For This Child I Prayed
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25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.
27 For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.
Mother’s Day
Peter, Esther and Brittany’s Birthday
Introduction
Introduction
Ever since these words were written in Scripture mothers who had trouble conceiving or carrying children, and were finally blessed with a child have repeated these words “For This Child I Prayed”.
Today there are many women who have other goals. Being
a mother is an after thought or an accident. Children get in the way.
Women who never have children enjoy the equivalent of an extra three months a year in leisure time, says Susan Lang, author of Women Without Children. If that figure seems high, remember that the average mother spends 3.5 more hours a week doing housework than would a woman without children, plus 11 hours a week on child-related activities. This adds up to an additional 754 hours of work every year--the equivalent of three months of 12-hour, 5-day work weeks.
Signs of the Times, May, 1992, p. 6.
The burden of that work is mostly on the mother. I believe a man should help any way he can but he’s not you for a reason.
The nation’s fertility rate has generally declined since 1957 when there were 122.9 births per 1,000 women ages 15–44. Preliminary 2022 data shows the fertility rate was less than half this, at 56.1. USAFacts.org
It’s difficult to be mom.
Illustrate: Mother of unruly children
Bro. Branham types this to the church…
A true picture of the modern church today! Neither does the modern church want any of these here, screaming, shouting, tongues-speaking, Acts 2:38 young’ns around her.
She don’t want any of them whooping, and crying, and screaming, “Amen! Hallelujah!” Why, such a child would immediately put her out of her denomination.
They had one like that in one of the churches, why, they’d throw her out right quick. “Why you letting such stuff as this go along?”
So, you see, she’s pregnated with something, ’cause she’s bringing forth members all the time. But she don’t want none of them screaming, hollering, blabbering, Acts 2:38, miserable creatures that she thinks they are.
It would certainly embarrass her. It would ruin her and her educated, ethical, scientific society church that she belonged to here. They would throw her out, at the next council. She can’t have it.
So she don’t want to be pregnated with the Word, because that’s the only kind that the Word can bring forth. 65-1125 - "The Invisible Union Of The Bride Of Christ"
Churches want members, but they don’t want life. The ability to be a mother has been bred out of modern chickens, it has been denominated out of the church.
Thank God for Godly Mothers!
1. The Lord shut up Hannah’s Womb.
1. The Lord shut up Hannah’s Womb.
The Bible tells us that God prevented Hannah, a real Godly woman, from becoming a mother.
1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
2 And 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.
3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.
4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.
The Lord shut her womb.
No doctor could fix that, no home remedy. God did it.
Every child comes from God. (Cain) God allows the child to be born.
You could take the orneriest woman in the town, the worst man; if they had a baby, it would have to come from the Lord, because God has laws set together. 65-0221M - "Marriage And Divorce"
When it happens God allows it, when t doesn’t happen God prevents it.
I want us to think about more than having children, some of us are past that stage, but think of it as a promise that you are holding onto, that has been delayed. (Healing, a job, your ministry, etc.)
He holds those things in his hands.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
15 My times are in thy hand: Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
My time belongs to Him. I am His. I’m in His hand because He holds the time. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know He holds the future. So, He Who holds the future holds me.
Patience. Patience. Some of us get so, some of us gets in such a hurry. I think a many a good man has done that. You get in too much of a hurry. You want to, see, you want to do it yourself.
And minister brethren, you know from when I’m talking, you that’s listening to this tape. I’m talking to you, not only to the little congregation here, but men around the world.
Many men go out, impatient, but believing that the time is near, you try to do something within yourself. Wait upon the Lord.
Patience is virtue. If you can have patience, it’s virtue. It’s virtue if you…“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”
Not they that try to get ahead of the Lord, they that try to tell the Lord, “Lord, I know You want me to do this, and glory to God I…” Don’t do that. Wait upon the Lord. The Bible said, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” 64-0112 - "Shalom"
Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years
During that time Ishmael was born, the seed of a slightly doubted promise.
The birth of Ishmael made Sarah and Hagar adversaries.
2. Hannah had an Adversary
2. Hannah had an Adversary
Hannah had an Adversary.
6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.
Fret
רָעַם râ˓am, raw-am’; a prim. root; to tumble, i.e. be violently agitated; spec. to crash (of thunder); fig. to irritate (with anger):— make to fret, roar, thunder, trouble.
Every time she was feeling good, thinking this was the day, her adversary showed up.
There has always been an adversary between you and the promise.
The devil is your adversary.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Illustrate: Sister who wouldn’t speak evil of anyone “He’s a good adversary.”
The adversary will be cast down.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
We have a promise that the Lord will be an adversary to our adversaries.
22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
Sometimes the Lord stirs up our adversaries, because of complacency in our lives.
Illustrate: Solomon
4 But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.
This period of peace was necessary for building the temple, but when the temple was built Solomon became complacent.
9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.
14 And the Lord stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom.
23 And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:
24 And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.
25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.
The adversary was for a purpose.
“Maybe the Lord told him to do that”
Sometimes God Himself becomes the adversary.
35 Oh that one would hear me! Behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, And that mine adversary had written a book.
36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, And bind it as a crown to me.
37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; As a prince would I go near unto him.
Jehovah would not give him an answer, he only showed him his redeemer.
Example: Syrophoenician woman
What do we do when we have a adversary? Persevere.
If the Holy Spirit, if Jesus Christ, proves that He’s here among us, then press till you get to Him. Like the little woman with the blood issue, and all of the different things that taken place, and all the adversaries in her way, she just pressed right on through till she touched Him.
If this church, tonight, would do the same thing, would press through every scale of unbelief, would lock swords with the devil and his unbelief, and press through to know that you’re a child of God and an heir to these things, and Jesus Christ standing present to show you that He’s with you, to keep His Word. Be perseverant, don’t you let nothing stand in your way. 63-0802 - "Perseverant"
7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
Year by year.
Bro. Branham said she was 60-70 years old. Jewish tradition says she waited nineteen years. Rachel was barren twenty years. Sarah 25 years AFTER she received the promise.
21 As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; So is a man to his praise.
English Standard Version Chapter 27
21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
and a man is tested by his praise.
The Rabbis say that she was tested for 19 years because she was made of the type of material that wouldn’t give up.
Her husband tried to help but it wasn’t very helpful:
8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
Why did she keep going to the temple every year?
She went up there because faith cometh by hearing. And she was barren, had no children. She seen the Word of God where Sarah received a baby after she was past bearing. So if Sarah received it, so could Hannah. Amen. 54-0320 - "Faith Cometh By Hearing"
3. There was a Purpose
3. There was a Purpose
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no rasor come upon his head.
She got so desperate she promised the Lord if He gave her a child she would give the child back to Him, and He would be a nazarite to the Lord.
Se didn’t pray that the first time, but the final time she did.
Notice how desperate she was:
12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.
13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.
16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
She took the “adopted baby route”.
She now had the substance of her promise being fulfilled. She had faith.
Bro. Branham would tell people to go and be happy:
Bro. Branham discerning a man with nervousness, heart trouble and a rupture:
(He told him it happened when the weather was hot. Bro. Branham is not just saying something because he’s inspired. He’s seeing it.)
You had a heart attack about nine months ago, something like that, and you’re scared to death now that it’s going to come back again, and ’cause you got a nervous heart, and brother, don’t you believe that. That’ll bring it on you.
Refuse to believe that lie of the devil. When a man has a heart attack, he’s stronger than he was at the first place. You believe with all your heart? Then go rejoicing, and praising God, and be over your trouble. Now, go and be happy and rejoice. 56-0427 - "Faith"
Hannah’s motive was right:
You’ve come for a very good reason. You’re…I respect you and honor you, ’cause it’s…You’re barren, and you want children.
Isn’t that right? You’ve heard; somebody told you about what happened and so forth. I have never asked that in my life but what God granted it. 53-0901 - "Lord, I Believe"
…I see you…?…kneeling, praying. It’s in a room. I hear you, what you’re saying. You’re asking a worthy thing. You’re asking God to give you a child, a baby. You’re barren and asking God to give you a baby.
That’s right. God bless you. I have never seen Him fail on one yet. A woman in Chicago fifty something years old come and asked for a baby. She got a fine boy. May God grant it to you. 56-0427 - "Faith"
(Praying for another woman wanting a child)
Heavenly Father, in the day that’s so evil now, and here’s a woman wanting a little one. God bless her, as You have the many hundreds across the country.
And make her well of this and may she embrace this loved one that she wishes. In Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen. God bless you, sister. Go receive it, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sometimes the wait is longer than nine months.
(Richard Reed’s wife from Jonesboro)
And one morning I walked out of the room…She was taking shots from the doctor and everything, which almost caused her to lose her mind. And it didn’t do any good.
One morning walking out of the room, I said, “Sister Reed? I see you holding a little boy baby in your arms. You shall have it. God has rewarded you.”
And she was playing an old favorite song of mine. It’s not a Christian song. It’s “Home On The Range.” I think it sounds so peaceful. And I said, “God is going to bring peace to your family, and He’s going to bring the little boy baby.”
And five years from that year, she embraced a little boy baby. And I was holding him two or three weeks ago in my hands, trotting him up-and-down the aisles of the place right where it was said. The Lord God granted. That’s one of hundreds. 53-0612 - "Palmerworm, Locust, Cankerworm, Caterpillar"
(Nice lady complimenting Bro. Branham on his sermon)
While she was standing there, I saw a vision. Now, she was way in her middle age. This has been eight years ago.
I said, “Sister, THUS SAITH THE LORD, I see you standing, holding a baby in your arms in a little blanket.” And she said, “Me?” I said, “Yes, ma’am, you. It’s THUS SAITH THE LORD.”
And she said, “I hope you’re right.” I said, “It isn’t me speaking. It’s THUS SAITH THE LORD.” Well, two or three, four years passed, she begin to doubt it.
(Her husband, Mr. Doble, a very generous man. A so-called prophet told him to quit his job because the Russians were invading Canada)
I slipped off and went out and knelt down and started praying. And when I did, the Angel of the Lord come, said, “Go tell him, THUS SAITH THE LORD, go on up there because the man’s wrong.” And said, “And also, speak to him to tell his wife to watch that doubting that she’s doing about that baby.”
This is several years after Bro. Branham told her “Thus Saith the Lord”.
So I went back, and I said, “Brother Doble, not to discredit your brother, your friend, whoever it is, the man might have been impressed to say that. Now, you’ll…I don’t want to have anything light of that brother. No, sir.”
Impressions aren’t “Thus Saith the Lord”
But I said, “I have, as a servant of the Lord, THUS SAITH THE LORD; you’ll be safe and be blessed. Go do the work.” He said, “If you say that, Brother Branham, I believe it.”
I said, “Tell your wife to quit doubting about that baby.” That’s been about three years ago. Well, last week the baby was born.
After eight years and something, God’s Word is eternally true. And the same God that lived in the Old Testament is the same God that lives today. Hundreds of those cases… 56-1002E - "Elisha The Prophet"
She actually got TB during this eight year period.
I said, “Why did she doubt it?” He said, “Well, Brother Branham, it lingered so long; she begin to doubt.”
I said, “I don’t care how much she doubts. I saw that vision. She was holding a great big plumpy baby boy. And it shall come to pass regardless of what she says or what she thinks, because God’s already said so. A vision cannot be hindered.”
(Within three days of the due date she visited Bro. Branham)
And she said, “One thing, Brother Branham, I confess my sin of unbelief.” But said, “One thing I want to ask you for a confirmation. You said it would be a boy.” I said, “It will be a boy.”
And just as soon as they could return her home, she had a eight pound baby boy that’s running around in Canada tonight of a mother over fifty years old, because God keeps His Word. He never fails. 59-0813 - "Why?"
He’s still the same today.
There was a reason for the delay.
God was doing something bigger than Hannah realized.
And she got on her knees. And she never noticed the dignity of the temple. She never noticed the dignified priest as he walked out.
She was in such distress till her tears was rolling down her cheeks, and she was crying, in desperation, “O Lord God, give me a son. Give me a son!”
And, notice, she wasn’t selfish. When God heard her, and answered her prayer and gave her a son, she gave him back to God. And because that she was willing not to be selfish after God had answered her prayer, He gave her a prophet.
And she prayed with desperation, she must have this child! What was it? God had spoke to her, no doubt.
You can’t be desperate till God speaks to you. Oh, Church, rise and shake yourself! Pinch your conscience, wake yourself up, in this hour! We must be desperate, or perish! There is coming forth something from the Lord!
I know it as THUS SAITH THE LORD. There is coming forth something, and we better get desperate. It’s between Life and death. It’ll pass through us and we won’t see it. 63-0901E - "Desperations"
God shut up her womb, to make her desperate, and because she was so desperate all selfishness went away, and the child she had was a prophet.
I want to speak for a moment to you mothers that have held on for your backslidden children. You have a promise too.
Bro. Branham is prayng for Bro. and Sis. Spencer:
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Did you ever hear that? “Thy and thy house.” Now, look. If you have faith enough for salvation for yourself, can’t you also have faith enough for your house? God, in some way, will do it.
And, Lord, I pray for Sister Spencer and Brother Spencer, tonight, that every child, them and their children, will all be in that glorious, happy Land there where there’ll be no sickness or no old age, no sorrow or disappointments, and all this little life here will fade into a nightmare that’s passed by.
May they receive this, and may all of her children, and her husband, all her loved ones, and all that love her, and all that she loves, may they be there with her, in Jesus’ Name. Amen. 60-0515E - "Adoption #1"
Sister Spencer was 82 years old. It’s never too late to start believing.
Hannah left church with an assurance, Samuel was already hers.
19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.
20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.
Hannah kept her word.
She brought him to Eli when he was weaned. “For This Child I prayed”. Now I’m giving him back to God.
1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, Mine horn is exalted in the Lord: My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; Because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2 There is none holy as the Lord: For there is none beside thee: Neither is there any rock like our God.
There is no revelation like a revelation of Him.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, And lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, To set them among princes, And to make them inherit the throne of glory: For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, And he hath set the world upon them.
9 He will keep the feet of his saints, And the wicked shall be silent in darkness; For by strength shall no man prevail.
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; Out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; And he shall give strength unto his king, And exalt the horn of his anointed.
The years produced two things: A prophet, and praise.
Conclusion
Conclusion
What have you prayed for? This is the hour of fulfillment, when you can say, “for this child I prayed”.
Life, get in the grain! It’s harvest time, I hear the coming of the Combine, to take us home.