Children are a reward from the Lord

By Br. Brite Sundar 

A double portion blessing is the promise that the Lord has given us all for this New Year 2009. Many of our loving brothers and sisters have in faith received the breakthrough as promised by God. But some of you out there are anxious and fearful of the delay in receiving your miracle. As you step into the sixth month here is the promise of God.

 Go in Peace and May God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him. 1 Samuel 1:17

 God is good all the time. He means no harm to His children and every good that we enjoy is undoubtedly sent from our Father above. James1:17 says “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights”.

Hannah was one of the wives of Elkanah. She enjoyed a double portion blessing from her husband in comparison with Peninnah and all her sons. She was the one most loved by her husband. She was also childless. The bible says in 1Samuel 1:5 that she was barren because the Lord had shut her womb.

What does barrenness bring into once life? Does it bring goodness? Does it bring joy? Does it bring peace? Why would such a loving God allow something that kills your joy or shatter your peace?? God is good all the time. He always has a definite plan and purpose behind every minute detail of His children’s life. He has a definite purpose in letting that problem into your life.

All are well when all is well. The minute they see that you are barren or jobless or a threat to their existence they charge on you with harsh words, spiteful actions and destructive schemes. Peninnah did exactly that. Read the verse 6 “because the Lord had closed her (Hannah) womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her”.

You might be surrounded with people like Peninnah whose goal is to irritate you and destroy you. God wants you to rip of their mascot and reveal their true identity. God wants you to see that they are ferocious wolves in sheep’s clothing, and distance yourself from such relationships. Paul writes to Titus 3:10 “Warn a divisive person once and then warn him a second time. After that have nothing to do with him”.

Year after year Hannah accompanied her husband Elkanah when he went to worship and sacrifice to the Lord at Shiloh. Her barrenness never changed. She was broken and crushed more and more by the provoking words of Peninnah. Only tears became her food. She just wouldn’t eat. She was so downhearted that even the kindness and the overflowing love of her husband couldn’t console her. Then one day in her bitterness of soul she wept much, turned to the presence of the Lord at Shiloh and made a vow unto the Lord (1Samuel1:11). Her vow was about giving back to God what He would give to her. It is this vow of Hannah that enabled God to raise a prophet called Samuel. God was waiting for this commitment to come from Hannah’s heart and mouth.

What is it that God is waiting to hear from you? What is the vow or commitment that you need to make? Whatever it may be it should come from a broken and willing heart. Psalm 51: 17 says “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit”. God honors the vow that you make at Shiloh. He will look down on your misery and bless you. Are you willing to make that commitment??

At Shiloh in the Lord’s presence Hannah pours out her soul out of great anguish and grief. As she was pouring out her heart in prayer she was watched by the high priest Eli. He observed Hannah’s mouth moving without any audible sound. He accused her of being drunk. “How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine”(1Samuel1:14). Even at Shiloh Hannah was not spared. She was falsely accused and sternly dealt. Did Eli’s accusation hinder Hannah? Was Hannah taken back? Hannah treated Eli with reverence and honored him by her gentle reply.

Humbly without any irritation she explained that she was only praying to God. She found favor in the eyes of Eli and God. Hannah received the prophetical word from the man of God amidst the pinnacle of her grief and went away in peace from Shiloh. Bible says that Hannah’s face was no longer downcast. Yes Hannah received God’s comfort, strength and the miracle at Shiloh. There is a miracle for you too at Shiloh the presence of God. The devil knows that too. He doesn’t want you to enter Shiloh or stay at Shiloh and he uses all his tactics to drive you away from Shiloh. Don’t yield to any provocations or accusations that try to put you down.

My dear friends, last year the Lord allowed our ministry to go through a tough trial. Greed & envy turned a Christian worker into a broker of the evil one. Like how Paul mentions in Philippians3:19 “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. It was a time of provocation and accusation. It was a walk of anguish, pain and agony. With fervent prayer I went into a detailed study of the word of God and poured out my soul at Shiloh. The power of God strengthened me, empowered me and I walked out of Shiloh with peace, joy and miracle. I learnt from God that Shiloh is the point of an outstanding miracle. Our good God allowed our ministry to go through a crisis not to crush us but to build us. He pruned us in the process and enabled us to move into another level of serving Him. Today many are blessed through our ministry.

Friends God does everything for our good. Romans 8:28 says “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”. There is a reason behind the delay my sister; there is a purpose behind this ordeal my brother. What is the delay in your life? Take it to God at Shiloh, pour out your heart and soul. Psalm 147:14 says “He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat”. At Shiloh you will be filled with that peace that passes all understanding and you will come out with the finest blessing called the SHILOH BLESSING.

Bible records that Hannah’s face was not downcast any more. The Lord remembered her and she conceived. In due course Hannah gave birth to a baby boy. When we receive the blessing we have been praying for, we tend to forget the Giver and the promises that we made in His presence. Hannah was not such a person. She was a woman of extraordinary commitment. Look at what she tells her husband “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always”. She never forgot the vow she had made to God. She sets a definite time to fulfill her vow and categorically tells the child’s father where his child would live forever. What a commitment to honor God!!!

When you are in need you commit so many things to God. Do you keep it as the top priority to fulfill them when God blesses you? Commitments demands sacrifice. Hannah meets the same man of God whom she met at Shiloh and hands over her son just as she had given word to God. Hannah kept her vow, what about you? Hannah fulfilled her vow faithfully & received more than a double portion blessing. Yes, God blessed Hannah with five more children (1 Samuel 2:21).

Last July as I was praising & singing in a family prayer meeting the Lord showed me a sister there pouring her heart at the Lord’s feet. He told me that she was childless for 5 years and that she was ready to receive her Shiloh blessing. The Spirit of God made me to proclaim that doctors who had conformed her inability to conceive would be put to shame and that she would have her miracle baby. Hope, peace & joy flooded her that very moment, in faith she honored God and our ministry and soon joined her husband in the US. To the glory of God her parents had now left to US for their daughter’s (that very same sister’s) confinement.

God wants each and every one of you to be blessed with Shiloh Breakthrough Miracle.

Don’t doubt, don’t panic, “Go in Peace and May God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him” 1Samuel 1: 17

Shiloh blessing is awaiting you. Receive it & be faithful to your commitment to the King of kings.

God Bless You!!

Br. Brite

Related posts:

1. Super Abundant Blessing
2. It will not be night Always…
3. April Test

As the world is going through tough economic times, we see and hear people who thought they are secure, losing their security in a moment’s time. Today I read that a father of five kids and with a wonderful wife shot all his family members and finally killed himself after he lost his Job. Over the past few months we heard that many wonderful lives were taken away by this deep depression which is holding many nations in to a shadow of darkness. If you are not careful this fear will grip even you.  As our hearts goes to these precious lives, I want to let you know with love this Good news. There are Lots and Lots of Hope for you and me if we see above to the creator of heaven and earth rather than seeing down always to this world and trusting mortal man.

Jesus the eternal Son of God, when he walked in this world used a wonderful parable to emphasize “it is OK to come back to God” in Luke 15:11-21. He said he came to this world to seek and save the Lost, No matter how lost or far away you are from God you can come back to him.

Jesus has promised “whoever comes to me I will never drive away” John 6:37

How we go away from God:

•  There were two sons for this loving father, the younger son said to his father, I don’t need you any more just give me your blessing I will go away from you and live in my own way. Have you ever said this to God? I don’t need you. I will live my life away from you. Please don’t forget he gave you this life to you.
•  The young son went away from the father as far he can go and lived a sinful life and spent away all his possessions with friends who ran away from him when he did not have money. Do you feel that you are living life very far away from God? Have you spoiled your soul and life? Do you see people going away from your life because you lost your Job?

Famine came in the Land:

There was a famine in that land and this son was without food and starving for his basic needs. This famine made him to realize that he has a father who is rich and loving. Are you starving for survival my dear friend, Is this famine hitting you hard? Are you concerned about your family’s survival? Do you fear whether your marriage will survive?

Coming back to God:

• This young son came to his senses and realized how good it was when he was with his father. Understood that the father is the source for all his blessings.
• He confessed to the father that he has sinned and came back to his father. When his father saw him in the distant he ran towards him and gave a big hug and kissed him and restored him.

Luke 15:20 – So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

My dear friends this is the only place in the whole Bible it is written that “God Ran”, Jesus expressed how deep he loves his people. Please do not stay back and take wrong choices. The Devil wants to kill and destroy your life. Take one small step to walk towards God; you will be received by God with a great Hug and Kiss.

Do you have questions about coming back to God?

* I am an atheist will God accept me, Yes he will
* When I had everything I rebelled against God, will he accept me. Yes He will
* I am worst sinner will he accept me. Yes He will
* I have mocked and scoffed God always will he accept me. Yes He Will
* I am crook will God accept me. Yes He Will
* I went away from Jesus, will he accept me and help. Yes He Will

My dear beloved he will accept you as you are, just turn back and ask his help, He is your father.

It is OK; it is OK to come back to God! He will restore and rebuild your life.

Jesus said “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

Prayer:
My heavenly father, I humbly come to you as I am and I confess I have sinned against you. Please forgive me and accept me as your child. I thank you for sending your son Jesus to die for my sins. Help me to live a Holy life. Please come in to my life and help me in these tough situations.

Amen
Note: Please contact me if you have any questions or doubts or take help from your local pastor.

More Articles:

Following Jesus Does not mean you will not face the Storm!

Jesus Asked: Who do people say I AM?

It will not be night Always…

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