(these are the notes that I prepared but I also went into many different illustrations and explanation as The Holy Spirit gave me utterance---)
Sermon Title:
Prayer Changes Things In The Pursuit of A Breakthrough
Jennifer Mears 5/9/2007
Text: I Samuel, Chapter 1 (all 28 verses)
Amplified version
(my notes on revelation and reasearch are within the biblical scriptures below - i color code these in my notes when i do this but this site does not enable this option)
Introduction:
Have you been praying and praying and praying for a specific something or for something to happen in your life?
Today I want to talk with you about principles on prayer from a woman who prayed…from a woman who knew how to get serious and knew how to fast pray…Hannah – one of Biblical Histories GREAT MOTHERS! A woman who knew how to fast and pray...
The Bible says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man (woman) availeth much” (in James 5:16).
Hannah prayed for a son.
Hannah cried out---she was desperate! She cried out to God and He answered… Hannah prayed, and God gave her a son. What can we learn from Hannah?
Are you to the point of desperation?
God responds to your faith…not your need…
But, does your need increase your faith level? Sure it can…
Where is your faith right now for that thing?
Could it be that this is just the thing to begin increasing your faith? Is this what it is going to take to break through>?!!!!
Are you really crying out to Jesus? Are you sincere? Are you fully expressing sincerity and faith and passion just as Hannah did?
Let’s dig in deep and learn more about Hannah and see if we can apply her story to our own lives now ---could our breakthrough be within the body of this story?...can we learn from Hannah today?
Let’s look and see…
BODY – TEXT:
I Samuel 1 (reading the entire chapter)
1 THERE WAS a certain man of Ramathaim (ray-muh-THAY-um) (present tense; something that can be used or applied now, today – this WORD is for now just as it was a story of old) -zophim (zo-feem) (the two watch-towers ---to continue the work until The One who assigned you to be there and to do their there returns), of the hill country of Ephraim (ee-FREY-eem) (fruitful; increasing – looks like Hannah was living in the right place to ask for a child – increase – fruitful, a child is fruit of her womb GOD HAS A WAY TO PLACE US AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME), named Elkanah (el-kay-nuh) (God the zealous; the zeal (enthusiasm – eagerness, ability and passion) of God – God was eager and able to do this thing ) son of Jeroham (jer-ROW-hem) (high; merciful; beloved), the son of Elihu (ee-LIE-hue) (he is my God himself), the son of Tohu (toe-hue) (that lives; that declares), the son of Zuph (zuff) (that beholds), an Ephraimite (ee-fray-eem-ite) (fruitful; increasing).
2 He had two (used to indicate a group of two – also indicates that both people involved in an awkward or unpleasant situation are responsible for their actions – example: takes two to tango)wives, one named Hannah and the other named Peninnah (pen-nine-uh) (pearl; precious stone; of the face). Peninnah had children, but Hannah (gracious; stone of mercy; act of being and is merciful – compassionate and fortunate; face to face; trusts he that gives) had none (to not have any; also can mean to refuse to tolerate something – to have none of something – to come expecting).
3 This man (Elkanah) went from his city year by year to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh (sent), where Hophni (hoff-nigh) (to hope; blessing) and Phinehas (fin-ee-uss) (bold aspect; face of trust or protection), the two sons of Eli (the offering or lifting up), were the Lord’s priests.
4 When the day came that Elkanah (zeal of God) sacrificed (symbolic offering to God), he would give to Peninnah (pearl; precious stone; of the face) his wife and all her sons and daughters portions (fate; fraction; inheritance) [of the sacrificial meat].
5 But to Hannah (gracious; living stone of mercy; act of being and is merciful – compassionate and fortunate; face to face;trusts he that gives) he gave a double (being twice as much or many; twice the normal amount; having two like parts; double – two layered; sudden directional change; stand in for the original source; call increasing) portion (fate; a helping; fraction; inheritance), for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had given her no children (a child is an offspring; product or result of doing something)
6 [This embarrassed and grieved Hannah] and her rival (her equal (Penninah) provoked (to make someone angry; to stir somebody to emotion; to act in a way intended to bring something about; to be the cause of a positive or negative activity – isn’t that just like our brothers and sisters in Christ; pos. or neg.? – our choice) her greatly to vex (to annoy; to agitate; to confound – confuse or puzzle – God is not a God of confusion – we know where that is coming from) her, because the Lord had left her childless (no offspring; without result of having been doing something) .
7 So it was year after year; whenever Hannah went up to the Lord’s house, Peninnah provoked her, so she wept (cry out; express something with deep passion and emotion; crying tears; mourn someone or something – loss or lack thereof---Hannah knew the basis of prayer – when she recognized that God was a powerful God, she could expect a powerful answer to prayer.
WHEN YOU CALL GOD THE LORD OF HOSTS – AS IN VERSE 3 – YOU ARE REALLY CALLING HIM THE GOD OF THE FIGHTING ANGEL! THE BASIC CONCLUSION IN PRAYER WILL BE:
God is just how big the prayer request is!
How big is God to you?
The size of your prayer request,
Determines the size of your answers....equals your faith!
The name, “Lord of Hosts” is a powerful and effective name by which to pray.
and she did not eat (something can only come about through prayer AND fasting – sacrifice) (consume something for sustaining yourself; BUT ALSO MEANS to do things as usual; to not bother or petition someone; to use a lot of something; to not penetrate that which you seek – to use up). – she did not EAT so she was not doing things as usual…she was bothering or petitioning for her desire…she was penetrating that she was seeking by NOT eating ---she was pouring out instead of receiving…casting her cares upon The Lord --He cares for you
8 Then Elkanah her husband (a woman or bride’s spouse; joined with or married to; to use and manage something) said to her, Hannah, why do you cry? And why do you not eat? And why are you grieving? Am I not more to you than ten (number of Divine Perfection…
There are 10 commandments (Ex. 20)
1/10 of your income is a tithe
There were 10 plagues on Egypt (Ex. 9:14ff)
10 x 10 silver sockets formed the foundation of the Tabernacle (Ex 38:27)
There are 10 "I AM’s spoken by Jesus in John: 1 (I listed them quickly)
1) I am the Bread of Life (6:35); 2) I am the Bread of Life which came down from heaven (6:41); 3) I am the Living Bread (6:51); 4) I am the Light of the world (8:12); 5) I am One that bears witness of Myself (8:18); 6) I am the Door of the sheep (10:7,9); 7) I am the Good Shepherd (10:14); 8) I am the Resurrection and the Life (14:6); 9) I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (11:25); and 10) I am the True Vine (15:1,5).
(ten) sons? (just like a man to think that he is all that…but what are ways of faith, thinking, believing, acting are YOU joined with or married to ----Divine Perfection or Dividing Direction )
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh.
(she gave in---so many times we let other people talk us out of what we know we should be doing – letting ourselves be persuaded by others and losing our focus on God, our FAITH, and our prayer---even though she gave in to her husband and drank and ate, Hannah was still determined …and she sees that she gave into the flesh and is frustrated with herself---and the fact that she has not child----how many times have we been frustrated with being frustrated? But sometimes we gotta get riled up to get busy and pray through to get a result…)
(let’s keep reading…) Now Eli (the offering or lifting up) the priest (ordained person; minister; one who walks with and trusts and is used by God) was sitting (means period of being seated – to lean on something or someone strong and secure that can hold you; to be seated still while performing an activity or petition; ALSO MEANS a set of eggs, incubation of eggs – FERTILITY AND TO CONCIEVE TO GIVE BIRTH) on his seat (to lean; putting in place; the viewer’s position – others are watching you as you wait for your breakthrough…what are they seeing from you?; object on which something rests or fits securely and is the center of power of) beside (at the side of; in communion with) a post (a living, active support of a structure or body; an upright one; true support; one who sends somebody to work; to appoint; one who grants transfer and promotion; to trust to travel quickly with precision) of the temple (place of worship; controls building structure or head of the body; holy dwelling; special meeting place; one who stretches something to its proper length or width to make usable) tent of the Lord.
(Hannah knew the place of prayer – she went to the Tabernacle – GOD’S Place! WHERE HE WAS then...now He is everywhere! but she knew where He dwelled so
It was there she prayed. Hannah came into the Tabernacle to pray because that was where the presence of the Lord was located.
Israel recognized the “Lord dwells; inhabits in the praises of His people” (Psalm 22:3).
Again, at that time, “The Lord dwells between the cherubim (I Samuel 4:4) which means that God dwelled in the Tabernacle.
Obviously, God dwells in the heart of every believer and God is everywhere present, we call His omnipotent and omnipresent. But in the Old Testament the presence of God was the Tabernacle. Today, the church is the Body of Christ…He is everywhere!
I believe God is here tonight... He is present….HE IS HERE!
I don’t believe that praying in church is the only place to pray. Every once in awhile you see a movie where someone stumbles into a cathedral to pray and the movie producers will tell you that they got their answer because they were in a church. God can answer prayers anywhere!
Moses prayed in the wilderness.
Nehemiah prayed in the king’s presence.
Jesus prayed in the garden.
The disciples prayed in the upper room.
Paul prayed in prison.
Peter prayed on the top of the roof.
But Hannah prayed in the Tabernacle.
AND. Hannah knew the importance and work involved in true prayer...
Every time you pray, it costs you something.
Effective prayer cost Hannah something.
Hannah was intense, childless, and completely committed.
Notice how the Bible describes her prayers… here in v. 10).
10 And [Hannah] was in distress (mental suffering; letting emotion take control of situation and focus---is this sounding familiar to anyone? --- emotional and/or physical pain; to be upset and not stable)
of soul (who the individual is – mind, will and emotions) but she is focused in spirit regardless of her physical and emotional state – that is what we have to be), praying (talking to God; to hope strongly; to make an earnestly desired or needed request; the attempt and focus to achieve or to receive something by prayer) to the Lord and weeping bitterly (resentful; intense; extreme; desperate; penetrating; to fight for what we are focused upon).
11 She vowed (pledged; promised; dedicated something or someone; to declare something), saying, O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction (cause of distress; suffering; problem; misery; trouble; pain) of Your handmaid (servant; someone who provides support and works for their master’s gain) and [earnestly (intensely serious and sincere; desiring serious attention and action)] remember (to recall; to keep something in memory – to keep somebody or something in mind; to give somebody a gift; to favor), and not forget Your handmaid but will give (to grant something to somebody; to cause something to happen; to provide; to perform something or to carry out a decree or declaration) me a son, I will give him to the Lord all his life; no razor (cutting tool; sharp blade; acidic and poison part of tongue; sword; cutting or destructive device) shall touch (be in contact with; to press something; to interfere with; to have an effect on somebody or something; to harm; to consume) his head (top part of or ruler of the body; center of intellect and focus; representation of ruler or leadership of; highest part; source of flow; source of resource; a device for holding cutting tools to protect from the cutting tool from harming anyone or anything that is exposed to it either up close or from a distance; protection from Divine Source).
12 And as she continued praying before the Lord, Eli noticed her mouth (food and voice organ; feature of the face; way of speaking; water junction – the place where a stream or river flows from a larger source within it (sea, lake – out of our bellies shall flow rivers of living water); an opening; an open door; the opening between parts of a tool).
13 Hannah was speaking in her heart (the true basis of emotional and all life; someone’s main being or character; (out of the mouth the abundance of the heart speaks) affection; spirit; the core of a being); only her lips (fleshy folds around the mouth that helps control the acts of the mouth – eating, drinking, forming words) (many times God is moving but we cannot hear Him or we do not know what is being done…OR we can also look at this as our flesh coming under submission – control – her flesh was moving but what was going on inside of her was what was most important – that is where the power is!) moved but her voice (sound made using vocal organs; opinion; expression), was not heard (her opinion was not heard – she was focused on God and her faith-and her petition – casting ALL her care upon The Lord- not caring about anything else)… So Eli thought (assumed; had the idea; reasoned) she was drunk (had too much alcohol to drink; lost control over behavior, movement, and speech or loss of control or focus over a situation).
14 Eli said to her, How long will you be intoxicated (drunk; out of control)? Put wine (alcohol fermented from grapes; something that stimulates or stirs you up; to be treated by someone to a special, expensive, pricy act or possession) away (take from focus; into the distance; get uninvolved) from you. (God is letting her be tempted of the devil to quit here – God will let the enemy test us like this – it makes us stronger and builds character and faith---takes us to a higher level—be ready for the test – and strive to pass the test---The Lord is saying “pass this test this time, will ya- so you wont have to take it again!!!”)
15 But Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful (to be sad; full of sadness) spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I was pouring out ((out of the mouth the abundance of the heart speaks) and that river of living water source was stirred up within until she just could not help herself) my soul(who the individual is – mind, will and emotions – we need to let it all go and give it all to Him and get our hands out of it and let God move) before the Lord. she was focused on God and her faith- not focused on her surroundings or what she may look like to someone else – we have to get to that place that we are that focused and serious about God and what we are here for in the first place)
There are some enemies to prayer. Watch for these enemies:
1. Stress
2. Distraction
3. Anxiety/Depression
4. Physical Illness/Weakness
5. Being too busy
We must form habits when we pray. Apparently, Hannah had a time, a place, and a commitment to prayer. I would challenge you to form a habit concerning:
1. A specific time every day.
2. A specific place every day.
3. A prayer list to follow every day.
4. A regular Bible reading pattern...and also Bible Study
5. Meditation on The Word
6. Focus on The Lord and Praise Him in word and song
7. Meditate on The Lord and yield to Him ----LISTEN!
When you pray, expose yourself to God.
Notice that Hannah “poured out her heart before the Lord” (I Samuel 1:15), Hannah was completely open toward God. When you want to be an effective prayer warrior, you must:
1. Confess your sins.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).
2. Repent of those sins.
“If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked way” (II Chron. 7:14).
3. Forgive your enemies or adversaries as you ask God to forgive you.
The Lord’s Prayer tells us to ask God to forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors.
4. Be open to God for answers.
God gave us a Six Word Promise - “Call unto me, I will answer” (Jeremiah 33:3).
16 Regard (consider somebody or something; to see in relation to) not your handmaid as a wicked (very bad; mean; someone who means danger; plans to do harm to someone or something) woman; for out of my great complaint (formal charge and making of an unhappy statement; expression of unhappiness or dissatisfaction; an ailment or lack of) and bitter (resentful; intense; extreme; desperate; penetrating; to fight for what we are focused upon). provocation (act of provoking; petition of something in an intense manner) I have been speaking (in her spirit).
Hannah knew the inner position of prayer.
There are many PHYSICAL position that people pray in...many different positions. Some people stand, some walk or pace, some will kneel down, while driving or going for a walk, and some lie down prostrate (face down)on the floor (like David and many prophets did). Some sit on a chair, by a chair, by a bed, or some like to come to a church altar...many people think you have to be in a specific place to pray...
The best, true position to pray is an inner prayer position. Here, your heart kneels, even when/if the body cannot kneel. It is the heart that The Lord searches and knows...this is where our sincerity comes from and our faith is dispersed! God saw Hannah’s inner position, and it has been said on numerous occasions, “God saw . . . God heard . . . God answered.”
Prayer is important...even more important--- our motives for prayer!---Hannah knew the motives in prayer.
Hannah wanted a child because of two reasons.
1.Hannah wanted to please her husband, yet she was barren.
2. Hannah’s husband had another wife, Peninnah, who taunted her and made fun of her daily. It drove Hannah to tears.
Because of these two reasons, she agonized and pleaded with God.
Sometimes there are outside reasons that make us pray more fervently than ever before. It doesn’t matter what the reasaons are... the question is--- are you a fervent, effectual prayer warrior? do you pray in an inner position?
When you pray- it is not how much time you spend praying, it is how effective you are in attitude and desire. When you really want God to answer your prayer, and you’re willing to do anything?.
17 Then Eli said (blessed her), Go in peace (freedom from war; state of harmony of mind-body-spirit; to be at total, complete rest), and may (indicates permission; indicates a right; stresses possibility of petition being granted– ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD!) the God of Israel grant (to comply with a request; to agree with; to transfer something to someone or something; to allow something to happen or be given; to give a gift) your petition (demand or request for action with blessing and authority of the one who give it; something that is requested of someone who is able to give that which is being asked of them; pleading with and stating the cause of action that is desired; to make a formal request) which you have asked of Him.
18 Hannah said, Let your handmaid find grace (generosity of spirit; prayerfulness; to be found pleasing; freedom from sin; claim of The Gift of God JESUS – to ALL mankind) in your sight. So [she] went her way and ate, her countenance (facial expression; composure) was no longer sad. (we have to do that in faith – when we lay it at Jesus’ feet we need to leave it there and walk in confidence that He is more than able and He will supply ALL our need)
19 The family rose early the next morning, worshiped before the Lord, and returned to their home in Ramah (present tense; RIGHT NOW! This is something that can be used or applied now, today – this WORD is for now just as it was a story of old).
She went back home in full confidence.
Hannah worshipped the Lord which was her way of thanking the Lord for an answer before she got it. “So the woman (Hannah) went her way . . . and worshipped before the Lord” (v. 18, 19).
Guess what…God Granted her request!
Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.
20 Hannah became pregnant and in due time bore a son and named him Samuel [heard of God], Because, she said, I have asked him of the Lord.
21 And Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow.
Note the absence of praises from the father, Elhanah. He was not burdened. He did not pray, so he did not have a basis for worship. On the other hand, Hannah was burdened, Hannah prayed and Hannah had a basis for praising God for the answer.
22 But Hannah did not go, for she said to her husband, I will not go until the child is weaned (able to eat other than mother’s milk; able to give to totally), and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there as long as he lives. (keeping her vow to God that she would dedicate Him and give Him back to God for His Purpose and Use----WE must be willing to sacrifice what we hold near and dear to our hearts for God’s Will and Purpose in our lives – take up our cross and follow Him)
23 Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems best to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may the Lord establish (to fix upon permanently; to prove; to cause to be recognized; to cause a plant to grow successfully and rightly) His word. So Hannah remained and nursed (cared for; held close; worked with; nurtured and fed) her son until she weaned him.
24 When she had [a]weaned him, she took him with her, with a three-year-old (whole – trinity – man is made up of the three- body, soul, and spirit – signifies that she is giving her all – keeping her vow totally) bull (signifies determination to follow through with her vow; pressing through), an ephah (a Hebrew unit of measuring dry substances – equal to a bushel or 33 liters.) of flour, and a skin bottle of wine [to pour over the burnt offering for a sweet odor], and brought Samuel to the Lord’s house in Shiloh. The child was growing.
25 Then they slew the bull, and brought the child (product or result of a prayer; increase; answer to petition; miracle) to Eli.
26 Hannah said, Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here praying to the Lord. (look! Taste and See that The Lord is Good! making sure that she gives God ALL glory)
27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted my petition made to Him.
28 Therefore I have given him to the Lord (she kept her vow to The Lord); as long as he lives he is given (set apart) to the Lord. And they worshiped the Lord there.
Have you ever made vows to The Lord and broken them?
Proverbs says “it is better to not make a vow than to make a vow and break it”!
Have you really? truly? surrendered to God and laid down your petition, your need, your desire, your dream on the altar --at His Feet... and have you poured it out of your spirit…and not just through your emotions…
We are in The Temple…we are in under His Anointing right now…in His Presence…
(play some worship music) –let’s lay it down at His Feet…pour out your petition from your inner man tonight…come expecting…just come up here and kneel before Him around the altar----cry out to Him – don’t worry about who is coming and who is not-----are you serious about your need? Your desire? Mom…are you ready to really pour out for your unsaved son or daughter to be BORN AGAIN!???
Don’t worry about who is around you or what they are doing----pour out before Him from your inner spirit----
Let’s begin rejoice and praise Him for what He has done! Praise Him BEFORE you receive your request! PRAISE HIM!
