“Blessed to Become a Blessing”4

Sunday 13 March 2005

1. Introduction

• Gen 12:1 - 4 Great Commission – God’s mandate to Abraham

1. I will bless you (top line)

2. You will become a blessing (bottom line)

• “I will bless you” = God’s presence and favour on every aspect of Abraham’s life.
• E.g. Gen 13:2 Abram was very rich
• E.g. Gen 21:22 “God is with you in all you do” –
• unsaved person Abimelech (Father of a King) saw the favour and was attracted to Abraham
• Abraham impacted people that he met and they recognized something different

• How did blessing Come?        Gen 12:1

1. Faith – believed and trusted God

2. Separated from sin

3. Walked in obedience

Blessing came when he aligned himself with the purpose of God.

· He became an Ambassador (v3) person who represents a sovereign state in another country.

· He became a Missionary (v4) person sent with a mission to fulfill.

Encounter       – resulted in mission – focus, direction and eternal benefit

                        - extent of that mission? – all families of the earth.

2.         Heart of God is to Give and to Send

(a) Jesus was Sent

Jn 3:16 “For God so Loved the world He gave”

· Heart motivation of God is Love

· Love gives – takes action that brings blessing and benefit to others

· Love sends – empowers people to bring blessing and benefit to others

· Luke 4:18 “He has sent me to heal the broken hearted …”

· Sent = apostello = to send on a mission, fulfill a purpose

· Core of that mission is to bring blessing to broken lives.

(b)       Jesus Sent the Disciples

Mk 3:14 The disciples were called

· Called them “to be with Him” = to encounter the life of God

· Had purpose that might send the = commission to impact the world

· Encounter with God – ultimate purpose is mission

· Mt 9:36 – 10:1 Moved with compassion – send workers

· “Compassion” - God is stirred by the needs of people – sheep without shepherd.

o God wants to intervene and bring blessing to lives

o Core need is a people he can send!

(c)        Church must move from Encounter to Mission

Mt 28:18 “I am with You – Go – make disciples”

· Jesus last commandment – not a suggestion

· Ignorance is no excuse

· Command remains in force until cancelled or fulfilled?

· We are called to go – Ambassador / Missionary

· What excuse will you make?

· Military                        What is your Mission?

Church – What is your Mission?

· Mission gives purpose and significance to your life.

3.         What Excuse will You Make?

(a)        Moses Made excuses – God Sent Him

Exodus 3:7 – 10 “I have seen – I have come to deliver – I will send you”

· Encounter with God is for purpose of mission

· Excuses!         Vs 11 Who am I? 

Vs 12 What say?

V4:1 Want to believe

4:10 Not able to speak

4:13 Someone else!

· God empowered him to fulfill mission in spite of lacks

(b)       Gideon-made excuse – God sent him

Judges 6:14 Go! – I have sent you

· Encounter with God is for purpose of mission

· Excuses!  V13 where are the miracles; v15 Too poor; v15 youngest

· God empowered him to fulfill mission in spite of lacks.

(c)        Jeremiah made excuse – God sent Him

Jer 1:5-7 Go to those I sent you!

· Encounter with God is for purpose of missions

· Excuses!  V6 Can’t speak – too young

· God empowered him to fulfill the mission is spite of lacks.

Pattern:          Encounter = Mission

e.g. Is 6:8 Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?

e.g. Paul Acts 26:16 -17 Appeared for this purpose – Now I send you!

· Church is called to encounter God and embrace mission

· Mission is beyond or community – local and global

· God uses ordinary people to represent Him – 1 Cor 1:26 – 28

Speak for Him

· Example William Carey.