Sunday, August 23, 2009
I am so glad that you are joining us for Stepping Up! I will be sending out a schedule for the study and for socials for the semester soon. If you signed up on the list at Connect Weekend or have already emailed me, I have your email address and information. If not, please email me or register on the Valley Creek Church website (www.valleycreek.org) and I will add you to my email list! Thanks! I'm looking forward to getting to know y'all as we study God's word together!!!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Hannah: A Portrait of Femenine Grace
You can read about Hannah in 1 Samuel. There are many interesting aspects to her experiences and many things mentioned in this chapter of the book. I am only going to mention a few things here, but I encourage you to read the Biblical account of Hannah and John MacArthur's chapter about her as weel.
"Hannah prayed and said; My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation." 1 Samuel 2:1
How sweet! Hannah rejoiced in the Lord, even in the middle of her suffering and waiting. She smiled at her enemies, and not in a mean or condescending way, but because how could she not smile when she is rejoicing in her salvation. Her heart was overjoyed! Her heart was overflowing, not only to the words of her mouth (Matthew 12:34) but also to the look on her face.
We have all waited desperately for something that we long for and some of us are still waiting. So I think that we can all relate to Hannah. Hannah was waiting to be a mother. She "wept bitterly". She longed to be a mother with pure motives and she was real with her longing before God. What is it that you are seeking? Privately pour out your feelings on paper. Honestly describe your longing to God. Write out the questions that you hide inside. Ask God to give you the vision of what He wants for you. "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart." Psalm 37:4 This means that when we delight in Him our desires are fulfilled, but also that He places those desires in our hearts when we seek Him. "My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad." Psalm 34:2
Hannah also "cherished the very same messianic hope that framed the worldview of everyone of the extraordinary women we are studying". This chapter talks about Jesus being the "one true object of all saving faith - even in Old Testament times. Long before He was explicitly revealed in human flesh, the Redeemer was promised". Our messianic hope fulfilled should frame our worldview. Because Jesus is our salvation, He should be the frame around everything that we see in and believe about the world. A "Christ-centered perspective" is "the key to everything that made" Hannah and the other women that we have studied truly extraordinary!
"I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord." Psalms 40:1-3
"Hannah prayed and said; My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation." 1 Samuel 2:1
How sweet! Hannah rejoiced in the Lord, even in the middle of her suffering and waiting. She smiled at her enemies, and not in a mean or condescending way, but because how could she not smile when she is rejoicing in her salvation. Her heart was overjoyed! Her heart was overflowing, not only to the words of her mouth (Matthew 12:34) but also to the look on her face.
We have all waited desperately for something that we long for and some of us are still waiting. So I think that we can all relate to Hannah. Hannah was waiting to be a mother. She "wept bitterly". She longed to be a mother with pure motives and she was real with her longing before God. What is it that you are seeking? Privately pour out your feelings on paper. Honestly describe your longing to God. Write out the questions that you hide inside. Ask God to give you the vision of what He wants for you. "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart." Psalm 37:4 This means that when we delight in Him our desires are fulfilled, but also that He places those desires in our hearts when we seek Him. "My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad." Psalm 34:2
Hannah also "cherished the very same messianic hope that framed the worldview of everyone of the extraordinary women we are studying". This chapter talks about Jesus being the "one true object of all saving faith - even in Old Testament times. Long before He was explicitly revealed in human flesh, the Redeemer was promised". Our messianic hope fulfilled should frame our worldview. Because Jesus is our salvation, He should be the frame around everything that we see in and believe about the world. A "Christ-centered perspective" is "the key to everything that made" Hannah and the other women that we have studied truly extraordinary!
"I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord." Psalms 40:1-3
This is a song that I remember from a youth camp a long time ago and pray and cling to now.
give me one pure and holy passion
give me one magnificent obsession
give me one glorious ambition for my life
to know and follow hard after You
to know and follow hard after You
to grow as Your disciple in Your truth
This world is empty, pale and pour
compared to knowing You my Lord
lead me on and I will run after You
lead me on and I will run after You
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