I hear much discussion about power in these days.

When we think of power, we cannot help but also think of struggle. 

The powers that be in our world are in great conflict.  And so it will be until the end of time as we know it.  We are a warring human race because of sin.

Conflicts over power are happening in absolutely every area of our lives.  Can you think of one part of you life where there is not a struggle over power?  Even in areas where there is what I would perceive as peace, it is only a short reprieve - maybe because of actual accomplished order or maybe because there just isn’t the strength to fight anymore. 

By creation and by the image of God stamped in us, we have capacity and quest for power. 

Imagine what that would be like if there were no sin:

-         Eve, my queen, you look as fine as the day you were created.

-         Adam, my king, you look mighty fine today too.

-         All said with no struggle.

Try to imagine it . . . .

What does the Lord think about this?

Has the Lord spoken about this?

The answer is "Yes"!

From the beginning to end of the Bible this is discussed.

Who has the power today?

Exodus 9:16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Luke 24:48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

REV 1:4 John,

    To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

    Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

    To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

  REV 4:11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God,

    to receive glory and honor and power,

  for you created all things,

    and by your will they were created

    and have their being."

Revelation 5:12 In a loud voice they sang:

  "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

  to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

  and honor and glory and praise!"

    REV 5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:

  "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

  be praise and honor and glory and power,

      for ever and ever!"

REV 7:11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

  "Amen!

  Praise and glory

  and wisdom and thanks and honor

  and power and strength

  be to our God for ever and ever.

  Amen!"

REV 11:16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:

  "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,

    the One who is and who was,

  because you have taken your great power

    and have begun to reign.

REV 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

  "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,

    and the authority of his Christ.

REV 19:1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:

  "Hallelujah!

  Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

REV 20:4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

26 references in Revelation to power - we looked at 7, all the rest of them concern this great debate over who has the power.

On a Mother’s Day in 2006, I wonder if there are any power struggles taking place today.

What does the Lord think about this?

Has the Lord spoken about this?

Last year we looked at Proverbs 31:28-31.

This year I would like to look at Proverbs 31:25-28.

I.                    Godly mothers are very powerful (Proverbs 31:25).

One of my favorite quotes concerning this is:  "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world."  Interesting isn’t it?

She is clothed with strength.

She is clothed with dignity.

She can laugh at days to come.

There is such great power in the ability to conceive and bear children. 

Why did the Lord give that to Eve when He made her?

Yes the pattern was already set by the rest of the creation - male and female.  But it was culminated in the creation of Eve.

GE 3:20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.

The first husband (ish) and the first wife (ishah)

Let the power struggle begin!

The first of all the Fathers and Mothers.

Everyone of us has a Father and Mother. 

In all the tragic demise of our whole concept of family - we are forgetting that which should never be forgotten.  We all have a father and mother. 

The Lord made fathers very powerful.

The Lord made mothers very powerful.

To deny this creates havoc.  It makes us start saying strange things like "you are not powerful".  When actually the whole creation and the Word of God says - "you are very powerful".  Why don’t we try that as a starting point and then work through the all the details and arrangements of the home and the church. 

Notice I Corinthians 11:11-12 (In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.  For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman.  But everything comes from God).

II.                 Godly mothers bring glory to God (Proverbs 31:26-27).

"Let you light so shine before man, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household.

Notice I Timothy 5 especially verse 14 (So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage [oikodespote] their homes, and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander).

She does not eat the bread of idleness.

I Timothy 5:13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.

Godly Mothers are powerful.

Godly Mothers bring glory to God.

All of this happening in the context of this unending battle for power.

Read Ephesians 5:15-6:4

Strangely enough, I believe that our power struggles have led to the strangest outcome. 

No submission to the Lord,

No submission in the church,

No submission in the home.

When there is no submission and order in the home - the strangest thing comes to pass.  To borrow a slogan from a kids TV station:  Kid’s Rule. 

Here is what might be a new Scriptural news bulletin for some:  Kids don’t rule.

If kids rule; we are doomed. 

I love kids, but kids don’t rule.

God rules.

Godly dads and moms rule.

Godly children become Godly dads and moms who understand that God rules.

This all brings glory to God.

Godly Moms - you are powerful.

Godly Moms - you bring glory to our Lord.

Frank Peretti quotes St. Francis of Assissi :  Preach Jesus, and if necessary use words.