My name is Silvia Lia Leigh. I was born in Romania more than 70 years ago. At that time Romania was a communist country. Religion was forbidden. We were thought in school that God does not exist and that religion is for the poor illiterate people. I believed that! I grew up in a loving family of four. My parents were teachers in the school which I attended with my younger sister, Adica. My father was also the principal of the school. My parents taught us by example to be kind, generous, respectful, humble and hard-working. We did not believe in God, and we did not attend church.
In 1973 I got admission into the Medical School in Timisoara. In my first year I met my future husband Richmond Leigh, a Nigerian. We were classmates. We fell in love and against all odds we got married. After graduation, in 1980, we moved to Nigeria. We became very successful as medical practitioners. We started a private hospital in Warri Nigeria called “Lily Clinic”. We were very happy. We had three children. We had money and fame. What else could one possibly want? Nothing! Or so I thought…
In 1986 I had a crisis conversion, here in Warri. I met the Lord Jesus Christ. This was purely the grace of God in action because we did not attend any church. This is how it happened…. Before coming to Nigeria, I have not seen a Bible with my eyes. In January of the same year, for no good reason, I became very depressed. I saw nothing good in all my achievements. I even lost my desire to live. This feeling was very strange because I was always an optimistic person. The mysterious depression started after ‘accidentally’ I read a scripture on a pamphlet: “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). I did not know who Jeremiah was. The scripture was not explained. But after I read it once, I just could not forget it. It seems like the words got stamped in my mind. I tried to forget it, but I could not. Strangely, I started thinking of God. I fought the thought, but I failed. It felt like He was calling me… Me? God calling Me? I panicked… I have never prayed in my life. Can I start now? A voice said: ‘It is too late for you to know God. Don’t pray!’ Another voice said the opposite: “It is never too late to pray. God loves you!” These voices made me crazy. Who were these voices? What voice am I supposed to believe?
Finally, I made my choice. For the very first time in my life, I decided to pray. It was 14th of March 1986. I said: “God, if You exist, then come down from heaven and change my heart. Make me Your friend! I am tired of doubting You. I am tired of fighting you. But please God, I can’t wait forever for the answer to this prayer. I give You ‘one month’s notice’ to come down from heaven and change my heart. If You come, I promise to be Your friend forever. But if You chose not to come, then let me die in peace. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen!” I did not know the meaning of the name ‘Jesus’ but I heard people pray like that, so I guessed it was the appropriate end to a prayer. Immediately I knew that something ‘good’ had happened to me. Not certain of what, I felt a sense of destiny coming down enveloping my soul…
On the 12th of April, 28 days after this “a month’s notice” prayer, the Holy Spirit came and filled my desperate dying hungry heart. Like an invisible blood transfusion, I felt LIFE entering my veins. Like a heart transplant, I had a new heart in my soul. I was alone in the sitting room when this event happened. It was much later that I knew it was called ‘the baptism of the Holy Spirit’. I became a child of God, never to be the same again. I started reading the Bible like a mad woman. This hunger for God’s Word, prayer and worship continued without interruptions until now. After some time, my husband became saved also. We sold our private clinic (Lily Hospital) and together, we entered full-time ministry. We are the founders and the senior pastors of Father’s House Bible Church in Warri, Nigeria. Suddenly, in 2020, my beloved husband went to heaven. I continue the ministry here in Warri. To God alone be all the glory!
May this testimony ignite in you the desire to be truly saved or to experience revival! In Jesus’ name, amen!
“Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven” (Lk 11:1,2).
Jesus was a Man of prayer. He often withdrew to pray. There was something special about Him that the disciples saw. When Jesus was praying, He did not talk to God religiously, but with love and passion. His face changed. This impressed the disciples. They saw that prayer to Jesus was more than a religious obligation. It was real and powerful. He depended on God the Father for His very life. He was speaking to God as a friend speaks to a friend. They saw that Jesus has a supernatural power that propels Him to pray. They observed that they lack that power. They did not ask Jesus to teach them how to do miracles or how to preach. They wanted to learn how to pray like Him. This request reveals the fact that prayer is not just a natural religious activity, but a holy work that can be learned from others who are closer to God. The disciples needed guidance and instruction. It shows their desire to know God better. They wanted greater faith. The disciples looked at Jesus as their true spiritual mentor and teacher, and not just a friend. They addressed Him as “Lord”. They recognized His authority. They wanted Jesus to teach them the way John the Baptist was teaching his own followers. In the Hebrew culture, the mentor teaches his disciples. Here we see the connection between John, the forerunner and Jesus. They both taught their disciples how to pray. Lesson: just the way the disciples turned to Jesus to teach them how to pray, so we must go to the Bible to study God’s Word and desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Prayer is an acknowledgment that we need God and no one else can help us. If you desire to learn how to pray, trouble may come. God may place you in difficult situations where only Him can help you. But this trouble pushes you to pray. Selah!
We pray to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Prayer for the Christian is always Trinitarian. For the Christian, prayer is not a luxury. It is not optional. It is a command. It is a lifeline to God. The fact that prayer can be taught means that we can learn how to pray better. This gives us hope. Jesus expects us to pray as He expects us to breathe. In prayer we draw closer to God and God draws closer to us. The more we pray, the less we worry, and the less we fear other things. Jesus said: “When you pray, say…” In Greek, the word “say” means ‘to speak with meaning’. Prayer must be vocal, clear and intelligent.
The prayer Jesus taught (Matt 6:5-13) is divided into two parts. First, we give glory to God. Secondly, we pray for our families and others. In the second part, all the verbs are plural. That means prayer is never selfish, praying only for my needs. I must pray for others. By giving glory to God, I learn how to Love God. By praying for others, for family members and neighbors, I learn how to love people. Therefore, Agape Love is the engine of prayer. Only a Lover of Jesus prays well. Selah!
These are the two main attitudes we must display as we draw closer to God, our heavenly Father: Love and Respect! God disciplines His children. We must respect God and thank Him for that (Heb 12:7-11). During the period of chastisement, do not draw back from God. Continue to stay in His presence, pray and worship Him. Discipline is painful and profitable at the same time. Thru discipline, we become more like our Father. Family resemblance is the greatest gain for any sinner saved by Grace! Glory to God!
*The first purpose of prayer is to bring glory to the Father. “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name”. The word “Hallowed” means holy. We must treat God with respect and awe. Holy means to be different, to be set apart from all that is common, and to hate sin. When we pray, we must hate sin and be ready to repent of it. “If I regard sin and baseness in my heart [that is, if I know it is there and do nothing about it], The Lord will not hear [me]” (Ps 66:18; AMP). We should not pray casually. We must have the fear of God. We should never take God’s name in vain. We worship God as we pray. The purpose of prayer is not that our will should be done in heaven. It is that God’s will should be done on earth. We pray: Let Your Kingdom come! The Kingdom of God is the realm, rule and reign of God in the hearts of men on earth. The Lord Jesus Christ is the King of the Kingdom. The Bible is the constitution of the Kingdom of God. By the power of the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of God advances on earth, pushing back the forces of darkness. When I pray, I must be ready to totally submit to God, to hate sin and repent of it. Every form of rebellion and selfishness in my heart hinders my prayer. In my heart and in my mouth, Jesus must reign and rule for God to listen to me. “For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil” (1Pet 3:12). This is a warfare prayer. The devil wants you to forget the glory and the purpose of God. He wants you to only pray for yourself and your little world of material prosperity. But Prayer is greater than that! Give glory to God!
*After we pray for God’s glory and Kingdom, then we can address our family needs. Our basic needs are Provision, Pardon, and Protection. As God supplies these needs, He receives the glory, and His Kingdom advances on earth. We pray for provision. God gave His people Manna in the wilderness. They had to go out and collect it every morning. They could not store it. They learn to depend on God for their daily bread. Thank God for the food on your table. Do not grumble. Be grateful that you can eat and that you have food. Secondly, just the way we need food for the body, we also need spiritual food. We ask God for forgiveness of sins. This forgiveness is a gift of Grace and by faith in Christ Crucified. It is not a reward for doing good deeds. As you ask God for forgiveness, repent from anger and bitterness against people who have offended you. Unforgiveness is a stronghold that blocks prayer. Your relationship with God depends directly on your relationship with people. To Love God, you must learn to love people. We also pray for protection from sin. “Lead us not into temptation…” is difficult to explain. God does not lead anyone into sin (James 1:13-15). We are led into sin by our own sinful desires and lust. Sin deceives us and leads to death. This is a reminder that we totally depend on God not to fall into sin. Without God, we are weak towards sin. What Jesus is saying is that if there is any lust in me, God, in His mercy, should prevent me fulfilling that lust. That God should frustrate my lust until I repent of it. And if temptation comes, I should be free from lust, so that I can pass the test. Every godly testimony glorifies God!
THE LOST AND FOUND SON (LK 15:11-32)
This is the story of a rich man who had two sons. The younger son was worldly. The older son was religious. Both needed their father’s grace, mercy and love. The father stands for God. The younger son stands for the true believer who is backsliding. The older son stands for the religious Pharisees, who are offended at Grace. This parable is called “the crown and the pearl of all parables, the Gospel inside the Gospel, the most divinely tender loving humanly touching story ever told on earth, or the finest short story ever written”. It shows the power of Agape Love that never fails to overcome human sin of selfishness and stubbornness. The younger son is not called ‘prodigal’ in the parable. The word ‘prodigal’ means wasteful, foolishly and recklessly spending money, effort and time to live an extravagant life. Through this parable, our Lord shows the extravagant love of the Father towards sinners. At the same time, Jesus rebukes the pride of the Pharisees who trust in their deeds and hate the doctrine of Justification by grace and by faith.
This is the story: The younger son got tired of home, of submitting to his father. He asked for his inheritance. According to the Jewish law, the senior son takes 2/3 of all the father has, including the land and the house. The younger son takes 1/3 of the movable property. A father can divide his property and give it to his sons only if he is on his dying bed. No father gives his property to his children when he is still healthy and strong. The father did not beg his son to stay. He gave him what he wanted. The younger son goes abroad and wastes all his money. This “far country” can be called “Forgetfulness of God”. But the day came when the money was finished. All his friends abandoned him and ‘nobody gave him anything’. He is forced to take the lowest job he can find. To feed swine. At his lowest point in his life, he comes to himself. Here we see that sin is like madness. Here you see the power of Grace. The light of the Gospel shines in his mind. He remembers his father and his Love. He plans to say: Make me your servant… The change is dramatic. This boy is not the same anymore. From Give me… to Make me! He rises from dirt and starts to walk home. His father sees him first and runs towards him. He is too weak to run. The Father embraces and kisses him until he washes all his sins away. This kissing Agape Love has encouraged millions of sinners to come back to God. The Father re-instates his son to full sonship status. He removes his rags and puts on him the best robe of righteousness of Christ. He came bare feet. The father gives him sandals. At that time only the wealthy had sandals. The slaves walked with bare feet. The father gives him the signet ring, the sign of authority as son. The father kills the fattened calf, kept for special celebrations. The house is filled with joy, for this son was once lost and now he is found; was once dead in sins and now he became alive in Christ. Halleluiah!
The older brother gets angry. He refuses to enter the house of God. He hates the fragrance of Grace and the sound of joy. He has been in the house laboring for many years. But he has never loved the sinners. He has never caught the vision of the Father. He is a symbol of the religious unbelievers, the Pharisees. They hate Grace. The parable ends abruptly. Jesus does not tell us what happened to the older brother. There are two possibilities: he too repented of his hypocrisy and became saved, or he killed (Crucified) his father!
LESSONS:
*The intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Intercessor and High Priest in heaven, never fails to bring backsliders home.
*Pride is a terrible sin. Pride is defined as the desire to live independent from God. The prodigal son was proud, but God humbled him.
*Don’t be wise in your eyes. Do not walk away from God, from your parents, and from church.
*Don’t be wasteful! Wealth without God’s wisdom ends in poverty and disgrace.
*Be careful when making friends. There are many so-called ‘fair-weather-friends’ but very few who are faithful to you in times of poverty.
*The world does not satisfy your soul. God and His Grace is enough! God loves sinners! He shows them Mercy and Grace!
*Genuine repentance is the only way for a sinner to have peace with God. A child should make his parents happy and not sad.
*Be jealous over your Christian testimony! You can’t buy or earn God’s Love. Salvation is by Grace alone!
*This is a warning against legalism: the older son thinks that because he works hard, his father owes him money. This is an example of the wrong doctrine of trying to be saved by doing good work. He hates Mercy and Grace. He hates it when sinners repent and come home.
*No matter how far you have gone away from God, come home! Father’s Agape Love never fails! Worship the Lord!
Our Lord prayed often. He was God and equal with God the Father. As Man on earth, He depended on prayer to maintain His relationship with God. He prayed when He was alone (Matt 14:23), when He was in public (Jn 11:41,42), before meals (Mk 8:6), before making important decisions – like choosing His disciples (Lk 6:12), before healing men (Mk 7:34), after healing men (Lk 5:16), after declaring judgment on unbelieving cities (Matt 11:25,26), before feeding the 5000 and the 4000 (Jn 6:11; Mk 8:6,7), before walking on water (Matt 14:23), before Peter calls Him “the Christ” (Lk 9:18), at the Transfiguration (Lk 9:28,29), at the return of the seventy who were successful in ministry (Lk 10:21), Before teaching His disciples how to pray (Lk 11:1), before raising Lazarus from the dead (Lk 11:41,42), when laying His hands on children (Matt 19:13-15), at the Lord’s supper (Lk 22:19), prayed for Peter when Satan asked to sift him like wheat (Lk 22:31,32). He prayed for Himself, His disciples and all believers just before He went to the Garden of Gethsemane (Jn 17:1-26). He prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane to do the Father’s will, to become sin on behalf of the believers and to die for them (Matt 26:36-46). He prayed right after being nailed to the cross “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34). While on the Cross He prayed: “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46). As He was dying Jesus prayed: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Lk 23:46). The resurrected Christ prayed a blessing on the bread He ate with some disciples (Lk 24:30). He blessed His disciples before His ascension to heaven (Lk 24:50-53). He is now praying and interceding as our great High Priest in Heaven (Heb 7:20-28; 8:1,2). Hallelujah! If prayer is essential to Jesus, how much more we need to pray?
By God’s Grace, led by the Holy Spirit, we shall study this prayer of Jesus in John 17:1-26. We shall learn more about His Person. Most Christians call the prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13 “The Lord’s prayer”. But that prayer is a pattern of prayer for the disciples to learn how to pray. Jesus could not have prayed that prayer because it contained the words: “And forgive us our sins…” Jesus did not sin and did not need forgiveness. In John 17 we have the actual prayer of Jesus. Jesus prayed but with few exceptions, we are not told the exact words He used in His prayers. But here we listen to His very words of prayer. Many pastors avoid preaching about this prayer. They say that the words between God the Son and God the Father are too holy for men to preach. But the words are recorded here in the Bible. By praying audibly, Jesus wanted the words to be recorded by John and that we should study them. We see how Jesus prays! In this prayer the word “Father” appears 6 times; “the world” appears 17 times; “Glory”, 9 times; “Love”, 4 times; the word “given”, 14 times; and the word “sent”, 7 times.
This prayer is called the Holy of holies of the Bible. John 17 is the holiest chapter in the Bible. We are invited into the Throne Room of God. The secret place of the Most High God is open to us. Many Bible Commentators say that this is the greatest prayer on earth following the greatest sermon preached on earth (John, chapters 14-16). These chapters include the Last Supper, Judas betrayal, Jesus’ teachings on love and the coming of the Holy Spirit, and His prayer for unity among His followers. Jesus is preparing His disciples for what comes ahead. He will be betrayed by one of them and die on a cross. Jesus is telling them that it is better for Him to die and leave them. The Holy Spirit will come in His name and fill them. Jesus will live in them by the Holy Spirit. That is a closer relationship with Him than the one they have right now. This is called the High Priestly Prayer of our Lord. He prayed to God the Father just before going to the Garden of Gethsemane and to the Cross. This prayer is a pattern of His intercession ministry in heaven. As the Great High Priest and Advocate, Jesus sustains us from heaven and gives great encouragement and joy to all believers, to continue to run the race to the end. Amen!
“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You” (Jn 17:1). Jesus lifted His eyes to heaven… This is the classical position of prayer in the Jewish culture. It shows humility, reverence, total openness to God and expectation for an answer to the prayer. The first word Jesus speaks is “Father”. It shows the intimate relationship and unity between Him and God. He then says: “The hour has come”. This hour is the time for crucifixion, resurrection and glorification. It is God’s perfect timing. This is a reminder that Jesus was always aware of the plan of salvation. Everything in His life was done according to God’s will and plan.
He then prays: “Glorify Your Son”. He tells the Father that He should reveal His glory and authority thru the events that will soon happen. The time of Jesus’ humiliation, hiding in a body of flesh is over. From this moment on, the glory of God the Son manifest. To the world, the Cross may look like a tragedy. But the glory of God will forever shine thru it, revealing the Love that never fails. The Father will be glorified too. The mutual glorification of both the Father and the Son shows the unity of purpose in the plan of salvation. Jesus prays for strength to fulfill God’s plan to the end. He will become Sin on behalf of the sinners. He asks for God’s glory to be revealed thru His greatest humility and shame at the Cross, demonstrating The Father’s perfect Justice and perfect Love.
God’s glory is defined as the beauty and power of His Spirit. This beauty is not visible or material. It is spiritual. Glory is not an attribute of God. Glory is part of God. It is the beauty of His character. Man’s beauty and glory (honor) passes away. God’s glory never fades. The glory of God is revealed best in His Son Jesus Christ. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14). Praise the Lord!
Jesus is very confident of His relationship with God. He calls God “Father” six times in this prayer. He also calls God “Holy Father” and “Righteous Father”. God is Holy. He hates sin. He is different than His creation. God is righteous. He never makes mistakes. Everything He does is good, right and perfect. God is always faithful. This is the confidence of Jesus as He prays. It should be our confidence too.
The prayer has three parts: Jesus prays for Himself (Jn17:1-5); for His disciples (Jn17:6-19); and for the future believers, including us (Jn 17:20-26). Most of the prayer is dedicated to intercession for His disciples. In the prayer we see that the plan of salvation was made before the foundation of the World. God the Father designed the plan. Jesus Christ executed it. The Holy Spirit applies it to our hearts so that we may believe it and obey it. The revelation that we are included in this mighty salvation is a great source of peace, joy, and confidence. We are not ordinary random people. We are elected and chosen by God to become children of God and live eternally. The very idea that Jesus Christ is praying for us right now, is the greatest source of hope for the future and gives us the assurance of salvation!
We have the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to tell us the many wonderful things Jesus was doing on earth. But we have only one chapter to tell us what Jesus has been doing for the past 2000 years, and what He is doing right now. That is why the study of this chapter is so important. Here we see Christ glorified doing intercession for us right now. It is basically a prayer for Glory, He asks the Father to give Him His glory, and to give His disciples His glory. Jesus did not ask for the glory that was not His. He asks the Father to give Him back the glory that was always His. The relationship between Jesus and the Father is that of a total Trust and Loving care. Jesus prays for God’s glory to be revealed. He prays that God the Father will fulfill all His promises and seal all the work Jesus has done on earth. In this prayer we see the Humility of Jesus in a new way. Jesus is God. He has all powers. He has created everything. But in this prayer, we see Him as Man. He has suffered rejection and soon, He will die on the Cross. He prays to God the Father to seal His work done on earth and to glorify His Person. Jesus totally depends on God the Father now. How much we need God to bless our work too!
LESSONS:
*DO ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD! “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1Cor 10:31).
*PRAY THAT GOD ESTABLISHES THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS
“Return, O Lord! How long? And have compassion on Your servants. 14 Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days! 15 Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, The years in which we have seen evil. 16 Let Your work appear to Your servants, And Your glory to their children. 17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us and establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands” (Ps 90:13-17).
Believers know that God’s presence makes the difference. We always need God’s mercy. We remember that God is merciful and loving. We pray for revival. The world may give pleasures, but it can never satisfy our hearts. Only God can satisfy. We need God early. This is the call for a fresh hope. Like the Israelites waited each morning for manna to come from heaven, we wait for God’s new mercies daily. Satisfaction in God manifests as joy and peace. God is sovereign. He has allowed us to suffer for a time. The pain was to help us, to humble us. But that pain is not forever. Like Job, who suffered but God blessed him at last, we too depend on God who can change the circumstances in a second. Pray not only that God removes the pain, but that thru pain you may gain wisdom and mature spiritually, to the glory of God.
God’s works are seen in creation, in salvation, provision, deliverance, and healing. God’s works reveal His glory. We pray to witness God’s miracle works that our children may know the power and glory of God. May God’s Grace, His unmerited Favor be revealed to us. We need God to bless the work of our hands. We may work but only God gives increase and godly success. Without God, all our efforts are in vain. True fulfilment and satisfaction in our work is done only when our work aligns with God’s will for us. Christ prayed that God glorifies Himself in His work for man’s salvation on earth. Grace is essential for any form of success, spiritual or material. The work of our hands is not just about productivity but about fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives. We are called to align our efforts with His will, ensuring that our work has eternal significance. Just as the Israelites depended on God in the wilderness, we must rely on Him to guide and establish our paths. This dependence fosters a deeper relationship with God and a greater understanding of His plans for us. The establishment of our work by God ensures that it has a lasting impact. We should strive to leave a legacy that reflects God’s glory and advances His kingdom.
*LEAVE A GOOD NAME AS INHERITANCE
“The memory of the righteous [person] is a blessing, But the name of the wicked will [be forgotten and] rot [like a corpse]” (PV10:7; AMP). “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth” (Ps 34:15,16).
The righteous are God’s children who obey His Commands and use their resources to do good to people. The wicked are the unbelievers. They are selfish and morally corrupt. They oppose God and His people.
God is actively opposed to evil. His justice is not passive. In Ancient times, a good name, a godly testimony left behind was the best treasure your descendants can inherit. The righteous men leave behind a good name, a godly memory that will continue to influence generations of come. People like Apostle Paul continue to influence people through his writings and godly life.
The worse punishment is that God destroys your memory. Sin leads to separation from God and to eternal death. People will forget the wicked man. The name of the unbeliever will rot like a corpse; it will be “cut off”. It will bring shame to the family. The wicked are forgotten or remembered for bad, because they did not do good deeds, they did not use their resources to help others, to the glory of God. The name of Judas Iscariot will always be associated with wickedness, betrayal and eternal death. This reflects the punishment given to the wicked at the last judgment. This is the revelation of the holiness and justice of God.
At the Cross, Jesus died on behalf of sinners. Those who have faith in Christ Crucified, shall be saved. Those who reject the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, must bear their own punishment. One way for that punishment to be revealed is that God will totally eradicate that person’s name. This is also a warning to the believers to avoid evil and the company of wicked men. “Bad company corrupts good manners” (1Cor 15:33). Be sure to surround yourself with godly people. Protect your testimony as a Christian. Invest in eternal treasures. Worship the Lord!
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!
Green Pastures 