A Mother’s Power
“Happy Mother's Day!” We celebrate this event year after year, but do we ever define what a “mother” really is? The mere ability to reproduce, to have children, does not make a woman a “mother”. We probably all know women who, though they gave birth to children, were never really mothers to those children. Fortunately, I have experienced the joy of being in the presence of Godly, wonderful mothers. Motherhood is a marvelous quality that our Creator has given to women. It is a quality that wants the best for the child, and is willing to sacrifice, even to the loss of her own life for the child's greater good. The Bible teaches that a “mother” is someone who has decided to nurture and care for those who are weaker than herself, and especially, her own children.
There are many who have had children only to abandon them to baby sitters, pre-school, leisure activities, or whatever else society can offer to ‘free up’ the mother’s time. Then there are those who have been blessed with child and have aborted that child for their own convenience. Yes, there is difficulty and pain in bearing a child, but this initial struggle does not earn you the title of “mother”. No, motherhood is more than that, it demands that you spend at least eighteen years training, guiding, and correcting your children. A “mother” watches them grow, talks positively of their future, shares her life with them, and prepares them for the day when they will leave home – though she hates the thought of it. But most of all, the good “mother” trains her children in the ways of the Lord. I am convinced that you cannot be a godly “mother” unless you live and visibly demonstrate your faith before your children.
Many say, “I'll let my child choose whether he or she will go to Church, whether he or she will worship God”. But beware, if you do this you are condemning your child to the serious consequences of their bad choices. Your children watch you closely, to see how to behave. If you take your relationship with Christ lightly, the children will follow that example. If you are faithful to God, then your children will one day honour Christ because of that faithfulness. We desperately need godly mothers today, perhaps more than any other time in history.
1. Godly Mothers Can Correct The Course Of A Nation
1 Samuel 1:6-8 6, “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. 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’?” As our story opens we see two women, Peninnah and Hannah, who were both married to Elkanah. Elkanah was a godly man; he worshipped the Lord God at Shiloh by making sacrifices. Yet Elkanah was in sin because he had married two women. This is not the standard that God set for us in the Garden of Eden. Adam wasn't married to Eve “one” and Eve “two”. God took from Adam one rib and made a woman out of that rib. One man, one rib – one husband, one wife – one father, one mother. This is God's standard, the standard set as ‘normal’ from the very beginning, and Elkanah, though he worshipped our God, walked away from that standard when he married two women.
A man cannot be divided between two women, and God's laws, plainly set out in Scripture, cannot be compromised. Elkanah compromised God's design for the family, and he was probably responsible for the suffering that Hannah was going through. Man often makes bad decisions because he walks away from what the Bible clearly sets forth as God's design. When enough leaders walk away from God, walk away from what God has determined is right, then this cumulative “falling away” of the leadership in a country causes the whole country to suffer. Israel had fallen away from God's divine plan. Israel was still going through the motions of worshipping God, but its leadership had fallen, and therefore, the nation was in terrible ungodliness. There are similar examples throughout the Bible.
Our nation is in the same state today. The family unit, God's design of One Man and One Woman, is under attack. Just as it was in the days of Elkanah and Hannah, the UK has glorified abortion rights and the women’s rights, while at the same time promoting multiple partners in the wedding bed. Yes the family unit is under attack! Same sex unions are being promoted as acceptable alternatives to that which God established in the Garden of Eden. Though it is evident that God did not design man to be with man, nor woman to be with woman, the idea that this is ‘normal’ is being promoted on television, in schools and even in some traditional churches. Note, as the family unit dissolves, lawlessness increases. And as the family unit is exchanged for a man-made alternative (that satisfies man’s own sinful desires), the nation moves further and further away from Jesus Christ. The devil knows that if he can destroy the family unit, he can destroy the nation.
Right now, we need Godly women in this nation - women who can stand in the gap against this evil onslaught. Yes, we need righteous women to “stand up and be counted” for Jesus! Psalms 34:17, “The righteous cry, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.”
2. Godly Mothers Can Affect The Attitudes Of A Nation
Though Hannah prayed that her torment at the hands of her husband be ended, her prayer was not selfish. Hannah prayed for a child, but vowed to the Lord that she would dedicate this child to God's service. In Old Testament times the Lord had a group of people who were especially dedicated to Him. These men were called the Nazarites, which means, “one separated unto God.” Hannah promised God that, if He would grace her with a child, she would dedicate this child to God's service. No razor would come on his head - that child would be a Nazarite, one set apart for God's use.
I have heard people say, “What difference can I make? How can one person make that big a difference in this nation, in my city? How can I expect to change things?” But remember this, one person is an army when that one person is devoted to God. One person has often destroyed nations. Hitler brought great evil on God's chosen people, and on the whole world. Stalin, that dreadful dictator, murdered hundreds of thousands of people. Yet, one righteous person has also saved nations. Moses stood before Pharaoh, and, by faith, released Israel from bondage. Rahab hid the Hebrew spies and helped Israel to enter the Promised Land. And one special Person, Jesus Christ, hung on the Cross and paid for all of mankind’s sins.
One person doing the will of God can do a great deal for a nation, alternatively, just as one person doing the will of satan can do great harm. Hannah, one mother, would make a great contribution to Israel. Hannah went to God in prayer, not just for herself (though her prayer originated because she wanted to be blessed with a child), but also thinking of the greater good. She promised that Samuel, the child that God gifted her with, would be dedicated to serving the King of Glory. Hannah didn't ask merely to satisfy her own whims. She went to God, addressing Him as “Lord of the Army of Heaven”, and she asked Him to fight her battle. She didn't ask that God fight for her by harming her enemy, no, Hannah asked God to fight for her by giving her a child. Then, Hannah said, “If you do this I will give that child right back to You, oh God!” Her weapon was to be her child! Your children can be your weapon also.
Mothers, we desperately need your prayers and intercession for our country. We need you to do as Hannah did. Recognise a need, and then earnestly pray and intercede until God fulfils that need. Hannah made a difference. You can do the same!
3. Godly Mothers Equip Their Children For Greatness
1 Samuel 1:26-28, “And she said to him, ‘As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.’ And he worshiped the Lord there.” Mothers, I want you to know that you (and your children) are essential to the survival of our Church and to the survival of our Society.
Hannah had no idea when she became pregnant with Samuel just how important his position would be in Israel. Samuel was the last Judge of Israel, and the first of God's classical Prophets. Samuel would one day grow up to anoint the first two Kings of Israel, Saul and David. Samuel would also over-see the young Nation of Israel, and oversee the first two kings while guiding them in righteous government.
What if there was no Samuel? Without Samuel, would Israel have moved away from the independent Judges that ruled provinces, to the Kings that ruled the nation? Without Samuel, would God have chosen Saul to be first King, and then because of disobedience on his part, appoint King David? Without Samuel would there be a Davidic Covenant - a promise to David that he would have an “eternal throne” from the tribe of Judah? Without Samuel, would Jesus have come to fulfil the promises of the Davidic Covenant, to sit on the throne of David forever? When Hannah had her child Samuel, she never forgot her vow to the Lord. No, Hannah could have forgotten, but she didn't. She even named her child “Samuel” which means “the Lord remembers”. Hannah prepared Samuel for greatness!
Dedicated, believing mothers are pivotal; they are important in the future of this Church and important in the future of our society. If Hannah had reneged on her promise to God, then all of Israel's history would have changed. I don't care how young or old your children are, if they are 6 or 60, always keep your vow before God. Why? Because your children are still watching what you do!
Mothers, let me share this with you: When Robert Ingersoll, the notorious sceptic, was in his heyday; two college students went to hear him lecture. As they walked down the street after the lecture, one said to the other, “Well, I guess he knocked the props out from under Christianity, didn't the?” The other said, “No, I don't think he did. Ingersoll did not explain my mother's life, and until he can explain my mother's life I will stand by my mother's God.” (James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited)
After Hannah had dedicated Samuel to the Lord, she spent as much time with him as she could. She still showed love toward Samuel. This was the cycle that Hannah followed, and the cycle that you must follow as godly women: (1) Hannah gave herself to God, (2) God gave Samuel to Hannah, (3) Hannah gave Samuel back to God, (4) Hannah gave herself fully to Samuel. This process guaranteed that he would be a great man of God.
Christian parents, are you living godly lives for your children to follow? Do you always pray for their spiritual well-being? Are you teaching them the Word of God? Are you committed to training your children for life-long service to God? School is wonderful, but unless you are sharing the Word of God with your children, they will grow up dedicated to man's knowledge and devoid of God's knowledge. Remember, your children will emulate your lives. If you live one life at Church, but another at home, your children will follow that example. God is looking for mothers who will raise their children to be like Samuel – “nation shakers”. Will you be one of these courageous mothers today? Happy Mother’s Day! |
Chris Demetriou, 14/03/2010 |
|
