Thankful to be a Blessing

Scripture/Pray

Intro

Genesis 12:1–2 ESV

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Genesis 18:22–33 ESV

So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

[Paul Harvey]

Gen 12:1-

-----

pray

Scripture/Pray

[Paul Harvey]

Rest of the story. The story is the story, but it is also something else.

[Paul Harvey]

There is both literal truth to all we read, and metaphorical truth to allow application to other parts of our lives

Rest of the story. The story is the story, but it is also something else.

There is both literal truth to all we read, and metaphorical truth to allow application to other parts of our lives

[picofabrahamandlot]

And the rest of the story for us today is an important truth for our lives.

[picofabrahamandlot]

And the rest of the story for us today is an important truth for our lives.

That truth, is this: Since we, like Abraham, have been blessed SO THAT we can be a blessing, who are we looking out for?

I mean when Abraham heard of the downfall of Sodom he immediately starts to question things...he pleads with God to save anyone who might be righteous!

He starts to look out for those who will be destroyed.

[lookforthehelpers]

He starts to look out for those who will be destroyed.

He becomes a helper. He is thankful for his own life, and BECAUSE OF that gratefulness he wants to be a blessing to others

[lookforthehelpers]

He becomes a helper. He is thankful for his own life, and BECAUSE OF that gratefulness he wants to be a blessing to others

But that isn’t the rest of the story, right? That’s just the story. No the rest comes in with this thought - Who are we willing to bless? Who are we willing to help? Who are we willing to stick out our neck for and plead with God - through our prayers AND our time - for?

What if it were 50 people over the course of your life? I mean, think about it, what if it were 50? What would you do? What mountains would you tear down? What obstacles would you overcome to help 50?

But, that’s a lot, you might say. So what about 40? One person every two years! Would you trade your blessing to ignore them?

Church, I want to tell you, I can hear God pleading with us, instead of Abraham pleading wiht God! I can hear God pulling us toward His truth in this text!

But, that’s a lot, you might say. So what about 40? One person every two years! Would you trade your blessing to ignore them?

Church, I want to tell you, I can hear God pleading with us, instead of Abraham pleading wiht God! I can hear God pulling us toward His truth in this text!

WOULD YOU SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR ME TO JUST 50? 45? 40? COULD YOU JUST REFLECT THE UNBELIEVABLE BLESSING OF KNOWING ME TO 30? 20? 10? 5?

Is there not someone - just 1 - who needs you?

[helpingsomeonepic]

Is there not someone - just 1 - who needs you?

[helpingsomeonepic]

I mean, what if your life was intended to just reach one person? Because that just might be the case. Are you living it out so that you won’t miss that person?

Today is your chance to start that again.

If you don’t know, I am a big fan of philosophy, not to gain human wisdom, but to better try to comprehend - as much as humanly possible - God and His plan and love for us all. One of my favorite ideas to kick around is our reality.

I mean what does it mean to exist? If you were born on a deserted island and your mother died when you were young, do you exist?

Obviously you do exist, but if you are alone all the days of your life, what impact can you have on humanity?

I mean what does it mean to exist? If you were born on a deserted island and your mother died when you were young, do you exist?

No, to be, I think, is to be perceived. To be present in the life of another person. To know ourselves, church, is to see ourselves through the eyes of another! And to understand that everything we do, every moment we give away, it can help others to see themselves through the eyes of their creator and God!

Obviously you do exist, but if you are alone all the days of your life, what impact can you have on humanity?

Church, Our lives are not our own; from womb to tomb, we are bound to others, past and present, and by each crime and every kindness we birth our future, and make clear to them the importance that they have in God’s kingdom!

No, to be, I think, is to be perceived. To be present in the life of another person. To know ourselves, church, is to see ourselves through the eyes of another! And to understand that everything we do, every moment we give away, it can help others to see themselves through the eyes of their creator and God!

Church, they only thing that can matter to us is what God thinks of us, and what He sees in us! But understand, just as Abraham saw in those he loved a future and a hope, so must we see that in others! Christ died for all! His Grace and Mercy touches everything that has breath! So we must look at this world through HIS eyes and understand the value and cost of everything that has breath!

Church, Our lives are not our own; from womb to tomb, we are bound to others, past and present, and by each crime and every kindness we birth our future, and make clear to them the importance that they have in God’s kingdom!

And when we do that, we birth the future of God’s kingdom, and bring Hope, the rest of the story, to those who need it most.

Church, they only thing that can matter to us is what God thinks of us, and what He sees in us! But understand, just as Abraham saw in those he loved a future and a hope, so must we see that in others! Christ died for all! His Grace and Mercy touches everything that has breath! So we must look at this world through HIS eyes and understand the value and cost of everything that has breath!

And when we do that, we birth the future of God’s kingdom, and bring Hope, the rest of the story, to those who need it most.

[roger’squote]

So if nothing else, church, "I hope you're proud of yourself for the times you've said 'yes,' when all it meant was extra work for you and was seemingly helpful only to somebody else."

[roger’squote]

Thank you for being a blessing to this church, and to this world.

So if nothing else, church, "I hope you're proud of yourself for the times you've said 'yes,' when all it meant was extra work for you and was seemingly helpful only to somebody else."

Thank you for being a blessing to this church, and to this world.