Blessed for a time like this

Introduction

I want to tell you a story about a little boy who spent his summer working with his dad, uncles, and grandfather. There was a little boy who loved to see the work that his family would do. For generations, his family were carpenters. They built new homes, remodeled and restored old homes, and they would do it from the ground up. Each summer and each opportunity he would watch and work. His dad, and grandfather, and uncles and cousins would build walls, install plumbing, run electrical, hang sheetrock, pain walls, lift foundations, pour concrete and do all the things that was so great about construction.

The boy would dream of doing those things, but he didnt really do any of those things. He would watch and admire. He would sweep saw dust, carry lumber, remove old nails, pick up trash, carry extension chords, pick up more trash, sweep up more sawdust. It wasnt all in vein though. on some jobs he would make $100 for 2 weeks. On another he made $2/ an hour. It wasnt much money. Contractors and carpenters make a fortune. But he loved to do it. He was able to take that little about of money and he bought some christmas presents and a watch for himself.

Years down the road, he looks back as he is older and he realizes what he really made.

Yes it was the $2/ hr and $50/ week

but it was also knowledge

his toilet clogged on his first house and backed up under the house, he could have spent a couple grand, instead he did it himself.

As a newly wed with no money, him and his wife needed a bedroom suite but he made it himself and saved another 5 grand.

He had time and time again and task and task again that other friends call handy men for and he would do himself and he would save thousands.

Most of all he thinks of the proceless memories and hours that he spent with his dad and his grandfather and his uncles and it was priceless. WOrth millions

That story is me. That story rings true to me as I began to think about how to encourage each of you and myself for the time, such as this, that we are in.

We are like children, learning in a field…in a construction zone, and the carpenter contractor is God. Yes it feels like we spend hours and hours doing the sweeping and the cleaning up and the “gopher” jobs that no one ever sees. There are times we may ask is it worth it, am I making a difference, is there really enough return in the work we are doing at KCC.

I want to encourage you today, through scripture that the answer is emphatically yes. YES YES YES it is worth it. What we will look back on, not just in this life, but in eternity, we will look back at these years and KNOW THAT IT WAS WORTH IT.

This is as far away from prosperity gospel as it could be, yet this is as close to it as I will get. You and I will indeed be greatly blessed for a time such as this.

The New International Version Chapter 5

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The New International Version Chapter 5

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

What does it mean to be poor in spirit and why is it a good thing.

There is nothing more contradictory to the spirit of Christ, then a spirit of pride.

Syrup bottle...........

There is no blessing to be found in the person who believes they are all good. They have everything already. They need no blessing and there is nothing for them.

Now we know that they are actually in spiritual poverty but they are deprived of blessing and the kingdom of heaven is not theirs.

The pharisees were the opposite of this..... they were “FULL OF THEMSELVES”.

full of their own ability.

If we believe we can do this on their own. make a good enough cup of coffee. a good enough sermon. etc..... anything in and of ourselves. There is no blessing in that.

Dependance on God. Those who mourn know they are poor in spirit but they also present it to God.

Taking them to God is the importance of finding blessing in our needs.

Illustration of having nothing but looking for the wrong thing....

The New International Version Chapter 5

5 Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

If we are to be blessed for a time such as this. We must be followers of Christ that are marked with meekness. This greek word is translated as gentle.

If you know me, gentle is not something that comes easy for me. Im not an angry person by any means. But I am full steam ahead in all that I do.

The idea of gentleness we need to have and one that brings blessing is kind of like this.

Electric plates over torqued at the house.

In great humilty we must follow after Christ. Our goal as a church is not to over torque this community and trying to force people into belief. The blessing comes from submissionto God and applying the pressure that comes from His spirit.

not easy and tempting to rush ahead

The New International Version Chapter 5

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Hunger and thirst. A spiritual appetite.

This is hard

The New International Version Chapter 5

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

extending God’s mercy

its hard for me to do this when I view what is happening around us and when I stay on social media

The New International Version Chapter 5

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

The New International Version Chapter 5

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

The New International Version Chapter 5

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

every thing in which you endure here is an added blessing from God himself

Paul asked for it, we run from it

The New International Version Chapter 5

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

I looked back and saw all that I was blessed for

I pray we all look back and do the same thing

Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your blessings, see what God hath done; Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.