iPRAY #2: BIG PROBLEMS, BOLD PRAYERS, AND BEAUTIFUL PRAISE
HUMOUR: A little boy forgot his lines in a Sunday school presentation. His mother was in the front row to prompt him. She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it did not help. Her son's memory was blank. Finally, she leaned forward and whispered the cue, "I am the light of the world." The child beamed and with great feeling and a loud clear voice said, "My mother is the light of the world."
THE BIG IDEA: When we have a big problem in our lives, we need to know how to pray bold prayers, so that God can perform a miracle, resulting in beautiful praise.
1. THE BIG PROBLEM:
In the first 8 verses of First Samuel 1, we learn about a man named Elkanah who had two wives: Peninnah and Hannah. Pininnah mocked Hannah and so Hannah wept and wouldn’t eat.
“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. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.” (1 Samuel 1:9-10).
• Whatever problem you’re facing today, arise! Get up! Go on!
• “Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me.” (Micah 7:7-8).
2. THE BOLD PRAYER:
“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.” (1 Samuel 1:11).
• Hannah prayed and fasted for her child before the child was even born.
• Hannah dedicated her child to the Lord (discuss baby dedications).
“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.” (1 Samuel 1:12-18).
• Hannah prayed an intense, passionate prayer that resulted in God’s favour and blessing.
“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.” (1 Samuel 1:20).
• God responded to Hannah’s big problem and answered her bold prayer!
“Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young.” (1 Samuel 1:24).
• It’s good to dedicate our children to God after they are born as well.
• It’s good to bring our children to the house of the Lord.
A. THE RESULT OF THE BOLD PRAYERS:
• Samuel served the Lord, even as a child (1 Sam. 2:18).
• Samuel led Israel in its first great revival.
• Samuel drove the Philistines back into their territory.
• Samuel re-established worship of the One True God.
• Samuel set up the Kingdom of Israel.
• Samuel anointed David as King.
• Samuel wrote 1 Samuel.
B. HOW DO WE PREPARE OUR CHILDREN?
“And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and men.” (1 Sam. 2:26).
• Luke 2:52: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
• This is a Bible verse that I’ve been praying for my children lately.
QUOTE: “Make sure the heavenly father hears about your children daily… You’ll never be a perfect parent, but you can be a praying parent. Prayer is your highest privilege as a parent… Your children need to see and hear you praying… Your prayers for your children are the greatest legacy you can leave.” (Mark Batterson, Praying Circles Around Your Children).
a. Pray for your children every day. Ask God’s favour to be upon their lives. Pray for His protection: “Lead them not into temptation, but deliver them from evil.” I do this when I tuck my children into bed at the end of the day.
b. Make family devotions a priority. We do this at dinner time. It doesn’t have to be long or complicated. Read a family devotional book, or read a chapter from the Bible.
c. Bring your children to church. In our family, it’s not an option. We come to church together as a family. God’s Word is being planted in their hearts! Bring them to the place where God can bless them.
C. WHAT CAUSES REBELLION IN CHILDREN?
• Conflict between parents. #1 reason kids get into drug & alcohol abuse.
• Lack of proper discipline. Prov. 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go.” Train = direct, control, or make the child do right. Bring your kids to church!
• Speaking negative words over your children. This causes children to rebel.
• Giving children things and not love. Not saying things are bad, but proper balance.
• Children reflect their parents’ spirituality. Passion produces passion.
3. BEAUTIFUL PRAISE:
“1 And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. 2 "No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God… 9 He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. "For by strength no man shall prevail. 10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed.” (1 Samuel 2:1-10).
• v.5 says: “Even the barren has borne seven.”
• Hannah gave her firstborn son to the Lord, and the Lord blessed her with seven children!
• “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph. 3:20-21).
• When we have a big problem in our lives, and we pray bold prayers, God performs a miracle, resulting in beautiful praise.
ILLUSTRATION:
"Max Jukes, the atheist, lived a godless life. He married an ungodly girl, and from the union there were 310 who died as paupers (poor), 150 were criminals, 7 were murderers, 100 were drunkards, and more than half of the women were prostitutes. His 540 descendants cost the State one and a quarter million dollars.
"But, praise the Lord, it works both ways! There is a record of a great American man of God, Jonathan Edwards. He lived at the same time as Max Jukes, but he married a godly girl. An investigation was made of 1,394 known descendants of Jonathan Edwards of which 13 became college presidents, 65 college professors, 3 United States senators, 30 judges, 100 lawyers, 60 physicians, 75 army and navy officers, 100 preachers and missionaries, 60 authors of prominence, one a vice-president of the United States, 80 became public officials in other capacities, 295 college graduates, among whom were governors of states and ministers to foreign countries. His descendants did not cost the state a single penny. 'The memory of the just is blessed' (Prov. 10:7)." (Al Sanders, Crisis in Morality).
APPLICATION:
What big problem are you facing in your life right now?
• Pray bold prayers, watch God perform a miracle, and praise Him for it.
• What do you want Jesus to do for you and your family?
CLOSING PRAYER:
Pray for all of the families and challenge them to pray together.
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
