Good Morning Church!
We welcome all of you, especially all the mothers on this special service and that is “Mother’s Day Service!”
God has a great calling for mothers!
As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 66:13
Satan knew that mothers are important that that his first attack was on a woman. Most of the time we see Eve in negative light. But when we see her children, she certainly trained them to walk in God. She taught them, which is why the children offered sacrifices to God. One child obeyed, however other one did not and failed.
Children are gift of God; however they do not come with a manual. Nevertheless, it is mothers who have been dedicating them children unto God nonetheless.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
Genesis 3:1
Verily it is said that man is the head of the family and woman is the neck. But remember head moves when neck allows it to do so.
She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” But Hannah answered, “No, my Lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.”
1 Samuel 1:10-16
Hannah mingled tears with her prayers; she considered the mercy of our God, who knows the troubled soul. God gives us leave, in prayer, not only to ask good things in general, but to mention that special good thing we most need and desire. She spoke softly, none could hear her. Hereby she testified her belief of God’s knowledge of the heart and its desires. Eli was high priest, and judge in Israel. It ill becomes us to be rash and hasty in censures of others, and to think people guilty of bad things while the matter is doubtful and unproved. Hannah did not retort the charge, and upbraid Eli with the wicked conduct of his own sons. When we are at any time unjustly censured, we have need to set a double watch before the door of our lips, that we do not return censure for censure. Hannah thought it enough to clear herself, and so must we. Eli was willing to acknowledge his mistake. Hannah went away with satisfaction of mind. She had herself by prayer committed her case to God, and Eli had prayed for her. Prayer is heart’s ease to a gracious soul. Prayer will smooth the countenance; it should do so. None will long remain miserable, who use aright the privilege of going to the mercy-seat of a reconciled God in Christ Jesus.
Hannah was one of the wives of her husband who had two wives. Hannah could not bear children. Upon looking at other’s children, she used to weep. She was extremely heartbroken and in pain and used to call unto the Lord. She prayed and Eli said that stop drinking, to which Hanna refuted that she is not drunk, rather, due to pain in her heart she was crying unto the Lord. After that incident, when Hannah returned, she was blessed with a child.
Our God is a prayer answering God. She gave birth to a son.
There are three things we can learn from Hanna’s life
1: Give children back to God who has given you children.
When the son was born, she named him Samuel Which means, “God has heard us!” When the child was 3-year-old she took Samuel and dedicated him to God.
And she said, “Oh, my Lord! As you live, my Lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.
1 Samuel 1:26-28
2: You must pray for your children.
Imagine a mother promising Lord that if You give me a son, I will bring him back to you. Isn’t than an incredible example of dedication towards God?
If you are a praying mother, there is nothing greater than that.
Illustration: Someone once said (Source: Anon 19th Century)…
There is no career more noble than that of motherhood at its best. There are no possibilities greater and in no other sphere does failure bring more serious penalties. To attempt this task unprepared and untrained is tragic, and its results affect generations to come. On the other hand, there is no higher height to which humanity can attain than that occupied by a converted, heaven-inspired, praying mother.
It is not easy to give our children unto God, but here we Hannah, without a second thought giving the child to God. We encourage our children to go for picnics and movies, but not to the house of the God. Rather, we defend them while children miss out on the service. However, there are prayerful women. A prayerful woman is a blessing to the entire household. A prayerless woman can break families into pieces.
Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.
1 Samuel 1:28
Samuel learnt to worship God at the temple whereas it was supposed to be priest Eli. That is the influence of a prayerful mother. The way you pray and worship God, your children will follow your lead. If you do not pray and worship with love and passion and miss out on visiting the house of God, the seed of faith will bever be planted in the hearts of your children.
It has been researched for many years and has been observed that women are more involved in religious practices and their influence is greater upon their children.
3: Trust in God’s plan for your children. God’s plans are better plans for your children.
What guarantee do you have? It is only God who has the control. Hannah didn’t knew what God has planned for her son.
And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord.
1 Samuel 3:19-20
God honoured the words of Samuel and nothing went wrong. God lifted Samuel and raised him because his mother dedicated Samuel towards God. Raise children in God and be assured that the future that God has kept for our children is beyond our imagination.
When Hannah handed over her son to God, she trusted God and God blessed her and her son.
Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the Lord.” So then they would return to their home. Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord.
1 Samuel 2:20-21
When we surrender ourselves and our children to God, he blesses us. Later God blessed Hannah with three more sons and two more daughters.
Illustration: Someone wrote words of appreciation for his mother and named this as “WHAT MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME!”
My mother taught me RELIGION: When I spilled grape juice on the carpet, she instructed, “You better pray the stain will come out of the carpet.”
My mother taught me LOGIC: From her decisive words, “Because I said so, that’s why.”
My mother taught me FORESIGHT: “Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”
My mother taught me IRONY: “Keep laughing, and I’ll give you something to cry about.”
My mother taught me about STAMINA: “You’ll sit there ’til all that spinach is finished.”
My mother taught me about WEATHER: “It looks as if a tornado swept through your room.”
My mother taught me THE CIRCLE OF LIFE: “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”
My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION: “Stop acting like your father!”
My mother taught me about ENVY: “There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have a wonderful Mom like you do!”
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
Proverbs 1:8
My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you. For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life.
Proverbs 6:20-23
The Bible says that the law of your mother will teach you and it will be a light to your path. You must honour your mothers.
Children, honour your mother and father. Now is the time when God has given you this opportunity. Children, make a decision and Mothers, make a decision. Trust in God , surrender yourself unto Him and ask for your divine intervention.
As we conclude, we thank you for all the mothers for making us today who we are. Stay prayerful and continue to nurture your children in Christ.
We thank you for joining us and we look forward to seeing you again next Sunday. God bless!