SUNDAY GOSPEL: “The Blessings of the Lord”

Pastor Robb Goodman:

Good morning everyone. My name is Pastor Robb Goodman and I am the senior pastor here at Zion Freedom Fellowship in the beautiful United States of America in Maryland. It’s good to be with you on this beautiful Sunday morning.

I hope that you’re all doing well where you are. And I just want to start off by saying that I was so deeply moved at the passing and the assassination of Charlie Kirk. What a wonderful man he was and is now in the presence of the Lord.

I got so choked up and so emotional and it really affected my entire family. And I’m sorry that he’s gone. Please continue to pray for his wife as many people are doing right now and his children.

Please join Turning Point USA. Me and my family have done that. So, please join his organization. And I believe that God will raise up other men who are going to continue where he left off and continue the work that God called him to do.

He was unique and special in so many ways. I’ve been following him for I don’t know maybe two or three years on YouTube and seen a lot of messages by him and what a phenomenal person he was. I mean just intelligent, unique, full of compassion.

He always shared the gospel with everyone and he told people how to be happy. He would say that happiness is a choice and truly it is. Amen. So please pray for his wife Erica and his two small children.

Thanks be to God. Thank you so much. Well, I’ve got a wonderful message for you today and I will share the title of that message with you in a few minutes.

But let’s pray before I do that.

Heavenly Father, I thank you and I praise you Lord that you are the author and the finisher of our faith. Lord, without faith, it’s impossible to please you. For they that come unto God must believe that you are and that you are a rewarder of those that diligently seek you.

Father, thank you, Lord, that you’ve given us the victory in our Lord Jesus Christ. That death no longer has power over us. Sin no longer has power over us. The enemy no longer has power and authority over our lives.

And yet, even though some of us are walking through very difficult times in our life right now, we know that we know that we know that our God is faithful and he will reward those that diligently seek him.

Lord, I pray that you would give us a spirit of diligence in seeking your face and that we would call upon the name of the Lord, lifting up holy hands everywhere we go. And we are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For it is the power of God unto salvation unto everyone that believes.

Thank you, Lord, for honoring your servants, Lord, that are preaching your gospel in many different nations. Lord, I pray for all of our Zion missionaries and all of the pastors that I know in different countries right now.

I pray that you would strengthen them, that you would unite them in a spirit of faith and unity, that the gospel of Jesus Christ would be preached unto them in the name of Jesus to their people, Lord. Let their people come to know Jesus Christ wherever you place them, Lord, around this earth. Let them bring forth fruit unto salvation.

Thank you, Lord, in Jesus’ name. We praise you and we thank you for this message today. Lord, I ask for your anointing to rest upon me. Your anointing for service that every word that I speak comes forth from the throne of God right now.

Lord, I yield my thoughts to you. I yield my heart to you. I yield my soul to you, Lord, that you would be glorified through and by this message today. Speak through me, Lord. I give you authority to use this vessel that’s sanctified and meet for the Master’s use, prepared unto every good work.

Lord, thank you, Father, that we study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Yes, Lord, teach us how to divide the word of truth.

Let your name be honored and glorified in everything that we do, Lord. Wherever we go, whatever we say, you anoint us, Lord, that our word that comes forth out of our mouths will be your words.

Lord, I thank you that you’ve told me many times, “I have placed my word in your mouth.” Just like you spoke to the prophet Jeremiah, you’ve said the same thing to me, and I receive it, Lord. I honor your word and I give it first place in my life.

Lord, let your name be glorified through this message today as we speak. Lord, unite us in a spirit of faith. And let the brethren and the sisters in the Lord be blessed today through this message.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. And amen.

Well, let me share with you the title of today’s message. The title of today’s message is The Blessings of the Lord. We all need God’s blessings in our lives. Not just material blessings, but in every area of our life, our work, our family, our neighborhoods, our community, and the like.

Especially on our government. Yes, our government needs the blessings of the Lord. And many of our government people have turned their backs on Jesus Christ. They want nothing to do. And you know, it’s sad.

It is really sad what has come in our government. And before President Trump got elected, man, we were heading down a hole, a dark hole quickly and speedily. But thanks be unto God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ because the church of Jesus Christ was praying and the Democrats were not able to win our last election.

Thanks be unto God. Amen. Thanks be unto God.

All right. The Greek word blessed. The Greek word blessed is the word makarios and that is spelled M-A-K-A-R-I-O-S, makarios, which means supremely blessed, happy and fortunate, and it also means to be envied. Happy, fortunate, and to be envied.

Well, you know what? When people look at you and I, they see Jesus Christ in us. At least they should be able to see him. They should notice something explicitly different about you.

A seriousness and a joy, a joy that they don’t have. A carefree attitude where you’re showing love and joy to people. The world does not have that. But you and I, we have the light of God in us. And praise be to God, that light can shine out of us just like it did through Charlie’s life.

He was never ashamed of the gospel. He told many young people on college campuses. He spoke the truth to them. And praise be to God, he showed love and acceptance to them.

And even when people spoke about him and spoke lies, he would speak the truth and forgive them and accept them. That to me is how we need to be because Jesus was like that, was he not? Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

Let the way of thinking that Jesus thought be in you as it was also in Christ Jesus. Amen. So we are supremely blessed, happy, and fortunate, and to be envied.

Pastor Robb Goodman:

Let’s go to Proverbs 10:18–22, and I’m going to read this out of the Amplified Bible.

He who learns from instruction and correction is on the right path of life, and for others his example is a path towards wisdom and blessing. Wow. But he who ignores and refuses correction goes off course, and for others his example is a path towards sin and ruin.

He who hides hatred has lying lips, and he who spreads slander is a fool. Wow. That’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?

All right, let’s go to Proverbs 26. Proverbs 26. And we are going to look at verses 24–26.

He who hates disguises it with his lips and lays up deceit within himself. When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart. Though his hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be revealed before the assembly.

Whoever digs a pit falls into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Now, think about that. Think about what the writer of Proverbs is saying here. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back over on him. You know the scripture says, “Whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap. Whoever sows to the flesh shall of his flesh reap corruption.”

So people in the world that are living for themselves, they don’t care about the Lord, they don’t care what is pleasing in the Lord’s eyes, and they live opposite to what God has spoken. You and I know that that stone they’re pushing will one day roll back on them and it will crush them and grind them to powder.

When the judgment of the Lord comes, I’m telling you folks, that day is coming soon. And there will be those who will be crushed by it. I don’t wish that for anybody.

You know, when I found out who Charlie’s killer was, the first thing I did was pray for his soul because it’s very likely that he may get the death penalty. Now, it took a lot of guts for his dad to turn him in, but praise be to God that he did. Amen.

Oh boy. I’m telling you, what a situation to find yourself in. And his father was a former police officer. His mother worked with handicapped children. He came from a good family.

But the university that he went to was indoctrinating him. That was what Charlie spoke against. He told many students, “You’re wasting your money here. You’re being scammed.” Anyway, I don’t mean to talk so much about Charlie, but it’s been on my heart a lot lately.

A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it and a flattering mouth works ruin. So we know that God has something completely different for us. Amen.

When there are many words, transgression and offenses are unavoidable. But he who controls his lips and keeps thoughtful silence is wise. The tongue of the righteous is like precious silver greatly valued. The heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed and guide many, but fools who reject his wisdom die for a lack of understanding.

The blessing of the Lord brings true riches, and he adds no sorrow to it, for it comes as a blessing from God.

Anyway, the Lord is awesome, isn’t he? He says that the lips of the righteous feed and guide many, but fools who reject God and his wisdom die for lack of understanding. The blessing of the Lord brings true riches, and he adds no sorrow to it, for it comes as a blessing from God. Isn’t that wonderful?

All right, let’s go to Psalm 1. I’m going to read the whole psalm.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. End of story.

The way of the ungodly will perish. It shall not abide forever. But we that love the Lord shall abide in the presence of God throughout all the endless ages of eternity. Praise be to God.

Our God is a mighty God. He’s a mighty, mighty God. And we can blow the shofar in Zion. Sound the alarm. Amen. Blessed be his holy name.

All right, let’s go to Genesis 26 starting at verse 7.

And the men of the place asked about his wife, and he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” because he thought, “Lest the men of the place kill me for Rebecca,” because she was beautiful to behold.

Now it came to pass when he had been there a long time that Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked through a window and saw there was Isaac showing endearment to Rebecca his wife. Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Quite obviously she is your wife. So how could you say she is my sister?” Isaac said to him, “Because I said, lest I die on account of her.”

And Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might soon have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us.” So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

Then Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold, and the Lord blessed him. Remember what the scripture said in Proverbs: the blessing of the Lord makes rich and he adds no sorrow to it. Amen.

So he reaped the same year a hundredfold and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper and continued prospering until he became very prosperous. For he had possessions of flocks, herds, and a great number of servants.

It’s amazing. So the Philistines envied him. Remember what I said? The meaning of the word blessed in the Greek is happy and fortunate. Supremely blessed, happy, fortunate, and to be envied.

Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they filled them with earth. And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”

Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar and dwelt there. And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father.

Now, this is a spiritual concept here. We go back to the former wells of faith and the principles of the doctrine of salvation, and we must make sure that our doctrine is good and right in line with the word of God.

What do you believe? Do you believe the vanities of the world, or do you believe the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ? What influences you the most? The news? The media? Or God’s word?

We must be bold and brave and speak what God wants us to speak.

Pastor Robb Goodman:

For the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them. And Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found a well of running water there.

But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they quarreled with him. Then they dug another well and they quarreled over that one as well. So he called its name Sitnah.

And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

Then he went up from there to Beersheba. And the Lord appeared to him the same night, and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for my servant Abraham’s sake.”

So he built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord, and he pitched his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army. And Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?”

But they said, “We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you.” Wow. “Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.”

Man, isn’t that amazing? This is an amazing story. So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. Then they arose early in the morning and swore an oath with one another. And Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Isn’t that amazing? It came to pass the same day that Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well which they had dug and said to him, “We have found water.” So he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.

Wow. Isn’t that amazing? Absolutely amazing. Wonderful to know and to understand. The multiplied blessings of the Lord rested on Isaac.

Let’s go to Deuteronomy 28:1–8.

And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.

Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.

The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Hallelujah.

Now let’s look at Psalm 103.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

He will not always strive with us, nor will he keep his anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep his covenant, and to those who remember his commandments to do them.

The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, you his angels, who excel in strength, who do his word, heeding the voice of his word. Bless the Lord, all you his hosts, you ministers of his, who do his pleasure. Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Isn’t that awesome? Praise be to God.

Let’s now go to Genesis 49:22–26.

Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well; his branches run over the wall. The archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him, and hated him. But his bow remained in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob.

By the God of your father who will help you, and by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of your father have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.

Isn’t that amazing? All these words came to pass.

Now let’s go to Proverbs 28 starting at verse 20.

A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. To show partiality is not good, because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him. He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue.

Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, “It is no transgression,” the same is a companion to a destroyer. He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered. He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

When the wicked arise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase. Wow.

Let’s go to Psalm 21:1–11.

The king shall have joy in your strength, O Lord, and in your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips.

For you meet him with the blessings of goodness; you set a crown of pure gold upon his head. He asked life from you, and you gave it to him—length of days forever and ever. His glory is great in your salvation; honor and majesty you have placed upon him.

For you have made him most blessed forever; you have made him exceedingly glad with your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.

Your hand will find all your enemies; your right hand will find those who hate you. You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger; the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.

Their offspring you shall destroy from the earth, and their descendants from among the sons of men. For they intended evil against you; they devised a plot which they are not able to perform.

Therefore you will make them turn their back; you will make ready your arrows on your string toward their faces. Be exalted, O Lord, in your own strength! We will sing and praise your power.

Hallelujah!

Let’s go to Ephesians chapter 1.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world.

You are blessed with every spiritual blessing. Nothing is lacking. Start speaking what God says about you. When the enemy lies to you, you say, “No, devil. I’m blessed with every spiritual blessing.”

Hallelujah!

Now let’s finish in 1 Peter 1:1–9.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.

You who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Hallelujah!

Closing Prayer and Invitation

Father, I ask if there’s anybody watching this message right now that does not know Jesus as Lord and Savior, let them be reconciled to you today.

If that’s you, pray this with me:

“Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God. I believe you came to this earth, died on the cross for my sins, and rose again. I ask you to come into my heart, forgive me of all my sins, and make me born again. I give my life to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

If you prayed that prayer and meant it, you are now a child of God. Write me at [email protected].

This is Pastor Robb Goodman from Zion Freedom Fellowship saying, shalom aleichem. God bless you. I love you in the mighty name of Jesus.

Until next week, have a wonderful, peaceful Sabbath celebration. Amen and amen.