INTRODUCTION, I found some interesting facts about mothers as I was preparing my message this week.
• According to the Census Bureau, 71% of America’s women, age 18 and over are mothers.
• The average mother has 2.7 children.
• In 2008, 5.5 million dollars was spent on mother’s day cards.
• Today, (Mother’s Day) is the busiest day of the year in America’s restaurants.
• More long distance call will be made today than any other day of the year. The peak time for calls will be between 1:30 and 3:30 this afternoon.
• Sadly, many mothers today are going it alone – In 2008 (Most recent stats) there were nearly 12 million single mothers under the age of 18, another 9 million mothers between the ages of 18-44 who have never been married.
Being a mom is hard work! For many of us, our mothers were like super heroes with all kinds of super powers…
• They seem to have eyes in the back of their head
• They always know when we have done something wrong.
• They know when to hug and when to scold.
Mothers also have a unique wisdom that helps their children navigate the journey of life. Mothers have a way of saying things that really drive home the point. Have you ever heard your mom uses these phrases?
Mom, have you dispensed this kind of wisdom?
• I brought you into this world – I will take you out!
• Keep it up and I will give you something to cry about!
• No means No!
• If Johnny jumped off the bridge – would you jump also?
• Do not let me have to come up there.
The influence of a mother is far reaching.
• Abraham Lincoln “No man is poor who has a Godly mother.”
• Ronald Reagan said, “No nation is ever greater than its mothers”.
• The Jewish Rabbis had a proverb that said, “God cannot be everywhere at the same time so He made mothers.”
Mothers have a very special place in our society. They set the tone for the home and the family. You have probably heard the saying “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”
The Bible holds the role of motherhood in high esteem. Women such as Sarah, Rachel, Ruth, Elizabeth and Mary all made sacrifices in order that God could use their children in mighty ways.
Today, I want us to look at one mother from scripture. Her name is Hannah and you read about her 1 Samuel.
Hannah lived during a dark time in Israel’s history. There was no great leader in the land. Occasionally judges would rise up and lead for a period of time, but there was no succession plan and no one appointed leader to guide the nation. Israel was in a state of turmoil and confusion.
The last verse of the book of judges describes the conditions of the day, Judges 21:25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.
There was a desperate need for a great leader in the chaos and the sinfulness of that day.
However, Leadership was not the only thing lacking in Israel. The priesthood of God had become corrupt, as sinful men led the people in the rituals of sacrifice. The tabernacle, God’s holy meeting place, was also in disarray. To make matters worse, the nation had a limited prophetic voice; there were no great preachers in Israel, no prophets to call the people back to moral and spiritual purity.
It was a time when God needed a special man to rise up, and in order to make a special man you need a special woman and Hannah was that woman.
This morning I want us to look at three actions Hannah took so her child could be used of God; these same actions are still needed today.
READ TEXT I SAMUEL 1:1-11
1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD.
4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.
5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb.
6 And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.
7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.
8 Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"
9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD's temple.
10 In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD.
11 And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."
3 Actions…
1. Hannah prayed for her child
Hannah was a woman of great faith.
A. I Samuel begins by telling us Hannah’s dilemma
Hannah is married to a man named Elkanah, Every year they traveled to Shiloh to make sacrifices. Though Elkanah was faithful to offer a sacrifice to the Lord, his faithfulness to Hannah was shared with another woman, his second wife Peninnah. The Bible tells us Peninnah had several children. However, Hannah was childless.
In the Israelite culture, childlessness was seen as a curse. How different in our society where children are sometimes seen as a problem or inconvenience. Though Elkanah loved Hannah, Hannah herself was deeply troubled by her predicament. She had never known the thrill of announcing to her friends she was expecting, though she had probably held babies in her arms, it was not the same as if it was her own child. To make matters worse Peninnah would taunt Hannah. Everyday Hannah would see Peninnah’s family and be reminded of her sorrow.
We do not know how long Hannah suffered in this matter, but the Bible tells us this went on for a few years.
B. Note Hannah’s spirit.
Though she was childless, she was critical of her husband. Though Peninnah taunted her, she remained a symbol restraint.
While her situation seemed hopeless, Hannah turned to the one place where she could find hope. In bitterness of soul, Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. 1 Samuel 1:10. Missing the blessing of childhood, Hannah went to the one who could bring her life meaning – To the Lord. Hannah understood complaining to others or becoming bitter toward others would not fix her problem. Her comfort would have to come from the Lord.
C. Did you note her prayer
"O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."
• Her prayer was to the one who was able; “O Lord Almighty”
• Her prayer came from a deep need; See your servant’s misery and remember me
• Her prayer was focused – she asked for a son.
All of us could take a lesson from Hannah and her prayer life.
D. Question; How much time do you spend praying for your children?
Our children face a barrage of toxic influences every day, from the influence of the media to unhealthy peer pressure. We must face the reality that our society is becoming less child friendly everyday.
What actions can we take to protect our children from an amoral society?
a. Isolation – We can try to live in a bubble; try and protect our children from the influences of the media, peer pressure and sin, but we know that is just impossible. Paul tells us we are to “be in the world, not of the world”
b. Ignore the problem – We can take the ostrich with it’s head in the sand approach, After all, all kids go through phases, We made it through childhood – so will they also.
c. Intercede for our children – Lift them up to our heavenly father; ask for his protection, wisdom and guidance.
Godly mothers pray for their children. Hannah did not have any children at the time, but she went to the only place for comfort and answers and that was to the Lord. Moms (and Dads) I challenge you on this Mother’s Day and everyday to take time out of your schedule to pray to God for your children. Be specific in your prayers for your children.
Let me suggest 8 areas you should pray for your children each day.
• Pray they will come to know Christ at an early age.
• Pray they will be protected from the influence of the evil one
• Pray they will be caught when they are guilty – and they will understand there are consequences to sin.
• Pray that they will respect all authority
• Pray they will seek good friends and avoid negative influences
• Pray that they will remain sexually pure until marriage
• Pray they will marry a godly spouse
• Pray they will be responsible in their relationships.
In a society that is rapidly becoming unsafe to our children, we must make it a priority to pray for children.
Not only did Hannah pray for her child…
2. Hannah promised her child to the Lord
1 Samuel 1:11, And she (Hannah) made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."
Hannah makes an incredible promise to the Lord, “God if you give me a son – I will give him to you”. In other words, my son will be dedicated to your work.
Hannah was not simply saying if you give me a son, I will bring him to the tabernacle every time she came with her family. Hannah was willing to do more than dedicate her son to the Lord. She was willing to place him in the Lord’s service.
As a Nazarite there would be certain restrictions on his life, no razor would touch his head, he would refrain from strong wine and never touch with dead bodies, less he were to become ceremonially unclean. This was serious business. Hannah understood that with the gift of a child, there was also the responsibility of a steward.
Parents, our children do not belong to us they belong to the Lord. Hannah understood the principle; that is why she could make such a vow for her unborn son.
What do you want for your children? Have you dedicated them to the Lord? Again, let me give you a few practical ways this accomplished.
How to dedicate your children to the Lord
A. Secure their faith in Jesus Christ.
To secure our children’s faith is most important role we have as parents. As a youth minister, I was amazed with the parents who went to great lengths to help their children succeed in baseball, band, gymnastics, dance and soccer.
No drive was too far, no cost was too extravagant. Yet these same parents would be cavalier regarding their children’s spiritual foundation. Jesus reminds us, “What does it profit if we gain the world and loose our soul?” Let me put it another way, what does it matter if your child plays first string, yet does not have Jesus first in his or her heart?
B. Find an area of service where you and your children can participate in the church.
I can still remember as a child arriving early to church with my parents and my two brothers to fold the church bulletin, because the church did not have a folding machine. (BTW, at the time, we lived 26 miles from our church)
Folding bulletins, something so small, yet it had such a big impact on our family. Let me suggest you find a place where your family can serve together.
• Maybe take a month and prepare communion as a family.
• Why not come to the church and clean out a flowerbed together.
• Ask your communion teams if your family can help pass out the communion and receive the offering as a family.
When you serve together you are making than a memory, you are teaching your children the value of servant-hood, this character trait will serve them well as they navigate the choices of life.
C. Challenge your child to be involved in some type of kingdom service.
Who knows that today in our Children’s Ministry this morning, there is not a young man who one day may become a great minister or missionary, What young lady in our circle of influence may become take the gospel to a foreign mission field? Maybe fulltime ministry is not something our children can do, but encourage them to find a place where they can use their talents for God.
Hannah understood the need for her child to be dedicated to the Lord; that is why she was able to make such a vow. We can make the same vow when we realize our children are gifts from God as well.
Hannah prayed for her child and promised her child, she also
3. Provided for her child
1 Samuel 1:20-28
20 So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."
21 When the man Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow,
22 Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always."
Look at Chapter 2
1 Samuel 2:19
19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.
Hannah was faithful to her word; she not only dedicated her child to the Lord, she freely surrendered her child to the Lord.
Hannah did more than surrender her child to the Lord, every year she brought him a new robe to wear. The robe was made by her own hands and was a constant reminder of her love for her son, though Hannah and Samuel were separated by distance, Samuel was reminded of his mother’s love every time he wore the robe. Every year she would sew a new robe and every year as the family traveled to Shiloh to sacrifice to the Lord, Hannah gave her child a new robe. By providing for her son, Hannah was communicating love to her child.
Communication is necessary for all mothers. A young couple had just had a newborn baby, and the time came when the baby needed a change, and the mother was not able to change the baby so she asked her husband, who was a minor league ball player if she would change the baby. He told her he did not know how. A couple of hours later a situation arose, again she asked if her husband would change the baby. Again, he told her – All I know is baseball, I cannot change the baby. The young mother thought – How can I communicate this in a way that he will understand?
Sure enough, it was time to change the baby again. She made the request he gave the same reply. However, this time she had the answer.
CHANGING A BABY IS MUCH LIKE BASEBALL; YOU LAY THE DIAPER OUT LIKE A DIAMOND, PLACE THE BABY ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DIAPER. THIS IS THE PITCHER’S MOUND, YOU TAKE FIRST BASE PULL IT OVER TO THIRD BASE, YOU PIN THAT TOGETHER. YOU TAKE SECOND BASE AND SLIDE THAT INTO HOME PLATE AND THE BABY IS CHANGED. IN CASE OF RAIN – THE GAME IS NOT CALLED YOU SIMPLY START ALL OVER AGAIN.
This mother knew how to communicate to meet her child’s needs.
Mothers, you will never stop providing and communicating love for your children. Hannah was compelled by love to provide for her child just as mothers are compelled by love today. There are not words enough to say thank you for all our mothers have done for us.
Hannah provided a physical garment for her child. Today, I ask all mothers to make it a priority to provide a spiritual garment for your children, a daily reminder that they belong to Jesus Christ. That is only possible when you yourself model Christ.
Hannah prayed for her child; God was faithful – a son was born, his name was Samuel, He would do mighty works for God and God’s people, he would anoint Kings, speak for God and lead the Children of Israel.
Hannah promised her child, Hannah was faithful to that promise and God honored that promise by using her son to fulfill His mission.
Hannah provided for her child a robe that was a constant reminder of her love for her son and her dedication to her Lord.
This mother’s day let us look to Hannah as our model.
PRAYER
