Preached at HBBCCEBU on Mothers' Day May 14, 2017
THE FAITH OF A MOTHER
2 Timothy 1:5 KJV
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
1. A faith that is remembered.
Take note of what Paul said to Timothy in this verse...
He said...
"When I call to remembrance". the unfeigned faith that is in thee.
Although these two mothers, Lois and Eunice were not included in the list of the hall of faith of Hebrews 11, yet their faith characterized the kind of faith that will serve as an example to the people of God and must be remembered by the next generations of Christians particularly their family.
Paul the Apostle testified of the kind of faith Timothy's grand mother Lois and mother Eunice had. It's a kind of faith that was unfeined. Faith that was genuine. Faith that is easily be eemembered.
What kind of faith these two mothers had that Paul called to remembrance?
Based on what the text tells us, this faith of a mother that is remembered by Paul is...
A) A testimonial faith.
A testimonial faith is a faith that tells what it believes.
Timothy's mother and grandmother have taught Timothy what they believed about God from the Scriptures.
2 Timothy 3:15 KJV
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
From his childhood, Timothy has already learned the Scriptures.
Although he was a half Jew because his father was a Greek, yet his mother taught him the Scriptures.
Mothers are the best teachers. You have more time with your children than the school teachers.
You have more influence with your than the school teachers.
Your children are watching you and even imitating you since their childhood.
Lois and Eunice lives and teaching have done a great part on Timothy's learning.
And the kind of learning Timothy has in his life was a Scriptural learning that has brought genuine faith to Timothy.
It is by hearing the Word of God that faith comes to us.
Romans 10:17 KJV
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
This kind of faith testifies what it believes.
2 Corinthians 4:13 KJV
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
B) A conventional faith.
It's not a complicated faith but a simple common faith like of a child that does not question God in His Word and promises.
A faith that simply believes "what the Bible says".
A kind of faith somebody defined as, "God said it, I believe it, and thst settles it.
A kind of faith that is expressed in the prayer of a prayerful Christian.
A kind of faith that the Bible defined in Hebrews 11:1 as, "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
This is the kind of faith that is expressed in the lives of the people of God listed in the hall of faith of Hebrews 11.
A kind of faith that we must contend for according to...
Jude 1:3 KJV
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
2. A faith that is realistic.
"the unfeigned faith".
The word unfeigned means not false or pretended.
Lois and Eunice faith are real and realistic... meaning, it is seen in their lives. It is manifested and seen by people including Paul and Timothy.
A realistic faith does not only say it believes the Bible but it also obey what the Bible says the it should obey.
It is not just a hearer only, but a doer of the Word.
It is the kind of faith that has good works.
It is the kind of faith that produces fuit, more fruits and much fruits as described in John 15.
It is the kind of faith that pleases God.
It is the kind of faith that is generous.
3. A faith that is reflected
"which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also".
Lois and Eunice's faith was reflected in the life of Timothy.
This is what it means in the book Romans 1:16-17 where Paul said
[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
[17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
What you believe of the Gospel must be reflected in your lips and in your life.
Your way of life or lifestyle reveals what kind of belief you have.
Your lifestyle reflects a message to the people of what kind of character you have within you... A godly character or an ungodly character.
Philippians 1:27 KJV
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
The kind of faith thst you have with you mothers will be called to remembrance by the people of God if it is realistic and reflected in the lives of your children, like what Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:5 KJV
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
THE FAITH OF A MOTHER
2 Timothy 1:5 KJV
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
1. A faith that is remembered.
Take note of what Paul said to Timothy in this verse...
He said...
"When I call to remembrance". the unfeigned faith that is in thee.
Although these two mothers, Lois and Eunice were not included in the list of the hall of faith of Hebrews 11, yet their faith characterized the kind of faith that will serve as an example to the people of God and must be remembered by the next generations of Christians particularly their family.
Paul the Apostle testified of the kind of faith Timothy's grand mother Lois and mother Eunice had. It's a kind of faith that was unfeined. Faith that was genuine. Faith that is easily be eemembered.
What kind of faith these two mothers had that Paul called to remembrance?
Based on what the text tells us, this faith of a mother that is remembered by Paul is...
A) A testimonial faith.
A testimonial faith is a faith that tells what it believes.
Timothy's mother and grandmother have taught Timothy what they believed about God from the Scriptures.
2 Timothy 3:15 KJV
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
From his childhood, Timothy has already learned the Scriptures.
Although he was a half Jew because his father was a Greek, yet his mother taught him the Scriptures.
Mothers are the best teachers. You have more time with your children than the school teachers.
You have more influence with your than the school teachers.
Your children are watching you and even imitating you since their childhood.
Lois and Eunice lives and teaching have done a great part on Timothy's learning.
And the kind of learning Timothy has in his life was a Scriptural learning that has brought genuine faith to Timothy.
It is by hearing the Word of God that faith comes to us.
Romans 10:17 KJV
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
This kind of faith testifies what it believes.
2 Corinthians 4:13 KJV
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
B) A conventional faith.
It's not a complicated faith but a simple common faith like of a child that does not question God in His Word and promises.
A faith that simply believes "what the Bible says".
A kind of faith somebody defined as, "God said it, I believe it, and thst settles it.
A kind of faith that is expressed in the prayer of a prayerful Christian.
A kind of faith that the Bible defined in Hebrews 11:1 as, "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
This is the kind of faith that is expressed in the lives of the people of God listed in the hall of faith of Hebrews 11.
A kind of faith that we must contend for according to...
Jude 1:3 KJV
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
2. A faith that is realistic.
"the unfeigned faith".
The word unfeigned means not false or pretended.
Lois and Eunice faith are real and realistic... meaning, it is seen in their lives. It is manifested and seen by people including Paul and Timothy.
A realistic faith does not only say it believes the Bible but it also obey what the Bible says the it should obey.
It is not just a hearer only, but a doer of the Word.
It is the kind of faith that has good works.
It is the kind of faith that produces fuit, more fruits and much fruits as described in John 15.
It is the kind of faith that pleases God.
It is the kind of faith that is generous.
3. A faith that is reflected
"which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also".
Lois and Eunice's faith was reflected in the life of Timothy.
This is what it means in the book Romans 1:16-17 where Paul said
[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
[17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
What you believe of the Gospel must be reflected in your lips and in your life.
Your way of life or lifestyle reveals what kind of belief you have.
Your lifestyle reflects a message to the people of what kind of character you have within you... A godly character or an ungodly character.
Philippians 1:27 KJV
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
The kind of faith thst you have with you mothers will be called to remembrance by the people of God if it is realistic and reflected in the lives of your children, like what Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:5 KJV
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.