This morning I want to talk to those you who feel like you’re settling in life. Maybe at one time you believe that God was going to really bless you, but now you feel like you’ve settled.
You may have had the book Prayer of Jabez—This book promises us that if I pray this prayer regularly, God will Bless me, Enlarge my territory—Use me and do a Miracle in and through me.
You prayed that prayer and Now you’ve been waiting and waiting—You are willing settle for consolation prize—Something, Anything…
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Single gal: Believing you man of God—6 foot, Fit, Loves Jesus
Provider—Dad—Humor—Loves traveling—Old Movies—Kisser
5 years later: Believing for a man—Male. Breathing. Job nice
So this Message for those of you who have Lowered your expectations of what God will do.
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· You have no idea what God may produce through a single seed planted in faith.
Today I want to focus on the story of Abraham and Sarah—They had been hurting because they Wanted baby—Sarah Couldn’t conceive. Everyone else was Pregnant having Baby showers going to Lamaze… They prayed but Where is God?
In Genesis 12: God said to Abraham Leave your home and Go to the land show you.
I will Make you great nation the Father many nations… He was thinking ok… this means Children and Grandkids.
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They started to Pick out names and Nursery theme: Abraham wanted Star Wars— Sarah wanted My Little Pony. Sarah reads, “What To Expect When You’re Expecting” They Planned a huge “Instagram reveal”
Month goes by—Nothing—Another month—Nothing.
1 Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” 2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son?” Genesis 15:1-2
Gen 12—Father of nations—Gen 15—Some time later. Over 10 years after promise in Gen 12.
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A decade or more of Unfulfilled Promises—Unrealized Expectations.
And maybe some of you can relate to this?
- Pay off credit card by this summer! But you are still in debt.
- I will have my home completely decluttered by the end of the year. But you know that is almost impossible with the time you have left.
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It leads us to ask God… Did you forget about me? Did I not hear right? Are you there?
From Abraham’s point of view—Nothing is happening.
Look how he has significantly Lowered his expectations. God promised him Many nations—Now all he is concerned about is that he doesn’t have a Son.
But here’s the thing! You have No idea what God can do through a single seed planted in faith.
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Exponential: When it comes to life, faith, and God’s blessings…
· We tend to think addition.
· God thinks multiplication.
Jesus said that a sower, a guy who plants, went out to sow some seeds. Some seed
didn't just produce a single return on a single seed invested. Jesus said some seeds
produce to harvest a 30 times the return. Some 60 times the return. Some 100 times the
return. A single seed planted had an exponential multiplying return of 100 fold of what
one seed was planted in the ground. You have No idea what God can do through a single seed planted in faith.
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Abraham/Sarah want son—Decade passes—Don’t see a thing.
Just because you don’t see anything
Doesn’t mean God isn’t doing something.
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Gideon Story—Bible App - 315 million bibles
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Like seed in the ground—No tree yet—Where’s the tree?—Nothing.
God’s working on little seed… Rain—Sun—Opened—Roots forming.
Before you see the fruit—God is growing the root.
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Abraham had the same problem we have:
Limited perspective. In a tent—Telling God what he doesn’t see.
Maybe you are saying… God I Don’t see you working— I Don’t see anything happening.
· Buried in debt—Don’t see how get out.
· Report came back—Not good—Don’t see God anywhere.
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Abraham is in the tent—Telling God what he doesn’t see. 5 Then the Lord took Abram outside… Gen 15:5
The Lord meets Abraham—limited context God calls Abram outside.
5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” Gen 15:5
Abraham was Stunned. He was Shaken. He was Silenced.
He’s like… I’m Sorry God — I was Thinking Addition—and you were thinking Multiplication. I was thinking a Son— and you were thinking Nations!
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If you belong X—You are one of those stars—Seed of Abraham.
You know the song right?? Father Abraham—Many sons, Many sons had Father Abraham
I am one—So are you—Let’s just praise
29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed… Gal 3:29
Abraham was thinking of a child
God was thinking of YOU!
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Never measure God’s unlimited power by your limited expectations.
No idea can God can produce through a single seed planted in faith.
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Here’s the thing… we celebrate today the communion of saints that have gone before us and especially those who have given their lives to plant seeds in this congregation. Do you think they had any idea when they started who we would become? Do you think they had any idea when they gave their time and their money that we would be a church today that reaches out in outreach to over 5000 people in this area? Do you think they had any idea that each week we would have people listening to our worship services in different countries all over the world? Do you think they had any idea what impact this church would have on people’s lives who have been freed from alcoholism and narcotic abuse? Or the thousands of children who have been ministered to? Do you think they had any idea when they sowed the seeds of their gifts?
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Just because don’t see God working
Doesn’t mean not doing something.
You might say I Don’t have much faith, but Jesus says If you have the faith of a mustard seed you can move mountains!
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Do not grow weary…
God is doing great things in your life, he is also doing great things through your gifts in ministry to this place.
Don’t try to put a limit on what God can do. He can Exceedingly—Abundantly—More than you could ever imagine. As we invest in this place… as we sow seeds in faith here… God will take our hopes and wishes and do so much more than we could have ever imagined!
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