SECRETS OF LIVING A BLESSED LIFE
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OUTLINE
1.FRATERNITY
2.MAGNANIMITY
3.GENEROSITY
4.QUALITY
5.UNITY
6.AVIDITY
7.HUMILITY
THE MESSAGE
SECRETS OF LIVING A BLESSED LIFE
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1.FRATERNITY
To live a blessed life we need good friends and godly association. We must avoid evil influences and dangerous fraternity. We must stay from negative and scornful people and never participate in their rebellious and critical activities. We must have close association with positive and committed people who will have a blessed influence in our life.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Psalms 1:1-3
" Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Psalms 119:115
" Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God! "
I Corinthians 10:1-11
" For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.
They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry."
We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.
And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. "
2.MAGNANIMITY
To live a blessed life we must have a good and noble heart . We need a heart of love and magnanimity. We should not be full of jealousy and anger and bitterness and suspicion. Instead we must be full of love and kindness and patience and unselfishness. We must have trust and endurance and concern for the welfare of others.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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I Corinthians 13:4–7
" Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. "
Galatians 5:22–23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. "
3.GENEROSITY
To live a blessed life we must be generous and liberal in giving to God and in helping others in need. Those who sow bountifully shall reap bountifully. God showers His abundant blessings on those who give generously and sacrificially to His kingdom. We must practice the secret of giving liberally and enjoying God’s blessings in our life.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Proverbs 11:24–25
" One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. "
Luke 6:38
" Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Malachi 3:8–12
" Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, ’How do we rob you?’ "In tithes and offerings.
You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty.
"Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty. "
II Corinthians 9: 6–7
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. "
4.QUALITY
To live a blessed life we must maintain high quality and efficiency in all our endeavours . The Bible promises that those who are diligent in their work will stand before kings . When we are faithful in little things the Lord will put us in charge of greater things. Whatever we do we must do as unto the Lord and not unto men. The Lord will bless us when we are careful to maintain high standards of quality in our labours.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Proverbs 22:29
" Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men."
Luke 16:10
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. "
Matthew 25:21
"His master replied, ’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ "
Colossians 3:23
" Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, "
Ephesians 6:5-9
" Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,
because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. "
5.UNITY
To live a blessed life we must live in unity and harmony. The Lord has commanded the blessing wherever the brethren dwell together in unity. The Holy Spirit was poured out on the Day of Pentecost when the saints were gathered together in one accord . Jesus prayed that His disciples should all be in unity. There is great blessing when God’s people are united and avoid petty quarrels and selfish struggles.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Psalms 133:1-3
" How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore."
Acts 2:1-4
" When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
John 17:20-22
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: "
Ephesians 4 :1-3
"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. "
6.AVIDITY
To live a blessed life we must have a strong desire and avidity to receive the blessings of God. Jabez cried out to God to bless him and enlarge his territory and God granted his request. Jacob prayed ‘I will not let You go unless You bless me’ . God will bless those who are hungry for His blessings because they value His blessing and seek wholeheartedly to receive His blessing in their life. We cannot enjoy God’s blessings if we have no desire for it . Only when we have a strong desire for God’s blessings we would be willing to pay the price and make the necessary sacrifices to obtain it.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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I Chronicles 4:9-10
" Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain."
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request. "
Genesis 32:26-28
" Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered.
Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
Proverbs 4 :18
" The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. "
John 16:24
" Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. "
7.HUMILITY
To live a blessed life we must have humility before God. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. God exalts those who humble themselves. Jesus humbled Himself completely and was obedient even to the point of death . Therefore God highly exalted the name of Jesus above every other name. We must humble ourselves to receive the blessings of God in our life.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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James 4:6,10
" But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
" Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. "
I Peter 5:5-6
"Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."
Luke 14:11
" For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Luke 18:14
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Matthew 11:29
" Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. "
Philippians 2:5-11
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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