Intro: as you listen to every candidate on the campaign trail there is one common denominator, they all try to explain their climb to greatness. The struggles, the battles, the hard times, the hard work they put in to get to where they are today. Probably to some degree they are all telling the truth, because it takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears to make it in society. But as Christians we know that God exalts and brings low. So from a spiritual stance it is God who is the one who receives glory for any blessings in our lives. Today, as we prepare for tonight’s series, The Blessed Life, I would like to preach an introduction called, Four Steps To A Life Of Blessings
Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord said unto Abram, get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee. And I will make thee a great nation and I will bless thee and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee and in thee all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
I don’t know about you, but I am sure that if God came to me and told me that my life would bless everyone in the world it would be a little mind boggling. There would be a lot of excitement, but a little apprehension about becoming so great of a blessing. But to some degree, Abram’s, (Abraham’s) journey to blessing is the exact journey that every Christian must take to become a blessing for God. These four steps will be the key to a Blessed Life.
I. Stepping Out In Faith- to a place that I will show you. Now wouldn’t it be easier just to make us great without the step of faith. Stepping out seems so risky, it makes us leave the comfort zone, surely you could make us great without this step. But without faith it is impossible to please God.
Abram’s step is our step too, we must believe what God has said He will do, and follow His Word. You will not have a blessed life following your own agenda. You may attain some success by the world’s standards, but you will not have the true riches of Christ.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Faith is always established in our lives through the Word. For us to have blessings, we must learn to apply God’s principles in our lives.
I remember taking my first church in Warrior Alabama. They asked me to preach for 6 months and I agreed to take the position. I had preached the only sermon I had, so the next week was a week of fear and trembling wondering if there was another sermon in me. But God supplies the Word, if we supply faith in Him.
II. Making God The Source–from thy kindred, from thy father’s house. I remember heading to Bible College back in 1976. As I left the house, heading to be out on my own, it was a little scary. To be 500 miles from home, to say good bye to the family. I was going to be a minister. Abraham was told that he would have to make this step, that his ministry would take him out of familiarity into the unknown.
God was going to be the source of blessing. God didn’t want the family to try to get all the credit for Abraham’s greatness. God doesn’t share His glory with anyone else.
This is a hard step, but for you to walk in the Blessed Life you must make God the source. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him.
Over the years I have seen minister’s try to make some important people around them the source. But when you tie yourself to people and not God, your ministry get’s tied up. You will never achieve spiritual greatness if your dependance is on anyone outside of God.
III. Believe In Your Destiny–I will make you a great nation. Now wouldn’t it be something if you could get the insto presto greatness. You step out with God and the next day you become great. I am sure that many people who look for quick fixes in life want God to operate on that timetable, but the truth is, Abraham’s greatness was a process, and reaching his destiny took a lifetime.
At 49 you begin to reflect a lot more about where you are in the journey of life. I sometimes think God you could hurry things up a bit and have John Hagee invite me for a service, or have Bill Gates convert and give our church 5 billion. But the most fun about your destiny is moving toward it a step at a time.
I am sure Abraham had his discouraging days, and sometimes complained that the valley was too low, or the mountain was to high, or the journey was too long, he was human. But he never stopped believing in his destiny, what God promised He was able to fulfill.
IV. Realize Your Purpose-and thou shalt be a blessing. Here is probably the one lesson that so many people can miss. God was going to bless Abraham, God was going to make him great. But He would do this for the sole purpose of making Abraham a blessing to others.
Now theologically we know this seed of blessing was Jesus Christ who blessed the world with saving grace. But practically Abraham was a blessing to his family. He was a blessing everywhere he went, with everyone he met. God didn’t just make him the father of children, but the father of nations. He didn’t just bless his family, but he blesses everyone who follows his example of faith.
So many want to be blessed by God so they can eat expensive food, or wear designer clothes or have the newest toys. But the true test of blessing isn’t how much you get, but how much is given away.
My heroes are missionaries that give their lives away for the call of God. They leave the comfort zone, they minister in hard places, they struggle for years to have a few converts, but they have as a purpose to be a blessing in this world.
Close: years ago I tried out for a church in Arkansas that had a brand new facility with a great financial package. I didn’t receive the invitation to be the Pastor. The devil seemed to say to me, you will never arrive at a place that good in your life. But we don’t listen to the devil, we listen to the report of the Lord. Today, I am blessed with a great church, a great facility, with a great missions program that gave 96,000 to missions last year. I say, to God be the glory great things He has done. Give God your life, and He will blessed it.
