Deal With Your Peninnah
1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite[a] from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. 6 Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1-9)
Tonight as we mark the 15th year of The Believer’s Evangelical Fellowship ministry, we look at a spiritual syndrome that afflicts God’s children. This prayer sermon takes you over the top of the Enemy and spells your victory!
Barrenness of any kind is evil. It is not from God, except it is permitted by Him to program you for your promotion and ultimate success. Somebody same an Amen!
A gentleman William Congreve wrote a play in 1697 called The Morning Bride. In Act 3 Scene 2 it states, "Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn'd.". These days it is stated, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”
I always say one of the best ways for a man to shoot himself in the foot is to marry more than one wife.
No matter the love a man shows a woman, once there is another woman involved, it can never be appreciated fully.
It gets worse if like in the bible passage above, one is blessed with children, or is blessed period, while the other has a lack.
Your Peninnah is that personality or power that mocks you, oppresses you and looks at negative situations in your life to multiply your sadness and your feelings of worthlessness or non-achievement.
Your Peninnah could be your late marriage, your lack of progress generally in life, a tough ministry situation, your reversed marriage, your widowhood, a sickness, a massive debt, whatever. Whatever mocks your situation and your service and faith in your God!
It basically says, “Hey look at me, I am a success, guess what? You are a failure.”
Whatever is mocking your success and life, saying “what have you gained from serving God, what have you gained from saving souls, what have you gained from being celibate and not misusing your body, will bow for your sake after these prayers in Jesus name.
Peninnah, kills your spirit, tells you, you are unworthy, tells you, you can never achieve your dream or goals and sets you up for depression, sadness and if care is not taken, ultimate destruction.
Hannah was programmed for greatness. The greatness of being the mother of one of Israel’s greatest prophets. The virtual king of God’s chosen people for many years. But the bible says in verse 5 above, ..”and the Lord had closed her womb”
Lamentations 3:37-38 says
37 Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?
Except the Lord permitted it for a season, some cannot spring into their greatness. Such was the situation of Ms Hannah Elkanah. Perhaps that is your situation too. Baba will rescue you today. Just believe. Remember if you say to that mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, and do not doubt it, that mountain is going to the bottom of the ocean! (Mark 11:23 paraphrased).
The bible say, “6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.” (1 Samuel 1:6). Have you ever had a friend look so successful, while you look like utter failure? Do they come on Facebook or some other social media looking like a shining light while you look like darkness. Well I have good news for you, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)
Peninnah pushed Hannah to her victory. Peninnah pushed Hannah to fast and pray to success. Peninnah pushed Hannah to make her one child count more than all the other of Elkanah’s children. Guess what? You are being pushed to your breakthrough right now in Jesus name.
I looked at the story. By the 6th verse of 1 Samuel, Peninnah was forgotten, while the story of Hannah and her son went on for two books of the bible and beyond!
Your Peninnah will be forgotten in Jesus name. Your Peninnah will spur you to your victory.
NOW PRAY!
We will use Hannah’s prayers in 1 Samuel 2 as our basis
Hannah’s Prayer
2 Then Hannah prayed and said:
Start by giving thank and praise to God
“My heart rejoices in the LORD;
in the LORD my horn[g] is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.
2 “There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
3 “Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the LORD is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.
4. The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength. - O Lord break the bows of those warriors against my success
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry are hungry no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away. – O Lord in your mercy, perfectly remove every form of barren
“6 “The LORD brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.” - O Lord kill every power of Peninnah oppressing and disgracing me, and resurrect my joy in Jesus name.
“7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.” - O lord, humble every Peninnah in my life and
8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; on them he has set the world. - O Lord raise me from the dust of poverty, lack and disease and sit mw with princes and kings in the name of Jesus.
9 He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. – O Lord guard my feet, lead it and silence every Peninnah personality or situation that is opposing me in Jesus name.
“It is not by strength that one prevails; 10 those who oppose the LORD will be broken. – O Lord, my enemy is your enemy because I am yours. Break every Peninnah that is opposing me in Jesus name.
The Most High will thunder from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth. – O Lord Thunder from heaven and judge every Peninnah personality or situation in my life in Jesus name.
“He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” - O Lord give me strength and anoint against every Peninnah in my life in Jesus name.
O Lord, expose and disgrace every Peninnah personality and situation in my life in Jesus name.
Begin to rejoice brethren. Glory be to God.
