Invited to Carry the Promise
Speaker: Pastor Caleb Chiu
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Happy Mothers’ Day!
God has used mums in the story of redemption to reveal aspects of His heart and nature.
The Lord divinely designed women and mothers to play a major role at every significant turning in His redemptive story. Mothers in the kingdom of God carry an eternal impact, and have influence that stretches into generations.
Eve was the first promise bearer. God used her to show that motherhood would become the vessel for salvation. She carried the seed that would crush the serpent’s head.
Sarah laughed at God’s promises, but God used her womb, which was dead, to be the birthplace of an entire nation. The promise was given to Abraham, but it was carried and born through Sarah.
Naomi was broken and bitter, but she became the instrument that pulled an outsider into God’s redemptive story. Her grief did not disqualify her from taking part, but God wove it into the story of redemption.
Ruth teaches us what true loving relationships look like. Her willingness to stay, sacrifice, and to serve placed her directly in the lineage of Jesus.
Hannah interceded for a son just when Israel was losing their way. She pours out her soul in prayer and her travail brings forth Samuel, the prophet who would anoint Israel’s greatest king.
Her prayer is the seed for Mary’s prayer, and they echo one another through eternity.
Elizabeth was past the age of child bearing, yet God used her pregnancy to make sure Mary kept her baby. Without Elizabeth it would have been very difficult for Mary. Generations birth things that pave the way for each other. We are not in competition with each other, instead, two generations can carry God’s redemptive purpose at the same time.
Mary became the ultimate vessel for God’s promise to Eve. She was a young ordinary woman that was chosen to carry the living God. Her response to this, “Let it be unto me according to your word,” represents the most significant act of surrender in all of human history. She carried, she birthed, she raised, and she gave the saviour of the world. No one has loved and lost at a greater cost than Mary.
The mothers in God’s story reveal in the natural our call to carry and travail in the spiritual. Intercession is about carrying God’s burden, His heart deposited into us. May we step into this calling of carrying and bringing forth the things that are on the heart of God.
Lord, we say we are willing for it to be unto us according to your word.
