REVIVAL TALK

--> -->      The story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1-2 is one of the most powerful illustrations of perseverance in scripture. Hannah knows she is called and chosen by God, but she finds herself surrounded by negative voices and complications to achieving her destiny.   Hannah was married to Elkanah, whom the Bible said loved her very much, but she realized she was barren, the most dreaded condition of that culture. Meanwhile, Elkanah took a second wife, Peninnah, who bore him many children.      Peninnah provokingly caused Hannah grief as she speculated the reasons why Hannah was not special enough to have children. Hannah overcame as she ignored Peninnah. The voice of condemnation always comes from those who are jealous and insecure. Ignoring condemnation is the best remedy.      Every year the family prepared to go to Shiloh to offer a bull as a peace offering in worship. During this time, Elkanah would give portions to Penninah and her children.  

Isaiah 54:17 – “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.”            The Bible reveals that the believer is involved in a spiritual conflict.    When you prayed to receive Christ as Savior, you were enlisted in the army of God as a soldier.    The scriptures teach that Jesus is the Commander of this army (Joshua 5:13). Timothy was instructed to fight the “good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12).           The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 6:10-18 that the believer is involved in a spiritual conflict. Verse 12 reads, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”               The enemy has a number of weapons in his arsenal that he will use against you. He loves to intimidate, bring false accusations, attack your physical body with sickness, and attack your thought life. Throughout the Bible he is identified

  Psalms 34:8   – “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”             The Psalmist invites us to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” We serve a good God. The Scriptures declare the goodness of God. Psalms 73:1 says, “Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart.” God desires to overwhelm us with His goodness.             It is the goodness of God that leads to repentance.  Romans 2:4 says, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”  1 John 4:19 reveals, “We love Him because He first loved us.”             No matter our circumstances, God is good.  He is often blamed for our difficulties or hardships.  Why does a loving God allow bad things to happen?  Why do bad things happen to good people?  Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called accor

Philippians 3:20-21 – “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” Some years ago the Lanny Wolfe Trio sang a song, Shout it Jesus Coming .   The chorus says, “Come on and shout it from the mountain tops, proclaim it in the busy streets, tell everybody you know tell everybody you meet. Shout it Jesus is coming, Jesus is coming, yes, He's coming let the whole world know that Jesus is coming soon, very soon.” We must shout it to the world, Jesus is coming.   Luke 14:34-36 says, “I tell you, in that night there will be two  men  in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.   Two  women  will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left.    Two  men  will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other