Where Are The “Blessings”?
By Douglas R. Laird
INTRODUCTION:
Have you ever asked yourself or been asked where are all the blessings that were supposed to take place when someone becomes a Christian? If this has been your experience or if the application of Biblical principles has only made life more complicated and with less than expected “positive” results, then this book may be a great source of comfort and inspiration for you. Such issues as to why seemingly horrible things happen to decent people; the need to discern the divine purposes of such suffering; why and when God sends or allows adversity to enter the lives of His children, are among the issues addressed and explained from a Biblical perspective. The contents of this book will both challenge and strengthen your faith. The information contained will describe the Scriptural means available to all believers enabling them to overcome the adversities of life as they execute the spiritual life that follows salvation and receive the associated blessings.
Special Acknowledgment
The author of this book wishes to acknowledge
the Doctrinal Ministry of Pastor Robert R. McLaughlin of
Grace Bible Church of Somerset, Massachusetts.
Pastor McLaughlin has greatly contributed to the spiritual edification in the life of this author,
without which the writing of this book
may have never been made possible.
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CHAPTER ONE: IS IT ADVERSITY FOR ADVANCEMENT OR DISCIPLINE SENT FROM GOD?
CHAPTER TWO: THE BLESSINGS OF HAPPINESS
CHAPTER THREE: HOW VOLITION EFFECTS THE BLESSINGS OF GOD
CHAPTER FOUR: THE BLESSINGS OF A HOUSE THAT THE LORD
BUILDS
CHAPTER FIVE: THE BLESSINGS RESERVED FOR HEAVEN
CHAPTER SIX: THE BLESSINGS OF SALVATION
CHAPTER SEVEN: THE BLESSINGS OF SANCTIFICATION
CHAPTER EIGHT: THE BLESSINGS OF THE “THORN IN THE FLESH” (2Cor. 12: 7 NASB).
CHAPTER NINE: THE BLESSINGS OF CHRISTIAN ORIENTED
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
CHAPTER TEN: THE BLESSINGS OF THE SPIRITUAL ARMOR FOR THE
SPIRITUAL WARFARE THAT FOLLOWS SALVATION
CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE BLESSINGS OF KNOWING YOUR
WEAKNESSES
CHAPTER TWELVE: GOD’S BLESSINGS AND OUR EXPECTATIONS
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE BLESSINGS OF DYING GRACE
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: THE BLESSINGS OF NOT DOING WHAT
COMES NATURAL TO US
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: THE BLESSINGS OF SUBMITTING TO AUTHORITY.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: THE BLESSINGS OF ATTENDING A SPIRIT FILLED
LOCAL ASSEMBLY
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: THE BLESSINGS BESTOWED UPON A “NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD” (Psalms 33:13 NASB)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: THE BLESSING OF TIME
CHAPTER 19: CLOSING COMMENTS BY THE AUTHOR
“Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible (R), Copyright
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman
Foundation. Used by permission”
--------------------------------------------------Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International
Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers
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Where Are The “Blessings”?
By Douglas R. Laird
CHAPTER ONE
Is It Adversity For Advancement Or Discipline Sent From God?
Before we can receive, understand, and appreciate the true blessings of God, we must develop spiritual maturity in order to be in a position for God to bless us both in time and in the eternal state.
For the most part, spiritual maturity is developed and advanced the most during times of adversity. Understanding the nature and the purpose of adversity that God sends or allows to enter the life of the child of God will go a long way in understanding how and when the true blessings of God are to be received
There are two primary reasons for the adversity that is sent or allowed to come into the life of a believer. If we are to receive the blessings of God, it is very important to first determine which of the two primary sources of adversity it is that we are experiencing at any given time in our walk with God.
The two different sources of adversity require totally different responses if we are to benefit from the adverse events and circumstances that become a part of our lives.
The first is source of adversity is discipline that is sent from God. For the purpose of this discussion, discipline that is sent from God is a reference to circumstances and events that God either sends or allows to take place in the life a believer that brings adversity into the life of a believer for the purpose of corrective action.
Discipline that is sent from God is not a demonstration of His wrath , but of His love (Rev.. 3:19).
Discipline that is sent from God can be experienced in various degrees of intensity. It may come to the believer in such forms as mental distress (1 Sam. 16:15) and up to and including physical death.(Acts. 5: 5,9,10/1 Cor. 11:29,30).
As we spiritually mature, we will find that in the lives of believers the discipline that is sent from God that is received will not be anything as dramatic as physical death resulting in a bolt of lightening sent from Heaven. (This is not to exclude such an event!).
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