Weekly Bible Study
The Bible promises
us,
… and the Church is in anticipation of,
the manifestation of God’s goodness and blessing ...
… in our lives!
And the
Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by
faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying,
"In you all the nations shall be
blessed."
So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing
Abraham.
--- Gal 3:8-9
The Bible clearly
says that “we are blessed with believing Abraham!”
Therefore, if the blessing has not yet manifested ...
… it should be!
So …
What will you do when it happens?
Will you …
Shout for joy?
Praise the Lord?
Use the blessing?
Work with the blessing?
Yes, what would
you do?
More than likely … you would do all of them!
You would shout for joy, praise the Lord, work with and use the
blessing!
However, and
more importantly …
What does God want us to do?
Theoretically we
have been blessed ever since creation in the Garden of Eden.
Then God
(barak) blessed them ….
--- Gen. 1:28
God blessed
(barak) man ..... enabling man to live a full,
rich life!
A great promise,
and we should all be blessed, having all we need and more!
Practically however it seems to be a different matter.
So let’s look at the practical side,
… in fact, let's start by looking at what God meant when He
said …
So then
those who are of faith are blessed with
believing Abraham.
--- Gal 3:9
| … with
believing Abraham. |
Yes, God blessed
us, and since God does not change, we remain blessed!
However, being
able to live this blessed life,
… does not depend just on the promise,
but is directly dependent on the One who made the promise,
… and on us being connected to the One who made the
promise,
God!
Of course
God’s principles will and do work,
,,, but the fullness depends on the Source, God Himself.
Therefore, for us to walk in what God has planned and purposed,
… requires God Himself, the Source of the
blessing,
… to be part of our life!
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.
--- Gen. 12:3
God very
specifically included Himself in the equation …
… He is the Source of the blessing!
and,
… He is the One who blesses.
God is a Personal
God,
… who desires a personal relationship with us!
Jesus is our Personal Saviour
… who desires a personal relationship with us!
Therefore, without Him in our lives, there is no real
blessing!
| … those who
are of faith! |
When God said to
Abraham, and later also to us,
And in
you all the families of the earth shall be
blessed.
--- Gen. 12:3
So then those who are of faith are
blessed with believing Abraham.
--- Gal 3:9
He is saying that
...
… as we take hold of that faith that Abraham had,
… the same blessing will manifest in our lives!
Obviously
there was something in Abraham’s life,
… in his lifestyle, or his faith style,
that established a direct link to God and to His blessing,
… and thus to the blessing being manifested in Abrahams
life!
What is it that
Abraham showed us?
(Believing) Abraham’s Faith …
Abraham’s
faith meant he not only believed,
… but he DID something!
He not only obeyed and went where God sent him,
… but Abraham’s act of obedience, in faith, in God,
AGAPE,
… willing to give his all for God (his promised son)
Isaac.
… opened the way for God to give (His Promised Son)
Jesus, for us!
The seed of Abraham … to restore us to God!
It is not just
about God’s promise to Abraham, (as important as that is)
… nor just the faith of Abraham, (as important as that is),
but it is about us accepting the gift of God’s salvation in
Jesus,
… stepping into a relationship with God, with Christ and the
Holy Spirit,
(in the same way as Abraham did)
… accepting and believing God’s Word and stepping out
on that!
The kind of faith that Abraham showed in offering up his son to
God,
… in other words, total reliance on God and His Word…
So then
those who are of faith are blessed
with believing Abraham.
--- Gal 3:9
| … hidden with
Christ in God! |
The life that God
has planned or prepared for us,
… is not a collection of blessings we simply receive and
use!
No …
It is a relationship with the One who blesses, God Himself!
… a life that is in Him, through Him and for Him!
If then
you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are
above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
For you died, and your life is hidden with
Christ in God.
--- Col. 3:1-3
A relationship
that Jesus Himself defined for us, saying …
if you
abide in Me, and My words abide in you,
you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
--- John 15:7
| What does God want
us to do? |
Back to our
original question …
What does God want us to do with the blessing?
Shout, praise, use it, etc. … Yes!
But mainly,
God wants us to accept Him, His blessing,
… His presence in our lives!
And
God wants us to respond to His Blessing …
By this My
Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit;
so you will be My disciples.
--- John 15:8
