Happy Mother's Day!
Happy Mother’s Day to every mom, grandma, great grandma – We honor all you woman of faith whether, you are spiritual mom, a step mom, or a foster mom!
We celebrate all of you and want to honor how you make a difference in the lives of others.
It has been stated that moms have the greatest influence on their children over anyone else! The truth is Moms matter!
Napoleon who once said, “The fate of a child is always the work of his mother.”
Some other famous leaders who recognized the influence of their faith filled mothers:
• “My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.” George Washington
• “All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.” - “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” Abraham Lincoln
Illustration: Pastor Reflects on His "Mama’s" Love and Prayers
Martha Simmons & Frank A. Thomas, editors, Preaching with Sacred Fire (W. W. Norton & Company, 2010), pp. 707-708 | posted 5/02/2011
E. V. (Ed) Hill, who pastored Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, tells the story of how "Mama’s" love and prayers changed his life. During the height of the Depression, Hill’s real mother, who had five children of her own, didn’t have enough food to go around, so she sent four-year-old Ed to live with a friend in a small country town called Sweet Home. Ed just called her Mama. As he was growing up in Sweet Home, Mama displayed remarkable faith which led her to have big plans for young Ed. Against nearly insurmountable obstacles, Mama helped Ed graduate from high school (the only student to graduate that year from the country school) and even insisted that he go to college.
She took Ed to the bus station, handed him the ticket and five dollars and said, "Now, go off to Prairie View College, and Mama is going to be praying for you." Hill claims that he didn’t know much about prayer, but he knew Mama did. When he arrived at the college with a dollar and ninety cents in his pocket, they told him he needed eighty dollars in cash in order to register. Here’s how Hill describes what happened next:
I got in line …, and the devil said to get out of line …, but I heard my Mama saying in my ear, "I’ll be praying for you." I stood in line on Mama’s prayer. Soon there was [another new student ahead of me], and I began to get nervous, but I stayed in line …. Just about the time [the other student] got all of her stuff and turned away, Dr. Drew touched me on the shoulder, and he said, "Are you Ed Hill?" I said, "Yes." "Are you Ed Hill from Sweet Home?" "Yes." "Have you paid yet?" "Not quite."
"We’ve been looking for you all this morning," [he said].
I said, "Well, what do [you] want with me?"
"We have a four-year scholarship that will pay your room and board, your tuition, and give you thirty dollars a month to spend."
And I heard Mama say, "I will be praying for you!"
Share the funny cartoons about super mom on Power Point!
The modern day dilemma for many woman of faith today:
Today, mom is expected to not only cook the bacon, she has to help bring it home as well. Even though she may work 40 hours plus, she is still expected to be the main housekeeper. She is often expected to keep the house, cook the meals, wash the clothes, and take care of the children. Their day is often from sunup to sundown. Another change we have seen in recent years is the “super mom”. This is the woman that attempts to have it all, a good education, a great career, and be a great mother as well. Many women are finding that this is not that easy. Regardless of time schedules, and calendar organizers, there is still only 24 hours to work within a day…Someone once said, “It’s the woman that sets the mood for the home.” Today’s version of that is “If momma’s not happy, nobody’s gonna be happy.” Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1165787
The caution: The problem with today’s cycle of busyness is with all that is expected of moms, many women try to cut corners in order to make time for a busy day. The problem with this is often what gets cut or overlooked is the spiritual components of life. Many women, (and men as well) fail to make time for God because they are so busy. If we focus only on the material, and physical and in turn neglect the spiritual, we will soon discover that we are not fulfilled as faith filled people and neither are our children.
T.S. - Today’s extraordinary women and mothers of faith have the greatest opportunity to mold the future of their nation and their children.
Series: Extraordinary Woman of Faith
Thesis of Series: Extraordinary is defined as very unusual or remarkable – not ordinary or normal! Yes, the opposite of extraordinary is normal! We were created by God to live and do extraordinary things in our lives with His power and presence. Do you want to be normal or extraordinary?
Scripture Verse for series: 1 Cor. 2:9 “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”
Introduction:
John Bevere states this from his book Extraordinary, “These words paint a picture of an unimaginable and extraordinary existence, one far beyond what any mere mortal has known or experienced. You may have heard these words before and related them only to heaven’s glory. But in actuality, they are penned for the here and now! For the writer, the apostle Paul, continues, “But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit” (verse 10).
We will be looking at the power of a person’s extraordinary story! A person’s life can make a difference in the eternal realm of God as they live their life story in tandem with the Lord’s will for their life. We all need to choose to live extraordinary lives for the Kingdom of Heaven! When we do it will impact our children’s lives and future.
The thought: Do you want Heaven? Do you want history talking about you? Do you want angels conversing about your extraordinary life of faith? If so, open your hearts to God and ask God to make your life extraordinary!
The truth is God not only desires you to live and extraordinary life but He has equipped and designed you to live an extraordinary life.
Sermon: Hannah’s Story
Thesis: Extraordinary woman of faith exert more influence on their children than any other person or organization associated with their children’s upbringing. Believe it or not this includes media, culture, peers and school influence. We need learn to be like Hannah who prayed, worshipped God and dedicated her child to God’s service and in turn he changed the course of a nation.
Introduction:
We see the power of a mother’s influence over and over in the Scriptures. Especially in the OT books of the Bible and specifically 1 & 2 Samuel and then again in 1 & 2 Kings were the mother’s influence over the kings is stressed. Why? The message to me is clear --- extraordinary faith filled moms matter! The Spirit of the Lord wants moms to know they matter! Moms it is worth it to sacrificially give to your children and to God on their behalf!
So, as we celebrate moms today let’s be reminded how our families – our churches – our nation needs extraordinary women of faith.
T.S. - Today I want us to look at an extraordinary women of faith from the Old Testament named Hannah.
Scripture Texts:
1 Samuel 1
1There once was a man who lived in Ramathaim. He was descended from the old Zuph family in the Ephraim hills. His name was Elkanah. (He was connected with the Zuphs from Ephraim through his father Jeroham, his grandfather Elihu, and his great-grandfather Tohu.)
2He had two wives. The first was Hannah; the second was Peninnah. Peninnah had children; Hannah did not.
3Every year this man went from his hometown up to Shiloh to worship and offer a sacrifice to God-of-the-Angel-Armies. Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served as the priests of God there.
4When Elkanah sacrificed, he passed helpings from the sacrificial meal around to his wife Peninnah and all her children,
5but he always gave an especially generous helping to Hannah because he loved her so much, and because God had not given her children.
6But her rival wife taunted her cruelly, rubbing it in and never letting her forget that God had not given her children.
7This went on year after year. Every time she went to the sanctuary of God she could expect to be taunted. Hannah was reduced to tears and had no appetite.
8Her husband Elkanah said, “Oh, Hannah, why are you crying? Why aren’t you eating? And why are you so upset? Am I not of more worth to you than ten sons?”
9So Hannah ate. Then she pulled herself together, slipped away quietly, and entered the sanctuary. The priest Eli was on duty at the entrance to God’s Temple in the customary seat.
10Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably.
11Then she made a vow: Oh, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain, If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me By giving me a son, I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you. I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.
12It so happened that as she continued in prayer before God, Eli was watching her closely.
13Hannah was praying in her heart, silently. Her lips moved, but no sound was heard. Eli jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk.
14He approached her and said, “You’re drunk! How long do you plan to keep this up? Sober up, woman!”
15Hannah said, “Oh no, sir—please! I’m a woman hard used. I haven’t been drinking. Not a drop of wine or beer. The only thing I’ve been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to God.
16Don’t for a minute think I’m a bad woman. It’s because I’m so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I’ve stayed here so long.”
17Eli answered her, “Go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him.”
18“Think well of me—and pray for me!” she said, and went her way. Then she ate heartily, her face radiant.
19Up before dawn, they worshiped God and returned home to Ramah. Elkanah slept with Hannah his wife, and God began making the necessary arrangements in response to what she had asked. Dedicating the Child to God
20Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, “I asked God for him.”
21When Elkanah next took his family on their annual trip to Shiloh to worship God, offering sacrifices and keeping his vow,
22Hannah didn’t go. She told her husband, “After the child is weaned, I’ll bring him myself and present him before God—and that’s where he’ll stay, for good.”
23Elkanah said to his wife, “Do what you think is best. Stay home until you have weaned him. Yes! Let God complete what he has begun!” So she did. She stayed home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
24Then she took him up to Shiloh, bringing also the makings of a generous sacrificial meal—a prize bull, flour, and wine. The child was so young to be sent off!
25They first butchered the bull, then brought the child to Eli.
26Hannah said, “Excuse me, sir. Would you believe that I’m the very woman who was standing before you at this very spot, praying to God?
27I prayed for this child, and God gave me what I asked for.
28And now I have dedicated him to God. He’s dedicated to God for life.” Then and there, they worshiped God.
1 Samuel 2:1-11:
1Hannah prayed: I’m bursting with God-news! I’m walking on air. I’m laughing at my rivals. I’m dancing my salvation.
2Nothing and no one is holy like God, no rock mountain like our God.
3Don’t dare talk pretentiously— not a word of boasting, ever! For God knows what’s going on. He takes the measure of everything that happens.
4The weapons of the strong are smashed to pieces, while the weak are infused with fresh strength.
5The well-fed are out begging in the streets for crusts, while the hungry are getting second helpings. The barren woman has a houseful of children, while the mother of many is bereft.
6God brings death and God brings life, brings down to the grave and raises up.
7God brings poverty and God brings wealth; he lowers, he also lifts up.
8He puts poor people on their feet again; he rekindles burned-out lives with fresh hope, Restoring dignity and respect to their lives— a place in the sun! For the very structures of earth are God’s; he has laid out his operations on a firm foundation.
9He protectively cares for his faithful friends, step by step, but leaves the wicked to stumble in the dark. No one makes it in this life by sheer muscle!
10God’s enemies will be blasted out of the sky, crashed in a heap and burned. God will set things right all over the earth, he’ll give strength to his king, he’ll set his anointed on top of the world!
11Elkanah went home to Ramah. The boy stayed and served God in the company of Eli the priest.
1 Samuel 2:18-21
18In the midst of all this, Samuel, a boy dressed in a priestly linen tunic, served God.
19Additionally, every year his mother would make him a little robe cut to his size and bring it to him when she and her husband came for the annual sacrifice.
20Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “God give you children to replace this child you have dedicated to God.” Then they would go home.
21God was most especially kind to Hannah. She had three more sons and two daughters! The boy Samuel stayed at the sanctuary and grew up with God.
Let’s put our story into proper perspective for us today:
We’re going to look at a Christian faith filled family that had severe relationship problems in the family unit. They worshiped God faithfully, went to church as required, yet even in the middle of the worship service, there were tensions, hurtful remarks from one family member to another family member. The main reason this occurred was a the faith filled man had more than one wife. The 2nd wife with children disliked the 1st wife with no children mostly because of her husband’s favoritism toward her in the worship time. So, wife two mocks wife one tells her she is cursed by God and worthless. The 1st wife got so upset that she couldn’t even participate in the worship service. Why? Because the other wife tormented her over and over about her childlessness. So, during worship she storms out and goes to the car and cries her eyes out to God and then refuses to come in and eat at the potluck supper. The husband tries his best to comfort her, but he really does not understand why she is so upset and depressed. Our story indirectly highlights the problem – polygamy – more than one wife – which yes is tolerated in the OT but it is never painted in a good light or the way God meant the family to be. So underneath it all, wife one even though childless (and in that culture considered punished by God) really was a godly woman and not being punished by God. She has much to teach us about how to deal with our family problems through worship, perseverance, faithfulness and prayer. (Story adapted from https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-1-mother-who-gave-away-her-son-1-samuel-1-2)
T.S. – Our text today points to an extraordinary woman of faith who has to deal with a dreaded curse called “childlessness” – this text tells us that we need to stay faithful to God and we need to in spite of our problems worship God, stay faithful to God, and pray to God for a miracle. It even addresses the subject of dedicating our children to the Lord for their benefit and for the benefit of our nation. Hannah was an extraordinary woman of faith, a faith mom who made an eternal impact on her son and this also impacted her nation in the end.
I. Hannah was an extraordinary woman of faith because she prayed, persevered and worshipped through her difficult family situation.
A. What does this extraordinary woman of faith teach us to do that gets her life recorded in the Bible and in history? What gets the angels talking about her? What do we need to learn from her extraordinary story?
1. We need to pray and worship God no matter what society does or what others do in our family.
2. We need to persevere through hardships of life even family life issues and never give up.
B. Hannah was an extraordinary woman of faith in a time when God was mostly forgotten and abandoned.
1. What time period did she live in? She lived in the last era of the period of the Judges.
a. Notice what Judges says about this time period see Judges 21:25: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” And for the record if you read Judges this was not a good thing.
a. Judges was written by Samuel (The baby in our story, the son of Hannah that she prayed for) to show the condition of Israel during this 350 year time frame. He recounts in this book the condition of the moral, religious and political atmosphere of Israel.
i. Samuel paints a horrendous picture of this nations decline and demise during this timeframe. This dark age of Israel was a result of her spiritual condition. He shows the effect of sin and the rejection of God’s Word on a nation and shows how low a nation can go.
ii. In the midst of chaos, immorality, child sacrifice, brutal crimes against humanity and a collapse of any civil society Samuel is born.
iii. But in the midst of this godless generation God answers the Prayer of an extraordinary woman of faith to have a son and then dedicate him to the service of God and in turn he saves the nation from total ruin.
iv. Think about that for a moment!
b. In 1050 B.C.; Hannah’s son, Samuel is born, he would be the last Judge of Israel (He will be followed by Saul, King of Israel and then David, he will anoint them both into their divine office).
i. Remember this happened about 3,000 years ago.
c. This was a turning point for the nation of Israel and Hannah is at the center of this extraordinary event!
b. Where did Hannah live?
a. In the hill country of Ephraim (vs.1), in Ramah, 4 miles N. of Jerusalem.
b. That would be a 1 hour walk away from the Temple and her son Samuel.
c. What does Hannah’s name mean, "gracious" or "favor".
d. What was her marriage condition like? We got a quick glimpse but lets look a little deeper into the story.
a. She was one of two wives married to Elkanah, an Ephraimite (1Samuel 1:1, 2).
b. Please note: God’s ideal marital arrangement was monogamy (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-8).
i. Polygamy was allowed for a man if his wife was childless (Deuteronomy 21:15-17).
1. Kathryn Capoccia states, “Hannah’s name comes before Peninnah’s and polygamy could only occur legally when the first wife was barren, so the conclusion to be drawn from the facts is that Hannah and Elkanah were married first- when they did not have children he took a 2nd wife, Peninnah.”
c. Hannah was mocked and despised by Peninnah, the other wife and she would put her down and do demeaning things to her repeatedly (1Samuel 1:6).
i. She was harassed to the point of tears by Peninnah, because she was not able to conceive children and because Peninnah had sons and daughters she reminded her over and over of her worthlessness (1 Samuel 1:4, 6, 7).
ii. This other wife was ruthless in making Hannah feel worthless as a wife and this other woman used her barrenness as an opportunity to belittle her. Maybe because of jealousy or just plain meanness!
iii. 1 Samuel 1:6, 7: "And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 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.”
d. Hannah would become so perplexed, so depressed she would not eat but just cry and weep and wail.
i. Remember in those days it was considered to be a disgrace to be barren.
ii. Hannah saw her barrenness as "a miserable condition" or as a curse and this caused her to wail and cry out to God for help (1Samuel 1:11). Peninnah made sure that she never forgot that she was cursed by God!
1. I am sure that she was told she was unfit to do what she was designed to do!
e. Hannah prays and then is prompted to make a vow to God - 1 Samuel 1:11: "And she made a vow, saying, ’O LORD Almighty if you will only look upon your servant’s misery...’"
i. Kathryn Capoccia states, “This must have been a bitter life for Hannah to have endured; every year when the family went "up to the house of the LORD" in Shiloh, when she should have been free to worship and rejoice in GOD, she would be baited about her barrenness, loud arguments would ensue, and Hannah would end up in anguish.”
ii. What a way to worship the Lord! It still amazes me how cruel people can be to other people! I have seen far too many people – even Christians just be plain mean and nasty to others.
e. It is important to remember that Hannah was loved by her husband.
a. He would give her a double portion of his offerings, "for he loved Hannah" (vs.50).
b. Maybe this is what irritated the other woman?
c. He would try to comfort her when she was distressed (vs.8) but he either did not understand her grief or was unable to ease her suffering.
C. What is Hannah’s story teaching us today? How did her influential and sacrificial life change the course of a life and a nation?
1. She cried out to God in a humble manner for Him to give her a son!
2. Here is a main point for us to think about: So what do you do when you want something you’re not receiving in life from God? Get mad – quite on God – stop going to church?
a. This extraordinary woman prayed and relentlessly cried out to God.
b. Hebrews 11:6: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
3. Here are some things to take note of so we learn how faith filled moms make a difference in their family and even in their nation:
a. Notice: She fervently prayed and wept (vs.10).
a. She prayed with all of her emotions and heart to God.
b. Notice: She poured out her heart before God (vs. 10).
a. She gave the Lord her whole heart and openly poured out her anguish and grief before Him in the Tabernacle.
i. She held nothing back – she let the Lord know her pain and suffering and prayed for relief – for a miracle!
c. Notice: She continued praying even when others belittled her and attacked her mercilessly (vs. 12).
a. She never quit on herself or on God!
i. She persevered and never allowed the accuser to win in her life or over her family’s lives.
d. Notice: She made a vow to God (vs. 11).
a. In other word’s she made a promise to God!
i. Why would she make a vow like this?
1. She may have made this vow on her own initiative, or more likely, because God touched her heart to do it so that He could have a godly man in the Tabernacle to serve Him (since the high priest Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were evil men see 1 Samuel 2:12.
ii. What is a vow? It’s a prayer of binding obligation towards God: a transaction between man and God in which man dedicates himself or his service or something valuable to God. There are two kinds of vows:
1. Conditional vows, "bargains"- those made on conditions of favors returned by God.
2. Unconditional vows- those of dedication to accomplish set goals.
iii. What was her vow? A "bargain" vow. She said if God would give her a son he would be devoted to lifelong service to Him.
1. She said if God would give her a son he would become a lifelong Nazirite.
b. Are vows to God to be taken lightly ? No!
i. Vows were binding back then as they are now with God (Deut. 23:21,23; Ecc. 5:4)
1. Deut. 23:21: "If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the LORD your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin."
2. Deut. 23:23: "Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the Lord your God with your own mouth."
ii. Warnings are given in Scripture about the importance of keeping vows made to God (Ecc. 5:5, 6; Proverbs 20:25).
1. This includes wedding vows by the way!
2. For Hannah to have made a vow indicates her piety, sincerity, and desire to have God’s best. It was not wrong for Hannah to have made a "bargain" vow; in fact, in the O.T. vows were common and often an indicator of spiritual fervor.
iii. Elkanah himself made vows (1Samuel 1:21) so in this she was following her husband’s example and leadership.
4. The presence of God shows up as she cries out to God.
a. While Hannah was praying, crying out to God she received peace from the LORD and a nudge of what she was to do (vs. 18):
a. Why peace all of a sudden? Because she had prayed, prayed, cried, prayed, heard from God and then placed her trust and her faith in the Lord’s grace.
i. 1Samuel 1:18: "She said, ’May your servant find favor in your eyes.’ Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast."
1. A word from the priest was what comforted her, gave her peace in the midst of her sorrow.
ii. She went her way- she left the Tabernacle because she had made her petition, she received peace in her heart and believed that God would answer her prayer.
iii. She got her appetite back and ate- her appetite returned because she was at peace with God and with her situation.
iv. She gave her condition and life over to God! Notice: Her face was no longer downcast or steeped in depression - her anguish was over and the joy of the Lord filled her spirit.
D. Application: The Lord wants us to pray through situations in our lives and in our family’s lives because He will send the break through.
1. She then went and worshiped the Lord, she gave Him praise and honor long before her prayer was ever answered.
a. She appreciated and loved God in spite of her condition and situation. She worshipped the Lord before the miracle, after the miracle and even after giving her son back to God.
a. She worshipped the Lord at Shiloh after her petition (1Samuel 1:19).
i. This is so important – can you worship the Lord even before the answer comes your way! Even if the situation does not change immediately. Do you trust the Lord enough to place things into His hands and then praise Him for being who he is – amazing!
b. When she named her son, Samuel "name of God" she worshipped the Lord for His grace and mercy to her (1Samuel 1:20).
c. When she brought Samuel to the Tabernacle to give Him to the Lord she worshipped Him (1Samuel 2:1-10).
2. She was blessed for her commitment and praise to God. Her faith in the Lord was not misplaced but put into the hands of the one who can do miracles. God granted her request for a son (1Samuel 1:19, 20). Why? Because she was faithful, persistent in prayer and committed to serving the Lord no matter what!
E. Sometimes we miss a miracle because we are not willing to be persistent in prayer and petition to God. We often give up so quickly today because we don’t get our 1 minute prayers answered in 30 seconds.
T.S. – Hannah pressed through her grief, her persecution and her barrenness to change the course of history for a nation and for her family. This is what makes her and extraordinary woman of faith. Hannah’s extraordinary story teaches us many things about being faithful to God and being extraordinary people of faith for us and for our children.
II. Hannah was devoted to God and to her family – don’t think that because she gave Samuel up to the Lord that she did not love him.
A. God blesses her faithfulness with Samuel! A miracle! For her and her nation!
1. Why? Because she prayed, she cried out to God in her grief and anguish.
2. Why? Because she did not quit on life or God.
a. Hannah sacrificially gave her son to God and this act of dedication to Lord blessed her, her children, her family and in the end her nation.
B. Hannah faithfully attended, raised took care of her son until he was old enough to serve God at about the age of 3.
1. She would not leave him while he lived with her.
a. 1 Samuel 1:22: "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.’"
b. Hannah cared and nursed for her son until he was weaned from her (1 Samuel 1:23)
a. 1 Samuel 1:23: "So the woman stayed at home and nursed he son until she had weaned him. The word weaned means "dealt fully with" and implies training in the physical realm and in the spiritual realm. Some think that Samuel went to the tabernacle to serve God when he was between 3-5 years old. It’s important for us to remember that she did give Samuel to the Lord as she had promised (1 Samuel 1:24-28).
C. Hannah brought Samuel to Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:24), in fulfillment of her vow, after he was weaned.
1. At this moment of fulfilling her promise what do you think went through her mind?
2. Capoccia states , “In Hannah’s eyes it was only right to keep her side of "bargain" and she could envision no higher calling, no better future, and no greater honor than to be permitted to serve the LORD: she brought Samuel to Shiloh with joy” (1 Samuel 2:1).
a. I am sure other emotions ran through her heart and mind.
D. Hannah not only gave Him to the Lord she also brought an offering for him.
1. It was a bull, 3 yrs. old, or 3 bulls- a burnt offering for sin or a thank offering.
2. There was also an ephah of flour (about 2/3 of a bushel)- a cereal mixture consisting of fine flour, olive oil, and frankincense- almost always accompanying a burnt offering.
3. There was also the gift of a skin of wine.
4. This was probably a "thank offering" to God. It was common in the O.T. to bring offerings and praise after fulfilling a vow (see Lev. 7:16; Psalm 50:14,56:12, 66:13-15, 116:17,18; Isa. 19:21).
E. Hannah did not just commit him and then leave she continued to care for Samuel.
1. She made him a "little robe" every year: i.e. a blue ephod like a priest would wear (1Samuel 2:18, 19; Exodus 28:31-34).
a. Trust me Christa will be well cared for by us – her family and we will always care for her.
2. Hanna visited him when the family came to offer the yearly sacrifice (1Samuel 2:19).
a. I sometimes wonder if she visited more than this?
a. She lived in Ephraim were Shiloh was which would be about 4 miles away.
b. Maybe she could not? But I know she prayed for him daily!
3. Hannah gave her heart and her child to God.
a. She "dedicated" her only son to God (1 Samuel 1:28): "dedicated" means "made him over to" or gave him completely up to.
b. Samuel was a lot in symbolism like Isaac. He was an offering completely given to God with nothing held back.
a. Genesis 22:2: "Then God said, ’Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.’"
b. It’s the thought found in 2 Samuel 24:24 “24But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” Many offer up offerings to the Lord that don’t cost them much of anything! Samuel was followed by other children as the first fruits were followed by more crops.
i. 1 Samuel 2:21: "And the LORD was gracious to Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD."
ii. This is as the LORD said in Malachi: Malachi: 3:10 "’Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the LORD Almighty, ’and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and poured out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.’"
1. She made sure to testify to LORD’s faithfulness (1 Samuel 1:27; 2:1-10).
2. She testified about her answered prayer (1 Samuel 1:27).
3. She prayed and praised the Lord so all would know of her blessing from God (1 Samuel 2:1-10).
a. for His deliverance
b. for His holiness
c. for His knowledge
d. for His power
e. for His judgment
i. She continued to worship the Lord regularly.
iii. 1 Samuel 2:19: "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."
F. Would you – could you ever give your son or daughter to God like Hannah? Do you think she was wrong in doing this?
1. Was she cruel to this child “Samuel”? giving him to the service of the Lord at age 3?
a. When I first read this story as a new Christian – I struggled with it – especially after becoming a father! I thought how could she do that to her one and only baby – that toddler?
a. I have experienced the negative impact on a child when they are abandoned for religious reasons. When we were visiting Christa in Africa we saw this - Talk about the people in the Muslim world who do this especially in Burkina Faso. They give their children to Allah and to the Imani's and these children end up as beggars getting money for Imani's and many end up abused and abandoned as street kids. I saw that this was not a good thing to do from what I have seen in Burkina!
2. Talk about Kate’s ministry an extraordinary woman of faith.
a. Pictures on Power Point.
a. See video from Go to the Nations about Kate's ministry "Kids of Hope."
b. Kate Royal was never married, she grew up in England and for most of her life she was a horse trainer who had never finished high school because of her dyslexic handicap. Kate did not like people until God got ahold of her heart.
c. Kate got saved in her late 40’s and went to a bible school in Wales to become a missionary.
d. Upon graduation after doing an internship in Guatemala all mission agency's in England turned her down because of her age at this time she was in her 50’s! – So, she ended up applying to Go to the Nations in the USA and a Internship opens up to Burkina Faso. She does language school in Burkina too for two years because she could not pass the tests.
a. The founders of "Kids of Hope" as she was in Burkina went home so she took it over in 2010 as the director.
b. Kids of Hope is a ministry to street kids who were sent to Muslim leaders to become Muslim leaders at ages between 4 or 5. The Iman's or Muslim leaders make them beg on the streets to raise money for the Mosque and to get humility but by the time they reach their early teens most of them run away! The result is they are not allowed to go home either for failing Allah.
i. Burkina is the 3rd poorest country in the world.
ii. Kids of Hope - Teach the boys trades, The Bible, provide shelter and food and help them go to school to get academics skills.
iii. How many kids are there it is about 80 –100!
iv. Kathy, I and Christa have been to the mission and CHC did the floor for their sleeping place and teaching place about 5 years ago in 2013 they are still in the same compound and Kate has been trying to add to it yearly.
1. See the pictures.
2. Christa will be there in June!
e. I want to be clear and say this is not what God wants either for his children to be abandoned and deserted by their families and religion.
a. We are in a series called extraordinary women of faith doing something that is far from normal for God!
i. Kate is doing just this!
b. This is also what Hannah does as God leads her through her struggle to a miracle.
3. Question: Was this the right thing to do for Hannah? Was it God?
a. I say “Yes” because Samuel turned out to be a one of the mostly Godly judges of Israel and a faithful prophet and priest for the Lord.
b. The Bible teaches us that God can use us to make a difference for eternity in an extraordinary way if we let Him. Or if we allow Him to do so!
a. This also applies with our children!
b. Now I am not for abandoning children to God nor is God!
i. Children need their parents especially their faith filled spiritual moms.
c. To answer this question honestly we need to remember what is said in 1 Samuel about this time frame in Israel’s history: 1 Samuel 3:1: “The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.”
a. If you read on in this chapter the Lord speaks to Samuel and He hears His voice and learns to listen to the voice of the Lord and to impact his nation for the good.
b. Samuel the prophet was influenced by his mother and his mother’s influence impacted the nation of Israel and her son helped lead the nation back to God.
d. It is also important to note that Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord and in turn Hannah went on to have more children than just Samuel see 1 Samuel 2:18-21:
a. She had 3 more sons and 2 daughters.
T.S. – So what have we learned from this extraordinary woman of faith’s sacrifice and life over 3,000 years later.
Conclusion:
• It’s not wrong to ask God for something in prayer many times until an answer is given, either "yes" or "no". We need to persevere through hard times with prayer, faithfulness to God and praise.
• We should pray about infertility because God is sovereign over the womb.
• God has a perfect timetable for the events of our lives. Ecc. 3:1: "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven..."
Moms your prayers, instruction and teaching matters to your children and to your family and get this even to your nation. The bottom line all of us have a divine purpose placed on our lives. Moms yours maybe to raise up spiritual giants for the Kingdom of God. So never underestimate your influence and your hard work because it will pay off for your kids and for your family. Who knows were God may take your son or your daughter! Who knows you child could change the course of a nation!
Gifts for mothers on the back table: Please pick one up if you’re a a spiritual mother as a gift and thank you for being an extraordinary woman of faith who makes a difference for eternity.
