When Blessings Find You (Matthew 6:33)
This sermon invites listeners to reconsider the common struggle of striving for success and provision. It suggests a counter-intuitive approach: by focusing on God and His principles, blessings will naturally pursue you.
Instead of striving to make things happen, prioritize seeking God and His ways. When you put God first, the blessings, opportunities, and right people will seek you out.
Overview
This sermon addresses the common pressure to worry about the future and strive to accomplish dreams, find provision, or meet the right people. It introduces Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:33, urging listeners not to worry, as their Heavenly Father already knows all their needs.
The core message presents a 'reversal': rather than directly chasing blessings, the focus should be on seeking God and His righteousness. This approach, the sermon argues, takes the pressure off individuals, making it God's responsibility to arrange good breaks, align people, and schedule breakthroughs.
The concept of 'seeking the kingdom and his righteousness' is explained as doing things God's way in daily life. This includes walking by faith, showing integrity, maintaining a good attitude even in unfair circumstances, and being faithful in seemingly ordinary tasks. The life of David, excelling as a shepherd when no one was watching, serves as a primary example of how God brings unexpected promotion to those who honor Him.
The sermon emphasizes that small acts of obedience can lead to significant, destiny-altering moments, such as David's encounter with Goliath. It encourages listeners to shift from a mindset of self-striving to being on 'God's payroll,' trusting that He will compensate with peace, health, supernatural provision, and favor.
Key points
- Worrying about the future and striving to make things happen creates unnecessary pressure.
- Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33 to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you."
- This means actively seeking God and doing things His way, rather than directly pursuing blessings or provision.
- Keeping God first takes the pressure off, as it's God's responsibility to arrange good breaks, people, and opportunities.
- "Seeking the kingdom" involves everyday actions like walking by faith, acting with integrity, maintaining a good attitude, and being faithful in small things.
- The life of David, being faithful and excellent as a shepherd, illustrates how blessings and promotion can seek those who seek God.
- Small acts of obedience can lead to significant, destiny-changing moments, like David taking lunch to his brothers and encountering Goliath.
In Joel Osteen's words
“Don't spend your life chasing the blessing. Chase God and the blessings will chase you.”
“God's dream for your life is much bigger than your own.”
“Promotion doesn't come from people. It comes from the Lord.”
Outline
- I. The Pressure to Make Things Happen
- A. Worrying about the future and provision
- B. Striving and straining to force doors open
- II. The Key: Blessings Finding You (Matthew 6:33)
- A. Don't worry, your Heavenly Father knows your needs
- B. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness
- C. If you seek God, blessings will seek you
- D. This takes the pressure off, as it's God's responsibility
- III. What "Seeking the Kingdom and His Righteousness" Means
- A. Doing things God's way (e.g., blessing enemies, forgiving)
- B. Walking by faith, not by sight
- C. Being faithful, having integrity, a good attitude
- D. Honoring God in everyday life (attitude, respect, excellence)
- IV. The Example of David
- A. Faithfulness in the shepherd's fields (excellence when uncredited)
- B. Honoring God through consistency and a good attitude in difficult situations
- C. God sending Samuel to find him for kingship
- D. People may discount you, but God promotes
- V. Obedience in Small Things Leads to Big Things
- A. David taking lunch to his brothers led to Goliath
- B. Small acts of obedience reveal destiny moments
- C. Being faithful in the little shows God you can be trusted with more
- VI. Getting on God's Payroll
- A. Stop striving and working for yourself or circumstances
- B. God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him
- C. God compensates with peace, health, wisdom, provision, protection, and favor
- D. Your future is in God's hands; He will add everything you need
Scripture references
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Insights
True peace comes from releasing the need to control every outcome.
God's plan for life often unfolds through unexpected encounters.
Faithfulness in the unseen prepares the way for visible promotion.
Questions & answers
What is the main point of the sermon "Blessings Finding You"?
The main point is that instead of constantly striving for success and blessings, people should focus on seeking God and living according to His ways, trusting that He will then cause blessings and opportunities to come to them.
What does "seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" mean in this sermon?
It means living God's way in everyday life, which includes walking by faith, showing integrity, treating people with respect, having a good attitude, and being faithful even when it's difficult or unnoticed.
How does the sermon use the story of David?
David's story illustrates how faithfulness, excellence, and a good attitude in overlooked circumstances (like tending sheep) honor God and lead to unexpected promotion and destiny-altering encounters, such as being anointed king and facing Goliath.
What is the "payroll" concept discussed in the sermon?
The sermon encourages changing from a "self-employed" payroll of striving and worrying to "God's payroll," where God is the source of compensation. Being on God's payroll means He rewards with peace, health, supernatural provision, and favor.
What is the significance of small acts of obedience?
Small acts of obedience, even those that seem insignificant or beneath someone, are crucial because they show God trustworthiness and can lead to major destiny moments, like David's encounter with Goliath.
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