Free To Be A Joyful Mother -- March 10th, 2010

ADVANCED PLACEMENT – RELEASE

I. Introduction
Leanne Jamieson shared her testimony on how God has taught her the power of releasing your child. We are not releasing our kids into the storm, or into school, or wherever you may be, we are always releasing them into the hands of Jesus.

II. Jochebed
Exodus 2:1-11
This is the story of Moses – Jochebed was his mother’s name. It’s a powerful picture of how Jochebed released her child into the Lord’s hands.

III. A Picture of Release
A. The Basket – Reach for God’s promises
Exodus 2:3 “But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him…” The Hebrew word for “basket” is “tebah” – this is the same word used in Genesis for ark, which means promise. As Jochebed was reaching for the basket for her baby, she was also reaching for God’s promises for her child. When faced with the task of releasing our kids, the first thing we reach for are God’s promises. Grab your bible, or find a topical book on God’s promises – grab a hold of the Lord’s promises in whatever area is causing you to hold on too tight. Write them on a card to take with you in the car or on the go, memorize them so you can remind yourself of God’s promise for your child when you start to worry or doubt…

B. Prepare the Basket - Pray
Exodus 2:3 “she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch.”
PRAY FOR YOUR KIDS! Jochebed reached for God’s promises when reaching for the basket for baby Moses, and then prepared the basket by coating it with tar and pitch. Tar and pitch served as a sealant in those days to keep unwanted water, oils, or bugs out. It’s a picture of how we, and our children are sealed in Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” Our children are sealed and protected in Christ much like Moses was protected by the tar and pitch in the basket. However, our part as moms is to “prepare the basket” as Jochebed did by praying that seal and protection over them.

C. Place Child in the Basket - Trust
Exodus 2:3 “Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.” This is the hard part – placing our children “in the basket”. But the beauty of this is that we are placing them in the Lord’s hands, who is fully trustworthy to hold them and protect them.

D. Place the Basket in the Water - Release
Same verse from part C – As Jochebed placed the basket in the reeds along the bank of the Nile (which by the way was known for its actual and moral filth), she wasn’t just placing her baby in a dirty river. She was essentially placing the basket that she had reached for, prepared, placed her child and now releasing him into the Lord’s hands. Isn’t that an awesome picture of how we can release our kids to the Lord, too? When you put your child in God’s hands there is no safer place. The Lord is in control of what is going on and He has got your children – they are His as are we. Isaiah 51:16 “I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand—I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people’”.

IV. The Difficulty of Releasing
A. Fear
Hebrews 11:23 “By faith, Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” Did you catch that – t hey were not afraid. They didn’t have to be afraid because they knew God was faithful. Moses was in God’s hands and their trust as parents was fully in God who created him. We don’t have to be afraid for our children – we don’t have to fear. God has our children’s future in His hands and they are safe with Him. Reach for God’s promises, pray over your children, trust the Lord with them, and release them into His hands.

B. Control
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died, and he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” We need to let go of thinking that we should control our children. We should want our children instead to be compelled, or controlled by the love of Christ.

C. Unhealthy Need
2 Corinthians 12:14 “Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.” We cannot make our children come through for us – that is not their job. Let Jesus meet your needs and allow your children the freedom to live the life God intended them to live.

This is all about not having your kids on your list of goals. Release them to the Lord. Love Jesus, and let Him love you.