======================================================================== SEEKING BLESSINGS by Duane Troyer ======================================================================== Summary: This sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking the blesser, God, rather than just seeking blessings. It delves into the story of Esau and how his desire for blessings without honoring his father's will led to consequences. The message highlights the need to prioritize God's will over personal desires and the significance of seeking God's kingdom first. Topics: "Prioritizing God's Will", "Seeking the Blesser" Scripture References: Deuteronomy 28:1, Hebrews 12:14, Psalms 103:1, 1 Corinthians 13:1, Psalms 25:1, Psalms 134:1, Psalms 103:1, Psalms 134:2, 2 Timothy 2:22 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking the blesser, God, rather than just seeking blessings. It delves into the story of Esau and how his desire for blessings without honoring his father's will led to consequences. The message highlights the need to prioritize God's will over personal desires and the significance of seeking God's kingdom first. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Well, greetings everybody, in Jesus' name. It's a blessing to be gathered with you all again. I don't have a great deal prepared that I plan to share here in the opening, but I do have a few thoughts and I read a few scriptures. But maybe before we do that, let's stand to pray. Are there any specific prayer requests this morning? Is that man Eli from Springfield too? Somebody you met? Okay. Okay. Amen. Alright, let's pray. God in heaven, great is your name, greatly to be praised. Thank you for being our God and Father. And we thank you that you care for us. For your great love and your mercies, your kindness and salvation. We pray, Lord, that you would help us to be mindful of you in everything we do and say. And that we can order our lives according to your will. Fill us with your spirit. Give us strength and power to be your sons and daughters. We pray for your special presence here today. As we gather together, we pray that you'd be in our midst and be with those who speak. That they could speak the words that you have us to speak. And those of us who hear, that we could have ears to hear. Give us all good understanding and wisdom. Father, I pray for Jacob Ferguson and his friend Eli. Some of the brothers have met in Springfield. I pray, Lord, that you would water the seeds that have been sowed. And give them a hunger and thirst for righteousness. And we pray that communication and depth of fellowship could grow and continue. We pray for the homeless people and the lost people. That you would just minister to their needs. And pray that we could be useful to that end as your servants and be faithful. We pray for your presence through the remainder of this day. In Jesus' name, Amen. I was thinking about blessings this morning. About seeking blessings. Or if we even should seek blessings. And if we should, how should we seek them? I read a statement that said, seeking blessings. This may not be an exact quote. But something like, the pursuit or the seek of blessings. Is a desire from hell or something like that. I don't know, when I read that, I couldn't quite buy it completely. I think I know what the writer was saying. And there's some truth in what he's saying. But I didn't really think that was a good, quite an honest way of putting it. However, what I want to point out or what my thoughts went to is just how. The problem, the real problem is when we seek blessings and not the blesser. I might be able to show you that that is a problem. And that is something that people do and that it does not lead to God. But it leads to hell. I'll read a few verses here in Deuteronomy 28. It says, Now it shall come to pass as you cross the Jordan. This is in Deuteronomy. Moses is saying these words toward the end of his life. Or God is saying them to Moses. Moses is passing them on, I think. I'm not going to read this whole chapter. But this whole chapter is about the blessings and the curses that will follow depending on their conduct. Depending on, it's all hinged on something. And I'm just going to read a few verses here. It says, Now it shall come to pass as you cross the Jordan to the land. The Lord your God gives you. If you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God. To be careful and to do all his commandments I command you today. Then the Lord your God will set you high over all nations of the earth. Then all these blessings shall come upon you and find you. Blessed shall you be in the city. And blessed shall you be in the country. And it goes on to talk about all the blessings. Of the womb, of the ground, of your flocks and all those things. And then if we skip down to verse 15. It says, But it shall be if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God. To keep and to do all his commandments I command you this day. I command you today. All these curses will come upon you and overtake you. Cursed shall you be in the city. And cursed shall you be in the country. Cursed shall be your storehouses. And on and on it goes. And though I think when we get into the new covenant. And we look at Jesus teachings. We recognize something like. Jesus definitely is. There is something pretty different about. What were considered blessings from God. And woes from God like Jesus says. Blessed are the poor. Woe to the rich. Blessed are you that are hungry now. Woe to you that are full now. Blessed are you that laugh now. Woe to you who weep. Or the other way around. Blessed are you that weep now. Woe to you who laugh now. Nevertheless this principle continues. That if we diligently obey the voice of the Lord. Are careful to do the things that he has commanded us. To walk in his ways. Guess what? His blessings will find us. That is what it says here. And that was really a blessing I thought. His blessings will find us. And so surely also shall his curses find us if we don't. I thought about. And this is actually what started. Thoughts about this is how. What it says in Hebrews about Esau. In Hebrews chapter 12. I will read verses 14 to 17. It says pursue peace with all men. And the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God. That no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble. And by it many be defiled. And there be no immoral or godless persons like Esau. Who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterwards when he desired to inherit the blessing. He was rejected. For he found no place for repentance. Though he sought it with tears. Esau is a very fleshly minded worldly person. He was willing to sell a birthright for a pot of soup. And he can think only of the satisfaction he would get to his flesh. This is Esau. But he also really really desperately wants a blessing from his father. And if we go there to Genesis 27. We can hear his. You know sometimes we are moved by someone's desperation. When we hear how desperate somebody is. And how many tears they shed. It moves us. Like in some way. But that's not always. People can be. People can shed tears. Without repentance. And here we see in Esau. I'll read that passage. We'll just get a glimpse of how desperate Esau was for that blessing. Genesis chapter 27. I'm sure we pretty much know the story. I think you children know the story. If you don't. Go tell your parents. They should have told you a long time ago. But here's Jacob. Who in a crafty way. Gets the birthright. I don't know. Kind of in an honest way. I guess he gets the birthright. But in a crafty way. He takes the blessing. His mother tells him what to do. Jacob. Or Isaac. Gets done blessing him. And he was just out the door. And here comes Esau. With this animal that he hunted. Now it happened. As soon as Isaac. Finished blessing Jacob his son. And Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father. That Esau. His brother came in from hunting. He also had made savory food. And brought it to his father. And said to his father. Let my father arise and eat. His son's game. That your soul may bless me. And his father Isaac said to him. Who are you? So he said I am your son. Your first born Esau. Then Isaac trembled exceedingly. And said who. Where is the one who hunted game. And brought it in to me. I ate all that he had. All of it before you came. And I have blessed him. And indeed. He shall be blessed. When Esau heard the words of his father. He cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry. And said to his father. Bless me. Me also. And his brother came up to speak. And had taken away his blessing. And Esau said. Is he not right in line Jacob. For he could possibly be too proud. He took away my birthright. And now has to be taken away my blessing. So he said. How do you not reserve the blessing for me. And Isaac answered his brother Esau. And he said. I did not. I did not. I have given to God. I have given to God a servant. And all his brethren. I have given to him a servant. With flame and light. And with sustainment. What shall I do now for you. My son. And Esau said to his father. Have you heard my great blessing my father. Bless me. Me also. Me my father. But when Isaac was told. Esau lifted up his voice. And wept. And then Isaac his father answered. And said to him. Behold your dwelling shall be on the fatness. Of the fatness of the earth. And of the dew of heaven from above. By your sword you shall live. And you shall serve your brother. And it shall come to pass. When you become restless. That you shall break the yoke from your neck. Break his yoke from your neck. This is. This is a desperate plea. That he has. Because. Because he wants his father's blessings. The problem here is. With Esau is that he. He was not concerned about his father's will. He was not. He was not concerned that he was. That he was. That he knew what his father's desire was for him. And that he was. That he was in that. And thereby would gain a blessing. He just wanted a blessing. But he wanted it his own way. He wanted his own way. And a blessing from the father. And that's the problem. Tears don't always indicate repentance. Remorse isn't always granted forgiveness. Sometimes. People are sorry. Not for what they. Not for how they wronged somebody. But that they didn't get away with it. Or that they didn't get their way. Sometimes people are really sorry. Not that they had sinned. But that they were caught. Sometimes people are really sorry. Not that they're not right with God. But. But that they didn't receive his blessing. Judas was very remorseful. About what he did. But there was. There was no forgiveness granted to him. Saul was really remorseful. About what he did. There was no. There was no. No repentance granted to him. No. No. No forgiveness and restoring. Same way with Esau. And we see this in. In the way. In the women that Esau took. For his wives. He had taken. He had taken daughters from. I think a couple Canaanite women. Which was. Which was really against his father. And his mother's will. And. And they were. They caused trouble. There was dissension between these women. And Jacob. Or Isaac and Rebecca. It says there. In the last verse in 27. It says then Rebecca said to Isaac. I am weary of my life. Because of the daughters of Heth. These are the women that. That. Esau had taken. If Jacob takes a wife. From the daughters of this land. What good will my life. Be to me. And. And I think Esau was so desperate. To gain some kind of a blessing. That. That as we go into 28. We see Esau do something here. In verse 6. It says now Esau saw. That Isaac. Well first of all. In the first part. Isaac instructs Jacob. To not take a wife. Of the Canaanites. But to go over to. I think to Bethuel. Or somewhere. Where Laban was. And find a wife there. Esau. Esau understood this. He saw Jacob. Really is getting a blessing. He's getting instructions. He's also going over there. He's more minded. About his father and his mother's will. And so he does this. This is what Esau does. Now Esau saw. That Isaac had blessed Jacob. And sent him away to Mesopotamia. To take himself a wife from there. And as he blessed. Him. He gave him a charge. Saying you shall not take a wife. From the daughters of Canaan. And Jacob. Had obeyed his father and mother. And had gone to Mesopotamia. Also Esau saw. That the daughters of Canaan. Did not please his father Isaac. So Esau went to Ishmael. And took. Mahalath. The daughter of Ishmael. Abraham's sons. The sister of. Nebajoth. To be his wife. In addition to the wives he had. So. If I understand right. What Esau was doing here. Is he thought okay. He's not pleased. They're not pleased with these. These wives that I have. So maybe if I go to Ishmael. Which would be Isaac's half-brother. And get away from them. And add him to my. To my wives. It would appease him a little bit. But. But we still see. Like. Esau is wanting a blessing. But he is not really. Wanting the father. He is not. Yeah he's wanting a blessing. But not the blesser. And we can kind of easily. Maybe dismiss. People like Esau. And say well yeah I mean. Or just think. Think that that's pretty far. From us. He was a real vain. Worldly. Earthly. Carnal. Selfish. Man. That's not us. But how easily do we. Kind of. Just kind of fall into this thing. As a husband. We'd like to have the blessing. Of a wife. That honors us. And submits to us. And supports us and helps us. And yet. We kind of want it without. Just really laying down our life. Washing her in the word. Losing our life for her. Or as a wife we would like. To have the blessing of a husband. That loves us and cherishes us. And lays down his life but. But without laying down. Our will for his. And submitting to his leadership. As a father and mother. We'd like to have the blessing of. Obedient and respectful children. Who honor our position. As a father and mother. Without the sacrificial work. Of consistent guidance. Discipline and teaching. As children you would like. To have the blessing from your father. Just like Esau had. Without the work of honoring them. I find lots of people. Who it appears to me. They would like. To have the blessings of. Of fellowship. Of community. Of brotherly love. Of community. Of brotherhood. Workings together. But they all want it without. Preferring their brother above themselves. About seeking his interest. More than ours. It's common for elders. They would like to have the blessing. Of supportive members. Without the work of leading the flock. It's pretty easy to seek. All these blessings. Without. Without the part. Without doing that part. That if we would do it. The blessing would find us. There's this. I didn't look it up this morning. But there's this. A story somewhere. In the life of Moses. I think the children of Israel. Are making their way from Egypt. To Canaan somewhere. And they fight a battle. With the Amorites or somebody. I'm not quite sure who anymore. But. There's. There's Moses and Aaron and Hur. Are up. I think those are the three. Are kind of up on the. Hill or mountain. And Joshua. Is leading the army down here in the valley. And as long as Moses has his arms up. They're victorious. But if he lets his arms down. The enemy starts. Repeating. And so. You just go ahead and try to keep your arms up. For a whole day and you'll. You'll figure out that's. That's more than you can do yourselves. And so. So Aaron and Hur come in. Beside him and they. They pop up this one stands here and pops up this arm. And one stands here and pops up this arm. And Moses has his hands up all day. And Joshua gets the victory. And. Whatever all the types of those are. I could just see though that like. Some. Some leader would like. He would like the support. But. But he has to be willing to raise his arms. He has to be willing to. Do that. Some people would like to have a leader. That would raise his arms. But they're unwilling to get into. Below him and support him. And it's. The blessings of God come when we find our. When we find what. What it is that we need to do. We just do it. And then that blessing will come and find us. The whole false gospel. Is centered around us. Being saved and blessed. And having assurance. And enjoying heaven. Without being slaves to the Lord and King. And taking up our cross. Jesus gives a parable about this. About. Or an instruction like. Don't be that man who. Who wants the blessing of a front seat. And he goes and he takes that front seat. And then the master of the house comes and says. Oh no this is reserved for somebody else. You go back there. He says no. You take the back seat. And then have the master come and say. Hey you come up here. And have the front seat. And there's honor in that right. There's a blessing. That will find us. If we're. If we're willing to take the low seat. Be not those who seek the blessing. And not the blesser. Who would long for the help. But not the helper and the gifts. But not the giver. And the power but not the cross. From whence the power comes. Just going to close by reading. Psalms 103. We'll see in this psalm. How it talks about. It talks about some of the. Some of God's blessings that will be upon us. But it says bless the Lord. Right. Us blessing the Lord. Is is the instruction. And and his blessing upon us. Is the. Is the effect. Bless the Lord oh my soul. And everything within me bless his holy name. Bless the Lord oh my soul. And forget not all his rewards. Who is merciful to all your transgressions. Who heals all your diseases. Who redeems your life from corruption. Who crowns you with mercy. And compassion. Who satisfies your desires. With good things and your youth. Is renewed like the eagles. The Lord shows mercies and judgments. To all those who are wrong. He made known his ways to Moses. The things he willed. To the sons of Israel. He will not become angry to the end. Nor will he be wrathful forever. He did not deal with us. According to our sins. Nor reward us. According to our transgressions. For according to the height of heaven. From earth. So the Lord reigns in mercy. Over those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west. So he removes our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children. So the Lord has compassion. On those who fear him. For he knows how he formed us. He remembers we are dust. As for man. His days are like grass. As a flower of the field. So he flourishes. For the wind passes through it. And it shall not remain. And it shall no longer know its place. But the mercy of the Lord is from age to age. Upon those who fear him. And his righteousness upon children's children. To such as keep his covenant. And remember his commandments. To do them. For his throne in heaven. And his kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord. All you his angels. Mighty in strength. Who do his word. So as to hear the voice of his words. Bless the Lord. All you his hosts. His ministers who do his will. Bless the Lord. All his works. In all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord. Oh my soul. Any comments or corrections? Thoughts you've had, about this? Thank you Brother Duane. There's so many good points I know that a Hebrew writer says well well it's impossible So, without faith it's impossible to believe God. We must believe that He is in every water of those who diligently seek Him. So, from that aspect, there is something in it for us. Like, you know, didn't Satan tempt Jesus? Tempt Jesus in the desert? You know, you serve God for nothing? I mean, there is something. And, I know years ago, the big thing was, boy, it's 20 years, it must be now, promise keepers, but it was Jabez's prayer. Enlarge my coast, you know, my blessing, the prosperity gospel. Enlarge my coast, and things like that. But, like you said, it's to be with the blessing, seek first the kingdom, and the king is priority over what's in it for us. And, I just did a trivia point on lifting up the psalm that we sang, 134, 135, lift up your hands. I'm just thinking of all the people in the Old Testament that lifted up their hands, and it's not just Moses, but Nehemiah, David, Elisha, when they were in dire straits, so to speak, they lifted up their hands, and the Hebrew writer said, it's not the Hebrew writer, well Hebrews could, and it's the Timothy of Titus, it's Timothy, 1 Timothy 2, likewise men, lift up holy hands. And so, I'm saying, is that really a blessing? When we pray, should we lift up holy hands more? Well, that's cultural. Someone was telling me that the holy kiss seems to be more cultural, and I guess, you know, feet washing is cultural, and women not being able to teach is cultural, and homosexuality is cultural, and you can explain everything away, but there are certain commands that are not cultural, they're just black and white. But anyway, the Lord be magnified as I lift up holy hands. ♪ A Zion's glorious song, To the new-born house of Israel, They have left me and stretched me wide, I heard the song and spoke to joy, I heard the song and spoke to joy, In all your sufferings, all your pain, For truth, Lord Jesus, proudly reigns, Shall they reign now and evermore, And now before the grave I am, And now before the grave I am, Whatever has been in ages long, Eternal love shall keep their song, And speak the bliss forever new, Christ in succession to bear you, Christ in succession to bear you, Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts on high adore, To my feet your praises sing, O almighty King, Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts on high adore, Holy, holy, holy Lord, Though I speak with tongues of angels, Though I know all mysteries, Though I have all faith and knowledge, And the gift of prophecy, Though I feed the poor and needy, Though I suffer wildly, It will profit me but nothing, If I have not charity. Like the tingling of a cymbal, Just a passing hollow sound, Or like brass when it is sounder, It will fade and can't be found, So shall be my pleading lifeline, If I do not find Him be, In the only fairest Jesus, Perfect love and charity, Charity will never end me, It will never cease perform, It will not behave unseemly, And her evil ways unknown, She will not be found rejoicing, In iniquity's dark plague, Only when the truth is founded, For the holy gospel's sake, Though all the girth it shall have, Charity will never fail, Though we see Him pardoned largely, Someday it shall be unveiled, Now the faith and hope of Ida, There remain thee blest and free, But the greatest of them all, Is the gift of charity. Unto thee, O Lord, Do I lift up my soul, Unto thee, O Lord, Do I lift up my soul, O my God, I trust in thee, Let me not be ashamed, Let not my enemies triumph over thee, Giveth not that which Ought to be ashamed, Giveth not that which Ought to be ashamed, O my God, I trust in thee, Let me not be ashamed, Let not my enemies triumph over thee, Show me thy grace, Teach me thy measure, Show me thy grace, Teach me thy measure, O my God, I trust in thee, Let me not be ashamed, Let not my enemies triumph over thee, Remember not The sins of my youth, Remember not The sins of my youth, O my God, I trust in thee, Let me not be ashamed, Let not my enemies triumph over thee, All the paths of the Lord Are mercy and truth, All the paths of the Lord Are mercy and truth, Are mercy and truth, O my God, I trust in thee, Let me not be ashamed, Let not my enemies triumph over thee, When the prophet of the Lord Shall come and I shall be no more, And the morning breaks Eternal, bright, and fair, When the saints of earth Shall gather over All the other shore, And the rovers call The counter, I'll be there, When the rovers Call the counter, When the rovers Call the counter, When the rovers Call the counter, When the rovers Call the counter, I'll be there, All are bright and proud This morning, When the dead in Christ Shall rise, And the glory of His resurrection Share, When His chosen ones Shall gather Over all the other shore, And the rovers Call the counter, I'll be there, When the rovers Call the counter, When the rovers Call the counter, When the rovers Call the counter, When the rovers Call the counter, I'll be there, Let us labor for the Master From the down to setting sun, Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care, And when all the life is over And our work on earth is done, And the rovers Call the counter, I'll be there, When the rovers Call the counter, When the rovers Call the counter, When the rovers Call the counter, The rovers Call the counter, I'll be there, Come bless the Lord, For all He serves the Lord, Who stand by night, In the house of the Lord, Bear up your head, In the holy place, And bless the Lord, And bless the Lord, How come, bless the Lord, he serves the Lord, and you stand by him in the house of the Lord? Lift up your hand in the holy place, and bless the Lord. ======================================================================== Video: https://sermonindex2.b-cdn.net/ADyW9dPOoso.mp4 Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/duane-troyer/seeking-blessings/ ========================================================================