As I gave my Forward With Faith testimony (This testimony was given at the kick off of a capital funds campaign.) a few minutes ago I closed by saying, it is exciting to step out in faith “and watch our gracious God bless our faith efforts.” God’s desire for our lives is that we be a funnel of His blessings. We have been doing a series of sermons entitled “Stretching Our Faith.” The focus of today’s sermon is a man who was a funnel of God’s blessings. The man was the Old Testament patriarch, Abraham. Look at his story.
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.” Heb. 11:8
“Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him.” Gen. 12:1-4
The outline today is very simple. I want to look at the person God blesses (the person God funnels His blessings through). Next, I want to look at the promise of God’s blessings.
I. First, what do we notice about the Person God blesses.
A. The person God blesses has had a conversion to God’s ways. Where do I get this concept? I get it from Abram’s name change. When we first meet him he is known as "Abram." After an encounter with God (Gen. 17:5) he is known as "Abraham." In the Bible a person’s name often reflects his/her character. Abram became known as Abraham. Jacob became known as Israel. Saul became known as Paul. The name change reflected a change or conversion that occured in the person’s relationship with God.
B. The person God blesses has a personal relationship with God. I draw your attention to Gen. 12:1. Notice two key words in verse 1, the word “Lord” and the word “Abram.” Both of those are personal names. The word “Lord” is God’s personal name. It is used in God’s dealings with man. It is the name we notice when God began to approach man after the beginning of creation. The word “Abram” was his personal name. There is a warmth to this interaction. As you study the Bible you also discover that Abraham, three different times, is called the “Friend of God.” In Genesis 12 Abram was at the point whereby he was deciding if he wanted to obey and follow God. He made the decision to trust God and follow Him.
Illustration: Years ago I cut out a little story from Reader’s digest that speaks volumes about a personal relationship with God. John Dulmage said during Sunday mass at the church where his mother attends, the priest told of a conversation he had had with a young parishioner. When the priest asked the little boy if he believed in God, the child quickly responded, “Yes, I do.”
“Well,” said the priest, “why do you believe in God?”
The boy said “I don’t know why, I think it runs in our family.”
That boy reflects the opinion by which many people live. Many people are holding to a faith experience because it was passed down from their family. It is wonderful to pass along a faith heritage. However, there must come a point when it becomes personal.
The person who has a relationship with God displays several qualities.
1. A person with a relationship with God displays commitment.
Illustration: I performed a wedding yesterday, over on the beach. This young couple was willing to make a life long commitment to each other. Their relationship was reflected by a commitment. Have you made a commitment to God?
2. A person in a relationship with God reflects a closeness to God. I mentioned that Abraham was given the title of God’s friend.
C. The person God blesses hears and obeys God.
Illustration: When Judy and I first got married we lived way out in the country about five miles from Port Gibson, Ms. We owned a dog named Moe. Moe was short for Moses. He was rescued from an animal shelter. Moe started out being a wonderful little indoor pet. However, he got a taste of the playboy life and started chasing the girl dogs in our community. One afternoon I let Moe out to run and he ran away from me as I called his name. I called with a sense of disgust because he would not obey me. As I called, Moe ran in front of a phone truck and was killed.
Sometimes we do not hear God because of:
1. Rebellion
2. Something strong pulling us
3. Self centered
Obeying is not always easy. Put yourself into Abraham’s shoes. God asked him to leave his country, his family and his inheritance and go to a land he had never seen. The Bible says he went out not knowing where he was going. In addition, he had to live in tents. However, he trusted God. In spite of the challenges he obeyed and trusted God by faith. That is the kind of person he was.
II. What about the blessing? What is the promise of God’s blessing to the person who opens his heart to God?
A. God’s blessing involves adventure. Some people feel as if living by faith is foolish. The truth is, it is a marvelous adventure.
Illustration: I was telling someone the other day about a Godly lady who was a member of a church I once served. This ladies husband had died leaving her with four small children. This happened back in the 60’s. The lady was committed to tithing her income as a way to honor God. She once told me that it was difficult raising four children and keeping her commitment to tithe. She shared a testimony that inspired me. She said there was a time when, after paying all of her other bills, there was only $20 left. She indicated $20 was the amount of her tithe. She said she went to church on this particular Sunday with a heavy burden. She knew she had to provide food for her children but she also knew God was faithful. He would provide if she honored Him. She gave her tithe. After church a fellow church member walked up to her and told her he wanted to pay the $50 he owed her. This lady said she did not remember the debt. Nonetheless God provided for her need. That is the spirit of adventure, of which I refer.
B. God’s blessing gives a sense significance. God told Abraham he would make him a “great” nation. He would be somebody because of God.
Illustration: When Zacchaeus came to faith in Christ he discovered the blessing of finding significance in his relationship with God. Remember the details of the story. Zacchaeus was treated as an outcast by the people of his town. He had to climb a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus. However, Jesus saw Zacchaeus and brought a sense of significance to him. After Zacchaeus encounter with Jesus, Jesus said "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham." My paraphrase of that statement is "Zacchaeus, today you are a somebody because of your faith in me."
C. God’s blessing gives you a sense of security. God promised to make Abraham a great nation. He had not seen the fulfillment of this promise. However, he walked by faith. He trusted God. Friends, it is safer to be in God’s will living in a tent than to be out of God’s will living in a mansion.
Illustration: In 1989 my mother’s father died. While we were going through the grief process I had a personal conversation with my mother’s brother, Don. We were standing in a snack room at a funeral home when my uncle spoke some words I will never forget. The death of my grandfather took both grandparents out of that home. My uncle said, with a tear in his eye, “I have no home left to go to.” There are times when the security of this world melts into nothingness. We need to know that there is security to be found.
D. God’s blessing gives meaning to your life. God promised Abraham that he would be a “blessing.” God does not bless us in order to lavish us with prosperity. He blesses us that we might be an encouragement and blessing to others.
Illustration: I once read a story about Fanny Crosby that was encouraging to me. Fanny said there was a point in her life when she would creep off alone, kneel down and talk to God. She said she questioned whether He had a little place for her. Fanny said it seemed she her Him say “Do not be discouraged, little girl: you shall someday be happy and useful, even in your blindness.” Fanny said after those conversations with God she was encouraged and felt that it would not be very long before her life would be full of activity and usefulness.
