What is God’s Blessing?

Scripture: “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…..” Matthew 5:3-12

To be blessed by God means having God’s favor and goodness. We often think of blessings as riches, high position, health, and happiness. However, Jesus’ famous words about blessings show us that God has a different definition of being blessed.

Who is Blessed?

Jesus’ list of blessed people in Matthew 5 include the needy, sad, meek, and persecuted. This might offend us since we value strength, confidence and independence. But Jesus says we must realize our need for God in order for us to receive His blessing. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2b). Those who show mercy and bring peace, who desire righteousness and a pure heart, show they are true followers of God’s Word.

What are the Blessings?

Jesus never mentions wealth or position, health or happiness as blessings. Instead, he says the greatest blessing is to have a place in the kingdom of heaven and to be called a child of God. To be shown mercy by a Holy God, to know His grace and love in our lives, to know God in an intimate relationship -- These are true blessings. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1a).

Jesus paints a picture of a person that is more interested in spiritual rewards than things of this world. “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” (Matthew 6:20). Jesus had no personal wealth, but he was still blessed. How? “It is more blessed to give than receive.” (Acts 20:35) Jesus gave his life for us. The blessing of giving is not material prosperity but an inner joy and peace that God gives us when we imitate His loving sacrifice for others.

How are We Blessed?

When Jesus tells us to hunger and thirst for righteousness, it reminds us of his words in John 6:35 - “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Jesus is our ultimate blessing or gift from God. He is the only one who can cleanse us of sin and give us a pure heart so we can see God. (John 6:40) Through Him we become co-heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven, which is our greatest blessing.

In the World, Not of the World - Part 3

Scripture: “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” John 17:14-15

Do you struggle to live for God in an ungodly culture? What does God want you to do when the world around you refuses to follow God’s laws? Jesus tells us to Love: love God and love others as yourself. (Matthew 22:36-38) How do you love others?

Living for God is Not Easy

“(Jesus said) If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first…..” (John 15:18-25). Why am I surprised when people make mean comments and dislike me for my beliefs; when the things I call holy are insulted; when fellow believers are being unfairly imprisoned and executed? Loving the people who do these things is really hard to do.

Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but...against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” I am better able to love when I remember that people are not my enemy. God loves them and Jesus died for them. My enemy is Satan. “You, my children, who belong to God have already defeated this spirit, because the one who lives in you is far stronger than the anti-Christ in the world.” (1 John 4:4).

A Spiritual Battle Needs Spiritual Power

Jesus prayed for our protection - “sanctify them (set them apart) by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:15,17). God has given us His Word and the Holy Spirit to lead us in truth and give us power. (Romans 8:9-11) “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2). We need to read the Bible every day so we know God - and what pleases Him. Then His power can be unleashed in us - producing spiritual fruit like love, peace, patience, and kindness (Galatians 5:22-25).

A Spiritual Rescue Needs Spiritual Intervention

When I encounter opposition, should I react in anger, argue, and demand my rights? Should I react in fear and doubt compromising God’s truth? Neither of these. I should Pray! “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions…be alert....that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:18-19). God alone is our strength and fortress, and only He can win the victory (Psalm 62:5-8).

God has placed each of us in a unique place, with unique experiences and gifts (Ephesians 2:10). Will you commit with me to look for God-given opportunities to be His ambassador of grace to the world around us?

In the World, Not of the World Part 2

Scripture: “(Jesus praying) My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one….As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.’” John 17:15,18

How can we make a difference in our culture today? Jesus says He is sending us into the world, as He himself was sent. What are we being sent to do? What was Jesus’ mission?

To Seek and Save the Lost (Luke 19:10)

Jesus came for one reason: to provide salvation through His death and resurrection. He did not come to give political freedom and rights, but spiritual freedom from sin. He came to give us spiritual victory over death and the treasure of Eternal Life with God, not to give financial success or health in this life. He did not come for only those religious people who follow the rules, but he was known for spending time with "sinners." “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13).

This means we too must go out looking for sinners (Ecclesiastes 7:20) who need to hear about the love and mercy of Jesus.

To Save, Not to Condemn (John 3:17)

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). When we boast, we make ourselves seem superior because of our morals. Unbelievers only see someone who is acting holy and judging them; caring only about rules and details. They don't see Jesus. Jesus commanded us to preach the Gospel, (Mark 16:15, Romans 1:16-17) not just to get sinners to change their moral behavior.

To Show God’s Love (John 3:16)

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:9, 11).

This is the only message that has the power to change our culture: Love. Our prophecy, teaching and good works are worthless without love (1 Corinthians 13). “True love Is patient, and kind, not boastful, proud or rude...not rejoicing in wrong-doing, but rejoicing in the truth.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-6). Beware, of the world's definition of love: extreme tolerance.“Instead, we speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ…” (Ephesians 4:15)

In the World, Not of the World

Scripture: “Jesus prayed, ‘They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.’” John 17:16-17

We cannot expect non-believers to have godly moral standards and desire to please God. We can, and should, expect Christians to act differently than the culture that they live in—as different as night and day.

Darkness of World Culture

“This, then is the judgement: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19). Human culture is ruled by sin and selfish desires. Without Jesus people are lost in darkness (Matthew 18:10-14), dead in their sin (Ephesians 2:1-5), separated from God (Colossians 1:21-22) and condemned without hope (John 3:18). When you are in the dark, you cannot see the truth.

Remember, that is where we ALL began. (Romans 3:11, 23)

Jesus is the Light of the World

“He (Jesus) has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. We have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, in Him.” (Colossians 1:13-14). Becoming a Christian is not about reciting a prayer or going to church. It is a complete transfer of your allegiance from one king to another. It is a radical transformation of your identity. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Have you been born again? What King do you serve?

Become Born Again

Live as Children of Light

Read Ephesians 4:17-24 and understand that “Christ-followers” must be different from the popular culture that surrounds them. We no longer belong to this world but to God. “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For everything that belongs to the world - lust for physical pleasure, a lust for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions- is not from the Father, but is from this world. And this world with its lust is fading away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever.” (1 John 2:15-17).

Are You a Good Friend?

Scripture: “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a (NLT)

Can you imagine going through trials without support from friends or family? It is easier to navigate hardship when you have help from Christian brothers and sisters. Jesus told His followers to “do to others as you would like them to do to you” (Luke 6:31). Does this describe you? Read on to find out what what the Bible says about being a good friend.

Helping a Friend in Trouble

The Bible makes it clear that support from fellow Christians is a great blessing. We support one another and help those who are in trouble seek God for help: “the godly give good advice to their friends” (Proverbs 12:26), and “as iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17). Therefore, when you see someone who needs help, provide emotional and material support, as God has enabled you.

God’s Blessing of Christian Friends

Have you ever gone through a hard time? Maybe your child is sick and you are stressed. Or, maybe you’ve been trying to have a baby and you’re desperate for God to bless you with a child. During times like this, it’s a blessing to have family, friends, and coworkers praying with you. Can you imagine enduring these situations without the support of fellow Christians? Besides prayer, christian friends listen to us, sympathize with us, and provide material support. God works in their lives, and it is evident that they are obeying His command that we should “love one another” (John 13:34).

Where to Turn If You Have No Christian Friends

But what if you cannot be open about your faith? What if you have no-one to talk to about your problems because you do not know any other Christians? The Bible tells us to seek Jesus, the “friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). When you encounter problems, you can pray that God will provide a way out, for He is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). You can ask the Lord to provide Christians friendships so you can love one another and have support when life gets hard.

The Pressure to Have Sex and Be Attractive

Scripture: “Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.” I Peter 3:3-4 (NLT)

From a young age, what were you taught to “be?” In many cultures, girls are taught how to be pleasing to men. This can cause a girl to stop focusing on God and get consumed with trying to catch a man’s attention through looks, actions and even sex.

Constant Pressure

Were you taught that your goal in life is catch a man’s attention so you can get married one day? Although God has a wonderful plan for marriage, our duty is to “live in a way that pleases God” (I Thessalonians 4:1), not men or women. From every direction, we are pressured to look, act and live like the admired women of our culture: being obsessed with shoes, clothes, jewelry, or hairstyles; or making your face or body look a certain way; or having a boyfriend or husband.

Remember, “those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit” (Romans 8:5). Let God’s Holy Spirit transform you into the woman He wants you to be, rather than the woman the world says you should be.

Growing Obsessions

Obsessions about your appearance can hurt your relationship with God and cause you to seek earthly things. You might even use your looks or body to gain control over people who are attracted to you. For example, some people want or need money. As a result, they use their appearance to attract someone who has lots of money instead of trusting God to provide.

By trying to gain power over others using sexual attraction, you begin focusing on sex rather than the Lord. But Jesus instructed His followers, “seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33). Rather than being tempted to depend on your own looks or body to get what you want or need from others, trust in the infinite power of God.

Being Holy

Your family, friends and even other Christians may not recognize this temptation. Some men often pretend to love an attractive woman to get them to have sex. But remember that “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin” (I Thessalonians 4:3). When you find yourself tempted to pursue earthly approval from men, or use sex and material things to attract men, remember the Bible’s instructions to “set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2).

What is Sexual Immorality?

Scripture: “Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.” Ephesians 5:10

God created sex to be a beautiful gift. In Genesis 2, God says it was not good for man to be alone so God created the perfect partner, a woman, so they could become one flesh. The chapter closes with the statement, “they were both naked and felt no shame.” Sex creates a unique relationship that involves physical, emotional and mental unity and completion. If sex is blessed by God, what makes it immoral?

Blessings Lost

When we forget God has authority to set limits, blessings are lost. “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.” (Romans 1:28). Your phone works best when you use it the way it was designed. In the same way, God designed sex to work a certain way. Rejecting His design leads to darkness, confusion, secrecy, shame, and judgement.

Blessed Design

God used His infinite wisdom to design sex in the beginning. God does not need to “evolve.” He does not change his mind based on our opinions. Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation give a very clear picture of the kind of sex that pleases God. “This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24). God approves of sex when it is between one man and one woman who have made a lifelong commitment to marriage. Jesus confirmed this to be an unchanging truth in Matthew 19. Are you willing to trust God’s wisdom and love and follow his guidelines?

Blessing Restored

“He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. We have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, in Him.” (Colossians 1:13-14). We no longer have to sit in the darkness of shame and confusion. Jesus has made us children of light! (Ephesians 5:8-11) “You cannot say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies...If we belong to Christ our body is not our own but a temple of the Holy Spirit and therefore we should honor God with our body.” (1 Corinthians 6:13, 19-20). Obedience to God’s plan for sex is a choice we make when we want to please God, not ourselves (Colossians 3:1-17). God has given every Christian the Holy Spirit to teach us truth and empower us to obey it.