BUILDING A HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH, Message Three
“MAXIMUM IMPACT”
Genesis 24

There is no doubt that a godly woman can make a significant difference. Susanna Wesley was married at age 19 to a minister, Samuel Wesley. They had 19 children. Since Samuel was often gone preaching, she had the primary responsibility for raising the children. Daily, she prayed for each of the 19. Weekly, she met with each one for an hour discussing spiritual matters. Two of her children, John and Charles, grew up to impact the world for Christ. Susanna Wesley was a woman of maximum impact. But all of us can be persons of maximum impact. My old work glove is a "work" glove in name only--until my hand fills it and then that glove can do all that I can do. A tool in my toolbox has great potential, but that's all there is until it is yielded to my control. So God can take ordinary people and accomplish extraordinary things as he fills us and wields us with His omnipotent hand. Our Scripture passage shows us how. First, we observe:

1. A LEGACY OF PREEMINENCE (v.1-9) Here is one of the three preeminent figures of the Old Testament. Abraham, along with Moses and David, tower above all others as giants of faith. God chose Abraham and Sarah to be people of maximum impact. What was so special about them? "For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” (Gen.18:19). God knew these parents would raise their children in the right way and impact generations. God would build a nation from Abraham’s family and out of that nation would come the Savior, Jesus Christ. “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Gen. 22:16-18). That is the spiritual legacy of these parents. Their heritage of faith is extolled in Hebrews 11:8-13, "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

Never underestimate your power as a parent to bring good or evil for generations to come. "Max Jukes, the atheist, lived a godless life. He married an ungodly girl, and from the union there were 310 who died as paupers, 150 were criminals, 7 were murderers, 100 were drunkards, and more than half of the women were prostitutes. His 540 descendants cost the State one and a quarter million dollars. The great American preacher, Jonathan Edwards lived at the same time as Max Jukes, but he married a godly girl. An investigation was made of 1,394 known descendants of Jonathan Edwards of which 13 became college presidents, 65 college professors, 3 United States senators, 30 judges, 100 lawyers, 60 physicians, 75 army and navy officers, 100 preachers and missionaries, 60 authors of prominence, one a vice-president of the United States, 80 became public officials in other capacities, 295 college graduates, among whom were governors of states and ministers to foreign countries. His descendants did not cost the state a single penny. 'The memory of the just is blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot.' (Prov. 10:7)."

2. A LIFE OF PROMINENCE (v.10-21, 50-52) In Abraham’s servant, we see an illustration of true greatness. Jesus taught that service is the way to true greatness, and He is the highest example, in that He did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. Not all of us are parents, and not all the women here are mothers, but the fact is all of us have the potential for maximum impact if we will but give ourselves to faithful service to God. That is the life of prominence. We have noted that parents certainly have the potential to influence the world, but so do those who are childless and those who are single. I don’t care how many books Dan Brown sells and how many buy tickets to see the DaVinci Code movie—the fact is that Jesus never married—not Mary Magdalene, not any woman, and never had biological children. He was single and yet His life has changed history and eternity. If in the providence of God you are still single, or perhaps you are married but have no children, you are not second-class citizens in the kingdom of God. Another man, who was a maximum impact Christian was the single adult, Paul the Apostle. Pretty prominent fellow, wouldn’t you agree? Any person who will yield himself or herself unreservedly to the will of God has awesome potential. Yet, if we do marry, then make it:

3. A LOVE OF PERMANENCE (v.58-67) Here is Isaac’s wedding, and through Rebekah and Isaac will flow all the covenant blessing of God. Most of us will marry eventually. Young people, what do you look for to find a love for a lifetime? There should be:

· Attraction (v.16a) God made us physical beings with sexual desires. If you don’t find your potential mate attractive, don’t marry them! But along with that physical attraction we need:

· Purity (v.16b “a virgin”) Rebekah was morally pure. Dress in a manner that is attractive without being seductive. Don’t listen to that lie, “If you love me, you’ll let me.” That’s not love--it’s lust! You want your wedding night to be special. You don't want your honeymoon to be ho-hum.

· Spiritual compatibility (v.3-4) That’s the issue here. Marry only a committed Christian. Don’t date one who isn’t. God wants us to find someone spiritually compatible to form a union that will have maximum impact on the world.

· Prayer and seeking the will of God (v.12, 26-27, 63-64) What joy it is to know that I am with the woman God designed for me before the world was formed! She was an answer to prayer!

Commit yourself today to be a person of maximum impact!