Show & Tell : Hannah & Samuel

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies… She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. ²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. ²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ²⁹ “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” ³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. ³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:10, 26-31 (NIV)

From the town of Dan in the north to the town of Beersheba in the south, everyone in the country knew that Samuel was truly the Lord’s prophet. 1 Samuel 3:20 (CEV)

Samuel was a leader in Israel all his life.  1 Samuel 7:15 (CEV)

Show & Tell Faith Can Eternally Bless My Children If…

1. I will PRAY EARNESTLY for them.

Get up, cry out in the night, even as the night begins. Pour out your heart like water in prayer to the Lord. Lift up your hands in prayer to him for the life of your children… Lamentations 2:19 (NCV)

• God wants me to pray earnestly WHEN THINGS ARE BAD.

Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle.¹⁰ Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. ¹¹ And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut1 Samuel 1:9-11 (NLT)

• God wants me to pray earnestly WHEN THINGS ARE GOOD.

Hannah prayed: “The Lord has filled my heart with joy; how happy I am because of what he has done! I laugh at my enemies; how joyful I am because God has helped me! 1 Samuel 2:1 (GNB)

Hannah means “GRACE”.

Samuel means “GOD HAS HEARD.”

MAGNIFICAT:  And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord ⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, ⁴⁸ for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, ⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. Luke 1:46-49 (NIV)

2. I will LIVE OBEDIENTLY before them.

…If you will give me a son, I will give him back to you all his life… ²⁷ I prayed for this child, and the Lord answered my prayer and gave him to me. ²⁸ Now I give him back to the Lord. He will belong to the Lord all his life.”  I Samuel 1:11b, 27-28a (NCV)

Be careful about the way you live and about what you teach. Keep on doing this, and you will save not only yourself, but the people who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16 (CEV)

3. I will WORSHIP GOD above them.

I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and He has granted my request. ²⁸ Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life. And they worshiped the Lord there. 1 Samuel 1:27-28 (NLT)

• Real worship is visible in what I SACRIFICE. (SHOW)

Elkanah and Hannah went back home to Ramah, but the boy Samuel stayed to help Eli serve the Lord. 1 Samuel 2:11 (CEV)

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV)

“An OUNCE of mother is worth a POUND of clergy.”

Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy. ⁶ Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the Lord and he answered them. ⁷ He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them. Psalm 99:5-7 (NIV)

• Real worship is shown by what I SAY. (TELL)

We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.. Psalms 78:4 (NLT)

Culture says, “Keep your faith PRIVATE”.

Jesus says, “Make your faith PUBLIC”.

The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 1 Samuel 3:1 (NIV)

Is The Word Of The Lord Rare In Your Life?

Remember:  Part of your MESSAGE is your MESS.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, ⁸ so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 1 Thessalonians 2:7b-8 (NIV)