Hannah - A Woman Of Faith

“Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah: And he had two wives; the name of the one [was] Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.............but the LORD had shut up her womb.”

(1 Samuel 1:1-5)

A wonderful role model for women of faith today is that of Hannah. The mother of Samuel, one of the greatest prophets of Israel. Whose story is told in the first two chapters in the book of 1 Samuel. From just a simple reading of the material in these two chapters we can glean several lessons from “Hannah – A Woman of Faith.”

I – WOMEN OF FAITH ENDURE REAL PROBLEMS – Hannah’s problem is she cannot bear a child. Her womb was closed by the Lord. “But the LORD had shut up her womb.” (Samuel 1:1-5). What we can learn from Hannah? Women of faith are not without problems in this life. The righteous often suffer (remember Job). We should not let others deter our trust in the Lord. Hannah could have used her misfortune and mistreatment as an excuse...I don’t want to serve God anymore. Yet year after year, Hannah continued to worship the Lord.

II – WOMEN OF FAITH EXTEND VIBRANT PRAYERS -What we can learn from Hannah? Pray fervently. Hannah put her soul in her prayers. “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” ( Colossians 4:2 ) . Pray persistently. Hannah continued steadfastly in prayers.
Pray faithfully. Hannah believed that God would answer her prayers. “ And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”(1 John 5:14-15). Women of faith believe in the efficacy of prayer. God takes notice of such faith.
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

III – WOMEN OF FAITH EXPERIENCE GOD’S PROVISIONS – God gave many provisions to Hannah. God answered Hannah’s request to bear a son by the name of Samuel.
The Lord remembered Hannah. “And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.” (1 Samuel 1:19)
The Lord gave her a son, whom she named Samuel. “Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, [saying], Because I have asked him of the LORD.” (1 Samuel 1:20).

We can learn from Hannah that God may sometimes give us what we want. It must be according to His will. We must abide in His Words. Selfish prayers will not be answered as we wish. God will always provide what we need. It may not be what we want or expect. But it will meet our needs, and be for our good.

IV – WOMEN OF FAITH EXCEL AT KEEPING PROMISE - She planned to keep her promise. “But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, [I will not go up] until the child be weaned, and [then] I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.” (1 Samuel 1:22).

We can learn from Hannah that we should keep our vows. God has no pleasure in fools who do not keep their vows. “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better [is it] that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.”(Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). As Christians, even our “yes” and “no” are as solemn vows. Fulfilment of vows or promise should not be done begrudgingly. We should with gratitude of heart do the will of the Lord. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”(Colossians 3:17).

V – WOMEN OF FAITH EXPRESS THEIR PRAISE – We can learn from Hannah that we should rejoice in blessings received. For we are to rejoice always. “Rejoice evermore.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16).
How much more so when we have received blessings from the Lord. We should offer praise for blessings received. Good health, financial, good harvest even we think not, children, etc. Praising God is how Christians offer spiritual sacrifices to God.

In conclusion, “Hannah – A Woman of Faith” serves to remind us that all women of faith....should
Endure real problems
Extend vibrant prayers
Experience God’s provisions
Excel at keeping promises
Express their praise

Today, anyone can become a person of faith. Even though you face many problems. If you are willing to come to God in prayerful obedience to the gospel of Christ. Receive the gift of salvation provided through God’s Son. Remain true to your commitment to His authority as Lord of your life. Offer your life and the fruit of your lips in praise to Him. May everyone, whether male of female, be able to say together with Hannah.


(From Pastor Shem Gardose’s Sunday Worship Messages)

Money, Possessions and Eternity

“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

(1 Timothy 6:9-10)

People talk about money. People think about money. People act according to how much money they have. Here are lessons to be learned suggested by the Bible.
Illustration “MONEY SPEAKS”
You hold me in your hand and call me yours. Yet may I not as well call you mine. See how easily I rule you? I go nowhere unless you send me. I keep strange company. For me, men mock, love, and scorn character. Yet I am appointed to the service of saints, to give education to the growing mind and food to the starving bodies of the poor. My power is terrific. Handle me carefully and wisely, lest you became my servant rather than yours.”

All of us have OPPORTUNITIES to earn money. All of us have TEMPTATIONS concerning money. Warning!
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”(Matthew 6:21).
We will spend much of our time and energy on whatever we put value to. This materialistic world has made man SUBSERVIENT (submissive, subordinate, compliant, obedient) to money. We should not be fascinated with our posessions, lest they posses us. To a great extent, people who get rich, become proud, arrogant and rude. People steal and kill for love of money.

There are two (2) basic principles we need to know:
(1) GOD OWNS EVERYTHING
(2) MAN IS A MERE STEWARD OF ALL GOD GIVEN RESOURCES

I – GOD OWNS EVERYTHING -“ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”(1 Timothyb 6:7)
Nobody owns anything (even a single thing) in the world.
A) Over 70 percent of the body weight is water which would be free.
B) No scientific instrument is as sensitive to the light as person’s eye.
Automatically, the muscles of the eye relax so that the lens is small and thick for distant viewing or they stretch the lens to bring into focus. No wonder the eye was the original model for cameras.
God gave it for FREE!
C) The ear is as much an acoustic marvel as the eye is an optic one. The inner ear is like a keyboard with 15,000 keys because that is the number of different tones that can be detected.
Not only does the ear perform the function of hearing, it acts to control equilibrium as well. Who but God could have originated such a dual purpose instrument?
God gave it for FREE!.
D) The Brain – even though your brain will forget more than 90% of what you learn during your lifetime, it may still store up as much as 10 times more information than there is in the library of Congress (U.S.A) with its 17 million volumes.
God gave it for FREE!
The Bible is true: “We didn’t bring anything with us when we came into the world and we can’t carry away a single thing when we die.”
“The earth [is] the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”(Psalm 24:1).
If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world [is] mine, and the fulness thereof. "(Psalm 50:12)
Lesson:
We should acknowledge God’s sovereign authority over everything God has given us.
God has supreme unlimited power over the entire universe. He creates, He preserves, He governs.
As we understand God’s power, we realize that HE is Sufficient to handle our lives.

II – THE MAN IS A MERE STEWARD OF ALL GOD – GIVEN RESOURCES
“Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all [things] under his feet:”(Psalm 8:6).
God gave mankind tremendous authority – to be in charge of the whole earth. But with great authority comes great responsibility. Use your resources wisely because God holds you accountable for your stewardship.

The following are some suggestions on how we can become better stewards:
1. Prepare a Budget – Every single centavo gets accounted for. “When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost."(John 6:12). “Gather up the fragments (centavo) that remain, that nothing can be lost. You are able to compare earnings with expenses, and know before hand whether expenses will be greater than earnings. This gives you the opportunity to adjust expenses accordingly and determine spending priorities. More importantly, budgeting makes you the master of your own money instead of money mastering you. You don’t ask where your money went, but you tell your money where to go.
2. Set Aside money for Emergencies – “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer.”(Proverbs 30:25). There’s wisdom in saving for rainy days. Scrimping on the little vices like softdrinks, junkfoods and big vices like smoking, gambling and drinking can increase savings.
3. Avoid IMPULSIVE BUYING - Avoid the rush a store sale. Control the urge to go on buying sprees than to stay away from the malls! Disengage from the window shopping pastime. Observe the “DELAYED ACTION FORMULA” before making a purchase. God, our FINANCIAL ADVISER is best consulted, so pray about it first, when tempted, FLEE!
4. Distinguish between NEEDS and WANTS – “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”(Philippians 4:19).
Note the words: “ALL your need”A need is basic to DAILY Survival. A want is something that we can live without because it leans on the side of CAPRICE.
5. Live on what God Provides – “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." (Philippians 4:11-12). “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (1Timothy 6:8).
The key to contentment is to live within your means. Not coveting what other people have should protect us from chasing after things that we cannot afford.
6. Avoid increasing Debt - “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender. “ (Proverbs 22:7). The credit card syndrome has put a lot of people deep into debt.
“He who borrows sells his freedom”. Longer instalment payment plans may appear light on the pocket, but when you compute compounded monthly interest rates, the amount can be ASTRONOMICAL (inconceivably large).
7. PAY YOUR TITHES - “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].” (Malachi 3:10).
God will prove Himself faithful to those who faithfully abide His command to Tithe. He promises blessings beyond our imagination, for no one can ever outgive God. We can choose the path of destruction by serving money and possessions, or we can choose the path of eternal rewards. Giving to the Lord is but transporting our goods to a higher floor.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”(Matthew 6:19-20).

(From Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon’s Sunday Worship Messages).