Sermon Title: Called To Be A Great Blessing
“Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
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.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.” (Genesis 12:1-4)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
The holy, and only, calling of the Church is to be a great blessing to “all peoples on earth”.
Abram fulfilled that holy calling by giving up everything.
So must we.
The basic requirement for every Christian disciple is to give up everything, carry their cross and follow our Lord Jesus who teaches us in Luke 14:26-33:
“26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.
27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?
29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.
33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.”
To build a tower in your life (Ref: Luke 14:28) is to be absolutely clear that your worship is reserved entirely for the living God; and that you are prepared to pay the complete cost of doing so.
To avert the inevitable death and destruction of war (Ref: Luke 14:31) is to be absolutely clear of your sinful state and utter need to be at peace with the living God before the Day of Judgement. (cf: Ephesians 2:14-22)
Nothing or no one must come between your relationship with Jesus Christ.
Obedience to God must be instant and absolute.
Remember that delayed and partial obedience is disobedience.
Discipleship means personal, passionate and intimate devotion to the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ; and never devotion to acts, events, principles or causes.
Our Lord Jesus Christ never proclaimed, nor advocated, a cause.
The holy gift of eternal life in His Kingdom is never the focus, but rather, the benefit that comes from our absolute devotion to Him.
Our chief blessing is found in Christ’s assertion for our personal and utter devotion to Himself.
We belong to Christ alone.
We live because of Christ alone.
We live for Christ alone.
To be a Christian disciple is to be a devoted servant of the Lord Jesus; a faithful lover, beloved of Christ.
Devotion unto Christ requires complete and unreserved commitment to love, obey and serve Him.
Many who call themselves ‘Christians’ are not devoted to Jesus Christ.
Even the smallest degree of distraction or detraction in devotion to Christ categorically disqualifies the Christian from following Jesus.
Christ forewarns us, “those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” (Luke 14:33)
No person on earth can ever have the required devotion to love, obey and serve the Lord Jesus unless he or she is baptized and filled with the Power of the Holy Spirit.
To be the temple of the Holy Spirit (Ref: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20), the Christian disciple must first “deny themselves and take up their cross daily” (Luke 9:23)
Only with the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit may we fulfill our devotion to the Lord Jesus who “loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2)
The Apostle Paul reveals to us in 1 Corinthians 2:9-12:
“However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them?
In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.”
Without the Holy Spirit, we may admire Christ, we may respect Christ, we may even revere Christ – but we can never love Him to the point of giving up everything for His sake; which is the most basic and fundamental requirement of those who desire to be His disciple.
Only the Holy Spirit can captivate your heart and mind that sets you on fire to blaze with devotion for Jesus Christ – in love, obedience and worship.
Where the world pours themselves into earthly things; true Christians allow the Holy Spirit to be poured into their lives; so that they may pour their lives into a personal and loving relationship with Christ; and for missional Kingdom work with Christ.
Do you have that devoted, foremost and personal relationship with Christ?
Be daily filled and baptized in the Holy Spirit; and fall deeper into love with our Lord Jesus Christ!
To fulfill our Call to be a great blessing in this world begins with acknowledging the blessing of the Promised Presence of God in your life; the very promise our Lord says plainly to His Church, through Abram:
“Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
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.
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)
It is difficult for us to be certain, or even imagine, that this amazing covenant applies to the Church.
However, this was precisely the same disbelief and doubt that earned the disciples Christ’s rebuke “for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.” (Mark 16:14)
God’s original covenant remains established for His Church today.
This is clearly evident from Christ’s Commission unto us, His Church and Kingdom Nation, in Mark 16:15-20:
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
We, the Church, are the foundation and fruit of God’s Promised Blessing of Greatness – the Commission of which is to be a blessing to “all the peoples on earth”. (Genesis 12:3)
Just as the Lord commanded Abram, ““Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; (Genesis 12:1-2a); the Lord commands us, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. (Mark 16:15)
Our greatness and blessing as God’s Kingdom Nation here on earth - is rooted in our work of preaching the gospel to all Creation – becoming God’s blessed voice that calls the world unto repentance, salvation and eternal life.
Just as the Lord proclaimed to Abram, “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 12:3);the Lord proclaims to us, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)
Those who believe in Christ and is baptized will be saved - are those who bless us, and will be blessed by God; and those who does not believe and will be condemned - are those who curse us, and will be cursed by God.
Just as the Lord promised Abram, “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. (Genesis 12:2); the Lord promises us, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mark 16:17-18)
The Abrahamic Covenant is the essence of, and articulated by, the Christian Commission – of which is fulfilled only through our singular and utter devotion to God.
In singular and utter devotion to God, “Abram went, as the Lord had told him;” (Genesis 12:4), and so did Christ’s disciples, who “went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” (Mark 16:20).
How did Abram, and subsequently, how would the Church, become a great blessing to the world?
Remember the words of our Lord Jesus in Luke 14:33 - “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.”
To fulfill our call to be a great blessing to the world, our lives must be completely devoted to God - filled with the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit, and be completely in love with Christ.
Then and only then, can we truly be the Church destined to bless all the peoples of the world.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Thank You for calling me, as part of Your Great Church – to be a great blessing to “all peoples on earth”. (Genesis 12:4)
Teach me to fulfill Your Holy Calling by giving up everything (Ref: Luke 14:26-33); that I would be absolutely clear that my worship is reserved entirely for You, my God, and that I would be absolutely clear that I am a sinner in utter need to be at peace with You through Christ Jesus, my Lord and Saviour.
Holy Spirit, grant me courage, strength, resolve and wisdom to lay down my life for Christ; and fill my heart with the deepest desire to be utterly in love with my Saviour!
Guard my heart, Lord, that nothing would come between my Saviour and I.
Grant me obedience to You that is instant and absolute; that I am constantly found utterly devoted to You, Lord Jesus, in unreserved commitment to love, obey and serve You.
Lord Jesus, I declare that I belong to You alone; I live because of You alone; and I live for You alone.
Forgive me, when I am distracted, or detract, from being completely devoted to You.
Help me see You, Lord; and set my heart wholly on You – that I would be willing to give up everything to follow You.
Baptize me and fill me with the Presence and Power of Your Holy Spirit!
Holy Spirit, captivate my heart and mind; set me on fire to blaze with holy devotion for my Lord Jesus Christ – that I would be fully committed to preaching Your Gospel to all Creation – becoming Your blessed voice that calls the world unto repentance, salvation and eternal life.
Bless me, O Lord, with the blessing of witnessing to those who would believe in You and be saved.
Help me live daily in Your Promise to make Your Church a great nation; to make our name great and be a blessing – through manifesting the signs of the believer, that:
In the mighty Name of our Lord Jesus, we will drive out demons, speak in new tongues, be protected from all evil, and place our hands on sick people, and they will get well. (Ref: Mark 16:17-18)
Lord Jesus, I will remember Your words always: “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” (Luke 14:33)
Yes, Lord!
I will surrender my life completely to You.
I will be filled with the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit.
I will be utterly devoted to, and in love with You – that Your Church would truly be Your Great Nation and Great Blessing to all the peoples of the world.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
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.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.” (Genesis 12:1-4)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
The holy, and only, calling of the Church is to be a great blessing to “all peoples on earth”.
Abram fulfilled that holy calling by giving up everything.
So must we.
The basic requirement for every Christian disciple is to give up everything, carry their cross and follow our Lord Jesus who teaches us in Luke 14:26-33:
“26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.
27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?
29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.
33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.”
To build a tower in your life (Ref: Luke 14:28) is to be absolutely clear that your worship is reserved entirely for the living God; and that you are prepared to pay the complete cost of doing so.
To avert the inevitable death and destruction of war (Ref: Luke 14:31) is to be absolutely clear of your sinful state and utter need to be at peace with the living God before the Day of Judgement. (cf: Ephesians 2:14-22)
Nothing or no one must come between your relationship with Jesus Christ.
Obedience to God must be instant and absolute.
Remember that delayed and partial obedience is disobedience.
Discipleship means personal, passionate and intimate devotion to the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ; and never devotion to acts, events, principles or causes.
Our Lord Jesus Christ never proclaimed, nor advocated, a cause.
The holy gift of eternal life in His Kingdom is never the focus, but rather, the benefit that comes from our absolute devotion to Him.
Our chief blessing is found in Christ’s assertion for our personal and utter devotion to Himself.
We belong to Christ alone.
We live because of Christ alone.
We live for Christ alone.
To be a Christian disciple is to be a devoted servant of the Lord Jesus; a faithful lover, beloved of Christ.
Devotion unto Christ requires complete and unreserved commitment to love, obey and serve Him.
Many who call themselves ‘Christians’ are not devoted to Jesus Christ.
Even the smallest degree of distraction or detraction in devotion to Christ categorically disqualifies the Christian from following Jesus.
Christ forewarns us, “those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” (Luke 14:33)
No person on earth can ever have the required devotion to love, obey and serve the Lord Jesus unless he or she is baptized and filled with the Power of the Holy Spirit.
To be the temple of the Holy Spirit (Ref: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20), the Christian disciple must first “deny themselves and take up their cross daily” (Luke 9:23)
Only with the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit may we fulfill our devotion to the Lord Jesus who “loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2)
The Apostle Paul reveals to us in 1 Corinthians 2:9-12:
“However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them?
In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.”
Without the Holy Spirit, we may admire Christ, we may respect Christ, we may even revere Christ – but we can never love Him to the point of giving up everything for His sake; which is the most basic and fundamental requirement of those who desire to be His disciple.
Only the Holy Spirit can captivate your heart and mind that sets you on fire to blaze with devotion for Jesus Christ – in love, obedience and worship.
Where the world pours themselves into earthly things; true Christians allow the Holy Spirit to be poured into their lives; so that they may pour their lives into a personal and loving relationship with Christ; and for missional Kingdom work with Christ.
Do you have that devoted, foremost and personal relationship with Christ?
Be daily filled and baptized in the Holy Spirit; and fall deeper into love with our Lord Jesus Christ!
To fulfill our Call to be a great blessing in this world begins with acknowledging the blessing of the Promised Presence of God in your life; the very promise our Lord says plainly to His Church, through Abram:
“Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
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.
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)
It is difficult for us to be certain, or even imagine, that this amazing covenant applies to the Church.
However, this was precisely the same disbelief and doubt that earned the disciples Christ’s rebuke “for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.” (Mark 16:14)
God’s original covenant remains established for His Church today.
This is clearly evident from Christ’s Commission unto us, His Church and Kingdom Nation, in Mark 16:15-20:
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
We, the Church, are the foundation and fruit of God’s Promised Blessing of Greatness – the Commission of which is to be a blessing to “all the peoples on earth”. (Genesis 12:3)
Just as the Lord commanded Abram, ““Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; (Genesis 12:1-2a); the Lord commands us, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. (Mark 16:15)
Our greatness and blessing as God’s Kingdom Nation here on earth - is rooted in our work of preaching the gospel to all Creation – becoming God’s blessed voice that calls the world unto repentance, salvation and eternal life.
Just as the Lord proclaimed to Abram, “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 12:3);the Lord proclaims to us, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)
Those who believe in Christ and is baptized will be saved - are those who bless us, and will be blessed by God; and those who does not believe and will be condemned - are those who curse us, and will be cursed by God.
Just as the Lord promised Abram, “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. (Genesis 12:2); the Lord promises us, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mark 16:17-18)
The Abrahamic Covenant is the essence of, and articulated by, the Christian Commission – of which is fulfilled only through our singular and utter devotion to God.
In singular and utter devotion to God, “Abram went, as the Lord had told him;” (Genesis 12:4), and so did Christ’s disciples, who “went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” (Mark 16:20).
How did Abram, and subsequently, how would the Church, become a great blessing to the world?
Remember the words of our Lord Jesus in Luke 14:33 - “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.”
To fulfill our call to be a great blessing to the world, our lives must be completely devoted to God - filled with the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit, and be completely in love with Christ.
Then and only then, can we truly be the Church destined to bless all the peoples of the world.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Thank You for calling me, as part of Your Great Church – to be a great blessing to “all peoples on earth”. (Genesis 12:4)
Teach me to fulfill Your Holy Calling by giving up everything (Ref: Luke 14:26-33); that I would be absolutely clear that my worship is reserved entirely for You, my God, and that I would be absolutely clear that I am a sinner in utter need to be at peace with You through Christ Jesus, my Lord and Saviour.
Holy Spirit, grant me courage, strength, resolve and wisdom to lay down my life for Christ; and fill my heart with the deepest desire to be utterly in love with my Saviour!
Guard my heart, Lord, that nothing would come between my Saviour and I.
Grant me obedience to You that is instant and absolute; that I am constantly found utterly devoted to You, Lord Jesus, in unreserved commitment to love, obey and serve You.
Lord Jesus, I declare that I belong to You alone; I live because of You alone; and I live for You alone.
Forgive me, when I am distracted, or detract, from being completely devoted to You.
Help me see You, Lord; and set my heart wholly on You – that I would be willing to give up everything to follow You.
Baptize me and fill me with the Presence and Power of Your Holy Spirit!
Holy Spirit, captivate my heart and mind; set me on fire to blaze with holy devotion for my Lord Jesus Christ – that I would be fully committed to preaching Your Gospel to all Creation – becoming Your blessed voice that calls the world unto repentance, salvation and eternal life.
Bless me, O Lord, with the blessing of witnessing to those who would believe in You and be saved.
Help me live daily in Your Promise to make Your Church a great nation; to make our name great and be a blessing – through manifesting the signs of the believer, that:
In the mighty Name of our Lord Jesus, we will drive out demons, speak in new tongues, be protected from all evil, and place our hands on sick people, and they will get well. (Ref: Mark 16:17-18)
Lord Jesus, I will remember Your words always: “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” (Luke 14:33)
Yes, Lord!
I will surrender my life completely to You.
I will be filled with the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit.
I will be utterly devoted to, and in love with You – that Your Church would truly be Your Great Nation and Great Blessing to all the peoples of the world.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.