icon__search

1 Samuel 13:3-4 (4/25/19)

Bad Leader

April 25, 2019 • Benham Brothers

* Saul made a classic mistake as a leader that showed he was a bad leader.
* His son attacked the Philistine outpost.
* But the news alert Saul crafted was that “he” attacked it.
* The best running backs in the NFL give credit to their lineman.
* This was the beginning of Saul’s downfall.
* Up to this point Saul prophesied, stood boldly, and led the people to victory.
* Now, because he had a few victories under his belt, he started to find his identity in winning and being the best.
* He began to focus on building his own kingdom and personal brand rather than God’s.
* vs 8-11 - the result of Saul trying to build his own brand ultimately lead the people to run away from him.
* So, in order to keep them around, he ended up crossing God’s boundaries.
* He did this because he was trying to keep his platform.
* Pastors today who want to keep their congregations around and their brands in tact put themselves in a position to cross God’s boundaries in other areas because they have lost their wisdom.

1 Samuel 1:12-15 (4/27/17)

April 27, 2017 • Benham Brothers

* We get a glimpse of the type of person Eli was and why maybe he was not a good father. * He rebuked a woman who didn’t need to be rebuked * He assumed something about a person that didn’t line up with reality and in haste rebuked her before he questioned her. * This shows his willingness to act without thinking. * On the flip side, we see later on that he didn’t rebuke his sons even though they needed to be rebuked. * Son on the one hand he rebuked someone who didn’t deserve it because he judged by outward appearance, but on the other hand he refused to rebuke someone who did deserve it because he didn’t have the courage to confront. * Hannah was an easy target - his sons were not.

1 Samuel 1:15-16 (4/29/21)

April 29, 2021 • Benham Brothers

* Philippians 4:6-7 - “Be anxious for nothing…” * Anxiety is “a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.” * Fear is often about a past or present threat. * Anxiety is about a future potential threat. * Oftentimes, that threat is the overwhelming feeling of powerlessness (lack of control). * Backstory - Hannah had anxiety over being barren and it was weighing her down. * She could think of nothing else but her lack of children. * She felt anxious. What would she do? * Vs 9-10 - she poured out her heart to God. * You have to pour out to God so He can pour into you. * He wants you to have peace, joy, love, etc. * But you have to let go of anything that would keep you from those things. * Vs 11 - she expressed her “devotion.” * It stirred God’s heart. * Vs 12-14 - Eli assumed something that wasn’t true of Hannah. * Often times people may misunderstand you when you are doing business with God. * Vs 15-18 - as a result of pouring out her soul, she was no longer anxious. * Although nothing had changed, everything was different! * She poured her burden into God’s bucket and He took it. * ** If you had a 50lb bucket of water and someone came along with an empty bucket and asked if they could help you, would you take it? * Vs 19-20 - she did her part. * Often times anxiety comes when you’re not doing something you know you should do. * Vs 25-28 - Result - she had the grace to handle the answer to her prayer. * She gave the son away and God rewarded her with a 500% return (1 Samuel 2:21).

1 Samuel 1:24 (4/26/18)

April 26, 2018 • Benham Brothers

* The best thing a young entrepreneur can do is quantify how much is enough. * You need a plan to: * 1) Quantify your hours. * When you get to a certain point financially will you use that money to buy your time back? * At what point do you stop working 70 hours a week and cut it to 30? * 2) Quantify your income. * When you get to a certain point financially will you increase what you give in tithe? * The goal is to get to a point where you give away more than you take home. * Hannah shows us how to do this. * It was her idea to give her son away after he was weaned. * She got to keep him for a few years, but then she let him go. * She didn’t keep holding on. * This worked out for her with 500% ROI (1 Samuel 2:21).