(8th Jan 2012) The Lord's Words and the blessings

Scripture reading: Deuteronomy 28:1~6

1. If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.

2. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:

3. You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

4. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock--the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

5. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

6. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

 

 

 

Sermon: The LORD' s Words and the blessings

In this world, there are around 230 countries. Among them, we can pick 30 of the most richest countries. Surprisingly, 28 of 30 countries are countries where Christianity exists. According to the statics, the countries where Christians are many or small are wealthy and powerful in the world. Why? there are those who obey and try to keep the words of God. Following to verse 1, God says "the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth." This is truly real to be with us. one day, I saw a news of 2010 that Philippines' growth competitiveness index has risen to No.39 from 43 in the world. It is very amazing! As you know, people have worried about the national corruptions from Joseph Ejercito Estrada to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. It influences on not only politics but also economics. However, filipinos and filipinas have stood on Lords' words by patience and persistence. Some go abroad to work. Some pray for them in their home churches. Some start to lay the foundations of national growth. What do you think about it?

Through many stories of the Bible, we know if believers, children of God become corrupted, they were more in distress and tribulations than the others. on the other hand, if they obey His words with waiting for his Will, they are unimaginably blessed.

We got the important point at the moment. The point is "to obey the Lord God" How can we do it? This is simple and easy; "follow carefully follow all his commands."

Do you know the power of following all his commands?

Commands is His words. What is the words? Words is that is to say God. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."(John 1:1) Therefore, the Words possess great energy and power. If we keep it, we have the power. Particularly the power cover on our soul. Sometimes, we ignore our soul. Just we are interested in our body or materials like money and machines. But we have to know if our soul are ruined we lost all, "mind, body and all our owns". As you know, all illness are from minds, minds are under souls. Good souls leads good mind and body. Show the verse of The Third Epistle of St. John chapter 1 verse 2; "... I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."

"As your soul is getting along well" It means that we keep our soul from the darkness. Why many Christians are weak facing to gale of hardship of this world? because their souls are not healthy and strong. What is the true blessing to us? Our soul are very strong to deserve to win against the power of satan which make us despair.

Let us see together the word: Psalm chapter 1 verse 1 to 3

1. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Being with the Lord God, it is the blessing to us. Also the blessing itself is the Lord God. So, today word says firstly, " his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night."

He really really wants to give us the blessings. but there is a cricually required condition. It is to obey the Lord God. As soon as we accept and meet the condition, he is willing to give us the blessings.

The blessings are the following; Read together vers. 3 to 6.

3. You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

4. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock--the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

5. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

6. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

What is the meaning of 'the city and he country'? the city is very crowded. there are so many people to know whenever you are blessed from God. on the other hand, the country is very quiet. Even though you are blessed, very few people can know. Accordingly, All situations can not disturb what you are blessed. Shown as vers 4, all livestock and crops are blessed. It means the possessions are blessed and then flourishing. Moreover, those who obey Him are not in hunger by vers 5. Utimately, vers. 6 summarizes the blessing's meaning; "You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out."

If you are with the Lord God, you are receiving perfect blessings.

God are preparing the perfect blessings for us. Why we do not have them now? The answer is simple and obvious. "We are not following the Words! We are not obeying the Lord God! We are not with Him".

Now we must go back to Him. We change our mind; He is my Lord to obey his words. I know your life is always stressful and sometimes painful. In this foreign country, you could feel lonely. Sometimes, all these sufferings can press on you. However, you are the most important to your family and your country. They are praying for you to be with God. I want you to be with God faithfully, and be holy by the prayers. This is the only way you to be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. Please have these blessings all the time. Let's pray

Gracious God, you are my Lord. We are your people. Please give your promised blessings when we obey you. in Jesus name we pary, Amen.