Breakthrough Prayer Series

**Note: I used the book "Breakthrough Prayer" by Jim Cymbala as a reference.

Title: Breakthrough Prayer

Theme: Showing the Next Level of Prayer

Text: 1 Samuel 1 - 3

1Sa 1:9-20 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD. (10) And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. (11) Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head." (12) And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. (13) Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. (14) So Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!" (15) And Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. (16) "Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now." (17) Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him." (18) And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. (19) Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. (20) So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the LORD."

Introduction

Over the last few messages we have been talking about prayer. This morning I would like to talk to you about “Breakthrough Prayer”. If you would open your Bibles and turn with me to the book of 1 Samuel. 1 Samuel chapter

Hannah lived in a time of great lawlessness. The book of Judges described the times over and over again as a time when “everyone did as he saw fit” Judges 21:25. There was no king and no rule of the land. I just got finished reading through Judges and it is amazing what went on. The only explanation that the author had was everyone did for themselves.

1 Samuel describes as second problem in the land.

1Samuel 3:1 Then the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.

In other words not only had people began to do what they thought but God was not revealing himself to no one.

Then there was the third plight of the land. In 1 Samuel 1 we are introduced to the priest Eli. He was suppose ably the godly leader of the land yet his two sons Hophni and Phinehas were prostituting the priesthood. They were taking sexual favors from the ladies who came to offer sacrifices. These were suppose to be men of God yet they were taking advantage of the people. And Eli stood by and did nothing.

I mean the land was a mess and there was no one to straighten it out.

But the good news is somebody is praying. And what I have learned is that when you don’t know what to do and you don’t see how to fix the problem the best thing is to start praying and keep praying until you hear from God.

In 1 Samuel 1 we are also introduced to a woman called Hannah. She was in a desperate situation. She was married to man who had another wife and she was barren. And this other woman Peninnah would pick on her. She would taunt her because she was barren. Hannah became desperate the have a child.

She became focused and determined in her prayer life that she would pray often. All serious prayer is born out a need. It is more than just having the knowledge of how to pray but the fact that I must pray.

More than saying “I need to pray today” but breakthrough prayer says, “I must pray today”. I can’t miss this time because I must hear from God.