This is a story you know very well. Hannah was married to a wealthy Levite Elkanah from Mount Ephraim in Israel. The couple lived joyfully and in harmony, but could not produce children. After some years, Elkanah went and married a second wife Peninnah. Peninnah came in and brought with her strive, jealousy, and acrimony.
Elkanahs home that was once peaceful suddenly turned into a theatre of war. The evil of polygamy. Hannah was at the receiving end. As if it was not enough that she has been sorrowing for not having a baby, Peninnah began to remind her of how unproductive, worthless and unwanted she has become in that home.
Peninnah would make fun of her and even go to the extent of taunting her as they went to the church. After going through all these, the bible said that Hannah would cry and cry until she was reduced to tears, and would refuse to eat. I believe Hannah must have been a ghost of herself. Imagine a person that would cry, starve and sorrow always for years.
This was the condition of this woman. In verse seven, the bible made it clear that this was the case of Hannah every year, year after year it was the same. It was the same childlessness, the same mockery, the same disappointment, the same fruitless efforts and the same dashed-hopes. I pray that every perennial negative situation in your life would be broken as you read this message, in the name of Jesus!
There are people who are going through Hannah-like situations today. They go into a new year hoping to get the best or at least get better. They hope for a better job, a better relationship, comfortable home, blissful marriage, higher spiritual level, etc. But that same year would end without them achieving any of these expectations. Some keep going in that circle of failure year after year. No promotion, no breakthrough. Something that looks like much motion and less movement.
Hannah came into that marriage with very high expectations, hoped year after year to realize them, but received disappointment, mockery, taunting and tears instead. Thank God she decided to settle it once and for all, and she chose to do that in the midnight. She knew that midnight is the most appropriate battle arena for desperate people.
After supper (in the night) one day at Shiloh, Hannah headed for the Tabernacle. She went there praying to God. She cried unto God to change her condition. God is always aware of what we go through, but most times, He waits to see our seriousness to change the situation. If youre comfortable with your condition, God will also let you be. But if you will rise and face it squarely, holding unto God to do something about it, definitely, you will see His mighty hand bringing deliverance to you.
Hannah was desperate (Verse 15, Good News Translation). And she decided that her condition must be changed that night. Yes, until youre desperate, you may not get anything phenomenal from God. I mean godly desperation.
Hannah went to the Tabernacle at night and prayed; O LORD Almighty, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a Son. She was serious and direct to the point. She was specific. God all I need is a son and you will give it to me this night. Enough is enough! I believe Hannah told God.
I hope you got something from that prayer. She started by reaffirming the almightiness of God. Though she was passing through terrible situation, God was still Almighty. Though, in deep anguish, in pain and crying bitterly, God remained the Almighty. He remains omnipotent, omnipresent and supreme. Our problems should not becloud our view of Gods almightiness, care, love, grace and sovereignty.
He remains God and will always be in control. No situation can change Him. Hannah said: O LORD, you are the Almighty. Then also, when going into midnight prayer, go with specific prayer points (unless you received some other prayer Rhema along the line). God wants us to be specific and organized.
After that nights encounter with God at the Tabernacle, and the prophetic word from the Priest Eli, Hannah cheered-up and began to eat well again. She needed nobody to tell her that her prayer has been answered. One of the things you will notice after midnight encounter with God is that your burdens will be lifted off you. Youll go into the next day full of confidence and full of Gods presence. That was why I said earlier that a midnight champion is unconquerable. It builds hope and capacity to wait for Gods promises and timing.
Hannah in due time gave birth to a son. Not an ordinary son, but one of the greatest prophets ever lived. God also gave her other sons and daughters. Great expectations are birthed through midnight prayers. God blessed Hannah. And instead of sorrow, pain and mockery, He put a new song on her lips. I see God putting a new song on your lips today as you go into midnight battles. Hannah sang:
My heart rejoices in the LORD!
Oh, how the LORD has blessed me!
Now I have an answer for my enemies,
as I delight in your deliverance.
No one is holy like the LORD!
There is no one besides you;
There is no Rock like our God.
PAUL AND SILAS
Chapter Three
Paul and Silas
Midnight prayer is the surest arena for breaking satanic bondages and limitations. No matter how strong and difficult the yokes, they cannot resist a persistent and prolonged midnight prayer. The devil knows this very well, and that is why he will do everything to discourage you from getting up in the midnight to pray. Midnight is like a spiritual highway, and like I say, most of the things that happen to us are programmed into our life at this period. So, when you also get up and battle at this nocturnal time, youre invariably taking part in deciding what happens to your life.
There are so many people living in satanic bondages today. There are so many individuals, families and groups that are unknowingly struggling with satanic yokes. There are millions of people walking on the streets with their hands and legs bound in the spirit with chains by powerful satanic forces. I know this will sound strange to some people, but it is a fact. It is a spiritual matter. You can only be aware of this if the Spirit of God chooses to show you.
Recently, I saw in a revelation a woman I have known for more than 34 years bound with chains hands and legs. I was shocked. If not that I was sure that the vision came from God and that I have personally passed through the same experience, I would have doubted it. Now, what has been happening in the womans life is also a sure confirmation of that revelation. She has not known anything called breakthrough since I knew her.
When you experience perennial problems in your life or in your family; year after year, you face the same kind of problems, or you feel you are hindered from crossing certain limits in life, then it becomes advisable to go into prayers and ask God to show you the source of your troubles. Most times, it is the work of Satan and the agents of his dark kingdom.
In Africa and also in some other parts of the world, it is not strange to hear that agents of darkness chain destinies, fruitfulness, progress, or even health of people in the spirit realm. Victims of such satanic manipulation will struggle throughout their life.
They will do every thing humanly possible to have breakthrough in life, but will never succeed. Some will even be programmed not to get married, not have babies or have a successful carrier. All these happen. We not only see them in the lives of unbelievers, but unfortunately, amongst believers also. And I believe this became possible because the church of today is not living in the fullness of the power of God.