Sermon Illustrations: Blessing

For those of us who were born in cold countries like Wales, we know what it's like to be cold. It's snowing outside, and it's freezing in bed. And all you want to do is spend your life in front of the fireplace. Imagine what it's like then, when you go to the kitchen sink to get a drink of water, turn on the tap and nothing comes out. There's plenty of water; after all, all it does is rain. And there's nothing wrong with the water supply, or the pipes. But there is a blockage in the pipes. The water has frozen. Sin blocks God's blessing, but obedience to God releases His blessing.

There are two paths in life. One is the path of obedience and blessing. The other is the path of disobedience. And the path that we travel on is our choice. If we're travelling on the path of disobedience, we can't say, "God's withholding His blessing from me." He doesn't need to withhold it. We are not on the path of obedience and blessing. If we want to choose the path of disobedience where there's no blessing, then that's up to us. But if we choose the path of obedience, that's where the blessing is. The path of blessing may be tough at times, but it's still the path of blessing.

An email I received: May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $200 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips! May your clothes smell of success like smoking tyres and may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy. May the problems you had forget your home address.

When God opens the windows of heaven to bless us, the devil will open the door of hell to blast us. God's smile means the devil's frown.