TOPIC:‌“A Mother's Greatest Ministry”

‌           by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap

 

TEXT:‌I Samuel 1:9-18

 

‌‌“And Hannah prayed” (I Samuel 2:1)

 

‌I want to begin this message with a question: How can a mother make the greatest impact on the lives of her children? I believe she can do this by praying earnestly, regularly and passionately for them. Through intercession both mothers and fathers can have a real and lasting influence in the lives of their children.

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‌This is what we call the ministry of intercession. Christ interceded for Peter. Christ intercedes for us at this very moment. The writer of Hebrews declares of Christ that “he ever lives to make intercession for them” (7:25). And no less than six times does Paul ask that believers intercede for him. As a matter of fact, Paul states in I Timothy 2:1 these words: “I exhort, therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” And that, especially, means our children.

 

‌Hannah was an intercessor. She prayed BEFORE Samuel was born and she prayed AFTER Samuel was born. In verse 10 of chapter 1 of Samuel we read: “She prayed unto the Lord,” and then in verse 12 we read: “And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord.” Then after the birth of Samuel we have the prophetic prayer of Hannah in chapter 2 verses 1 through 10. Note again the words of verse 1: “And Hannah prayed.” Here was a mother who recognized that her greatest ministry was prayer.

 

‌What Hannah did every mother here this morning must do. We must begin to pray fervently and regularly for our children.

 

I.

 

‌Let's begin with this: We must pray for the CONVERSION of our children. This must be our first consideration for each one of our children. If they are to go to Heaven, they must personally come to Christ and experience the new birth.

 

‌Here I am reminded of two mothers who faithfully prayed for the salvation of their children. Monica, the Christian mother of Augustine, prayed fervently for her son's salvation. He lived a life of immorality and indecency. But the praying tears of Monica won out and Augustine stepped out of a life of sin into a life of salvation.

 

‌Many centuries later, on a Saturday afternoon in 1849, another mother prayed for the salvation of her only son. His name was Hudson Taylor. In the book, Hudson Taylor's . . .