Sermon Central
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Who Are The Blessed People ? : The Biblical Signs Of God's Blessings
Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on Oct 24, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: 1.CHOSEN 2.COMMITTED 3.CONFIDENT 4.COMPASSIONATE 5.CHASTENED 6.CHALLENGED 7.CROWNED
WHO ARE THE BLESSED PEOPLE ? : IDENTIFYING THE BIBLICAL SIGNS OF GOD’S BLESSINGS
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OUTLINE
1.CHOSEN
2.COMMITTED
3.CONFIDENT
4.COMPASSIONATE
5.CHASTENED
6.CHALLENGED
7.CROWNED
THE MESSAGE
WHO ARE THE BLESSED PEOPLE ? : IDENTIFYING THE BIBLICAL SIGNS OF GOD’S BLESSINGS
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1.CHOSEN
Those who are chosen by God are blessed people. They are drawn by God unto Himself. This is a greater blessing than all the wealth and riches and honour of this world. We should realise this and be grateful to God because He has chosen us and drawn us unto Himself.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
2.COMMITED
Those who are committed to Christ are blessed people . They do not have any doubt or suspicion about Him . They are not offended in Him . Sometimes we allow circumstances that are painful to us to make us offended at God .We begin to doubt and question God’s love and wisdom. This is a dangerous path that would lead us into misery and confusion. The blessed people are those who are not offended at God even when they face situations which they do not understand. They continue to trust the goodness and faithfulness of God. The apostle Paul was committed to the love of Christ and would not allow any suffering to seperate him from the love of Christ. The Lord Jesus was committed to the will of God even if God did not remove the cup of suffering from Him. He knew God had the power to send legions of angels to deliver Him. But even if God did not deliver Him , He was committed to obey God. Shadrach ,Meschach and Abed nego had the same commitment to obey even if the Lord did not deliver them from the fiery furnace.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
MATTHEW 26:39 , 50-54
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.
Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.
But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
3.CONFIDENT
The blessed people are those who trust in the promises of God and they will experience the fulfillment of the promises of God in their lives. They do not get discouraged and lose their faith even if it takes a long time for the promises of God to be fulfilled. In the Old Testament Joseph dreamt a dream when he was seventeen years old .But it took nearly 22 years before the dream was fulfilled. During the intervening period the word of the Lord tried him. He faced many difficult situations but at the appointed time God fulfilled the dream.
