I know some of what we have covered has been pretty heavy ..
So to lighten up a little, I'll begin with some humor, if that's ok?
Good!
A couple had been married for 40 years, and were celebrating their 60th birthdays. During the celebration a fairy appeared and said that because they had been such a loving couple all those years, she would give them each one wish. The wife wanted to travel around the world. The fairy waved her wand and boom - she had tickets to all the places she wanted to visit in her hand. Next, it was the husband's turn. He paused briefly for a moment and then said shyly, "Well, I'd like to have a woman 30 years younger than me." The fairy picked up her wand and boom - he was 90. And all the women said, "Amen!"
Has anyone ever given you a blank check?
I’ve had a couple of people through the years that trusted me enough that they gave me a blank check and told me to just fill it in with the amount I needed, and just to let them know what I'd written so they could record it.
Now not so sound arrogant, but for illustration purposes,
It doesn’t mean too much for someone to write you a blank check if you know they don’t have much in their account to back up the check.
But when someone has virtually unlimited funds in their account, and give you a blank check...
God not only owns everything in the bank, He owns the Bank!
"for the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness."
1 Corinthians 10:26
He owns it all. Everything in the bank He owns that.
There isn't anything on this earth that doesn’t belong to Him!
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."
John 15:7
So we’ve been talking about The Abundant Life and what that means to a believer.
Several have come up to me since we began and said,
"Pastor, I want that Abundant Life you’ve been talking about. How do I get that?"
My response is typically the same, "The formula for living the Abundant Life is fairly simple..
Does your life operate on John 15:7?
Now let me say I don't mean the last portion of the verse, we all like that part!
Can I get a witness?
But the first part of the verse..the part that says:
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you"
Let me tell you this, nearly every time ... you can hear a pin drop!
"If you abide in Me" what does that mean?
It means what importance do you place on your relationship with Christ..
Enough to do what He says?
"and My words abide in you", means what value and importance to you place on His words in your life!
Enough to live by them?
We all love the idea of a blank check being written to us from God.
But let me ask you… How many of us would write Him a blank check?
A blank check from our checking account?!?
"Here God, I've signed a check, I've left the amount blank, just fill in whatever amount you need..
So you can accomplish whatever you have to in the lives others, help supply all their needs.. as many as you need to help.
Don't worry about it, I'll take care of the bill!"
My guess is... NONE!
What, we don't trust Him that far?
Well then, what about a blank check on our calendar?
A blank check of our talent?
A blank check of love for other people?
A blank check that says, “Use this part of me however you need to.”
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:38
We love the idea of a blank check from God, but do we feel as enthusiastic about writing Him one?
You see, God in His word makes some pretty remarkable, almost unbelievable promises to us.
Promises that most people can’t believe or comprehend.
This is why faith is so hard to find in people some times.
God says, “Ask anything in my Name and it shall be done for you…”
And people today, just can’t seem to have that kind of faith...
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,"
That's why church is so critical in the life of the believer!
This is why the preaching of His Word is so important.
Dad, you are doing right to bring your children and families to church!
And mom, you are doing a good thing, even if you are sitting here by yourself this morning!!
Your faithfulness, your dedication and determination to attend, even alone, will pass something on to the next generation from our Heavenly Father that will help them in later their life. And believe me, there will come a time, when they'll look for answers to difficulty in their life and THIS will come to their minds!
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Romans 10:17
Hearing the word of God is necessary in our lives if we are going to be able to receive from God the things that we ask Him for!
So if the preaching here is boring to you.
Or it’s your least favorite part of the service.
If you are someone who hates reading the Bible
You are probably going to have a hard time receiving the things that God has prepared for your life even though He promises you a blank check!
"For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind."
Ecclesiastes 2:26
God offers to us a blank check in many ways of our lives.
He said, “Ask what you will.”
Now I think we each could make a pretty long list right – Am I right?
But we have to understand that there are some conditions attached to that blank check!
There’s some responsibility connected to it!
"For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight"
Ecclesiastes 2:26
It’s sad, but so many Christians get so upset when things aren’t working out in their lives.
They blame God because the “Blank Check” isn’t being honored at the bank of their needs..
"Hey God, what about that “Ask What You Will” thing.
But how quickly do we forget our part of the equation, our own responsibility and connection spiritually to God’s promises!
Parents, how many of you given your children an allowance for doing chores around the house?
Imagine with me, and I'm sure more than a few have experienced this.
"Son, clean your room and take out the trash, and when I get home, I'll give you $20 dollars."
So you come home, tired and exhausted from a long day, it appears to your child, that your weak and defenseless... and they boldly approach the sofa or chair where you're sitting,
"Uh, can I have the $20 dollars now?" Expecting you'll reach into your pocket and hand it over.
But after you have fetched the money, holding it in your hand...
You ask the awful question... "Did you clean your room? Has the trash been taken out?"
And their jaw drops...the eye brows begin to draw downward.."But you said!"
The fact is, you did say, BUT, there were conditions that needed to be met for what you said to take place...
Are we starting to get this formula now...??
Now let me ask you something...
What kind of parent would you be, if you just handed over the money, knowing that the conditions
you had set before them had NOT been met?
Just a sort of oh well... here you go, because I said, I will do it, even though you failed to met the conditions, the money is yours.
I personally know several people who do just that!
And this is why so many of our children are so confused in this generation!
Let me tell you what I know to be true,
If I’m messing up spiritually, then I have no right to claim the promises of God, to expect Him to keep His Word until I seek repentance and lean on His grace!
If my spiritual chores haven't been taken care of, I better not expect God to be cashing whatever check I want cashed today!
God’s Word has so many promises attached to it.
You name it, there are promises in this book from God for you to receive for that part of your life.
There is so much that we can claim and receive through His Word.
If you can’t say with all confidence that you are living The Abundant Life, I just want you to know that you are missing out on so many incredible things.
I really like the story of Solomon in the Bible, found in I Kings, chapter 3, verses 3 through 14. God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, "Ask what you wish me to give you." Solomon could have asked for anything. It was like God was giving him a blank check and was saying, "Just fill it in."
Solomon could have asked for riches, a long life, revenge on his enemies, the latest chariot with all the bells and whistles or even to be the next, famous Jerusalem Idol. Why he could have been on the cover of all those celebrity magazines at the grocery store checkout.
What did he choose?
Does any one know?
Solomon asked for wisdom, understanding, and character, for the sake of the people and the community!
I think that request probably woke up the angels in heaven. I can hear Gabriel saying to Michael, "Did you hear that? He didn't want fame, fortune, or frolic. Where did that even come from?"
Solomon could handle a promotion because he had wisdom. He didn't use God or the community as a means to his own end.
People today, would do well to follow Solomon's lead!
Far too many people these days ask for themselves first. It's all about their agenda.
Just like that man at the beginning of our message. But not Solomon!
How did God respond? "Behold, I have done according to your words...I have given you a wise and discerning heart...and...I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all of your days." Read verse 12 and 13.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.."
Matthew 6:33
Aim at the earth and you'll get nothing, aim at heaven and you get earth thrown in.
Remember, be careful what you ask for.
Ask, but ask wisely.
So here’s the blank check...
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."
John 15:7
God has given you a Blank Check, the question is now ..
What will YOU do with it?
And now may the the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
Brian Monzon Ministries