Rhema Ehiemere - Divine Dissatisfaction: There Has to Be More

Okay, first, Samuel, my assignment this morning is from 1 Samuel 1, verses 1 through 20. It’s so good to see you, Officer Coleman. I can’t see you from where I’m sitting, but thank you so much. My assignment this morning is 1 Samuel chapter 1, from verses 1 through 20. I’m going to try to read some verses from there; I’m not sure if I’m going to read everything, but let’s see what we can do. I know 1 Samuel is behind me, so people might be thinking, «Pastor, can you just read what is behind you?» I can see, but I prefer to read from my own Bible. Amen? Thank you for the two people who said «Amen.»

In 1 Samuel, I’m going to use the NIV version. It says there was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah, son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, an Ephraimite. Now, this is the part that I want to get into: verse 2. For he had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other was called Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. Everybody say none!

Let’s skip over to verse 4. Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice—watch this, guys—he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. Verse 5, watch this: but to Hannah, he gave a double portion. Somebody said «double portion» because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb. I wish I had time to elaborate on this because, in reality, God doesn’t really close wombs; God allows the womb to be closed. But that’s not my topic today because the Bible says, «The blessings of God make rich and add no sorrow.» Sometimes you have to explain the Old Testament with the New Testament, but that’s not my focus today.

Verse 6: because the Lord had closed her womb, her rival Peninnah kept provoking her. Somebody said «provoke.» Somebody needs to be provoked, say «provoke.» She kept provoking her in order to irritate her. Look at your neighbor and tell them, «Stop irritating me!» Finally, I get the opportunity to tell this neighbor of mine.

Verse 7: this went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Her husband Elkanah said to her—watch this; this is his consolation statement—“Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? I mean more to you than ten sons.» Thank you so much! Wow!

Verse 9: once they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up, and Eli the priest was sitting in his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. In her deep anguish, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. Look at verse 12. As she kept praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So, Eli thought, «This is too early for this; she must be drunk.» It’s amazing how people will confuse your relationship with God!

He said to her, «How long are you going to be drunk? Put your wine away!» Hannah replied, «Not so, my Lord! I am just a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.»

Oh! Verse 17! Eli answered, «Go in peace, may the Lord God of Israel grant you what you have asked.»

Verse 19: early the next morning, they arose and she worshipped before the Lord and went back to her home in Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife, and the Lord remembered her. In the course of time, Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She called him Samuel, saying, «Because I asked him of the Lord.»

I want us to look at verse 8, because Elkanah told Hannah, «How long are you going to stay…» No, no, no, not there. Where is it? Verse 8: rather, Elkanah said, «Hannah, why are you weeping? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?» For the next few minutes, I want to speak on the subject: Divine Dissatisfaction. There has to be more! Look at your neighbor and tell them, «Divine dissatisfaction. There has to be more! There has to be more!»

Now, before you sit down, just give me a second. If you’re like, «Oh, let’s say this,» Ambassador—there’s the camera—I’m going to be standing for the next 30 minutes. You might be thinking, «No, this message is for those who have that feeling inside; you’re restless because you have not yet tapped into the fullness of God’s purpose for your life. And there’s that sense of dissatisfaction—that there has to be more. And I’m not going to settle for ten sons when I can have a Samuel that can change the whole world.»

Father, we ask for the anointing that makes preaching and teaching easy. We ask that you move from center to second. I bind every principality, I bind every power, and let Jesus take authority over this place. Move like never before. Lord, we didn’t come to see any man, Lord Jesus. If you don’t show up, this is just a social gathering. We ask that you move in this place and move like never before. Move in this place and move like never before. Move in this!