Sermon par le Ps Philip Tse

How to have a life of God’s blessings – First identify and pursue them

Lecture: Romains 8:5-16

Introduction:

Recap – Who and What I Am

Many complex factors:
1. Personality: Extrovert/Introvert, Logic/Emotion, Plan/Improvise, External information/Intuition
2. Parental upbringing: Strict (Cold & Firm)/ Authoritative (Warm & Firm)/Neglectful
3. Where we live, its environment and culture
4. Education system
5. Peer pressure/Friends influence
6. Personal experience + Other complex factors

Who and What I am ⇒ Values or Priorities or Worldview ⇒ Behaviour – Habits ⇒ Non-Christian Lifestyle

Non-Christian Values:
1. Career / Business / Money
2. Family
3. Leisure/Friends
OR
1. Leisure/Friends
2. Family
3. Career/Business/Money
Values can change over time.

Who and What I am ⇒ Values or Priorities or Worldview ⇒ Behaviour – Habits ⇒ Christian Lifestyle

Christian Values:
1. Faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Family.
3. Career/Business/Money.
4. Leisure/Friends.
It takes faith and time to put Jesus No. 1.

Romans 8: ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh (hostile to God) you will die (destroy yourself); but if by the (Holy) Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Reasonable Person: Definition of Life/Success

Any reasonable person will not wish to die or being destroyed, but to live and be successful in:

• Personal physical and mental health.
• Personal financial prosperity.
• Personal success in endeavours, work, studies.
• Personal form of spirituality (for some people).

A more reasonable person will go beyond his personal interest and would wish to help others according to his own capacity.

What happens when we put Jesus first?

Matthew 6: ³¹ Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

God is the provider of all our needs, visible and invisible through Jesus Christ.

Disciple of Christ – Definition of Life/Blessings

God opens 3 types of Blessings to the disciple of Jesus Christ:

1) Spiritual Blessings.

2) Material, Physical, and Emotional Blessings.

3) Grandeur Blessings.

1. Spiritual Blessings

A disciple of Christ seeks from God spiritual blessings FIRST:

• Miracles: God’s favours – Prayers met, Healing, Deliverance, Set free (Sadly, many quit the church after receiving their miracles).
• Forgiveness: Seek forgiveness for sins and a restored relationship with God.
• Grace & love: Unmerited favour and love of God, enabling him to live a life pleasing to God.
• Eternal Life: Promise of everlasting life with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
• Protection: Ask for God’s protection from evil attacks, harm, danger, and negative influences.
• Peace: Inner peace and tranquility found through faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
• Wisdom and Guidance: Seek God’s direction in life, making wise decisions, and understanding His will.
• Holy Spirit: Presence and power of the Holy Spirit for spiritual gifts and victorious Christian life.

2. Material, Physical & Emotional Blessings

After Spiritual Blessings, the disciple of Christ can seek Material, Physical, and Emotional blessings.

• Provision: Seek God’s provision for basic needs like food, shelter, and financial stability.
• Success in Endeavours: Seek God’s blessing & abundance on business, work, studies, and other projects.
• Health: Pray for physical & mental health.
• Family and Relationships: Seek God’s favour & guidance in couple, family life and relationships.

3. Grandeur Blessings

A mature & “éprouvé” disciple serve others through deeper relationship with God so that the Name of Jesus be lifted high, not his own name.

Matthew 23: ¹¹ Le plus grand parmi vous sera votre serviteur. ¹² Car celui qui s’élève sera abaissé ; et celui qui s’abaisse sera élevé.

• A deeper relationship with God through deeper prayers, deeper search for the Word of God to know God more intimately and serve people through evangelism, spiritual gifts, teaching, deliverance, leadership, pastoral care, and others.

Prayer for God’s Blessings

Lord, You are the source of all good and perfect gifts, and from You flow the blessings that make life rich and fulfilling.

You know the plans you have for me and I know that they are plans to prosper and not harm me. Heavenly Father, I give you all thanks and praise for having brought me through the year so far. For the rest of the year, continue to pour out your blessings upon me in even greater measure.

Bless my home, my work, my business, my family, dear Lord. I lean on your promises. You will make me the head and not the tail. I will be above and not beneath. Even as others face recession and financial crises, Lord, I remain confident that you are my provider. You will never let your child go without.

Jeremiah 29: ¹¹ “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Open new doors, new opportunities for me, Lord. Open my eyes that I may use these opportunities to bring glory to your name. May I always remain humble and willing to serve and bless others.

Fill my heart with Your peace, my mind with Your wisdom, and my life with Your love.

Precious Lord, grant me a generous spirit, so that I might become a blessing to those around me. As You bless me, let me also be a channel of Your blessings to others.

May Your grace abound in my life, not for my sake alone but also for the sake of Your kingdom and the people You have placed in my path.

Deuteronomy 28: ² All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.

Matthew 5: ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

In Jesus mighty name we pray, Amen!