Hannah is one of the most powerful intercessors in the Bible. I want to highlight the prayer life of Hannah and show how we can birth the things of God in our Generation. When I think of Hannah the words that come to my mind are – desperation, persistence, passion and burning desire. This woman had a desperation that could not be quenched. She knocked on the gates of heaven until the gates fell off its hinges. She cried and prayed until she ran dry of tears and words. Instead of getting bitter or jealous she went directly to God to fix her lack of blessing. I see Hannah pass through 5 levels of Tests that we all will have to pass through in order to birth the things of God and carry our dreams to full term. 

5 Tests of a True Intercessor

1.     The Test of DELAY 

She waited for many years to have a baby. We do not know how many years she went back to the temple year after year with the same prayer and petition. 1 Sam 1:3 “Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD” Many times we give up when there is a Delay in our answer to prayer.  God’s delay is not His denial. ·        Jesus was seemingly delayed when Lazarus was sick and had died…·        Jesus was seemingly delayed when the disciples were almost sinking in the boat and he came walking on the water at the 12^th hour…·        God was seemingly delayed when Abraham had a promise of a having a son when he was 75 and had to wait for 25 more years to see it to come to pass… Don’t give up on your dreams when there is a delay. Our timelines or timepieces cannot limit God. King Saul grew impatient when Samuel the prophet delayed to come to him, he went ahead and performed the sacrifices. God tore the kingdom out of his hands and gave it to David. Hannah persisted through the wilderness years or waiting and delay.

2.     The Test of PERSECUTION  

Peninnah the other wife of Elkannah who had children, mocked and provoked Hannah. 1 Sam 1:6 – And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her… You may have stood strong in the face of delayed answers to your prayer but here comes the next test “Persecution”. Many people fall and abort their dreams when they are persecuted or they go through pain.  Bible speaks about the seeds sown in the stony ground and speaks of how people fall off because of persecution… Matt 13:21 – “yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away” Peninnah indirectly did the most service to Hannah. She provoked Hannah so much that she ran into the arms of God in prayer and intercession.  I rather have a Peninnah who provokes me to prayer rather than an Elkannah who tries to comfort and cuddle me. Bishop T.D. Jakes says “I would write a check to some of those old enemies who provoked me in the past. If it was not for them I wouldn’t have the ministry that I have now” 

3.     The Test of Comfort  1 Sam 1:4,5,8-

Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb…Elkanah her husband would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” Elkannah was a kind husband. He spoke comforting words to Hannah. He gave his Credit card to Hannah and let her buy what ever she wanted from the Shop. Yet the fact of the matter if when she put her head down on her pillow in the night, she remembered that she was still childless.Comfort is good but it cannot replace Destiny. It cannot replace the blessing. There may be good programs and good music in the church but are there Souls being saved. Are there children being birthed into the kingdom of God.  One little girl said “My dad and mom are getting a divorce so they bought me a puppy so that I wouldn’t get sad. I don’t need a puppy I need my parents” Many Christians are satisfied with puppies instead if their blessing. I see so many Christians giving up when they get comforts. A Car, a house and a good job and the Devil has no trouble from them for another 50 years. Many people come to America with a passion to live for God but after they have drunk deep of the intoxicating wine of Americas prosperity…they sell out and settle for God’s second best. Will you give up in the Test of Comfort and settle for God’s second best in your life?Hannah didn’t…she couldn’t be satisfied until the cries of her new born infant was heard in her years. 

4.     The Test of Offence  1 Sam 1:12 –

“As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine.” Eli accused Hannah of being drunk. Most of us would get insulted right there and leave when the pastor would offend us like that. Hannah was not offended. She pressed right through the Test of offence and humbly explained her state to the priest. Jesus literally called the syrophenician woman a dog. But the woman did not get offended she said, “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the masters table”. God sometimes offends the mind to reveal the Heart. Hannah was so close to her blessing and answer to prayer when she was offended.  We cannot take the bait of offence that the devil dangles in front of us and miss our destiny. 

5.     The Test of Blessing 

The final Test this great intercessor had to go through was the test of blessing.Remember Hannah had promised God that she would give her son completely to God’s service. You received the blessings but now you turn around and bless God back with the same blessings. This is a very difficult test. ·        Now that God has given you your promised son Isaac will you lay him down bound on the Altar and present him to God like Abraham? ·        God gave you a son like Hannah but now will you keep your word and present him back to the Lord? Will you love the blessing more than the blessor?  Hannah kept her promise and she presented Samuel back to God for fulltime service in the temple.    Hannah is a powerful intercessor because she pressed through all the above mentioned Tests and prevailed. May we pray prevailing prayers like Hannah and birth the things of God.

  Your fellow soldier,

Biju Joy