1. You have heard that 'it is done as it is said'. When people hear this, they apply immediately. 'I am healthy. I am rich. I succeed.” Indeed, there are some who become healthy, some who are rich, others who have succeeded in their fields as they said. So if you listen to the stories of these people, you will want to apply it harder. On the other hand, it is also to be careful about speaking. If we believe that it will be done as whatever we say.
The reason why it is done as it is said: It is because thoughts are words, words are actions, behaviors become habits, habits become personality, and personality becomes destiny that the life of a person is determined. There are also articles that say that you should bless and love in the heart of complaints and to spread the wrinkles of life in positive and positive words from the negative mind.
There was an experiment that showed how powerful words are. It was an experiment in which one put the steamed rice into two bowls and then spoke a word of thanks in one bowl and a curse in the other. Although everything was the same, the steamed rice that had heard of the curse, was more vulnerable. Is it fascinating? It is also a demonstration of how powerful our words are and how we should speak.
2. In the Bible, you can easily find examples of the importance of the words. Because the Bible is the book that records God’s words. The Bible tells how God speaks and how His words worked. What happens if God speaks? It is done as God said.
If you read Genesis 1, you can find it. 'God said,' The next record is, of course, it is done as what God has said.
When God said, 'Let there be light', there was light. And God said, “Let the grass of the earth bring forth grass and seed, and the tree of the fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” As it was so. As God has said, Jesus, His son, come to this earth, died on the cross, and rose again three days later. The world has begun according to God's word, and the end of the world will come according to God's word. When? In His time God’s words will be fulfilled. Therefore, we also should treat God's Word with fear and trembling heart. This is because God will do as He has said, as God has said. Our Lord, Jesus Christ will come again as He has told us.
As God spoke to Abraham, the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt for 400 years and were released. However, the Israelites suffered many difficulties on their way to Canaan, the land of God's promise. Every time the Israelites complained to God. They said that they would rather die in Egypt. They complained to God in the wilderness. Furthermore, the people of Israel blamed God and tried to return to Egypt. It is in Numbers 14 that God spoke to the Israelites at that time.
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: "How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. So tell them, 'As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say:"(Numbers 14: 26-28)
So what happened? Other than Caleb and Joshua, others died in the wilderness without being able to enter Canaan, God's promised land.
If we look at these things, we can realize right away. Our words are not to blame God, but to praise God. We look forward to the Lord who is on our side in all circumstances and that we should be praising Him! Then God will do to us as our words are heard in God's ears. I want you and me to thank you God in all circumstances.
3. Today's passage shows Hannah's prayer. And it contains what happened to Hannah as she prayed. I hope that our prayers will be like Hannah's prayers. I hope Hannah's testimony will be our testimony. We want to share with you how Hannah prayed.
Hannah, who appears in the scripture, seemed to be a happy person who lives without the worries of the world. It was economically affordable and, above all, she experienced a plenty of husband's love. She would be happy, but her heart was completely different. This also shows that people who seem happy may have worries and anxieties that others do not. Hannah's anxiety was that she had no children. At that time, the woman was treated as a sinner if she could not bear a child. So it seemed that Hannah had been despised by her husband's second wife, Peninnah who had children. As the aspect of the second wife, she might feel that her husband's love was taken away by Hannah, who had no children.
Anyway, Hannah is annoyed with her heart, and she complained her husband, but there was nothing that her husband, Elkanah, can do. Eventually Hannah began crying to God and praying. And Hannah poured out the anxieties, frustrations, and disunities in her heart before God.
Brothers and Sisters, are you distressed? I hope you pray to God like Hannah. God hears your prayers.
It may not clear why Hannah made a vow to God as she prayed. She promised that if God gave birth to a child as she prayed, she would give the child to the Lord.'
Please do not apply whether your prayers will be answered if you pray in vows. God is not someone who has to promise something and listen to our prayers.
Although the Bible contains a brief description of Hannah's prayer, we can see through verse 12 that Hannah had prayed for a long time. And Hannah, whose heart was troubled, she prayed inward. Her lips moved, but the voice does not come out because she could not pray to hear her mind by others. God heard Hannah's prayer.
God knows everything even though we pray inwards.
Unlike Hannah who wept and prayed, Eli, the priest who watched Hannah, thought she was drunk and sang. The layman prays hard in front of God, and the pastor is like making the wrong sound. Brothers and Sisters, I may be like Eli. If the leaders of the church are spiritually insensitive, although the saints might be sad and prayed, the leader’s words may be strange. Please pray for the church leaders. Likewise, if you become spiritually dull, you may become like Eli. It is therefore important that we do not get spiritually dull.
"Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief." (NIV, ver. 15,16).
In the NASB version,
“But Hannah replied, "No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD. "Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation."
Then Eli told Hannah: 'Go in peace, and let the God of Israel grant you what you prayed for.' It is interesting that it was done as he said although he was spiritually dull. Though Eli could have blamed Hannah to the end, but he did not.
Then an amazing reaction is found in verse 18. She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.“
Hannah believed that it would happen as Eli the priest said. Hannah heard the words of Eli and convinced that God would hear her prayer.
As Hannah said, as she prayed, Hannah gave birth to Samuel. Hannah says God remembered. God has remembered his prayer. Our prayers will also be remembered by God.
4. But there is one thing to go over here. For what reason does Hannah have a vow prayer?
Will God answer you sooner if you pray in vows? No. Please don’t apply that ‘if we give a lot of gifts to God, our prayers will be answered, if not, our payers would not be answered.’
Nevertheless, for what reasons did Hannah make a vow? We can get a hint from Hannah's prayer.
In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head." (1 Samuel 1: 10-11)
Hannah had prayed for a long time with her problems and realized something that the state of Israel of her country which was pitiful like her. As Hannah had no hope for the future, the Israelites were also desperate at that time. As Hannah was despised and mocked by other, Israel was also despised and mocked by other nations. Hannah realized this when she was praying. The reason why God did not give Hannah a child so far might be that God wanted to realize the state of her nation. When she prayed with a sincere heart, and suddenly Hannah saw Israel and understood God's heart which made her feel sorry. This was the reason why Hannah made a vow to God. 'If you have mercy on me and allow a son, he will work for you, for this nation.' And as she prayed, God gave Samuel to Hannah, and she gave Samuel to God as she had prayed.
5.
It is important to live in what we say. The people in the world know about this. But the people in the world say to get what they want, for their own sake, without any relationship to God.
I hope that we also have a testimony that it was done as we prayed or as we said. But there is an important not to pray according to my will, but to pray according to God’s will. Let’s pray to God. You should recognize God’s will. Amen!
The reason why it is done as it is said: It is because thoughts are words, words are actions, behaviors become habits, habits become personality, and personality becomes destiny that the life of a person is determined. There are also articles that say that you should bless and love in the heart of complaints and to spread the wrinkles of life in positive and positive words from the negative mind.
There was an experiment that showed how powerful words are. It was an experiment in which one put the steamed rice into two bowls and then spoke a word of thanks in one bowl and a curse in the other. Although everything was the same, the steamed rice that had heard of the curse, was more vulnerable. Is it fascinating? It is also a demonstration of how powerful our words are and how we should speak.
2. In the Bible, you can easily find examples of the importance of the words. Because the Bible is the book that records God’s words. The Bible tells how God speaks and how His words worked. What happens if God speaks? It is done as God said.
If you read Genesis 1, you can find it. 'God said,' The next record is, of course, it is done as what God has said.
When God said, 'Let there be light', there was light. And God said, “Let the grass of the earth bring forth grass and seed, and the tree of the fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” As it was so. As God has said, Jesus, His son, come to this earth, died on the cross, and rose again three days later. The world has begun according to God's word, and the end of the world will come according to God's word. When? In His time God’s words will be fulfilled. Therefore, we also should treat God's Word with fear and trembling heart. This is because God will do as He has said, as God has said. Our Lord, Jesus Christ will come again as He has told us.
As God spoke to Abraham, the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt for 400 years and were released. However, the Israelites suffered many difficulties on their way to Canaan, the land of God's promise. Every time the Israelites complained to God. They said that they would rather die in Egypt. They complained to God in the wilderness. Furthermore, the people of Israel blamed God and tried to return to Egypt. It is in Numbers 14 that God spoke to the Israelites at that time.
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: "How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. So tell them, 'As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say:"(Numbers 14: 26-28)
So what happened? Other than Caleb and Joshua, others died in the wilderness without being able to enter Canaan, God's promised land.
If we look at these things, we can realize right away. Our words are not to blame God, but to praise God. We look forward to the Lord who is on our side in all circumstances and that we should be praising Him! Then God will do to us as our words are heard in God's ears. I want you and me to thank you God in all circumstances.
3. Today's passage shows Hannah's prayer. And it contains what happened to Hannah as she prayed. I hope that our prayers will be like Hannah's prayers. I hope Hannah's testimony will be our testimony. We want to share with you how Hannah prayed.
Hannah, who appears in the scripture, seemed to be a happy person who lives without the worries of the world. It was economically affordable and, above all, she experienced a plenty of husband's love. She would be happy, but her heart was completely different. This also shows that people who seem happy may have worries and anxieties that others do not. Hannah's anxiety was that she had no children. At that time, the woman was treated as a sinner if she could not bear a child. So it seemed that Hannah had been despised by her husband's second wife, Peninnah who had children. As the aspect of the second wife, she might feel that her husband's love was taken away by Hannah, who had no children.
Anyway, Hannah is annoyed with her heart, and she complained her husband, but there was nothing that her husband, Elkanah, can do. Eventually Hannah began crying to God and praying. And Hannah poured out the anxieties, frustrations, and disunities in her heart before God.
Brothers and Sisters, are you distressed? I hope you pray to God like Hannah. God hears your prayers.
It may not clear why Hannah made a vow to God as she prayed. She promised that if God gave birth to a child as she prayed, she would give the child to the Lord.'
Please do not apply whether your prayers will be answered if you pray in vows. God is not someone who has to promise something and listen to our prayers.
Although the Bible contains a brief description of Hannah's prayer, we can see through verse 12 that Hannah had prayed for a long time. And Hannah, whose heart was troubled, she prayed inward. Her lips moved, but the voice does not come out because she could not pray to hear her mind by others. God heard Hannah's prayer.
God knows everything even though we pray inwards.
Unlike Hannah who wept and prayed, Eli, the priest who watched Hannah, thought she was drunk and sang. The layman prays hard in front of God, and the pastor is like making the wrong sound. Brothers and Sisters, I may be like Eli. If the leaders of the church are spiritually insensitive, although the saints might be sad and prayed, the leader’s words may be strange. Please pray for the church leaders. Likewise, if you become spiritually dull, you may become like Eli. It is therefore important that we do not get spiritually dull.
"Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief." (NIV, ver. 15,16).
In the NASB version,
“But Hannah replied, "No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD. "Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation."
Then Eli told Hannah: 'Go in peace, and let the God of Israel grant you what you prayed for.' It is interesting that it was done as he said although he was spiritually dull. Though Eli could have blamed Hannah to the end, but he did not.
Then an amazing reaction is found in verse 18. She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.“
Hannah believed that it would happen as Eli the priest said. Hannah heard the words of Eli and convinced that God would hear her prayer.
As Hannah said, as she prayed, Hannah gave birth to Samuel. Hannah says God remembered. God has remembered his prayer. Our prayers will also be remembered by God.
4. But there is one thing to go over here. For what reason does Hannah have a vow prayer?
Will God answer you sooner if you pray in vows? No. Please don’t apply that ‘if we give a lot of gifts to God, our prayers will be answered, if not, our payers would not be answered.’
Nevertheless, for what reasons did Hannah make a vow? We can get a hint from Hannah's prayer.
In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head." (1 Samuel 1: 10-11)
Hannah had prayed for a long time with her problems and realized something that the state of Israel of her country which was pitiful like her. As Hannah had no hope for the future, the Israelites were also desperate at that time. As Hannah was despised and mocked by other, Israel was also despised and mocked by other nations. Hannah realized this when she was praying. The reason why God did not give Hannah a child so far might be that God wanted to realize the state of her nation. When she prayed with a sincere heart, and suddenly Hannah saw Israel and understood God's heart which made her feel sorry. This was the reason why Hannah made a vow to God. 'If you have mercy on me and allow a son, he will work for you, for this nation.' And as she prayed, God gave Samuel to Hannah, and she gave Samuel to God as she had prayed.
5.
It is important to live in what we say. The people in the world know about this. But the people in the world say to get what they want, for their own sake, without any relationship to God.
I hope that we also have a testimony that it was done as we prayed or as we said. But there is an important not to pray according to my will, but to pray according to God’s will. Let’s pray to God. You should recognize God’s will. Amen!