Count Your Blessings

Main Scripture Text: Deuteronomy 2:7

7 For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this immense wilderness. The Lord your God has been with you these past forty years, and you have lacked nothing.’

Outline

Introduction

I. Blessings for His Providence

II. Blessings for His Perception

III. Blessings for His Purpose

IV. Blessings for His Patience

V. Blessings for His Presence

VI. Blessings for His Provision

Conclusion

Introduction

Good Morning Everyone. I am excited to spend time with each of you this morning. For those who do not know me, I’m Pastor Joe Vivian, Associate Pastor for Children and Families at Eastern Hills Baptist church in Albuquerque. I’m joined this morning with my wife, Kerry too. As I said before, we are both blessed and honored to be here with each of this morning.

Let’s get started.

Turn to the Old Testament, please, to the book of Deuteronomy 2:7.

I’ve titled this morning’s message, “Count Your Blessings” because it seemed appropriate. Think about it. In 4 days, we will gather with family and friends to share a Thanksgiving Meal. It will be a time for cooking, eating, sharing life with each other and more likely than not, a time for napping. Right?

This morning, I would like for each of us to stop and focus on the blessings of Christ in our lives today. Deut 2:7 is a great verse to do just that.

Let’s read this all together:

Deuteronomy 2:7 CSB

7 For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this immense wilderness. The Lord your God has been with you these past forty years, and you have lacked nothing.’

PRAY

Let me give you some background:

Now, Moses is reflecting on the blessings of God on the people of God, and he is just simply rehearsing what God has done for them in forty years since they had been delivered from the hand of Pharaoh. And verse 7 encapsulates the whole thing. He says in verse 7 “For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this immense wilderness. The LORD your God has been with you these past forty years, and you have lacked nothing.”

Moses is talking to Israel, certainly this scripture is talking to us as well. Also understand this, the Bible tells us clearly and without confusion, “These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages, have come.”(1 Corinthians 10:11)

So we’re not misusing the scripture when we take something that happened to God’s ancient people and apply it to God’s modern people, for the Bible has principles that are all the way through it. And so, Moses is just having a time of thanksgiving. As we will too.

This morning, let’s focus on Counting our Blessings, The Blessings of Christ in each of our lives

I. Blessing for His Providence

The first thing I believe we ought to thank the Lord for is the Blessing of His providence.

Notice what this verse says. It says, “For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands.” (Deuteronomy 2:7)

And I would like to emphasize the word all.

Now, sometimes we see the working of the Lord in some of the things. We say, “Yes, this was a blessing, and that was not a blessing”; but, friends, let me share with you, from the time that you have been redeemed—from the time that you came out of Egypt by the blood of the Lamb and through the Red Sea—from that time till this time, everything that has happened to you has happened for your good.

In all things we’re to triumph in Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 2:14

2 Corinthians 2:14 CSB

14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place.

Romans 8:28 is still right where it was when Paul wrote it and said that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Now, that doesn’t mean the Christian won’t have any problems. If you will read the history of Israel as Moses gave it, they had all kinds of problems. But he still says, “For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands.” (Deuteronomy 2:7)

Now, there are problems: I have problems today, and you have problems. But I want to tell you that I don’t have any problems compared to the problems that I had before I was saved. I’m happier now when I’m sad than I was happy when I was happy before I got saved—just to know the Lord Jesus Christ in this life, right now.

A Christian has problems; but, you see, there’s a difference.

In the first place, a Christian has somebody to bear his problems. “Cast your burden upon the LORD.” (Psalms 55:22)

Secondly, the Christian’s problems are really not problems, for “all things work together for good to them that love God.” (Romans 8:28) They’re just blessings in reverse.

And, thirdly, any problem that we have is only temporary, for “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18) And so we just thank the Lord for the Blessings of His providence.

How good God has been to us! Amen…

II. Blessings for His Perception

All right now, the second thing I would say that we ought to thank the Lord for: Not only thank Him for the Blessings of His providence that causes all things to work together for good to those who love the Lord, (Romans 8:28) but we ought to thank Him for the Blessing of His perception.

Notice this verse again. It says, “He has watched over your journey through this immense wilderness” (Deuteronomy 2:7)

You see, the Lord perceived everything that happened to His people.

And today, right now, it has not changed. He knows all about us. He knows our ups and downs. He sees all there is to see; He knows all there is to know. And that, my friends, is a comfort to me.

Let me break this down…

A. He Knows the Worst about Us

You see, it’s a comfort to me that the Lord knows the worst about me.

Now, how could that be a comfort to me? Because even though He knows the worst about me, He hasn’t stopped loving me.

You know, if I had an idea there were some things He didn’t yet know, I might think He may discover them, and then I’d have it.

You know, I have a sneaking suspicion if you knew the worst about me, you wouldn’t like me anymore. True Story.

You know, I had a preacher friend of mine that said when somebody criticized him he would respond “That doesn’t bother me. I just say, ‘Thank God they don’t know anymore.’ ”

But isn’t it good that He knows—He knows, He knows—everything about you?

You want to know who a friend is, friend? A real friend—a real friend—is someone who knows the worst about us and loves us just the same.

That’s the kind of friend we have in the Lord Jesus Christ.

B. He Knows the Best about Us

Now, you see, He knows. But not only does He know the worst about me, friends; He knows the best about me. See, there are two things that you don’t know about me: You don’t know the worst about me. And you don’t know the best about me. With Kerry probably the exception in this room today.

This brings me comfort, because there are many times that something good happens and no one is around. I think to myself, man, if one so and so were here.

It’s at that time that I need to stop and realize one simple truth. I should constantly live my life with a focus on an audience of ONE…Him only. If others are there, so be it, but that’s not the goal.

C. He Knows Our Weaknesses and Our Strengths

And then, you know, He knows the weakness about us. Look in Psalms 103, verse 14: “For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.”” (Psalms 103:14) Did you know the Lord knows how weak you are and He also knows how strong you are? But He knows our weakness: “He Knows our frame.”

Now, what does that mean? What is your frame? Your frame is what you can bear. We take a truck, and we say, “This is a ton-and-a-half truck or a two-ton truck.”

Well, the manufacturer of that truck says, “This is a ton-and-a-half truck.”

So you put a ton-and-a-half load on it. It’s made to carry a ton-and-a-half load, or a two-ton truck carries a two-ton load, and so forth.

Now I think many of you have heard the story about the man who was driving a panel truck, got out at the stoplight, beat on the side, and got back in; went another block, stopped, and beat on the side. Somebody asked him, “What are you doing?” He said, “This is a one-ton truck. I’ve got two tons of canaries in here, and I have to keep half of them in the air all the time.”

So the Lord knows the frame—our frame. He knows what we can bear. “He knows our frame.” He knows what we were built to carry. And, you know, there’s not a burden that comes to you that doesn’t come through Him first.

“He knows our frame.”

D. He Knows Our Needs

Now, look. The Scripture so far says, “He knows the worst about us. He knows the best about us. He knows the weakness about us. And He also knows our needs.”

Why, the Bible says in Matthew chapter 6, verse 8, “for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8)

And so we just have to thank the Lord and Count our Blessings on this Thanksgiving Week not only for His providence—that He’s blessed us in all of our ways—but we have to thank Him for His perception—that He knows all about us. “He has watched over your journey through this immense wilderness.” (Deuteronomy 2:7)

III. Blessings for His Purpose

And then, the third thing I think we ought to thank Him for blessing each of us, we’d have to say, “Lord, thank you for your purpose.”

For, you know, God had a purpose for His people. Notice what it says: “your journey through this immense wilderness.” (Deuteronomy 2:7)

You see, God was bringing them through.

He brought them out that He might bring them in.

Did you catch that… He brought them out that He might bring them in.

And God brought me out that He might bring me in.

And right now I’m in a wilderness. But, friends, I’m coming through, and so are you.

God has a purpose. God has a plan for me. God has a plan for you.

And this world is just simply a training ground; it’s just simply a proving ground.

And the Lord is leading me through here. He has a purpose for me, and He’s not finished with me yet. But, thank God, I’m coming through.

While we’re on that same subject, look in chapter 8—Deuteronomy 8 and verse 2: “Remember that the Lordyour God led you on the entire journey these forty years in the wilderness,”—now, notice why. Why did God let them stay forty years in the wilderness? Well, watch it—“ so that he might humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you by letting you go hungry,”—what? God did that? Certainly. Why?—“ then he gave you manna to eat…”—He let them be hungry so He could feed them.

You know, if we never had any trouble, we’d never have any need. If we never had any need, we’d get independent from God.

But God has a purpose. He allows us to be in the wilderness. He suffers us to hunger.

He has all of these things; they’re a part of His wonderful plan.

And He—“ He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then he gave you manna to eat, which you and your ancestors had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8: 3

Deuteronomy 8:3 CSB

3 He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then he gave you manna to eat, which you and your ancestors had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Oh, God has a purpose in this wild wilderness. It doesn’t seem to make sense to us sometimes: “Why this? And why that? And why the confusion?”

But God is proving us.

God is testing us.

God is teaching us.

God is leading us.

God is building us.

Thank you, Lord, for the Blessings of Your purpose.

IV. Thank Him for His Patience

But not only should we thank Him for the blessings of His providence, His purpose, and His perception, but I think we ought to thank Him for the Blessings of His patience.

Look at that verse again: “The Lord your God has been with you these past forty years, and you have lacked nothing.” (Deuteronomy 2:7)

Forty years God put up with that bunch.

How long have you been saved?

Forty years God put up with them. Now, don’t think they’ve been a wonderful people.

Friends, they hadn’t been a wonderful people. They had been an unfaithful people. They had been a fickle people. They had been a disobedient people. And yet for forty years He’d been with them.

Luke recorded in Acts chapter 13, verse 18, these words: “ And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness”—“about … forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.” (Acts 13:18)

For forty years of bad manners, He put up with them and God suffered with them. And we just have to say He’s put up with us. He’s put up with me now for about 25 years—since I’ve been saved. 25 years He’s been suffering me through this wilderness, and I just have to say, “Thank you, Lord, for your patience. I thank you, Lord, that you never ever let me go.”

I’ve confessed many times the same sin over and over. How many of you have ever confessed the same sin more than twice?

Okay, aren’t you glad that God has more patience than you have? You know, I’m glad that I’m not God, because if I were God, I would have blotted me out—I would have blotted me out had I been God.

But do you know how the Bible describes our wonderful God in Romans chapter 15?

The Bible describes Him as “the God of patience.” (Romans 15:5)

That’s a great acclamation for our heavenly Father: “the God of patience.” And so, Lord, thank you for the blessings of your patience.

V. Blessings for His Presence

All right, and then I just have to say, “Lord, not only do I thank you for that, but I also want to thank you for the Blessing of your presence”—“for your presence.”

Notice it says, “The Lord your God has been with you these past forty years.” (Deuteronomy 2:7)

He never left them—not once! He was with them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. (Exodus 13:21; Numbers 14:14)

And He dwells with us even more wonderfully—the blessed Holy Spirit, who lives in our heart. Hebrews 13 says, “I will never leave you or abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5) Isn’t that so wonderful?

You know, isn’t it awesome to know that our heart is not a hotel where He checks in and checks out but He comes to abide, to connect, with us forever?

VI. Blessings for His Provision

And so, Lord, we just thank you for the Blessing of your presence—not only your patience for forty years, but your presence. Lord, you’ve been with us these forty years, so thank you for the Blessing of your providence, and your perception, and your purpose, and your patience, and your presence. And then, finally, Lord, thank you for the blessing of your provision—for the last phrase in verse 2 says, “you have lacked nothing”—“nothing.” (Deuteronomy 2:7)

For forty years in the wilderness they thought they had some needs.

They said, “There’s no water.”

They said, “There’s no bread.

There’s no this; there’s no that.”

But they didn’t need a thing, for they had God, and every need their God supplied. Never late, never ahead of time, right on time, as they learned to trust Him—God supplied their every need. “you have lacked nothing.”

That’s the reason David said in Psalms 34, verse 10, “Young lions lack food and go hungry,

but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.” (Psalms 34:10)

That’s the reason the Bible says in Philippians chapter 4, verse 19, “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

How I thank God for that! “My God will supply all your needs.” I’m glad it doesn’t say, “My God will supply all your wants.”

The worst thing God could do for us would be to give us everything we wanted, because sometimes we want some things we don’t need and many times we need some things we don’t want.

Think about the parent that says to their child, “You need a spanking.” And it is probably true. But I’m fairly sure that child doesn’t want one.

And I repeat this again... there are times we need some things we don’t want and want some things that we don’t need.

But notice that we too, as followers of Jesus Christ lack nothing... “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Conclusion

As we begin to land this plane, I want you to think of Philippians 4:19 as a check—as a check on heaven’s bank—the check “my God will supply.” (Philippians 4:19) I want to tell you, God’s checks will never bounce, because never a promise has failed from the Word of God.

The amount on the check: “all your needs”—“all your needs.” The capital: “according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Now, that’s pretty great when you think about it: that is, God says His riches are measured by Jesus Christ. You see, if God loved you enough—oh, friends, listen to this—if God loved you enough to give Jesus, you’ve got it made. I mean, you think about it: “He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?” (Romans 8:32)

Do you get the logic of that verse? If He gave us the one gift while we were enemies, how much more now that we’re His children? If He gave us His Son, how much more will He give us whatever we need?

I mean, suppose you could talk me out of my grandson Rhett. You said, “Pastor Joe, can I have your grandson Rhett?” “My grandson Rhett? What do you want with him?”

“Well, we’re going to take him out and abuse him, lie about him, beat him, and finally murder him. We’re going to nail him to a cross. Will you give us your grandson?”

“No, I won’t. No, you can’t have him. You couldn’t have him if you were going to be good to him, much less to do that to him. No, you can’t have my grandson!”

But suppose—suppose—you could talk me into giving you my grandson. And then, after that, you’re saying, “By the way, can we have his dump truck?” I say, “Take it.”

“Can we have his mickey mouse stuffed animal?” “Sure.”

I mean, if I give you my grandson, I’ll give you his truck and stuffed animal too, amen?

You understand what I’m talking about? “He that spared not his own Son … how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

Oh, friend, listen: ““And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”—not out of His riches, according to His riches.

And so, the check: “My God will supply”; the amount: “all your needs”; the capital: “according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”; and the signature: “in Christ Jesus.”

This check is signed in the crimson ink of His own blood. The only thing necessary is for you to cash it, for you to endorse it by faith. It’s made out to you.

Thank you, Lord, for the Blessings of your provision. “you have lacked nothing”—“nothing.” (Deuteronomy 2:7)

And, dear friend, if God did that for His ancient people Israel, how much more has He done it for those of us who live on this side of Calvary?

We just thank God and Count our blessings on this Thanksgiving week.

Let’s pray