#Blessed, #IAmBlessed, #GratefultobeBlessed, these are just few of the most popular hashtags on the internet related to blessing.
• A guy was promoted in his job and received a bonus amid recession. He is blessed.
• A lady received a gift she did not ask. She is blessed.
• A family just moved into their own house. They are indeed blessed!
We use the word “Blessed” in our words.
• We say, “God bless you”, “Happy blessed birthday”, “Have a blessed anniversary!”
Generally, when something good happened to us or to someone we know, we associate it to blessing, and we feel like blessing others too.
So, what blessing really is? What does it mean to be blessed by God?
I am very sure and confident that Satan does not want you to hear this sermon.
Why? because he doesn’t want you to know what it really means to be blessed by God.
Let’s all learn from the Scripture as the Holy Spirit illuminates for us God’s idea of “THE BLESSING”!
<MAIN PLOT>
What if someone could not find a job yet? Or one could not have a child yet? Or maybe if one is in deep trouble? Does it mean that they are not blessed?
Let’s find the answers from one of my favourite narratives in the Bible, which is from the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 8.
- God has chosen the Israelites to be his people
- From Egypt, he brought them out to bring to the Promise land
- But the chosen people of God lack trust in Him (Deut 1:32) and they refused to take on the giants who are guarding the promised land. (Deut 1:26) Remember the 2 out 12 spies (Joshua and Caleb) who returned with favourable reports? Yet they were still unwilling.
- God can’t give them the promised land thus he led them to the wilderness to wander for 40 years until almost the entire generation perish.
- After 40 years, the new generation are about to reattempt to enter the promised land, Moses stands before them and;
o He gives a recollection of God who led them all the way to wilderness (Deut 8:2-5) Food, clothes, teachings, discipline, etc.
o He gives them a preview of what’s waiting for them in the promise land (Deut 8:7-0) – a good land. Lack nothing.
o He told them the game plan (starting v10)
<OBEY AND REMEMBER>
Let’s read the key verses in Deuteronomy 8:1, 18-20 (NIV)
1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors.
18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
19 If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. 20 Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.
Their game plan “OBEY & REMEMBER”, so that they will live.
If they will disobey & forget, then they would be destroyed.
<THE GOOD LAND>
Perhaps many are motivated to follow the game plan, because of the things that await them.
Deuteronomy 8:6-9 (NIV) 6 Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce, and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.
If we are going to apply this story to our self, what does that promise land represents in our life? Could it be the salvation of your family, your marriage, or your business, etc.?
Declaration: The Lord is bringing you into a good land!
<IF ONLY THE PREVIOUS GENERATION REALIZE> Props
God’s plan is to bring the previous generation to the promise land, but they disobeyed God and disqualified themselves
And so, for the second time, God (through Moses) gives a simple yet important instruction, “walk in obedience”
If only the prior generation realize that all the while, they were already blessed because God’s attention is on them, they would have easily conquered the land.
Because taking the promise land is none of their business, it is God’s. Their role is to walk in God’s way. To bless us is God’s decision, our job is to walk in obedience
They should have realized that taking the promise land is a just a by-product of a more important blessing, and this is to walk in God’s way.
Walking in God’s way is a blessing
<SHARE OWN TESTIMONY>
I was blessed to have grown up in a Christian family, yet I backslid, and took control of my life. Believe me, it is a dangerous world out there if you are outside God’s covering. In the end, I felt destitute in spirit, purposeless, and squandered, until God found me in my prayers. Like the prodigal son in Luke 15, God welcomed me back. I was restored, forgiven, and found my purpose in life.
Today, I may not have the nicest and biggest house, the highest position in the workplace, the most perfect family, but I consider myself a very blessed man, because I am walking in God’s way.
The incredible thing about walking in God’s way is that God is constantly teaching me, changing me, my heart, my attitude, my entire life. (If God can do this to me, he can do the same to you)
I am still a work in progress like you, but as I walk in obedience to God, I am confident that God guides me in every step of the way.
<IT WON’T BE EASY>
From the first attempt to the wilderness, to the second attempt, and even after the Israelites reached the promised land, we know that the story did not end there. They have faced many obstacles.
Likewise, we will still face many challenges because we still need to spend our life in this world. We will have to face challenges in relationship, marriage, career, ministry, and more, but when we walk in obedience with God, we will have the tools. God is on our side to help us.
<ILLUSTRATION>
God’s strategy is to let us walk in obedience so that we know how to navigate life.
One of my wife’s practices in life is giving gifts. In these days of door-to-door delivery, I can observe how she loves to bless others, and I also know if she is stress when her delivery is taking too long to get delivered. Good thing is that you can provide instructions when we send something? E.g. Meet at the lobby, or leave at the door and press the doorbell, or no cutlery.
In the same way, God has instructions for us on how to walk (in obedience).
The Bible is our guide in walking in obedience. It has the dos and don’ts to we walk in obedience.
Like for example in Mark 12:30-31 NIV Jesus quoting Deut 6:5
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[a] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] There is no commandment greater than these.”
This is clear instruction that at times we can’t follow.
To walk in God’s way is to obey full; in this text, we can’t say we love God, but we hate our neighbour.
<SHORT STORY: WE CAN’T SAY WE LOVE GOD, IF >
A story is told about a man went to a church. His phone that is not in silent mode rang accidentally during prayer. The people around him look at him with condemning eyes. Leaders scolded him for interrupting the silence. His wife kept nagged him on his carelessness all the way home. He was embarrassment and deeply humiliated. After the incident, he never stepped foot in the church again.
That evening, he went to a bar. He was still nervous and trembling. He spilled his drink on the table by accident. The waiter apologized and gave him a napkin to clean himself. The Janitor moped the floor, the manager offered him a complimentary drink saying “don’t worry man. Who doesn’t make mistakes?”. He has not stopped going to the bar since then.
The moral of the story; (Don’t bring your mobile phone to church? No.) Be a blessing to others; even they don’t live up to your expectation, even they make careless mistakes.
Challenge: Today, ask your neighbour how you can bless them.
Find out how you can be a blessing to your neighbour.
<YES AND AMEN>
To walk in God’s way is not just doing what is told, but more importantly aligning our heart.
Sometimes we want to obey because of the “by-product”
We loosely use the phrase “Yes and Amen” from 2 Corinthians 1:20.
The context: Paul wrote a letter to the Church members in Corinth indicating his desire to visit the church for a third time. He is saying that he is not unpredictable, just as God is faithful to us and all his promises are Yes and Amen in Christ.
The key to understand this “Yes and Amen” is found in 2 Corinthians 2:21-22 it goes, 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
“Yes and Amen” applies only to those who are; standing firm in Christ, anointed by God, has God’s seal of ownership, his Spirit in their hearts. Only these guarantee the promises of God. (This is not exclusivity, because everyone is invited to do this)
In fact, the overarching theme of 2 Corinthians is embracing and following Jesus’ way (which transforms lives)
<WALKING IN GOD’S WAY IS A BLESSING IN ITSELF>
Do you know that whenever God chooses to bless others, that person’s life becomes difficult. E.g. Abram (tested to offer his son), Moses (led the chosen people of God), Joseph (was put to jail), Noah (built the ark and mocked), Mary (gave birth to Jesus), and many others.
But they choose to walk in obedience! Because for them, walking in God’s way is a blessing in itself.
Psalm 1:1-2 (NIV) 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
<KEY TAKE AWAY>
Perhaps you are praying for something, or maybe you are in the midst of resolving difficult problem. Remember that even in the midst of waiting, while things seem not favourable, if your delight is in following the Lord consider yourself blessed.
Consider yourself the most blessed person in this world, because God is at work in your life, and the path you are taking will surely cause you to grow in your relationship with Him.
The second part of the instruction in verse 6 is to revere him. Let’s look into it quickly.
Revering the Lord is a blessing
Deuteronomy 8:6 (NIV) 6 Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him.
Another way to say, “to revere” is “to bless.”
One of the meanings of the Hebrew verb ???? bârakh and its derivatives such as ????? berâkhâh "blessing, invocation" is to "to kneel"
King David in Psalm 103 ESV (which is an inspiration of many famous songs) says Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
To bless the Lord is to kneel before him, a posture of respect, adoration, honour.
<ILLUSTRATION>
Imagine a high-ranking prominent figure invites you to visit his home? How would you feel? What are you going to bring? How are you going to prepare for the meet up?
Whenever, my wife and I visit our friends, I feel like my wife wants to bring our entire kitchen to bless our friends. She will ask me, “is our gift enough?”
Now imagine God, your creator, and the creator of everything, invites you to fellowship and encounter him. Won’t you burst in worship? Wont you bless him?
To be in a place where you can worship God, where we can position ourselves under his presence, and fellowship with the creator of this world,
If that is not a blessing to you, I don’t know what is.
<REVERE THE LORD, NOT OURSELVES OR ANYONE>
In the aspect of revering the Lord, one verse that should probably hit us hard is
Deuteronomy 8:17 (NIV) 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”
God knows that we tend to take the credit.
A quick exercise: Listen to yourself, do you always hear the word “Me, myself, and I?” E.g., “It is out of my own grit great things happened.” “It is because of my leadership there’s growth.” It is because “I” walk with God (with emphasis on I).
When we revere God, we give all the credit to God.
<REVERE NOT FOR BLESSING>
When worship, we desire God, not what he can give.
God did not say “Worship me, and I will give you what you need.” Yes can give you what you need, but that should not be the intention;
Only the devil uses this tactic. Remember, when Jesus was tested by the Devil, shown him all the kingdoms of the world and said, I will give you all the authority and splendour, if you worship me. (Luke 4)
<Key Take Away>
To revere God is to come to place of worship to encounter God in a more intimate way, and not to go back with full pockets.
His presence alone is a blessing you wouldn’t want to trade for anything.
Another important learning from the story is,
To remember God is a blessing in itself.
Deuteronomy 8:10-11 (NIV) 10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.
God knows that we tend to forget.
He can give the tablets, scrolls, the Scripture, but people tend to forget. And so, God’s instruction is to “remember”
<SHORT STORY>
A story is told about a guy with his dog in front of his house. A neighbour asked him, “what is the name of your beautiful dog?” The guy thought a minute, and replied “What is the name of the red flower that has thorns? A rose? Yah that’s it!”. He yelled “Rose! What’s the name of our dog!”
To be forgetful is sometimes funny, but to forget about the Lord is dangerous because it could turn our full attention to something else, including the blessings that we know.
<LET NOTHING DISTRACTS YOU>
To remember God is to not let anything replace him in our life. Especially when everything seems going well.
Deuteronomy 8:18 (NIV) 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
God could indeed give us material blessings. He even gives us the ability to produce wealth to be prosperous.
In real life: Blessings can distract us.
In my many years as a Christian, I’ve heard and seen stories, in which one will say – I will serve the Lord wholeheartedly! But when opportunities come, such as having a partner in life, to be wealthy, and others. Sadly, others could easily “drop the ball”
Don’t let blessings, get in the way to our relationship with God.
<Key take Away>
God knows that our idea of blessings tends to focus on abundance of material, tangible, and quantifiable things, and it can distract us
God doesn’t want us to turn our attention to other things and put the Lord out of our life.
I am not saying that we don’t do anything and live a miserable life; Because that is not God’s plan for us.
The truth is, God wants us to receive the greatest blessing we can ever have in life, Jesus
And this will lead us to our final point…
CONCLUSION
Jesus is the blessing
Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV) 24 “‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’
This is a powerful verse we quote nowadays. This is powerful because it points us to Jesus. Earlier we learned that one of the meanings in original Hebrew word of bless is “to kneel.” How can a powerful God kneel before us? By the way of the cross.
By sending Jesus, to die for us on the cross, saved us from our sins, to be the ultimate blessing that we can ever have.
So that we can be forgiven of our sins, and that we can come to father again.
Paul said in Philippians 3:8 (NIV)
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ
Paul saw Christ as the greatest blessing in his life over anything else. Today, we need to see that too.
<CHRISTMAS – NO GIFT TO REPLACE JESUS IN OUR HEART>
My daughter asked me what is Christmas? We come up with this simple definition. “Christmas reminds us of God’s love for he sent baby Jesus for us to have a blessed life.”
God sent us the greatest blessing in a form of a person, Jesus.
Christmas is coming, let’s say Jesus will grant whatever gift you want, what is it going to be? New job, a house, car, partner in life, good health, a guitar, shoes, etc.
Let’s be careful that no gift or blessing can overshadow Jesus in our life.
<Summary>
Remember God’s idea of blessing. To be really blessed is to walk in obedience and reverence to him, to remember God always, and to have Jesus in our life.
When all is said and done, the message today is very simple, that is to choose Jesus because He is THE BLESSING we need in our life.
