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[0:00] Thanks for checking in on this podcast. You are about to hear an inspirational teaching from Caris Ministries. If God has used this ministry to bless you in any way, please take a moment and write to us at amen at caris.org.

[0:15] We are always inspired and blessed to hear how God is blessing people all over the world through what he is doing here at Caris. Also, if you would like to support this ministry financially, you can do so online at caris.org so we can continue making podcasts such as this available free of charge.

[0:38] Today I'm glad to let you know I'm not preaching. But we got a mother in the house. Please rest your feet, put your hands together and let's welcome my wife, Reverend Mrs. Awok Antwi.

[0:57] Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. The Lord is good and his mercies endures forever.

[1:14] I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord. Amen. There's joy in the house. Please take your seats. God bless you.

[1:26] I appreciate that welcome. We thank God. Happy Mother's Day. Happy Mother's Day to every mother in the house.

[1:38] And even for those who have gone a bit further, happy Grandmother's Day. We thank God for your lives. You make a difference. We just appreciate you.

[1:49] It is said that in many occasions, it is said that, oh, no woman, no cry. But no woman to no joy. I tell you, God has made us extra, extra special.

[2:04] We have a carousel of seed. Hallelujah. When God was about to release his redemption plan, he needed to look for a mother who would mother him. That is the privilege we have.

[2:16] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Even God needed the mother. He said, I am the father, but I need somebody to carry me, to nurture me, so that men shall be saved. Let's put our hands together for God's idea of motherhood.

[2:31] We give him praise. Thank you, Lord. Motherhood is God's idea. He put it together. He made it the way it is.

[2:42] And so it is a privilege to be a partaker of God's plan. And the scripture says that whatever he does is perfect. So motherhood is a perfect institution. If we have an opportunity to be called into it, then what God has purpose for you is good, to bring you to an expected end.

[3:01] Hallelujah. I mean, there's too much me sharing the house. Absolute me sharing the house. Blessed be the name of the Lord. And we thank God for your life.

[3:12] And I want to take opportunities to appreciate God's servant, my dear husband, who has... Why don't we appreciate our man of God?

[3:23] He's a blessing. We thank God for his life. The beauty about what God is using him to do is he's just pursuing God. There is nothing more important than the pursuit of God.

[3:38] And he's just pursuing God and he's challenging all of us to pursue God too. The other day, I think, our K group, I was making, we're talking about having a thirst for God.

[3:49] Somebody asked a question about having a thirst for God. How do you develop a thirst for God? And I had the understanding that a lot of the time when you... For you to even begin to thirst for something, it is your exposure.

[4:02] You know, until you are exposed to something, you don't even know that that thing exists for you to even desire it. So we used to preach a lot about first of all, it's a desire.

[4:14] But I had an understanding to realize that your exposure determines the things you desire. And by God's grace, this man is exposing us to more and more of God and the pursuit of God.

[4:26] And so we thank God for his life. We thank God for his life. Hallelujah. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for this morning. We appreciate you for your goodness. We know that, Lord, you have set this moment to bless us and make a difference in our lives by the coming forth of your word.

[4:43] I pray that your word will have free course, O God, that I'll be a vessel in your hands, O God. Bless us as deliver us and also bless us as hear us. We thank you in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen.

[4:57] I thought about what to speak on. God's advance gave me a blank check. But there's something that has been burning on my heart. I believe that the message I'm going to give, I can actually say it in a statement and take a sabbat.

[5:07] For the sake of those of you who have your notebooks, you need to take scriptures, you need to make references and all that, I would do well to give a sermon. But this is what is burning in my heart, mothering for the next generation.

[5:21] Mothering for the next generation. And having become a mother, but before that, I had the privilege to come alongside some people that God has set apart for his own and be a blessing, to encourage, to speak to.

[5:36] And I always find that such a great privilege. I mean, it's a great honor for somebody to take their time to sit with you, to open up their lives to you so that whatever you carry can become a blessing.

[5:50] Until you have people to bless, whatever you carry can be showed forth. So I always think it as a great privilege and Caris is such a beautiful church. Put your hands together for God and for yourself, for the kind of church member, the kind of brother, the kind of sister you are.

[6:05] And many of you have given me opportunity to mature in my calling because I believe that when you sit with me, I tap into grace. And therefore, out of that, I have grown from one level of grace to another.

[6:19] And I owe it to you for making it easy for me. And I thank God for that. I just thank God for that. Most of you show me so much love. You give me hugs. You give me kisses.

[6:30] And I appreciate God for that. And this is the word in my heart. We're in a season of revival. God has said so much. And it's not just only in Caris. In recent times, any of us who are in tune with what is going on in the church, not just in the UK, America, all across the globe, all across Africa, Asia, the talk is revival, revival, revival, revival.

[6:54] There is an indication. There is sound. We can hear the sound of the abundance of rain. The cloud could be just like the hand of a man. But the rain is coming.

[7:05] The rain is coming and nothing will be able to stop it in the mighty name of Jesus. And what I realize is God has given us such privilege as mothers to be able to come alongside him to prepare what he's doing and also prepare the next generation for his namesake.

[7:26] You and I don't know when Christ is coming, but if Christ would tarry, then what we are making out of our privilege to be mothers is what would determine the face of the next generation.

[7:37] We all would know that when we're reading the book of Acts, the New Testament, there's constant talk about the Asia Minor. We are talking about Turkey, today a highly Islamic nation.

[7:49] I mean, I'm sure it's about 98% Islamic. It used to be a Christian nation. Someway, somehow, what started was not continued. The great thing that was started was not continued.

[8:04] And so, we have the privilege as mothers to be the continuation of what God will start in our generation. What a privilege.

[8:14] What a privilege. What an honor. We see in the book of 2 Timothy 1, verse 5, it talks about it's actually to Timothy. But the lineage of Timothy is traced from his grandmother, Lois, and to his mother Eunice.

[8:30] It tells us that how this boy was nurtured. The environment in which he was nurtured has produced this kind of disciple of Paul who would go ahead to do great things after Paul.

[8:43] It was based on his nature, the atmosphere in which he was brought up in. It was based on his mothering. And as I said before, I see Christian mothers as called to partner with God for the delivery of his agenda.

[8:55] Motherhood is a sacrifice but also a reward. There is reward in motherhood and there is a sacrifice in motherhood. Psalm 127, verse 3 says, children are a heritage and the fruit of the womb is a reward.

[9:10] The fruit of the womb is a reward. So what God has determined to do, he sits in eternity and decides between this time and this time, this is what I want done. And then he will cause a woman to receive seed from a man and out of it a child will be born.

[9:25] That life will be determined to make the purpose of God come to pass or not. But more important, apart from just the coming of that child is how the child is nurtured. How the child is nurtured.

[9:37] We will determine whether God's plan and purpose for that particular child will come to pass. It goes along. The mothers are bedding charis. In Isaiah chapter 4, 49, verse 15 says that, can a mother forget her nursing child?

[9:51] So that tells you that mothers, once you're a mother, you don't cease to be a mother. Once a mother, always a mother. Always a mother. We are bedding charis. In Proverbs chapter 1, verse 10, it says that, the wise son makes his father glad.

[10:05] So when it's good news, it's for the father. But the foolish son makes the mother's heart heavy. I never understood that. When it is no good, mothers will still carry the burden.

[10:19] Whilst most fathers will go and say, ah, he's grown. Let him do what he wants to do. Let her do. It is a common language. I remember when we were growing up, I had a brother who was going through her face.

[10:31] And when it's bedtime, my father would just pick himself up and go to bed. And then after a little while, he realized that my mother is not coming up and would say, Cecilia, let's go and sleep. My mother would pretend, okay, I'm coming, I'm coming.

[10:42] But there are times she would stay up till this boy comes. Even though she's very upset, she's very, she's fuming, now she's waiting. But motherhood would not give her the opportunity to sleep.

[10:55] Whilst daddy is well asleep. I mean, he's refreshed. He wakes up in the morning, stretch and say, wow, what a good day. We thank God for today. But mother couldn't sleep because her child is not home yet.

[11:09] Her child is not. This is something unique that God has given us that it is, it is a privilege to have this grace because it doesn't, it wouldn't, it shouldn't come naturally because human beings in ourselves, we are selfish.

[11:24] But as soon as God gives you a seed, it comes within the nurturing, within our bowels. The growing up of the seed comes along with the nurturing, the desire, the compassion, the bowels of mercy for our children.

[11:40] is not because we are weak but because everybody needs a space to grow. Everybody needs the space to grow. Everybody needs to be nurtured.

[11:51] And therefore, that's what God gives us as mothers. And it's such a privilege. You see so many, all over scripture, I mean all over scripture, women doing whatever they can for their children. I mean anything.

[12:02] They will do anything. That Syrophoenician woman went to Jesus and said, my daughter must be healed. There's no negotiation. The compassion she carries, the desire to see the best for her child, will not let her go.

[12:18] I mean, I cannot go if you don't do something about my daughter's situation. And we see this, the widow of Zarephath said, I have this little thing to eat for my child to eat as well and we die.

[12:31] But based on instruction, she was prepared to obey because she knew the outcome wasn't good. If it was only for herself, it would be okay. That is why you can understand Naomi, that she was bitter because that wish she carried had perished.

[12:45] Had perished. She saw there was no hope for her because that wish she carried, that wish will be her continuation, had perished. No mother here will bury your child in the mighty name of Jesus.

[12:57] You will not bury your child in the name of Jesus. For this is an evil that must not happen. You will not be cut off in your prime. You will not labor over your children and others rejoice over them.

[13:10] You will live to see the goodness of God over your children's life in the mighty name of Jesus. It is an error for a mother to go through all manner of things and die before her time.

[13:25] It is an error. It is the blessing of the Lord. He said, the child, the fruit of the womb is a reward and everybody must see it. If anybody is here thinking this Monday's day, my heart is heavy because of the state of my relationship with my children, I declare restoration.

[13:44] May God restore. May God restore. From this day, may the story change. If any mother here is saying that, God, look at my child. I serve you day in and day out.

[13:55] Remember my child. May the Lord remember your child because of your faithfulness, because of your service. May the Lord remember your child and rescue them from any danger and any plan of the enemy in Jesus' name.

[14:12] We see a mother overdoing this in Matthew chapter 20, verse 20 downwards. This is the mother, she's not named, but her sons are named. That is how it should happen.

[14:24] We may not get that far, but our children will take it to another level in Jesus' name. Her sons, John and James, they are described as the sons of Zebedee, had done well.

[14:36] I mean, they had done well. They were in the inner circles of Jesus. I mean, these were the guys. When you talk about Bartholomew and those people, some of you, you don't even know them because you are wondering, but James and John, they were okay.

[14:52] I mean, they were close to Jesus. They were in the center of what was happening. And this woman said to Jesus, you know, as mothers, we are never satisfied. You always want more. You always want more.

[15:04] Your children get to the face and say, okay, there's room for improvement. This L, you didn't write it properly. Next time, do it like that. Even though your child has got spelling 10 out of 10, you're still picking on something.

[15:14] But anyway, this woman went to Jesus and said, Jesus, can you let my sons, one of them, sit on your right and one of them sits on your left? This is a mother who is very natural.

[15:25] In case you come across any woman who is doing some you are wondering what it is. It's just natural. It's instinct. She said, can you please, can you please let one of my sons sit on your left and the other on the right?

[15:39] After all that the children have become, she wasn't satisfied. And this is the stage sometimes motherhood can we over carry the bed. They were grown men. They were doing business with their father.

[15:50] All was well and they left the business meaning it was okay for them to leave business. So they left business and went with Jesus. And still, mama's been peeping around wondering how far have they moved?

[16:03] How close are they? Now let me use my manipulation. May God deliver every mother from the spirit of manipulation. But rather we become a nobless in Jesus name. We become a nobless in Jesus name.

[16:17] But she wanted the best for her kids. But this is the interesting thing. When I was reading the scripture, I was caught. Jesus said, you don't know what you ask for. Can they drink the cup that I drink?

[16:30] And they also, because of who gave birth to them, who nurtured them, they say, yes, we can. We can drink it because already mama has told them that look, you must get here and here.

[16:42] You must sit here. You must sit there. I don't mind who sits on the right. I don't mind who sits on the left. But it has to be my sons. So they said, yes, we can drink. And Jesus said, you have, indeed you will drink.

[16:54] But whether you sit on my left or you sit on my right, it is not for me to determine it. This is in Matthew chapter 20, verse 20 downwards to 23. He said, whether you sit on my left or my right, it is not for me to determine this.

[17:04] That tells you that there are times, there are certain situations that mothers need to, particularly when Jesus is involved, when Jesus is involved, we need to learn how to allow Jesus to be Jesus in our children's lives.

[17:21] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. I'm sure Jesus knew who James and John were and he knew who they were going to be. And therefore, wherever they were, it was okay.

[17:33] It was good enough. But mama was pushing extra. Just buy into the mind of God. I'll quickly, we'll quickly read Genesis chapter 25. This is a woman who knew how to buy into the mind of God and inquire of the Lord.

[17:47] Rebecca, we're talking about Rebecca. And Genesis chapter 25, verse 21, the story is told of when she took seed with Jacob and Esau.

[18:02] Jacob and Esau. And the scripture says, now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife because she was barren and the Lord granted his plea.

[18:13] And Rebecca, his wife, conceived. But the children struggled together within her. And she said, if all is well, why am I like this? So she went to inquire of the Lord.

[18:27] And the Lord said to her, two nations are in your womb. Two people shall be separated from your body. One shall be stronger than the other. And the older shall serve the younger.

[18:40] It was a mother who, because of what she was carrying and what she was feeling, decided to go inquire of the Lord. As we grow, as we have opportunity to go alongside people, it could be natural motherhood or it could be spiritual motherhood, we need to learn to inquire of the Lord concerning the seed the Lord has put in our hands.

[19:05] It is easy to do it how you know it. It is easy to do it how you know it or maybe how you've planned it. But the godly mother would learn how to inquire of the Lord.

[19:21] Okay, so time moves on in chapter 27, verse 5. This is a time for the blessing to come upon the children. And the scripture says, and now Rebecca was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau, his son.

[19:35] And Esau went to the field to hunt, game, to bring. And Rebecca spoke to Jacob, her son, saying, Indeed, I heard your father speak to Esau, your brother.

[19:46] And Esau is the oldest and Jacob is the youngest. There had been a conversation between father and son with the oldest, which is Esau, that the blessing today, I'm going to bless you, do what satisfies me so that I can bless you.

[20:00] And the mother hears it. But because she inquired of the Lord, because she had an encounter concerning her children, she knew this kind of conversation is not supposed to happen.

[20:15] She knew that this is, this is not the natural thing for Isaac to do. But it wasn't the good thing for that to happen. Your husband may be a lawyer and it is a natural thing for your first son to be a lawyer.

[20:28] But it might not be the good thing. You may be a doctor and therefore you have determined that all your daughters must be doctors. It may be a natural thing but it's not a good thing.

[20:41] Inquire of the Lord concerning your seed. Ask God. Inquire of the Lord. Sometimes we are in autopilot in life.

[20:53] Go through the normal routines in life. And therefore we expect that okay from this it goes that it goes to that. Never having taken time to ask God concerning your seed.

[21:07] Somebody needs to learn to inquire of the Lord. And not build up a particular future for your child. It might not be the good future for that particular child.

[21:19] And this we need husbands and husbands to come alongside wives and fathers to come alongside daughters for these things to happen. And so when it was a time for the blessing it said that first of all verse 7 so verse 7 bring me gain and make savory food for me that I may eat and bless you in the presence of the Lord before death.

[21:42] Now verse 8 therefore my son obey my voice according to what I command you. Go now. So she started giving instructions as to how to get the blessing.

[21:53] What kind of godly instructions do you give your child in order to position them for destiny? Watch that.

[22:06] I don't have much time to go into details. And verse 13 says let the curse be upon me because they knew what they were doing was very serious. But Rebecca made a stand that it has to be God's way.

[22:21] So even though it wasn't the preferred way of it being done she said let the curse be upon me. That's what mothers stand for. Every mother here would not see something happening to their child and crossing be chatting and let any evil happen to the mother.

[22:38] Mothers always say let the curse be upon me. I'm prepared. I'm prepared to take the consequences so that my child's future would be what it's supposed to be.

[22:48] And more importantly so that God's agenda would happen. That is another level. That is another level. Many mothers would be prepared to do whatever for their children to prosper. But sometimes we forget that it's the same whatever we need to do for God's agenda to be accomplished in our children's lives.

[23:06] We need to move it further. Take it higher. From just what my child must be to what God has purpose for my child to become.

[23:17] Hallelujah. And verse 16 it says that verse 16 this is very interesting and she put the skin of the coat of the coat on his hands and on the smooth parts of his legs.

[23:30] She dressed him. She prepared him for destiny. She put together what he's supposed to wear to be blessed.

[23:43] Dressing a person is how finally your child appears. how your child is relating. Who your child has become. She dressed him so that he can be positioned to receive the blessing.

[23:59] It goes into our daily dealings with him. How are you dressing your child for destiny? You see that this particular behavior is no good but you don't correct it. You are misdressing your child for destiny.

[24:13] You see things that need to be corrected and you don't because that's my favorite one. You are disqualifying him for how he's supposed to look for destiny. Learn to dress your children for destiny.

[24:27] To position them to receive the blessing. So if it's scriptures that you have to always involve in your language with your child do it. It is positioning them for destiny.

[24:40] Not just good values but scriptural values. Implant them in your children. It is dressing them up for destiny. So whenever they appear wherever they appear the blessing must come on them.

[24:53] Even though it looked fake the blessing still came. The blessing must come upon them based on how they are dressed for life. How they are dressed for destiny.

[25:04] How they are prepared for life. I will revert to what I said before. We come alongside God to make sure that God's plan comes to pass. that is the role of the mother.

[25:17] Destiny is more important than our hopes and our plans. As mothers and we are very pushy. Most fathers give a little bit of leeway.

[25:28] But a mother because you are constantly creaming the child, putting the nappy on, changing, you are so intertwined with the child that you know that this child must be this. This child must be that.

[25:39] It must be like this for my child. It must be like that for my child. My child must marry a light-skinned person. My child must marry a man of ideas. My child, I mean, recently we had a case where somebody had found somebody and they found each other and then the gentleman had been introduced to the father.

[26:01] I mean, the list of their qualifications is something else. I mean, they are asking for proof of idea and everything. Another level. Yes, for marriage, you need a photocopy of your passport.

[26:18] You sit down. It's not anybody's daughter. You can't marry freely like that. You need to come with your pay slip. It's more than a mortgage application. The list was, I mean, I was shocked.

[26:32] I thought my parents was tough, but I realized that they were small boys. They were beginners when they come to this particular parent. I'm like, wow. I said, gentlemen, prepare yourself.

[26:43] I hope you have all these lists. May God show you mercy and give you favor. Bank statement. Of course, you have to show your bank statement.

[26:53] You have to show your mortgage statement and everything. No rent and no rent business, but we found God. But destiny and God's plan, don't get too excited.

[27:05] You might do the same for your child. I never know. Yes, yes, yes. You grow up and see. You grow up and learn. You realize that some things also matter in life. But God's plan for your child is more important than your hopes and dreams.

[27:24] And I think this is the area most mothers struggle the most. This is the area most mothers struggle the most. How to let go because most of us have not taken time to inquire of the law concerning the life of our children.

[27:36] we are happy to take them to extra classes. We are happy to take them to music tuition. We are happy to take them to any game, anything that is required to make sure that your child only gets to grammar school.

[27:50] Praise the Lord. I hope my children get to grammar school. Not I hope, they must. What are they doing? All these years we've been feeding them. What are they doing? They must.

[28:02] Yeah, their job is just to learn. Learn of us, learn the scriptures, go to school, read some books, what else are you doing? So I don't understand why they can't pass exams. They must. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

[28:15] Why should they go? Others are doing it. Those who are going to those schools, they don't have two heads. They have one head. My child too, I can't see, has one head. Why can't your head work? you have the mind of Christ.

[28:26] You have the mind of Christ. It must produce in Jesus name. But our hopes and dreams should no way hinder God's plan for our lives.

[28:44] Sometimes I look at God and every now and then I feel a bit sorry for him. Not because I explain. He left home very early. I'm sure after O level he's never been home. This is around between 16, 17, 18.

[28:59] Traveling A-level. He didn't go back home on vacation anyway. From then he's been blessed. Sometimes there are weeks that his parents don't know where he is. He's traveled with a man of God.

[29:11] He doesn't have access to phone whatever. But there are times and it's been like that. We met married Caris and that's how life has been. Every now and then I feel like he missed out a bit because I enjoyed my childhood.

[29:24] And the family that I had. But it was for a reason. It was for a reason. To prepare him for days like these. Like you know the nomad life is part of your life.

[29:38] You know the desert life has been built in you. Built in you. And that would be what would determine what would become of him. And today we are seeing the fruits.

[29:49] But somebody had to sacrifice. a mother had to sacrifice. I mean a mother had to sacrifice. A mother had to sacrifice not knowing where her son was weeks.

[30:03] Not knowing. But God was preparing him so that you and I would be blessed. You know. Destiny is more important than our hopes and dreams.

[30:14] When he was growing up he was quite good intellectually. So I'm sure his parents had high ambitions for him. For what he would become. But destiny is more important than our hopes and dreams.

[30:28] And this God has been dealing with me over this for a while now. And personally I've come to this point that the greatest joy of my life concerning my children would be I want to do God's work.

[30:46] I mean I am resigned to that. Even if they become wherever the guy who goes to Dave Pike or whatever his name is. He's gone an astronomer.

[30:57] I'm not impressed. I'll give you the reason and I'm not saying anybody in any kind of profession is not important. But personally if you ask me what do you want your child to be? I want them to do God's work one way or the other.

[31:10] Because this is what I came to conclude on. that we say as believers the most important thing we have here on earth is Jesus.

[31:24] And this Jesus is not only here on earth but is eternal. Our relationship with God through Christ is eternal. And therefore what we do here is preparation for eternity.

[31:36] I'm sure every Christian knows that. That what we do here will determine how we spend eternity. eternity. So if what we do here is we determine eternity.

[31:47] I'm not meaning thousand years. I mean eternity. Then how we prepare here is very important. Okay so if how we prepare here is very important and let's say we go to school from nursery go up to go to a good secondary get a good university get a good job retire they give you some money to spend until you die.

[32:11] Hopefully it's still in existence by the time you are retiring. But there's no guarantee but it will give you a little bit more money to make sure that you can keep your shelter, clothes and food.

[32:23] Basically that's it for you to retire. This is one life. And so at the end of it let's hope that you're able to go to church accept Christ and do some of God's work.

[32:36] As compared to the person who said I have the privilege. I'm not saying that not everybody for the sake of doing something else is unimportant but I have the privilege to do God's work full time.

[32:54] And therefore I have an opportunity to do more for my preparation for eternity. And eternity is the most important and is the longest in comparison to time here.

[33:07] It's virtually nothing. Then if I have opportunity to do something, if I have opportunity to choose what I want to do then I would like to prepare the best for eternity. Where I can really cash in on what I've done.

[33:22] That is why I say that personally if any of my children came to me and said mommy what do you want me to do? I'll just always say prepare for eternity.

[33:32] Prepare for eternity. That is far more crucial based on the understanding I have received from God.

[33:44] Preparing for eternity. Going to school is preparing for a job, a business or contract which probably by 70 you can't continue to do.

[33:56] This is all what our educational system is preparing us for. Nature. School. Hopefully do well. Get a good uni. Get a good job.

[34:08] Retire. Let somebody teach your children how to prepare for eternity. Teach your children how to prepare for eternity.

[34:23] Let not all the nurturing be how to prepare for a job. If I can be as rude as that it's just a job. It's just a job.

[34:38] It's just a position. I believe in education. I do. I do. That's what I said before. I don't know what my child is doing for them not to study.

[34:50] I am on them. I'm on here. You have to do this. You have to do that. You have to do that. But I would fool myself to think that that is more important than eternity.

[35:02] Than when I'm not around. What have I left with them so that they can go through life so smooth? This is the privilege we have now.

[35:15] Especially for those of us who have children have not grown up yet. Have not become adults yet. Don't wait till they are 12. Because guess what? I hear statistics say that if a child doesn't receive Christ by the age of 13 the likelihood is very very low for them to receive later.

[35:32] Of course unless there is a revival and there shall be a revival in Jesus name. But that's what the statistics say. So that stage is such a crucial stage.

[35:47] And even as they grow up they are confident the understanding of the things of God. It's too important to let other things block your vision and block your focus concerning their eternity.

[36:01] And what God always planned for which he gave you that child. Let's not lose sight of it. Life is very fast in the West. I mean very fast.

[36:13] The children grow so quickly. but don't put daily practices in. Include daily practices which will ensure that you are dropping God here.

[36:25] Dropping God there. Dropping God here. Dropping God there. Because at the end that will speak. It will speak. It will speak.

[36:36] The word of God if it will deliver a miracle for you that same word will secure your children's future. If you believe that this situation I'm going through by a word I will be delivered then that same word would be able to deliver your children's future into their hands.

[36:53] Hannah made a vow. Women let's learn how to do it. Let that be your single focus. We do other things. But who God has called my child to be let it be your focus as a mother because I've realized that that is the most important in terms of my mothering.

[37:09] that's far more important than whether their hair was looking nice or not. We can take an hour to do to girls hair. Those of us who have girls it's an extra job.

[37:20] I could you could even what is it sublet it to somebody for it to be somebody's job. It can be somebody's job. But having keep doing all these going to keep keeping them well keeping them healthy keeping them clean all of that we would have time to do but we forget on a daily basis dropping God in dropping God in speak to them about God speak to them about his goodness let them remember their mother's God let them remember that my mother had a God in their day of adversity may they know that my mother's God would deliver me may they know it Hannah made a vow that God if you give me a son I'll give him back to you this is a barren woman who doesn't have any child I mean no child and going through frustration and say God if you if you give me I'll give him back to you and God did God gave him the child and the scripture said that

[38:22] Hannah weaned him this is in 1 Samuel chapter 1 the whole the whole the whole story is in 1 Samuel chapter 1 and the scripture says and Hannah weaned him and represented him in Shiloh and this young boy and this woman who had no other child as when she dropped Samuel at Shiloh and was going back it was like she didn't have a child anymore it's like she had returned to her barrenness but she was able to do it she did it and it is it's a scripture talks about God blessing her again and again but more importantly what her seed became the great prophet what her seed became the great sacrifice resulted to the greatness of her seed it was a great sacrifice it was well worth it who Samuel became we'll pick this and then we'll end in Matthew chapter 1 and chapter 2 gives an account of

[39:30] Mary being called out by God to use her and her pregnancy we see having to journey learning first of all learning how to hide and secure the seed by going to Elizabeth and when the time was due she had to because of censor she had to travel on a donkey still keeping the seed had the baby in a manger nothing exceptional even though you know God spoke to you about this child the child comes in very dire circumstances and situations nothing enviable about that but God should mercy send some to bring some gifts just a statement that I'm still with you God will do what you know he can take care of your children God can take care of your seed he can God will learn to trust him when the child when Herod heard of Jesus being born a Messiah being a savior being born a new king being born he threatened to kill all the children an angel appeared to Joseph and told that you should take the child and Mary to Egypt they went to Egypt a foreign land continued with what she was supposed to do in nurturing our Lord and Savior

[40:48] Jesus but this is an interesting thing that at age 12 they went to Shiloh and normal of a mother couldn't find Jesus this is the beginning of the turning and this is when most mothers will struggle when your child is 2 and saying yes mommy 3, 6 saying yes mommy it's a bit easier even though some of the children even by 2 you can tell that this one the oil must be poured on a daily basis I mean the scriptures must break through the strong will I tell you some of the children they are exceptional they came with their own armory you got to strip it by the help of the Holy Spirit but it's all part of the challenges of motherhood learn to do it's ghostly and lean your ears to God and let God teach you how it is done but Luke chapter 2 verse 48 to 49

[41:51] Jesus went to the temple and then he actually when his parents said his mother asked where have you been that have been looking for you at age 12 age 12 he told her don't you know that I must be about my father's business I am sure you feel like what did you say for days I can't find you and I find you and you are telling me I must be about my father's what business exactly what business are you talking about it actually takes a level of revelation for Mary to know what he is talking about because it is easy to say did we tell you to go and be anybody's apprentice in Shiloh your father is a carpenter what how do this time how did you come up with this story that you are about your father's business what carpentry job what chair did you put together but Mary knew she knew the seed she carried all along she knew when the angels appeared she knew she knew what God had told her concerning that seed she knew she knew you must know you must know what God is saying concerning your seed you must know some of that we may not have children yet but certain things you know God has planted specifically given to you you know God has entrusted something in your hands you know this particular thing that I do in God's house

[43:40] I know God has specifically asked me to do this learn to let God speak to you concerning that assignment it may be a business God may be raising you up in the business field learn to inquire of him concerning why he's sending you there why he's giving you such opportunities even though you don't deserve it you yourself will say that when I went for the interview I didn't deserve it but I got the job inquire of the Lord it's good you've enjoyed the favor of God but learn to go back to him to say why are you sending me here learn to ask him if you know he gave it to you inquire of the Lord ask of the Lord but let's further down the line in Matthew chapter 12 verse 46 after this encounter they went back home from the temple they went back home and life continued and Jesus starts his ministry at age 30 so

[44:48] Matthew chapter 12 verse 46 to 50 now you can tell she can tell that something is coming out of her son people are following him something is happening something is happening and she's happy about it Matthew chapter 12 verse 46 while she was still at least there's something she can enjoy as a mother while he was still talking to the multitude behold his mother and brother stood outside seeking to speak to him just wanted to talk to Jesus many people go to Jesus to talk to him today they felt it was their turn the delegation led by the mother to talk to Jesus then one said we don't know why they came it might have been a big issue a serious reason for which they have come to seek

[45:50] Jesus because now they see the workings of the Lord in his life and they know that I'm there I'm now confident that if they brought this matter to him he'll be able to deal with it I'm sure they didn't come to show off that okay today let's just go and disrupt his meeting I'm sure for a good reason they needed to speak to him verse 47 then one said to him look your mother and your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to you but he answered and said to one who told him who is my mother and who are my brothers and he stretched out his hand if that was not cutting enough if that was not hurtful enough he said who he stretched out his hand towards his disciples and said here are my mother and my brothers for whoever does the will of the father in the heaven is my brother and sister and mother mother and

[47:04] I mean this is quite barbaric I mean you can imagine Mary's face many people would have acknowledged there at the wedding of Canaan when she told them what to do and I'm sure they said anything you want talk to the mother because when the mother tells him he does it oh it's not a problem even the other time at the wedding when the wine ran out the mother said whatever he tells he didn't want to do it but because it's the mom he did it so you can imagine Mary's disappointment you can but this is the state where we need if we know what God has prepared to use our children to do then as painful as may be it's easier to walk away and not be hurtful concerning your child

[48:11] I'm not encouraging people not calling their mom on mother's day it's actually rude just rude it's just not civil to appreciate your mother on a mother's day it's just a statement it doesn't cost you anything to appreciate your mother on mother's day even the ones who didn't raise you if you have access it doesn't cost you anything it doesn't cost you this is somebody I've had a bit of difficult patch with my mom and I'm saying it doesn't cost you anything to appreciate your mother on a mother's day so I'm not advocating that but I'm talking about God's purposes and God's planning that is what I'm talking about this is this is really I said I could have said it in one statement how to align yourself including your motherhood including your mothering to ensure that God's plan and purpose comes to pass this is what I'm talking about today it would have been a very difficult situation for Mary but it is shown and it is proven that Mary continued following us one of the many disciples of Jesus her son right to the cross she was there not many of the disciples were there but she was there and God gave her a witness that he truly cares when he said

[49:35] John behold thy mother mother behold thy son God still told her that I care but when it comes to divine purposes and planning I must be about my father's business God always cared God always cared right to the very last minute right to the very last minute he always cared but Jesus knew there are times that we all have children especially when you have more than one you know the strengths and the weaknesses of others some of them will do whatever you tell them I mean they'll do whatever just to please mom we have children like that they'll just do it may complain here and there but they'll do it that child be very careful how you handle that child because they may live out your own plans and your own ambitions because mother said be very careful it might be easier to raise that child but be very careful how you influence that child so that you don't influence that child away from God's plan you don't do that you don't influence that child away from

[50:53] God's plan the strong willed child who will contend with you stand with you toe to toe and talk to you in your face even though they know a slap is still coming after they will still dare and do it it doesn't matter how much you beat them they'll still do it and then you beat them you punish them you take some privileges away from but they will still do it because they will dare you to see whether you are strong enough or not there are some children like that I happen to be privileged to have one so it is a joy I just look ahead and I laugh I'm like look at you with your tiny body trying to be defiant to me I'm like are you alright I say only a child will behave like this because if they knew how I can sit on this child I mean two and a half you are trying to be defiant are you proper

[51:56] I feel sorry for you a child but they are like that you know you see the traces right from infancy but that child also is part of God's plan and God's agenda and how you are determined to win every single time and break that strength in them because mother must be right because mother cannot lose this argument because you must save your face you have to break that strong determination that God has put in them guess what that strong determination had made some people revivalists have made some people missionaries have made some people strong men and women standing in society who are not easily broken but they have that

[52:57] God given determination to push through adverse times because it has to be mother's way mother can't win today's argument in the bedroom mother can't win mother has to win the argument in the kitchen concerning am I drinking water or am I drinking milk mother has to win the argument concerning is the yellow tight nice or not I'm trying to show you the picture of where we argue so much with our children they are so irrelevant things mother must win because she haven't finished the last spoon of the rice you I gave it to you and I said you are finishing everything so you must eat it mother is sweating fuming because of one more extra spoon of rice that must enter her mouth God show us mercy mother must win and in all of this a very crucial part of what it takes for them to become who they are is being chipped off being chipped off being chipped off over time they are left with little and they are unable to face the challenges of life the challenges of where they have to get to people who rise of course go through a manner of challenges there is rising in them but mother has taken away what it takes to rise because I must win the argument no there is a way and it has to be God's way it has to be

[54:53] God's way I'm not saying we should leave our children to be wayward I spoke before how you are dressing your child we determine where they can get to we determine the people who receive them we determine the people who give them a seat who give them audience how you have dressed your child how you have prepared your child we determine all these things however in doing that in doing that let us always remember that God fashioned this child God has a plan for this child God puts them together and puts a purpose in them and that purpose you are called alongside God to make it happen the fruit of the womb is a reward is a reward it is a reward and you enjoy that reward even to your latter years it shall not be said that you gave seed to this earth and that you sorrow in the last days of your life and that you don't have anybody to stand with you may that be far from you may your children rise up to call you blessed in the name of

[56:03] Jesus may they rise up to call you blessed in the name of Jesus may God take your children further than you have ever imagined in Jesus name may God give you the grace to raise giants in the kingdom to raise pillars in the kingdom in the name of Jesus may God give strange favor to your children may they be received in high places where you cannot get to may your children get to in the name of Jesus may you never sorrow over them may you never sorrow over them in Jesus name may God remember your seed may God remember your seed may he be well with them may they not be sickly may their health be blessed may their studies be blessed may their truths be blessed may you laugh with laughter that indeed the Lord has dealt with me wondrously the Lord has dealt with me wondrously

[57:04] I just want us to pray very briefly pray if you're a mother pray for yourself put your hand on your belly and just say Lord remember my seed remember my seed remember my seed if you are not a mother or you're a male tell God remember my wife remember my mother remember them that they will not sorrow that they will not sorrow over their seed in the name of Jesus make a declaration declare that it will be well with them call them out by name call them out by name and say Lord I commission aid that our future is secured in you I commit that now our future is secured in you that we work closely with you that will save you all the days of your lives that will never lack favor it will be well with them they will marry well they will marry in your good time in the name of

[58:12] Jesus their steadies shall prosper everything they find their house to do shall prosper if Christ harries they will be mothers themselves joyful mother in the name of Jesus I pray of God don't attract wrong men don't marry the wrong man in the name of Jesus I decree that it is well thank you for my spiritual children it shall be well with them they are a mighty seed strong pillars in the name of Jesus thank you Lord Hallelujah do you believe that God has heard your prayer why don't you put your hands together when we welcome God serving if you are not saved you are not safe because life is dangerous life is not under your command

[59:21] I don't see why I should end this service without giving you an opportunity to say yes Lord pastor pray with me because I want to have this bread means I want to put all my confidence in him all my hope in him I want to give my life to Jesus if that is your genuine desire just lift up your hand and say this after me say it genuinely from your heart say Lord Jesus I know I'm a sinner I've sinned against you I ask you to forgive my sins wash me with your blood thank you Lord for dying on the cross to save me from today I will save you I believe in you I put all my hope in you I put my faith in you as my Lord and personal savior I receive you into my life I make a vow with you that I'll save you all the days of my life Satan get behind me I don't belong to you I belong to Jesus thank you Lord for saving me in Jesus name father I thank you your word says that you know your sheep and your sheep know your voice no one can come to you except your father brings him

[60:28]  I pray that let your grace be upon them help them to be strong I pray that the grace of God will come upon you and help you to be a strong Christian in Jesus mighty name Amen Thank you for listening for 40 99 60 God bless you