MOTHERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE I SAMUEL 1:1-28

HANNAH’S SORROW I SAMUEL 1:2,8 “…Hannah had no children…Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

HANNAH’S PRAYER & PROMISE I SAMUEL 1:9-11 “Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. And she (Hannah) was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget me, but will give your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life…”

HANNAH BEING MISUNDERSTOOD I SAMUEL 1:12 “And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore, Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you.” But Hannah answered and said , “I am not drunk…but have poured out my soul before the Lord.”

HANNAH FINDS FAVOR WITH GOD I SAMUEL 1:17,18 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” And she said, “Let your maid servant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way, and ate and her face was no longer sad.

HANNAH AS MOTHER I SAMUEL 1:19-22 “The Lord remembered Hannah and she conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, saying, ‘because I have asked for him from the Lord.” And Hannah did not go up to the tabernacle of the Lord until the child was older, for she said, “When the child is older, then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever.”

HANNAH FULFILLS HER PROMISE I SAMUEL 1:24-28 “Now when Samuel was older, she took him up with her to the tabernacle of the Lord in Shiloh. She brought the child to Eli, and said, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore, I have given him to the Lord…”

I. MOTHERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY LIVING OUT THEIR FAITH Hannah was a woman who had a personal relationship with God. “year by year she went up to the house of God…” I Sam. 1:7

Hannah was a woman of faith! “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look upon me and remember me and give me a son, I will give him to you all the days of his life…” I Sam. 1:11

Hannah was a woman of integrity “For this child I prayed and the Lord has granted my petition, therefore I also have given him to the Lord…” I Sam. 1:27,28

II. MOTHERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN THEY FACE GREAT CHALLENGES Hannah faced animosity from within her own home “And her rival (who had children) provoked her severely, to make her miserable, for she was not able to have children. So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord that she provoked her; therefore she wept bitterly.” I Sam. 1:6,7

B. Hannah was misunderstood by those around her “And Eli, the priest, thought she had too much wine…” I Sam. 1:12

III. MOTHERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN THEY HAVE A RIGHT PERSPECTIVE Hannah allowed God to do His part “O Lord, please remember me and give me a son…” I Sam. 1:11

Hannah was faithful to do her part as a mother “Elkanah went up to went up to the house of the Lord to offer the yearly sacrifice, but Hannah did not go up. For she said to her husband, “Not until the child is older will I take him up…” I Sam. 1:21,22

IV. MOTHERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE OF THEIR LOVE “Now there is faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love…” I Cor. 13:13

A. TRAINING “Train up a child in the way he should go. Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

B. PRAYING “I prayed for this child and the Lord granted me what I asked of Him.” I Samuel 1:27

C. CARING “Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him…” I Samuel 2:19

D. LOVE FOR GOD IS REWARDED “And the Lord was gracious to Hannah and she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.” I Samuel 2:21