Valuing Our Place of Honor pt 7 THE

Valuing Our Place of Honor pt 7: THE UNIQUENESS OF BARRENNESS 1 Sam 1: 1 -19

THE UNIQUENESS OF BARRENNESS • AFFIRMING WHAT WE’VE LEARNED • As a Born Again believer, I belong to the Church of the Firstborn! • As a Firstborn member I have inherited Birthright privileges. • I have been imparted with everything needed in order to succeed in the Mandate placed upon me

THE UNIQUENESS OF BARRENNESS • AFFIRMING WHAT WE’VE LEARNED • My Birthright privileges identify me as an Heir of my Fathers Kingdom. • As an Heir, that means I am Royalty and has been granted the same rights, power and privileges as Jesus. • My conduct should reflect my position as an Heir

THE UNIQUENESS OF BARRENNESS • AFFIRMING WHAT WE’VE LEARNED • As an Heir, I value everything that the Godhead has done to get me to this PLACE OF HONOR! LET”S GIVE GOD SOME PRAISE!!!!

THE UNIQUENESS OF BARRENNESS • What we’ve ALSO learned: • Suffering is part of our inheritance • The longer we walk in the Realm of Carnality, the more we lose our identity

THE UNIQUENESS OF BARRENNESS What we’ve ALSO learned: That Satan desires to steal our identities through: • Persuasion • Distractions • Temptations Once we’ve lost our Identity we find ourselves in a state of (Identity) crisis • Spiritual Suicide • Physical Death

THE UNIQUENESS OF BARRENNESS • Barrenness Defined: • It is when the fruit (works) of your loins, your hands, your lands or even the fruit of your lips (words) profit you nothing. It is as though everything you do bring about minuscule, empty or dead results.

THE UNIQUENESS OF BARRENNESS • Barrenness seems to mimic suffering, but it’s nonproductive: Suffering Barrenness Tested for a short time Doesn’t seem to end Refines our conduct Solidifies our patience Purges our imperfections Last longer than our imperfections Penalizes our sins Usually not the result of sin

THE UNIQUENESS OF BARRENNESS • What Causes Barrenness? • Sins of a Nation/group Deut 28: 18/Gen 20: 18 • The Hand of God 1 Sam 1: 5/Gen 16: 2/Gen 30: 2/

THE UNIQUENESS OF BARRENNESS • The OT presents the Shame of Barrenness as: 1. Desolation 2. Unproductive 3. Depression 4. Rejection 5. Social Disgrace 6. Spiritually Cursed

THE UNIQUENESS OF BARRENNESS • The Uniqueness of Barrenness • Barrenness does not reflect God’s true intentions – Abraham & Sarah Gen 18: 10 -14 – Leah & Rachel Gen 29: 31 -30: 24 – Elizabeth Luke 1: 5 -17 – Hannah 1 Sam 1: 1 -18 • Barrenness always requires God’s intervention • Whenever God produces something from a barren state it usually provides deliverance for a multitude of people • Barrenness provides opportunity for God to leave His thumbprint (His Identification)

THE UNIQUENESS OF BARRENNESS • 1 Samuel 3: 19 -4: 1 • So Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground (thumbprint). thumbprint 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the LORD(thumbprint). 21 Then the LORD appeared again in Shiloh (thumbprint). thumbprint For the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. • And the word of Samuel came to all Israel(thumbprint). thumbprint

THE UNIQUENESS OF BARRENNESS 3 ways that Barrenness is addressed: • Singing Isaiah 54 • Rejoicing Habakkuk 3: 14 -16 • Prophesy to your barrenness Ezekiel 37: 1 -14