Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole. He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit: Galatians 3:13–14 [NIV]
I believe, one of the reasons why people don't want to hear anything about God is because nobody clearly teaches them that in God is everything. He is the Source of both earthly material blessings (everybody seems so much after, at the expense of God) as well as the spiritual blessings (love, joy, peace, eternal life, salvation, etc.) which money cannot buy. However, many of us tend to focus on the latter at the expense of the former when we are supposed to maintain balance.
Yet, in the bible verses above is everything. Now let's find out what the blessings of Abraham are:
We know that after the promise of blessing Abraham was given in Genesis 12, the blessing manifested in many ways:
· During a time of famine, God made Abraham very wealthy in livestock, silver and gold. All the silver and gold belongs to God who also clearly says "Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honour and life" Proverbs 22:4, and "the blessings of God brings wealth, without painful toil for it". Proverbs 10:22. Yet in church we shy away from talking and praying about being wealthy. (Thank God, although I am not a millionaire, I have experienced what it feels to have God-given wealth and I can safely testify that – it is good!)
· Abraham was protected by God who "inflicted serious disease on Pharaoh, and His household because of Abram's wife Sarai". And when a family member was attacked God gave him success in recovering that which was lost
· He was given land or property in today's terms
· I never read anywhere that says or suggests that Abraham and family were sick. Rather he was a man of God, anointed with the gift of praying for the sick who were healed
· He was given long life. He died at the age of 175 – a good old age.
· His blood son Isaac and grandsons Jacob, Joseph etc. followed the same pattern of blessings
· Now the spiritual – Abraham's main problem was he wanted a son – an heir after he had passed on, and the problem was his wife was barren. He managed to have this through faith, trusting and believing in God – this is the main purpose for which Abraham was created. To teach us we become God's children by believing through faith that there is a God in the first place, and that if we confess our sins and believe Jesus Christ died for us on the cross, we are saved
The promise of the Spirit is every God-given promise in the bible. It's always "Yes" when we ask of it in Jesus' name. And "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" Galatians 3:29.
Be a doer of the word. Receive God given promises and wealth.
Farai Mutsambiwa
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