Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
May 11, 2003 - W0319

Moms are a special gift.  Itís almost like the Lord uses them as guardians and gatekeepers to make sure weíre going in the right way.  And I remember my mom was always teaching us and guiding us.  So now as I read the Bible, I find something about the kingdom of God in the things sheís taught me.  So the truths of the kingdom are not just new fangled truths.  They are old truths and treasures as well.  Often though our society tends to discard the old and opt for something new just because it looks better.  But God is saying: 

THE GREATEST TRUTHS ARE TIMELESS.

ìAnd He said to them, ëÖthe kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and oldíî.  (Matt. 13:52)

Frequently we gather at seminars or go to different conferences looking for new truths.  The reality though is that some of the greatest treasures of the kingdom are not new truths at all.  In fact, theyíre old truths and as you apply them to your life, they become new.  Thatís why He said donít forget:  The kingdom of God is like treasures both old and new.

Q1:  List 3 timeless truths youíve learned from you mom.  How has it shaped your life?

ìDo not move the ancient boundary which your fathers have setî.  (Prov.11:28).

Donít push against the ancient boundaries because there are reasons why certain things are done the way they are.  The Bible says:  ìThe grass will wither, the flowers fade, but the word of our God abides foreverî.  (Isa. 40:8)  The greatest truths of all are found in the Word of God.  And it doesnít matter how archaic I think this Bible is.  These are the boundaries that the Lord has set.  So in order to help us walk in the truth, here are three gems that are absolute timelessÖ

TREASURES

1.      DO LIFE CORRECTLY.

ìÖto him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of Godî.  (Ps. 50:23)

The word salvation is the word sozo or wholeness.  The Lord is offering us an opportunity to get our lives in order.  And if we do this, He will show us what fulfillment or wholeness is.  Then our life will become complete. 

However, itís so easy sometimes to just discard Godís instructions and do life the way we want to.  We tend to put life together without following any instruction. We reason with ourselves that we donít need Godís ordinances.  We compromise and take shortcuts.  Then when our lives begin to erode we are often surprised.  Now if you ever go up to Diamond Head to the crest, it will treat you to an expansive view from Koko Head all the way up to the Waikiki coastline.  And as you hike this trail, thereís a sign that should be placed on every house and every church.  It reads:  STAY ON THE PATH.  TAKE NO SHORTCUTS. IT CAUSES EROSION. 

In essence it says:  Do life correctly.

Q2:  Have you ever skipped instructions?  What was the result and what have you learned from that experience?

The people in the New Testament were no exception when it came to skirting around Godís ordinances.  Itís exampled in the Bible when David went to the Philistines to take back the Ark of the Covenant   He as well as the others knew that the Levites were to carry this ark on their shoulders with poles.  However, since they couldnít get the Levites together fast enough, they instead placed the ark on an ox-driven cart.  Then as they were transporting the ark, the oxen stumbled tipping the ark.  Uzza then put out his hand to steady the ark.  The Bible says that God then struck him and he died.  At first, David was upset.  But later on he reminisces about it:  ìBecause you did not carry it at the first, the Lord our God made an outburst on us, for we did not seek Him according to the ordinanceî.  (1 Chr. 15:13)

Remember that our discipline and commitment as well as our truthfulness with God will extend into every other area of our lives.  So donít compromise that.  Hereís the whole thing God says about life: ìLove the Lord your God with your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourselfî.  If we do this, it will spill over into every area of our lives.  And thatís a timeless truth.

Q3:  Do you feel you are disciplined, committed, and truthful to God?  Why or why not?

Thatís why we need moms today who will say Godís truths are timeless.  Sure, your children may fight against Godís rules now, but one day theyíll understand.  And when they see their marriages, relationships, and lives doing well later, theyíll remember it was because of timeless truths taught in their youth.  ìI have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truthî.  (3 Jn. 1:4)  Indeed, there is no greater joy than that. 

On the other hand, if they disregard Godís ordinances there will be certain consequences.  Thatís exactly what happened to Amnon (Absalomís relative).  Amnon was attracted to Absalomís sister Tamar and chose to discard a timeless truth.

[Tamar said:]  ìëAs for me, where could I get rid of my reproach?ÖNow therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.í  However, he would not listen to herÖî  (2 Sam. 13:13-14) 

Tamar pleaded for Amnon to stop, think, and do things right.  She suggested he ask fatherís permission acting on his passion.  Instead, Amnon refused to listen and thus violated a timeless truth. 

Q4:  Have you ever disregarded Godís word and proceeded your own way?  Share what happened.  Also share how following Godís ordinances blesses your life.

Therefore, learn from Godís Word and donít dilute yourself into the worldís standards and violate timeless truths.  Godís Word gives us the wisdom of the ages.  And mothers, I encourage you to be guardians of these timeless truths.  Then in doing so youíll be teaching your children to do life correctly as well as preparing them for the next timeless truth. 

2.      HONOR THOSE WHOM GOD HAS PLACED IN YOUR LIFE.

ìChildren, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise) that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earthî.  (Eph. 6:1-3)

Honor and donít fight against those whom God has placed in your life as parents.  This is especially true for those of you who have Christian parents.  They are doing their best to sustain the Word of Godís ordinances and to be a guardian of them.  So obey them in the Lord for this is right.  Thank God that you have parents who may not do it perfectly, but their heart is for you to walk in the truth.  For there is no greater joy than to see their children walking in the truth. 

You may say all right, but what if I donít have Godly parents?  Then the Bible clearly says to honor your father and mother.  It means to be respectful and cordial to them.  Listen and at least try to understand them.  Sure there may be times when you disagree with your parents who may not know Godís Word.  However, try to understand and factor in what they are saying into your decision.  Ultimately though you must make your decision based on what God is saying to you.  Thatís because in the end you and I will stand independent of anything else, parents included.  For the Bible says:  He who loves his father and mother more than me is not worthy of Me.  Now that doesnít mean that you disregard your parents.  Nevertheless, a time will come when you will have to answer to God according to what Heís spoken to you. 

Q5:  What is your relationship with your parents?  Do you think your relationship will improve because of what you learned today?

So honor those whom He places in authority over you.  Thereís a reason why Heís placed them in your life.  It may not always easy to do life correctly or to honor our parents.  Thatís why God asks us toÖ

3.      SEEK TO BE INSTRUCTED.

ìI will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.  Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come near to youî.  (Ps. 32:8-9))

How many times does God have to bring consequences in our lives before we listen?

Yet, we donít have to be like a mule or horse that need a bit and bridle to hold them in check.  For there are people available all around us who we can ask for help.  We can seek to be instructed.  Our lives are made out of the very raw materials garnered from the things we are currently learning.  Therefore, if you want to experience more life learn, read, and study more.  Go into Godís Word daily and seek to be instructed. 

The Bible says, ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened.  The precondition to receiving, finding, and opening is to ask, seek, and knock.  So nothing can happen until you take the first step.  Thus remember that:     

• MENTORING IS A SELF-INITIATED PROGRAM OF IMPROVEMENT.

If you want to improve and become better moms you must seek to be instructed.  There are veteran moms and wives here that have experienced so much.  And as brand new wives or mothers, you have an opportunity to receive the knowledge and wisdom they have to offer from their own life experiences.  However, if you donít take the first step and ask to be instructed, you will certainly starve in a land of plenty. 

I remember that a pastor from one the churches wrote to me saying he was resigning his church.  Part of his disheartenment was that he had a small church.  On top of that, some of his members started attending New Hope.  In addition, his church was not able to finance travel expenses for him to attend training on the mainland that he felt he desperately needed.

I wrote back encouraging him not to quit and offered our resources ñ anything and everything he needed.  I even offered to send as many people as he could handle.  All I asked was that he would shepherd them well and love them with all his heart to the point of willing to lay down his life for them.  And finally that he would feed them the uncompromising Word of God and the way they could apply it to everyday life. I told him that if we are going to fulfill the great commission, we needed all churches doing well not just a few. 

I then told him that God was so great and had actually answered his prayers.  God knew he needed training and in fact brought the training right to his neighborhood.  All he had to do was drive right down the street.  I never heard from him after that.

And thatís exactly what New Hope does each year.  We invite pastors four times year to come to the Hawaii Leadership Practicum and host them for one week.  We teach, train, and help these novice pastors apply what they learn here in their churches.  And thatís because we want to give everything we can away.  We want every church doing well.  Thatís our heart for the kingdom of God.  So when we stand before God and He asks what we did with what He provided, let our response be we sought to be instructed. 

In fact, when we first started this church, we didnít know how to do graphics very well.  So we went to Word of Life and they graciously provided us a whole day seminar about graphics and video.  And we continue to ask other churches for help in other areas as well. 

The same is true if you are a businessman and want to do well in your business.  Go and ask those who are succeeding.  You will discover that most often they are amazed that you would step over envy, intimidation, and pride to ask them for help.  And it just blesses them. 

ìTurn to my reproof, behold I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to youî.  (Prov. 1:23 )

God is willing to pour out His spirit on us and give us His timeless truths.  But in order to receive His advice we need to be willing to listen and to do life correctly.  God also asks that we honor those whom He has placed in authority over us because this is right.  Finally, no matter what age we may be, we must be rabid learners.  Otherwise if we stop learning, we will stop learning. 

So we are so blessed that God has placed mothers and grandmothers in this church.  We are grateful too for extraordinary moms who continue to be guardians of timeless truths.  We thank you for your patience as we learn to respect you even more as you teach us with experience, knowledge, and wisdom.  So we pray that God will help us to be people who receive Godís gifts well into our family.  As you have freely received, freely give.  This is a timeless truth. 

Sisters we love you; moms and grandmothers, Happy Motherís Day!

Final Q:  What most impacted you about todayís lesson?  How will you apply it to your life this week?

Summarized by Rhonda Pang

If you would like to be a part of our mini-ministry, we want to welcome you.  Contact Dawn O'brien - dawn@enewhope.org for more information.