Hi,
Here’s today’s sermon.
The Blessings of God: Unlocking His Abundant Provision
"May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace." - Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT)
God's blessing is a powerful and life-changing force that brings protection, favor, and peace. Let's trust in His goodness and invite His blessings into our lives today.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." - James 1:17 (NLT)
Definition: Blessings are undeserved gifts from God that demonstrate His grace, love, and provision for our lives.
Preface: God wants you to enjoy His blessings, not be controlled by them.
* Things don't have to perfect in order for you to be happy
* We're more a pilgrim than a tourist
* Happiness does not mean absence of problems.
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Big Idea #1: Decide to have a blessing mindset
“The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe.”- Albert Einstein
When you think of God looking at you is he smiling or frowning? And what rubric do you use to form your answer to this question? Is it your own personal performance? If it is anything within you, then your response will be upon a shaky foundation. But if your answer is fixed upon Christ then it is sure and certain.
It’s easy to go throughout the world thinking that “there’s not enough to go around”, making an abundance mentality seem like a pipe dream. But is it true?
Many of us live in an environment with more opportunity and available resources than even a king had 1,000 years ago.
There’s Trillions of dollars in circulation.
Big #2 The Boys That came home with more than he left
The Boy Who Shared His Lunch
Scripture: John 6:1-15 (NLT)
[Jhn 6:8-10, 12-13 NLT] 8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. 9 "There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" 10 "Tell everyone to sit down," Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) ... 12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, "Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted." 13 So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.
Main Takeaway: Sharing what we have with others is a way to unlock God's blessings in our lives.
TD Jakes' Quote: "When you release what's in your hand, God will release what's in His hand."
Big Idea #3 Job's Blessings
[Job 42:10-13 NLT] 10 When Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes. In fact, the LORD gave him twice as much as before! 11 Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the LORD had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring. 12 So the LORD blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters.
Spiritual Lesson: Praying for others in difficult times can unlock God's blessings for us.
It’s been said Job’s friends talked about God but Job talked to God.
Problems and poverty can create a vicious cycle that is hard to break out of. When a person is constantly struggling to make ends meet and deal with challenges, it can lead to feelings of despair and hopelessness. This can cause them to become self-obsessed as they focus solely on their own problems and struggles
"When we focus on helping others, God can turn our trials into triumphs and our mess into a message."
The key to overcoming self-pity is to remember that you are not the only one with problems. Pray for others, and you'll be too busy to pity yourself." - Rick Warren
Big idea #4 Trusting God with Your Operating System
[Pro 3:5-6 NASB95] 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Trust, Timing, Testimony
When we trust God with our days and dreams, He can turn them into a testimony of His faithfulness.
[Eph 3:20 NLT] 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
When we surrender our days and dreams to God, He can make them bigger and better than we ever imagined. Let's trust His timing and His plan.
Big idea #5 Sowing and Reaping
[Gal 6:7 NLT] 7 Don't be misled--you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.
[2Co 9:6-8 NLT] 6 Remember this--a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
Blessed to be a blessing: Many folks in the prosperity gospel says you should give in order to get—and stops there. The Bible says you should give in order to get—so you can give even more away.
Big Idea #6 The Intangible Blessings
[Jos 14:10-11 NLT] 10 "Now, as you can see, the LORD has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise--even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. 11 I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then.
[Deu 29:5 NLT] 5 For forty years I led you through the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out.
[Eph 1:3 NLT] 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
[Mat 19:29 NLT] 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.
Recap
* Definition: Blessings are undeserved gifts from God that demonstrate His grace, love, and provision for our lives.
* Decide to have a blessing mindset
* Share (Boys lunch)
* Blessings from prayer and relationship
* Trust God with your operating system
* Sowing and Reaping
* Seek and Cherish the intangible blessing
May we live a life of faith and obedience, trusting in God's goodness and provision. As we sow generously, share compassionately, and trust Him with our dreams, may His blessings flow abundantly in our lives and through us to others. May we be a blessing wherever we go, shining the light of God's love and transforming the world around us.
I hope this was a blessing.
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