Blessed to Be A Blessing
Genesis 12:1-3
June 10, 2007
Morning Service
Introduction
The blessings that we have from God
An acceptance that can never be questioned. (Ephesians 1:6).
An inheritance that can never be lost (I Peter 1:3-5).
A deliverance that can never be excelled (2 Corinthians l:10).
A grace that can never be limited (2 Corinthians 12:9).
A hope that can never be disappointed. (Hebrews 6:18, 19).
A bounty that can never be withdrawn. (I Colossians 3:21-23).
A joy that need never be diminished (John 15:11).
A nearness to God that can never be reversed (Ephesians 2:13).
A peace that can never be disturbed (John 14:27).
A righteousness that can never be tarnished (2 Corinthians 5:21).
A salvation that can never be canceled (Hebrews 5:9).
If you have your Bibles with you, please open them to Genesis 12:1-3. As we look at the calling of Abram and the blessings that God gave to Him.
1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:1-3
The meaning of Bless
English Definition
To hallow or consecrate by religious rite or word
To bring praise or to glorify To speak well of
To confer happiness or prosperity
The Hebrew word barak and its derivatives brakah and brekah appear in the Old Testament 415 times. The words are translated to kneel or to bless. The translation to kneel appears only three times. There was an incredible focus on blessing and being blessed in the Old Testament.
Expository Dictionary of Bible Words
To bless means “to endue with power for success, prosperity, fruitfulness, longevity
To be blessed means to be given a rich and abundant life
Blessings were pronounced on children by their fathers. This was seen as an incredible gift to the children. Normally, this honor went to the eldest son. We see the value of blessing in Genesis when Jacob went to great lengths to steal his brother Esau’s blessing. Later in life, as Jacob was dying, he pronounced blessings on all of his children and both of Joseph’s sons.
The teaching of the Old Testament is clear God was the true source of all blessings.
Blessing is giving the ability to succeed, to become fruitful and to live an abundant life.
Before God pronounces his blessings, He issues two major commands.
These seem to be the conditions of the promise that God was about to give. This would have been an act of faith on Abram’s part. It would have been a designation of personal trust in God.
Leave your country
God wanted Abram to leave his country. Not because the people were pagan but because God wanted to separate a people of His own. The issue here is holiness. God separated Abram from the world to make a holy nation, a separated people. The reason for leaving the country was not that God could not use Abram there but that He desired to create a new nation using Abram
Go
God tells Abram to go from the country he was currently in. Abram was going to leave everyone and everything he knew to pursue God’s promises. The command to go was to make the separation complete.
God gives Abram five distinct promises that will bring him divine power to live an abundant life. God is peaking directly to Abram at this point and makes specific personal promises that will not only impact the life of Abram but the whole world.
I will show you
God makes the promise that when Abram obeys, there will be direct guidance. Abram will not be required to find a new place to live. God will show him exactly where to go and where to live. The place had been already chosen and the location was selected by God Himself.
I will make you into a great nation
At this point, Abram has nothing that would even make him consider becoming a nation. The word nation does not refer to a country but instead a people group. This could either a tribe or multiple tribes. Abram was not in the position to become a nation because he had no children and was advanced in age. The promise held a new possibility that would give Abram a different life.
God promises to do something new for Abram. The word make implies that there is something more that God wants to do for Abram. Remember Abram has not yet had his name changed. Abram means exalted father. This seems like a strange name for a man who has no children. God will later change his name to Abraham which means father of multitudes. The name change is one of the areas of promise that God gives to Abram.
I will bless you
The concept of being blessed was to be given the divine promise of an empowered and enriched life. God makes a powerful promise to Abram.
God promises not only to bless Abram but to also make him a blessing to other people. Essentially God is telling Abram that He will bless him to the point of overflowing
I will make your name great
The promise here is to make the name of Abram known throughout the nations and through the ages.
I will bless those who bless you
There will be blessing for those who support Abram.
God makes the promise of this blessing being a universal or global event. The promise makes it clear that there will not be a single people group not touched by the blessing that flows through the life of Abram.
I will curse those who curse you
God made it clear that His divine protection would be on Abram
How are we to be a blessing?
27 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:27-31
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Romans 12:14-20
12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
1 Corinthians 4:12-13
