Blockades to Spiritual Blessings

I. SELFISHNESS IS A BLOCKADE TO SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS.

1. Selfish people think only of themselves;

He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”

17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’

18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods.

19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!” ’

2. Selfish people show a lack of love;

If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

3. Selfish people reap what they sow;

(NLT) 2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.

2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.

(NLT) 5 As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified.

5 As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified.

(NLT) 10 Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

10 Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

II. LAZINESS IS A BLOCKADE TO SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS.

1. Lazy people beg in the harvest;

Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.

4 Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.

2. Lazy people come to poverty;

But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? 10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? 10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

11then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

III. COVETOUSNESS IS A BLOCKADE TO SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS.

III. COVETOUSNESS IS A BLOCKADE TO SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS.

1. Covetousness troubles one’s own house;

Greed brings grief to the whole family, but those who hate bribes will live.

27Greed brings grief to the whole family, but those who hate bribes will live.

2. Covetousness causes one to come to want;

Greed brings grief to the whole family, but those who hate bribes will live.

27Greed brings grief to the whole family, but those who hate bribes will live.

3. Covetousness brings God’s judgment;

I will give their wives to others and their farms to strangers. From the least to the greatest, their lives are ruled by greed. Yes, even my prophets and priests are like that. They are all frauds.

10I will give their wives to others and their farms to strangers. From the least to the greatest, their lives are ruled by greed. Yes, even my prophets and priests are like that. They are all frauds.

IV. PRAYERLESSNESS IS A BLOCKADE TO SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS.

1. Prayerless people are troubled people;

(NLT)

Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the Lord our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth.

(NLT)

13 Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the Lord our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth.

2. Prayerless people are disobedient people;

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

1One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

3. Prayerless people shall not prosper;

The shepherds of my people have lost their senses. They no longer seek wisdom from the Lord. Therefore, they fail completely, and their flocks are scattered.

21The shepherds of my people have lost their senses. They no longer seek wisdom from the Lord. Therefore, they fail completely, and their flocks are scattered.

V. WORLDLINESS IS A BLOCKADE TO SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS.

1. Worldliness reveals the inward life;

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

15Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

2. Worldliness does not please God;

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

5Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.

6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

3. Worldliness separates us from God; ; .

You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

2It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

VI. UNFRUITFULNESS IS A BLOCKADE TO SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS.

1. Unfruitfulness comes from not abiding in Christ;

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

5“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

2. Unfruitfulness results in the loss of reward;

If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.

15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

VII. UNFAITHFULNESS IS A BLOCKADE TO SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS.

1. Unfaithfulness is sin;

But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

23But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

2. Unfaithfulness robs of the Crown of Life;

Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

10Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

3. Unfaithfulness cannot please God;

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

6And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.