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Blessing Promises: Our Spiritual Inheritance
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThis sermon focuses on the essence of spiritual inheritance and eternal blessings, urging a reevaluation of how the term "blessing" is often misused in relation to material gains. Many in society and Christian circles equate being blessed with receiving material possessions or comforts, yet this perspective can obscure the deeper, spiritual significance of blessings as presented in Scripture. True spiritual blessings are not tied to worldly prosperity but to a covenant relationship with God, emphasizing a spiritual state over physical wealth. In the Old Testament, blessings are often connected to the covenant with God, involving promises, conditional obedience, rewards for faithfulness, grace, and the consequence of curses for disobedience. These blessings sometimes included material prosperity for the nation of Israel, but the focus for individuals, even among the faithful like Abraham and David, shifts toward spiritual rewards. The New Testament further reorients blessings toward spiritual inheritance, particularly in the teachings of Jesus Christ, as seen in the Beatitudes of Matthew 5 and Luke 6, where blessings are pronounced on those who endure deprivation in this life for a heavenly reward. Spiritual blessings are meant for service to others, not for selfish gain. When God endows us with blessings, it is for us to benefit others, reflecting a purpose beyond personal enrichment. The Greek terms for "blessed," such as "eulogeo" meaning "well spoken of" and "makarios" indicating a state of being indwelt by God through Jesus Christ, underscore the inherent worthiness of God and the transformative satisfaction found in Christ, far surpassing any material gain. In the book of Revelation, seven blessings are directed toward the saints, each using "makarios" to signify being indwelt by God and fully satisfied through Jesus Christ. These blessings commend purity, perseverance, and obedience, promising spiritual rewards such as eternal life, participation in the first resurrection, and reigning with Christ. They emphasize spiritual vigilance, fellowship with Christ, and the ultimate joy of the eternal state over temporary material comforts. Thus, to be blessed is to seek God's will for our eternal good, to be transformed by His presence, and to share in the spiritual inheritance reserved in heaven. We are called to focus on these eternal blessings, using any abundance to serve others, and to live in anticipation of the profound spiritual rewards promised to the faithful.
Conditions for Blessings
Sermonette by Martin G. CollinsWhen people test God's promises, they come to appreciate the blessings which follow obedience to His laws. Most of the blessings we receive today are spiritual.
Are You Missing Out On Blessings?
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMaterial prosperity is frequently mistaken for the measure of divine favor, yet the true blessings God bestows are spiritual in nature and must be evaluated by His standards rather than visible wealth or comparisons with others. God promises abundant blessings to those who obey His laws, including tithing, yet these blessings often manifest as inner peace, godly character, faith, hope, and the fruits of the Holy Spirit rather than immediate material increase. Physical circumstances such as poverty, trials, or limited resources do not indicate a lack of blessing; many whom God calls remain in humble conditions, and the early church in Judea required aid from fellow believers while enduring persecution. Spiritual blessings are recognized through active obedience and the testing of God's way of life, as illustrated by tasting and seeing that the Lord is good. This requires diligent effort to apply every precept, keep the commandments without turning aside, and live by faith that perceives unseen realities. Contentment arises from wanting what one has rather than coveting what others possess, since envy distorts judgment and prevents gratitude for the gift of life itself and every additional good thing received from above. The emphasis of both Old and New Covenants is not on physical abundance but on seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Those who do so receive every spiritual blessing in Christ, become heirs of eternal life, and obtain the strength and joy that endure even in affliction. By measuring blessings according to God's invisible, eternal standards rather than temporary possessions, believers avoid the spiritual dangers of covetousness and discover that faithfulness to opportunity is rewarded with the greater riches that truly matter.
The Third Tithe Blessing
Sermon by David C. GrabbeThe blessing requested at the close of the third tithe year extends beyond any individual and rests upon the entire nation when its members have faithfully discharged their duty. The declaration in Deuteronomy 26:15 therefore asks God to look down from His holy habitation and bless His people Israel together with the land He swore to give them. This national scope arises because the third tithe itself was kept according to a common schedule that aligned the whole people in sacrificial provision for the vulnerable, an arrangement that mirrored the shared observance of Sabbaths and the year of release. Under the New Covenant the same principle applies to the spiritual nation, yet the nature of the requested blessing rises accordingly. Access to God's throne now opens the way for spiritual gifts and favor that surpass the physical protection and agricultural abundance sought by ancient Israel. The declaration therefore invites those who have completed the third tithe to ask for far more than material security: for God's favor in healing the present breach between the spiritual nation and Himself, for willingness to anoint eyes that recognize spiritual poverty, for grace to obtain gold refined in the fire and white garments of true righteousness, and for the oneness with the Father and the Son that Christ Himself requested in John 17. Such petitions acknowledge that the spiritual sanctuary remains in disgraced circumstances while the people remain scattered, and they recognize that only an act of God can restore the unity and witness He desires. By tying the request to wholehearted obedience in every commandment, the third tithe declaration shows that spiritual blessing cannot be isolated from comprehensive faithfulness; any neglect of other duties toward God or neighbor renders the petition unacceptable. Thus the blessing sought at the end of the third tithe year becomes an avenue for the spiritual nation to seek its own restoration and the deeper unity that flows from alignment with God.
Preparing For Our Spiritual Inheritance
Sermonette by Ryan McClureBoth the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers started with similar fortunes, but the direction of the two founders and their immediate family led to different outcomes.
The Sabbath: Redemption
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod has blessed us with the Sabbath, a period of holy time, when He redeems us from the clutches of our carnality and this evil world.
Offerings and Taxes
Sermonette by Richard T. RitenbaughDeuteronomy 16:16 does not specify the exact amount of the offering, but does ask us to make a thoughtful recollection of the benefits received from God.
Doing Righteousness
Sermon by Kim MyersGod's church, because it co-exists with the unrighteousness of the world, is in danger of becoming corrupted or leavened by the world's example.
Remaining Unleavened
Article by John O. ReidWe often put matters behind us once we finish with them, but we cannot afford to do this with the lessons we learn from the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
New Covenant Priesthood (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWithout thanksgiving and praise, our prayers degenerate into the 'gimmes' with the emphasis on the self. We must give God thoughtful thanks in every circumstance.
A Cheerful Giver
Sermonette by John W. RitenbaughGod requires an offering at the holy day observances so that His people do not appear before Him empty-handed. This responsibility moves beyond a mere business transaction when viewed through the New Covenant, where generosity must be given cheerfully rather than grudgingly or from compulsion. God loves such a cheerful giver and responds by making all grace abound toward that person, supplying every sufficiency in all things so that there may be abundance for every good work. This response includes both physical and spiritual blessings, for He multiplies the seed sown and increases the fruits of righteousness. Those fruits encompass the spiritual qualities of love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, meekness, and self-control, enabling further growth in every aspect of Christian life. Cheerful generosity also promotes God's glory as others recognize His hand in the giving, offer thanksgiving, and pray for the welfare of the giver. In this way the simple act of offering becomes a test of obedience to the gospel of Christ that yields enduring spiritual enrichment and draws the recipient into deeper fellowship with God.
Numbers (Part One): Journey in the Desert
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod never says the Christian life would be easy or that life would always be fair. Difficulties and tests are given to test our hearts and promote humility.
Are You Living an Abundant Life?
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughIf Christianity is lived the way Christ intended, rather than as represented by media caricatures, it is one of the most exhilarating and abundant lifestyles.
Appearing Before God (Part Three)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeGod is not after our pocketbooks, and those of His servants who emulate Him will not be either. He is interested in our character and our regard for Him.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Six)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God wants us to use wisdom to change ourselves, humbly replacing our perspective with His perspective. God gives wisdom as a component of His grace.
The Providence of God (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughCalamities, trials, anxiety, evil, and calamities, as well as blessings, happen to Christians in order to become fashioned and molded into God's image.
Grateful For Reconciliation
Sermonette by Richard T. RitenbaughWe must remember what we were and how far God has brought us out of that place, pulled out of the muck and brought into His glory.
The Fear of God (Part Four)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe fear of God is the first line of defense, keeping us from profaning God's name, tarnishing the image of the Lord, and defending us from pain and/or death.