Blessing and Faith

Be Attitudes Matt 5:3-12 Luke 6:20-23
Blessing guidelines Deuteronomy 28

Blessings are based on our actions from these passages.

God is not the source of your trouble. God is your deliverer. Faith with obedience are needed. Stand against the devil.

Faith and obedience are needed for the answer of blessing. James 1:22 Some would say it is by grace and not works. Ephesians 2:8-9 Salvation is by grace through faith. Grace is offered and we take the grace by faith. Faith is expressed by our actions. Some would say, it is God who gives us faith. Yes, God gives faith to all. Romans 12:3 We all have faith, just as the disciples had. 2 Peter 1:1 It is given to us to grow our faith and use our faith. We are not saved with no action. Action is the result of faith and not the other way of action giving rise to faith. Philippians 3 shows Paul  seeking God with zeal. He doesn't trust in his zeal but in the work of Christ. Philippians 3:9 Zeal will follow, when faith is there.

If you have faith and no zeal, your faith is dead. James 2:17 What do you do when your faith is dead? Let God arise. Ps 68:1; Revelation 3:20; Isaiah 40:31-41:1a; Romans 10:17  With God, faith is activated. And when faith is activated zeal is there. Without the zeal we will question the idea that Bible hope is producing. The hope of the Bible brings God and faith. The hope of the Bible without God brings arrogance and/or frustration. The hope of the Bible without God is powerless. It is faith that overcomes. If we are not overcoming something is missing. 1 John 5:4

What do we do when something is missing? Seek God! Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 6:33; Isaiah 40:31-41:1a And continue seeking Him till we understand what is going on. James 1:5; Matthew 7:8 With God and His direction we will overcome. 1 John 5:4 Some would say, “but I haven't overcome. This faith stuff doesn't work.” We don't try faith for a while to see if it works. We live by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 Faith doesn't quit in hard times. Faith rejoices in hard times! Romans 5:1-5; James 1:2-4 It is the hard times that brings the power. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Remember:
Understanding Scripture is not for self indulgence. John 10:10 says Jesus came to give us an abundant life. It also says in Luke 12:15 we are not to be greedy. Even when we have an abundance our life does not consist of our possessions. So, our abundant life is not talking about possessions. We can't believe in godly faith for our own pleasure. James 4:3 Yes, there is prosperity. Proverbs 10:22 The purpose of prosperity is the advancement of God's kingdom. Deuteronomy 8:18

Jesus is our life and light. Every day is an adventure with Jesus.

Key points of Daily Christian Life

Salvation > Kingdom living. We can live above the world. Isaiah 40:31; Galatians 3:13; John 10:10

We are a friend of God. David, Abraham, Daniel were friends of God and Jesus is our friend as we accept the discipleship mandate. John 15:14

People of the Bible > I don't know any Christian in history that was on fire for God that did not also devour the Bible. Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:3; Psalm 119:148,165

Love > Love of people. Our purpose is not to have a good set of doctrines, but to love others.
Yes we need to rightly divide the word of God. And guide others that are straying. It is the Bible that reveals Christ to us and guides us in loving others.

Zeal > Zeal of the Lord is what accomplishes things. Isaiah 9:7 Be excited in what you are doing. If you are not excited about it, why are you still doing it? If we have responsibilities, then we will have the anointing to accomplish what God has given us to do. With anointing there is the Holy Spirit and with the Holy Spirit there is joy and power.

Living by faith  > God is pleased with faith. Hebrews 11:6 All that we do should be of faith. We have faith 2 Peter 1:1. Faith is available for us to use. Mark 11:22 Do what you believe is of  God and don't do what you doubt is of God! Romans 14:22,23  That is holiness.

Purpose > Ephesians 2:10 Without a vision the people perish. Proverbs 29:18 Find God's purpose for your life and do it with gusto, zeal, joy and in the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

People of prayer > We can't function if we don't stay in touch with our King. Jesus was always slipping away to pray. Luke 5:16 If you are not getting an answer, ask why? James 1:5; Isaiah 30:21

Pray in tongues > Vitality flows from the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:14,18

Fellowship > Go to church and get encouraged. Hebrews 10:25 Walk in the light and have the fellowship of God. 1 John 1:7

Share the gospel > Shoes are part of the armor of God. Ephesians 6:15 They are related to sharing the gospel. If we don't share the gospel there is a weakness in our armor and we can be knocked out.

Give > It is more blessed to give than receive. Acts 20:35; Ephesians 4:28 Where you put your money is where your heart is.

Pray and go. Go about your work and shout victory. If you can't, pray till you can. Luke 18:1

God's Blessing

Psalm 128 NASB

How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.
2 When you shall eat of the [a]fruit of your hands,
You will be happy and it will be well with you.
3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
[b]Within your house,
Your children like olive plants
Around your table.
4 Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord.
5 The Lord bless you from Zion,
And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
6 Indeed, may you see your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel!

v 1 is the condition of this Psalm of promise.

How blessed is everyone. Everyone means every one. Any that will believe this passage of Scripture can move into the blessings of God. It is not for the select but for all who meet the conditions of this Psalm.

What is the condition of this Psalm?
Who walks in His ways. And what are the ways of God? They are taught in the Bible. Proverbs 2:1-12 would be a start. The whole Bible, (the 66 books translated from the original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek). As taught by the Holy Spirit. John 14:26; John 16:13f; 1 John 2:20,27.

What does it mean to fear the Lord?
To respect what He says. From this respect we then follow His teachings. As we follow the teachings of God the desire of the flesh fades. Romans 8:5,6

There are times when temptation come. If our reverence for God gives out, then the fear of the Lord will truly be a fear of the result of sin. This fear will turn us away from considering or participating in sin.

What are the blessings of following and fearing God? These blessing come from the inheritance that is in Christ Jesus Romans 8:17

Our work will provide for us and our family.
For God will bless our work. Our life will have happiness and things will go well.

The fear/reverence of the Lord will bring contentment Philippians 4:11 allowing us to take the time to enjoy life given to us. Fear and trust in God will bring us rest to our souls. Hebrews 4:1,2

Some do not have it easy in this life. I am thinking of the North Koreans. Yet even in agony, there is joy in Christ. For Paul talked of his contentment in Philippians from a first century dungeon.

Our wife is a blessing to us. Prov 31 We have a good Father and His gifts to us are good blessings. James 1:17

Our children will be like olive plants around us. Olive is a type of production. Our children will be productive in life.

They will carry on from our life to the future. They are the glory from God Proverbs 17:6.

We will see and live in God's prosparity from a Godly Kingdom perspective.

Our life will be blessed with loggivit;y and we will see our grandchildren.

We will live in peace and not have a tormented soul, but one with peace with God and our family and friends.