Blessed with a purpose

God Blesses His people to minister to others

I went to high school living in a town on the Ohio River. Show picture. Beautiful river.

However, every spring water from the river would overflow and find its way into backwater low spots. In Greenup’s park, this would be the water you would find.

In the land of Israel you find a similar phenomenon. The source of the Jordan River is in the Mount Hermon area. Picture. Water falls and rushing water.

It flow into the Sea of Galilee (Picture) – a lake fresh and living, abounding in life.

The Jordan then flows rapidly down a steep grade giving life to its banks (picture).

And then it arrives at the Dead Sea (picture) – The water goes nowhere. It consumes the blessing of water upon itself rather than passing that blessing on, the lake. With no outlet, the water just sits. True to its name, virtually nothing lives here. (final picture)

God overflows into His people’s lives. The people of God abound with blessing. But this blessing was never intended to be merely consumed on oneself. God blesses his people and desires His people then to be a blessing.

In concrete terms, He desires His people to engage others. God intends each person to engage in ministry. His blessing on His people is intended to be a means to bless, or to minister to, others. Throughout scripture ministry is the expected results of the blessings that the Lord gives to His people.

I. Abraham: Blessed to be a blessing to others.

A. Called to a relationship

(NKJV) Genesis 12 1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.

B. Received blessing

(NKJV) Genesis 12 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great;

1. Began a new journey with Him

2. Received His promises

C. Intended to become a blessing

(NKJV) Genesis 12 2 … And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

II. Hebrews: Blessed to Intercede for the nations.

A. Redeemed for a relationship with God

(NKJV) Exodus 19 3 …“Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.

B. Blessed as a special treasure of God

(NKJV) Exodus 19 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.

1. Treasure – special relationship with God

C. Intended to intercede between God and the nations

(NKJV) Exodus 19 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ …

1. Priests – intercede for others

2. Set apart nation – example to others in living

III. Israel: Blessed to reveal the God to the nations

A. Experienced the power of the living God

(NKJV) 1 Kings 8 41 “Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name’s sake 42 (for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple,

B. Intended to introduce the nations to God

1. Implied tell them about God

(NKJV) 1 Kings 8 43 hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.

2. By the transformed lives of His people

(NKJV) 1 Kings 8 59 … be near the Lord our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day may require, 60 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.

3. Intended as a light to the Gentiles

(NKJV) Isaiah 42 6 “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles,

IV. Kingdom People: Love (minister to) others

A. Enjoy knowing the God with entire being

(NKJV) Mark 12 28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” 29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

B. Intended to minister to others as a result

(NKJV) Mark 12 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

V. Christian: Love (Minister to) one another

A. Enjoy the love of Chirst

(NKJV) John 13 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Commands relating to ‘love one another’ used 44 times by various NT authors.

B. Intended to minister to others the same way