The Power of Mom

The Power of Mom
By Don Vess

 “Leadership is nothing more and nothing less than influence.” -John Maxwell

2 Timothy 1:5 NLT - I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.

Who was Timothy? Paul and Silas first met Timothy when they had come to Derbe and Lystra. Timothy was the son of woman, Eunice, who was a Jew. His father was a Greek and His grandmother Lois was also Jewish. His grandmother was apparently a strong follower of Yahweh and had come to faith in Christ early on. She had influence on her daughter who then passed that strong faith down to Timothy. Their influence of Timothy was obviously strong and effective. Timothy was influenced also by Paul and Silas, but no one had more influence over him than his godly grandmother and his mother.

Many great men and women of God have been greatly influenced by their mothers and grandmothers. I have always stated that there is possibly nothing more powerful on this planet than the prayers of godly mothers and grandmothers.

Mothers in the Bible who had great influence over their husbands and children, especially their sons. Some for good others for evil.

Sarah: Who influenced Abraham to have a son with Hagar. That proved to be a huge mistake as history has had to deal with the consequences of the actions of the offspring of Ishmael.
Rebekah: Wife of Isaac, who influenced her son Jacob to steal his brother’s birthright.

Hannah: mother of Samuel, who dedicated him to God and took him to the temple and presented him there to Eli to be trained in the things of God. Samuel grew up to become the prophet who anointed both Saul and David as kings over Israel.

Bathsheba: Wife of David, who was formerly the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David’s soldiers, who David committed adultery with and committed conspiracy and murder to cover it up. Bathsheba later became the mother of Solomon, who would succeed David as King over Israel with the influence of Bathsheba and Nathan the prophet.
Jezebel: Undoubtedly one of the most wicked women in human history who influenced her husband Ahab to be probably the most wicked king in Israel’s history.

Mary: Mother of Jesus, whose faith, obedience, and trust in God, gave birth to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was also very influential in raising him up and instilling in him his identity as Son of God. We see evidence of this in John 2 at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. Here is the story: John 2:1-11 NLT- The next day there was a wedding feast in the village of Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and His disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told Him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,”

Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” 5 But His mother told the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” 6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8 He said, “Now dip out some and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So, the servants followed His instructions. 9 Now when the MC tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though of course the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best to last.”

Of course, we can point back to Proverbs 31 to the influence and value of a woman of influence and noble character. The chapter begins with a mother instructing her son King Lemuel Not to be consumed with wine and to be an advocate for those who could not speak for themselves and to insure justice for them. Then the writer describes the character of a virtuous and capable wife: He speaks of her outstanding qualities, that she is an excellent wife and mother. She is also a woman of many talents and abilities: she is a manufacturer, importer, manager, realtor, farmer, seamstress, upholsterer, and merchant. She is a godly and reverent wife and mother. She is summed up by this phrase: “Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.” Prov 31:30 NLT

I was blessed to have a mother who possessed many if not all of the characteristics listed in Proverbs 31. But most importantly, she knew how to pray. She prayed me through some of the most challenging times of my life when I was running from God and playing the prodigal. She never gave up and wasn’t too proud to get some other praying moms to agree in prayer with her. Their prayers pried my life out of the grasp of the destroyer and into the loving arms of my Heavenly Father. She not only prayed me through but left a huge bowl of prayers before the throne of God that have been answered, by faith, but have not yet materialized, but they will, because my mother prayed in faith believing, and she knew that God is faithful!

When I think of all the mothers in history who had great influence over their children, I can’t help but think of Suzanna Wesley, mother of John and Charles Wesley. She was widowed at an early age and left to raise 16 children on her on in a one room cabin. She was a strong woman with a strong faith in God. She dedicated herself and her children to God. She is known for her outstanding character and her persistent prayer life. You may ask, “How did a woman with 16 children living in one room have time and find a place to pray?’ She was a strong disciplinarian and demanded that she not be bothered when she was talking to Her Father God. She would take her apron and pull it back over her head and commune with God. Her prayers and influence helped to shape the character and faith of perhaps two of the most important figures in Christian history who later became the fathers of Methodism, called this because of their methods of preaching in open air meetings outside of established religious meeting places. They won hundreds of thousands of people the Lord and John later moved to America where he established a number of churches that he pastored and visited on horseback.

I think of Evelyn Miles, mother of Philip Miles, chairman of EFI, and wife of its founder, Bishop Houston Miles. Evelyn is still very much loved and revered, though Bishop Miles  has gone on to be with the Lord. She is highly respected and still very influential in our movement.
 Last but most definitely, not least, I think of someone who is most dear to me, Becki Vess, my wife, and mother of two wonderful sons, Jeremy and Justin and grandmother to six of the most brilliant, beautiful, talented, and wonderful grandchildren in the world. I have been told throughout our nearly forty-seven years that “You married up!” I totally agree! She is my soulmate and best friend. She is also very powerful as she is without a doubt the most influential person in my life. She is also a constant prayer warrior! She will pray at the drop of a hat and even before the hat drops! I am most thankful to God for putting her in my life! She has been a stabilizing force throughout our ministry, and I want to publicly thank her today for all she means to me and to all of us!

I want to thank all of the praying Mothers in who are here today and perhaps watching us online to keep on Praying! Don’t give up on your families but press in harder. Enlist prayer partners to join with you. You have great power that you perhaps don’t realize that you have! Perhaps you have an unbelieving husband and have been praying for his salvation. Don’t stop!

Peter gives this tidbit of advice, 1 Pet 3:1-7 NLT- (Here Peter is giving instructions to those who are slaves and are Christians. He is saying, “You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. 19 For God is pleased with you when you do what is right and patiently endure cruel and unfair treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. 21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is our example, and you must follow in His steps. 22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. 24 He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed. 25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to the Shepherd of your souls. 3 In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by 2 observing your pure and reverent lives. 3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gently and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5 This is how the women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God accepted the authority of their husbands. 6 For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do. 7 Husbands, in the same way,

YOU HUSBANDS MUST GIVE HONOR TO YOUR WIVES. TREAT YOUR WIVES WITH UNDERSTANDING AS YOU LIVE TOGETHER.

She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Happy Mother’s Day!