Bible Text: John 7:53-8:11 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: John, Rules for Casting Stones

Recap of 5/13/12 (I Samuel 1:1-28):

1.  Hannah is one of the great women of faith in the Scripture.  She endured what to her was a hopeless, impossible situation (her childlessness).  It left her downhearted (vs. 7), miserable (vs. 11), deeply troubled (vs. 15), and grief stricken (vs. 16).  Despite that she responds to her situation with faith, prayer, and confidence in the Lord.  As Warren Wiersbe points out: “Out of this kind of sorrow and disappointment, God often builds great faith and sends special blessings,” and “Hannah certainly exemplifies a godly mother, for she put God first, she believed in prayer, she kept her vows, and she gave God all the glory.”

2.  Writer David Hocking describes hopeless situations as follows:  “they always appear to be greater than we can handle by ourselves; the fear and anxiety in our hearts seem to be greater than we can bear; they cause us to question God and His promises; and they seem to be the major obstacle to personal happiness.”  He offers two maxims: “Never doubt God’s power to change your situation (Exodus 14:11-12, 30-31); and “Never doubt God’s care in your situation (Matthew 6:25-34).  He suggests the following course of action in hopeless situations: 1) “Put your faith in God’s plan and control of all things” Genesis 42:36; 50:18-21; 2) “Understand that God has a specific purpose for your situation” Philippians 1:12-14; 3) “Depend upon God and what He can do, and relax” Ephesians 3:20; and 4) Give praise and thanks to God for all that He is and has done and is going to do in your situation” 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Philippians 4:6-8.

3.  “There are life situations that appear to be absolutely without hope.  Sometimes our own actions put us in such dungeons; sometimes the actions of others are responsible.  But however we get there, there is no getting out.  And then God rescues us: from Egypt, from Babylon, from Calvary, from sin, from death.”