An Open Handed Life

1 Samuel 1:1-7  (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.

Hannah had a desire that she could do nothing about.  She had an enemy in her ear reminding her of her need. 

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.

1. Your need is faith's opportunity. 

Need is actually our friend.

  

That's where we develop our faith muscles. 

Faith doesn't grow in comfort.

  

Needs give your faith an opportunity to shine.  

We often pray counter productive prayers.  

We pray to be used by God, and then God brings problems to grow us.

  

Then, we ask God to take them away. 

God won't grow small faith to do great things. 

1 Samuel 1:12-18  (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.” 

15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 

16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 

17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”

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.

2. God's Word is Faith Foundation.  

Hannah didn't have a baby bump, but she did have a word from God.

God's Word is what you anchor your faith too.  God had spoken to Hannah through Eli.  

Your faith in God's word must be acted upon. Hannah ate and was no longer sad.  

You can believe the word all day, but you must act upon it.  

1 Samuel 1:26-28 (ESV)

26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 

27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.

28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”

And he worshiped the Lord there.

3.  The sacrifice is faith's test. 

The test was returning Samuel to God once Samuel was in Hannah's arms. 

Oftentimes, holding on to previous blessings keep God from moving more blessings through us. 

It wasn't that Hannah needed a son.  

It was that Israel needed a prophet, Samuel, to anoint David, King, who was the ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  

What will God do through you if you live an open handed life?

Daniel Floyd, Guest speaking at Church of the Highlands