THE STORY MUST CHANGE (3)- POWER OF PRAYER
1 SAMUEL 1:1-20
We are in the world of battle and there are many things that will not change unless through your involvement. When you do your part, God will do His. There are situations or people God brings your way to get you to where He wants you to be- situations or people who came into your life to bring you down, not knowing that what they meant for bad, God meant it for good. It’s only Peninnah that can reduce your size for you to seek the Lord in fervent prayer. When you get your result, you can then say, 'Thank God for Peninnah’
1 SAMUEL 1:1-20
“Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill-country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite: and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. And this man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice unto Jehovah of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests unto Jehovah, were there. And when the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: but unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Jehovah had shut up her womb. And her rival provoked her sore, to make her fret, because Jehovah had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of Jehovah, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons? So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting upon his seat by the door-post of the temple of Jehovah. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto Jehovah, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O Jehovah of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thy handmaid, but wilt give unto thy handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto Jehovah all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. And it came to pass, as she continued praying before Jehovah, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Jehovah. Count not thy handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant thy petition that thou hast asked of him. And she said, Let thy handmaid find favor in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat; and her countenance was no more sad . And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before Jehovah, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Jehovah remembered her. And it came to pass, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bare a son; and she called his name Samuel, saying , Because I have asked him of Jehovah”
Elkanah had two wives. They were Hannah and Peninnah who was seen as a rival to Hannah. Because of the condition of Hannah, she always made her weep and sober. Hannah was an object of ridicule and shame. As usual, they went for a pilgrimage to Shiloh. When she stood out to seek the Lord in fervent prayer, the Lord turned her story to a miracle. A word from the priest, Eli gave her an assurance of victory in her situation. When she began to give testimony of God’s goodness anf visitation to her, the pride and arrogance of Peninnah were broken. Her prayer gave the nation of Israel one of the greatest prophet, the man Samuel. Remember, there were no mention of the sons of Peninnah in the whole scriptures.
The Battle Hannah fought;
a. Deceived by her husband (By marrying another wife)
b. Provoked by her co- wife (a rival, not consoler)
c. Disdained by the outside world
d.Misunderstood by the priest (seen as drunk)
FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW;
a. No case is closed for one who has relationship with God.
b. It’s a misbelief for one to be barren at mount Ephraim (fruitfulness)
c. God has not showed up yet does not mean He will not show up
d. Being a child of God is not an immunity from tragedy of life.
e. God knows the plight of His people
f. It’s only favor '(Hannah) that can cancel all frustration and intimidation
g. Delay is not denial at all.
h. Every problem which starts in a day has an expiry date
I. Your battle is half - solved when you know the right thing to do.
THE STORY OF LIFE CHANGES WHEN ONE;
1. Knows how to worship (vs 3)
2. Lives a life of sacrifice (vs 3)
3. Never considers the negatives around him –vs 6
( ie not joining the band - wagons)
4. Keeps on the faith despite the challenges (vs 7)
5. Goes to the correct place for a solution (vs 7)
6. Knows what to do (vs 10)
THANK GOD FOR ‘PENINAH’;
Without her, there shall be no record of agonising prayer
Without her, there shall be no Samuel
Without her, there is no future for Israel
Without her, the tender heart of the priest shall not be revealed.
(What you need is "ONE WORD FROM THE ALTAR")
a. If Pharaoh had not been horrible to Israel in Egypt, they would end up there (the house of bondage)
b. If the walls and gates of Jerusalem had not been burned, Nehemiah would have been in Babylon carrying cup
c. If Peter did not had it rough at the lake, he would’ ve remained a fisherman forever
THE SECRET WHICH CHANGES STORY (THE POWER OF PRAYER)
1. YOUR EMOTION
YOU CAN HAVE EMOTION BUT DON'T LET IT HAVE YOU.
There is nothing wrong in being emotional but there is everything wrong in allowing it consume you
Hannah, though pious woman, had emotions but channelled it to God.Where you channel your emotions determine how far you can go.
God is not moved with your emotions but when you call him (Psalm 50:14-15)
Your need does not move him but your fervent consultation
(Psalms 40:1-3)
2. YOUR UNDERSTANDING
The enemy is playing many people
A CLOSED WOMB IS NOT THE SAME AS BARRENNESS
The word of God did not say 'barren'. Womb was merely shut
This was the undoing of Peninah- 'your adversary'
Barrenness is used for one incapable of producing offspring.
Peninah made 2 mistakes
a. She thought Hannah was barren ( which means no hope) Nothing again
b. She thought provocation will do the magic (not knowing it is a strength
The delay doesn't mean its over
c. YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Possess the knowledge that certain provocation was pre-ordained
God wants you to know the mind of your rivals
The more the insult, the bigger the coming testimony.
You are not in competition with anyone.
Peninah was a tool in the hand of God to bring the BEST out.
No wonder, Hannah never exchanged words with her rival
She was close to Hannah but God was too closer.
Peninah helped to push Hannah up.
d. YOUR PROVOCATION
Unless you are provoked beyond measure, you can't make a move
Ask David, (1 Samuel 17)
Without this affliction, many would relax
e. YOUR REASON
THE CLOSING OF THE WOMB WAS FOR A REASON, NOT A SEASON
God always places adversary before open doors – (1 Corinthians 16:9)
The womb was closed because God had a better plan
He is in need of a son not Hannah
For the birth of Samuel, everything changed for Israel.
Prayer will make you to laugh last.
PRAYER CHANGES STORY;
1.Moses – Numbers 11:2
2.Elisha- 2 Kings 6:18
3. Jacob- Genesis 32: 24-29
4. Abraham- Genesis 18:23-33
5. Hezekiah- 2 Chronicles 32:24
6. Job- Job 42:10
7. Daniel- Daniel 6:10
8. Jonah- Jonah 2:1
9. The Disciples- Acts 4:31
