Calling forth convincing and irrefutable proof!
Peace and grace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ!
Today I would like to start talking about calling forth convincing and irrefutable proof.
Many people expect a miracle in their lives, and sometimes the waiting goes on for many years. Today I want to help you see that we should not wait for a miracle to come; instead, we need to call forth and bring about these miracles. Any miracle that a person desires to experience in his life can be brought about by that very person. It is possible that the miracle won’t come right away, but when you build the necessary (natural) platform for it, it will absolutely come into your life. And when it happens, you will have undeniable proof of your faith and trust in the Lord.
If you do nothing while waiting for supernatural intervention, you will be on the losing end! Many people have experienced total bankruptcy and disappointment because they were passively waiting for their miracle. God tells you today: «Do not wait for your miracle! Start bringing it about!»
What is proof?
When I talk about proof, I mean real, tangible results. Proof is a physical, undeniable result that is produced by the appropriate actions.
In order to have such obvious results of faith, such proof, we need to take some radical steps. The story of Hannah, told in 1st Samuel (1: 6-26), is a very clear illustration of how a person can bring about a miracle through her actions.
«And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, 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. Then Elkanah 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 to you than ten sons?” So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, „O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” And it happened, as 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 heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 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 intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. Do not consider your maidservant 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 Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” And she said, „Let your maidservant find favour in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. Then they rose early in the morning and worshipped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.” Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the LORD and remain there forever.” So Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the LORD establish His word.” Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD.»
What was Hannah’s situation? For years Hannah had been barren, and it looked like her situation was totally hopeless. Besides her own burden, she had to deal with the hostile attitude of her husband’s other wife, who taunted her with her words.
« And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb» (1 Samuel, 1: 6).
Let me say that every time someone hurts you, it is because your miracle is very close. Hannah experienced an obvious intervention from God, and she succeeded in turning her misery into a miracle. It happened because she was not passive while expecting her miracle. Hannah took some radical steps. Tomorrow we will look at how Hannah acted in her situation of barrenness and humiliation.
God bless you today!
Pastor Rufus Ajiboye
