"No More Masks" pt 4 - October 3, 2010

Sermon notes from Pastor Paula White

TEXT:      1 Samuel 1:1-28; 2:1-10; verses 20-21 (Amplified)

[I SAMUEL…Chapter 1]

1 THERE WAS a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, named Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

2 He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

3 This man went from his city year by year to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were the Lord's priests.

4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he would give to Peninnah his wife and all her sons and daughters portions [of the sacrificial meat].

5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had given her no children.

6 [This embarrassed and grieved Hannah] and her rival provoked her greatly to vex her, because the Lord had left her childless.

7 So it was year after year; whenever Hannah went up to the Lord's house, Peninnah provoked her, so she wept and did not eat.

8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why do you cry? And why do you not eat? And why are you grieving? Am I not more to you than ten sons?

9 So Hannah rose after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat beside a post of the temple (tent) of the Lord.

10 And [Hannah] was in distress of soul, praying to the Lord and weeping bitterly.

11 She vowed, saying, O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid and [earnestly] remember, and not forget Your handmaid but will give me a son, I will give him to the Lord all his life; no razor shall touch his head.

12 And as she continued praying before the Lord, Eli noticed her mouth.

13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.

14 Eli said to her, How long will you be intoxicated? Put wine away from you.

15 But Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I was pouring out my soul before the Lord.  [Gen 19:34.]

16 Regard not your handmaid as a wicked woman; for out of my great complaint and bitter provocation I have been speaking.

17 Then Eli said, Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.

18 Hannah said, Let your handmaid find grace in your sight. So [she] went her way and ate, her countenance no longer sad.

19 The family rose early the next morning, worshiped before the Lord, and returned to their home in Ramah. Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.

20 Hannah became pregnant and in due time bore a son and named him Samuel [heard of God], Because, she said, I have asked him of the Lord.

21 And Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow.

22 But Hannah did not go, for she said to her husband, I will not go until the child is weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there as long as he lives.

23 Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems best to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may the Lord establish His word. So Hannah remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.

24 When she had weaned him, she took him with her, with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin bottle of wine [to pour over the burnt offering for a sweet odor], and brought Samuel to the Lord's house in Shiloh. The child was growing.

25 Then they slew the bull, and brought the child to Eli.

26 Hannah said, Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here praying to the Lord.

27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted my petition made to Him.

28 Therefore I have given him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is given to the Lord. And they worshiped the Lord there.

[Chapter 2]

1 HANNAH PRAYED, and said, My heart exults and triumphs in the Lord; my horn (my strength) is lifted up in the Lord. My mouth is no longer silent, for it is opened wide over my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.

2 There is none holy like the Lord, there is none besides You; there is no Rock like our God.

3 Talk no more so very proudly; let not arrogance go forth from your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength.

5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children languishes and is forlorn.

6 The Lord slays and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He lifts up.

8 He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts up the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with nobles and inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and He has set the world upon them.

9 He will guard the feet of His godly ones, but the wicked shall be silenced and perish in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them will He thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge [all peoples] to the ends of the earth; and He will give strength to His king (King) and exalt the power of His anointed (Anointed His Christ).  [Luke 1:46.]

AMP

“NO MORE MASKS”  #4

[Subtitle] :  IT’S TIME FOR A CONFRONTATION….

-[Our primary text for this series has been taken from 2 Cor 4:1,2]  MESSAGE:

v2)  “We refuse to wear masks & play games.  We don’t maneuver & manipulate behind the scenes.  And we don’t twist God’s Word to suit ourselves”

-It’s time to GET REAL… to live an authentic life that is purposeful, productive and fulfilling…

-You can’t CONQUER what your Won’t CONFRONT…

-To CONFRONT is = “To come face to face with”

-[In order to do that]… we must TAKE OFF THE MASKS.. (A COVER used for DISGUISE; Something that serves to CONCEAL]

-[TEXT]:  1 Sam 1:1-28, 2:1-10…

-Let’s turn to Hannah to get some help… (Read Text)

-There is such richness & depth to glean from the treasures of this text – it’s almost overwhelming.

-Hannah’s vulnerability will prove to be so valuable in your life…

n      in your walk with God;

n      in your attitude;

n      in your healing; and,

n      ultimately in your breakthrough.

-She will help You get to “that desired place” of authenticity through her transparency…

-… Which is a place of peace, wholeness, completeness, contentment & an abundant life defined by a strong sense of personal identity…

-Without that you cannot realize your “SEPARATENESS” or “INDIVIDUALITY” from others or things…

-..But rather you will remain ENMESHED =

[i.e] = “An unhealthy dependence on other people & /or things for a sense of self”…

-You will lose yourself in trying to live your life according to OTHERS expectations, desires, preferences & choices…

-…Often to the point that you don’t know WHO you TRULY ARE…What you LIKE / WANT, …What your DREAM is….

-[Hannah helped me]:

-In her vulnerability she:

n      surrenders;

n      let’s down the defenses;

n      takes of the false; and,

n      simply becomes real…

-“Being real” is not always easy to do.

-              The Reason:  Your mind says, “Don’t”:

n      you’ll get hurt;

n      that’s too dangerous / it’s not “SAFE”

n      you’ll be rejected, made to feel worthless

n      unaccepted

-But, I’m grateful she shares her “secrets”, her humanity, her struggles, her insecurities… and shows me:

-A GOOD WOMAN (Let’s say a “GOD” WOMAN)…  CAN GET A BAD ATTITUDE!

-A good woman can HAVE a bad problem and a sickness in her soul….

[Just a side note – a thought]

-              Maybe that’s why [Revelation 12:11] says, “And they overcame him (devil) by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their testimony.”

-              [GR = Testimony] = “Evidence given / …report / ..record.

-Hannah helped me with a lot of things, BUT the one I want to focus on is:

-She helped me, “GET BEYOND THE BARRIERS & Take OFF the MASKS by CONFRONTING HERSELF”…  [i.e] “Coming face to face with herself”

-              A Barrier = that obstacle in the way;

n      an obstruction;

n      a limit or boundary.

-I don’t know what the “barrier” was that created a state of confusion in your nature /or direction & created a FALSE IMAGE:  If you were:

n      Emotionally or sexually abused;

n      Abandoned / neglected / rejected / or smothered;

n      Had Excessive or unreasonable demands placed on you beyond your capabilities;

n      The fear of failure;  created perfectionism

n      A death / loss;

n      Critical parents

n      A divorce, an unfaithful spouse.

-BUT, I do know & believe by the GRACE & GOODNESS of God, ….

-“You’re about to go Beyond the Barrier by Confronting Some Things”… and, that is when you really have breakthrough to begin an authentic life

-Hannah lived in a culture where she:

n      was expected to have children;

n      expected to “perform.”

“PEOPLE EXPECTATIONS”

-This creates a problem for many of us …

-Where we are given powerful messages (spoken & unspoken),… that we only have VALUE if we perform to others expectations…

-Which develops “Performance for Acceptance”

-PRESSURE FROM PEOPLE AFFECTS US!

-If I produce ... / do right … / look right… / work enough…. Then I’m okay / loved / valued.

-It affected her “Womanhood”…

-              [I.E] = The way she felt about herself as a person, [Her esteem]... Her overall judgment of herself….

-We often allow “what we do” or “what people think we should do” to define us.

-“If she was a REAL woman, she would have children =… To validate “WHO” she was.

-Culturally & Historically during Hannah’s life span you “PROVED” your womanhood by having children.

-It consummated your relationship… & secured your “position”….

-              The more children = the more of a “woman” you were.

-We REALLY have NOT changed all that much…

-Our pressure might not be “having children”, ..But we still face certain societal & people expectations today that try to define us…

-              PRESSURE –

n      to be a certain size, weight; appearance

n      to live in a certain house & make so much $

n      to pray so much

n      to have kids to act a certain way (God forbid if your kids are on drugs.. or sexually active)

n      To have a perfect family & marriage (Absolutely No divorce)

-EXPECTATIONS FROM PEOPLE … PRESSURE, …To be / to do / to have.

-That’s why it is crucial for you to know WHO you are in Christ…and your unique distinctiveness

-[Colossians 2:10], “And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power.”

-[Eph 1:4], “..He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the earth”…

-Until you understand & fully receive that “by faith”, you will live under “pressure to perform”.

-What made it worse for Hannah à Penninah, having baby after baby.

*Sometimes its other people succeeding that pour salt in the wound of your failure.

-Peninnah is simply walking in the “blessing” of God on her life.

-[Verse 6] says, “Hannah was embarrassed and grieved.”  (Shows the condition of her soul.)

-It’s her issue / problem / loss….

-              …That leads to resentment over you (Peninnah)  simply because “you have it” and she doesn’t.

-Some people hate you because you “won”…

-              They resent the fact that it worked for you and it didn’t for them.

-I understand to a certain degree when you have had a terrible loss, …It can make you mad at those who haven’t…

-LIFE DOESN’T SEEM TO BE FAIR

-You don’t mean to be mad; You don’t mean to be envious….

-              You just don’t have what they have..

-“WHY DIDN”T MY DREAM WORK OUT?”…. I love God too… I go to Church…

-Hannah doesn’t understand “why”? … “Why isn’t it working for me?”

-              Peninnah, on the other hand did nothing “wrong” – she is simply having babies...

-              And it got on Hannah’s nerves – BECAUSE SHE HAD THE WRONG ATTITUDE!!

-Be careful of people who walk among you & are secretly NOT GLAD for you…

-It is really birthed out of their own insecurities & fears…

-And, If they don’t have a CONFRONTATION with their own issues they will begin to sabotage you…

-They are secretly RESENTFUL because they think your life is “ALL TOGETHER” & it hasn’t happened for them yet…

-[Verses 5-6] reveals something so significant:  “The Lord gave her no children” – the Lord left her childless.

-              Could it be God knew something needed to be done “IN” her before … “THROUGH” her; and therefore, some things are shut off in your life for your benefit.

-              A bitter woman à produces a bitter child à produces a bitter life.

-Hannah = was a “good woman”, but she had resentment…Inner Turmoil… an injured soul

-‘WHY AM I NOT HAVING BABIES?”

-              A Good woman, but Bad attitude creates a BARRIER.

-Hannah = is frustrated.

-              Frustration affects you?  What’s in you begins to come out of you.

-It affects her relationship with her husband; her self-worth; everything.

-              [Verse 8], Elkanah says, “Why do you cry?  Why can’t you enjoy the feast?  … Am I not more than ten sons?”

-She’s so frustrated and out of control in her soul.. ..That She is about to mess up the “good thing” in her life.

-A personal storm begins to affect Hannah…

-              THIS IS THE BREAKING POINT!!!

-Sometimes (often), the worst thing in your life turns into the best thing that ever happened to you –

…by forcing you to the point of deep introspection & confrontation.

-She finally goes to God and EXPLODES on the altar.

-              She freaks – explodes, goes ballistic and God can handle it.

-God understands when you act a fool.

-              Not everyone at altar praising (some exploding).

-He can see your wickedness and not condemn you;

-              See your weakness and still love you and believe in your future.

-              He tolerates you where others would be through with you!

-Psalmist said of God in [Psalm 86:13], “For great is thy mercy toward me and Thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.”

-              What a great God we serve!!

-              He sees areas that still need to be (transformed) and doesn’t hold it against you.

-In fact, He declares in II Corinthians 12:9, “…for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

-If anyone else had known this “good woman” had such a “bad” attitude, they would have crossed her out.

-              BUT, God knew He had to develop her.

-              God knew there was “another side” to it; that you are just one step away from something incredible.

-While He was developing her, He would not allow her to produce a child.

-              Because God knew, if you are fruitful while bitter, it would contaminate your fruit.

-              So, he had to purge, purify – [i.e] =  do a heart work first.

-A BITTER WOMB = BITTER CHILD = BITTER LIFE

*God holds some things back until there has been a purification process in your life.

-              There are some blessings waiting to be released in your life.

-She starts to pray – out of the bitterness in her soul.

-              All this infection begins to come out in her prayer – THAT’S GOOD!

-It’s called a “TRUTHFUL PRAYER”.

-              Psalm 51:6-7,

6         “Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7         Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean, wash me and I will be whiter than snow.”

-Like Hannah you have to DUMP IT!!

-…You have to dump the toxins, the anger, the disappointments, the denial, the hurt, the neglect…. GET IT ALL OUT!!!

-              She says, “I am a woman of sorrow, angry, bitter, frustrated; for you have shut up my womb.”

*You cannot get to a REAL praise – that brings power – until you get past the pain – DUMP IT!!  GET the GARBAGE OUT!!

-We are always trying to get people to praise who haven’t been purged.

-              It’s no more than spiritual calisthenics.

People are too burdened / toxic for the Purity of Praise….

-SO THEY BECOME PRETENDERS…

-              John 4:23, “True worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth…”

-God wants a pure, uncontaminated praise.

-She’s exploding on the altar, getting all the “Junk” out of her life…

-              And gets interrupted by Eli, (priest who is not sensitive to God) comes in and misjudges her.

[Side note:  That’s why I often leave people alone at the altar.]

-              Most effective ministry is: Bring people to Jesus, but don’t be Jesus!

-              LEAVE THEM ALONE!!

-Let them get with God and work it out!

-              You need to go to an altar (without interruption).

-Hannah wails before God;  (Eli) “I think she’s drunk.” (No spiritual discernment).. & probably PROJECTION

*Now she has to stop talking to God and explain herself to him.

-Some of you have been interrupted by people.

-              Just when you are on the verge of a great breakthrough.

-              You have to stop and straighten out what they said about you –

n      Rumor, false accusations.

-What they say is wrong with you is NOT WHAT is really wrong and you have to stop praying through..

-It’s a DISTRACTION…

-              There is something wrong; but it’s NOT what they are saying..  & NOW I don’t feel SAFE ENOUGH to get real because you have already misjudged me….

-Hannah did NOT let their ignorance & lack of compassion or empathy stop her…

-She opened up her soul.

-Faith broke out in her heart and something happened!

-              Her “life situation” didn’t change, BUT her “LIFE” changed.

-She had done “the routine” year after year; now, something in her soul opened up and that’s WHERE IT ALL CHANGED!

-You can’t conquer what you don’t confront… [Identify]

-“The Lord opened her womb!

-              She begins to praise God.

-              She finally got this bitterness off of her.

-              Now, she can produce her promise.

-She has finally put herself in a position to receive her blessing of the Lord…

*Now she can produce the kind of praise à that “bears fruit.”

-There are People jumping, shouting, etc., all over church à BUT never get “good fruit.”

-              They are Doing it with a contaminated heart…

-GOD IS CALLING YOU TO ACCOUNTABILITY.. TO THE STEWARDSHIP OF YOUR AUTHENTIC LIFE..

-Are you going to waste or wander another day, month, year - OR  -… LIVE?

-LIVING is not easy…  EXISTING IS…

-LIFE is for people who are strong, vibrant & tenacious…

-..Who are WILLING to CONFRONT themselves,…

-To take a deep look inside and dig beneath the rubble of their parent’s expectations & judgements,… their experiences, false labels & distorted views….

…-To discover the “REAL THEM”.. the one created in the image of God

-Some things have to be shattered – [ie] Rejecting the “False You”

-And others must be CREATED – [i.e] replacing the distorted images & false illusions with a more accurate reflection of WHO you REALLY are…

-How do you do that?

[James 1:22-25]

22 Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! 23 Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, 24 walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.

25 But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God — the free life! — even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.

-Once Hannah gets “FREE” and lives authentic to her TRUE SELF …

-Life comes into focus..  it has clarity, Not CONTAMINATION…

-In [Chapter 2], She begins to praise God because her heart is free & pure – not heavy.

-              My soul is … horn is exalted…

-              Hasn’t had baby yet.  BUT, pure heart è produces pure praise è produces the promise.

-              When your soul is open = a praise explodes.

-              It’s a release from something that has tormented you for years.

-              “I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES.”