Westbrook Park United Methodist Church
05212023

      • Acts 1.6-7ESV

      • Acts 1.8-9ESV

      • Acts 1.10-11ESV

      • Acts 1.12ESV

      • Acts 1.13ESV

      • Acts 1.14ESV

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    1 Samuel 1:1–8 ESV
    1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

    Nothing Can Take The Place of God’s Love In Your Life

    A. vs3- A godly spouse can’t compare with knowing God’s love
    1 Samuel 1:3 ESV
    3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord.
    ​
    See Jeremiah 31.3
    Jeremiah 31:3 ESV
    3 the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
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    what’s really missing is sometimes mistaken.
    1 Samuel 1:8 ESV
    8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
    Ten Sons wouldn’t fulfil her need.
    Her husband confused her need for a child with her need for God’s love.
    The reason so many of us confuse our needs, as Elkanah did with Hannah’s, is because our vision is skewed. Think about the things we try to replace the love of God in our lives.
    Job
    Success
    children
    relationships
    money
    status

    The Love Of God Compels Us To Commitment vs. 9-14

    1 Samuel 1:9–14 ESV
    9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” 12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.”
    1 Samuel 1:9–11 ESV
    9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
    Hannah prays a vow to God
    John 15:9–10 ESV
    9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
    Joshua 24:15–18 ESV
    15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” 16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, 17 for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. 18 And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”
    B. Don’t Expect Others To Understand Your Commitment To God IF You Get Serious About It
    1 Samuel 1:12–14 ESV
    12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.”

    God Always Keeps His Covenants- We Should Too

    Hannah did.

    God is Faithful-1 Samuel 1.17

    ​
    See 1 Samuel 1.17
    1 Samuel 1:17 ESV
    17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”

    Hannah was Faithful- 1 Samuel 1.18

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    1 Samuel 1:18 ESV
    18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

    God Remembered Hannah-1 Samuel 1.19-20

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    1 Samuel 1:19–20 ESV
    19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”

    Hannah Knew The SOURCE of Her Blessing- 1 Samuel 1.20

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    God not herself
    1 Samuel 1:20 ESV
    20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”

    Hannah Remained Faithful To God

    She gave the child to the Lord.
    Genesis 22.....

    God Blessed Hannah-1 Samuel 2.18-21

    See 1 Samuel 2.18-21
    1 Samuel 2:18–21 ESV
    18 Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy clothed with a linen ephod. 19 And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the Lord.” So then they would return to their home. 21 Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord.
    Simeon in Luke 2.29-32....
    Luke 2:29–32 ESV
    29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

    The Life That Matters Most Understands Who Matters More

    Priorities-
Westbrook Park United Methodist Church
westbrookpastor@gmail.com
330.456.4797
http://www.westbrookparkumc.org
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