Thank God for all the moms and the treasure they are to our lives. Before I begin, I want to read this poem I wrote to my mom, who has been with the Lord for many years now....
I call it…. “The Mother Inside of You”
Your Mother is the place you came from, your first home here on earth...
She's the guide you follow, as your life takes shape and you discover your values and worth. She's the first love you experienced, the first heart entwined with yours,
no one can take that special place, In the eyes of a child, so adored. As time goes by, with it’s shifts and turns, your love continues strong and true, And the mother who carried you inside, Now, you carry inside of you...
My message today is…”Woman, Be Free”…. It’s taken from….
Luke 13:10-16 (The Message Bible) He was teaching in the temple on the Sabbath. v11 There was a woman present, so twisted and bent over with arthritis that she couldn't even look up. She had been afflicted with this condition for eighteen years. v12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over. "Woman, today you are free!" *.......v13 He laid hands on her and suddenly she was standing straight and tall, giving glory to God. v14 Thehead of the temple, furious because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the congregation, "Six days have been defined as work days. Come on one of those six days if you want to be healed, but not on the Sabbath."(sounds just like the devil talking)
v15 But Jesus responded, "You frauds! Each Sabbath every one of you regularly unties your cow or donkey from its stall, leads it out for water, and thinks nothing of it. v16 So why isn't it OK, for me to free this daughter of Abraham and loose her from the infirmity which Satan has oppressed her with these eighteen years?" Webster’s New World College Dictionary,fourth edition, defines the word “infirmed”: as, unsound,physically weak, dysfunctional in mind or purpose, not resolute, vacillating, unstable, shaky, not secure, disabled or defective.
The scripture text today, is the account of a remarkable recovery from a great infirmity, which had held this woman bent over and bowed down for eighteen years, so that her look and her life was downward instead of upward. Being bowed down, is not only physical, but moves into the attitude, and into a person’s spirit. She was powerless to help herself and we can be sure that she had tried again and again to lift herself up. She had been unable to turn her eyes upward to see the stars, her vision had been centered on things below and in this way, she is like many are attempting to find satisfactionwith earthly things without ever looking up to God who alone can straighten out their lives, and the maze they’re caught in. The Scriptures declare that she could in no wise lift up herself, but she found her way to church, and as she presses in with hope, that her condition can be changed,
she encounters Jesus in church. (that’s always a wonderful surprise!) As far as we know, by Jesus referring to her as a “daughter of Abraham”, or (Heir of Abraham). She has been going to church faithfully for 18 years…with no change. She would enter bowed down, and leave bowed down, week after week. But this week, Oh, BUT THIS WEEK...she encounters Jesus, not religion, not form, not ritual or tradition…. BUT JESUS, and her condition is loosed from her, as He speaks the words her body, soul and spirit need to hear…. Woman, today you are free!!!!... Immediately, her oppression is lifted off, as that word enters her spirit and pours through her body… and she stands straight and tall, in the eyes of everyone praising and glorifying God. Since today is Mother’s day, let’s bring this thing all the way forward from the first mom mentioned in the Bible.
Genesis 3:20 “And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living”.
We’re going to look at what the name “Mother” actually means…..I’m convinced that many women have a misguided understanding of what the name mother, fully means….
Pattie, who worked as a supervisor for the telephone company, was introduced to a district manager who was new to the company. He introduced himself as Ken, and Ken misunderstood her name and said, "Nice to meet you, Peggy." She decided not to embarrass him, in front of everyone and planned to correct him later. However, an opportunity never arose. So, finally she went into his office. "Ken," she said, "I've been meaning to tell you this for almost two months now. My name isn't Peggy. It's Patti." After a long pause, he replied, "Well, thank you, Pattie, and my name is Ben, not Ken….. If we’re confused about who we are, we will also be confused about who others are that we interact and relate with!Mom, your name means something important! In the original Hebrew, thename Mother, is “Chavah”. This name embodies both the essence of life itself and the creative ability to grant that life to others. The idea of “mother of all life” expresses not only the ability to physically give birth, but also to create, nourish, and enhance all facets of life. This is the ability of a mother - to take something from it’srough undeveloped state, nurture and develop it, and bring it to it’s full potential through her God given abilities.
Another Hebrew word which is used for the wordmother, is Chayah . This word means to experience life…. this is not merely the idea of physical birth, but has to do with the healthy enjoyment of life, and the ability to process the things of life, while keeping an attitude of joy and a positive sense of well-being. In 1Thessalonians chapter 5, there is a scripture that gives us a great formula for the healthy processing of all the things that life will throw at you, so that you may keep a healthy outlook of thankfulness, joy and positive well-being…. (Hear me Moms, God has your formula for happiness, fulfillment and contentment)
1 Thessalonians 5:15 follow (focus on) that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all people. Verse 16 Rejoice evermore (at all times in everything).
Verse 17 Pray without ceasing (at all times in everything). Verse 18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Verse 19 Quench not the Spirit (acknowledge and be aware of the Holy Spirit working in and througheverything).
Verse 20 Despise not prophesying (be yielded to the Holy Spirit to hear what He is saying as He brings you revelation).
Verse 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good(test everything by the Word of God, and good Godly council, from those who are sound and solid in the faith and in ministering the word of God).
Verse 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. (Leave those things alone, which pollute the well of your spirit and diminish the power of God in your life)
Verse 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (God can only sanctify what we consecrate and separate unto Him)….Your tongue, your ears, your eyes, your activities, your relationships and friendships, your life patterns, and all the things that you dwell on and give a place of importance….
So this is about “Chayah”… experiencing a healthy life, keeping a positive attitude and doing life well…. by the way let’s remember that all failure is first a failure in values and basic life principals ….Don’t let grass grow on your God path, and don’t let the spiders of distraction weave their web around your spirit. The third Hebrew word for the name of Mother, is “Yech-aveh.” This word is found in Job (36:2)"Wait for me a little while, and I will show you (or I will Yechaveh)." This wordmeans, to cause to understand by expression, by revelation, by insight, or by manifestation…..Let me explain with this little story…. A daughter began to cry because she had lost her contact lens, and asked her mom to help her find it….the mom immediately began searching and in moments *…..found the lens. Her daughter said, “I have been searching for ½ hour, how could you find it so quick?” The mom told her she found it so quickly because they weren’t looking for the same thing…the daughter was looking for a contact lens, the Mom was looking for $200.00!!!.....that’s insight, understanding and revelation!!!! When you put all of this Hebrew stuff together, you have a mother, who through experience bringsexpression, revelation, and manifestation into the earth and she shapes and develops formless matter, carrying it within her until it is ready to be born. Then she continues to nurse this life, feeding, nurturing and sustaining it physically emotionally, and spiritually. And throughout its life, she helps to bring forth it’s undeveloped potential and guides and encourages this life to grow and experience its greatest and fullest manifestation. And by doing this, she is constantly giving birth to new levels of ability, potential and insight into the life experience, both within herself and within all those around her, earning her the title “MOTHER.” We desperately need Moms today, who are yielded to the Chavah, the Chayah and the Yech-aveh of God’s calling! The Civil war, between the North and the South, was fought over the issue of slavery. It’s bottom line was whether or not to allow an entire race of people to live their lives in bondage. Lincoln was assassinated because he dared to stand against a society which promoted this form of bondage. 620,000 of our country’s brothers, sons and fathers died in that conflict. Two years before Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, it became illegal to have slaves, the law was called the Emancipation Proclamation. The news rang out far and wide across the nation. The newspapers everywhere carried the headline…. “Slavery Legally Abolished! And yet something amazing happened....most of the slaves in the South went right on living as though they had never been emancipated…they continued in bondage and servitude. Slaves chose to remain slaves, though they were legally freed. Even though they were emancipated, they kept serving the same master throughout their lives and on into their children’s lives. It would be another 100 years, before segregation would end with “The Civil Rights Act of 1964! Sadly, what was true of slavery in this country, can be said of a multitude of sincere believers. All the official documents have been signed, all the legal matters have been taken care of (it’s called the word covenant of God). And God has accepted the “emancipation proclamation” presented to Him by Jesus on Calvary, when He said, “It is finished”…. In Christ, we have been set free forever! Heaven has declared that it is illegal for Satan to hold us in bondage to our sins, and condemn us for our past, our guilt, or anything else that we might name. Our Civil Rights Act, has declared that it is illegal for Satan to make any man or woman, feel less or be less than any other….Yet, so many of us still live in bondage because we will not accept the freedom available to us in Jesus. And sadder still, we pass that mentality on to our children, to experience it in their lives as well.
Getting back to this woman who was bowed down, whom Jesus released from bondage. I want you to notice that She was at the Right Place at the right time. The woman was aware of her spiritual infirmity and she did not go to the club, or the liquor store to drink her problems away and try to forget about her infirmity. Cause if you have a spiritual infirmity you need a spiritual “right place and right time”, where your spiritual infirmity will get spiritual attention and spiritual help. This woman decided that the temple was the right place for someone with an infirmity. There are over 2900 different people mentioned in the scriptures. Most of them are there, because they were at the right place at the right time. How many times have we prayed that prayer for our children…”Lord, let them be in the right place at the right time”… What a tremendous blessing that is….and what an awful curse to constantly be at the wrong place at the wrong time, which Satan will do his best to make that happen….! Satan wants to get us to buy into His bad news, so we will miss out on God’s good news that’s coming our way....I’ve come to tell you that God will still have the last say, if we give Him half a chance!
A well known artist asked the gallery owner, if there had been any interest in his paintings. "I've got good news and bad news," the owner replied. "The good news is that a gentleman inquired about your work and wondered if it would increase very much in value after your death. When I told him it would greatly increase, he bought all of your paintings at above what you’re asking." "That's wonderful!" the artist was overjoyed, so "What's the bad news?". With some hesitation, the owner said, "The guy that bought them was your doctor."… And yet, if you really think about it, since Jesus came on the scene, and brought His redemption power into our lives, any time can be the right time, any place can be the right place, and any situation can be filled with possibilities! The truth is that it is all a matter of our God consciousness and being God-inside-minded! I want to repeat a story I shared years ago.... Some may remember it.... The ship log tells the story….The year was 1820 and Peter Richleywas a very grateful man. He had survived one of the strangest and most harrowing events known to mankind. The story is true…..and The ship which he had been traveling on sank. He was rescued, however, and this ship sank. He was rescued again. But, this third ship sank. He was rescued for a third time, buthis fourth ship soon sank. And unbelievably, he was rescued for a fifth time, but the fifth ship sank as well.
On the high seas, however, he managed to stay afloat, and sure enough, as if on cue, another ship came by and answered his call for help.
This ocean liner was bound from England to Australia and traveled the same sea lane as Peter Richley’ssunken ships. The crew hoisted Peter aboard. Dry clothing was provided. The ship’s doctor gave him an exam, and pronounced him fit, and then the Captain asked an unusual favor. “There’s a lady on board who booked passage to Australia,” he explained. “She’s looking for her son who disappeared many years ago. She’s dying and she’s asking to see her son. She already knows everyone on board and since you’re the only newcomer, would you pretend to be her son, in her condition she won't be able to tell?”
Peter agreed. After all, his life had now been saved five times. He followed the Captain below deck and entered into a cabin.
There on a bed lay a frail woman with silver-hair. She was suffering from a very high fever. She was delusionaland she was crying out. “Please God. Let me see myson before I die. I must see my son!”
The ship’s Captain gently pushed the young man toward the bed. But soon, Peter knew why God has spared him. For lying there on that bed was the reason that he couldn’t seem to die. Here in front of him was the lifeline that had kept him from drowning five times. For lying on that bed was none other than Sarah Richley— who had prayed for ten years to be reconciled to her son, Peter.
The ship’s Captain stood in amazement as the young man rejoiced and embraced the sick woman. “I’m here mom! I’m here. It’s me!” Within days the fever had subsided and his mother awakened to find an answered prayer seated on the edge of her bed. God cannot ignore the heart of a praying mom!
In verse 12, it says “And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him.. I believe the bible story is telling each of us to position ourselves with desire, and expectancy for our“set free” moment. When God puts you in the right place at the right time, you can't help but get blessed and He specializes in turning the wrong place into the right place. Nahum 1:3 “The LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. v7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knows those that put their trust in Him”.
You will meet the right people, do the right things and even escape Satan’s hit team that are out to destroy you, and God does it simply by putting desires in your heart to go somewhere or do something, at a certain time and place, so that you end up being dead center at the place of blessing. The more you sit at His feet and just enjoy His presence, the more He fills your days with divine appointments!
Notice that When Jesus showed up, the woman’sPosture Was Changed. The scripture explains that the woman with a spiritual infirmity was affected in a way that crippled her physically for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. Her posture was downward and down cast. Jesus saw her and did something about it. He called her name and His words corrected her posture and launched her into her new freedom.
Jesus has good news for women, mothers, and sisters and daughters...to give them the right posture, to look up and move forward with self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth…. Those five words are… “Woman, you are set free.” Those Jesus’ words break the chains that bind you and all the things that push you down. Those words straighten not only your physical body but your mind, emotions, spirit and outlook. Jesus did something else, He touched her with the touch of compassion. There are many women who are bent over and crippled spiritually around us. They need the affirming, faith building words and the touch of Jesus that flow through those who have themselves been set free…..So they can do freedom’s dance and sing freedom’s song together. Isaiah 42:22 “But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in traps, and they are hiddenin prison houses: they are for a prey, and no one delivers, they are spoiled, and no one says, Restore. (it’s time for restoration!!!)
Ladies, you need to position yourself. If you get your identity from those who take you for granted, use you, and are only takers…. that’s will be the biggest influence in your life and you will become a reflection of that…you don’t need them, or their attitude! (Listen ladies, you need patience, but not a that much)!
A woman was out with her lady friends having a girlsnight out, when the most handsome man she had ever seen comes in and is seated at the next table. She can’t help staring, and noticing this, he comes over and says “I am willing to be yours for the evening”…for only $100.00. She agrees and presses the $100 in his palm and seals the deal, then when they got to the home she said, now, clean my entire house!
It’s time to position yourself for the master’s touch! He will also grow you, increase you, develop and equip you and you will not be the same person who first encounters Him. You will receive your God-ordained, upright position as He invades your life with the Holy Spirit. Keep it out of the ditches and he will get you there.
Jeremiah 30:17 The Lord, speaks clearly with his guarantee….”For I will restore health unto you, and I will heal you of your wounds, says the LORD; even though they called you an Outcast, saying, no one wants you or seeks after you”. Notice also that The Woman Stepped Over Into jubilant Praise…. This woman’s crooked back wasn’t her only problem…Her praise was broken and pressed down within her, just like her body was pressed down….She needed her praise to be set free, so she could be a jubilant praiser!.
The spirit of infirmity was replaced by the new spirit of praise. The spiritual bondage in her mind and soul and on her body was replaced by the set free spirit. Her spirit of infirmity of sadness and depression was replaced by the joyous spirit. That eighteen year spirit of hopelessness, was replaced by the hopeful spirit. Praises brought into her life, strength, security, purpose, stability, soundness, principals and values. BELIEVE THAT……WHAT HE’S DONE FOR OTHERS, HE’LL DO FOR YOU!!!!
I'm going to say something that may surprise you, but it is a fact. The Bible actually says more about praise than it does about prayer. And we all know the importance of prayer. Praise can cause walls and obstacles to falldown… (Ask Joshua…)
Praise can stop the fury of the fire that has come to consume you… (Ask 3 Hebrew Boys…) Praise can quench the appetite of the devourer… (Ask Daniel…)
The meaning of the name of the tribe of Judah is “Praise”….they were the praisers…..Judah had a son…his name was “Perez”…His name means “the breaker or to break forth”…When you praise, the breaker, eruptsthrough for you….
We have all heard the statement, “Let go and let God.” Well, I found out where this phrase originated…. A college student back in the nineteenth century took 6postcards and wrote a large letter on each one of the postcards: L–E–T---G-O-D. He then put them on the mantelpiece in his apartment where he was living. One evening a draft blew through the window and the “D” blew away. As he picked it up, what he saw on the mantle was a message from God, and the secret of the Christian life. Only by letting go can you let God and carry out His will in your life.
Jesus declared to the woman…. “Woman, Let Go, You Are Free”…
It’s amazing how the Lord is able to bring peace from our shattered pieces and fill up the hole in us with His wholeness. We will dare to believe that even with our shattered lives, we can still be used mightily and effectively by Him. Thank God for all the woman, who are bruised, but not broken, bowed but not destroyed, they may be down, but they are far from out! Through Christ, they dare to gather up the ashes of the past and trade them in for beauty, the agony of their spirit, have been replaced with the oil of joy and the spirit of heaviness has been replaced by the garments of praise.
Isaiah 42:3 “A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. (I like the message bible version)
Isaiah 42:3 (The Message) He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt neither will He disregard the small and insignificant, but he'll steadily and firmly set things right.
If you are still struggling with some bitterness and unforgiveness that may have wedged itself into your heart? Maybe you just need to come to Him and let Him speak those glorious, liberating words into you….”Freedom belongs to you!!!!. Free to try again, Free to take the risk, free to be who God made you to be… Free to rejoice, Free to care, Free to love again…..
Redeemed Mom, you are stronger than those spirits that want to destroy your home, your marriage, your children, and your roll as Mom! Sometimes, just an ounce of mother is worth more than a pound of preacher!
1 Corinthians 7:14 (King James) “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified (Greek word ang'-koo-rah…to be an anchor, to restrain, to hold back) by the wife, or else your children would be unprotected, but now are they holy (hag-ee-ad'-zo… separated and consecrated).
We see this same force of action in 2Thesselonians 2:7 “For the mystery of iniquity is already working: only he who now lets (controls, restrains, holds back) will let, until he be taken out of the way”.
When Jesus told the woman, “Woman you are free”….another version says...”Woman you are loosed”…. So Jesus bound the spirit that was empowering the infirmity which had cause her to be bowed down, and then He cast it out of her body, mind and spirit! Stop coming against the symptoms and attack the roots!
Is the root, a broken heart. Or a wounded spirit, or a deception in the mind, or maybe your soul is weighted down and discouragement has knocked you down.... Has the battle lasted so long, it has worn you out depleted your faith and your hope...
Well, Hallelujah, if Jesus says you can be free, that settles it…and Jesus has already made the first move, He’s done His part, now we just need to receive it….
We’re going to pray….and As we do…..Be set free in Jesus Name….
I especially would like all the moms to come as we agree together…let’s gather around these wonderful gifts, God has given us….our moms….
Heavenly Father, as a mother gives life and nourishment to her children,
even so you watch over your Church to nourish it and give it life. You have entrusted moms with the care of every precious human life from its very beginning in the womb. You have given to women the capacity of participating with You in the creation of new life. Grant that every woman may come to understand the full meaning of that blessing, which gives her an unlimited capacity for unselfish
love for every child she may be privileged to bear, and for all Your children. Give her courage in times of fear or pain, understanding in times of uncertainty and doubt, and hope in times of trouble. As a child’s first teacher and guide, grant that our moms may be given the wisdom and council to nurture the faith of God, within their children, following the example of Mary, Elizabeth, and other holy women of God. Help these moms to grow daily in knowledge and understanding of Christ, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Release in them the gifts, to impart this knowledge faithfully to their children, and to all who depend upon them. We speak blessing upon "spiritual mothers", those who, though they may have no children of their own, nevertheless selflessly care for the children of others -- of every age and place in life. Grant that they may know the joy of fulfilling this motherly calling of women, whether in teaching, nursing, religious life, or in other work which recognizes and fosters the true dignity of every human being created in Your image and likeness.
Send Your Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to all mothers who sorrow for children that are ill or estranged from their families, or who are in trouble or danger of any kind. We ask your blessing on all those to whom You have entrusted motherhood. May Your Holy Spirit constantly inspire, enlarge, refresh and strengthen these as the supernatural mothers You designed them to be. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.
Lord, Grant that we, the sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect, honor, and appreciation. May our mothers, receive Your Grace abundantly in this earthly life, and may they look forward to eternal joy in Your presence in the life to come. We ask this through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns, world without end…..AMEN.
Woman Be Set Free...
