WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.780 Presbyterian Church, and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:05.459 --> 00:00:09.320 ! A special welcome if you're new or visiting. We're glad that you're here. 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:13.019 And we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:13.820 --> 00:00:16.940 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:21.740 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good, 00:00:22.219 --> 00:00:26.000 they don't need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it. 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:31.859 Which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in his word. 00:00:32.700 --> 00:00:36.519 We're continuing our series in the story of Abraham, 00:00:36.980 --> 00:00:40.399 which takes place in Genesis chapters 11 through 25, 00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:43.439 in the larger context of the book of Genesis. 00:00:43.820 --> 00:00:46.159 So we're not doing the whole book, just this one story. 00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:51.480 And we're doing it, first of all, to prepare us to go back into our series in Romans, 00:00:51.519 --> 00:00:54.960 where we'll pick up in Romans chapter 4, which is about Abraham. 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:59.579 So this is all sort of preparatory material to go back to where we were before. 00:01:00.179 --> 00:01:05.099 It's also a great time for us to ask this question, which the story of Abraham raises, 00:01:05.700 --> 00:01:09.200 which is what does it look like to follow God in faith? 00:01:10.099 --> 00:01:13.500 What does it look like to follow God in faith? 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:19.439 We're looking at a similar, a smaller section of the same passage we looked at last week. 00:01:19.480 --> 00:01:24.000 And the reason for that is that Genesis is this just rich, multi-layered story. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:30.420 Just as a work of literature, it's composed in a way that makes it brilliant and deep, 00:01:30.620 --> 00:01:34.400 with all sorts of angles and meanings. 00:01:35.340 --> 00:01:38.200 In fact, we could continue on the same section. 00:01:38.560 --> 00:01:39.900 I think we could have two more sermons. 00:01:40.019 --> 00:01:43.439 We could have one on God making Abraham's name great. 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:46.780 We could have another one just about the gospel for the nations. 00:01:46.780 --> 00:01:52.820 But we're going to move on next week and go to chapter 12 and start at verse 10. 00:01:53.620 --> 00:01:59.460 You remember last week, we looked at this idea of going, that Abraham was commanded to go. 00:01:59.799 --> 00:02:04.740 And we saw that following God's call always involves loss. 00:02:05.340 --> 00:02:08.740 Which raised the question for us, why is it worth losing for? 00:02:08.740 --> 00:02:10.439 And we had two answers. 00:02:10.600 --> 00:02:13.460 One, giving it up is the only way to keep it. 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:17.700 And two, giving it up is to get something better. 00:02:18.420 --> 00:02:20.520 So that was last week, the command to go. 00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:22.840 There are two movements in this passage, though. 00:02:22.920 --> 00:02:24.100 Go is the first one. 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:27.760 The second main movement is blessed to be a blessing. 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:30.180 And so that's going to be our focus this morning. 00:02:30.580 --> 00:02:34.939 How do we experience the greatest blessing? 00:02:35.939 --> 00:02:38.060 What's the purpose of our blessings? 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:38.819 What are they for? 00:02:38.900 --> 00:02:42.219 What's the direction that they're meant to go in? 00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:47.000 As I say that, then we're going to turn now to God's word, Genesis chapter 12. 00:02:47.479 --> 00:02:53.879 And I should note, by the way, that next month, I'm going to observe eight years being on staff here at this church. 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:58.280 And in those eight years, I cannot remember a service as full as this one. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:00.319 I say that for two reasons. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:04.199 First, wow, praise God for all the things that he's doing in this church. 00:03:04.939 --> 00:03:09.379 Two, I'm going to call a game time call, and we're going to read just verses one through three. 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:10.280 Okay? 00:03:10.759 --> 00:03:11.400 Chapter 12. 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:13.539 So I invite you to turn there with me now. 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:15.740 You can turn in your worship guide. 00:03:16.120 --> 00:03:17.479 You can turn on your phone. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:20.699 You can turn in your Bible. 00:03:21.379 --> 00:03:24.079 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's word. 00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:29.099 God tells us that his word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold. 00:03:29.579 --> 00:03:32.979 And it's sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:03:32.979 --> 00:03:37.780 And so that's why we read now Genesis chapter 12, starting in verse one. 00:03:37.780 --> 00:03:47.759 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. 00:03:48.280 --> 00:03:56.139 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. 00:03:57.020 --> 00:04:02.060 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse. 00:04:02.060 --> 00:04:07.180 And in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:11.800 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:04:13.259 --> 00:04:18.300 Our Father in heaven, we do praise you and thank you for your great work in this congregation. 00:04:19.579 --> 00:04:25.139 And we praise you and thank you for your word that you haven't left us to figure it out on your own, 00:04:25.139 --> 00:04:29.819 but instead you speak to us, you instruct us as a father instructs his children. 00:04:30.539 --> 00:04:35.139 We ask that you would do that very thing this morning, that you'd honor your promise in Isaiah 55, 00:04:35.759 --> 00:04:39.919 that your word will not return to you empty, but it will accomplish great things. 00:04:40.719 --> 00:04:45.479 And so we ask this morning that you would accomplish great things here among us 00:04:45.479 --> 00:04:48.879 because of your word to us in Genesis chapter 12. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:53.240 We ask all of these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 00:04:57.800 --> 00:05:03.839 Sometimes being a preacher is just going back to English class. 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:09.360 And so I'm going to remind you of something that I bring up from time to time 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:13.920 when we get into narratives in the Bible especially, especially Old Testament narratives, 00:05:14.279 --> 00:05:16.439 sometimes the Gospels, which is this. 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:23.879 When you are reading a story in the Bible, you always make a note when a word is repeated over and over. 00:05:24.860 --> 00:05:28.339 Repetition is never a coincidence in the Scriptures. 00:05:28.540 --> 00:05:33.300 In fact, as I've also mentioned before, sometimes it's really upsetting for people from a Western culture. 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:37.659 We're not as familiar with repetition as other cultures are, 00:05:37.720 --> 00:05:40.159 and so we think, man, why can't you just get to the point? 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:42.000 You've said this before. 00:05:42.980 --> 00:05:46.120 But this is not the way that every culture in the world communicates. 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:49.000 It's not the way that ancient Near Eastern culture works. 00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:53.800 And so we are slammed right in the face at the very beginning in this passage 00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:56.319 with one obvious repetition. 00:05:57.000 --> 00:06:02.280 Bless or blessing shows up in three verses five times. 00:06:03.740 --> 00:06:07.439 Which is the author's way of telling us, guess what? 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:12.620 Genesis chapter 12 verses one through three is about blessing. 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:19.939 Remember we talked last week about why Abraham is willing, should give up so many things. 00:06:20.300 --> 00:06:24.100 Why it is that he's going to go and leave everything behind. 00:06:24.220 --> 00:06:27.399 His family, his nation, his father's house. 00:06:28.360 --> 00:06:31.899 And what's happening here is we're honing in on the second reason. 00:06:31.899 --> 00:06:36.239 Remember we talked about the fact that he's leaving, he's letting all these things go 00:06:36.239 --> 00:06:38.639 because he's going to get something better. 00:06:39.579 --> 00:06:43.779 And that is what is hammered home again and again here. 00:06:44.819 --> 00:06:46.939 You might say, man, what is the blessing? 00:06:47.159 --> 00:06:49.679 Well, at some level, it is obvious. 00:06:50.659 --> 00:06:54.560 There's that old saying, right, that everything is bigger in Texas. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:07:00.519 We might say in this passage, everything is going to get bigger for Abraham. 00:07:01.660 --> 00:07:04.019 He's going to go from his country, verse one. 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:06.180 He's going to leave his family, verse one. 00:07:06.300 --> 00:07:09.980 But what's going to happen, verse two, great nation. 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:12.519 So you're going to give up a small thing. 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:14.639 You're going to get a great thing. 00:07:15.420 --> 00:07:17.100 Verse one, leave your family. 00:07:17.779 --> 00:07:19.879 Okay, that's a huge loss, but what's going to happen? 00:07:19.879 --> 00:07:24.699 Verse one, verse three, you're going to bless all families. 00:07:25.300 --> 00:07:28.100 So there's this multiplication there, this increase, right? 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:30.000 Everything is going to get better. 00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:34.379 Abraham is a nobody, a shepherd wandering around in the ancient Near East 00:07:34.379 --> 00:07:36.120 who no one has ever heard of. 00:07:36.980 --> 00:07:41.100 Verse two, he's going to make his name great. 00:07:42.159 --> 00:07:46.459 There's this threefold blessing that is offered to Abraham. 00:07:46.459 --> 00:07:50.779 He's going to have a great name, a great nation. 00:07:51.399 --> 00:07:53.139 He's going to be a great blessing. 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:55.659 Seems like a good deal, right? 00:07:56.479 --> 00:07:59.219 Everything is going to get better. 00:07:59.939 --> 00:08:03.500 So at one level, it seems pretty obvious what this blessing is 00:08:03.500 --> 00:08:05.699 that's coming to Abraham, which makes it make sense 00:08:05.699 --> 00:08:08.079 for him to give up everything he's hold before 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:10.000 and move forward in following God. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:17.360 At another level, it is not obvious what the blessing is. 00:08:18.220 --> 00:08:22.920 There are things that are revealed slowly, one piece at a time 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:24.800 throughout the story of the Bible. 00:08:25.019 --> 00:08:28.540 And so that's why Scott read this morning from Galatians chapter three. 00:08:28.839 --> 00:08:32.679 Because Galatians chapter three, which is on page three of your worship guide, 00:08:33.480 --> 00:08:38.639 clarifies what the blessing ultimately is. 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:46.299 Paul tells us in that letter that Scripture preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham. 00:08:47.179 --> 00:08:50.159 And it preached the gospel to Abraham when it said, 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:54.199 in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:56.399 So what is the blessing? 00:08:57.379 --> 00:09:00.840 On the surface level, in the immediate context, 00:09:01.199 --> 00:09:06.779 the blessing is name, nation, all the families of the earth. 00:09:06.779 --> 00:09:11.959 In the ultimate context, what is being pointed forward to here 00:09:11.959 --> 00:09:17.519 is that the blessing really is fully and finally Jesus Christ. 00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:18.779 Right? 00:09:18.819 --> 00:09:22.139 Because when Paul says the gospel was proclaimed beforehand, 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:22.980 what is he saying? 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:28.179 The gospel is the good news of Jesus' death and life and resurrection. 00:09:28.179 --> 00:09:33.859 How is it that all the nations are going to be blessed? 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:42.379 They're going to be blessed by Abraham because his descendant will be Jesus Christ. 00:09:42.379 --> 00:09:50.259 That is the way in which all the families of the earth will be blessed. 00:09:50.259 --> 00:09:55.620 The New Testament makes this clear, not just in Galatians. 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:58.299 If you're familiar with the gospel of Matthew, 00:09:58.659 --> 00:10:02.399 when it comes to Christmas time, often we'll read the genealogy of Jesus, 00:10:02.860 --> 00:10:05.379 and Matthew goes out of his way to tell us, 00:10:05.939 --> 00:10:08.819 this is the descendant of Abraham. 00:10:09.819 --> 00:10:11.019 Which is Matthew's way of saying, 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:14.840 hey, remember that promise in Genesis chapter 12. 00:10:14.840 --> 00:10:18.120 Now it's fulfilled. 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:23.720 This is how all the families of the earth will be blessed. 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:26.680 So the point is this. 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:31.340 Abraham will be a blessing to the nations 00:10:31.340 --> 00:10:36.720 because through him and his descendants comes Jesus Christ. 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:41.019 Abraham will be a blessing to the nations 00:10:41.019 --> 00:10:46.779 because through him and his descendants comes Jesus Christ. 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:49.220 And it's at this point, 00:10:49.740 --> 00:10:53.740 as much as I think it's right that we're focusing just on the story of Abraham, 00:10:54.199 --> 00:10:56.639 it's at this point that we have a little bit of a disservice 00:10:56.639 --> 00:11:00.240 that we have skipped chapters 1 through 11 of Genesis. 00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:04.759 Because chapters 1 through 11 lay out sort of this narrative tension, 00:11:04.899 --> 00:11:08.379 the great need for all the families of the earth to be blessed. 00:11:08.379 --> 00:11:11.620 Genesis chapter 3, Adam and Eve are in the garden. 00:11:11.779 --> 00:11:14.340 We have the fall of man as they rebel against God 00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:16.759 and their relationship with him is ruptured. 00:11:17.220 --> 00:11:21.379 Genesis chapter 4, we have the first murder in the history of the world. 00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:25.419 Genesis chapters 6 through 9, mankind decides 00:11:25.419 --> 00:11:28.379 we are going to try to serve ourselves. 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:31.600 We're going to be filled with oppression and violence. 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:34.279 And so God has to purge the world with a flood. 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:38.500 Then we come back in Genesis 11 and mankind says, 00:11:38.579 --> 00:11:43.879 you know what, we want fame and achievement and excellence and power without God. 00:11:45.199 --> 00:11:48.319 And so there's the Tower of Babel that they build up to the skies 00:11:48.319 --> 00:11:51.720 and God thwarts them by changing the languages. 00:11:52.860 --> 00:11:57.159 So there's this cascading just tragedy that happens in Genesis chapters, 00:11:57.279 --> 00:11:58.759 especially 3 through 11. 00:11:58.919 --> 00:12:01.439 And that tragedy is setting us up for this. 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:03.560 Hey, there's this great problem. 00:12:03.940 --> 00:12:06.580 Humankind is so bad that they're separated from God. 00:12:06.660 --> 00:12:07.580 They're killing one another. 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:09.980 The earth needs to be purged with a flood. 00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:13.520 And they're trying to build a name for themselves without God. 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:18.340 How is humanity going to get out of this mess? 00:12:18.340 --> 00:12:26.700 How in the world could this chaos be solved and healed? 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:33.320 And so it's in the midst of that context that God comes to this man and his wife 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:35.519 who are both in their older years and says, 00:12:35.680 --> 00:12:36.300 guess what? 00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:39.560 I am going to save the world through you. 00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:46.719 The nations have been scattered in Genesis chapter 11 at the Tower of Babel, 00:12:47.239 --> 00:12:51.639 and you are going to be part of the solution. 00:12:53.019 --> 00:13:04.759 The blessing of Abraham is the beginning to the solution of human sin, rebellion, chaos, and destruction. 00:13:04.759 --> 00:13:08.659 We might put it another way. 00:13:09.659 --> 00:13:18.919 Genesis 12 verses 1 through 3 is one of the most pivotal and important passages in all of Scripture. 00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:28.159 This is where the dominoes that lead to Jesus Christ start to fall. 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:33.699 Mankind is going to need a rescuer. 00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:39.819 Here, we see God begin to fulfill his promise from Genesis chapter 3. 00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:43.559 Remember, when it comes to the snake that deceives Adam and Eve, 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:45.719 he will bruise your heel. 00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:48.000 You're going to crush his head. 00:13:49.659 --> 00:13:54.019 And now, the pieces are in place. 00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:58.840 That, by the way, friends, as simple as it may seem on the surface, 00:13:58.980 --> 00:14:00.919 especially if you're familiar with Christianity, 00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:03.960 is the heart of what we believe as Christians. 00:14:04.059 --> 00:14:05.720 It's the heart of the gospel. 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:12.539 As some of you know, back in 2022, I herniated a disc in my back. 00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:16.379 And so now, for the last three years, I've seen the same chiropractor. 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:20.519 And so I see him, you know, once every two months or so, I think, maybe every three months. 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:22.360 And he knows that I'm a pastor. 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:24.819 And so from the very beginning of me seeing him, 00:14:25.079 --> 00:14:27.699 he has wanted to talk about Christianity and faith. 00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:30.399 He's fascinated talking about these things. 00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:33.939 And he's recently, in our conversations, he's begun to tell me, 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:35.100 well, you know what? 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:36.939 I live as if I'm a Christian. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:41.120 You know, you and me, we're kind of actually the same. 00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:43.360 Like, because we're living the same way. 00:14:44.439 --> 00:14:49.059 And maybe in a certain superficial sense, we could make that work, right? 00:14:49.059 --> 00:14:55.759 If Christianity is a generic moral code, then maybe he's on to something, right? 00:14:56.459 --> 00:14:58.859 But we could say the same of Jews and Muslims. 00:14:59.319 --> 00:15:02.639 Traditional religions have a lot of overlap with their moral code. 00:15:03.459 --> 00:15:04.879 The problem is this. 00:15:05.719 --> 00:15:11.679 He doesn't live as a Christian in the most important and fundamental way, which is this. 00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:15.239 He does not worship the living God. 00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:20.460 He's mistaken what it is Christianity is about, right? 00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:21.840 He keeps on bringing up moral code. 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:24.180 Well, I live as a Christian lives. 00:15:24.560 --> 00:15:27.419 You don't have a problem with the way that you live. 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:30.600 He has a problem with his relationship with God. 00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:34.799 He does not serve him, worship him, or obey him. 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:41.180 And he does not keep the moral code as well as he thinks he does. 00:15:41.179 --> 00:15:44.239 Because none of us do. 00:15:46.439 --> 00:15:52.659 Remember, Sermon on the Mount, Jesus, Matthew chapter 5, goes after people who think that they are good 00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:54.559 because they do the right things morally. 00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:58.099 And he says, that's great that you haven't murdered someone. 00:15:59.219 --> 00:16:00.639 Have you hated them in your heart? 00:16:01.939 --> 00:16:04.339 That's great that you haven't committed adultery. 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:05.879 Have you ever lusted? 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:12.960 You fall much farther short than you think you do. 00:16:14.439 --> 00:16:14.580 Right? 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:17.399 And so if we think, well, I do the right things. 00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:18.679 I keep the Ten Commandments. 00:16:18.939 --> 00:16:21.399 We have misunderstood Christianity. 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:29.059 We've underestimated how holy God is, how far short we fall. 00:16:29.059 --> 00:16:35.899 You might think, why are we talking about chiropractors and Christianity and sin? 00:16:38.119 --> 00:16:41.659 It's because this gets at the heart of what the blessing is. 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:48.439 The blessing is the restoration of the relationship between God and his people. 00:16:49.719 --> 00:16:51.759 That is the content of the blessing. 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:55.819 That is the purpose that all these other things serve. 00:16:55.820 --> 00:17:01.379 Makes sense, then, what happens in the section I didn't read. 00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:02.560 I'll just mention this briefly. 00:17:03.060 --> 00:17:05.620 So I read 1 through 3 of chapter 12. 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:11.340 If you look at the whole of verses 1 through 9, what does Abraham do as he walks around after this encounter? 00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:15.860 He twice, verse 7 and verse 8, builds an altar. 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:20.160 In other words, Abraham worships God. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:30.200 He understands that what's happening here, what must happen, is the relationship between God and man must be restored. 00:17:31.340 --> 00:17:34.440 And so Abraham is beginning to act that out in the promised land. 00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:41.120 Acting out the blessing, the restoration of God and humanity. 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:46.079 I neglected to tell you, but I'll tell you now. 00:17:46.179 --> 00:17:47.299 There's two points to this sermon. 00:17:47.399 --> 00:17:48.500 We just finished point one. 00:17:49.439 --> 00:17:49.879 Blessed. 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:52.619 Second point is to bless. 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:54.579 And you don't have to remember that. 00:17:54.659 --> 00:17:58.179 It's in your sermon title right there on whatever page we're on now. 00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:58.819 Page 7. 00:17:59.479 --> 00:18:00.199 Blessed to bless. 00:18:00.939 --> 00:18:02.159 So Abraham is blessed. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:07.240 The content of his blessing is not just these superficial things. 00:18:07.320 --> 00:18:11.840 It's not just name, nation, all the families of the earth. 00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:13.800 No, his blessing is greater than that. 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:18.779 It is the beginning of the restoration between God and his people. 00:18:20.060 --> 00:18:24.700 But it is not simply or merely or only that Abraham is blessed. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:28.600 He is also doing it to be a blessing. 00:18:28.600 --> 00:18:29.580 Look at verse 2. 00:18:29.579 --> 00:18:39.639 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. 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:44.299 In other words, all of these things that I'm giving you, they're instrumental. 00:18:45.199 --> 00:18:50.879 They are meant to serve this greater purpose and drive in a specific direction. 00:18:51.899 --> 00:18:53.819 These blessings are not arbitrary. 00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:56.859 And they're actually not just for you to enjoy. 00:18:56.859 --> 00:19:00.919 You're not just supposed to sit there and marinate in great nation. 00:19:02.199 --> 00:19:03.899 No, they're meant to go somewhere. 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:06.459 They're meant to be something. 00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:09.619 They're meant to be used in a certain way. 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:15.799 Last Sunday, I started out by telling you a story about my college pastor many years ago. 00:19:16.419 --> 00:19:19.539 One of the other things he liked to say, he liked to ask this question. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:22.319 He said, when you think about Christianity in your faith, 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:26.000 do you think about it as a sauna or is it a gym? 00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:32.159 Is it a place where you're just there to soak it all in and enjoy and that's it? 00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:36.480 Or is it a place where you work out to head in a direction? 00:19:38.179 --> 00:19:39.859 Of course, the answer is the second one, right? 00:19:40.179 --> 00:19:45.240 This is not meant to be a place where we simply soak up Christian fellowship 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:50.380 and go and pat ourselves on the back and say, man, I'm so glad that God has blessed me in this way. 00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:58.259 No, it's meant to go out in a direction in the same way that Abraham was called to be a blessing to the nations. 00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:01.859 Blessed in order to bless. 00:20:01.859 --> 00:20:10.919 On December 31st, 2024, yes, this was not that long ago, 00:20:11.979 --> 00:20:16.459 my father went in for his last day of work before he retired. 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:23.079 So he made it to 65 in October of last year and then decided to see it through to the very end of the calendar year. 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:31.399 And maybe coincidentally, maybe not, for Christmas, my father received two larger gifts. 00:20:32.199 --> 00:20:35.039 He received the great blessing of the Instant Pot. 00:20:36.939 --> 00:20:39.619 And he received the great blessing of a blender. 00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:45.399 And what do you think my father did with those when he received them? 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:49.819 Did he put them on his bookshelf to look at? 00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:50.299 No. 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:59.359 And why was my father given those things of all Christmases, Christmas 2024? 00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:04.619 I don't think my dad received any kitchen gadgets in Christmas 2023. 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:10.179 Because as my dad retires, he is receiving new responsibilities. 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:18.679 And it is his job to take over more cooking in my parents' household than he has in the past. 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:25.500 And so we might say that my father was blessed to be a blessing. 00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:31.840 You laugh, but Christian, that's exactly what's going on in this passage. 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:34.360 Abraham is receiving all these things. 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:39.400 You are poured out all the riches and inheritance of being connected to Jesus Christ. 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:41.840 It is to serve a purpose. 00:21:43.320 --> 00:21:46.140 You are blessed to be a blessing. 00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:57.240 Great name and nation and blessing for Abraham is not so that Abraham could sit in the sauna of God's grace and do nothing. 00:21:58.300 --> 00:22:02.460 No, it is given to him for the sake of the nations. 00:22:05.120 --> 00:22:09.200 Brothers and sisters, the same is true of us. 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:19.720 All of God's blessings for his people are to serve his mission to reach his world. 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:28.579 The purpose of Abraham is now the mission of the church. 00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:34.539 The purpose of Abraham is now the mission of the church. 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:36.740 You'll see this in the back of your worship guide. 00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:44.759 If in Christ we inherit Abraham's blessings, which is what Paul is saying in Galatians chapter 3 that Scott read, 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:48.099 we also inherit Abraham's mission. 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:55.259 That is to go and be a blessing to be the means by which God's blessing comes to others. 00:22:55.259 --> 00:23:04.019 At a fundamental level, starting right here in Genesis, that is who we are, the children of Abraham. 00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:07.200 And that is what we are here for. 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:14.680 To participate in God's promised mission of bringing people from all nations on earth 00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:18.900 into the sphere of God's redemptive blessing through Christ. 00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:25.700 Brothers and sisters, that is what we are here for. 00:23:27.300 --> 00:23:35.840 We are here to participate in God's promised mission of bringing people from all nations on earth 00:23:35.840 --> 00:23:39.920 into God's blessings through Christ. 00:23:41.580 --> 00:23:46.000 That is why we're focused as a church on fervent witness, 00:23:46.100 --> 00:23:48.440 that we would share our faith with those around us. 00:23:48.900 --> 00:23:51.420 That's why we're focused as a church on Gospel Hub, 00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:58.240 because we know that God has positioned us in a place where we can equip and send out to further his mission. 00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:03.060 Whatever it is that God has given us, 00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:07.420 it is for the blessing of the world. 00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:10.960 If God has given you a house, 00:24:12.300 --> 00:24:12.820 great. 00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:19.279 who can you invite into it to share Christian community with them? 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:22.980 If God has given you a table, 00:24:23.379 --> 00:24:26.059 who can sit around it? 00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:30.339 God has given us this church building. 00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:33.899 God has given us this church building. 00:24:33.899 --> 00:24:33.919 He has not given us this church building. 00:24:34.699 --> 00:24:38.699 He has not given it to us so that we would never have to set up chairs again. 00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:43.180 God has given us it as a tool, 00:24:43.180 --> 00:24:45.299 an instrument in our job, 00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:47.700 our mission of reaching this community. 00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:53.000 Why has God blessed you with kids if he has? 00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:56.500 It is not for your own fulfillment. 00:24:57.539 --> 00:25:00.400 It is not to prove something to the world. 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:04.820 It is not to take care of you in your old age. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:12.080 God has given you kids to send out as a blessing in this world. 00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:15.560 Why has God given you work? 00:25:16.580 --> 00:25:20.880 It is not so you would make a great name for yourself. 00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:29.480 God has given you work so you can extend his blessing in so many ways. 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:32.660 God has given you work so you can extend your blessing in your life. 00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:34.080 And as we talked about last week, 00:25:34.600 --> 00:25:39.880 everything in our lives will be twisted and skewed until we get that right. 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:45.980 Until we put our hope in something that can bear up under its weight. 00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:48.800 Is our church a sauna? 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.800 It is in fact not. 00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:54.500 It is a gym. 00:25:56.780 --> 00:25:59.980 There's a pastor at another Presbyterian church in town 00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:02.099 who talks regularly with his congregation 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:04.160 about what type of church they want to be. 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:06.160 And he describes two types of churches. 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:08.539 He says we can be a for me church 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:10.940 or we can be a so that church. 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:13.420 The for me church, we think, 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:17.000 man, what are the ways that I can marinate in this sauna? 00:26:18.360 --> 00:26:20.339 How can I get as much as I need? 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:23.599 How can my consumeristic religious needs be met? 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:28.419 A so that church, radically different. 00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:34.399 How do we serve and follow God and his mission to reach the world? 00:26:37.879 --> 00:26:39.419 And of course, as we do that, 00:26:40.199 --> 00:26:45.599 we follow Jesus who used his blessings to bless. 00:26:46.879 --> 00:26:49.019 That's what Philippians chapter 2 tells us. 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:51.440 Have this in mind among yourselves, 00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:53.299 which is yours in Christ Jesus, 00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:56.200 who though he was in the form of God, 00:26:56.740 --> 00:27:00.119 did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 00:27:00.599 --> 00:27:04.619 but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, 00:27:05.379 --> 00:27:07.319 being born in the likeness of men. 00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:10.720 And being found in human form, 00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:15.660 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:18.639 even death on a cross. 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:22.819 And so that's why we sing together, 00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:26.299 grant, O Lord, that we may hear your people be 00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:28.900 a witness to your faithfulness, 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:32.619 your light for all the world to see. 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:33.900 Let's pray. 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.960 Our Father in heaven, 00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:40.039 we do praise you and thank you for your many blessings. 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:44.559 And we ask that you would remind us of their purpose and their end, 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:50.000 that you would use us as your instruments here to bring your blessing to this world. 00:27:50.679 --> 00:27:52.759 Not so that our names would be great, 00:27:52.879 --> 00:27:55.159 but that yours would be lifted up. 00:27:55.379 --> 00:27:57.279 And we ask these things in Jesus' name. 00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.000 Amen. 00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.119 Amen.