittman II.B. Beholding Family Roles Introduction: Dr. Joe R. Brown of Rochester, New York attempted to get a physical history of his male patient. The patient’s wife answered every question that was asked. At last the wife asked to leave the room. Then the doctor found that the husband couldn’t speak. He called the wife to return to the room and apologized to her for not realizing her husband had aphasia - the loss of speech and could not speak a word. The wife was astonished because she didn’t know it either. Are you aware of your spouse’s deep needs? Are you aware of your spouse’s desires, needs, and you responsibility to your spouse? There must be a recognition of God’s order and reciprocity (Eph. 5:23; 1 Cor. 11:3; 7:3-5). B. The Mother’s Vital Role (Prov. 31:10-31). 1. Representative of chastity (1 Tim. 2:9,10; 5:14; Tit. 2:5; 1 Pet. 3:1-5); a. Modest (Prov. 31:22,25-27) - high moral standards by observing proprieties of dress, appearance, behavior, and speech (Rom. 12:1,2); Examples: positive example - Rebecca (Gen. 24:65); but not Jezebel (2 Kings 9:30), she is a negative example. b. A trusted spouse - companion (Prov. 31:11). A trusted spouse will not allow the children do that which disobeys the father’s rules or what she knows will displease him and tell them, “Don’t tell your father!” c. Holiness (1 Tim. 2:15 cf. Heb. 12:14); d: Give no occasion to the Devil (1 Tim. 5:14). 2. Resource of Charity a. Love for her husband and children (Tit. 2:4; 1 Tim. 2:15); b. Love for the saints (1 Tim. 5:10). 3. Regulator of the Chateau: a. A clean, neat house (Tit. 2:5); b. Keeper at home (Tit. 2:5) - ‘worker at home’ (grind flour, cook, bake meals, wash, spin wool, etc.); c. Guide the house (1 Tim. 5:14) - ‘manage the household’; d. Hospitable (1 Tim. 5:10; Heb. 13:2) - Provide for guests, wash feet. 4. Rearer of Children a. Bear children (l Tim. 5:14; 2:15); b. Rear children (1 Tim. 2:15) - Childbearing includes rearing, training, discipline, and teaching The God’s Word; The Greek word translated ‘childbearing’ is τεκνογονία (tehk-noh-goh-néeah). It is a term that carries both concepts of motherhood and is translated in A Precise Translation ‘birthing and rearing a child.’ It is interesting to note that Timothy himself, to whom Paul’s First Epistle was written is a prime example of this term. Both Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice were faithful in communicating the faith and teaching The Scriptures to Timothy from the time he was a baby (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15). Both women were saved from the curse to the position of silence in The Church through the rearing and teaching of The God’s Word to Timothy and their abiding in faith, love and holiness with solemnity. They had the joy of hearing some of The Truth of The Word of The God that they taught Timothy being taught by Him to The Church. So that though they could not vocally teach in the congregation, they were able to teach the congregation through Timothy The Truth they taught him. c. Teach her children. 5. Responder to the Charge a. Obedient first to The LORD, then to her husband (Eph. 5:22,24; 1 Pet. 3:5,6). b. Honor The LORD (1 Cor. 11:3-16); c. Teach younger women (Tit. 2:4) Conclusion: Review the five points of the Mother’s Vital Role. Emphasize obedience (l Sam. 15:22,23). Mother, you can ignore or defy the teaching of Scripture concerning the role of the mother and refuse to be chaste, vainly put emphasis on outward adornment, and seek to attract attention of men to yourself rather than to Christ. Or you can heed Scripture and be a fine example and representative of chastity and modesty which is becoming to a godly woman. Application: You can refuse to be obedient and refuse to submit to The Word of The God and to The Father, Christ, The Son, and The Holy Spirit and to your husband and be miserable, cause your family to be spiritually dysfunctional or you can obey The Word of The God and be the instrument in The God’s hands in bringing your family to become spiritually functional. The choice is yours! Submit and obey or be stubborn and rebellious and counted by The God as an idolatress and a witch (1 Sam. 15:23). Which will you do? Return to the Notes/Sermon page...
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