This sermon emphasizes the importance of allowing the word of God to dwell in us, meditating on it, and making it a part of our lives to overcome sin and Satan. It encourages moving beyond personal growth to becoming a blessing to others, sacrificially giving and serving without expecting anything in return. The message highlights the transformation from being a child in faith to becoming a spiritual father or mother by actively seeking ways to bless and help those around us.

You are strong because the word of God lives in you. You allow it to come, you allow it to live there. You don't forget it by next week. You meditate on it. You hear something on Sunday morning and you go back and you think about it. You meditate on it. You read God's word. You meditate on it. It becomes part of your life. It's your home. It's the word. God's word is on the home in your heart. David said that in Psalm 119. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you. It's the same principle, Psalm 119. I think it's verse 9 or 11. God's word have I hid in my heart that I will not sin against God. I can overcome Satan. Not only overcome sin but overcome Satan too. And if I allow that to happen regularly, regularly, regularly because I'm tempted by the devil and the lust every day. We need God's word all the time. Then I can move on to the third stage of being a blessing. Because I've dealt with all this Satanic problems that I get attacked with. And I know everybody around me is being attacked by the same old devil. Now I can be a father. And a father is one who sacrifices and gives for others. What's he going to get in return? Nothing. He's just going to give and give and give and give and give. He's not thinking of what he's going to get in return. He doesn't want anything in return. He just wants to bless the others. Have you come to that stage in your life, brothers, sisters, spiritually where God's word has first of all given you forgiveness of sins. Then given you strength to overcome Satan. And now it's making you a blessing to others. More and more and more and more. Because your life is always thinking. Your mind is always thinking. Now how can I share this with somebody else? How can I make a blessing? How can I be a blessing to somebody else? And I'll tell you something. It doesn't always start with God's word. The Bible says Elisha, you know how he started out his life? By pouring water for Elijah to wash his hands for many years. He was known as a man who pours water for Elijah to wash his hands after he's eaten his food. Imagine being known like that. That brother, what does he do? Well, he pours water for Elijah to wash his hands after he eats his meal. I'm sure none of you would want to be known like that. That's all you accomplished in life. But that's how he started. You know what he became? He became one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament. So when you think of, don't think of starting off by giving advice to others. Leave that till later. Start off by doing something practical to help them. Something practical. Something physical. Something material. To bless them. If somebody's sick, go and take some food for them. That's practical. Much better than giving advice. If you don't believe me, go and ask those people. It's true. When you think about, hey, is there somebody who has a need? Is there somebody perhaps whom I can help put their children through school or college? Somebody helped me when I was... You think like that. Somebody helped me with money to help my children go through school and college. Now it's my turn to bless others. Do you ever think like that or such thoughts never come to your mind? Think, think, think, think, think. And don't ever say, I've done enough. Is there any father who says, oh mother, I've done enough for my children now. No. You keep on doing. They get married and you still got to do things for them. That's how good father and mother are. A true father and mother never think in terms of their own inconvenience or their own comfort. No. They're always thinking, how can I bless them? Even if the children have grandchildren, you think you're blessing them. There's a true father and mothers like that. They're not thinking of their own gain. And imagine if we had a church full of such people. Boy, what a church this would be. If everybody was thinking... And I don't want to just go around giving advice to people. Let me bless people. Start with what is material first. Let me start like that. Then help someone physically in some practical way. Or give a little gift to a little child. I tell you, they won't forget you for the next 50 years. Because they'd be so surprised. So there's a lot of things we can do to gradually become a spiritual father. But we've got to use our mind to think in terms of others. Lord, I don't want to remain a child. I want to grow up to be a young man. Strong and overcomer in my life. And I want to move on from there. Even if I'm only 17, 18 years old. I'm going to be a spiritual father and mother. I don't want to call myself like that. Because that can make us proud. I just want to be a blessing to others. God will make me that. And that's the wonderful thing about Abraham's blessing. God says, I will do it. Okay. Shall we close with this one verse in Ezekiel? Which we saw the other day. It's a great verse. Ezekiel 36. It's only the second time I'm saying it. I've got to say it eight more times. Before we get it. Okay. Ezekiel 36. The Lord says, I will put my, verse 27, I'll put my spirit within you. And you'll be careful. I'll cause you to walk in my statutes. That's in our own life. And then, I will multiply, verse 30, the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field. And so on. You'll be a blessing wherever you go. And I will, verse 33, I'll cause the cities to be inhabited. The waste places to be rebuilt. Etcetera. The desolate land will be cultivated. In other words, you're a blessing. This desolate land of your life, verse 33, will become like the garden of Eden. Praise God. But, verse 37. That's the verse I wanted to come to. I won't do it till you ask me to do it for you. I won't do it till you ask me to do it for you. Let's ask. I'm waiting for them to ask me that their home. Then I will increase their men like a flock. I have asked the Lord for many many years. Lord, bless me. Make me a blessing. Do it. Do it from today and say, Lord, I'll tell you. I will not keep you waiting outside any door of my heart for even one moment. I'll let you in immediately. You can come and rule every area of my life. I want light in every area of my life. Let's pray. Let's bow our heads before God. I believe God has spoken to your heart this morning and I want to encourage you, my dear brother, sister, please respond to what you have heard. At that one particular door where Jesus is knocking right now, say, Lord Jesus, come in. Whether it's forgiveness of sins, whether it's saying, Lord, I want to let God's word live in my heart from now on, whether it is, Lord, I want to think a little more unselfishly in terms of the need of others around me who have less than what I have spiritually or any other way, materially, physically. Lord, don't just bless me. Make me a blessing. I can't do it, but you can do it. Do it in my life. I'm open, Lord. Whatever the cost to me, whatever the cost in terms of money, inconvenience, time, energy, anything, I'm determined. And I'll tell you something. You'll be a much healthier person if you allow God to make you a blessing to others. Your preoccupation with yourself is what makes you so sick, even physically. Think a little more of others and you'll be healed of many of your sicknesses as well. Heavenly Father, I pray that you will apply the word to our hearts. Fulfill your promise. It's for every one of us. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us that these words will be true in our life and help us to grow up. In Jesus' name, amen.