Sunday, 28 January 2007
The Adult's Sunday School Class - Proverbs 22:9 How to be blessed...
scripture reading: #664
Vesper's - a one hour study @ 5 p.m. on Sundays: Matthew 7:6 Be careful with the message we carry! Join our verse-by-verse study through the Sermon on the Mount!
Wednesday, @ 7 - 8 p.m. A class on "Anger: the theological, psychological, emotional and social aspects of our temper."
The power of Blessing
Numbers 6:22-27 The LORD said to Moses, 23. "Tell Aaron and his sons, `This is how you are to bless the Israelites. 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 turn his face toward you and give you peace." ' 27. "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."
In the New Testament we find Jesus sending His disciples out into villages with the message of blessing.
Luke 10:1-9 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
3. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 5. "When you enter a house, first say, `Peace to this house.' 6. If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.
7. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. 8. "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, `The kingdom of God is near you.'
Acts 10:34-36 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35. but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Acts 15:32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. 33. After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them.
Romans 1:7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:10-21 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
20. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
What on earth has happened to the message of the church today???
There are some 'Christians' whom even I don't want to see coming. If I can't help but feel that their presence is a curse, how must non-Christians feel?
I heard a comedian tell of an individual who would enter a room and people would say, "Who just left?" There are people who seem to just suck the oxygen out of the air... they sap the energy from the people whom they are around.
And then there are Christians who are always on a crusade. These folks seem compelled to attack sinners as though the sinners were the devil himself.
Jesus didn't send His disciples out into the world to drive out sin and sinners.
John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
He sent them out to bless the world. If it was accepted - great! If it wasn't accepted - find someone else to bless.
The general rule of thumb is this: Sin is already the curse in the world...Christians are to be the blessing!
If a 'Christian' ceases to be a blessing, he can quickly become a curse and that is sin.
It isn't just a matter of words, "The Lord bless you and keep you..."it's a matter of attitude and lifestyle.
It's a matter of generosity and love,
laughter and compassion,
life and hope,
passion and encouragement.
"Of whom much is given, much is required and even more will be asked..."