Redefining Blessings: A Biblical Perspective on True Wealth

Devotional

Sermon Summary

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

"# blessed it's a social media tag for when someone feels blessed and who has or is getting everything they dreamed of getting uh can range from getting a new girlfriend new job a pay rise finding a $10 bill on the sidewalk or getting surprisingly good news but what does it mean to truly be blessed according to scripture now that's a very different discussion." [00:00:04]

"Now I see the term blessed associated with material possessions or family or health these can be all good things but I think you could also argue that if these blessings lead us further away from God they are not true blessings at all on the other hand Jesus says quote blessed are the poor in spirit Matthew 5:3 and he said blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake." [00:00:50]

"In God's wisdom the Jewish religion of the Old Testament was largely a common sea religion Israel was the Showcase case of God's blessings among the Nations so for example in First Kings 10 it says when the Queen of Sheba heard the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord she came to test him with hard questions and when the Queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon the house that he built the food of his table the seating of his officials the attendance of his servants and their clothing and his cupbearers and his burnt offerings that he offered the house of the Lord there was no more breath in her." [00:02:48]

"In God's wisdom the Church of Jesus Christ is not an ethnic or geographical or political or national entity it cuts across all ethnicities all geographies all politics nationalities there is no geographic center for Christianity there's no Great temple like edifice in Christianity there are no places to do pilgrimages in Christianity there are no priests or Saints through whom we have to go to God but only Jesus Christ and instead of telling the world to come to us come see how I bless my people God never says that he says go go to the world and if it cost you your life lay it down." [00:03:49]

"Whoever would be my disciple must renounce everything that he has Luke 14:33 put it at the disposal of me in my mission that's the kind of radical life we're called to live in the New Testament so so there's the principle and the failure to recognize this distinction between God's plan for Israel in the Old Testament and God's plan for the church Church in the New Testament has caused a lot of people to put way too much emphasis on Earthly blessings today." [00:04:34]

"Paul says the world is yours all things are yours Jesus said blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the world you cannot be richer than a Christian is Rich all the all put all the billionaires together I I should have taken the time to find out their names you you could name them tell put all the billionaires in a sack right and they are poppers I mean poverty stricken poppers compared to the lowliest Christian." [00:06:12]

"Notice that in the list of things that belong to us is death that's in the list all things are yours whether Paul or Apollos or sephus or the world or life or death death is yours this means that you do not get all your blessings in this life but that death itself belongs to you as a gift as a doorway to infinite Eternal immeasurable blessing Death Becomes your servant because of Christ triumph over death." [00:06:47]

"God has blessed us in Christ with every blessing that heaven can conceive for the Eternal happiness of God's people will be ours but Jesus taught us explicitly not to expect them now for example in Luke 14:13 he said when you give a feast invite the poor the crippled the lame the Blind and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you I love Jesus logic you will be blessed because they cannot repay you for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just." [00:07:36]

"James puts it blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial for when he has stood the test he will receive the Crown of Life which God has promised to those who love him James 1:12 first the trial then the blessing the crown so let's Circle back now to Jordan's reference to the Beatitudes I think the Beatitudes taken together provide a beautiful summary of the blessings promised to the followers of Christ." [00:08:43]

"Six immeasurable blessings are sandwiched between the summary promise yours is the Kingdom of Heaven verse 3: 10 yours is the kingdom of heaven so these six blessings summarize what it means to live forever under the kingdom the Heavenly rule of God number one we will see God verse eight they shall see God the pure shall see God number two we will be shown Mercy they shall receive Mercy verse 7 number three we will be part of God's family verse 9 they shall be called the sons of God." [00:09:23]

"The presence of God seen and enjoyed in the face of Christ covering us with Mercy because of all our sins calling us his children comforting us for all pain and loss in this world bequeathing to us the universe for a familiar Homeland and everything set right in our souls and in the social order of the new world this is is our great reward this is what it means to be truly blessed wonderful Eternal perspective that encompasses the coming new creation." [00:10:32]

Ask a question about this sermon