Luke 19: 37-38, 41- 44, Ephesians 1:3, 1 Peter 3:9, Matthew 13:54-57, Numbers 33:32, Matthew 5:3-12

Men and brethren, heaven has declared us partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom. This year is our year of Surplus Supply for partners of this commission. We have been made to share and participate in the blessings and benefits of the Kingdom-life reserved for all God’s children. This is evident when you become born again; you were born with an inheritance. You don’t have to try to “obey” the law for God to bless you; you were born blessed. Ephesians 1:3, 1 Peter 3:9

Right where you are, everyone has a time of visitation. The reason Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem in Luke 19: 37-38, 41-44 was because the city did not know their time of visitation. If the city had known and received Jesus then the account on verse 43, would not have happened. Jerusalem’s lack of faith and rejection of the Messiah, however, leads to its devastation and destruction. Let us remember that all this happened because the city did not know the time of its visitation. Therefore, anything the Lord is trying to get us to do, is for our benefit and for the benefit of His kingdom. Let’s not miss or neglect our times of visitations in life. The reason is that when God visits his people he comes to establish peace and justice by rooting out our enemies – sin and Satan who enslave us to fear and pride, rebellion and hatred, poverty and sickness, envy and covetousness, strife and violence, and every form of evil.

Many people have been asking and waiting on God for something, and we think God never answered. What if He did answer? What if we did not recognize the package? How many gifts we sent away because of the package? In the home town of Jesus, people did the same thing. In Matthew 13:54-57 “Jesus went to his hometown and taught the people in the synagogue in a way that amazed them. People were asking, “Where did this man get this wisdom and the power to do these miracles? Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary? Aren’t his brothers’ names James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? And aren’t all his sisters here with us? Where, then, did this man get all this?” So they took offense at him.

Like today’s world, they were busy checking out the master’s background, checking his credentials and they miss the opportunity to receive the Messiah. The Bible says, Jesus could not do any wonders in His home town. They closed their hearts, and they could not receive anything.

Your blessings can come in any form. Just be ready, don’t let it pass you by because it is not the way you expected it. The problem is that, we are not curious enough. We throw the towel the moment the package is not familiar. We need to find out if there is anything good about the package. Yes, the situation may be unpleasant, then we need to look pass the unpleasantness to see the blessing.

The same thing happened during the days of Moses, some of the Israelites focused on the bad news and the giants that were in the land, they could not see how fertile the land was. Numbers 33:32 “The land, through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size”. They had to look pass the men of great size to see their promise land. Take a second look at what you are about to throw away as not what you want, and think about your story. May be this is what you waited for, but it is in an unfamiliar package. Let me declare that, Blessings don’t always come right away. Sometimes we have to work for them and once in a while, that work means a trial of our faith.

Our blessings require obedience and all obedience to commandments and admonitions come with blessings; but not always right away. It’s the same when we kneel and pray for certain blessings. Occasionally, as people of faith, we learn some doctrine that is new to us. It may ignite us with a burning desire to obey. It also may not. We may struggle with the truth and even have a wrestle with God over it. Either way, obedience is necessary and whether we accept right away or take time to ponder and question, in the end, we will be blessed for our faithfulness to it.

The blessing God had chosen for Mary carried a high price tag. It threatened her reputation and drove her from the town where she had grown up. It forced her to flee to Egypt, a foreign land of bitter memories where few Hebrews would choose to live, even 1,500 years after the Exodus. In later years that blessing made her vulnerable to severe criticism as the mother of a “religious fanatic” – a “blasphemer” who dared to equate Himself with the Almighty with pronouncements such as. “You have heard it said of old…, but I say unto you…” Ultimately, that blessing heralded by the angel broke Mary’s heart as she witnessed the horrible execution of her beloved Son. And even after the worst had happened, unbelievers would have continued to regard her as an outcast because of the things He had said and who He had claimed to be. But, there is a rest of the story. Mary’s blessing does not stop with the death of Jesus, nor with the end of her own earthly life. Nor did the story really begin with her life. The blessing that changed Mary’s life has its beginning in eternity past and with God, who foreknew her willingness to be a pure vessel in His divine plan of redemption. Real blessing from God is not just a here-and-now happening. It is a forever thing. Hallelujah

From the moment the angel appeared to her, she was willing to sacrifice all she was and had for the excellence of her heavenly calling. God has given us the most precious gift of all – His dear Son, our Savior, Jesus. In return He asks for our hearts and our obedience. If He calls us to serve Him in some difficult way if He summons us to some difficult task that we consider humanly impossible – we can refuse, or we can be like Mary. As we submit to God’s call, we will learn that with Him all things are possible, even “impossible” miracles. And as we yield to what God asks of us, however difficult, we too may glimpse the distant gleam of a higher blessing with divine packages.

The Beatitudes” is the summation of how God’s blessings provide great rewards for the right attitudes for us as believers. Your beatitudes are actions made toward your neighbor, including doing good to your enemy and toward God’s children. These may be the way to set the direction of God’s gifts toward you, so that they’re your kind of blessings. What are the steps?

Number One: Humble yourself as Jesus said: “Blessed are the ‘poor in spirit’: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”(Matthew 5:3) This is one of the keys to unlocking personal blessings. When you admit your limitations to Him–then you are humble, and God can then move in you and move you into his presence — in the Kingdom of Heaven — and begin blessing your life. And if you are ready to depend on God’s will for your blessings — not ignoring God and not managing your own life and not making your choices all alone, not to be limited by “self”, then you are ready to be blessed.

Number Two: Repent, be sorry for your bad deeds, and be willing to change for the better. “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”(Matthew 5:4). Regret your past sins, such as your damages to others — and the time that you may have been against or ignoring and lacking God’s blessing. Forgiving others removes selfishness and the guilt of “self-centered” life. So He lets you accept forgiveness. Your guilt is removed through God’s grace. You are blessed, and you know God is real.

Number Three: Be modest and not arrogant. “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”(Matthew 5:5) Meekness is not weakness. It is to be strong but not violent, and be able to endure problems with patience–not resenting other people or God, by receiving Christ’s Spirit in you. Jesus was able to handle conflicts, insults, crisis without selfishness. This God will cause harmony and will take control of your life to make it easier, productive and satisfying.

Number Four: Seek right ways with an appetite for good. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”(Matthew 5:6). You need to make righteous choices for your own sake. It makes life easier. The apostle Paul spoke of a dilemma, “I do not fully control my actions. I do not do what I want, but do what I would not do.” Righteousness is the food and drink of your spiritual health: free from guilt, shame and sin: depend on God’s promise to grow his righteousness in you.

Number Five: Show mercy. “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”(Matthew 5:7).   Jesus tied your receiving God’s mercy with your giving mercy to others. The more mercy you give out, the more you will receive — “as you sow, so shall you reap.” You see that your mercy brings reward.

Number Six: Be pure through faith. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”(Matthew 5:8) Purity is found by concentrating on and dedicating to and seeking to right what is wrong by God’s will and purpose.

Number Seven: Be a peacemaker and be especially blessed! “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called ‘the children’ of God.”(Matthew 5:9). Peace starts at home: Love your family and have personal peace and love in Jesus. Love unconditionally–treating the other as one would like to be treated. His grace is sufficient; pass it on. God “walks” with you, overseeing your life as you walk in his path, handling difficulties for you (“Bless and curse not!”) in His own way, and protecting your person, even through the valley of the shadow of death. He continuously sends blessing, both spiritually and materially. Peacemaking brings God with His peace and harmony into your life.

Number Eight: Accept persecution. “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”(Matthew 5:10). If you are righteous you will be blessed with the benefits of the Kingdom of Heaven, if you are harassed because your life is in Christ and his newness of life is in you.

Number Nine: Accept persecution for Jesus. “Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you ‘falsely,’ for my sake.”(Matthew 5: 11) This is like people harshly criticizing you because of your calling Jesus Christ the Lord.

Number Ten: “Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in Heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”(Matthew 5: 12). Jesus says you should rejoice because of the fact that you endure problems and troubles with people because you believe and live in His life. So, rejoice through your troubles and through your weakness–for in Him you are made strong and that’s another blessing, and you have a great reward in Heaven.