A Blessing In Disguise

TITLE: A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

SCRIPTURE: II CHRONICLES 20:24-30

Oftentimes when we greet one another and ask - ‘how are you’ the response we receive is ‘I’m Blessed.’ Very often we think having a blessed week means that things went well with us, no one got sick in the family - bills were paid on time - no conflict with anyone and so forth. We tend to think of blessing only when things are ok with us. Some think if you experience trials or hardship in life, then God is not blessing you.

I wonder if a person truly understands what it means when they respond, “I’m blessed.” There are two types of blessings: worldly blessings and spiritual blessings.

• Worldly blessings -- are the material riches we enjoy every day; these blessings are temporary

• Spiritual blessings -- are unseen and eternal, given to us in the heavenly realm. We receive spiritual blessing through Jesus Christ; through his blood, we are redeemed, forgiven, and receive the riches of his grace according to EPHESIANS 1:3–14

What if I told you this morning that at times it is through trials that you get to experience the biggest blessings?

• We pray for blessings

• We pray for peace

• We pray for comfort for family

• We pray for protection while we sleep

• We pray for healing

• We pray for prosperity

• We pray for God’s mighty hand to ease our suffering

What if your blessings actually come through Rain Drops.

• What if your blessings actually come through the Clouds

• What if your blessings actually come through the Tears

• What if your blessings actually come through your Sleepless Nights

What if trials of this life are actually your blessings in disguise.

• What if the trials of this life are God’s blessings in disguise!

• What if his blessing you is past the trial or conflict you are experiencing right now

When you go through the Scriptures you would read about God promising blessings to his people; however, such blessings would require people to do something. For example, for Abraham to be blessed with many descendants. He needed to obey God and leave for the place God told him about. His blessing requires trust and obedience. God promised to give the land of Canaan to his people; but they needed to go take possession by force, fighting against very powerful nations. Israel’s blessings would only come after passing through the conflict with the Jebusites, Canaanites, and other nations.

• All too often we ask God to bless us and then we take our seat and wait on the blessing

• Our blessings are ordinarily connected to do something, being active for the Lord and that comes with its own set of challenges

PSALM 27:14 “WAIT ON THE LORD: BE OF GOOD COURAGE, AND HE SHALL STRENGTHEN THINE HEART: WAIT, I SAY, ON THE LORD.” This is a scripture of Action. This does not tell us to sit down and sit still until God blesses us. It is a call to do something.

• You wait on God like a server or “waiter” at a fine restaurant

• You humble yourself by putting on your server’s apron

• You ask Him if there is anything you can do for Him

• You attend to Him and obey His every instruction

• Pouring yourself out to Him in obedience, worship, time in the Word, and prayer

• That’s the kind of Waiting we are do – it’s active

In our text, JEHOSHAPHAT IS KING OF THE TWO-TRIBE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. He lives at the same time as KING A'HAB and JEZEBEL of the northern 10-tribe kingdom. But Jehosh'aphat is a good king, and his father A'SA was a fine king too. So for many years the people of the Southern two-tribe kingdom enjoyed a good life. But now something happens to make the people afraid. That’s how the devil works, once he sees you comfortable and enjoying life, he will come in and attempt to disrupt your whole life. I PETER 5:8 “BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT; BECAUSE YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL, AS A ROARING LION, WALKETH ABOUT, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR.”

Messengers report to Jehosh'aphat - ‘A large army from the countries of Mo'ab - Am'mon - Mount Se'ir are coming to attack them.’ Many Israelites gather at Jerusalem to seek Jehovah’s help. They go to the temple, and there Jehosh'aphat prays -- ‘O JEHOVAH OUR GOD, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. WE ARE HELPLESS AGAINST THIS LARGE ARMY. WE LOOK TO YOU FOR HELP.’

Let me tell you as a Pastor, this is a strange prayer. On Wednesday evenings when I pray, I always try to encourage through my prayer and show signs of strength. Jehoshaphat in his prayer, admitted his worst fears in the presence of the entire nation and prayed in front of everyone about how weak he was.