1 Samuel 1:27
I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.
One of the most spiritually paralyzing acts for a Christian to do is to give what God has them. Naturally, we know how to ask for good gifts we can fast and pray for great gifts for ourselves. But very rarely do we give of those gifts which God has given us to someone else. For this when we hear the immutable voice of God telling us to bless someone with what we have received we become shocked and our indecision causes us to be at an emotional and spiritual stand still becoming handicapped by the very blessing God has given us to free you from the need of that blessing, we seemingly get paralyzed when it comes time for us to bless someone else. Repeat.
This type of spiritual behavior causes the believer to confuse the voice of God with the voice of the devil or your flesh. For we readily admit when we know God wants us to have a blessing….. but how often do we hear people saying, “ I think God is telling me to give something away. It takes a very mature Christian to realize when it is time give a blessing back. Our sermon text is about such a one.
Hannah could not have any children, she became depressed over her barrenness. Consequently, she prayed to God for a son, and vowed that when God gives her that she would give it back to God.
Hannah therefore did three things which we should emulate as we are inspired to do the same thing
1. She prayed to God. Hannah knew who her blessings come from this is why she prayed to God for a son, because she knew He was the only one who could give her one.
2. She pledged her blessing. Hannah told God that if she would bless her, she would in turn give her blessing back. It is vitally important to not make vows if you know that you cannot pay them. Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 says 4When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. 6Do no t let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?
3. She provided the blessing: After having been blessed by God, Hannah remembered her vow, and gave her blessing back to God. When we provide a blessing it is like what Ecclesiastes 11:1 says you are casting “your bread upon the waters, for after many days you find it again.” The astonishing part of all this is we always ask God for a blessing, but we very seldom seek to be a blessing. How often do we say as in the words of David
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;[a]
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
The only way you can give a blessing is by knowing the Blessor, The one who died so that we can be considered a child of God. Jesus Christ, God the Son is the Father’s gift to the world. Will you accept God’s ultimate blessing of salvation? When you accept this blessing you can truly be able to be a blessing someone else.
Let us pray: God I thank you for the blessings that you have given us all through Jesus Christ. I pray that everyone reading this has accepted this most precious gift. But if they have not God I pray that you touch them by your Holy Spirit and that they confess their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior in Jesus Name. Amen
If I can pray you for in any way please do not hesitate to let me know in the request box.
1 Comment
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