Compiled by: Herman Abrahams (Senior Pastor), Cornerstone Faith Ministries, P.O. Box 740, Westridge 7802, Rep. of South Africa.
E-Mail: Mentorship2003@yahoo.co.uk
Note to the reader:
If you have been blessed with this sermon compilation, I would be honoured to receive an e-mail from you merely telling me where in the world you are based- I do not need any other information. This is merely so that I can have the pleasure, and give thanks to Almighty God, that all over the globe the ministry which he has entrusted to me, is blessing the body of Christ and helping to extend the Kingdom of God.
Thank you. Herman Abrahams, Cape Town, South Africa.
HOUSE BLESSING
Opening Prayer
God the Father Almighty, we thank you for the desires of this family, that all they have and do here may be in accord with your divine plans, that this home and its residents may be truly and completely dedicated to you, and to serving your kingdom.
We ask you to strengthen them in this commitment. We pray to you, O God, for this home, its occupants and possessions, that you may bless and sanctify them, enriching them by your kindness in every way possible. Pour out on them, O Lord, heavenly dew in good measure, as well as an abundance of earthly needs. Mercifully listen to their prayers, and grant that their needs be fulfilled. As we bow before you, bless this home & every aspect of it, cleansing any misdeeds of the past, and leaving it pure, fresh and holy. Bless this house, just as you blessed the homes of Abraham and Sarah, of Isaac and Rebecca, of Jacob and Rachel. Within these walls, let your angels of light preside and stand watch over those who live here, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN! (FROM “A SERVICE OF WORSHIP and BLESSING
by First Congregational Church of Fair Haven UCC”)
INTRODUCTION - “Unless the Lord …”
Psalm 127:1-2 “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain…. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.”
Builders work on a house in vain unless the LORD builds it, … and being anxious over one’s labor for food and working long hours is in vain. The point is that work done independently of God will be futile, but a person who trusts in the Lord will find rest. Man must acknowledge God’s gifts in his accomplishments. God provides the skill for accomplishment and allows us to complete projects that we start.
Acts 17:28 “In him we live and move and have our being.”
1. AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE HOUSE – “Your Going Out and Your Coming In”
Deutoronomy 28:6 “You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out”.
A part of the blessing of obedience to God is that the Christian is blessed in his/her daily work, children in their schoolwork, young people in their academic life, etc.
Prayer: Father God, protect our going out and our coming in and let us share the hospitality of this home with all who visit us, that those who enter here may know your love and peace.
2. IN THE LIVING ROOM – “Life…In Abundance”
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it in abundance.”
The thief (Satan), a false shepherd, cares only about feeding himself, not building up the flock. He steals sheep in order to kill them, thus destroying part of the flock. But Christ has come to benefit the sheep. He gives life which is not constricted, but overflowing. The thief takes life; Christ gives it to the full.
Prayer: O God, bless all who share this room, that we may be knit together in companionship.
3. IN THE KITCHEN – “Food at the proper time”
Ps. 145:15-16 “The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing”
God provides food to those who fear him (cf Ps 145:19) and satisfies their desires.
(Note:- God is good to all and all good things come from God).
Matt 4:4 “Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Bread alone cannot keep man truly alive. Real life comes from knowing Jesus and His Word and feeding thereon for He is the “Bread of Life”. Even for our physical bread we are dependent on God our Father.
Prayer: O God, you fill the hungry with good things to eat. Send your blessing on those who will work in this kitchen and make us ever thankful for our daily bread which you pour so graciously into our lives. Bless every meal and make it good for our use and us for serving you in your wonderful kingdom.
4. DINING ROOM – Always bread on the table
Psalm 37:25 “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread”.
David’s observation has been that the righteous are never forsaken by God, even if circumstances appear to be to the contrary. “Or their children begging bread”. Although the righteous and his seed may have occasions of scarcity, they are never left to be continual vagabonds to beg from house to house. (KJV Bible commentary. 1997, c1994. Thomas Nelson: Nashville)
PRAYER:
Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth, for you give us food and drink to sustain our lives and make our hearts glad. Help us to be grateful for all your mercies, and mindful of the needs of others.
5. BEDROOM - Sleep
Ps. 127:2 “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat- for he grants sleep to those he loves.”
The word vain is used three times in verses 1 and 2. Everything is in vain unless God is in it. Everything is dependent on Him and on His blessings. An old German proverb says, “Everything depends on the blessing of God.” (McGee, J. V. 1997, c1981. Thru the Bible commentary),
The Lord Jesus Christ said,
Matt. 6:31–34
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matt 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
PRAYER:
Father we pray for those who sleep here that they may find true rest from the labours of this world, that having entered into the rest of knowing you personally, they may find total peace and rest in spirit, soul and body.
6. STUDY – “… As one Approved”
2 Tim. 2:15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV)
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, we pray that you may open the eyes of the understanding of those who study here and that success and prosperity would result from the fruits of their labour. Above all we ask that they may seek first your kingdom and make every effort to grow in the knowledge of Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
7. THE BATHROOM … Refreshment
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual (or ‘reasonable’) act of worship.
In other words: Therefore, I beg of you, brethren, by the mercies of God that you yield your bodies—your total personalities—a living sacrifice, set apart for God, well-pleasing to God, which is your rational or spiritual service.
We are called upon to “present”—to yield. Here yielding is the way to Christian consecration and conduct.
He says to yield “your bodies,” your total personalities. The body is the instrument through which we express ourselves. The mind, the affections, the will; the Holy Spirit can use the body.
We are told to glorify God in our bodies.
1 Cor. 6:20: “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s”
PRAYER:
Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth. You formed us in wisdom and love. We thank you for our health and are reminded that you give us the ability to create wealth (Deut 8:18). Refresh us in body and in spirit, and keep us in good health to serve you with gladness of heart.
CLOSING - God created all things for his pleasure
Rev. 4:11 “Thou art worthy, o Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (NKJV)
Let us be reminded that we ourselves, all that we are and all that we have, were created for Father’s pleasure and that we were made to worship Him and Him alone in every area of our lives.
PRAYER
Be our shelter, Lord, when we are at home, our companion when we are away, and our welcome guest when we return and at last receive us into the dwelling place you have prepared for us in your Father’s house, where you live for ever and ever. AMEN.
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