* Miracles just don't happen!

I. They start with a need!

Hannah had a husband who loved her and showed special favor toward her.  Her husband was a priest.

* We also have a husband who is a priest that loves and shows favor toward us.  His  name is Jesus.

However, the LORD has shut up Hannah's womb, and opened the womb of Elkanah's other wife.

Furthermore, Hannah had an adversary who provoke her sore. (v.6)

Her husband raised the question, "Am I not better than ten sons?"  We don't have Hannah's spoken answer .... but by the story --- it would be comparing apples and  oranges.

* In one sense, the LORD may have shut up the womb of your, but opened the womb  of other church bodies.

* You also have an adversary who provokes you sore.  Example: "Are you still out there?"

* The question also comes, "Isn't it enough just to have Jesus to be your husband?"  The answer is "NO!"   Again, some would try to compare apples and oranges.
Hannah's adversary provoke her year by year when she when to the house of the LORD.

1. She was made to fret. (v.6).
2. She wept.   (v.7).
3. She did not eat.  (v.7).
4. Her heart was grieved.  (v.8).
5. She was in bitterness of soul.  (v.10).

*** How much do you want to be reproductive?

Hannah prayed (v.10).

1. She wept sore.
2. She declared that she was afflicted.  (v.11).
3. She was a woman of a sorrowful spirit.  (v.15).
4. She spoke out of the abundance of her grief. (v. 16).
5. She continued in prayer.  (v.12).

Her prayers were so intense that she could not vocalize the words.
Even Eli thought that she was drunk and falsely accused her.

She made an appeal to God.

1. Based upon her commitment.  (v.11).
        (being a handmaid of the LORD).
2. She vowed to give the child unto God.
3. She vowed to set the child apart for service.

*** How whole hearted are you committed to pray for Believers to be birthed out of your church?

God caused Abimelech's wife to conceive through Abraham's prayer.  (Genesis. 20:17).
God caused Sarah to conceive in her old age.  (Genesis. 21:2).
God caused Ruth to conceive and bear a son.  (Ruth 4:13).
God caused Hannah to conceive and bear a son.

A. Hannah didn't just ask for a child.
B. She asked for a man child.

a. A child may have removed the grief.
b. A male child would bring her joy.

She need a child, but God needed a prophet to influence a nation and many generations of people to come.

*** What sort of child will you ask God for?

a.  ... just something to meet your needs?
b. ... something that will bring joy to you and meet God's needs?

John 10:10  "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Ephesians 3:20  "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."

Isaiah 54:1 "Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD."

Once conception comes, there are various opportunities for abortion.

1. There is early morning sickness.
2. There are bodily changes.
3. There are mood swings.
4. There are changes in the appetite.
5. There are stretch marks.
6. There is exhaustion from carrying the extra burden.
7. There of thought of:

"Is it worth the wait?"
"Will the child ever come?"

*** We must hold to the vision in spite of adversity.

Galatians 6:9  "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

A. There is a pushing forth of the child.
B. There is stress, sweat, and a lot of effort.

 I Samuel 2:1-10.

Hannah gave Samuel unto the LORD.  (I Samuel. 1:24-28, 2:11).
 

This means to let go.
This means to continue to support.