By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The assistant pastor of God’s Greater Grace General Assembly Intl Incorporated, Benin, Pastor Duke Iyamu, has urged believers to emulate the lifestyle of Hannah in the Bible who despite her inability to bear her husband a child (Elkanah) in the first instance,
still held onto God’s unfailing promises.
He gave the advice while speaking on the theme: “You have cried before, you will not cry again” during the Sunday service in Benin.
Taking his bible reading from the book of 1 Samuel 1:6-20 and other relevant portions of the bible, he said Hannah poured her heart to God in Shiloh and God gave her a son who she named Samuel meaning “because I have asked him of the Lord”
Iyamu said the answer to Hannah’s prayers marked the end of her regular tears.
He maintained that at times when christians prayed and their prayers are not answered on time it could be a test of their faith noting that delay is never a denial with God.
He added that the two blind men in the book of Matthew 20:29-34 cried out unto Jesus and asked that they might see and that even when they were talked down not to speak, they pressed on and their sights were restored, stressing that, that marked the end of their daily tears.
“And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
“And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.
“And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.
“And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
“They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
“So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him”, he said quoting the book of Matthew 20:29-34.
He however listed causes of tears as lack of faith in God, sin and abuse of the law.