Mother's Love | Stephen Kong

You're listening to a message to go from as church. We hope this message

will light up your team. So I took from this story of um Um

the Book of Samuel. So if you have a Bible, you can turn

with me to first Samuel, chapter one, verse one, okay, and

I'll read the whole chapter of chapter one, and then we will see what

we can learn from this person, this woman called Hannah. Okay. And

so let me just give you a background of a story, and then we

will read the scripture. Okay. Um. So this this portion of scripture

is Um is really the time when Israel was transitioning from the time of the

judges into the into the king's right. Uh. And if someone us know

of if you're a family with the Bible, you know, the first two

kings of Israel was Saw and then followed by David okay, and so on.

So this was the time of the transition. Uh. And and the

Book of Samuel. Samuel eventually or not eventually, he was actually the last

judge okay, before easier transition into having kings. Okay, because you know

there was a need for some stability and order in Easiel. And so Um

Samuel was actually the last judge. Samuel actually wrote the Book of Samuel,

not all of it. I think I believe at least three quarto or more

than half of first Samuel, and then the remaining was written by I think

it was Gibbeon and Get or something like that. Okay. There's other two

other authors who wrote this book, but Samuel wrote the first portion of it,

the first part of it, okay. And so he was the last

judge, and eventually he also became the first profit to speak to Easiel.

Okay. So they will give you a bit of background about this Book of

Samuel. Okay. Cool. So first Samuel, chapter one, Okay,

Let's read the scripture and then see where the Lord takes us a man.

Now, there was a certain man of Rama time, Zophim of the mountains

of Fraim, and his name was al Khana, the son of Jeham,

the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zof and

an effort fm. Okay. So that this guy's name is called al Khanna.

There are many other names, so I don't know the main guy.

We're focusing on Elkhana okay. And he had two wives ooh, Okay.

The name of one was Hannah in the name of the other Panina. So

Pnina had children, but Hannah had no children. Let me stop there for

a while. So we just read this words and says that al Khanna,

which is this certain man, he had two wives. Okay uh. And

this is called polygamy, okay. Basically a man who has morning one wife

multiple wives. And if you look at a Bible, right, if you

look at the Old Testament, you will find multiple occurrences or many occurrences of

men having more than one wife. Okay, this is one instance, um.

Okay, there are many other come. Sorry. So in those days,

um, in the ancient Middle East and ancient easier times, it was

actually an acceptable custom. Okay, I put quote and quote an acceptable social

custom because in those days, in ancient days, if the family could not

bear children or could not have children, it was actually, um like an

insult or like you know, they will be very shameful. Okay, it

was very it was. It was it was considered a tragedyaler Okay, so

much so that if they couldn't have children, um, the husband may take

on another wife to bear children, to have children. Okay. So scholars

believe that Hannah was Alkanna's first wife, and because she was barren, she

couldn't have children. Elkanna then took another wife for himself, which is Panina.

Okay, um, And so I want to say this, um,

even though even though in those days they took a second wife as he was

a very legitimate reason, right because you know, they needed sons to work

the land or to work the ground. So if they don't have children,

they were of course another wife and have children. But even though it was

an accepted custom in olden days, right, Actually, God's law warns against

having multiple wives. Okay. In fact, when the Kings were established,

God actually warned the kings that you shall not have multiple women. Bible actually

says that if you want to, you can write it now. It's in

due to only seventeen seventeen. Okay, God actually warns the kings not to

have multiple wives. But you know, if you're familiar, you know that

many of the kings also had multiple wives. Right, they disobeyed God.

And you know, I think Solomon is a very clear example. You know,

even though he was wise, great king, I think he had seven

hundred wives. Can you imagine that one or second head agree has seven hundred,

seven hundred. I don't know how how how in the world, but

that's how kings function in those days. And I think he also had on

top of that additional three hundred concubines or something like that. Okay um.

And so the Bible actually a caught is that someone like Solomon actually fell away,

fell from God because his wives led him astray, because he had way

too many wives. Okay. So I just want to say that, you

know, the Bible has many examples of polygamy or multiple wives that don't end

well. And that's why today you don't really see and glory to God.

You do reality men having multiple wives today because really God has won the people

in the Bible in those days of all not to have multiple wives, you

know, but they should have only one. Okay. So in this case,

as I say, it seemed like a legitimate reason. Okay. But

in a while you will see that chaos can happen, you know, when

you have two wives, because the Bible is very clear that guys, you

can't love you can't have two masters, right and you know you can't love

both of them the same, you know, and God equates He actually writes

it you can't love both God and Memon or money at the same you know

you will love one and hate the other, or naturally you love one mode

and the other. Okay. So basically this story, al Kana had two

wives, okay, Hannah and Nina. Okay. So, and you will

notice that they fight later. So this man was three. This man went

up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the lot of hosts in

Shiloh. Okay. So every year, three times a year, they were

supposed to go to the to the temper in Shiloh or in Jerusalem to worship

God. Okay. These three festivals are called the Feast of Unliving Bread,

the Feasts of weeks, and the fix of Tabernacles. Okay, you can

find it in scripture. Also in Due Tournemy sixteen sixteen. It was so

nice the numbers sixteen sixteen. Okay, you're finding there, Okay. So

also the two sounds of Eli Eli is a high priest Hofney and peanut Hus.

The priests of the Lord were there, and whenever the time came for

Elkana to make an offering, he would give passions to Panina, his wife

and all her sons and daughters. Otis a plurals. She has multiple sons

and multiple daughters. Okay, but to Hannah, he would give a double

portion for he loved Hannah although the Lord had closed her womb. Take note

it was the Lord who closed her womb. So God was part of this

picture. Okay, let's God and her rival. Her rival actually referring to

Pina, also provoked her severely to make her miserver because the Lord had closed

her womb. So it was year by year when she went up to the

house of the Lord that she provoked her. Therefore she wept and did not

eat. So just imagine that this Banana had many sons and daughters, and

every year as they go up to the temper to worship, to offer sacrifice,

to offer offerings to the Lord, Banana were actually shame Hannah or were

actually like, you know, like talk down on her. You know,

look at how many sons and daughters I have and you have none, you

know. And she didn't do that one, she didn't do it twice.

She did that every single time. The Bible says year by here, I

can't imagine how many years. I don't know if I wouldn't say, but

year by year she would provoke Hannah and you know she's just so so so

evil a right, and and Hannah really really suffered. Okay, and we

can let's look on further. So I would say that really, sometimes we

don't understand God's pants and its purposes. Right, how come someone like Panana,

who seems so evil can have so much so many children? But Hannah,

who is so The Bible purchased her as a very nice woman, in

fact, woman of faith and a devotion to God. And yet Hannah had

no children. By the way, it's a custom for the men to go

up and to go to Jealuism to worship God and bring an offing. Actually

women was not required to go, but Hannah year after year, even though

she knew that Panana were, you know, speak shame on her or humilate

her, Hannah still went every year and then actually shows a devotion of a

woman, right, a woman who eventually become a mother. You look at

that, okay, So what was it? Then? Elkanna, her husband

said to her, Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not

eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better than ten

sons? Somebody say? Wow? So Anna now comes up to Hannah and

asked her, why are you? Said? Am I not better than ten

sons? And sometimes I say, sometimes men can be dead inconsiderate because al

Kenna failed to understand that for Hannah, having a son is different from having

a husband. It's different, right, And most wives, or I would

say many wives would have the longing or the desire to be a mom,

right to have children, at least have sons or daughters, right, And

so Hannah had a longing to be a mother, not just to be a

wife. With the husband in this case didn't really understand. And so you

know, he told Hannah, am I not better than ten sons? To

you? And of course Hannah replies. Hannah rose after they had finished eating

and drinking in Shiloh, and now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat

by the dog post of the tabernacle of the Lord, and she was in

bitterness of soul. Hannah, okay, Hannah was in bitterness of soul and

prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a wow and

said, a lot of hosts, if you were indeed look on the affliction

of your maid servant, and remember me and not forget your maid servant,

but I would give your maid servant a male child, so specific a guys,

a male child. She prayed. Then I would give him to the

Lord all the days of his life, and no vasors shall come upon his

head. Does that sound familiar for you that it's actually called a nazer right

wow? Okay, So Samuel was I mean, don't know, Hannah actually

took on a nanzer right wow for Samuel at birth, even before he was

born. Okay. Most people would take a nanzer right wow for a period

of time, maybe weeks or months, but Samuel had had that nazer right

wow since he was born. Okay. So the vow for for a nanza

Vite vow basically they were not eat sorry, they were not drinking wine wine,

they were not cut their hair ever, and they will not come close

to a dead body. So that's what a Nazavite vow is. And maybe

you can remember another person in the Bible who has that. His name is

Samson. Samson's had really long hair because he also had his vow. Okay,

Um, So Hannah made a vow to God that he you know,

would would would put Samuel on a nanzavite vow if God gave him a male,

a male, a male child, or a son. Okay, And

it happened was a shelf, and she continued praying before the Lord that Eli

watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved,

but her voice was not hurt. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.

She was. He was thinking, wow, this this woman is drunk,

you know, because in those days, during that time, you know,

Easier was going to a time of materialism. There was a lot of evil

that's happening in the land. So this high priest thought maybe this Hannah was

just one of them. You know, she's drunk, she's out of mind.

But he didn't realize that she was praying. She was praying in her

heart. So Eli said to her, how long will you be drunk?

Put your wine away from you. But Hannah answered and said, no,

my Lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither

wine nor intoxinating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.

Do not consider your maid servant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance

of my complaint and grief, I have spoken until now. Then Eli answered

and said, go in peace, and the God of is Al grunt your

petition which you have asked of him. And she said, let your maid

servant find favor in your sight. So the woman went away and ate,

and her face was no longer said let me stop there for a while and

give her all my first point. The first point is power in furvn Frayer.

And so when Hannah was in such a distressing time, like she really

really wanted to be a mom, right, how many of you who want

to be mom the next time? And way her hands? Then? Okay,

yeah, go on two hands. You know, maybe the others haven't

thought about it or they're not away. It's okay, sh shall you come

to that? You know? And I saw bendis just kidding, but you

know, but okay, So Hannah really had the desire to be a mom,

right, and she was really in a distressing time, and the Bible

says that she poured out her soul to the Lord friends dead. Is an

example of furvon Frayer. You know, she was full of bitterness in a

soul and with great anguish, and yet she did the right thing. What

was the right thing to do. She poured her heart out to the Lord.

That's what we call its prayer. That is a perfect example of fervent

prayer when we've really come to God in the place whereby we need him,

and and and we surrender to him, and God hears our hearts, especially

when we have the desire to honor Him. Right. The Bible tells us,

you know, in First John, chapter five, verse fourteen to fifteen.

If you have a Bible, can turn into it First John five,

fourteen to fifteen. You know, it says, now, this is the

confidence that we have in Him that if we ask anything according to his will,

he hears. Somebody say a good amen, he hears us. Amen,

if you hear if he asks anything according to his will, And if

we know that he hears us whatever we ask, we know that we have

the petitions that we have that we ask of him. We know that if

we already have it. So in this story of Hannah, when she prayed

to the Lord, she she poured out her soul to him. She cried

out to him to her deepest desires. You know, God sees every tear

and he remembers it. In fact, the Bible actually tells us that God

sees our tears and he actually collects it in jazz. You're gonna read it

if you're gonna find a scripture that says that. So it's so amazing.

God actually sees every tear, you know, and he knows our heart's desire,

especially those that honors him, right. Uh. And and Hannah wanted

a son so much that she said that she's willing to offer her son up

to God, you know, when God gives the son to her. And

so pars I cannot say this, bring everything to God before you bring anything

to men. And that's exactly what Hannah did. And I'm sure you and

I can learn from this amazing woman of her devotion and her faith in the

Lord, because it's not easier to go to a year after year after year

after year being barren and yet having to face other people around you and yet

still believe in God, still come to the temple to worship, even though

she was so few with shame. In those days, it was really is

considered a tragedy. Okay, in two day's days, many couples tend not

to have children, which is quite normally, but in those days, really

it was a very shameful. You know um experience which China went through.

Okay, and so James chapter five or thirteen teaches us how to pray for

specific prayers. I'm gonna turn to that. Okay, give me one.

If you have a Bible, you can turn James chapter five. Let's look

at what James tells us. You know on how to pray for specific brains.

James chatter five worth thirteen stays, is anyone among you suffering? Let

him pray? Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms? Is anyone among

you? Six? Learn him called for the elders of the church, and

let them pray over them, anointing him with all in the name of the

Lord. And the prayer of faith was saved the sick in the Lord of

the race him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be

forgiven. So confess your sins to one another, pray for one another,

that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man

a wales much Amen, prayer of a righteous man a wales much So.

Here we can see that Hannah indeed was a righteous person. I told you

already it is not required of her to go and present offing. It was

actually a command for the men. But she, as a woman, still

did it, even though she knew every year she's gonna be she's gonna be

you know, humiliated or insulted by her so called enemy, which the Bible

rights as vival you know, uh, who is called panina. Okay,

And she still did it anyway. And so she she really really pulled her

heart out to the Lord and ask God for this longing and desire that she

had. And the Bible also reminds us in Philippe Chapter four, War six

or seven, be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,

with thanksgiving, Let your requests be made known to God and the God

of peace, which surpasses all understanding. With God. Your hearts and minds

to quiet, she says. Somebody say amen, amen, So there is

what you and I should do when we come to a place whereby you know,

we are down, we are sad. You know, don't don't take

it to the social media. Don't take it to Facebook, to Instagram,

you know, uh, you know, don't don't let your face be said.

But me, you and I come to the Lord in prayer and even

as Hannah. After Eli said to Hannah, and let your petition be done,

Hannah actually went away, and she was no longer said. The Bible

says, she was no longer said, because the peace of God was upon

her. And Eli, he didn't even know that he was proper sighing into

Hannah's life. Let it be done in accordance to your prayer, your humble

prayer. Let it be done. Amen. And so so that's my first

point power in fervn for her. You and I have the power to pray

and ask God for something. You know, and if we are asking for

something in alignment to His will, how much more were God? How much

more God would provide it for us? Amen? How much more He would

answer a prayer. But we just need to learn how to wait for His

timing and for his purposes to come to pass. And Hannah did exactly that.

She really had an amazing devotion and faith in God, even though she

waited for very, very long. Okay, so let's continue on verse nineteen.

I think something so far, okay, Verse nineteen, First Samuel,

Chapter one, Verse nineteen has continued. So then they arose early in the

morning the day it referred to el Kenna and and Hannah. They arose early

in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to the

house of Obama. And el Canna knew his knew Hannah his wife, and

the Lord remembered her. Now, let me just say a few things about

this. When the Bible says that the Lord remembered Hannah, it doesn't mean

that God had forgotten Hannah, okay. When when the Bible says the Lord

remembered her, it just says that God had actually moved or intervened on behalf

of Hannah. He had already done the miracle for her. And of course

you know, um, after she had prayed, she and asked me went

back and they did well, it was necessarily okay, which, of course

the Bible says that el Canna knew Hannah's wife. They actually mean too,

to po create. Okay. Let Hannah Hannah the wife, okay, and

the Lord remembered her. Okay. So when we believe by faith, we

pray, action must follow. Amen. And so Elkanah and Hannah took action,

and they did the according to what they prayed, and the Lord remembered

her. So he came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived

praise the Lord and bore a son and called his name Samuel, saying,

because I have asked for him from the Lord. Amen. So Samuel's name

actually means he has. His name is very unique. It actually means his

name is God. Okay. Um, that's actually what his name means.

Okay. And of course the Bible tells us Hannah named him dead because she

asked for him from the Lord and the Lord gave it to her, you

know. Um. So my second point is this praise in the midst of

our battles. Did you know? This is the first thing that Hannah and

Alkanna did early in the morning when the rose up was to worship the Lord,

and worship is basically surrender. And so Hannah and Elkanna already worship the

Lord the next morning after they prayed, or after Hannah prayed, even though

she had not seen the America yet, even though she had not seen the

break to yet. So Hannah could immediately worship God and pray, trusting in

the God who would answer her prayers. So I want to encourage you and

I we can learn how to praise God in the midst of our battles,

because Hannah was actually in a battle. If you read the prayer that she

prayed in chapter two, which I wouldn't go to today, but you can

read it, you actually realize that she actually said her prayer like she was

in a battle with Panina, her enemy is so called, you know,

because she really really struggled to the extent. So we can find great peace

and comfort in His holy presence when we worship him. Amen. The Bible

achieve reminds us that we can put on a garment of praise for the Spirit

of heaviness, garment of praise for the Spirit of heaviness. So there is

power in praising Him, especially when we go to our battles, especially when

we go to our trials. We praise him when there's victory because God gives

the victory. We also praise him in our battles because God fights our battles

for us. Amen. We praise Him even when we do not understand the

situation, because Heaven's sea rules. Anyway, I'm going back to the team

of our church this year, which is Heaven rules and God is in control.

So I started earlier by saying, you know, we sometimes we don't

understand how God works and why Punina, who seems so evil, had many

children, but Hannah didn't. And eventually you will find that God has his

purpose in debt. But we can find peace in him, and we come

to him in prayer, and let me worship him in a place of surrender,

a total surrender to him a man. And so Hannah did exactly that.

I'm sure you and I can learn from this amazing woman, woman of

faith, who so desired to be a mother and eventually became a mother.

Okay, so worse twenty one Now the man al Kenna, now the man

al Kenna and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly

sacrifice and his vow. Okay, the stor this is the usual yearly sacrifice

that they go. But this time, the Bible says Hannah did not go

up, for she said to her husband, not until the child is wind,

and I will take him that he may appear before the Lord and remain

there forever. Okay. So to win is basically this word win is basically

to to allow the child to take on, you know, a doubt food

or the normal food that the child would take when he grows up. Okay,

basically to remove the dependency of nursing from from the mom Okay. And

in the olden days, if you study history, the child is normally ween

at about two to three years old. Okay. So it is believed that

Samuel was brought before the temper to the to the priest and was given to

the to the priest at rough three, about two to four years old.

Okay. So it wasn't. It wasn't a baby was already growing up,

uh, somewhere between that ranger. Okay. So we can see that Hannah

indeed was what was a goadly woman. She knew right, she knew what

one needed to be done, and and and and she she remembered her promise

by the way she remembered the promise where she said she was good, she

was going to present the child, and that the child will remain there forever.

Canna, her husband, said to her, do what seems best to

you, Wait until you have wined him. Only let the Lord establish his

word. Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had winned him.

Now, when she had weaned him, she took up. She took

him up with her with three bulls, one eple of flower and a skin

of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shilah.

And the child was young. Okay, so here we know that child was

already young, not not the baby anymore. Then they started a bull and

brought the child to Eli, and she said, oh, my Lord,

as your soul lives, My Lord, I am the woman who stood by

you here praying to the Lord for this child. I prayed, and the

Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of him. Therefore I also

have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he shall

be lent to the Lord. So they worshiped the Lord. There a man

the Lord bless the reading of his word. So that is First Samuel,

chapter one, the whole chapter we just finished reading. And so I want

to say to us my third point, which is this, Hannah persevered in

the time of waiting. That's the third pea for us today, persevered in

the time of waiting. The first p was power inferment, prayer, second

p praise in the midst of our battles, and the third piece perseverance in

the time of waiting. So Hannah waited. I don't know to be exact,

how many years did she wait? But God hurt her prayer and God

remembered her, and God granted to her her petition. But I want to

say this to us. You know many at times when we are desperate,

right, we tend to say very big prayers in time of desperation. I

mean, if this sounds familiar, have you been an exam hall before you

open the exam paper and you have no clue words on the paper You didn't

study that or your group can't remember? Your mind? Men blank? And

how many of you have ever said this prayer before? God? If only

you helped me to pass this paper, I will serve you all my days.

Sounds familiar. I'm sure someone must have said that prayer before. But

I want to say it to us. Remember the prayer that you prayed,

because God will hold us accountable to that. Hannah here in this story,

say that exam, say the exact prayer that you and I would say in

desperation. God, if only you will give me a son so specific?

I wonder if God gave a daughter, won't happen so specific at the prayer?

God, if only you will give me a son, I will give

him back to you his entire life, you know. So when the child

was very young, Hannah actually brought the child to the priests. And if

you continue reading the entire book of Samuel, you will know that's Samuel,

as I mentioned a little, was the last judge and eventually became the first

prophet to Easiel. Okay, And Samuel stayed with Eli, the priest at

the temper. And if you're continue reading the story, you will know of

the story of Samuel. When he was asleep right uh and and and he

heard a voice call him Samuel, Samuel, and he got up his bit.

He went to Eli and he asked, Eli, have you called me?

He I said no, I didn't call you quite a bit, and

then he went back to bait again, and he slept again, and then

for a second time he heard a voice Samuel Samuel. He comes up again

to Eli and asked Eli, did you call me? Eli said no,

I didn't call you. Go wait to sleep. And then the third time

Samuel came up to him again. A third time the voice got again and

Samuel goes up to Eli, did you call me? And Eli now recognized

someone was speaking to Samuel, and he said, now go back to your

bait again. But this time, when you hear your name again, say

Lord, here, I am your servant is listening. So Samuel went back

to sleep again, and the out spoke and Samuel said Lord, and Samuel

said, Lord speak, I'm listening. And if you're continuing the story,

you know that Samuel actually uh spoke to the sons of Eli, the high

priest, which they were doing bad things in the temple. It was an

abomination, it was a discrimination. It was evil things in the temple,

and the Lord had to remove the sons uh from from their places as priest,

and the Lord used Samuel um. And so yeah, so that there

was a background story of Samuel. But but you know, I just want

to say that the other day, when you and I make a promise to

God, remember to keep the promise because God is God, were the holess

accountable? Uh. In fact, the Bible actually tells us that when we

pray, you know, when we worship, don't be too rash in our

prayer because sometimes when we come into a place of worship, you know,

we we we get very emotional and and and and we say all kinds of

stuff. You know, we said, God, I will serve you full

time. I will go into the the you know, we are missionary,

and after that we fall back on our words. So the Bible is very

very clear about that fence. I want to remind us, you know,

when you go to exam hall, be careful what you say in your exam

hall. You know, when you're desperate, you have no clue. You

are stuck right, and then and then we ask God to help us.

All I want to say is this, The Bible reminds us do not swear

or make an oath under heaven on earth. Just let your yes be yes

and you're no we no simple as that. Amen. And I'm sure you

and I can learn something from this story. But my point is when you

make a promise to God, remember to keep your promise. Amen. And

so Hannah persevered during this time of waiting. God had a purpose in everything

that happens in our lives. There is no coincidences. We believe that church

no coincidences. So I started by saying that God had had closed Hannah's womb

right, and because God was not who closed Hannah's womb, God was able

to open the womb again for his glory. God had a purpose in it,

and He has a purpose in every difficulty or challenge that we face.

All we need to do is ask of him, and and and and to

seek him and to trust his plans. In fact, sometimes God does not

give us the miracle because we haven't asked of it yet. So I wonder

if Hannah had asked earlier, maybe God would have moved earlier. I think

about it. And so men will plan our ways, but it is God

who directs his steps. For Chapter sixteen, verse nine says that a man

a man's heart planned his way, but the Lord directs his steps. And

so in time of waiting, right, I prayed that you and I would

never just wait passively. I wanted to say. I want to say a

quick thing about waiting. So when I was working, Um, I work

in this company for five years, right, and then I basically got fired

quote unquote fired because the project had been had been completed, and my company

no longer had the project in care. Uh, And so I was to

leave my job. Right. They wanted to send me to cit One or

Kada, somewhere very far away. Okay, of course I didn't want to

go there because care is my homody extra she is my home here, my

chess is here. I wanted to build a career here. Uh, and

I didn't feel it was time to go. So long story shot, I

resigned because the company asked me to design. They released me for my job,

and I was jobless for three months, okay. Uh. And if

you have been jobless before, you know how that feeling is. It's very,

very tough because you live on your savings. Uh, and it's challenging.

Okay. So as I waited for three months, you know some of

you know the story, I prayed, and as I continue to pray,

I took action, right though it's not my pay in take action, so

I pray paper I believe. I went and applied for many many jobs,

applied for a couple of sending my resume, and went for interview long story

shot. All of the interviews that I went to and all of jobs that

I applied to I didn't get. And I was, and I was as

I was paying the lord. The Lord one day spoke to me very clearly.

He said, this job that you're about to get, you won't find

it. I would give it to you. And so I was, so

I trusted that I was. Of course nervous, I was scared, but

there was a there was an amazing piece in my heart. So I said,

Lord, I would trust you. So what happened was I lay everything

aside and I trusted a Lord. And so I want to say something about

waiting. And as I was waiting for that two months period when I was

job bloods right, I continue to stay close to the Lord. I continued

to to you know, read the word I did my devotion at the time,

I was actually doing my master's. I was doing my MBA but long.

But all I want to say is that at the time of waiting,

don't be passive. There is something called that and active waiting until the lot.

Right, as we continue to wait, you must continue to stay close

to him, worship him, pray and trust him, and a lot will

come too for you. So two enough. In my story, one fine

day, my housemate Bryan your conspect home. He tells me, and send

me your resume. I'm like, okay, fine, and sending him.

He's sending to his friend. One week later, the company calls me in

coming to the office. I went into the office and no clue. I

had no clue what dropod I was looking for. I had no clue what

onto the ask for. I had no clue, right because I trusted a

lot already. So I walked in there. The director interviewed me for about

two hours. And after the two hours, you know, I knew that

I would have got the job ready because no interviews happened for two hours.

Okay, two hours long, it's very long, okay, uh. And

and so I walked out the interview. I trusted a lot. I went

back home and lower behold. About one or two weeks after that, the

Hasha sent me a message, okay, you know, we want you in.

And in fact, they bumped out my salary higher than what I expected,

what I asked for, right, because I went in there without no

faith. You know, I didn't know what to ask for, ask for

low salary, but you know, I trusted a lord, and the I

bumped out my salary even higher than what I asked for. And so I

just want to say that in a time of waiting, uh, you know,

perserverly on, don't don't give up, because the Lord will come true

for you. You know, as long as you stay close to him and

and and as you trust him, the Lord will come true for you Amen,

Isaiah forty vers that you want to says, But those who wait on

the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles.

They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not be

feigned. Amen, Hallelujah. Those who endure to the end truly, truly,

will be saved. You know, I'm always reminded. I think one

of the scripture I always have in my mind is that those who hope on

the Lord shall never be put to shame. Amen. Those who hope on

the Lord, she will never be put to shame. So as as I

close, I just want to say that, you know, Um, you

and I we can learn how to trust the Lord even at the time of

waiting, to be patient and to persevere. Hannah as a woman devoted to

God who had a deep desire to be a mother right today, today's Mother's

Day. And so this story of a mother like like Hannah who really trusted

the Lord, you know, um, gives us an example of how we

should seek the Lord even in our lives. You know, she the Bible.

I tried to count how many times Hannah prayed in the first chapter,

first semi chapter one, Hannah prayed so many times in the scripture you who

read it, if you can see she prayed time and time and time again.

She did not only pray, she worshiped the Lord, and she did

not eve whiship. She also waited on the Lord patiently until the Lord came

to for her. And I want to say, right, as a mother,

right, it's not easy to give up an It is not easy to

give up your son. So I think it would have been very, very

challenging for Hannah think about it, right, But she promised to promise to

God that she would give his son to the Lord. And so when he

was young, she brought her to him to the temper and offered him him

up to the Lord fully for his service, even though he would have not

been easy for a mom, because such is the mother's love. You know,

they really care so much for their children. It's very close to their

hearts. You know, Um, moms, I would never forget that child's

birthday on Koya. Has your mom ever forgotten above day? Oh? Okay,

yeah, son forget mounts both day God, but mounds will not forget

that their children's birthday on you know, uh, you know, in fact,

in fact, moms. They are so close to their children. You

know. For example, for my example, my mom would never get me

and my brother mixed up because we are twins, right, uh. And

and you know when we are younger, it's even more identical. Actually,

me and Samuel, we are fattened us. We are not identical. But

there's a saying, right, twins when they grow up in the same environment,

they will look the same. If you put them one in Malaysia,

one in Indonesia, or one in in UK, they will look different,

right, because of the environment of the of the place. So you know,

it's quite funny that my mom when we were young, when we were

babies, right, it's even harder to differentiate us, but you actually could.

And you know who always gets it wrong, that always always, even

today, so the mom never gets in wrong. You know, the mom

will never forget your birthday. She would never get us wrong, you know.

And such really such amazing love that moms have. So I want to

say again, you know, even as your Mother's day, remember your mom's

you know, don't forget mom's because they truly truly love us. Amazing God

has created them to be so so so unique. So we thank God for

MOMSA Amen. I just want to say this. You know our team for

this year is Heaven. Heaven rules, right. Um, God truly is

in control of every situation in our lives. Do you believe that? Do

you believe that church? Amen? And He is always in control. So

I said right that there are no coincidences in life. Um, there's something

that I really really really believe that there are no coincidences in life. In

the story of Hannah, the womb was closed. God allowed it to happen.

God can turn it around for testimony what the enemy meant for evil,

which Nina so called an enemy. I call her an enemy for now because

the Bible she says she's a vival to Hannah. And if you look at

Hannah's prayer, she's actually be going to her enemies, and she was praying

in chapter two. So I want to say that what the enemy meant for

evil, which Banana went to Hannah and always kept you know, realdiculing her,

kept you know, speaking shame into her, kept humiliating him. What

the enemy meant for evil? God can turn it around for good. Can

I hear a good? Amen? Can do better? What God meant?

What the enemy men for evil. God can can turn it around for good?

Can hear a good? Amen? God can turn it around for good.

God can turn your trial or your testing into a testimony all for His

glory. And then or they God gets all the glory when we can put

our trust in Him, and when we can go to the trial or the

suffering or the challenge and God comes to for us, he gets all the

glory. Samuel, the son of Hannah, as I said earlier, eventually

became an outstanding and gifted puffort, first puffort in Israel. And if you

read the scriptures, he will know. He anointed the first two kings,

Saul and David. So amazing was the life of Simon. They came from

a woman Hannah, who just had a simple desire, who wanted to be

a mother. And yet out out of their love and the devotion to God,

she would give up her son to God because God came to for her.

Amen. So I thought it encourage us with the scripture today, and

and and you know, I started preparing this, asked the Lord Lord,

what how does this message relate to any of us here? And so the

lot just put the top of my spirit that there could be people in our

midst here right now that you are praying for something very dear to your heart.

Maybe you are waiting on the Lord. Maybe you have a prayer your

need, and I think it's more of a desire, actually, that's the

word. You have a desire or a longing in your heart for something that

you've been praying for for a long time, and it's just there's a seed

plant in your heart. It's just bearing food. You're just waiting on the

Lord. The Lord wants to minister to you. The Lord wants to speak

to you. The Lot wants to encourage you with this story of Hannah who

went to the southing for many, many, many many years, and yet

her devotion and her faith in God never wavored. Never she trusted the Lord,

and the Lord came to for her. We hope you've been blessed by

this message. For more information on our church, please visit x Church the

RG. We are also active on Facebook and Instagram. We're believing that this

week is going to be a good week ahead for you. God bless