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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Abundance (06/08/06)
Suppose you and I existed a long time back in Genesis. Suppose we go back as far as Genesis 1 where the surface of the deep was dark. Seeing it, what would you say? I would probably say, “Oh no, it is so dark!”

Now suppose you and I live pretty close to Abraham. He is very old and his wife is barren. Each evening we hear Sarah call, “Father of many nations, dinner is ready!” You and I look at each other, our eyes roll and we shake our heads because we think they are delusional.

Now let us travel forward to Jesus’ time on earth. We see ten lepers approach Jesus for healing and we become worried. Their limbs have fallen off and the disease is fast spreading all over them. Like many in the crowd we think restoration is impossible.

Imagine what this world would be without God’s abundance. Imagine if the Lord Jesus does not see that there is more healing in His Father’s kingdom than there are diseases on earth. Imagine if God did not know there is more light in His kingdom than darkness. God’s abundance in the spiritual realm is the reason why believers need not worry about lack. Yet many of us identify with Abram because he did not always believe that Isaac would be born to him and Sarai. In fact, he ‘helped’ himself at Sarai’s suggestion and took the Egyptian maid Hagar and went into her. Still, the Lord is full of grace and because Abram believed in Genesis 15:6 it was counted to him as righteousness.

Are you waiting for God to heal your body of some infirmity or do you have some need in your life? Daughters of Sarah, are you believing the doctors’ reports that your wombs might not conceive? Be encouraged that God’s kingdom is full of good gifts. Right at the beginning, the Lord saw Isaac, Jacob, the twelve tribes of Israel, the courageous shepherd boy from Judah and his descendent Jesus. The Lord saw you and I. We are of the Seed promised to Abram but Abram did not see us back then. Sarai laughed with disbelief initially - she did not know the abundance in God‘s kingdom. From the spiritual realm God calls forth those things which do not exist as though they did and they manifest in the physical realm - from Sarah came the kings of peoples.

Abram became heir of this world because he believed God - it was not by works of the law or by circumcision, otherwise God’s promise according to His grace is made of no effect. Likewise, by God’s grace Jesus cleansed us from all our unrighteousness and through His resurrection, He qualified us for all the blessings of the righteous as heirs of this world! If you are not a Jew, perhaps you can identify with the tenth leper who returned to thank Jesus for the healing. Unlike the others who were Jews, he appreciated the Lord’s grace because he had no inheritance in God’s kingdom as a gentile. Evidently, Jesus gave this gentile leper the healing and restoration in advance knowing how He would pay for it later on the cross. Jesus knew that victory came after His crucifixion, death and burial. He saw the resurrection from the start! Today, uncircumcised gentiles who believe in Christ are descendents of Abraham because the promise that Abraham would be the heir of this world was made before he was circumcised. How wonderful it is to see God’s plan unfold!

In God’s kingdom there is much more life giving power than there is barrenness on earth and because God is a covenant keeper, His promises to Abraham extends to us who believe in Christ. If we will give thanks and believe God is faithful, out of the fullness of His grace according to the measure of His riches in glory, we will see miracles in our lives.

Father, thank you for Jesus. I put my faith in Him because He took my place and was cursed on the tree. I am no longer cursed (my womb/body is no longer cursed) as a result of sin because I am righteous in Christ. Reveal to me the wondrous depth of Your love and the richness of Your grace at Calvary so that I will believe in You to perform miracles for me and my family by the power of Your Spirit, to glorify You through your Son! Amen.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
dub W
06/16/06
Good sermonette. I have heard this technique done before, the minister usually starts with "close your eyes, now imagine..."
Edy T Johnson
06/22/06
"Like many in the crowd we think restoration is impossible." I think you are a writer after my own heart. Thank you for this message of hope in a world full of doubt.