Blessed To Be A Blessing: The Favor That Fuels The Mission

Devotional

Day 1: The Blessing Has a Purpose—To Make God Known

God’s blessing is not just for our comfort or personal gain, but is given so that His ways and salvation may be known throughout the earth. When we receive God’s favor, it is a call to reflect His character and goodness to those around us, allowing His light to shine through our lives. The true purpose of being blessed is to become a living testimony, pointing others to the saving grace of God. As we walk in His blessing, we are invited to participate in His global mission, ensuring that every act of favor in our lives becomes an opportunity for others to encounter Him. [46:01]

Psalm 67:1-2 (ESV)
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.

Reflection: In what specific way can you use a blessing you’ve received this week to make God’s love and salvation known to someone else?

Day 2: Participation, Not Just Provision—Blessed to Be a Blessing

God’s provision is always tied to participation in His mission. He supplies our needs not just so we can be comfortable, but so we can actively join in His work—serving, giving, and loving others. The blessing is not an end in itself; it is a tool for us to step out, help others, and advance the gospel. When we shift our focus from our needs to God’s mission, we find that His provision flows abundantly, equipping us to be doers of the Word and not just hearers. [52:21]

Philippians 4:19 (ESV)
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: What is one way you can move from simply receiving God’s provision to actively participating in His mission this week?

Day 3: Praise as Both Response and Release

Praise is not just a reaction to God’s favor; it is also a means by which His favor is released into our lives and the world. When we praise God, we acknowledge Him as the source of every good thing, and our focus shifts from ourselves to His glory. True praise is not about following a formula to get results, but about a heart that is centered on God, giving Him the honor He deserves. As we praise, blessings flow, and our lives become a channel for God’s presence and power to touch others. [08:16]

Psalm 67:3-5 (ESV)
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!

Reflection: How can you intentionally use praise today—not as a formula, but as a focus—to shift your heart and invite God’s presence into your circumstances?

Day 4: Prepare for Increase—Build for the Harvest

God promises increase, but He calls us to prepare for it with faith and expectation. Just as a farmer digs ditches in anticipation of rain, we are to build systems, expand our vision, and make room for the harvest God wants to bring. Increase is not just about meeting today’s needs, but about multiplying the mission and being ready to disciple others. When we prepare in faith, we position ourselves to receive and steward God’s continual, supernatural increase. [17:19]

2 Kings 3:16-17 (ESV)
And he said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I will make this dry streambed full of pools.’ For thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.’”

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to prepare your life, home, or ministry for the increase God wants to bring?

Day 5: Be a River, Not a Reservoir—Let Blessing Flow Through You

We are not called to simply collect God’s blessings for ourselves, but to let them flow through us to others. Like a river, our lives are meant to be channels of God’s love, mercy, and grace, continually receiving and releasing His goodness. When we live with open hands, ready to give as freely as we receive, we fulfill our missional mandate and allow God’s glory to cover the earth. The true measure of blessing is not how much we keep, but how much we release for God’s purposes. [24:19]

Acts 20:35 (ESV)
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

Reflection: Who is one person you can intentionally bless or serve today, allowing God’s blessing to flow through you rather than stopping with you?

Sermon Summary

Psalm 67 reminds us that God’s blessing is never meant to be an end in itself, but a means for His glory to be known among all nations. When God’s face shines upon us, it’s not just for our comfort or provision, but so that His ways and salvation can be seen through us. Every day, wherever we go—whether it’s across the world or across the street—we are on a mission trip. The question is not whether we are sent, but whether we recognize the purpose behind our sending. God’s favor and increase are given so that we can participate in His mission, not just receive provision for ourselves.

The blessing of God is always tied to purpose. When we walk in His favor, it’s an invitation to let His blessing flow through us, not just to us. This is why we must be doers, not just hearers—actively participating in the mission, not just trying or hoping, but stepping out in faith and obedience. God’s provision always follows His vision, and when we align ourselves with His purpose, we find that He supplies all we need to accomplish what He’s called us to do.

Praise is both our response to God’s favor and the way we release His favor into the world. It’s not about following a formula, but about maintaining a focus on God as the source and goal of all things. When we praise, we acknowledge that everything we have is from Him and for Him. This heart posture positions us to receive more, but also to steward more—preparing not just for today’s needs, but for tomorrow’s increase.

God’s plan has always been global. The increase and favor He gives are meant to fund His influence, not our own fame. Our stories of blessing become invitations for others to encounter faith in Christ. But with increase comes responsibility: we must build for it, prepare for it, and disciple others as we go. We are not reservoirs, but rivers—meant to let God’s blessing flow through us to the ends of the earth. The mission is not competition, but completion: to see all people praise His name and know His salvation.

Key Takeaways

1. Blessing with Purpose: God’s blessing is never just for our comfort or personal gain. It is always given with a purpose—that His ways and salvation would be known among all nations. When we understand this, we stop seeking blessing for its own sake and start asking how God wants to use us as conduits of His grace and truth. [46:01]
2. Participation, Not Just Provision: God’s favor is not just about meeting our needs, but about inviting us to participate in His mission. Provision follows vision; when we step out in obedience to God’s call, He supplies what is needed. The blessing is not just for us to enjoy, but for us to join in the work of making Him known. [51:30]
3. Praise as Focus, Not Formula: True praise is not a transaction or a formula to get something from God. It is a focus—a heart posture that recognizes God as the source and goal of all things. When we praise with this focus, we release God’s favor and presence into our lives and the world around us, and our increase becomes inevitable. [68:41]
4. Prepare for Increase: God’s promise of increase requires us to build and prepare for more. Just as you wouldn’t pray for rain without digging a ditch, we must expand our vision, build systems, and disciple others to hold the harvest God wants to bring. Increase is not seasonal for those who continually sow and prepare in faith. [77:19]
5. Be a River, Not a Reservoir: We are called to let God’s blessing flow through us, not just to us. The favor and increase we receive are meant to complete God’s mission, not to compete for status or comfort. Ask yourself: is your life positioned to receive and release God’s blessing, or are you holding back what God wants to multiply through you? [84:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[32:33] - Joyful Praise and Unity
[33:32] - Introduction to Psalm 67
[34:13] - God’s Unconditional Love and Presence
[35:00] - Mission Mindset: Everyday Mission Trips
[36:59] - Don’t Lose Heart: Keeping Eyes on Jesus
[39:20] - Living in Response to God
[41:54] - The Missionary Psalm: What Is Your Mission?
[44:01] - The Blessing’s Purpose
[47:15] - Vision and Provision
[48:43] - Testimony: Purpose in Action
[51:30] - Participation in the Mission
[56:00] - The Language of Favor and Exposure
[58:28] - Blessing Flows Through Us
[61:01] - God’s Global Plan
[68:41] - The Power and Focus of Praise
[71:07] - The Promise of Increase
[74:19] - Building for the Harvest
[77:19] - Preparing for Rain: Expectation and Urgency
[80:57] - Continual Increase: Planted by the River
[83:17] - The Missional Mandate: For All People
[84:19] - River or Reservoir: Releasing Blessing
[88:02] - Ready for Tomorrow’s Increase
[90:33] - Always on Mission
[91:01] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
[94:28] - Final Announcements and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 67 (ESV) — 1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2 that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
6 The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!

Observation Questions

According to Psalm 67, what is the purpose of God’s blessing on His people? (see verses 1-2)
In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the connection between God’s blessing and the mission to the nations? [[46:01]]
What does the psalmist repeat in verses 3 and 5, and why might this repetition be important?
How does the sermon describe the difference between being a “reservoir” and a “river” of blessing? [[01:24:19]]

Interpretation Questions

The pastor says, “The blessing has a purpose…that he may be known on earth, not so you can just have good health or peace of mind.” How does this change the way someone might view the blessings in their life? [[46:01]]
The sermon emphasizes that “provision follows vision.” What does it mean for God’s provision to follow His vision, and how might this affect the way someone steps out in faith? [[47:15]]
The pastor talks about praise as a “focus, not a formula.” What is the difference between praising God as a formula and praising Him as a focus? [[01:08:41]]
The sermon says, “We are not blessed to compete, but to complete God’s mission.” What does this mean in practical terms for how we use our resources and influence? [[01:23:41]]

Application Questions

The pastor said, “Every day, wherever we go—whether it’s across the world or across the street—we are on a mission trip.” What is one place you go regularly where you could be more intentional about living on mission? [[41:54]]
Think about a recent blessing or increase in your life. How could you use that blessing to make God’s ways and salvation known to others? [[46:01]]
The sermon challenges us to be “doers, not just hearers.” Is there an area where you’ve been waiting for more provision before stepping out in faith? What is one step you could take this week to participate in God’s mission? [[52:21]]
The pastor asks, “Is your life positioned to receive and release God’s blessing, or are you holding back what God wants to multiply through you?” What is one way you can let God’s blessing flow through you to someone else this week? [[01:24:19]]
The sermon says, “Don’t just pray for rain—dig a ditch.” What is one practical way you can prepare for the increase or opportunity you are asking God for? [[01:17:19]]
The pastor talked about stories of blessing becoming invitations for others to encounter faith in Christ. Can you think of a story from your own life that you could share with someone this week to encourage their faith? [[01:03:11]]
The message says, “Praise is both our response to God’s favor and the way we release His favor into the world.” What is one way you can make praise a regular part of your daily routine, not just at church? [[01:08:41]]

Sermon Clips

``When God gives you a vision, he'll always bring what? Provision. When God gives you a vision, he always brings provision. I think about everything in my life that God has given. It's been a God in vision. He always brings provision. I don't think about how's this going to happen, how's it going to come through, how's this going to work, I've got to figure this out. No, God's already got it. He gave me the vision. He brings the provision. The blessing comes so the gospel can go forth. [00:47:15] (29 seconds) #VisionBringsProvision

It's not just for provision, but it's for participation in mission. The blessing is not just for provision. Yes, God—here's the thing is, is we get caught up on the need. God already said, I'm a supplier of your need according to His riches and glory through Christ Jesus. So stop thinking about the need and get back on the mission. It's all about participation in the mission. [00:51:30] (22 seconds) #BlessingIsParticipation

Your story of blessing becomes someone else's invitation to faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Don't give them faith in the end. Don't give them faith in the economics. Don't give them faith in the stock market. Don't give them faith—I know Norm may not like that. But I'm telling you. Don't give people false hope. Give them the faith and the hope of Jesus Christ. [01:03:24] (31 seconds) #IncreaseFundsInfluence

When favor meets humility, increase becomes in—I got to be careful. My wife says I'm an educated man. I want to say inedible, but it's not. It's inevitable. It is edible. Yes. Because man does not live by bread alone, but by the bread of God. Boom. That's how I tie that one in. Come on. We should be in our life when we're squeezed, when we're pressed, the word just comes out. How can you relate anything to Christ? How? Hold on a second. How can I not? When you are exposed to it all. [01:10:08] (50 seconds) #GodIsIncrease

You must build for it. The worst thing you can do, I think, is pray for rain and not dig a ditch. 2 Kings 3, 16-17 talks about that. Pray for rain but don't dig a ditch. Prepare for it. What's your expectation? Because you know you're where God's supposed to be and you've got vision for it. I know God is going to light this altar. Because I'm preparing for rain. I'm digging a ditch because I'm preparing for rain. Because I know God. Because increase is coming. [01:17:10] (39 seconds) #ContinualIncreaseFlow

When the favor of God flows from His presence, increase becomes continual. It's not seasonal. It's continual. When we're just going through a seasonal drought—no we're not. We're in a season of increase. And I never get out of increase because I continually sow. [01:21:03] (22 seconds) #BlessToCompleteMission

We're not blessed to compete. It's not about competition. We're blessed to complete His mission. We're not here to compete. We're here to complete. Complete. That's why you're gonna run your race. You're gonna run your race of faith. Fight that fight. But it's not yours to fight. That's why you gotta just give it to Him. You stand in faith, the power of God. [01:23:44] (29 seconds) #BeRiverNotReservoir

Are you living as a reservoir or are you a river of blessing? Don't be a reservoir of blessing. Be a river of blessing. Keep it flowing. Is your life positioned to receive or release? Is your life in a position to receive—release? Make sure our life is in open hands. You just do it like Jesus. Do it like Jesus. You know how His hands was nailed to a cross? Opened. Was opened. [01:24:17] (48 seconds) #BuildForTomorrow

It's time to build. Because increase is coming. And when it does, I want to be ready. Not to just meet the need. But to multiply the mission. I want to be able to multiply the mission. Favor is not to function. Blessed to bless. Blessing and favor carries responsibility. God's glory must flow through you. That river. Remember, I want to see that increase. Increase requires participation. Mission is the motive. Mission, all nations, all people will praise His name. Amen? Praise His name. [01:28:00] (68 seconds)

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