It Is Well

It Is Well

Memory Verse: 2 Kings 4:23

Life Application: Be careful what you speak about a promise from God.

When you are desperate you must seek God’s Promise. We have been given a promise for every situation and circumstance that we face. God already has the answer (promise) even before we know that we have a problem or situation.

Deuteronomy 4:29  NKJV     “But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

     When you seek something you search, hunt, for it. You make an honest attempt to look for it.

Psalm 34:10  NKJV     “But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. 

     The Bible is full of the promises of God. It is up to each one of us to read it and search out the promises that God has given us. When you are desperate you must believe God’s promise. The prophet, Elisha, gave the Shunammite woman a promise under the authority of God (2 Kings 4:8-16). He spoke for God. Elisha told the woman that she would have a son within a year. She knew that Elisha was a man of God, a prophet, but she still did not believe in her heart that she would have a child.

2 Kings 4:17  NKJV     “But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.”

     God had promised the Shunammite woman a son (through Elisha) and she had him. God does not lie and He does not take back His promises.

Numbers 23:19  NKJV     “God is not a man, that He should lie,

Nor a son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He

not make it good?”

Titus 1:2  NKJV     “In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.”

     What God says is true and His Word is truth. God is not like us. He does not change. He is always the same and His Word is always the same.

Malachi 3:6  NKJV     “For I am the Lord, I do not change”

     We must place our trust in God and believe in Him and His promises.

Proverbs 3:5-6  NKJV     “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.”

     When you are desperate you must hold on to God’s promise. No matter what you see with your eyes or what people say to you concerning your situation, keep your eyes on God and the promise that He has given you. You can be confident that God  will finish what He has begun.

2 Kings 4:18-20  NKJV     “And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers, And he said to his father, ‘My head, my head!’ So he said to a servant, ‘Carry him to his mother.’ When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.”

     The son that the woman was promised now lay dead in her arms. If she had looked at things through her natural eyes she would have accepted the death of her child. But she knew that God had promised her a son and she knew that her promise was still alive.

2 Kings 4:21-23  NKJV     “And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door upon him, and went out. Then she called to her husband, and said, ‘Please send me one of the young men and one of  the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come back.’ So he said, ‘Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath?’ And she said, ‘It is well.’

     The woman took her promise that was ‘dead’ and put it in a room where no one would see it and shut the door. She determined that she would go to the man of God on behalf of her ‘dead’ promise.

2 Kings 4:32-33  NKJV     “When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord.”

     Sometimes God gives us a promise and it seems like the promise is ‘dead’. We need to be like the Shunammite woman- we need to shut out the things (and people) that might keep our promise ‘dead’. We must be very careful what we hear and listen to concerning our promise. There is life and death in our words. Every word that comes out of man’s mouth either brings life or it brings death.

Proverbs 18:21  NKJV     “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

And those who love it will eat its fruit.”

     The words we say are very powerful. They will either bless a situation or curse it.

James 3:10  NKJV     “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.”

     By putting the son in the room away from everyone she was protecting her promise from words of death. We too, must hold on to the promise that God has given us and shield it (and ourselves) from negative words and negative people. During these times we must only listen to (and trust in) what God has to say, not man.

Psalm 18:30  NKJV     “As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”

     We serve a God of completion. He never leaves things half done or undone. And He never gives us something just to take it away again!

Philippians 1:6  NKJV     “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” 

     We must not waver in our faith even when we do not see the answer with our eyes.

Hebrews 11:1  NKJV     “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of thing not seen.”

     When you are desperate you must rejoice In God’s Promise.

Psalm 119:162  NKJV     “I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.”

     No matter how bad things look or how negative the report is, you should still rejoice. Not at what you are going through, but at the fact that the Lord God Almighty is on your side.

Psalm 5:11  NKJV     “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those who love Your name be joyful in You.”

     We can rejoice in knowing that God will never leave us or forsake.

Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV     “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

     We must be like the Shunammite women and say, “It is well”  (2 Kings 4:23, 26). Yes, she could see  that her son was dead, but she knew the promise that she had been given. And she knew who to go to on behalf of her promise. She knew that the Lord would never leave her or forsake her, and that He was on her side.When God gives us a promise we must have faith that it will come to pass. There may be times that we think that our promise is ‘dead’, and we may be tempted to give up on our promise. During these times we must go directly to God and allow the Holy Spirit hover over our promise and to breath new life into it.

2 Kings 4:34-35  NKJV     “And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.”

Review

1. We have been given a _____________________ for every situation and circumstance that we face.

2. Elisha told the Shunammite woman that she would have a __________ within a year.

3. We must place our trust in God and ______________   _______   __________ and His promises.

4. The son that the woman was promised now lay dead in her arms, but she knew that God had promised her a son and she knew that her promise was still _______________ .

5. We must be very careful what we ____________  and  ______________  to concerning our promise.

6. Every word that comes out of man’s mouth brings what?

7. Our ______________  will either bless a situation or curse it.

8. We must hold on to the promise that God has given us and shield it from ____________________  words and _________________  people.

9. God never ________________ things half done or undone.

10. God ______________  gives us something just to take it away again.

11. According to Philippians 1:6 what will God do?

12. We must not ______________ in our faith even when we do not see the answer with our eyes.

13. What does waver mean?

14. No matter how bad things look or how negative the report is  you should still do what?

15. We can rejoice in knowing that God will never _______________   ________  or forsake.

16. What does Deuteronomy 31:6 tells us to be _________________ and of good _________________________.

17. When God gives us a promise we must have faith that it will come to _____________.

18. There may be times that we may be tempted to ____________   _______ on our promise.

19. When we are tempted to give up on a promise we must go directly to God and allow the Holy Spirit hover over our promise and do what?

20. What is a special promise that God has given you?

Preparing For Our Kinsmen Redeemer

Preparing For Our Kinsmen Redeemer

Memory Verse: Ruth 3:3

Life Application: We must prepare to meet Jesus.

 

Ruth 3:3 NKJV     “Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor”

     Ruth prepared herself to meet her kinsmen redeemer. We must prepare to meet our Kinsmen Redeemer also. We too, must wash ourselves, anoint ourselves, put on our best garment, and lay at the feet of our Redeemer.  You must cleanse yourself with the blood of Jesus Christ. Salvation is God’s gift to you. God gave us the gift of salvation through the precious blood of His only Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16 ).  You must remove sin stains. Remove the things from your life that do not please God. Go through your life with the Holy Spirit and say to  Him, “Holy Spirit, Does this cause You to grieve?” If you are listening to Him, you will hear His answer. Once you hear from the Holy Spirit, you must act upon what you hear- no matter how hard it may seem.

 1 Corinthians 5:7  NKJV     “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.”

2 Corinthians 5:17  NKJV     “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 

     You must purify yourself. To purify means to make clean, spotless, to not be mixed with anything else, unadulterated, genuine, chaste, and keeping the same qualities or characteristics.

James 4:8  NKJV     “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners: and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

 1 Corinthians 6:9  NKJV    “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?”

     God is calling His people to purity. As a Christian we should have the same qualities and characteristics of Jesus Christ. We should be “Christ-like.” You must set yourself apart for holy purposes. Anointing is an act of consecration, dedication and worship. It is symbolic of the inner working of the Holy Spirit. When we are anointed by God we are set aside for a holy purpose.

Isaiah 10:27  NKJV     “It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from his shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.”

     You must consecrate yourself to God. A person can not give God anything great enough to gain (earn) forgiveness for sin. Salvation is a gift, paid by the blood of Jesus Christ.  When you receive forgiveness you become a child of God.

John 1:12  NKJV     “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

     After salvation you can give God something – yourself. Consecration is giving yourself and all that you have to God, with nothing held back. You give yourself and all that you have to God for Him to use however He chooses. The Word of God calls this “living sacrifice” our “reasonable service” and urges us to give this gift to God.

Romans 12:1  NKJV     “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

     You must dedicate yourself to God. Dedicate means to be sat apart for a sacred or solemn purpose. When you dedicate yourself to God, you exchange your ways, thoughts, purposes and desires for His, on purpose.  When you are dedicated to God, you are devoted to Him. When you are devoted to God you will shut out everything that is not of Him. You will be loyal and faithful. You become His – you do not belong to yourself.

1 Corinthians 6:19  NKJV     “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”

     You must give yourself in worship to God. Worship is giving great honor and reverence to something or someone. When you worship God, you are giving Him great honor and reverence (respect). When you worship God you are telling Him that you love Him, admire Him, adore Him, and consider Him precious. God is worthy of our worship and He desires for us to worship Him.  God does not desire for us  to mix the things of the world (ideals of the world) with our worship to Him. God desires a pure worship – He desires for us to worship in spirit and to worship in truth.

John 4:23-24  NKJV     “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth: for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

     Anointing represents consecration, dedication, and worship. When we are consecrated to God, dedicated to God, and truly worship God, the yokes will be destroyed! God anointed Jesus with power (Acts 10:38) and God desires to anoint each of us with the same power. You must saturate yourself with the presence of the Holy Spirit. When we are saturated, and overshadowed, with the presence of the Holy Spirit wonderful and mighty things happen. We should never stop asking for more of the Holy Spirit. We will never have enough or too much. God desires to fill us, to saturate us, continually with His Holy Spirit.

John 3:34  NKJV     “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.” 

     You must not become complacent with the things of God and with His Holy Spirit. Complacent means pleased with oneself or what one has, and self-satisfied.  Five of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-5) were complacent and it cost them everything. They were satisfied with the amount of oil that they had. Complacency costs. If as an individual we are satisfied with the amount of oil (the presence of the Holy Spirit) that we have, we will loose out – just like the five virgins. You must put on the garment of sanctification. God desires for us to be sanctified – to be set apart from the world. There must be a difference between the child of God and the world. God provided us with cleansing (salvation) and He sent His Spirit (anointed us with power) to help us overcome sin ( temptation / evil), but He does expect us to do our part. He expects each one of us to be different from the world. We can not be part of God’s kingdom while holding onto the world (the things of the world) at the same time. You cannot love the world and love God at the same time!

1 John 2:15  NKJV     “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

 John 14:15  NKJV     “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

      There are no “gray areas” with God. You are either saved or unsaved, it is either a sin or it is not a sin, you are either “hot” or you are “cold”. Lukewarm people are a “bad taste” in the mouth of God.

Revelation 3:15-16  NKJV     “I know your works, that you are neither cold or hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then , because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot. I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

Ruth 3:9  NKJV     “And he said, ‘Who are you?’ So she answered, ‘I am Ruth, your maidservant . Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.”

     Ruth went to the feet of Boaz and laid down. She asked him to spread His cloak over her (take her under his wings.) She was willing to come under his authority. Ruth desired to be his bride and she desired to be redeemed. If we want our Redeemer to act on our behalf we too must do as Ruth.

* We must go to the feet of Jesus and lay down everything.

* We must lay down our sins, our wills, our ways, our hopes, our dreams.

* We must ask Him to spread His cloak over us. His cloak of forgiveness, protection, promise, security and authority.

Just like Ruth, we too, must prepare to see our Kinsmen Redeemer. We must desire to be redeemed and desire to be His bride. One day we will go to meet our prospective bridegroom at the “threshing floor.” A threshing floor was a place where the grain was separated from the waste. It can represent the separation of the saved from the unsaved. Jesus is coming back for a bride that is looking for Him. Ruth was looking for her bridegroom. She cleansed herself, then she anointed herself, then she put on her best garment. After that she went and laid at his feet and waited (and listened) for his voice. Are you looking for your bridegroom? Is there enough oil in your lamp?

Review

1. God gave us the gift of salvation through what?

2. We must _____________________ the things from our life that do not please God.

3. What does purify mean to you?

4. As a Christian we should be  ______________-______________.

5. You must set yourself apart for _________________ purposes.

6.  Anointing is symbolic of the ___________________  working of the Holy Spirit.

7. Salvation is a ____________________, paid by the blood of Jesus Christ.

8. After salvation what can you give God?

9. What does dedicate mean?

10 When we are saturated, and overshadowed, with the presence of the Holy Spirit wonderful and mighty things happen. Read the Bible verse and write down what wonderful things happened, or happens.

1 Samuel 16:13

Isaiah 44:3

Ezekiel 36:27

Joel 2:28-29

Luke 4:18-19

Romans 15:13

1 John4:13

11. God desires to fill us, to saturate us, ________________________  with His Holy Spirit.

12. What does complacent mean?

13. God expects each one of us to be ______________________________ from the world.

14. Can you love the world and love God at the same time? _______________________.

15. If we want our Redeemer to act on our behalf we must go to the feet of Jesus and __________   ___________  everything.

16.If we want our Redeemer to act on our behalf we must lay down our _____________________, our wills, our ______________________, our hopes, our ________________________.

17. A threshing floor was a place where the grain was ___________________________  from the waste.

Relationships Change Circumstances

Relationships Change Circumstances

Memory Verse: Esther 5:2

Life Application: Our relationship with the King can alter situations.

 

Esther 4:7-8  NKJV    

“And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries to destroy the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people.”

     Queen Esther was made aware that the Jews lives were in danger. A plot had been made to kill them. Esther knew who could save her and her people. She was desperate for help and she knew that the king held the power to save them. Esther had already established an intimate relationship with the king before the desperation arose.

Esther was willing to risk everything in order to go into the presence of the king. She prepared herself to go in to his presence, then she served (ministered to) him once she was there.

Esther knew her life would be put in danger by going to the king personally. At first Esther was not willing to do what she knew that she had to do. She did not go to the king.

Esther 4:13-14  NKJV   

  “And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

      Eventually Esther realize that if she did not go to the king that she would be separated from His presence forever by death. Esther was willing to risk everything, even her very life, in order to enter into the king’s presence. The lives of all the Jewish people in Shushan, even her life, were in danger.

Esther 4:15-16  NKJV    

“Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: ‘Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!’ ”

     Esther prepared herself to go in before the king. She put on the things that she knew he liked (her royal robes) and the perfume that she knew would get his attention. Prior to becoming queen, Esther had spent a whole year in beauty treatments and in all likelihood the king knew her smell from all others. As Esther stood in the outer court and waited until the aroma of her perfume reached the king. Once it did she had his undivided attention and she was able to go into the throne room.

Esther 5:1-2  NKJV    

“Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.”

     We too must prepare to go into the King’s presence. We must put on our royal robes (the robe of righteousness) and the fragrance of worship. Once the aroma of our worship reaches the King we have His attention and may go into the throne room.

Esther 5:4  NKJV   

“So Esther answered, ‘If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.’”

     Esther asked the king to come to a dinner that she arranged for him and Haman. One definition of minister is to give something. Esther gave of herself by preparing a dinner for the king.

Esther 5:7-8  NKJV    

“Then Esther answered and said, ‘My petition and request is this: If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”

     At the dinner the king once again asked Esther what she desired. Her response to him was that she wanted him and Haman to come to dinner again the next night, and that she would tell him then. At the dinner the next night Esther served the king first – before she presented her need to him. She sought to please him by ministering to his needs. It pleased the king very much and in return he asked Esther what she needed.

Esther 7:1-4  NKJV    

“So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther. And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, ‘What do your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!’ Then Queen Esther answered and said, ‘If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the king’s loss.’ So King Ahasuerus answered and said to Queen Esther, ‘Who is he, and where is he, who would dare presume in his heart to do such a thing?’ And Esther said, ‘The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!”

      Esther told the king that her life and the life of her people were in danger.

Esther 7:7-10  NKJV   

  “Then the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stood before Queen Esther, pleading for his life, for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king. When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?” As the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, “Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king’s behalf, is standing at the house of Haman.” Then the king said, “Hang him on it!” So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided.”

     The king became very angry and stormed out of the room. Haman began to plead for his life and in the process he fell on Esther. When the king returned to the room he saw Haman on Esther and He became even angrier. The king loved Esther very much and he had Haman put to death.

Esther 8:3-5  NKJV   

  “Now Esther spoke again to the king, fell down at his feet, and implored him with tears to counteract the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews. And the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king, and said, “If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight and the thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to annihilate the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.”

Once again Esther fell at the king’s feet and asked him for help saving her people.

Esther 8:7-8  NKJV   

  “Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “Indeed, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand on the Jews. You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring no one can revoke.”

     The king authorized Esther and Mordecai to write a decree that would save the lives of their people. Esther’s  relationship with the king changed the serious situation that the Jewish people had faced.

Some people wait until a crises arises then they begin to draw close to God. Like Esther, if we already have an intimate relationship with the King before trouble arises we will have instant, direct access to the King. Our relationship with the King will change circumstances, if we draw close to Him, instead of away from Him. When we prepare ourselves to go into the King’s presence like Esther did, we too will find favor.

Esther 5:3  NKJV     “And the king said to her, ‘What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you – up to half the kingdom!’ ”

     If we minister to God first, then He will minister to us. Our relationship with God does change things. Only God can turn our sorrow to joy, and our mourning to happiness.

Esther 9:20-22  NKJV    

“And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of fasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.”

Review

1. Why were the Jews’ lives in danger?

2. Esther had already established an intimate ______________________ with the king before the desperation arose.

3. Esther was willing to risk ___________________ in order to go into the presence of the king.

4. Who’s lives were in danger?

5. Esther _________________ herself to go in before the king.

6. What does prepared mean?

7. Prior to becoming queen, Esther had spent a whole __________ in beauty treatments and in all likelihood the king knew her smell from all others.

8. We must prepare to go into our King’s presence. Who is our King?

9. We must put on the ___________   _____  ________________________________ and the fragrance of worship.

10. What is one definition of minister?

11.  Esther gave of herself by doing what?

12. Who did Esther invite to dinner?

13. The king became very angry and _________________  out of the room.

14. What happened when Haman began to plead for his life?

15. When the king returned to the room what did he see?

16. How did the king respond?

17. Esther’s  _________________________  with the king changed the serious situation that the Jewish people had faced.

18. Some people wait until a crises arises then they begin to do what?

19. If we already have an intimate relationship with the God before trouble arises we will have instant, ______________   ______________  to Him.

20. Our relationship with God will change circumstances, if we draw ______________ to Him, instead of away from Him.

21. Only God can turn our sorrow to __________, and our mourning to ___________________.

22. If Esther had not had a personal relationship with the king, do you think he would have help her save her people?

Becoming Part Of The Family Of God

Becoming Part Of The Family Of God

1. God loves everyone and wants us to become members of His family.

John 3:16  NKJV     “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

2. Sin separates us from God. Everyone has sinned and needs forgiveness. Sin is disobeying God in any way.

Romans 3:23 NKJV     “ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

James 4:17  NKJV     “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

3. The punishment for sin is separation from God,  but Jesus took our punishment for sin by dying on the cross.

Romans 3:23 NKJV     “ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” 

Romans 5:8  NKJV     “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

 1 Peter 2:24  NKJV     “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.”

4. Salvation is free, a gift; we cannot buy it. We simply ask forgiveness for our sins and receive the gift of salvation.

Romans 6:23  NKJV     “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 1 John 1:9  NKJV     “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

5. After we accept salvation through faith, we need to tell others that we have received Jesus as Savior.

Romans 10:9  NKJV     “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

6. We should grow as a new Christian through Bible reading, daily prayer, regular church attendance, and obeying God’s commands.

ROAD TO SALVATION

ROAD TO SALVATION

THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY (ROAD)  TO HEAVEN AND THAT IS JESUS.

JOHN 14:6

“JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.”

ADMIT YOU HAVE SINNED

1 JOHN 1:8

“IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US”

BELIEVE IN THE SAVIOR

JOHN 3:16

“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE”

CONFESS AND FORSAKE YOUR SIN

1 JOHN 1:9

“IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS, AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS”

Fish Key Chain or Backpack Clip

Fish Nametag

Fish Mobile

Beach Photo Frame

The Silent Cry

The Silent Cry

Memory Verse: 1 Samuel 1:10

Life Application: God has compassion on man’s emotional torment.

 

1 Samuel 1:10-11  NKJV     “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him back to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.’ ”

     Hannah’s desperation before the Lord was misunderstood by Eli. Like Hannah when you begin to cry out in desperation there will be those who misunderstand, and there will be those who do not understand.

1 Samuel 1:12-14  NKJV     “And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard.  Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, ‘How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!’”

     When Eli confronted Hannah concerning what he thought was drunkenness, Hannah responded in a polite and respectful way.

1 Samuel 1:15-16  NKJV     “But Hannah answered and said, ‘No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.’”

     The Lord ministered unto Hannah by giving her the desire of her heart, a son.

1 Samuel 1:20  NKJV     “So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.’”

     When Hannah went with her husband to take Samuel to the temple, she again ministered unto God by offering up a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God.

1 Samuel 2:1-10  NKJV     “And Hannah prayed and said: ‘My heart rejoices in the Lord;

My horn is exalted in the Lord. I

smile at my enemies,

Because I rejoice in Your salvation. No one is holy like the Lord,

For there is none besides You,

Nor is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance

come from your mouth,

For the Lord is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty men are broken,

And those who stumbled are girded with strength. Those who were full have hired

themselves out for bread,

And the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has born seven,

And she who has many children has become feeble. The Lord kills and makes alive;

He brings down to the grave and brings

up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust

And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,

To set them among princes

And make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s

And He has set the world upon them. He will guars the feet of the saints,

But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. For by strength no man shall prevail.

The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them,

The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to the king,

And exalt the horn of His anointed.’ ”

     Hannah’s desperation and worship had birthed ministry to the Lord. Ministry to the Lord will in turn, birth ministry to people.

1 Samuel 2:11  NKJV      “Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.” 

1 Samuel 2:18  NKJV     “But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing  linen ephod.”

     God again ministered unto Hannah by giving her more children.

1 Samuel 2:21  NKJV     “And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three more sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the Lord.”

     Even when you feel like you don’t have a word from the Lord (or revelation), you should still be worshipping Him and ministering to Him.

1 Samuel 3:1  NKJV     “Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.”

     Samuel ministered unto the Lord, and the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel through revelations. Ministry to the Lord then revelation.

1 Samuel  3:21  NKJV     “Then the Lord appeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord

revealed Himself to Samuel in

Shiloh by the word of the Lord.”

     God will reveal Himself to those who minister unto Him in a deeper way. There are things that are inaccessible with human knowledge and wisdom. We need revelation knowledge of God.

Daniel 2:22  NKJV     “He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness,

And light dwells with Him.”

Daniel 5:11-14  NKJV     “There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father- your father the king- made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called and he will give the interpretation. Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, ‘Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah?I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.’ ”

     The Lord speaks (and shares secret things) to those who fear Him.

Psalm 25:14  NKJV     “The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him.” 

Psalm 111:10  NKJV     “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.”

 Proverbs 1:7  NKJV     “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

But fools despise wisdom and instructions.”

Proverbs 9:10  NKJV     “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

     The fear of the Lord is to greatly respect (high regard, honor, esteem, consideration) and reverence the Lord. When you reverence someone you will have a feeling of deep respect mixed with wonder, awe and love.  From the account of Hannah we can see that God can take something bad and bring about something good. Hannah was constantly being teased by Peninnah which made Hannah cry out to God for help. God heard Hannah and answered her prayer by giving her a son. She named the son Samuel and he became a great prophet for God.

Review

1. Read 1 Samuel 1:1-2.  Who were Elkanah’s wives?

2. What did Peninnah have that Hannah didn’t?

3. Read 1 Samuel 1:3-4. Where did the family go each year and what did they do?

4. According to 1 Samuel 1:5, Elkanah ______________ Hannah, although she was unable to have children.

5. Hannah was desperate to have a baby, but her  desperation before the Lord was ________________________ by Eli.

6. When Eli confronted Hannah concerning what he thought was drunkenness how did she respond or react?

7. The Lord ministered unto Hannah by giving her what?

8. When Hannah went with her husband to take Samuel to the temple, she again ministered unto God by offering up a prayer of ______________  and  _________________________  to God.

9. Ministry to the Lord will in turn, birth ministry to ________________.

10. God gave Hannah more ___________________.

11. Even when you feel like you don’t have a word from the Lord (or revelation), you should still be ______________________  Him and ministering to Him.

12. The Lord revealed Himself to Samuel through _____________________.

13. There are things that are inaccessible with human knowledge and wisdom. We need ______________________   ___________________________  of God.

14. The Lord speaks, and shares secret things, to those who what?

15. The fear of the Lord is to greatly _______________ and reverence the Lord.

16. When you reverence someone you will have a feeling of deep respect mixed with wonder, awe and _____________.

17. What is the definition of anguish?

18. Read 1 Samuel 1:6-7. Why was Hannah in anguish?

19. What are some examples of emotional torment or turmoil?

20. What should you do when you are in anguish?