Sermon Central
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Surviving Motherhood Part 5 Series
Contributed by Terry Jones on May 10, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Surviving today requires that believers develop a godly mentality, a strategic plan and an understanding of the spiritual tools given to us by the Holy Spirit. Raising children to be survivors requires dedication to press in to God and in following His
Surviving “Mom”
Soul Survivor Part 5 – Mother’s Day
Text: 1 Samuel 1:8-18
God was looking over His wonderful creation one day and noticed that every creature He had created had a partner, they were frolicking around being “fruitful” and all, - all but Adam. When God caught up with Adam in the cool of the day He said, “you know son, I’ve notice you mopping around all by yourself and you look so lonely. I’ve decided to make a companion for you. We’ll call her ‘woman’. “What’s a woman”, Adam asked. “Oh, she’ll be wonderful. A perfect match for you. She’ll be the most beautiful, glamorous creature you’ve ever seen. She’ll love you with every ounce of her being. She’ll take care of your every need. When you get home from a good day’s work in the garden, she’ll meet you at the door dressed in beautiful garments and scented with exquisite perfume. With a warm embrace and wanting kiss she will welcome you in. She’ll be totally undistracted as she asks about your day and will lead you by the hand to your favorite overstuffed chair with slippers and a cold drink waiting placing the newspaper and the remote control in your hand. She will go into the kitchen and put the finishing touches on her nightly gourmet meal. She’ll call you in to a most romantic candlelight dinner. After dinner she will fluff your pillow and hold you lovingly throughout the night”. And Adam said, “Lord God, how much is that going to cost me?” And God said “It will cost you an arm and a leg” And Adam said, “Lord what do You think I could get for a rib?”
You know, when you think about it, there was no more of a perfect place from which God would take a part of man to create his companion.
• Not from his head lest she would dominate him
• Not from his heel lest she would be under his foot
• But from his side, close to his heart, where she would stay throughout their life’s journey.
I’m keenly aware that this day can be either a joy or a dread for a woman. I heard a woman this week say that she was planning a trip out of town this weekend because she simply could not bear to go to church on Sunday.
It’s interesting to now often the bible speaks of couples who walked through a season of barrenness…
Abraham and Sarah - Isaac
Isaac and Rebecca – Jacob
Jacob and Rachael – Joseph
Manoah and his wife – Sampson
Elkanah and Hannah – Samuel
Zacharias and Elizabeth – John (the Baptist)
It’s as if God, through these Godly men and women, is teaching us that something from the mighty Hand of God is worth the wait.
• Isaac Son of miraculous provision
• Jacob Son of birthright – name changed to Israel
• Joseph Son of Supply – Brought Israel out of famine
• Sampson Son of Justice – fighting Israel’s battles alone
• Samuel Son of Spiritual awakening – Heard God’s voice
• John Son of preparation – forerunner of Jesus Christ
2 Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
Still barrenness can be such a dreadful thing. The story of Hannah gives us a glimpse into the absolute heartbreak of barrenness.
Ridicule
Feeling inadequate
Feeling Judged and misunderstood
But if you’ve got right priorities…..
Barrenness can simply be another word for BEFORE!
• Before Hannah bore a son, God had to have all of Hannah
• Before Israel would heed a prophet there had to be some barrenness in the priesthood
• Before Israel had a Saul, it had to have a Samuel
Get ready baby, when God breaks through your barrenness, it’s going to be for a divine purpose.
Tell me the name of one child of Peninnah….. But who knows the name of Hannah’s firstborn? SAMUEL! (His name means – God has heard and answered)
Anyone waiting on a Samuel?
• Hannah did not allow her barrenness to turn to bitterness
• She knew the only true source that would fill her emptiness
• She knew to turn the ridicule into radical faith!!
o She turned the jabs into jubilation!
1 "Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman," says the Lord. 2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes. 3 For you shall expand to the right and to the left, And your descendants will inherit the nations, And make the desolate cities inhabited.
