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Ordinary People: Extraordinary Faith 1. Hannah: Sticking with God

Ordinary People: Extraordinary Faith 1. Hannah: Sticking with God. 1 Samuel 1:1-20 ( p. 249 ). Sticking with God. Facing difficulties . . . Shame, worthlessness, anger, depression, embarrassment, . . . The story of Hannah – Sticking with God Pressure Prayer Praise.

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Ordinary People: Extraordinary Faith 1. Hannah: Sticking with God

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  1. Ordinary People: Extraordinary Faith 1. Hannah: Sticking with God 1 Samuel 1:1-20 ( p. 249 )

  2. Sticking with God • Facing difficulties . . . • Shame, worthlessness, anger, depression, embarrassment, . . . • The story of Hannah – Sticking with God • Pressure • Prayer • Praise

  3. 1. Sticking with God through the Pressure • The Pressure: Hannah could not bear children • Brought shame on her: she failed in her primary role as an ancient wife • Cast doubt upon her: only sin made God withhold blessing (Dt 7:14) • Brought misery to her: her husband took another wife – Peninnah • Brought torment to her: the other wife provoked her “This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. ” (v 7)

  4. 1. Sticking with God through the Pressure . . . • The Pressure of struggles is common - • Many key women in Scripture faced the same struggle: • Sarah: the mother of Isaac (Genesis 16-18) • Rachel: the mother of Joseph (Genesis 30) • Manoah’s wife: the mother of Samson (Judges 13) • Elizabeth: mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1) • Pressure tests and teaches: • It draws faithful people closer to God • It reminds us of our dependence upon God • It strengthens our faith

  5. 2. Sticking with God in Prayer • Hannah’s options – • Fertility cults: rites, magic, incantations, potions, ... • Asherah / Baal worship: the Canaanite gods of fertility (Judg 3:7; 2Ki 21:3) • Hannah choice: faithfulness – • “Year after year ...” she went up to worship him at Shiloh in spite of the pain • Eventually she could say: “I will give him to the Lord all his days” (v 11) • Granted her heart’s desire, her faith dedicated him unreservedly to the Lord • In the context of 1 Sam: A faithful contrast to Eli & his faithless sons

  6. 2. Sticking with God in Prayer . . . • How did Hannah do it ? How can we do it ? • It’s a choice • It doesn’t always lead to quick results • We push through in faithfulness & obedience • No matter what; No matter how long • If at times we fail – we will find God gracious and forgiving (Ex 34:6-7) • Be willing to learn patience and perseverance while you wait “There has never yet been a man in our history who led a life of ease whose name is worth remembering.”—Theodore Roosevelt

  7. 3. Sticking with God: Praise • In His own time God answered her prayer • He gave Hannah a son • Her response: • She named him Samuel (“God heard”) • She gave him to the Lord as soon as he was weaned (honouring her vow) • She worshipped (1 Sam 2:1-10) • God blessed her – 3 more sons, 2 daughters (1 Sam 2:21)

  8. Sticking with God • There is purpose in the pressures of our own lives • Remain faithful and persevere in prayer • God will act to the praise of His glory Hannah was an ordinary woman from a small town in rural Israel. We still remember her to this day!

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