Start of true blessings
Genesis 13:14~18 So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord. (18)
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #370 The Trusting Heart to Jesus Clings (#455 in previous version)
By enjoying the Gospel a little bit through prayer, you can see God’s accurate time schedule. To enjoy the Gospel through prayer, you must first heal your desolate spirit. If your soul is already filled with other things, you must rid yourself of everything. You need healing if you are already suffering mentally. Meditation makes all this possible. Also, if you do this together with consistent exercise and deep breathing, healing becomes easier. Hence, we must stand as the witnesses who enjoy the Gospel. When enjoying the Gospel, how must we begin, exactly? Looking at Abraham’s life, you must see vital answers.
1. Suffering is the start of blessings
Everything Abraham suffered in Ur of Chaldea was the start of blessings. He suffered through the pain of sending off his relatives, including his father (Genesis 11:28). He even left his people, his nation and his father’s household to obey God’s Word (Genesis 12:1). This may have been painful for Abraham, yet God allowed Abraham the blessing of becoming the wellspring of blessings (Genesis 12:3).
2. Problems are the start of blessings
Upon Abraham’s difficult entrance into the land of Canaan, a great famine overtook the land. This, however, was not to put Abraham in a dilemma; it was God’s plan to have Abraham look only to God. He even faced the crisis of losing his wife, Sarah. Each time, God protected Abraham. There was constant discord between Abraham and his nephew, Lot. This was the start of new blessings from God (Genesis 13:1~13).
3. New start for evangelism
All the personal and family problems we face are merely the start for evangelism. Abraham, who came to know this truth genuinely, grasped the covenant and built an altar. Henceforth, God started to bless Abraham. When war broke out, Abraham had 318 soldiers in his household alone, and God was with him, ensuring his great victory. Sarah, who had no hope, even bore a son, Isaac. Like so, Abraham tasted the blessing of evangelism which saves not only himself, but other people and nations. Even in the face of problems and hardships, if we focus on God, unshaken, problems will turn into blessings and we will be capable of saving others. This is the new start of evangelism.
- What are the problems I face? Discover the new blessings and the blessing of evangelism to save others through those problems.
Core Training Message / 2010.10.9