II Timothy 1:3-7
Mothers, This Is Your Hour

Introduction
1. America is decaying and many ‘experts’ search for the reason. The glue of any society is the home. Without the home no society can survive.
2. Mothers, you give heart to the glue. The is no more influential or powerful role on earth than that of a mother.
3. For good or bad, a mother’s mark is permanent. Abe Lincoln was right: No one is poor who had a godly mother. I recently read of 5 scholars arguing over Bible translations: KJV…NASV
NIV…ESV…the 5th…I have personally preferred my mother’s translation. Yes, she translated it. She translated each page into life. It was the most convincing translation I ever read.
4. How can we translate God’s Word into daily living?
5. II Timothy 1:3-7 There was one who saw God’s Word translated into daily living…Timothy.
Timothy gives 5 challenges to each mother:

I. LET 1:3, 4 Let God keep your heart tender.
A. v. 3 Prayer That’s what you can do when you are alone and life is ending. You review your
memories. You pray a lot. You even recall the tears of the past.
B. v. 4 Pain…longing to see you even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy.
1. It is strange. The very first things Paul remembers about Timothy is his tears. I believe
Timothy had his mother and grandmother to thank for that! He may or may not have had
support from his father. Life will hurt. Tears will fall
2. Most learn tenderness from mothers. Diligence, hard work, honesty come from dad.
3. Moms, in this hard, tough world let God keep your heart tender. If you buy the
feminist message you’ll become masculine, militant, rough, harsh and even a little mean.
4. Timothy found tenderness in his home, and acceptance. He was man enough to shed
tears!

How can we translate God’s Word into daily living?
II. LIVE 1:5 Live the life that God has given you.
A.Family: Salvation first came to grandma Lois (perhaps at Pentecost) and then mother Eunice. It is assumed that dad was a Greek and most likely not a believer. Paul realized that which characterized the grandma and mother characterized Timothy also.
B.Faith: Unfeigned faith…nothing mixed…sincere faith. The Greek word is anhupocritos. We get our word unhypocritical. In ancient Rome actors would wear a mask to depict different parts. We have our ‘Christian mask’ our ‘Christian dialogue’. Are you real?
*I see no mention of grandfather or father. Single mom, you can do it! Is your faith real, genuine and is it seen in daily life? Children need to see the reality of truth in the home.
*Mother, one of your major contributions is to live the life that God has given to you. Let truth be heard. Let truth be seen. LIVE!!! Following Jesus isn’t a drag!! It’s alright if your children ask questions. My mom and dad endeavored to live what they believed!
*You will not have a perfection of action, but you can have a perfection of intentions. You want to do what God wants you to do. You try to live it!

How can we translate God’s Word into daily living?
III. LEAD 1:6, 7a Have the inner confidence to use the gifts God has given to you.
A.God’s Gift v. 6 God has given gifts to each of us. Are you using what God has given to you? Stir up the word is used for fanning coals, stirring coals of a fire into a flame. Paul gave Timothy an apostolic gift by the laying on of hands. God has gifted each one of us. Use It!
B.God’s Grace v. 7
1.Negative: For God has not given us a spirit of fear…Fear is not of God. The spirit of timidity is so easy to catch. Watch that we don’t portray a lack of confidence or an atmosphere of worry. Encourage your children to launch out…try something
new…being uncomfortable isn’t all that bad. Failure is one of the best ways we
learn. If you do it for God, it may not turn out as you expected, but you can never
fail!
2.Positive: Power is the word, dunamis. We get our word, dynamite. It is inherent strength, an inner might. God hasn’t given you a spirit of inferiority or insecurity. Watch what you say. “You’re dumb” “You’re a pain” “You’re no good” Hold on to a feeling long enough and it becomes a belief. Then you act on it and it soon becomes your character.
Who we are as Jesus sees us is so important. He sees value and worth. He died for
us! Once you LET and LIVE (His life flowing through us), it’s amazing how
your child will begin to sense worth, value and security!
3.So, we need to use the gifts God has given: If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight. If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy. If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty. If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient. If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence. If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate. If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice. If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith. If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself. If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world. Dorothy Noltes

How can we translate God’s Word into daily living?
IV. LOVE 1:7b Not a spirit of inferiority, but inner strength and love.
A.A Seeing Love is seeing value and worth.
B.A Seeking Love seeking the highest good for the other person.
C.A Selfless Love this is selfless love. You love when it hurts. You love when you are weary. It is staying the task. Stop thinking about yourself and what it will cost you!
“Your love comes through when you listen, when we hurt and when you hear what we don’t say. Your love comes through when you laugh while under pressure, even though it doesn’t seem fit.”

How can we translate God’s Word into daily living?
V. LEARN 1:7c Sound mind…self control…discipline Love and tenderness must be balanced
with discipline.
A. James Dobson quotes Dr. Stanley Coopersmith. He performed a study on 1738 normal
middle class boys. After identifying the boys having the highest self-esteem, he compared
their home and childhood influences with those having a lower self-worth. Three
important characteristics:
1.The high-esteem children were clearly more loved and appreciated at home than were the low-esteem boys.
2.The high-esteem group came from homes where parents had been significantly more strict in their approach to discipline.
3.The homes of the high-esteem group were also characterized by democracy and openness. Once the boundaries for behavior were established, there was freedom for individual personalities to grow and develop.
B. There is no more influential or powerful role on earth than a mothers. You can’t do it, and
never do it alone. You first need a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Never doubt
the value of your calling. You will make a difference!