[삼상1:1-28/하나님은 기도를 통해 인생을 바꾸신다] 충주빛의숲교회 민준기 목사

#JesusIsAllYouNeededChurch #Chungju #Bongbangdong #MethodistChurch #ExpositionOf1Samuel #SundaySermon260419 1 Samuel is the story of a crucial transitional period in Israel, marking the end of the dark era of the Judges and the transition to the era of the monarchy. God raised up the prophet Samuel to bridge these two eras, and today's text reveals the background of Samuel's birth. The text depicts a scene where a woman, after enduring unbearable suffering, becomes the protagonist of God's amazing blessing. This is Hannah, Samuel's mother. Hannah was a woman deeply loved by her husband, Elkanah. Nevertheless, there was great suffering in her life. It was the problem of being unable to bear children. An even greater problem was that a woman named Peninnah constantly tormented her. However, amidst this situation, there is a word that we must hold onto. “The LORD barren her.” This implies that God was watching over this situation, and furthermore, that this was permitted within God’s plan. If so, why did God allow such suffering? 1. The suffering of life is a time to prepare the vessel of faith. Hannah’s suffering was by no means in vain. God already had a plan to renew Israel through the figure of Samuel. However, there was someone who needed to be prepared first for that work, and that was Hannah. God led Hannah to a place where she had no choice but to pray. Hannah prayed with a heavy heart and weeping bitterly. And she made a vow: “If you give me a son, I will give him to you” (Verse 11). If Hannah had not experienced such suffering, would she have prayed so earnestly? Would such a decision to entrust everything to God have been possible? Ultimately, Hannah’s suffering was a process through which God prepared her faith. Through suffering, God molded her into a person of prayer and a vessel to bear His will. Therefore, we must interpret the suffering we experience in this way as well. It is not to break us down, but rather to prepare us for greater tasks. 2. We must hold fast to God's Word rather than our circumstances or emotions. Hannah prayed earnestly. However, even when her prayer ended, nothing had changed in her situation. Nevertheless, Hannah experienced an amazing transformation. When Eli the priest said to her, “Go in peace; may God hear your prayer,” Hannah accepted those words as the Word of God. And the Bible records: “There was no longer any sorrow on her face.” The situation had not changed. Nor had there been any physical change. Yet, she was no longer grieving. Why? Because she held fast to the Word. God gives His Word to those who pray, and He works through that Word. Because God is faithful to His Word, if that Word is within His will, it will surely be fulfilled. The problem is that many people pray, but they trust their emotions more than the Word. They only try to believe when their circumstances change. However, Hannah held fast to the Word. That was faith. When the Word comes to you while you are praying, please hold fast to it. Your life begins to change when you live according to the Word, not your emotions. 3. You must respond with your life by obeying the Word you have received. After holding onto the Word, Hannah responded with action. She rose early the next morning to worship God, returned home, and was with her husband. And as a result, God worked. “The LORD remembered her.” This means that God remembered and cared for her. God answered the prayer Hannah offered and caused her to give birth to Samuel. What is important here is that Hannah obeyed with faith. If she believed, actions worthy of that faith followed. This is true faith. Faith is not simply waiting, but moving according to God's Word. When God speaks, you must confess with your lips and respond with your life according to that Word. That is when God's work manifests. Hannah's life can be summarized as follows: Suffering → Prayer → Word → Obedience → Answer. And the result was not merely a personal blessing. God’s work of renewing Israel was accomplished through a man of God named Samuel. However, we are people who have already received greater grace. Hannah offered her son to God, but God has given us His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we can pray. We must pray. Prayer is not a means to move God, but a channel for meeting God who is already working. No matter what situation you are in right now, go forth in prayer. God is working even now. And when we meet that God, our lives will surely be transformed. God changes lives through prayer. I pray in the name of the Lord that this grace becomes a reality in your lives.