May 11, 2008

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 Scripture KJV

Reverend David S. Huffer

Westwood Baptist Church - 2124 Davis Road
 Waynesboro, VA

Mother’s Day In Heaven

John 14:1-6

Anna M. Jarvis first suggested the national observance of an annual day honoring all mothers because she loved her own mother so dearly.

·           At a memorial service for her mother on May 10, 1908, Miss Jarvis gave a carnation (her mother’s favorite flower) to each person who attended.

Within the next few years, the idea to honor mothers gained popularity, and Mother’s Day was observed in a number of large cities in the U.S.

·           On May 9, 1914, by an act of Congress, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

·           He established the Day as a time for “public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.”

It is certain that Mothers need to be honored and deserve to be honored.

STORY - I think about a little boy that forgot his lines in a Sunday School presentation

·           His mother was in the front row to prompt him

·           She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips – but it did not help

·           Her son’s memory was blank

·           Finally - she leaned forward and whispered the cue – “I am the light of the world.”

·           The child beamed and with great feeling and a loud clear voice said: “My mother is the light of the world!”

DEAR FRIENDS – I’m sure that many feel the same way about their mother.

·           There are not enough words in our vocabulary to say all that should be said about mothers.

Abraham Lincoln said: “I remember my mother’s prayers, and they have followed me; they have clung to me all my life. All that I am and hope to be I owe to my angel mother.”

Mother’s Day In Heaven

John 14:1-6

Anna M. Jarvis first suggested the national observance of an annual day honoring all mothers because she loved her own mother so dearly.

·           At a memorial service for her mother on May 10, 1908, Miss Jarvis gave a carnation (her mother’s favorite flower) to each person who attended.

Within the next few years, the idea to honor mothers gained popularity, and Mother’s Day was observed in a number of large cities in the U.S.

·           On May 9, 1914, by an act of Congress, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

·           He established the Day as a time for “public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.”

It is certain that Mothers need to be honored and deserve to be honored.

STORY - I think about a little boy that forgot his lines in a Sunday School presentation

·           His mother was in the front row to prompt him

·           She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips – but it did not help

·           Her son’s memory was blank

·           Finally - she leaned forward and whispered the cue – “I am the light of the world.”

·           The child beamed and with great feeling and a loud clear voice said: “My mother is the light of the world!”

DEAR FRIENDS – I’m sure that many feel the same way about their mother.

·           There are not enough words in our vocabulary to say all that should be said about mothers.

Abraham Lincoln said: “I remember my mother’s prayers, and they have followed me; they have clung to me all my life. All that I am and hope to be I owe to my angel mother.”

DEAR FRIENDS – It is a place of many mansions

·           Let me put this into perspective for you

·           The apostle John describes our heavenly home as 12,000 furlongs in length, breadth, and height

·           1 furlong = 1/8 of a mile

·            and 12,000 furlongs = 1,500 miles

·           Imagine that the stories of the New Jerusalem are 15 foot a story

·           The New Jerusalem would have to 528,000 stories and on each story there would be 2,250,000 square miles

·           The Dept. of Eugenics estimates that there have been approximately 100 billion people who have lived on the earth.

·           If every person went to heaven, they would each have a mansion that was 12 square miles in size!

THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM IN HEAVEN!

3. Heaven Is A Personal Place – V.2

1.         Jesus said  “I go to prepare a place for you”

·           Jesus spoke of heaven as a personal place

·           It is a place prepared for those who will receive Christ as Saviour

·           It is a place prepared for you and me

·           BUT – there is one particular mansion prepared just for my mom

TODAY – she celebrates Mother’s Day in her mansion!

WHAT IS SHE DOING?

A. She Is Experiencing The Newness Of Life With The Lord

1.         When Jesus spoke of His “Father’s House” as a place of “many mansions” and a place He had gone away to “prepare”

2.        He was describing a life that is distinct from the life we have known on this earth

DEAR FRIENDS – I want you to know that there is the place we lived on earth – but there is a place we will live in heaven.

1.         There is the life we live on earth – but there is the life we will live in heaven

2.        These two are in sharp contrast to one another:

·           When John saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, He described it as a place  prepared for a bride adorned for her husband (Rev .21:2)

·           One of the things that he saw about our future heavenly home was the contrast in lifestyles

NOTE: REV.21:3-5 - And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

·           John saw a place in which all things were new

·           He saw a place in which everything was different as compared to the life that had been lived here on the earth

·           He saw that there was no more tears; No more death; No more sorrow; No more crying; No more pain.

·           All the former we had been accustomed to were passed away and all things were new.

B. She Is Enjoying The Nearness Of Her Lord

1.         Jesus said in V.3 – “that where I am, there ye may be also.”

2.        Jesus was telling them that they would be with Him in heaven

DEAR FRIENDS – One of the glories of heaven is being in the presence of Jesus

·           1 Peter 1:8 – “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

·           Mom and all our loved ones have looked upon the face of Jesus, bowed at the feet of Jesus, and praised the name of Jesus.

·           She is in HIS presence this Mother’s Day!

IS SHE HAPPY?

A. We Sorrow Over The Loss Of A Loved One

1.         There is sorrow in many hearts today due to the absence of a mother

DEAR FRIENDS – You can sure that there is no sorrow in the heart of the mothers that are with the Lord.

Their heart, as I have already stated, is filled with joy, happiness, and praise. WHY?

·           by Me.”

·           Every mother and every loved one that is in heaven this day is there experiencing and enjoying all heaven affords because there was a day when they received Christ as their Saviour!

We have God’s word on it – They are rejoicing!

B. What Would Make Mom Happier?

1.         Knowing her children walk in the truth

·           3 John 1:4 – “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

DEAR FRIENDS – My mom was so happy the day I received Jesus Christ

·           How many moms have prayed and wept over their children?

·           Praying that they would get right with God?

IS MOM HAPPY TODAY? You bet!

DOES SHE DESIRE TO SEE HER CHILDREN KNOW THAT SAME HAPPINESS? – YES!

But it is up to each of us to make that choice.

·           Jesus invites us to come to Him – but we must choose to accept Him.

CLOSE

I.                 Is Mom in Heaven?

II.             What is she doing?

III.         Is she happy?

As we come to a close this morning, I have several challenges for each of you.

1.       Do you know Christ as your personal Saviour?

If not – I invite you to come now and let us share with you from the Word of God how you can know the Lord for now and all eternity.

2.       Perhaps your mother is still here on this earth – Do you know is she is prepared for eternity?

If not, will you share the message of salvation with her this Mother’s Day?

WHAT IS YOUR NEED TODAY? COME NOW!

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