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Miracle Valley Sermons. 8th May 2022.
Song from Sankey 706, Onward Christian Soldiers.
First Bible Reading Judges 11 : 30 – 36.
Theme : Cover your strong prayer requests with vows which you can keep. But never be mean on what you promise God in your vow.
Definition of the word vow :
Chambers 21st Century Dictionary – (1) a solemn and binding promise especially one made to or in the name of a deity (2) a formal promise of fidelity.
Note :
Vows are made especially in this context to God as an obligation to do something in His honour to appreciate Him for what He will do.
A COMMAND CONCERNING VOWS IN THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES:
Ecc. 5:4 and 5 : 5
5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
5:5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. (Ecclesiastes 5 : 4 -5).
Bible history on vows:
God spoke about vows in the bible and many of His children in the bible made vows as an important process of committing the Lord to help them in their time of desparation.
Take the case of Jephthah : if God will deliver the children of Ammon into his hands, he will offer whatever comes first out of his door to greet him on his return.
On his return the daughter was the first to come out with timbrels to greet him.
Judges 11 : 30.
Read some specific Scriptures.
Jephthah
11:30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,
11:31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.
11:34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.11:35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clot
(Judges 11 : 30 – 36).
Hannah
She vowed that if God will give her a male child she will donate the child to God. (1 Samuel 1 : 11).
Read scriptures :
1:9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
1:10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
1:11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
1:12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
1:24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
1:25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. (1 Samuel 1 : 9 – 17, 24 – 25).
Jacob
He vowed that if God will return him to his father’s house, the pillar he lay his head shall be an altar of the Lord, he will give a tenth of his earnings to God and the Lord shall be his God. Genesis 28 : 21 – 22
And in Genesis 35 : 1 – 2 he had to return to Bethel to build the altar of the Lord.
Read some specific scriptures :
The genesis :
28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
28:21 So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
28:22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee. (Genesis 28 : 20 – 22)
Return to Bethel.
35:1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
(Genesis 35 : 1 – 2 , 4)
VOWS ON THE SIDE OF MAN.
Vowing is the maximum expression of man’s relationship with God. It shows heart – faith, and belief in God as capable to deliver the request made. Vows go with prayer and reveal man’s trust in the existence of God.
Vows On The Side Of God.
Vows lead God into covenant with man. God from my point of understanding, I see some element of loyalty and trust in the man making a vow as believing that God exists and can solve all problems brought to Him.
Will God fail such a man? Surely no!
God is always a creditor, because He can do all things, but human beings are debtors to Him and can fail to appreciate God’s compassion.
WARNING TO HIM WHO VOWS.
(1) Vow and fulfil your pledge, because God will not take pleasure in fools.
(2) Better not vow than to vow and not pay.
THE PROBLEM IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
Many people do not cover their prayers with vows when needed. When you have a big problem, cover the prayers you make, with vows unto the Lord. You should also live for the Lord.
God answered Jephthah, He answered Hannah and Jacob. The vows of these people were not frivolous.
Prayer :
Lord God when I pray and vow as I have done today, have mercy on me. I will pay my vows and live a sincere life for thy glory.
Miracle Valley Sermons May 8th 2022.
email : outreach.mvgm@yahoo.com
Website : www.mvgmng.org.
+234 803 717 9735.