Introduction: Some time ago I bought a book titled “10,000 Ways to Say I Love You”.The book is a (Paperback edition )-by Gregory Godek.
The book description say “Say "I love you" again, and again, and again . . . “This little book of love is the biggest collection of loving ideas ever gathered in one place” Express your true affection with secret love notes, perpetual bouquets, secluded picnics, outrageous gifts . . . and 9,996 more ways to say ""I love you!"
As we seek to reflect and continue in a time of testimony of praise and worship, this is our way of telling God we love Him. This is our way of saying “Thank you God for all you done for us in 2007 and before”.
We love God because He gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins. His name is Jesus. Thank God we have Him tonight 2008; because without Him we are nobody-we ourselves are not sufficient–however our sufficiency is from God… (2 Corinthians 3:5)
I just want to take this time to acknowledge Jesus and let you know somethings about Him.
1.Jesus Christ is sufficient for Salvation (Hebrews 10:10-12)
2.He is sufficient for Creation (Col 1:16-17)
3.He is the only Mediator between God and man, He is the Sun that Enlightens, the physician that heals, the Wall of fire that defends; the Friend that Comforts; the Pearl that enriches; the Ark that supports; and the Rock to sustain under the heaviest of pressures; He is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb.1:3;8:1)
4.He is our Peace (Ephesians 2:14)
5.He is our Hope (I Timothy 1:1)
6.He is our Life (Col 3:4)
7.He is our Lord of Hosts, the Redeemer,-the Holy One of Israel, The God of the whole earth (Isaiah 54:5)
8.He is the great IAM (John 8:58)
9.He is our wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)
10.He is Lord (Philippians 2:10-13)
11.He is the first born of all creation (Col 1:15)
12.Advocate (1 John 2:1)
13.Almighty (Rev. 1:8; Mt. 28:18)
14.Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13)
15.Authour of Life (Acts 3:15)
16.Authour and Perfecter of our Faith (Heb. 12:2)
17.Authour of Salvation (Heb. 2:10)
18.Beginning and End (Rev. 22:13)
19.Bread of Life (John 6:35; 6:48)
20.Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20)
21.Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4)
22.Deliverer (Rom. 11:26)
23.Eternal Life (1 John 1:2; 5:20)
24.First and Last (Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13)
25.Firstborn From the Dead (Rev. 1:5)
26.Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14)
27.High Priest (Heb. 2:17)
28.Holy One (Acts 3:14)
29.Hope (1 Tim. 1:1)
30.Hope of Glory (Col. 1:27)
31.Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69)
32.Immanuel (Mt. 1:23)
33.Judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42)
34.Life (John 14:6; Col. 3:4)
35.Light of the World (John 8:12)
36.Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5)
37.Living One (Rev. 1:18)
38.Living Stone (1 Pet. 2:4)
39.Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8)
40.Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16)
41.Man from Heaven (1 Cor. 15:48)
42.Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15)
43.Mighty God (Isa. 9:6)
44.Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)
45.Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16)
46.Only Begotten Son of God (John 1:18; 1 John 4:9)
47.Our Great God and Saviour (Titus 2:13)
48.Our Holiness (1 Cor. 1:30)
49.Our Protection (2 Thess. 3:3)
50.Our Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30)
51.Our Righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30)
52.Precious Cornerstone (1 Pet. 2:6)
53.Prophet (Acts 3:22)
54.Resurrection and Life (John 11:25)
55.Righteous Branch (Jer. 23:5)
56.Righteous One (Acts 7:52; 1 John 2:1)
57.Rock (1 Cor. 10:4)
58.Root of David (Rev. 5:5; 22:16)
59.Ruler of the Kings of the Earth (Rev. 1:5)
60.True Light (John 1:9)
61.True Vine (John 15:1)
62.Truth (John 1:14; 14:6)
63.Way (John 14:6)
As we come out of this praise break let us turn to 1 Samuel2:1-10.
Hannah means: grace or favour
Hannah’s’ Reflection:
In 1 Samuel 2:1-10-we saw a woman by the name of Hannah who took time to reflect on God Goodness.
Who was Hannah?
One of the two wives of Elkanah, an Ephraimite who lived at Ramathaim-zophim. Hannah visited Shiloh yearly with her husband to offer sacrifices, for there the tabernacle was located. She was greatly distressed because they had no children. She therefore prayed earnestly for a male child whom she promised to dedicate to the Lord from his birth. The prayer was heard, and she called her son’s name Samuel (“God hears”). When he was weaned he was carried to Shiloh to be trained by Eli, the priest (1 Sam 1). Hannah became the mother of five other children, three sons and two daughters (1Sa_2:2). Her devotion in sending Samuel a little robe every year is one of the tenderest recorded instances of maternal love (1Sa_2:19).
Hannah praised God for His answer to her prayer. In Luke 1:46-55, we see that Mary, mother of Jesus, also praised God –she modeled her praise after Hannah. Like Hannah and Mary, we should be confident of God’s ultimate control over the events in our lives, and we should be thankful for the ways God has blessed us. By praising God for all good gifts, we acknowledge His ultimate control over all the affairs of life. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning. (James 1:17)
We need to praise God for He has brought us into 2008. I know many of us were like Hannah who went up to the throne of God yearly, monthly, weekly ,daily to worship God and make petition,but to no avail. But that was 2007.Blessed be the name of the Lord.I indeed we are in 2008, and God has brought us into 2008 for a purpose.
But is your purpose ,God’s purpose? I want to let you know that your purpose must become God’s purpose so that God can get the glory. It is the favour of God that you are here, but it is His grace that will keep you.
Maybe you have been pressing for years, you have been hitting a glass sealing, its like there is an anti-you,a barrier keeping you from achieving your goal,I want to let you know that if we give God the glory and praise that is due to Him, that barrier must come down, That glass sealing must be broken. Because Our Lord is Lord of the breakthrough and so we worship Him.God wants Glory.
God wants the glory return in our life, He wants the Glory return in our homes, He wants to glory to shine forth in our churches. And by the Spirit of God, we know that this glory will shine forth this year. Do you believe it?
I Sam 2:2: Hannah praised God for being a “rock”-firm strong and unchanging.
We have become people of fast paced. In this fast paced world we see important persons in our lives-families; friends; love ones, come and go. We see circumstances change. Often times, it is difficult to find a solid foundation that will not change. But there is a God, who wakes us up in the morning, who brought us into to 2008, who decided that we shall not die but live. This God is always present. Let us hope in him, for He never fails. Let us praise Him for His mercy edureth for ever.
Friends,You may feel that God is withholding your blessing-but it not about you,its all about Him.Maybe He is not displease with you, but because He regard you highly. Maybe friends, just maybe He wants to give you a blessing that you won’t have room enough to receive it.
If I was you I would have start thanking and praising God right now, because God is not willing to give you a cheap,fake,carbon copy- but instead He wants to give you the "real thing" which you will receive indue course like Hannah received.Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Turn your Bible to John 11-As we see the real purpose for Lazarus death,was that the Son of God may be glorified.
Friends we must thankthe Lord for great things He has done.
Ps. 118: 1-4, 29
1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
Ps. 136: 1-26
1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 O give thanks unto the aGod of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5 To him that by awisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6 To him that stretched out the aearth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
18 And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
19 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
21 And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
22 Even a heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
• • •
Amen
