Pray, Believe, Wait
Christians have become impatient and do not want to wait on God. If just a handful of Christians pray fervently, the nation will see a distinction in their lives, and in Kenya in general.
God is not a man that He should lie, or relent His word. God has done His part, and has finished/ completed His work. The ball is in our court; if we obey Him, His purpose will be accomplished. Praying, believing and waiting will uphold our purpose from one glory to another, from one height to another.
Prayer will unlock your purpose, and unlock continuous progress in your life. It is time for stability, to continue int he purpose of God.
1 Samuel 1
Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. 4 And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.
8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. 11 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 to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!”
15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 “Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”
17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”
18 And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 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.”
21 Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever.” 23 So Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the Lord establish His word.” Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.” So they worshiped the Lord there.
1 Samuel 2:21
And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the Lord.
Year after year, Hannah went to the house of the Lord, still barren, with Peninnah mocking her. This is a lesson: do not worry about your provokers; they are only provoking you to your destiny.
Hannah did not settle for the love of her husband (verse 8). She refused to settle for anything else lesser than what she knew God would provide, and had promised.
Child of God, what have you settled for? Do not settle for anything lesser than the best, than what only God can provide.
Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:35). Out of the abundance of her heart, Hannah spoke, promising God the son, believing him for great things
What motive do you have for praying and asking from God? What is it for?
Time hs come for you to see the manifestation of your answer to your prayers. God is not a sadist, He has heard you.
After praying and believing, Hannah rose and went home. She did not cry anymore, her story having changed. by God's grace, after giving up Samuel, she got 3 sons and 2 daughters.
Whatever you present to GOd, He will return in good measures. Your mockers will not have anything to say at the end, just like Peninnah.
We have an obligation, to pray and ask fo the Lord.
Prayer is a word translated from the Hebrew word tefilah, which means self evaluation and self judgement. This includes: what are you all about? What do you need? What is your purpose? What are your faults? What are your qualities? Hannah also did self evaluation/ judgement.
After self evaluation/ judgement, you start seeking bond between two entities, you and God. This is the second leg of tefilah. This is the point of attachment with God. Prayer is the process of putting things together.
Mind how you start talking to GOd.
Luke 6:11-12
But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. 12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
If Jesus, being the Son of God, talked to God, how much more will we require to pray? How many times do we retreat to the mountain to pray? Prayer ought to be the first step even before we get stuck. The problem is, when we get stuck is when we turn to prayer. Before we try out our own situation, we should turn to prayer.
Many times we seek solutions from our own sources, instead of from God, who gives unconditionally.
James 5:13-15
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Prayer is the solution for any problem.
Psalm 50:15
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.
Call upon the Lord, and He shall deliver you. Church, do not call upon people; call upon the Lord. Purpose to call on the Lord.
1 Chronicles 16:11 (AMP)
Seek the Lord and His strength; yearn for and seek His face and to be in His presence continually!
We cannot afford to yearn for many other things, but for God only. Here are a few other scriptures on prayer:
Psalm 145:18
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.
1 Thessalonians 5:16
...pray without ceasing...
Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
1 John 5:14-15
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
John 14:13-14
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Let us pray, believe and wait on the Lord.
Amen.
God is not a man that He should lie, or relent His word. God has done His part, and has finished/ completed His work. The ball is in our court; if we obey Him, His purpose will be accomplished. Praying, believing and waiting will uphold our purpose from one glory to another, from one height to another.
Prayer will unlock your purpose, and unlock continuous progress in your life. It is time for stability, to continue int he purpose of God.
1 Samuel 1
Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. 4 And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.
8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. 11 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 to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!”
15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 “Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”
17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”
18 And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 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.”
21 Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever.” 23 So Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the Lord establish His word.” Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.” So they worshiped the Lord there.
1 Samuel 2:21
And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the Lord.
Year after year, Hannah went to the house of the Lord, still barren, with Peninnah mocking her. This is a lesson: do not worry about your provokers; they are only provoking you to your destiny.
Hannah did not settle for the love of her husband (verse 8). She refused to settle for anything else lesser than what she knew God would provide, and had promised.
Child of God, what have you settled for? Do not settle for anything lesser than the best, than what only God can provide.
Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:35). Out of the abundance of her heart, Hannah spoke, promising God the son, believing him for great things
What motive do you have for praying and asking from God? What is it for?
Time hs come for you to see the manifestation of your answer to your prayers. God is not a sadist, He has heard you.
After praying and believing, Hannah rose and went home. She did not cry anymore, her story having changed. by God's grace, after giving up Samuel, she got 3 sons and 2 daughters.
Whatever you present to GOd, He will return in good measures. Your mockers will not have anything to say at the end, just like Peninnah.
We have an obligation, to pray and ask fo the Lord.
Prayer is a word translated from the Hebrew word tefilah, which means self evaluation and self judgement. This includes: what are you all about? What do you need? What is your purpose? What are your faults? What are your qualities? Hannah also did self evaluation/ judgement.
After self evaluation/ judgement, you start seeking bond between two entities, you and God. This is the second leg of tefilah. This is the point of attachment with God. Prayer is the process of putting things together.
Mind how you start talking to GOd.
Luke 6:11-12
But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. 12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
If Jesus, being the Son of God, talked to God, how much more will we require to pray? How many times do we retreat to the mountain to pray? Prayer ought to be the first step even before we get stuck. The problem is, when we get stuck is when we turn to prayer. Before we try out our own situation, we should turn to prayer.
Many times we seek solutions from our own sources, instead of from God, who gives unconditionally.
James 5:13-15
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Prayer is the solution for any problem.
Psalm 50:15
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.
Call upon the Lord, and He shall deliver you. Church, do not call upon people; call upon the Lord. Purpose to call on the Lord.
1 Chronicles 16:11 (AMP)
Seek the Lord and His strength; yearn for and seek His face and to be in His presence continually!
We cannot afford to yearn for many other things, but for God only. Here are a few other scriptures on prayer:
Psalm 145:18
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.
1 Thessalonians 5:16
...pray without ceasing...
Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
1 John 5:14-15
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
John 14:13-14
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Let us pray, believe and wait on the Lord.
Amen.
-- Pastor Mary Mugo.
(21/0713 Sunday Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor)
Pastor Mary Mugo is the Administrative Pastor at Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries.
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