Sermon Tone Analysis

Sermon title - Are you Blessed?

Verse -

Opening Hymn - Wonderful words of life #286

Closing hymn - Blessed Assurance #462

Anointing

James

Address the tragedies that have been happening

Me

Are You Blessed?

Main point - real blessings come from Jesus

People often feel blessed in different ways

When I was growing up it was always apparent to me that people believed their greatest blessings were the possessions that they had attained,

this reality became frustrating for me, especially in my relationship with my father, because it was always established that the business came before family.

I remember many occasions where we would be struggling from exhaustion, keeping up with the bills, and just quality of life, and yet, my dad would often respond as though we had everything we needed, that we had need of nothing, and he would give his reason for this surprising statement by looking at the piles of professional tools on the shelves that were collecting dust.

While the rest of us were wondering how to survive the next day, my dad felt perfectly at peace looking at his tools and toys that hadn't been used in years.

As life went on and I moved out getting away from the stresses that came with being at home, I began to be comfortable in my own way, I felt as though I was blessed, and gained my security from having electricity, not risking my life with tree work, and spending time with friends.

What I came to learn was that my father and myself were making the same mistake, we believed that our blessings and security came from our possessions, they just came in different forms;

my dad focused on his tools and toys, and I was focused on a comfortable home, and friendships, this of course seemed more logical to me however it was still the wrong focus.

The Bible shows us that our possessions will one day be burned up and, well, they really aren't that important.

the truth is real blessings come from Jesus.

Laodicea

Verse -

Opening Hymn - Wonderful words of life #286

Closing hymn - Blessed Assurance #462

my dad focused on his tools and toys, and I was focused on a comfortable home, and friendships, this of course seemed more logical to me however it was still the wrong focus.

The Bible shows us that our possessions will one day be burned up and, well, they really aren't that important.

the truth is real blessings come from Jesus.

We

Have you seen this in your life?

Where we talk about how blessed we are or someone else is because of the job they have, or their health, or maybe their car etc...

and I am not saying these things aren't blessings that can come from Jesus however when we look at the sermon on the mount Jesus shares with us the most important blessings of them all.

God

When Jesus was sharing His sermon on the mount He was giving a revolutionary message He was also giving promises

The proud heart strives to earn salvation; but both our title to heaven and our fitness for it are found in the righteousness of Christ.

The Lord can do nothing toward the recovery of man until, convinced of his own weakness, and stripped of all self-sufficiency, he yields himself to the control of God.

Then he can receive the gift that God is waiting to bestow.

From the soul that feels his need, nothing is withheld.

He has unrestricted access to Him in whom all fullness dwells.

“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” .

{DA 300.1}

(Tell the story)\/

Luke 18:9-

The SDA version

Transition Jesus promise to us is when we are poor in Spirit He will cause us to be truly rich and to be children of heaven.

Jesus didn’t stop there, He continued to share with his audience the blessings of heaven

We often sorrow because our evil deeds bring unpleasant consequences to ourselves; but this is not repentance.

Real sorrow for sin is the result of the working of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit reveals the ingratitude of the heart that has slighted and grieved the Saviour, and brings us in contrition to the foot of the cross.

By every sin Jesus is wounded afresh; and as we look upon Him whom we have pierced, we mourn for the sins that have brought anguish upon Him.

Such mourning will lead to the renunciation of sin.

{DA 300.3}

When I read this verse I think of Psalm 51

Psalm 51:

Psalm 51:

Isaiah 51:

Transition Friends we have all played a part in the crucifixion of our Creator but He brings us this wonderful promise that those who realize what sin truly is they will find comfort from Jesus and not condemnation.

We have one more blessing that we are going to look at in the text.

“Blessed are the meek.”

The difficulties we have to encounter may be very much lessened by that meekness which hides itself in Christ.

If we possess the humility of our Master, we shall rise above the slights, the rebuffs, the annoyances, to which we are daily exposed, and they will cease to cast a gloom over the spirit.

The highest evidence of nobility in a Christian is self-control.

He who under abuse or cruelty fails to maintain a calm and trustful spirit robs God of His right to reveal in him His own perfection of character.

Lowliness of heart is the strength that gives victory to the followers of Christ; it is the token of their connection with the courts above.

{DA 301.3}

Tell the story

Mark 10:

You

Are You Blessed?

Laodicea was a place where they provided eye care for people, and yet they were unable to see

How is it with you friend?

are we distracted with temporary blessings instead of seeking the best blessings from Jesus?

Appeal seek the blessings that Jesus desires to give you.

We

s

What if?...