A Legacy of Hope

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A Legacy of Hope

• May 13

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Think About It

• What are some situations where a person feels
  hopeless?
• Everyone feels hopeless at some point in life
  and we seek a way out
• Sometimes we put our hope in unreliable people or
  flimsy circumstances
• Today we study how true hope is found only in God

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The Rest of the Story

• Imagine you have one final opportunity to speak
  to the people with whom you have worked or led.
  What kinds of things would you want to say?
• This chapter contains Samuels closing address to
  the people he had served. Listen if there are
  similar comments as ours.

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Listen to Samuels advice.

• 1 Samuel 1223-24 (NIV) As for me, far be it
  from me that I should sin against the Lord by
  failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the
  way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to
  fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all
  your heart consider what great things he has
  done for you.

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The Rest of the Story

• What does Samuel promise to do?
• What advice does he give?
• Prophets and judges, including Samuel, had led
  the people of Israel for some period of time.
  Now the people want a king. How would you feel
  if people are rejecting your leadership?

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The Rest of the Story

• Why do you think Samuel agreed to pray for the
  people even though they seemed to be rejecting
  him?
• Samuel wanted to give hope to a people who had
  sinned against God.
• ? Now we look at Samuels background why he
  became this man of God

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Listen for Samuels mothers attitude before he
was born.

• 1 Samuel 110-20 (NIV) In bitterness of soul
  Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord. 11 And
  she made a vow, saying, "O Lord Almighty, if you
  will only look upon your servant's misery and
  remember me, and not forget your servant but give
  her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for
  all the days of his life, and no razor will ever
  be used on his head."

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Listen for Samuels mothers attitude before he
was born.

• 12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli
  observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in
  her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice
  was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and
  said to her, "How long will you keep on getting
  drunk? Get rid of your wine." 15 "Not so, my
  lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is
  deeply troubled.

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Listen for Samuels mothers attitude before he
was born.

• I have not been drinking wine or beer I was
  pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take
  your servant for a wicked woman I have been
  praying here out of my great anguish and grief."
  17 Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God
  of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."
  18 She said, "May your servant find favor in
  your eyes."

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Listen for Samuels mothers attitude before he
was born.

• Then she went her way and ate something, and her
  face was no longer downcast. 19 Early the next
  morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord
  and then went back to their home at Ramah.
  Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the Lord
  remembered her. 20 So in the course of time
  Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She
  named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the
  Lord for him."

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Flashback A Prayer of Desperation

• What emotions do you see expressed or
  demonstrated by Hannah?
• If Hannah lived today, what might she have done
  to help solve her hopeless problem?
• Why is it more important to take our hopeless
  problems and requests to God?
• What good things started to happen once Hannah
  began trusting and hoping in the Lord?

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Flashback A Prayer of Desperation

• What kinds of things previously kept Hannah from
  trusting God? What kinds of things keep us from
  putting our hope in God?
• How do we overcome those attitudes?
• What was the momentous promise she made to God?

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Flashback A Prayer of Desperation

• What about this vow as a parent, what kind of
  reaction do you feel?
• ? Yet God heard her vow and honored it

A good vow Over the edge!

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Listen for how Hannah kept her vow.

• 1 Samuel 127-21 (NIV) I prayed for this child,
  and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.
  28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole
  life he will be given over to the Lord." And he
  worshiped the Lord there. 21 Then Hannah
  prayed and said "My heart rejoices in the Lord
  in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth
  boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your
  deliverance.

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A Promise Fulfilled

• What was Hannahs testimony concerning her child?
• How would it feel to be delivered or vindicated
  by God?
• What was her prayer?

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A Promise Fulfilled

• Why are parents sometimes reluctant to have their
  children involved in full-time ministry?
• What would Hanna say to those kinds of attitudes?

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Application

• People who are called to serve God will be given
  all the resources they need
• Service to God is the highest calling to all of
  us not just to full time Christian workers
• Follow Samuels advice and fear the Lord, serve
  Him faithfully, and meditate often on the great
  things He has done for you

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Application

• Take your burdens to the Lord
• Believe that God can answer your prayer
• Trust Him to answer in ways that is best
  according to His wisdom and Love
• Be honest in confessing heartbreak and
  desperation

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Application

• Keep your vows to the Lord
• Be good stewards of the children and
  grandchildren whom God has entrusted to your care
• Pray for those babies we see dedicated in our
  church and their families
• This week praise the Lord often thank Him
  bless His name

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A Legacy of Hope

• May 13