Untitled Sermon

16Sep2020 - Evangelist Night : Abilene District COGIC

Opening remarks is that the house has been addressed and I give honor to My Lord and Savior, Pastor Gene Ward/First Lady Ward, Superintendent Tabors, District Missionary Drones and Evangelist District President, Missionary Young. I count it an honor to be before you for a short time, as Evangelist President will have the closing MESSAGE. We ask that as God Word goes forth that it is spoken with a fresh anointing, clarity and with an understanding for the People of God as the Word of God is already blessed. Let’s go to I Samuel 1:1 - 11, and then skip to Verse 19 and 20, then Chapter 2:21 . The verses of emphasis will be Verse(s) 5 - 6, Verse 7, Verse 10, Verse 11, and then to V19. If time permits, I would like to add 1 Samuel 2:21. 

If I had to choose a Topic it would be: “The Power of Hannah’s Resilience”

According to Webster’s dictionary: Resilience is the ability to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult life events. Being resilient does not mean that people don’t express stress emotional upheaval, and suffering. Resilient people tat into their strengths and support system to overcome challenges and work through problems. Now that is what Webster’s defines it as, but let us go to scripture and examine how it was applied for This Woman of Faith and Prayer, Hannah.

Citation for GotQuestions.org - Resilience is the quality of being able to adapt to stressful life changes and “bouncing back” from hardship. Resilience is a response to tragedy, crisis, or other life-altering changes that allows us to move on despite the loss. Showing resilience does not mean that a person is unaffected or uncaring about the life change. Resilience is the human heart’s ability to suffer greatly and grow from it. When people refuse to give up on themselves and the world, even after misfortune, they are being resilient. It is so easy for things to enter our conscious without permission.

As we look at Verse 5: But unto Hannah he gave a worthy (a double) portion; for HE LOVED HANNAH: but the (it was customary in those days to attribute all such conditions to God, but in reality they could have been caused by a number of things, as in cases today) LORD (all caps, the self-existence one) had shut up her womb.

Verse 6: And her (Penninah - 2nd wife) adversary also provoked (she incited her to anger) her sore (of an unpleasant feeling in an environment and made fun of her because she could not have children - her rival taunted her), for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. Meaning the Lord had blocked her capacity.

Verse 10: And she was in bitterness (Never has there been any more earnestness in prayer than what is recorded here (Verse 10-11) Her pleading at last was heard (verse 17 - 28), which should encourage all desperate souls to pray.) of soul, and prayed unto the LORD (another all caps of LORD) and wept sore (causing pain or sore).

Verse 11: And she vowed a vow (2fold Vow of Hannah to God - 1) If You will look on my affliction, and REMEMBER ME to give a man child, I will give him to YOU all the days of his life. 2) He shall be a Nazarite - no razor shall come upon his head) and read can read further upon this in Numbers 6:5, Judges 13:5; 16-17) and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and REMEMBER ME, and not FORGET this handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

This is when Hannah is praying that the God would reverse what had been done.

Now, remember we are talking about RESILIENCE!!!

Verse 19: And they rose up in the morning early and worshipped (they worshipped as t the starting of the day which is the proper thing for all who believe in God) before the LORD and returned, and came to their house to Ramah (means high place): and Elkanah knew (an idiom (MANNER OF SPEAKING, TURN OF PHRASE) meaning cohabitation and fatherhood - reference scriptures Genesis 4:1, 17, 25; 19:5; Matthew 1:25.) Hannah his wife; and the (7 miraculous conceptions - Sarah (son Isaac), Rebekah (son Jacob and Esau), Rachel (Joseph), Manoah’s wife (Samson), Hannah (Samuel), Elizabeth (John the Baptist), Mary (Jesus Christ) LORD REMEMBERED HER.

The Message of this verse is that: If God causes the problem, only God can fix the problem. Question: Are you in tune spiritually?

Conclusion is Verse 20: Wherefore it came to pass, when the time (key word - 9 months after the happening of V19) was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bar a son, and called his name Samuel (Hebrew Shemuel, asked of God, or God heard), saying Because I have asked him of the LORD. Chapter 2:21 b clause - Hannah had 3 sons and 2 daughter after Samuel

Now my question(s) to you in reference to RESILIENCE is this (Please ponder these questions and answer yourself privately):

1) Are you making choices that Help or Hinder Your Resilience?

2) How well have you adapted to your obstacles?

3) Have you found yourself abiding with patience while whethering the storm of Resilience?

4) What am I learning that I didn’t before?

5) What would happen if I turned it upside down or inside out? Meaning, resilience may be achieved in changing our direction. Sometimes, we have to lose to win.

6) Is resilience being able to bounce back to what use to be flawed?

7) Final Question - Have you altered your course?

Coping is surviving, but resilience is thriving.

Let us know that THE PRINCIPLES OF RESILIENCE is:

Gratitude

Compassion

Acceptance

Meaning

Forgiveness

But most of all we have to have FAITH in the Lord.

Read Psalms 37:23-24 as it reads: The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.