“COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS: The blessing of Jesus.” - 9-5-21

 “COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS: The blessing of Jesus.” - 9-5-21

INTRODUCTION

Blessings

God carries our burdens daily.

God meets our needs.

God blesses us with spiritual blessings in Christ.

God forgives all our sins.

God heals all our diseases.

God redeems your life from the pit.

God crowns us with love and compassion.

God satisfies your desires with good things.

God works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

God offers unseen blessings.

God blesses through suffering.

God allows us to participate in the suffering of Christ.

God gives us the hope of heaven.

God let’s us be His child.

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.”

‭‭ Psalms‬ ‭103:1-6 NIV

VIDEO- Verses - “Be Ye Glad” by Chris Rupp

As a minister was addressing a group of men, he took a large piece of paper and made a black dot in the center of it with a marking pen. Then he held the paper up before the group and asked them what they saw. One person quickly replied, “I see a black mark.” “Right,” the preacher replied. “What else do you see?” Complete silence prevailed. “Don’t you see anything other than the dot?” he asked. A chorus of noes came from the audience. “I’m really surprised,” the speaker commented. “You have completely overlooked the most important thing of all—the sheet of paper.” Then he made the application. He said that in life we are often distracted by small, dot-like disappointments or painful experiences, and we are prone to forget the innumerable blessings we receive from the hand of the Lord. But like the sheet of paper, the good things are far more important than the adversities that monopolize our attention.

This reminds me of a bit of verse which, though I admit is somewhat trite, does express good practical advice. Someone has written: “As you travel down life’s pathway, may this ever be your goal:/ Keep your eye upon the doughnut, and not upon the hole!”

Yes, rather than concentrating on the trials of life, we should fix our attention upon is blessings. Let us say with the psalmist, “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” ‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭68:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭5:1-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I.  THE BLESSING OF A GODLY LIFE

‬ A.  Humility

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭5:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

B.  Empathy

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭5:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

C.  Controlled 

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭5:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

D.  Hungry and thirsty

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

E.  Mercy

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

F.  Integrity

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

G.  Reconciliatory 

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭5:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

II. THE BLESSING OF PERSECUTION 

In ancient Rome, crowds by the tens of thousands would gather in the Colosseum to watch as Christians were torn apart by wild animals. Paul Rader, commenting on his visit to this famous landmark, said, "I stood uncovered to the heavens above, where He sits for whom they gladly died, and asked myself, 'Would I, could I, die for Him tonight to get this gospel to the ends of the earth?'" Rader continued, "I prayed most fervently in that Roman arena for the spirit of a martyr, and for the working of the Holy Spirit in my heart, as He worked in Paul's heart when He brought him on his handcuffed way to Rome." Those early Christians "lived on the threshold of heaven, within a heartbeat of home, no possessions to hold them back." 

Our Daily Bread

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭5:10-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A.  Persecuted for righteousness 

1.  Insult you

2.  Persecute you

3.  Say all kinds of evil against you

III. THE BLESSING OF OUR GREAT REWARD

“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭5:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A.  Rejoice 

1.  “Be glad”

B.  Be glad

2.  “Jump for joy”

CONCLUSION

Johnny’s first day of school the class was to put their right hands over their hearts & repeat the Pledge of Allegiance. The teacher watched the children as he started the pledge, “I pledge allegiance to the flag...” She stopped when she noticed Johnny’s right hand over the left side of his rear end. “Johnny, I will not continue until you put your hand over your heart. Johnny replied, “Ma’am, It is over my heart. After several attempts to get Johnny to put his hand over his heart, the teacher asked, “Why do you think that is your heart?” “Because whenever my Granny visits, she picks me up, pats me here, and says,” “Bless your little heart,” and my Granny doesn’t lie!” 

(Source Unknown, Lou Nicholes - Missionary/Author).

We need to understand that what Gods says about blessing must be true because God does not lie. 

The Beatitudes remind us of the blessing of the Godly life, the blessing of persecution, and the blessing of our great reward.

The Way.  “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. “

CHALLENGE

Our challenge will remain the same each week of this sermon series.  I just ask that you keep in mind the topic of each week’s message as you write down your weekly 3-2-1.  The topic this week is the blessing of a blessed life.

Write down 3 ways God bears your burdens daily.  Write down 2 needs God has met this week.  Write down 1 spiritual blessing in Christ that you cherish most.  Acknowledge God’s blessings.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.