{"id":3617,"date":"2015-10-01T00:02:22","date_gmt":"2015-10-01T07:02:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/?p=3617"},"modified":"2015-09-30T22:28:20","modified_gmt":"2015-10-01T05:28:20","slug":"101-how-to-be-a-blessing-machine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/2015\/10\/01\/101-how-to-be-a-blessing-machine\/","title":{"rendered":"10\/1: How to Be a Blessing Machine (\u8bd7115:12-18 \u81532:12-30 \u80362:31-4:9)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u8bfb\u7ecf\uff1a\u00a0\u8bd7115:12-18 \u81532:12-30 \u80362:31-4:9<\/h2>\n

How to Be a Blessing Machine<\/h2>\n
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Do you ever wonder whether you can make a difference to the lives of those around you?<\/p>\n

I once watched an episode of the reality TV Show The Secret Millionaire<\/em>. Kevin Green \u2013 a covert multi-millionaire \u2013 searched for people and causes that would benefit from his financial support. He gave almost \u00a360,000 to a range of people working with the homeless, teenage addicts and disabled children. The response of all these people was deeply moving. They were so grateful, and the causes that they work for benefited greatly. They were blessed and enabled to bring greater blessing to others.<\/p>\n

However, the most interesting aspect of the programme was the change in Kevin Green. He had experienced in a new way the joy of blessing others. He said his life had been changed as a result. The words of Jesus are true: \u2018It is more blessed to give<\/em> than to receive\u2019 (Acts 20:35).<\/p>\n

Archie Coates, vicar of St Peter\u2019s Brighton, speaks of the church as a \u2018blessing machine<\/em>\u2019. That is exactly what we as Christians are called to be \u2013 as the church and as individuals \u2013 and you really can make a difference to the lives of those around you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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1. God is the ultimate blessing machine<\/h2>\n

Psalm 115:12-18<\/a>It is God\u2019s blessing on your life that enables you to make a difference to the lives of others. God is the source of all <\/em>blessing. He loves to bless you. The psalmist repeats this over and over again. Five times in quick succession he talks about how the Lord will bless us<\/em> (vv.13\u201315).<\/p>\n

God is not just some multi-millionaire. He is \u2018the Maker of heaven and earth\u2026 The highest heavens belong to the Lord\u2019 (vv.15b\u201316a). In his extraordinary generosity, \u2018the earth he has given to [us]\u2019 (v.16b).<\/p>\n

God loves to bless. The appropriate response to blessing is gratitude. Each of the recipients of the generosity of \u2018the secret millionaire\u2019 showed great gratitude. Our appropriate response is that \u2018we bless <\/em>God, oh yes \u2013 we bless him now, we bless him always!<\/em>\u2019 (v.18, MSG).<\/p>\n

\u2018Praise the Lord\u2019 (v.18c). Lord, I can never praise you enough for all your generosity to me. Thank you that you have blessed me in Christ with every spiritual blessing (see Ephesians 1:3).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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2. Be a blessing machine to others<\/h2>\n

Philippians 2:12-30<\/a>How, in practice, can we make a difference to the lives of those around us?<\/p>\n

We are \u2018children of God\u2019 (v.15). You are called to be like your Father in heaven, who loves to bless. You have a responsibility to work out your own salvation (to see God\u2019s grace impact every area of your life), but it is he who \u2018works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose\u2019 (v.13).<\/p>\n

Many people are reluctant to trust God with their future because they fear that God will make them do something that they have no desire to do, or will make a mess of their life. Of course, both of these fears are without foundation.<\/p>\n

If your will <\/em>is surrendered to him, God will give you the desire to do whatever he is calling you to do. If he is calling you to a ministry with the poor, that is where your heart will be. If he is calling you to teach, he will give you a desire to teach. If you surrender to his will, he will bring about \u2018his good purpose\u2019 (v.13).<\/p>\n

What he wants for your life is good. It will not necessarily be easy, but you will not be able to improve on his plan. He will also give you the energy you need: \u2018That energy is God\u2019s <\/em>energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure\u2019 (v.13, MSG).<\/p>\n

Paul knows the joy of being a \u2018blessing machine\u2019. He writes, \u2018Do everything readily and cheerfully \u2013 no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night\u2019 (vv.14\u201316a, MSG).<\/p>\n

You have the immense privilege of being able to give people \u2013 not just money, like the secret millionaire \u2013 but \u2018the word of life\u2019 (v.16a). There is no greater joy than seeing people who are spiritually dead come to life through Jesus.<\/p>\n

Paul is willing to give his life with joy for this privilege: \u2018But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me\u2019 (vv.17\u201318).<\/p>\n

Paul then gives two examples of friends of his who both demonstrated how to be a \u2018blessing machine\u2019:<\/p>\n