How many of you know that the commandments of God are everlasting? Everlasting. They last forever. They've not been nullified by man-made doctrines, though men would have you believe that some of God's commandments have been nullified by human traditions and changing of times and seasons those man-made traditions and doctrines. They're not altered by human changes. And so it is with the commandment to honor our mother. It's an eternal commandment. It's an everlasting commandment. It hasn't stopped. It hasn't ended. In fact, it is the commandment that comes with a blessing. Commandment for every day, not just one day in the calendar year. And that doesn't mean that we don't celebrate a day. But it means that we are to honor our mother all the time. Otherwise, the one that we call Jesus wouldn't have shared it. But as we'll see, he did share it with those who were with him, those who walked with him. and he shared it with those who were not honoring mothers. We're going to open God's Word to the 15th chapter of Matthew's gospel record, and we're going to hear what our Lord had to say. If you want to, you can open the Bibles there in your seats to page 1515, and find Matthew chapter 15. I'm going to begin with verse 1, but the slides only begin, I think, at verse 4. But I think we need to bring a little context into this. Matthew chapter 15, and this is what we hear there. Then the scribes and the Pharisees, these were the most religious people of the time, or some of the most religious, the scribes and the Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus saying, why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? Do not wash their hands when they eat break, but we all know it's good. I just want to talk about anything They have a tradition of washing their hands all the way up their line Like the water flossing Jesus person is warning. That's what they were in water water He answered and he said to them why do you like that doesn't give you an answer? Why do you also transgress the commandment of God? You see the comparison and contrast there? They're talking about the position of the commandment. He's talking about the commandment of God. Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your prediction? For God commanded, and he's not even talking about Satan. This is the tradition of Washington. He's talking about God. God commanded saying honor your father and your mother and he said he who curses father or mother let him be put to death, but you say See God said but man said You say you curses you so you say whoever puts his father says to his father and mother whatever property might have received from me and his gift to God because they were collecting money. Jimmy like me said, don't spend money on your mom, put it in the plate when I pass the plate. That's what they were doing, okay? And you told them what you're doing is wrong. You are transgressing the commandment of Almighty God. All right? Then he goes on. Whatever profit might have received, you might have received from me as a gift to God. I know that Teaching the commandments of men Instead of the teachings of God the commandments of God Father, open the eyes and ears of our understanding. Please guide me, Lord, and guide others to hide your word in our hearts that we might not sin against you. We believe, Father, help us to conquer unbelief. Let your spirit fall upon all who hear this message, I pray in Christ's name and all of God's people said. Amen. How did you like the way our Lord brought those ideas together? He pointed out the error of those highly religious people of that time. He took the idea of honoring mom and dad, and he combined it and showed them what they were doing was wrong. He showed them that what they were doing was wrong. And I believe they do the same today. See, we teach the commandments of men. We teach the doctrines of men. We teach things that are in volumes and volumes of books that men have written. And yet we have one book, the Bible. And that book is to be our instruction book. But we have libraries full of books. In fact, John and I were speaking this morning in my office, and he was looking at all the books on my shelf. He said, you read all those? I said, no, I haven't. But I can use them as references. Sometimes there's an idea I can pull out of a book that I won't find that idea in the Bible, but it helps to illustrate what's in the Bible. But I don't rely on what's in the books. I rely on what's here. As we await Christ's return, we must, we must be on guard against deception. And the point that he made at the end of that passage that we read there is the one that is critically important. I'm not going to dwell on this long, folks, but we need to understand it. As the time draws near, as he is moving in the direction of returning, we need to beware deception. And the commandments of men, the doctrines of men, the teachings of men, the traditions of men need to be inspected at least, dissected in some cases. and discard it, because we have a lot of rubbish that's passing as Christian teaching today. It's unfortunate, but that's the reality. And this is what was happening then, and he pointed it out to them. He said it needs to stop. Now Almighty God commands honoring our mother. It's not a suggestion, it's a command. And violating this command brings consequences, and our Lord pointed that out. It's what our creator said in his written word, and that's what matters. Honoring mothers has a long history in this country. It started back during the Civil War. There was a mother named Anna Reeves Jarvis. She was from Grafton, West Virginia. She organized a special day for mothers who had sons, and some had fathers fighting in the war, the Civil War, the War of the States. How many of you know that there are those that would love nothing more than to see that happen again? That these states would be divided. We see it even in families. Children turn against their parents. Parents turn against their children. Over what? We heard an example of it this morning. Many adults and teenagers were dying in that war. And we may not lose sight of why this day that we now honor mothers with was set aside. This was a day of prayer. It was a day for peace and a day for comforting those who were suffering. Meetings were held. Prayers were given. Prayers were offered for mothers and for their children. And any mother who's ever had a child that's gone away into the military service knows exactly what I'm talking about. It hurts. It hurts because you don't know what the outcome of their service could be. We had a funeral here yesterday for a young lady who served in the military for 26 years. She served in many capacities, even in the Pentagon as an assistant to the Secretary of Defense. She didn't die in the military. She died in a car wreck. She survived all the things that she endured overseas and on this land. She died in a car wreck. None of us know that day when we're going to pass. We need to be prepared. After this day was set aside originally, a woman named Julia Ward Howe wrote the Battle Hymn of the Republic, and she organized a Mother's Day meeting in Boston. In 1907, many years later, Anna Jarvis' daughter, her name was also Anna, suggested that a national day of observance would be appropriate each year to honor all mothers. Within a few years, the idea of honoring moms gained popularity. And Mother's Day was observed in many large cities in the United States, and it started to go overseas. And then on May 9, 1914, by an act of Congress, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day, and it has been ever since. It's 107 years ago. We establish today as a time for public expression of our And it's been that way here and in other lands ever since. I think we need to remember and honor those who have children in the military. The Lord laid that heavy on my heart. I think maybe because I did that service yesterday and I heard the weeping and wailing of those who were present for the loss of this one who had served, though her death was not a result of her service. There are many who lose their children because of their service to this country. And there are many, countless numbers of mothers who have lost their children to war. My grandmother was fortunate. My great-grandmother was fortunate. My mother was fortunate. I didn't get to serve because of a broken back. I intended to, but that saved my mother grief. This year, as we honor moms, let's also remember those who have struggled as mothers. Those who have lost children. and those who couldn't conceive. Think of those whose children have been murdered. Eve was the first mother who had a child murdered. She lost two sons that day, the one who was killed and the other that went away for it. We need to remember mothers whose children have died and those who have been sent away. The death of a child is a difficult thing to endure, and anyone who's lost a child knows that, certainly. My wife and I lost our last child. Some days it's easy. But for my wife, I don't think it'll ever be over. She doesn't wallow in self-pity. She doesn't hold on to it like it's never going to go away. She knows that God's will was done. There are others here who've lost children. I won't point you folks out. You know who you are. And you know the grief that comes from losing a child. Godly mothers never get over losing their children. They grieve. Sadly though, sometimes there are mothers that get caught in the devil's snare of self-pity. And that's something we need to help pull them out of. Because it is the devil's snare. He doesn't want them to move on. He wants them to blame God or blame themselves. God's will is being done. There needs not be any condemnation in Christ. Honoring moms can be as simple as helping them realize the love of God, which is limitless. Limitless! Do you get that? It's like there's nothing you can do to stop God from loving you. It doesn't mean he won't punish you. But his love is limitless. It's unbiased. He's not a respecter of persons. He's not going to love you more than somebody else. Praise God that he plays no favorites among his children. Honoring moms can include mothers who had to give their children up for adoption. Think about that. There are some mothers that have been forced by circumstances. give their children up for adoption. You know, moms can look at Moses's mother. She cared deeply for her son, but she was forced to give him away. She was forced to sacrifice him in order to preserve his life. But God rewarded her for her sacrifice. She put that baby in a basket that she had where she knew that the Pharaoh's daughter was going to bathe. The daughter found the baby, and God rewarded Moses' mother for her disobedience to the very Pharaoh whose daughter found the child. And God allowed her to be the nursemaid and raise her own child, even though it was in the Pharaoh's household. Many mothers have faced the same struggle because of circumstance. parents forced them to give their children up for adoption or child. And then there are those who, instead of aborting their child, they brought them into full term. And maybe parents or others forced them. And then we also need to remember those who chose to or were forced to abort their children. And I've known of circumstances where people were forced Many grieve the loss of their children, and that causes deep pain. And we, in honoring mothers, can come alongside of them and help to ease that pain. I know this is a sober message, folks. And maybe that's why there's a heaviness here today. I don't know. But I want us also to think of the mothers who wanted to be mothers. Those women who wanted to be mothers but were unable to conceive. And I've known some of them. Remember in Genesis chapter 11 in verse 30, it's written that Sarai was barren. But then Genesis 21 too relates that she became pregnant. She conceived and imagine her joy. She grieved for many years because of the lack of pregnancy. She greatly wanted a child. She desperately wanted a child. But she wasn't able to conceive. In Genesis 25 and verse 21, it's written, now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife because she was barren, and the Lord granted him his plea, and Rebekah, his wife, conceived. Let's pray for the mothers that want children. Let's pray, let's beg God to give them a child. In Genesis 29 and verse 31, we learned that Rachel was barren, and we need to pray for those who are unable to conceive. Think of Hannah, who begged God for a son, which he gave her, and she named him Samuel. Samuel, and she gave him to God, and he was great. He did great things for God. There's many examples found in scripture of mothers who were barren and unable to conceive. They grieved greatly because they wanted children. Remember the dads who have to serve as moms also, and remember the grandmothers. Especially in these times, grandmothers are serving as mothers now. More and more every day for all the reasons that are out there. Employments, alcohol and drug abuse, and other things that take the children into a dangerous situation. And the grandmothers are stepping in. The grandfathers are stepping in and helping. We're on Mother's Day, and she'd say, Rachel, remember the dads that have to help raise their children as mothers. I don't know what became of her. I don't hear from her anymore, and the phone number was disconnected. Dads and grandmas are unsung heroes, because they're helping to raise the next generation. Our Lord was carrying his cross that he would die on, and he said these words. A great multitude of people followed him as he was carrying the cross. And women also mourned and lamented him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed, the days are coming in which they will say, blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore and breasts which never nurse. As we honor mothers, let's remember those whose children are not born again. Those whose children are hell-bent on destruction. Because they're there, even amongst our congregants here. We have children who are not walking with the Lord. Let's remember those whose children are not born again, who are not known by Christ. But praise God for those who are known. Praise God for the mothers whose children have come to Christ. Praise God. As it's written in Galatians chapter four, we brethren, as Isaac was our children of promise. As we honor mothers this year, Remember that our creator gives imagery of his love in motherly terms. And most people don't realize this, or they don't remember it. Jesus himself said, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how I wanted to gather you together like a mother hen gathers together her flock under her wings. He wanted to protect them. But think also what's written in the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy. Verse nine tells us how God himself took charge of his people as his personal possession. He was concerned for them. And then verse 11 tells us that God was like an eagle hovering over its young, overshadowing them, then spreading its wings, lifting them into the air and teaching them to fly. That's what the word tells us. This isn't masculine imagery. This is feminine imagery. This is our Creator. He loves us like a mother loves her children. We honor mothers, we honor Almighty God. What's not stated there, but it's definitely implied, is that Almighty God defends His people like a mother eagle. He defends us. You find yourself in trouble, who do you call out to? Call out to your father. Call out to your heavenly father who also defends his people like a mother eagle. In Psalm 22, that Psalm speaks of the Messiah. In Psalm 22, we hear David say, Almighty God is like a midwife who cares for the babies you help bring into the world. When you put these things together, you get a different picture of who our father is. He has that caring heart of a mother. He loves his people. Remember to honor mothers by reminding everyone that God loves and cares for them this intimately, but not just them, all who call upon his name. See, because he cares, he loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life. In the 49th chapter of Isaiah, we learn that people believed the Lord had turned away and forgotten them. They were crying out, you've forgotten us. They were sinning. And he says this to them, can a woman forget her nursing child and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, but I will never forget you. And then in Isaiah 49 and verse 16, we hear this, the Lord told him they were always in his thoughts. We can comfort godly mothers when they're struggling. Struggling maybe with unruly children. Struggling with children that have gone astray. Struggling in any way, shape, or form as a mother. We can comfort them with these words. But even though he loves his people, we can't forget that in Hosea we read some words that are not very pleasant. We learn that he becomes angry with those who turn away from him. He says he will devour them like a lion, lurk for them like a leopard, tear them apart like a bear who has been deprived of her cubs. And no, this is not a pleasant image, but this is the language that our father tells his people. You turn away from me and I will devour you. And we have this theology, this man-made theology today that we can do whatever we want, and somehow God is never going to respond to our sin. And that is a lie straight from hell. That's not of God. His Word is clear. He wants His people to be holy unto Him. He uses this to show his nature. Don't step outside of his protection. When you're in the ark of the covenant, you are protected. Don't step out. He makes it clear. Do you think for a moment that Noah couldn't have dove overboard or one of his family members couldn't have left the safety of the ark? Do you think for a moment that they couldn't have gotten out of there? Do you think God locked them in or was he locking everybody else out? As we honor moms this year, let's remember this. Remember the mother who suffered more than any other. Cindy alluded to it earlier. The one we call Jesus's mother. We know she trusted him to help her, otherwise she wouldn't have asked him to make wine at the wedding. She trusted him. She wouldn't have asked him to help with that wine. This is the first recorded instance of a miracle that he performed. Think how pleased she was that he honored her request. Think of how he honored his mother by producing not just wine, but the best wine. And not just wine from maybe some really great juice, but wine from dirty water, hand-washing water. produced this wine at the wedding festival, and it was stated that it was the best. As the crowds gathered and the religious leaders became upset with him, think about this too. For the healings and the signs and the wonders, Mary was afraid for him. As his ministry continued, she became afraid for him. His family believed he'd lost his mind, according to Mark's gospel record, his people had said. Mark chapter 3 verse 21 says, when his own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of him, for they said, he's out of his mind. He's preaching. He's a carpenter. What's he doing preaching? Verse 31 relates that Mary and his siblings went to get him, but the following verses reveal his refusal to go with them. He wasn't going with them. He said, who is my mother? Who is my brother? Who are my family members? And he looked out and said, all of you who believe. As we honor moms this year, imagine and try to think of the mothers who are suffering because their children are putting themselves in danger for Christ. There are mothers all over the world whose children are, in fact, putting themselves in danger for Christ. It's not here exactly yet. I pray it doesn't come here, but I suspect it's going to. Honor those mothers. Comfort them. Mary watched as her son was tried unjustly, and there are many all over the world who were tried unjustly for their faith. Remember moms whose children don't get a fair trial. The authorities were used by God to bring about his redemption plan, but that didn't take away her pain. That didn't make her feel better. This is God's will being done. She wasn't jumping up and down for joy because she got to see her boy getting hurt. Children suffer, mothers suffer. Is there any mother in here that doesn't know that? I doubt it. Her grief was tangled with her desire to comprehend God's plan in it all. Remember those moms who had to bury their children. Mary watched her son get crucified. Horrible way to die. She watched him die and get buried. Horrible. Prophecies foretold he would be the Messiah. He'd be the Savior and here he was put in a grave In that tomb her hopes were undoubtedly dashed like so many others And this is it it's not what we thought But then he arose He arose He arose a victor over the grave Because of his victory, we too shall one day be raised to new life. As I wrap this up, I want you to remember that our Lord reminded everyone to honor our mother. We can honor our mom, whether she's here with us, like many of you still have moms with you. My mom went on to be with the Lord about 10 years ago. Might be 11, I don't know. I was thinking about my mom. Yesterday, we conducted the funeral here in this building. And I truly, with the assistance of some other ministers, conducted that funeral. It was one of the hardest I've ever done. But we can honor our mother, whether she's here with us or with the Lord, by honoring all those mothers, especially those who've suffered, We can honor our mothers by honoring those who have to step in as moms, the grandmothers, the grandfathers, the dads who have to take over. We can share the love of Christ with mothers and their children, and there's no better way to honor them than to give them the gospel, the good news. Christ crucified. Redemption is available for all. Call upon his name. Let's allow God to use us to do the most honoring thing that we can do for mothers everywhere. Let's share the good news. Honor mom by sharing the gospel and supporting others who do. Think about that. In us and through us, Almighty God can accomplish his full desire, which is to save souls, whether they're mothers or dads or anybody else. He wants to transform lives. He wants to build his kingdom in glory. I think we all need to hear what our Lord said. He said they were transgressing the commandment of God by their tradition. Let's not be like that. Let's not have tradition to get in the way of us. Obey the commandments of God. Let's be those who honor our mother. And in so doing, we'll be those who honor Almighty God. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you. Lord God, your word is truth. Our words come and go. that are existing to this day, but you're not aligned. You, in fact, can go against your command. We're sorry, but we repent on behalf of those who have stepped inside your lives. Help us to be those who honor your word. Help us to be those who honor you. Help us to be those who honor Father Paul. Yes, I remember. so that she could adopt them with you. But help us also, Lord, to remember those conservative mothers who are not conservative mothers. These times that we live in, Lord, there's not always something bright. Once was, but no longer is. Help us not to be confused like so many. Help us to recognize, to be, to honor the next generation of people that we would bring your good news to bear upon their lives today too to raise their children in God's impact that you would be honored in their lives. I pray in Christ's name and all those other people said. Amen. All right. We've received an offer. Volunteers here. We don't receive a paycheck. If you'd like to make a gift to us, it's not necessary, but if you'd like to, that's how we do it. So, praise God. Father, we ask that you would guide us in our giving today that we'll be sufficient to meet the needs here and beyond. And we all thank you, Lord, that we do. With anything that you give throughout, we glorify you and all the jobs we do today. Amen. Amen. So, Father, we thank you for the gifts and tithes we offer you. We ask for the blessing of both the gifters and the givers. For each of us, we give as you give. And we would be cheerful givers, because we know that we like the cheerfulness of our hearts when we give. Because we know that we can never outgive you. We know that we give will be sufficient to meet your needs, dear. You are.