SERMON DATE AND TITLE: 2009-10-11 "Blessing God's People"
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October 11, 2009
Sheepfold Ministries, Pastor Phil Roland
BLESSING GOD’S PEOPLE
Numbers 6:22-27
“People in the materialistic United States are confused about what the blessing of God actually is. When you find His blessing, you will find his favor and His peace.” Pastor Phil
"The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace."'
Hebrew: BLESSED = “BA-RAK” - to kneel; by impl. to bless God (as an act of adoration), bless, congratulate, kneel (down), praise, salute, thank.
I. WE ARE BLESSED BECAUSE WE ARE KEPT BY GOD
"The LORD bless you and keep you. . .”
A. We are kept from harm
1. God’s Keeping Power GUARDS us – Psalm 91:11,12
“For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all
your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash
your foot against a stone.”
2. Weapons formed against us will not work – Isaiah 54:17
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is
the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their
righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD.”
B. We are Protected by His Salvation
II. WE ARE BLESSED BECAUSE WE HAVE GOD’S APPROVAL
”The LORD make His face shine upon you. . .”
A. The Shining Face is God’s Favored Presence
1. Hebrew Root = MA-SHACH = To Smear / ANOINT
2. MA-SHEA = “Anointed One” - MA-SIAH = “Messiah”
B. The oil poured on the face shines in the sun
1. Shine like fire
2. Analogies to describe God’s Approval
C. His Provision in the midst of Trial and Distress
1. Elijah in the Wilderness
2. He approves of us even though we don’t deserve it
III. WE ARE BLESSED BECAUSE WE HAVE HIS GRACE
”And be gracious to you. . .”
A. Grace is God’s unearned Favor – Ephesians 2:8,9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
BLESSING GOD’S PEOPLE, cont.
B. What is Grace?
G od’s
R ighteousness
A t
C hrist’s
E xpense
C. Grace is a special manifestation of Divine Power and Glory
IV. WE ARE BLESSED BECAUSE WE HAVE GOD’S SMILE
”The LORD lift up His countenance upon you. . .”
A. A Father’s Smile is always upon his children – Psalm 103:13
“Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.”
1. His Uplifted Countenance brings peace
2. His Uplifted Countenance means He treasures you
B. We are God’s Treasure His Value is in us – Exodus 19:5
“'Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant,
then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the
earth is Mine.”
1. Pleasure when He sees us
2. Affection at the sound of your name – Isaiah 43:1
“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; You are Mine.”
V. WE ARE BLESSED BECAUSE WE HAVE GOD’S PEACE
”And give you peace. . .”
A. We have the Peace of Jesus – John 14:29
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives
do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
1. World’s Peace is temporary
2. No peace through politics or world leaders
B. God’s peace is beyond understanding – Philippians 4:4-7
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
1. Our Peace is in Jesus
2. HE is our Peace
3. Know Jesus, Know Peace
4. No Jesus, No Peace
Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Genesis 12:2,3
I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Acts 20:35
"I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Deuteronomy 11:26-28
"Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse:
27 "the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you today;
28 "and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.
Numbers 6:22-27
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
23 "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
24 "The LORD bless you and keep you;
25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace."'
27 "So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them."
Greek:
1) “EL-O-GIA” – fine speaking, i.e. elegance of language; commendation ("eulogy"), i.e. (reverentially)
2. “MEL-A-KARIOS” supremely blest, fortunate, well off