GOD’S LOVE IS POURED OUT IN OUR HEARTS

God’s love “has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Rom 5:5; AMP). The engine for this confident boast in Christ is the Love of God poured in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Love is not just a resident in the heart. Love is ‘poured out’ into the believer’s heart. Love is the only power that overflows from itself into another. This pouring is not like little drops of dew. It is abundant, generous, mighty, like Niagara fall. Love is like hot gold poured into forms to make a wonderful masterpiece. ‘To pour out’ it means to suddenly empty liquid from one container into another. It also means to openly express your feelings, after keeping quiet for a long time. It is the same with the word ‘bestowed’, which means that a greater person gives a generous gift to a lesser person.

The Holy Spirit can pour God’s Love in a sudden manner into our hearts. The heart is not just the place of emotions, but is the center of the soul, the very personality of man. It is the experience of many Christians to witness to such pouring of Love. It can’t be properly described. Some call it the Baptism of the Holy Spirit or Fresh Fire from God. It is not just a doctrine. It is an experience. Not all the believers testify to it. The Holy Spirit is sovereign in choosing His vessels. This experience of ‘poured out love’ is the highest form of assurance of salvation. It is not a mental deduction from doctrines. The Holy Spirit pours His Love in our hearts directly and powerfully. That Love speaks Love like no other human words can do. This event is very special and holy. It is available to all, but not all believers receive it. You don’t need it to be born again or go to heaven. But this is the highest form of blessings given to the child of God on earth. There is no higher spiritual experience on earth than this. Different people describe it as electricity, wave upon wave of glory, or heaven downloaded in your soul. You cannot stand on your feet. You lie down, totally weak at this display of Love. It is like cold water to a thirsty soul. It feels like Life and Love at the same time. It is like God’s kiss, not on your lips but on your heart. It brings strength, courage, wisdom, and great sensitivity to the things of God. It increases your love for God. It gives supernatural power to witness for Jesus! God’s love becomes like a magnet. Filled with God’s overflowing love, you can only pray in tongues to give it a proper expression. What’s His name? Jesus!!!

HANNAH’S POURED OUT SOUL

“But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now” (1Sam 1:15,16).

Hannah is one of the great women of the Bible. Her story of pain, prayer and praise always encourages the believers. Her name means Grace. She was born during the times of judges when the nation of Isreal was backsliding. “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Jdg 21:25). This is the period between the death of Joshua until the monarchy was established in Isreal. God’s people experienced cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance by the judges God sent. There was no king in Isreal. That shows no central authority to govern the people. The King was not just a political figure but a spiritual leader who upholds God’s Law. Without a king people felt like sheep without shepherd. Each man did what he thought is right in his own eyes. It was in this transitional period that uses Hannah to give the people Samuel, who was a priest, the last Judge and the first great prophet in Isreal. The sorrow of bareness of Hannah, was a mirror of the situation in Isreal. They left God. They had no King. They too were spiritually barren.

About Hannah, two times we are told that ‘God closed her womb’ (1Sam 1:5,6). At that time, a woman who was barren was considered under the wrath of God. Hannah’s husband loved her but could not remove the social stigma. Her mate, Peninnah, provoked her severely. Hannah was always sorrowful, even in the God’s temple. Lesson: many are hurt even in the church! It should not be so, but this is a reality. What did Hannah do? She prayed! She went to God! She went to the same God who closed her womb. God alone shuts a door and open a door. That is faith! She addresses God as Jehovah Sabaoth! This is the first time that God is addressed like that in the Bible. It means that Jehovah, the God of the Covenant, is the Supreme Commander of the armies of heaven. He is sovereign over all opposition. Hannah makes a vow that if God gives her a son, she will dedicate that son to God, to serve God all his life. He will be a Nazarite, serving God all his life. Her vow shows her desperation and also faith in God, who alone changes situations and avenges the hurt of His people.

God allowed Hannah to come to a place of desperate prayer of intercession. Before God, she cried out from the depth of her being. She ‘poured out her soul’ before God. She emptied herself. In the presence of God Hannah discovered that God has His own ‘need’ too. God needed a womb to bring a special man of God on earth. He closed Hannah’s womb so that no man can use it until He has fulfilled its divine purpose. Hannah wanted a son. God wanted a son. Hannah decided to empty herself of her desire to be a mother of children and give God priority. This is intercession of the highest order. This is the greatest love of all. Hannah became ‘a surrogate mother’ to God’s child. This is how she got pregnant with Samuel. God used Samuel for His glory. After she gave Samuel back to God, Hannah had three more sons and two daughters. This is a story of pain and love that never fails. It shows the power of prayer, of faith and love to God and man. Hannah praises God for answering her prayer, for reversing her situation, for giving her the testimony of a true woman of God. Mary was inspired by Hannah’s praise song, and she sang it later when she had Jesus.

Lessons:

1-Pray always! Have faith in God! God is the God of miracles! Be persistent in Prayer! Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit when you pray! Give God your emotions and longings. He will satisfy them with Himself. Samuel means “God has heard”. God hears and answers prayers!

2-Surrender your whole being to God. He is your creator. He is your sustainer. Fear Not! God will remember you! You will not end in shame! Learn to empty yourself before God so that He can fill you with fresh pouring of the Holy Spirit!

3-Vows are powerful. They are serious business. We usually make vows when we are in trouble. God always answers the prayers of vows. Fulfilling your vows is critical. God never forgets vows. He punishes the breaking of vows. “I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows, 14 Which my lips have uttered and my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble” (Ps 66:13,14). Absalom made a vow that if God brings him back to Jerusalem, he will serve the Lord. God answered his prayer (2Sam 15:7,8). But killed him when he broke the vow. He did not serve God. He rebelled against his father, King David.

Fulfilling your vows is a sign that you fear God and that you are wise. Breaking your vows shows that you are foolish, and you take God for granted. God punishes the breaking of vows by shutting the doors to your prosperity and peace and even by untimely death. Because God is faithful! He rewards faithfulness! “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed. 5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. 6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God” (Ecc 5:4-7). Selah!

4-Do warfare! Let God fight your battles! Jehovah Sabaoth never loses any battle! His victory is sure! Reject jealousy, intimidation, inferiority complex, depression, doubt and defeat. Start to praise God! Speak victory despite the negative voices of opposition! Prophesy God’s blessing to yourself! Hannah 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… Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, And the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, And she who has many children has become feeble” (1 Sam 2:1,5).

5-Obey God’s Word: rejoice in hardship, persevere in prayer, build your character and hope in God (Rom 5:1-5).

6-Have hope in God! Do not backslide as you wait on God! Pain gives birth to testimonies!

7- Respect and submit to the spiritual authority God have set over you (even if he is backsliding).   

8- Manifest agape Love! “No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends” (Jn15:13). Hannah loved like Jesus. She surrendered her body (her womb) to God as a living sacrifice. God had her first fruit of her womb. This laying down of her life is the greatest Love of all. In all cultures, dying for a friend is seen as a great sacrifice based on duty or honor. But Jesus teaching is radical because it connects this ultimate sacrifice with Love! To lay down your life is not only about physical death, but it means to give up your rights, your comfort, desires and dreams to live your own good life for the sake of others. This laying down is a picture of the Cross and gives glory to Jesus alone! It lifts Jesus higher, and, in this way, many are drawn to Him. Worship the Lord!