When God Causes His Face to Shine
Discovering the Missional Purpose of Divine Favor and Blessing
Sermon Summary
This sermon addresses the common tendency to view divine favor as a private luxury rather than a missional assignment. Through Psalm 67, believers learn that God shines His gracious face upon His covenant family so that His salvation, equitable governance, and fruitfulness may extend to every nation. The desired response is for Christians to move from self-centered consumption of blessings to sacrificial, global-minded discipleship and generous witness.
Introduction
We live in a culture obsessed with personal success, prosperity, and private comfort. It is easy for believers to pray for God's favor on their families, businesses, and health while forgetting the world around them. When we ask God to bless us, what is our ultimate goal? Is it merely to live comfortably, secure our future, and enjoy peace? In Psalm 67, the psalmist opens with an ancient prayer for divine favor, but immediately turns the spotlight outward toward the entire globe. The light of God's countenance is not a flashlight aimed at our personal desires, but a radiant beacon meant to illuminate the entire world with His glory. When God causes His face to shine on us, He turns us into channels through which His salvation, justice, and mercy flow to every family, community, and nation.
Main Scripture
Psalms 67:1-7
May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah. That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations, let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you. Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth. Selah. Let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you. The earth has yielded its increase. God, even our own God, will bless us. God will bless us. All the ends of the earth shall fear him.
Psalm 67 serves as the foundation of this message because it directly connects God's covenant blessings with His global redemptive mission. Drawing upon the historic Aaronic blessing from Numbers 6, the psalm expands Israel's vision from local security to universal praise. It demonstrates that spiritual renewal, agricultural or economic harvest, and divine protection are given so that God's way may be known across the earth and all peoples may sing for joy under His righteous rule.
Main Sermon Points
1. Seek the Favor of God's Presence
May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah.
The psalmist begins by pleading for God's mercy and gracious presence, recognizing that all true fruitfulness flows from God's shining countenance.
This Old Testament priestly blessing reveals that God's shining face brings peace, grace, and covenant security to His people.
In Hebrew thought, God causing His face to shine signifies intimate fellowship, active favor, and delight. The phrase implies that God is turned toward His people in loving attention rather than hiding His face in displeasure.
Begin each morning by seeking God's presence before seeking human approval or material success. Examine your heart to ensure you desire God Himself more than merely the gifts He provides.
Quick Insights
- God's shining face is the true source of all spiritual light and spiritual peace.
- Mercy is the foundational doorway through which every divine blessing enters our lives.
- Seeking God's presence must always take priority over seeking material prosperity.
2. Share God's Salvation with the World
That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations, let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.
The explicit goal of divine favor is to make God's redemptive ways and salvation known to every ethnic group across the globe.
Jesus commands His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, fulfilling the Old Testament vision of universal praise.
Israel was never intended to be a reservoir of blessing, but a conduit. God's election of a covenant people was always designed to draw surrounding nations to the knowledge of the true Creator.
Actively support local and international mission work with your prayers and finances. Share the gospel with neighbours, co-workers, and those outside your traditional cultural circles.
Quick Insights
- Divine favor received should always lead to divine truth shared with others.
- God's redemptive heart encompasses every tribe, tongue, language, and national boundary.
- True worship naturally expands into active evangelism and global missionary commitment.
3. Rejoice in God's Righteous Governance
Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth. Selah. Let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.
The nations can sing for joy because God's rule is characterised by perfect fairness, equity, and moral integrity.
The Messiah's governance is established with justice and righteousness, offering hope to an oppressed world.
Earthly rulers often abuse power for personal gain, leading to oppression and despair. By contrast, God's reign is marked by equity, providing equal justice and loving leadership for all human societies.
Promote integrity and fairness in your workplace, business dealings, and community leadership. Stand against corruption and reflect God's equitable character in all human relationships.
Quick Insights
- Genuine national joy is rooted in submission to God's equitable and righteous rule.
- God judges without partiality, offering true justice to those crushed by human systems.
- Believers represent the King by practicing honesty and integrity in daily life.
4. Live in Holy Awe of God's Goodness
The earth has yielded its increase. God, even our own God, will bless us. God will bless us. All the ends of the earth shall fear him.
The physical yield of the land serves as a visible reminder of God's providential care, inspiring holy fear and reverence to the ends of the earth.
Every good and perfect gift comes down from above, reminding believers of God's unshifting generosity.
In the Old Testament, an agricultural harvest was a direct sign of covenantal favor. When God blesses the work of human hands, the proper response is not self-reliance, but deep reverence and worshipful awe.
Practice regular gratitude for your daily bread, salary, and agricultural yield. Use a portion of your income to relieve poverty and honor God with generous stewardship.
Quick Insights
- Every material increase in our hands is an invitation to deeper reverent awe.
- Recognizing God as our personal provider protects us from pride and self-sufficiency.
- The ultimate end of all divine blessing is that humanity might revere the Creator.
Bottom Line
God causes His face to shine upon His people not to make them comfortable, but to make His salvation, justice, and glory known to every nation on earth.
Memorable Quote
God does not shine His light upon us so we can hide in the shade, but so we can illuminate a dark world.
Theological Point
This psalm illustrates the missional nature of divine grace. Covenant blessing is intrinsically linked to global redemption, demonstrating that God's saving initiative has always been designed to extend beyond national and ethnic boundaries to encompass all humanity through Jesus Christ.
Prayer Guide
- Ask God to cause the light of His gracious face to shine clearly upon your heart and family today.
- Pray for local and global missionary efforts seeking to reach unreached people groups with the gospel.
- Seek God's help to demonstrate honesty, equity, and righteousness in your workplace and community leadership.
- Thank God for His physical and spiritual provisions, dedicating your harvest and income to His kingdom work.
Responding to God’s Word
When God Causes His Face to Shine, everything changes. His light exposes our self-centeredness and transforms our perspective on blessing. We begin to see that our income, our health, our spiritual gifts, and our daily peace are not meant to be hoarded within our own walls, but shared with a hurting world. The light of God's face ultimately finds its perfect revelation in Jesus Christ, who came as the light of the world to redeem people from every tribe, language, and nation. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus secured the ultimate blessing for us—reconciliation with the Father and a place in His eternal kingdom. Therefore, let us step into the light of His favor today. Let us live with integrity, share His salvation boldly in our schools, markets, and workplaces across Kenya and the world, and give Him all the praise. As His face shines upon us, let us shine His grace upon all people, until the ends of the earth fear and adore Him.
