LBC Sermons & Messages

Today is Father’s Day and we will wrap up our study on the blessings of God. We looked first at Numbers chapter 6 and we will end up there again today. God so much wants and yearns to bless those who are bought by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.
When God created Adam and Eve in Genesis 1, the first thing He did was to give them a blessing and then told them to be fruitful and multiply. He started off by blessing them. In Revelation 22:14, we see that God in the last words of His letter to us reminds us that we will be blessed if we keep His commandments. He starts and finishes His book by showing us He wants to bless us. Ephesians 1 also tells us that not only does He want to bless us, but also God will bless us with all spiritual blessings through Christ.
Over the last several weeks, we looked at the blessing of God found in Matthew 5. We learned that God’s love is unconditional but His blessings are conditional. First, we must be God’s child to receive His blessing, Revelation 19:9. We must repent and trust Him as our Lord and Savior to become His child. Secondly, several times in Psalms and in Matthew 5 we see that phrase, “blessed are those who…” We must be obedient to God to receive His blessings.
Now put with that Deuteronomy 6. We see that it is the father’s and men’s job in general to teach spiritual matters to their children and to children around them. We are to teach them non-stop. David gives us some insight on what happens when a man teaches these truths with his words and actions. Blessings flowed his way even after he was off the scene because of His righteousness, I Kings 15:1, II Kings 19:32-34. However, a life lived by a father can also bring cursing, Numbers 14:18. The choice is yours.
Now let’s look at the roles of men and women. I Corinthians 11 give us the hierarchy of blessing. First, there is God the Father. Then, the Son followed by man. Woman and then children come next. This is very simple, yet our society today has it almost exactly backwards. Children pretty much run the families while the mothers try to maintain some sense of order while the fathers show up once in a while only to get frustrated and hide again. If our families are to be blessed we must do it God’s way. Men, we need to be the spiritual leaders in our families and in our churches. It is God’s design and when we change it, we break it.
So, men, where are you? Are you living a godly life causing God to bless your family? Or is God going to have to curse your family?

Matthew 5

Today, we will finish looking at the blue print for the house that God blesses. The furnishings of the building are found in Matthew 5 verse 9, blessed are the peacemakers. What does this mean? What is peace based upon? Well, the peace that is mentioned here comes from two root words meaning lurker and squeezer. Verses come to mind, one being that God tells us to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves. We are to know the scripture and speak it but in a manner, that brings honor to God.

You cannot have peace without truth. If peace is built upon anything else, it is a false peace and will not last. Truth is God’s Word and it alone shall set you free. Therefore, when seeking peace, we must use God’s Word and principles.

In addition, if peace comes through Christ and Him alone, than blessed are you when you witness for you are spreading peace. The Bible tells us that a wise person wins souls. Here we learn that we are blessed when we spread or make peace.

Notice lastly that it says blessed are the peacemakers, not keepers. Many Christians want to sit in and enjoy peace. A peacemaker has this idea of seeking situations in which the Lord can bring peace. For guidance in bringing peace to fellow brethren we must look at Matt. 7. When we bring peace through Christ, we shall be called the children of God.

Finally, the yard needs to be done for the building to be complete verse 10, blessed are they which are persecuted. This is one that we do not like to dwell on, however, Christ was very clear that when we follow Him, we will be persecuted. Look at John 15. The world hated Christ first for several reasons. He is truth, He is Light, and He convicts and will one-day judge if we turn not to Him. Therefore, when we speak the truth in a wise yet gentle way, we bring persecution upon ourselves.

Does this mean that if we are not persecuted, we are not living the godly life? If friendship with this world is enmity with God and we are blessed when we are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, than yes.

For when we are persecuted, we shall see the kingdom of heaven. This is not talking about when we die for that is a given for all children of God. This is talking of living in the kingdom while on earth. Are you experiencing the kingdom on earth? Do you have the peace and strength of God in your life all the time? This is what building a godly structure is all about. It is up to you.