Refuge Church Byhalia exists to share the hope of Jesus, grow together, & love our neighbors in Byhalia, Barton, Marshall County, Lewisburg, & surrounding areas. Below is a sermon outline from 5/11/25. From 1 Samuel titled, ‘Women of IMpact’ that was special Mother’s Day Celebration at Refuge Church Byhalia.
Intro
- Good Morning & welcome to Refuge Church
- My name is Michael and I have the honor & privilege of serving as the planting pastor here
- And again Happy Mother’s Day
- We are so thankful that you have been worshipping with us today
- Especially to the mothers in the room
- The responsibilities and burdens that are unique to moms are intense
- And I’m so thankful that God made my wife, my mother, and my grandmothers the strong women they are
- Deer horn fall commercial introduction
- What moms do and what they deal with is a lot
- And in God’s beautiful design
- He made women, to step up to the plate, an complement her husband and help the home flourish
- But if I’m honest, from my observations, it’s not easy to be a mom
- It’s not easy to be a woman in the world today
- Constant pressure and expectation
- To be a woman in the marketplace
- But also an amazing homemaker
- And don’t forget the social media presence and expectation that is on the women
- To present life as some perfect rainbow and magic carpet ride
- When what we all know is
- Life can be hard
- Impossibly hard at times
- So hard it’s difficult to remember which way is up and which way to take another step
- Mother’s Day has become a mixed day
- Some love this day and are ready to be celebrated and applauded
- Others dread this day because their mom is no longer here
- Others find themselves longing to be celebrated on this special Sunday in May only to be found without child, again, regardless of effort
- And so I stand in the pulpit today
- Hoping to encourage and challenge the women
- To be women of impact
- Impact for today, impact for eternity
- So open your Bibles to 1 Samuel 1 (page _____)
- Going Old Testament today
- Towards the beginning
- Now if you don’t have a Bible with you we have blue bibles scattered around the room that you can have. Or you can use today.
- And whether it’s your first or 1,000th time opening a Bible, we want it to be easy for you to find the Words in reading so we out page numbers for those Blue Bi Les on the screen
- So feel free to use those, and feel free to put your name in one and take it home
- Let’s pray and then we will begin 1 Samuel 1 starting in verse 1
‘There was a certain man of aRamathaim-zophim of bthe hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, can Ephrathite. 2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.’
- Instant conflict and competition
- And not just because Elkanah had 2 wives
- But more because of the situation that likely led to 2 wives
- The bride, thought to be his first, Hannah – was barren
- In a culture where giving an heir to your husband through childbirth was the highest expectation and honor
- Hannah was unable to have a child
- So her husband got a 2nd wife
- And she had no issue having a kid
- And as we will see Peninnah wasn’t shy about holding this over her rival Hannah
- In our world the rivalry and spitefulness that arises between women, is strong
- Both in the minds of women and in the actions of the women.
- Let’s keep reading in verse 3
3 Now this man used to go up dyear by year from his city eto worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts fat Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, ghe would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.1 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.’
- How painful this had to have been
- Year after year
- The reminder of her perceived hsortcomings
- Year after year Peninnah giving her grief
- Making snide comments
- If they had social media – making posts with sneaky slights at Hannah
- ‘Here i am with all of the children I bore for my wonderful Elkanah, its such a joy to be a great woman for him.’
- And Hannah had to deal with the heartache internally of falling short to her own desires and expectations of herself
- And then deal with this other woman and her unkindness
- And then her husband who was said to lover her and gave her a double portion of food out of his love
- And yet the double portion, although nice, was just another reminder of her shortcomings
- IN our home we call this ‘Helpful Husband Strikes again.’
- I’ll try to step in, fill a gap, take care of something
- Only for me to find out that I’ve cleaned something while it was still in use or still being needed
- Or it wasn’t something to throw away and yet I’ve thrown it away
- I meant to be kind and helpful, but it wasn’t helpful, it caused problems
- So for Elkanah – Helpful Husband Strikes Again
- And now his wife is weeping again
- On the special holy temple day
- And she’s not eating
- What does Elkanah do?
- Verse 8
8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? hAm I not more to you than ten sons?”
- Good intentions for Elkanah here, but maybe not the best choice of words
- Verse 9
9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of ithe temple of the Lord. 10 She was jdeeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she kvowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed llook on the affliction of your servant and mremember 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, nand no razor shall touch his head.” 12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 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. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but oI have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as pa worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, q“Go in peace, and the God of Israel rgrant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 And she said, s“Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman twent her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
- And here we see Hannah run rightly the Lord with her pain and heartache.
- Hannah didn’t run to social media to complain of her husband
- She didn’t run to the town square to gossip to her friend about her rival Peninnah
- Theologian Warren Wiersbe helpfully says ‘She expressed her anguish only to the Lord and she didn’t create problems for the family by disputing with Peninnah. In everything she said and did, Hannah sought to glorify the Lord.’
- What an example
- What strength
- What intentionality
- What impact
- Hannah, as a woman of impact, runs to the Lord in her pain.
- Hannah knows that God is sovereign and in control
- She knows tha t she can trust her
- She knows that she canrun to him as a safe place
- A source of strength
- And she knows she can make her desires known to the Lord of Hosts
- Pastor & Theologian John MacArthur says ‘She stayed there praying with a broken heart, pouring out tearful prayers. Hannah knew where to go with her problems.’
- But in her praying
- In her making her desires known
- She also offered the outcome entirely to God & to His glory
- She asked the Lord to give her a child, and then said, if you give me a child I give that child to you – for your glory
- zWhat a challenge to us all
- To in the middle of the storms and hardship – and growing pain caused by others – to throw it all at the feet of Jesus
- And then say – you get the results of the labor
- Warren Wiersbe again on this beautiful action and submission ‘It was a prayer that involved submission, for she presented herself to the Lord as His handmaid, to do whatever He wanted her to do.’ (DRINK)
- How selfless
- And trusting
- Offering her life in service to God
- Women of impact serve the Lord with strength & joy.
- And this woman
- Man she prayed
- She was all in on casting her cares before the Lord
- So much so the priest thought maybe she was drunk in the Temple
- And even in this untrue accusation from the priest
- She demonstrated again – grace toward her situation
- While also – sticking up for herself
- She didn’t just stay quiet in his accusation
- She explained herself rightfully and honestly to the highest spiritual leader of the day
- And he responded with a kind affirmation ‘ May God answer your prayer with yes.’
- And she foundpeace in giving it all to God & telling Eli of her desire to see God move
- Let’s see where it goes next, verse `19
19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at uRamah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord vremembered her. 20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”2
- God showed up
- God heard the desires of Hannah
- And as Lord of Hosts
- As the sovereign God of the universe
- Even in our pain, we must remember that God is God & that God is in control.
- Maybe especially in our pain
- God is God in the valley
- God is God on the mountain
- God is God on highway with no traffic
- And God is God on the impossible narrow hiking trail where every step feels to take us within inches of death.
- Hannah knew God was in charge of her womb
- And gave the outcome to God
- & God remembered Hannah & gave her a son.
- How did Hannah respond when God stepped in and blessed her?
- Verse 21
21 The man Elkanah and all his house wwent up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord xand dwell there forever.” 23 yElkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; zonly, may the Lord establish his word.”
- Elkanah, the leader in the home responds well to his wife’s desires & vow to God
- He doesn’t try to change it
- He doesn’t supercede it
- He supports and encourages her.
- Husbands are to support and encourage their wife in her pursuit of the Lord.
- Even when it hurts in the temporary
- Remember this is His firstborn son from his beloved wife Hannah
- And he stood strong, trusted God, & encouraged His wife’s devotion to the Lord.
- Back into verse 23.
So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, ashe took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull,3 an ephah4 of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to bthe house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! cAs you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, dand the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” eAnd he worshiped the Lord there.’
- Women of impact remember God & give God the glory on the mountaintop.
- Hannah knew this child was God’s
- She did’t just figure out how to have a child
- The Lord opened her womb
- The Lord remembered her
- And then she remembered her commitment to the Lord
- She remembered her vow
- And she remembered to give the glory to God
- In her pain she ran to God
- In her joy she ran to God
- And then served the Lord – in the giving of her child to His service.
- Women of impact follow through on their commitments.
- They are unwavering.
- Sometimes thats easy to do
- Sometimes its hard
- Eli wasn’t the best priest
- But God was still God
- Hannah had difficulties in her barreness
- But God was still God
- And she trusted God to work things out with her womb, and she trusted God to work things out for Samuel even as Eli, the priest floundered.
- And women – you can be at peace and trust God with your kids.
- Seek the Lord
- Give your children to God
- And trust Him to be steadfast and in control.
- Warren Wiersbe again ‘Considering the low level of spiritual life in Eli and the wicked ways of his sons, it took a great deal of faith for Elkannah and Hannah to leave their innocent son in their care. But the Lord was with Samuel and would preserve him from the pollution around him. Just as God protected Joseph in Egypt, so He would protect Samuel in Shiloh, and so He can protect our children and grandchildren in this present evil world.’
- Look – being a mom is hard
- Being a woman is hard
- I know this
- I witness it
- We have 4 kids
- I have 3 sisters, 2 of which have multiple kids
- I’ve seen the ups and downs of barrenness
- I’ve seen the ups and downs of being a businesswoman
- I’ve seen the ups and downs of raising children
- But remembering God is God & He is in control
- Can and should bring a peace
- A peace to trust Him with your kids
- We can be so paranoid about the outcome
- We can be so worried about ensuring our kids have the right education, have the right daycare, have the right activities, the right sports, the right amount of arts
- And definitely the right amount of rules and right amount of church time
- But in the attempts at plate spinning for our kids
- We can forget
- God is still God
- Women of impact remember that God is in control, including with their children’s lives.
- Find peace in the sovereign hands of God
- Work hard as unto him
- Serve Him well in every season
- Nurture and care for your kids well
- Trust Him with the outcome
- Respect your husband
- Enjoy God & live for His glory.
- He is so good.
So Happy Mother’s day again.
- Refuge Church is full of women of impact.
- I’m so thankful for all the women here in many phases of life
- That serve faithfully and consistently
- And my hope to day is to challenge and encourage you all to do that
- And also invite those kicking the tires of Refuge & trusting the Lord
- What are you waiting for
- God loves you – and His arms are ready for you to run to Him with everything
- And also you need a local church, and there’s a local church that needs you.
- Maybe it’s Refuge?
- Now at the end of the day
- I want ot encourage you to be women of impact. How?
- How?
- Run to the Lord & pray in your pain & in your joy.
- Trust God in both.
- Serve God faithfully.
- & Remember God is in control.
Wan tot talk about that? Get prayer, come get prayer from SCott or ______________________.
Warren Wiersbe
- There was no king in Israel, but God was already at work preparing the way for His chosen servant.
- Men and women are free to make their decisions, good or bad, but it is Jehovah, the Lord of history who ultimately accomplishes His purposes in and through the nations.
- Babies are God’s announcement that He knows the need, cares about His people, and is at work on their behalf.
- Their (babies) conception and birth is a miracle that only God can do. (Gen 30:1-2)
- Samuel would be boren in Rameh.
- Hannah was his first wife.
- One man married to one woman for one lifetime. (Mark 10:1-9)
- Peninnah used it as an opportunity to irritate her rival and make fun of her barrenness.
- The name ‘Hannah’ means ‘a woman of grace,’ and she did manifest grace in the way she dealt with her barrenness and Peninnah’s attitude and cruel words.
- She expressed her anguish only to the Lord and she didn’t create problems for the family by disputing with Peninnah. In everything she said and did, Hannah sought to glorify the Lord.
- Hannah went to pray. She wanted to ask the Lord for a son and to promise the Lord her son would serve Him all the days of his life.
- It was a prayer that involved submission, for she presented herself to the Lord as His handmaid, to do whatever He wanted her to do. **
- She vowed to give her son back to the Lord.
- Hannah’s faith and devotion were so strong that they rose above the misunderstanding and criticism of the nation’s highest spiritual leader.
- When alls he was doing was pouring out her soul to Godin prayer.
- Five times hannah called herself a handmaid which signified her submission to the Lord and His servants.
- The burden was lifted form her heart and she knew that God had answered her prayer.
- For this was his firstborn son by his beloved Hannah and father and son would be separated for the rest of their lives.
- Hannah reminded Eli that she was the woman who had prayed for a son Three years before.
- Considering the low level of spiritual life in Eli and the wicked ways of his sons, it took a great deal of faith for Elkannah and Hannah to leave their innocent son in their care. But the Lord was with Samuel and would preserve him from the pollution around him. Just as God protected Joseph in Egypt, so He would protect Samuel in Shiloh, and so He can protect our children and grandchildren in this present evil world.
- The story thus far makes it clear that the life and future of a nation depends on the character of the home, and the character of the home depends on the spiritual life of the parents.
- Elkanah and Hannah had a godly home that honored the Lord and they gave Him their best.
John Piper
- God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them… Therefore, no matter what you face this year… Trust him. Love him. And they will all be good for you.
John MacArthur
- She stayed there praying with a broken heart, pouring out tearful prayers. Hannah knew where to go with her problems.
Charles Spurgeon
Matthew Henry
- Hannah presented her child to the Lord with a grateful acknowledgment of his goodness in answer to prayer. Whatever we give to God, it is what we have first asked and received from him. All our gifts to him were first his gifts to us.
Hannah’s prayer was not a mere formality, but the pouring out of her soul before the Lord. Her prayer was fervent and effectual, proceeding from the abundance of her heart.”
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Church Byhalia
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