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PEOPLE ACTING STRANGE TOWARDS U AND LEAVING U FEELING DOWN AND OUT? DON'T FRET BUT CALL ON THE NAME OF JESUS...
JESUS WILL BRING U OUT IF U TRUST IN HIM. FINISH READING ABOUT HANNAH'S ORDEAL BELOW AND WATCH A MIRACLE UNFOLD BEFORE YOUR EYES.
A MESSAGE THAT TOUCHES THE SOUL.....
HANNAH'S STORY IS SO MUCH LIKE YOUR STORY....UPS AND DOWNS IN LIFE...FEELING AS THOUGH U HAD 2 FACE YOUR OBSTACLES ALL ALONE. BUT BEFORE IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE MY FRIENDS....OUR SISTA' HAD A BREAKTHROUGH.
BROTHER L. AND MYSELF ARE HERE TO TELL U THAT THE SAME THING CAN AND WILL HAPPEN FOR U...U AND U 2....KEEP YOUR HEAD UP THINGS ARE GONNA GET EASIER.
AND NOW WE PRESENT THIS BIBLE STORY UNTO U...
THIS IS HANNAH'S STORY.
1 Samuel 1:1-28
Chapters 1 & 2
This is a story of victory-it's a story about breakthrough-it's a story of a new life-it's a story of deliverance-it's a story about obedience-it's a story about a changed life-it's about intercession, it's about purpose. It's about how God intervened in an ordinary woman's life. It's exciting!!
God did something new in Hannah-something remarkable. She was a remarkable woman but she wasn't always remarkable. She was DEPRESSED, DESPONDENT, DOWNCAST.
But God intervened in her life-he did something new in her and she was never the same again.
ARE U FEELING LIKE HANNAH FELT RIGHT NOW? THINGS AREN'T QUITE THE WAY U DEPICTED THEM TO BE?
PEOPLE ACTING STRANGE TOWARDS U AND LEAVING U FEELING DOWN AND OUT? DON'T FRET BUT CALL ON THE NAME OF JESUS...
JESUS WILL BRING U OUT IF U TRUST IN HIM. FINISH READING ABOUT HANNAH'S ORDEAL BELOW AND WATCH A MIRACLE UNFOLD BEFORE YOUR EYES. ((SMILES))
The bible tells us about a man named Elkanah who had two wives: Peninnah who had children and Hannah who had none.
In these times we're reading about, to be childless was considered a kind of disgrace, it was reason to feel ashamed, was there something wrong that God had closed her womb? People believed that.
In India women who couldn't bear children were pointed out in the street, laughed at and talked about - it's still very much a stigma there. Hannah would have suffered this in her day - she would have felt a failure as a woman, as a wife, particularly as Peninnah, had many children. Hannah was miserable.
But although she had no children, Elkanah loved her more than Peninnah. It wasn't enough for Hannah - Elkanah even gave her a double portion of meat, to show her how much he loved her and because she had no children. But it wasn't enough. Hannah was miserable.
On top of all that, because Peninnah was so jealous that Elkanah loved Hannah more than her, she provoked Hannah, and taunted her, so that Hannah would weep and would not eat.
-Shiloh was the place God had commanded his people to worship. It was not the time or place for quarrelling or rivalry. It's a sad thing when Christian brothers and sisters quarrel at church on a Sunday at a time when we've come together to worship the Lord.
Tough times continued between Hannah and Peninnah. Hannah her heart was broken...she would weep all of the time. it affected her relationship with her husband "Elkanah her husband would say to her, 'Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?
How long have you been in despair - how long have you been depressed? How long has that difficult situation been going on?
This isn't just about overcoming depression or despair. It's about being desperate - we can be desperate about many things -
Maybe you've been yearning for the Lord to do something new in you, yearning for something more in your christian life-
Maybe U feel stale, stuck in a rut, U want 2 feel the excitement U once knew. Maybe it's been going on for years....you're fed up GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS. Being where U should not be.....
Maybe you're longing for him to SHOW U VISIONS, TO PROPHESY, TO MOVE IN WORDS OF KNOWLEDGE.
Maybe you want him 2 give U a NEW MINISTRY 2 shake U up, to do something dynamic in your life. Maybe you've got a desire in you to get closer to him, to be more intimate with Him...to go deeper in worship.
Maybe U don't know what U want.....Maybe you're simply HUNGRY and THIRSTY Amen...
I wonder has the cry of your heart been...."How much longer Lord?"
It came a point in Sister Hannah's life that she said enough is enough..She rose up above her circumstances and we're here to tell U that sista' finally took a step bless her heart.
Only she could do it. Maybe U need to experience a BREAKTHROUGH TODAY. Only U can do it ((smiles))
We're talking 2 somebody out there today that's going through...U don't have 2 feel like your feeling anymore. GOD has given of himself the most precious gift and that was his Son Jesus.
Don't U dare give up the fight ...keep pressing on soldier...March all the way till the end in your circumstance. Don't U feel guilty when U could be FREE... Don't U become a prisoner when the Lord unbound the chains and set U free...
Don't be a "man pleaser" be a "God pleaser"..Don't give the devil any room for some "cheap" pleasure of antagonizing U do U understand your a child of the Living God?
Ha....last time checking the bible it said God is not dead He's still alive and still on the throne!!! Can we get a witness cuz' U know that we're telling the truth Amen ((smiles)) Oh get back satan we're making heaven our home Oh bless His name.
Check this out about Hannah...instead of staying in her despair, in her circumstances she stood up and decided to PRAY TO THE LORD and with that came RELEASE from all the pent up bitterness. With many tears she poured out her heart.
Hannah's prayer was TRUE PLEADING 2 the Lord......
With many tears out of a desperate heart...The holy spirit helps us in our weakness. Sometimes we do not know what to pray...But the spirit intercedes on our behalf..((thank U Jesus))
Hannah poured out her heart to him - she was deeply troubled, in great anguish and grief. So distraught was she that Eli thought she was drunk and rebuked her. We need to feel things deeply as we pray - we need to weep sometimes, for ourselves and on behalf of others - it touches God's heart as he sees the depth of our desire, our burden. Eli misunderstood her.
But Eli was at fault here because he accused Hannah unjustly. If he'd taken a bit more time in his observation of her he may have realized that someone who is drunk is more likely to be loud and causing a scene than to be silent and composed as Hannah was.
Sometimes we feel misunderstood and that we're being accused wrongly. We would do well to follow Hannah's example here - she didn't react badly and counter-accuse Eli because of his sons' behavior - no she respectfully and quietly explained herself.
She needed to be understood - she explained her anguish to Eli and he spoke peace to her. We need to press through in prayer until we reach a place of peace. We also sometimes need to explain to others if we feel misunderstood.
Hannah spoke up - she was quite bold - Eli was a priest who spent his whole life ministering before the Lord.
Having spent time in prayer and unburdening herself to the Lord, receiving peace and a blessing from Eli, she felt much better and was then able to eat. She looked different - her face was no longer downcast. Have you ever witnessed that kind of dramatic change in someone?
Do U need a change of scenery ? Get away from the "OLD" and welcome in the "NEW"?
Ever had the privilege of praying for people over the years and seeing the change in a person's face when God has done something special - when peace has come to a troubled soul full of anxiety or despair. People look lighter, the whole countenance changes, the eyes sparkle it's wonderful. Praise the Lord!
Hannah came to the end of herself and realized that only God could give her... her heart's desire. She made a vow that if God gave her a son then she would give him to the Lord for the rest of his life. This was not a vow taken lightly - it would cost her dearly let's be serious when we make a vow or promise to the Lord to see it through.
God granted Hannah a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the Lord for him".
Hannah was quick to praise and glorify God for this answer to her prayer. In verse 1 of chapter 2 she says "My heart rejoices in the Lord" - it reminded me of Mary's prayer after she'd been told that she would give birth to the Saviour, Jesus. She said "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour". Let's be quick to praise and glorify God for all that he does in our lives.
Hannah kept her son until he was weaned. It was usual for women to breast-feed their children until they were 3 in those days, when it was felt they could be entrusted to others. After he was weaned she took him with her to Shiloh because she'd made a vow before God. She had to let him go.
She took Samuel to Eli - how hard it must have been for her to leave him, such a small child, but she'd made a vow and had to be obedient. There is a cost to obedience. The result of Hannah's obedience - her heart rejoiced, she praised God even though she'd left Samuel, not knowing at that time whether she would have any more children.
Every year Hannah would go to the annual sacrifice at Shiloh and take Samuel a little robe. Eli blessed Elkanah and Hannah and prayed she would have more children, "the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to sons and daughters."
What happened to Samuel? He stayed and ministered before the Lord under Eli - God called him and he became a prophet to all Israel.
God's purposes were worked out through Hannah. She could have continued in despair as she had for many years. But she stood up - she rose above her circumstances and made a decision to seek the Lord - to pour it all out to him - to ask him for the impossible. How long had she been childless?
How long have U been in your circumstance that's causing U despair?
U need 2 seek the Lord, surrender to Him, allow your desperation 2 show.
When U receive something from the Lord it shows in your face...People will remark on it. You've changed because you've been in His presence and he has given ......
your hearts desire....
Are U willing 2 stand up like Hannah did and pour out your heart 2 him and ask Him for what U need?
Do U need that breakthrough mentioned earlier?
Do U need deliverance?
Are U tired of being tired?
Tired of being stuck in neutral all of the time....
Tired of living a MISERABLE life...
Do U feel that your trapped and can't get out?
Are U always feeling like your going 2 hell for certain decisions that U make in your life?
Are U so confused that U can't function in everyday life?
Does it seem like a never ending story with U?
Is there hope for me U might ask? Yes there's hope my brother and my sista'
Have so called friends turned their backs on U leaving U 2 feel all alone? Your not alone...Jesus is there Amen..and **so are we** ((smiles))
Do U want God 2 intervene in your life?
NOW IS THE TIME TO DROP 2 YOUR KNEES AND PRAY....DON'T WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE...ANOTHER SECOND...ANOTHER HOUR BUT DO IT RIGHT NOW IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
Be blessed Sanctified People...
In His Love,
Min. Nina & Brother L.
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