Title: Be thankful for the Blessing!
Text: Proverbs 10:22
Intro: How many are looking forward‑to that big meal that we have this‑week? I know that you are looking‑forward to it.
You know that when you sit down to eat‑this wonderful meal that you seem to ‑eat, eat, and eat again? And that‑afterwards, how you like to savor the‑meal and talk about how good the meal‑was that was prepared for you?
PROP: WE NEED TO SAVOR THE BLESSING‑OF GOD.
Inter: How do we savor the blessing of‑God?
Trans: To savor the blessing we must:
I. VALUE THE BLESSING - PRO. 10:22
Prov 10:22 The blessing of the LORD,‑it maketh rich, and he addeth no‑sorrow with it.
A. SALVATION IS PRICELESS
We cannot place a price tag on salv. ,‑because it cannot be purchased w/‑money or good works. It reminds me of‑the parable of the merchant man who‑was seeking for costly pearls. When‑he found a certain costly pearl, he‑sold everything else that he had /‑purchased the pearl. This story‑expresses to us that nothing that we‑have in this life even comes close to‑the priceless gift of salvation‑through Jesus Christ.
Look at what it cost Jesus! It cost‑Him his body and blood in order for us‑to have the blessing of salvation.
The blessing of salvation satisfies‑the longing of an empty soul for‑happiness for the scripture says, "He‑addeth no sorrow to it!" What are‑people paying these days to make them‑happy?
Salvation through Christ is our one‑way ticket into heaven. He is our‑doorway into life.
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are‑by the law purged with blood; and‑without shedding of blood is no‑remission.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am‑the way, the truth, and the life: no‑man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto‑you, He that entereth not by the door‑into the sheepfold, but climbeth up‑some other way, the same is a thief‑and a robber.
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any‑man enter in, he shall be saved, and‑shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Trans: When we value the blessing of‑God then we can appreciate the‑blessing of God.
II. APPRECIATE THE BLESSING - LUKE‑24:50-53
Luke 24:50 And he led them out as far‑as to Bethany, and he lifted up his‑hands, and blessed them.
Luke 24:51 And it came to pass, while‑he blessed them, he was parted from‑them, and carried up into heaven.
Luke 24:52 And they worshipped him,‑and returned to Jerusalem with great‑joy:
Luke 24:53 And were continually in the‑temple, praising and blessing God.‑Amen.
A. BY RECOGNIZING THE BLESSING
Appreciate - Defined as the ability to‑recognize and be thankful for.
The psalmist David said in Psa. 8:3-5,
"
Psalm 8:3 When I consider thy heavens,‑the work of thy fingers, the moon and‑the stars, which thou hast ordained;
Psalm 8:4 What is man, that thou art‑mindful of him? and the son of man,‑that thou visitest him?
Psalm 8:5 For thou hast made him a‑little lower than the angels, and hast‑crowned him with glory and honour.
David was saying, "God when I see your‑awesome power through which You have‑made the heavens, I don't understand‑why that you would pay attention to‑mankind. Yet, it is evident that you‑have blessed him and surrounded him‑with great glory and honor.
Not only was David one to recognize‑the blessing of God, but he also was‑one that didn't forget the blessing of‑God upon his life.
In the early life of David, before he‑was king the bible tells us that Saul‑tried to harm David and destroy his‑kingly ministry. However, it tells us‑a different story about a man named‑Jonathon by whom came God's kindness‑and blessing upon the life of David. ‑Now as we read the story let's‑remember that it was actually God that‑was blessing David through the life of‑Jonathon.
1 Sam 20:12 And Jonathan said unto‑David, O LORD God of Israel, when I‑have sounded my father about to morrow‑any time, or the third day, and,‑behold, if there be good toward David,‑and I then send not unto thee, and‑shew it thee;
1 Sam 20:13 The LORD do so and much‑more to Jonathan: but if it please my‑father to do thee evil, then I will‑shew it thee, and send thee away, that‑thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD‑be with thee, as he hath been with my‑father.
1 Sam 20:14 And thou shalt not only‑while yet I live shew me the kindness‑of the LORD, that I die not:
1 Sam 20:15 But also thou shalt not‑cut off thy kindness from my house for‑ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut‑off the enemies of David every one‑from the face of the earth.
1 Sam 20:16 So Jonathan made a‑covenant with the house of David,‑saying, Let the LORD even require it‑at the hand of David's enemies.
1 Sam 20:17 And Jonathan caused David‑to swear again, because he loved him:‑for he loved him as he loved his own‑soul.
Later in David's life Saul is‑destroyed in battle and David asssumes‑the throne.
In 2Samuel 8:1-14 we see David mighty‑in battle conquering nations.
In 2Samuel 8:15-18 we see David‑setting his kingdom in order.
In 2Samuel 9:1-3 we see David‑remembering the blessing of God.
2 Sam 9:1 And David said, Is there yet‑any that is left of the house of Saul,‑that I may shew him kindness for‑Jonathan's sake?
2 Sam 9:2 And there was of the house‑of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba.‑And when they had called him unto‑David, the king said unto him, Art‑thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is‑he.
2 Sam 9:3 And the king said, Is there‑not yet any of the house of Saul, that‑I may shew the kindness of God unto‑him? And Ziba said unto the king,‑Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame‑on his feet.
2 Sam 9:4 And the king said unto him,‑Where is he? And Ziba said unto the‑king, Behold, he is in the house of‑Machir, the son of Ammiel, in‑Lo-debar.
2 Sam 9:5 Then king David sent, and‑fetched him out of the house of‑Machir, the son of Ammiel, from‑Lo-debar.
2 Sam 9:6 Now when Mephibosheth, the‑son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was‑come unto David, he fell on his face,‑and did reverence. And David said,‑Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold‑thy servant!
2 Sam 9:7 And David said unto him,‑Fear not: for I will surely shew thee‑kindness for Jonathan thy father's‑sake, and will restore thee all the‑land of Saul thy father; and thou‑shalt eat bread at my table‑continually.
2 Sam 9:8 And he bowed himself, and‑said, What is thy servant, that thou‑shouldest look upon such a dead dog as‑I am?
2 Sam 9:9 Then the king called to‑Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto‑him, I have given unto thy master's‑son all that pertained to Saul and to‑all his house.
2 Sam 9:10 Thou therefore, and thy‑sons, and thy servants, shall till the‑land for him, and thou shalt bring in‑the fruits, that thy master's son may‑have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy‑master's son shall eat bread alway at‑my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons‑and twenty servants.
2 Sam 9:11 Then said Ziba unto the‑king, According to all that my lord‑the king hath commanded his servant,‑so shall thy servant do. As for‑Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall‑eat at my table, as one of the king's‑sons.
2 Sam 9:12 And Mephibosheth had a‑young son, whose name was Micha. And‑all that dwelt in the house of Ziba‑were servants unto Mephibosheth.
2 Sam 9:13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in‑Jerusalem: for he did eat continually‑at the king's table; and was lame on‑both his feet.
The bible declares that we try God's‑patience when we forget the blessings‑of God.
Psalm 78:41 Yea, they turned back and‑tempted God, and limited the Holy One‑of Israel.
Psalm 78:42 They remembered not his‑hand, nor the day when he delivered‑them from the enemy.
B. WE NEED TO THANK HIM
Psa. 75:1 (LB), "How we thank you‑Lord! Your many miracles give proof‑that you care."
Some People pray as though God owes‑them something! However, we need to‑understand that God doesn't owe us‑anything - He doesn't have to bless‑us. He chooses to bless our lives,‑because He loves us, because He cares‑for us.
We need to be careful not to take our‑blessing for granted. Remember, Esau‑who despised the blessing of God and‑how that afterward, when he was ready‑to receive the blessing he was‑rejected. - Heb. 12:17
We need to verbalize our thanks to God‑for the things he has done.
Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the‑LORD is good: blessed is the man that‑trusteth in him.
1 Peter 2:3 If so be ye have tasted‑that the Lord is gracious.
III. WE NEED TO ENJOY OUR SALVATION
A. WE NEED TO ENJOY OUR SALVATION
God's people should be the happiest‑people on the face of this earth. The‑way of the transgressor is hard.
Every day we should enjoy our‑relationship with the Lord and be‑thankful for the many blessings.
Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who‑daily loadeth us with benefits, even‑the God of our salvation. Selah.
We need to enjoy coming to church.
Psalm 122:1 A Song of degrees of‑David.
I was glad when they said unto me, Let‑us go into the house of the LORD.
We need to enjoy:
The prayer - allow yourself to be‑enriched by the prayers.
The praise - allow yourself to enjoy‑the presence of the Lord.
The preaching - allow yourself to‑learn.
The pals - allow yourself to enjoy the‑fellowship of God's people.
CONCL: WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL‑FOR THIS MORNING, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR‑OUR SALVTION. THE OLD HYMNAL SAYS, I‑GET JOY WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT, WHAT‑HE'S DONE FOR ME. AREN'T YOU THANKFUL‑THIS MORNING FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN‑YOUR LIFE. THEN LET'S VALUE THE‑BLESSING, APPRECIATE THE BLESSING, AND‑ENJOY THE BLESSING.
PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOST AND HAVE‑LOST THEIR JOY.
