Open:
Since September 11, 2001 there is one phrase that has become prominent anywhere you go in the United States. It is the phrase: “God bless America.” You read it on billboards, bumper stickers, T-shirts, marquis of churches as well as secular businesses.
I really do want God to bless America. But I’ve begun to ask myself an important question. The question is simply this: “What does it mean to be blessed by God?" A companion question: "What would it be like if God really did bless America?" And I wonder if it might look very different from what we expect.
I want to read a passage from the New Testament that speaks to God’s desire to bless us: 1 Peter 3:8-12
This message beginning in verse 8 is for believers. The context is the larger section beginning in chapter 2 requiring submission as the foundation of all relationships. Next, Peter describes mutual submission among believers.
At the end of verse 9 we come to the thought that really overwhelms me:
“because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
God wants to bless us! We've already seen this in our study of the prayer of Jabez. Blessing is not something God holds unwillingly in reserve and only bestows with supernatural reluctance. Quite the opposite is true. God is actively, aggressively searching to find those He can bless (verse 12).
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer.”
►But I return to my original question: What does it mean to be blessed by God?
Most Americans (and many Christians) equate blessing with security, victory, material prosperity.
“blessing” – literally means, to consecrate a thing so that it prospers.
*Our problem is we want the prosperity without the consecration.
Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”
*I’m afraid we want God’s blessings but we don’t want God (“God bless America, then leave us alone!”)
If God blesses America, it will mean something far different than material prosperity or simple security. When God blesses America, it will mean that God has consecrated us/set us apart uniquely for Himself, and that we as His people have returned to Him with our whole hearts.
My heart’s cry comes from Habakkuk 3:1-2, “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day; in our time make them known.”
The best description of this that I know of comes from the Awakening of 1858.
CLOSE:
When spiritual awakening comes; you may say God is blessing America.
Malachi 3:12, “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land.”
If God blesses America, it will mean something far different than material prosperity or simple security. When God blesses America, it will mean that God has consecrated us/set us apart uniquely for Himself, and that we as His people have returned to Him with our whole hearts.
(Dr. Dane Fowlkes, Pastor)
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