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| Receiving the Blessing of God |
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The story is told of man named “R.C. Chapman, a devout Christian. [Mr. Chapman] was asked how he was feeling. ‘I'm burdened this morning!’ was his reply. But his happy countenance contradicted his words. So the questioner exclaimed in surprise, ‘Are you really burdened, Mr. Chapman?’ ‘Yes, but it's a wonderful burden--it's an overabundance of blessings for which I cannot find enough time or words to express my gratitude!’” Indeed, this should be the response to anyone who names the name of Christ. God does in fact desire to bless his people. Today, I want to share quickly three points that may help us understand how and why God blesses. First, God’s blessing is predicated on His glory. John Piper remarks that “God exists in order to display God, in order to make [Himself] known...” One way He makes himself known is that he doles out his blessing to his children. In doing so, others are able see the hand of God at work. Second, God’s determines the blessing, not us. Often times you hear TV preachers advocating a “bless me” theology that is contrary, I believe, to God’s Word. It’s as if we determine how we will be blessed. However, I believe it is God who determines what the blessings shall be. It is our duty to put ourselves in a position to be blessed by believing that God truly wants to administer his blessing to us. Third, God’s blessing is extended to us on the basis His grace, not our performance. I think that we have to let go of the idea that we are not good enough to receive God's blessing. When our understanding of God’s blessing is centered on our performance, we get the glory. People who adopt the performance trap get discouraged when things aren’t going as they planned. They ask themselves, “Why isn’t God blessing me, I am doing ________?” We have been duped into thinking that our performance brings God’s blessing, when that this idea may in fact prove to be a hindrance. But when His blessing is a matter of grace, or to be more precise, His unmerited favor, He gets the glory. May it be our prayer that we would receive all the blessings that God has for us, but have God determine what those blessings will be. |
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| Good point God is God and we are his children. |
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Ragland |
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September 17, 2007 at 9:24am |
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| A very good thought pastor Tim |
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| Dave and Ragland, thanks for your comments. I am so happy that God still blesses. |
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Sometimes the Blessings are our needs being met as we have asked for...
Yet as you Point out It is GODS will that Our Needs be met... He Deserves the Thanks and All Honor and Glory for His Never Ending Mercy , and Grace even though we Never Deserve it Based on Our Works and actions... It is His Wonderful Pleasure to Pour Out His Blessings according to His Will for His Glory...
Such as His word Stateing...It Rains ( Blessings and Troubles ) on the Just and the Unjust... He WILL Glorify HIS name in All Things...
Jesus said In :
The Lords Prayer
Mat 6:9 Therefore pray in this way: Our Father, who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Mat 6:10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread; Mat 6:12 and forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors.
Ask for Your Needs to be met... and God who already Knows your needs , Will Give unto you according to your Needs... Not everything You desire... But your Needs will Be met...
Thanks Brother Tim for another Reminder Of our Place in the Hands Of Our Father ! |
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You have fast food, and then you have a good ole home cooked meal.
Thanks Pastor Tim, that's was a tasty meal. You said "God’s blessing is extended to us on the basis His grace, not our performance. "
Perhaps we should start boycotting those "Have It Your Way" resturants ah 'cuse me, churches, and get back to good ole fashion home cooked meals.
Pastor Aminata |
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John |
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September 17, 2007 at 11:10am |
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| Right as rain, Pastor, and well stated. Especially where you remind us of "Amazing Grace." People have asked me many times why I believe, why I have faith. I can only say this: GRACE! |
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Hello Pastor,
you have made some great points thank you so much for the words. Also i noticed something!
you and i seem to read some of the same writters, mine are not all posted because they are so old and out dated. but men like John Piper, wilbur Chapman, A.W. Tozar, Finny, Spuugion, Pink,
billy Sunday, john R. Rice, the great puritan writters, i could go on and on. do you collect old books? i do anyway thanks for the blog. |
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Deb |
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September 17, 2007 at 2:02pm |
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| I think I would rather have God decide what blessings to give me than to decide for myself. He will bless me far beyond my imagination, and has. I am thankful He still loves me despite all my flaws! |
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| God's blessings are greater then what we could ask or think. God's ways are the best ways. |
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MaKelly |
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September 17, 2007 at 4:19pm |
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Pastor Time I agree He does it so he can get the GLORY
Blessings have to do with both giving and receiving. We don’t talk much today about blessing others, but it was a vital part of life in Bible times. To bless someone meant many things. It meant to praise them, to pray for them, and to commit them to God’s care. It also meant to dedicate and challenge them to live forever committed to God; it was a challenge to keep hold of spiritual things. It was a call for abundance and prosperity for another. And it was also a way of officially passing on the family inheritance to the oldest son. Wishes for a rich and abundant life were inherent in a blessing, although not always abundance in a material sense. God was recognized as the ultimate source of the blessing, and the person blessed would walk with the Lord and receive his benefits. To receive God’s blessing meant not only to enjoy innumerable tangible gifts (life, joy, peace, abundance, children, home, reputation, health, freedom, work, food, etc.) but in a much deeper way to be welcomed into a special relationship with him, a relationship to be affirmed and practiced. Part of this, in turn, means being a blessing to others, a way of saying we have been a godly help for others.
WHAT KINDS OF BLESSINGS DOES GOD SEND MY WAY?
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 . . . You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God.
Psalm 139:17-18 . . . How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! I can’t even count them.
God’s blessings are too many to count or even mention. His blessings come to us every day, in every conceivable form.
Numbers 6:24-26 . . . May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.
Success and prosperity are not the most common blessings from God, but rather peace, comfort, joy, fellowship with God, hope, and eternal life with him. |
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Rev. Floyd, I am glad that God gives us everything we need and not everything we want.
Pastor Ken, I am like you. I like a good homecooked meal.
Ca Flicker, thank you
John, Amen. The longer I am a Christian the more amazed I am by grace.
Keith, great minds think alike
Deb and Prudy, I am glad that God decides our blessings.
MaKelly, You are right. We are created to glorify God. |
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| name, claim it, blab it, grab it, cadillac cadillac!... I heard somebody say that one time and I hain't never forgot it. Thanks for another great word of wisdom, Pastor Tim. |
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KitKat |
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September 18, 2007 at 9:12pm |
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"Performance" this is today's counterfeit for "OBEDIENCE". God desires obedience over sacrifice. Obedience does not always guarantee perfection - but does foster growth far beyond our own ability to rehearse and improve our performance. As a worship leader I wish I could capsulize this blog and spoon feed it to everyone who desires to worship God. We worship Him because of what HE has done! We rehearse to free us up to worship. When we rehearse our flesh can simply relax and allow our spirit to be more open to the annointing of God. Rehearsal is our sacrifice - worship is our obedience. Sacrifice has its place - but obedience is better.
Another Home run Pastor Tim. |
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| Thank you for voicing my thoughts. |
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Kathy and Valerie - thank you for your comments.
Kathy, I totally agree with your statement regarding preformance being today's counterfeit to obedience. To me, performance is motivated by an attempt to get God's approval and obedience is responding to God on the basis of grace. |
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Grace, unmerited favor. I love that! God doesn't just put up with us, he gives us favor!!! That theme will continue to appear in my blogs as well, it's a thought that I just can't get over!
I recently read where someone wrote to "command the blessing". I have to admit, that I have never heard that phrase before. And I'm not sure how to react. I think you addressed it in your third paragraph. I agree, that I would shift the determination of blessing back to God.
Good word Pastor Tim! ~mike |
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Mike, I love the message of grace, God's UNMERITED favor. Before receiving Christ, I had a very legalistic idea of God. It was the message of grace that set me free. This is a message that I continually try to comprehend.
GW Knight offers a great illustration of the message of grace.
When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day's pay for his time, that is a wage. When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize. When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award. But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award--yet receives such a gift anyway--that is a good picture of God's unmerited favor. This is what we mean when we talk about the grace of God. G.W. Knight, Clip-Art Features for Church Newsletters, p. 53. |
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