Bruce Hempel
Scriptures:
Psalm 62:58, 1 Samuel 1:1-2:21
It is good to know that you are receiving a spiritual education, to know what classes God is teaching you, and to recognize that when you have a hard “class” you should not be discouraged, but know that you are learning. You may not be the best student, but be assured you have the world’s best teacher.
Classes I am in: Fear of God, Faith, Trust, and Neediness
- God want you to be sensitive to problems in your family.
- How often do you go on and on with a problem in your life without going to God first.
- There are problems in your life that are there to build our Faith
- Hannah is an Old Testament example of the New Testament verse “believe that you have received it and it shall be yours”
- Eli is fairly passive towards God – Hannah is not passive. We not be passive, but press in to God.
- God is birthing something in us to pray and not give up.
- We need to learn that our resources are not enough to meet our needs – we must rely on God.
- If we are going through a trial and feeling that we are just coping, that is a sign that the trial is one where God is teaching Faith, and not something we should have patience and just suffer through.
- Hannah gave her one son (type of God giving Jesus) – worship is sacrificial.
- The Lord gave her a blessing beyond what she gave – 5 children
- What came out of this is a man of God (Samuel), who was used of the Lord to fulfill His purposes all the way down to a messiah.
- When we live for God what results is far bigger than us.
- When God sees that you are willing to do whatever He wants, then he can work with you.
4 points
- God is able: The bible has things we are told to do (communion, read the word, etc) – these are sometimes referred to as “means of grace”. We need to hold onto the thought that “anything I need God has the means to meet”. If God wants to change you, His means of grace are greater than you – the blacksmith is greater than the iron. God wants you to have great faith that He has the means to change you. He also wants you to have Faith that as you continue in the faith, you will change.
- Deadlock: A is waiting for B and B is waiting for A. This happens all the time between God and the people. The way deadlocks are broken is by continuing talking
- Neediness and weakness: God has designed it so that the older we become, the more neediness and weakness we experience – and the more we rely on God the more spiritual we get.
- Desire: When we put desires on the altar, God is able to fulfill it and make it a blessing. Otherwise we grab and don’t get the best. When we put it on the altar, God will fulfill it to His glory.
Count Zinzendorf: A rich young ruler who said yes.
Homework: 1 Samuel 1-4:22 – look for fear of God, Eli’s passivity responding to Lord’s reproof