Circle of Blessings

Title: Circle of Blessings

Scripture Reading: Job 1: 8-10

Focus scripture: Verse10

Introduction

Assurance of salvation

Comfort in Life

Joy of Increasing Privileges

A Hopeful Expectation

Conclusion

Reflection

Discipleship

Prayer/Benediction

Ref: Matthew Henry Commentary, Woman's Study Bible  

#Christianity

#Faith - Based

#Spiritual growth

#Yahweh's  Word

#Bread of Life

#Spiritual nourishment

#Food for the Soul

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome, welcome, welcome to Breakfast with Jesus. This is Evangelist Linda Teresa Benjamin. This episode is number 20 entitled Circle of Blessings. Scriptural reading comes from Job chapter 1, verses 8 to 10, which states, Then the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job that there is none like him on the earth? A blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shun evil. So Satan answered the Lord and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven't you not made a hedge around him, around his household, around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possession have increased in the land. O mercyful and gracious God, speak to me and through me to your children. Let your word go out and accomplish its purpose. The focus scripture today comes from Job chapter 1, verses 10, which read, Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. The book of Job gives us a powerful example of faith and perseverance in the midst of suffering. It reminds us that even faithful people may endure repeated trials. Job is presented as a man of rare integrity, upright, honorable, devoted to Yahweh, and careful to shun evil. Yet, Job became the target of Satan, the accuser of the brethren who challenged the sincerity of Job's devotion. During the heavenly assembly, described in John chapter 1, verses 6, Satan argued that Job served God only because he was protected and blessed. He implied that if God removed the hedge around Job, Job will turn away from him. This echoes Jesus' word to Peter. When Jesus said Satan desires to shift him like wheat. Yet Jesus intercedes for him. In the same way, believers, today we can take comfort in knowing that the Lord surrounds his people with protection, sustains their spiritual lives, and provide for their physical need. Truly, God has placed us within his circle of blessing. He has put a hedge around us. This hedge of protection assures believers of several blessings. One, the assurance of salvation, two, comfort in life, three, the joy of increasing privileges, and four, a hopeful expectation for eternity. Let's look at the circle of blessings in the assurance of salvation. The Bible tells us that we are a chosen people, children of a living God, adopted into the household of faith, joint heirs with Christ, we are a peculiar people. Because of this, we live under God's protecting care. And that care gives us the assurance of salvation. Hallelujah. John chapter 5, verses 24 declares that whosoever hears Christ's word and believes in the one who sent him has everlasting life and has passed from death into life. Romans chapter 8, verses 1 also reminds us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We are secured in eternal life through Jesus Christ, through Yeshua, the Son of God, the Son of Yahweh. And no accusation can overthrow what God has already declared. 1 John chapter 5, verse 11 reminds us that we have a testimony that says we have a gift of eternal life. We are hedged in by God, which assures us comfort in life. Job experienced this hedge of protection around himself, his family, and his household. Satan could not touch Job without God's permission. And we have to assume that Satan was looking for an entrance in order to tempt Job. Because why will he know there's a hedge of protection around everything that belongs to Job? Because he was looking to enter. But praise God, he can enter without God's permission. You see, Satan cannot attack us unless God allows him to it. And he only allows him to go that far. In the same way, those who walk in obedience to God can trust that he remains near to strengthen us, to uphold us, to guide us, to correct us, and to redeem us. God is presence is always with us. Isaiah chapter 41, verses 10 reminds us not to fear, for God is with us. Throughout scripture, God demonstrated this comforting present. He protected Daniel in the lion's den. He walked with the Hebrew children, Meshach, Shadrach, and Abendago in the fiery furnace. He parted the Red Sea for the Israelit to escape Pharaoh. Believers may still face trials. But we have the assurance that no weapon, no weapon formed against us will ultimately prosper. We are sustained and strengthened by Jesus Christ. Let's take a look at the joy of increasing privilege when you are hedged in. Hallelujah. Job's life shows that God not only protects him but also blessed him. Scripture says that God blessed the work of Job's hand and caused his possession to increase. Likewise, when we cast our burdens on the Lord, he will sustain us. He will hear because he hears the righteous. He will lead us according to his goodness. Proverbs chapter 10, 22 reminds us that the blessings of the Lord bring true richness without sorrow. Our joy is found not merely in material things, but in the goodness, the faithfulness, and presence of God. Isn't that wonderful? That we have a joy when we are with the Lord. Our ultimate expectation is the hope of the heavenly kingdom, where we will spend eternity with our Savior Jesus Christ. Philippians chapter 3, verses 20 to 21 teaches that our citizenship is in heaven, and from there we eagerly await the Savior who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body. His hope, this hope assures us that when Christ returns, mortality, our mortal body, will become immortality. As fellow citizens with God, people, we look forward to the city prepared by Yahweh. We are called to set our heart on things above, remembering that our true treasure is not an earth. Our hope is the exchange of the corruptible body for the incorruptible, the natural body for the spiritual body, and the life in the city whose builder and maker is God. Jesus said, If it was not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. That where I am, there you may be also in the city, that heavenly city of God. Because we believe we belong to Christ, we live as his ambassador in this world. We are just passing through. We are sojourners, we are called to reflect his love, serve our neighbors, show kindness, and share the good news of the gospel as ambassadors. What do we do as ambassadors? We share the love of Christ, we share kindness, and we spread the good news. What is the good news? The gospel of Jesus Christ. That he came, he died, and he was resurrected. As churches of Yahweh's kingdom, we are born again Christians. We trust in Jesus' resurrection and sonship, and we seek to live according to the word of God.

SPEAKER_00 10:56

That's what being a citizen of Yahweh means.

SPEAKER_01 11:01

Conclusion. Believers, Christ are surrounded by the providential hand of Yahweh. Christians, believers are in Christ are surrounded by the providential hand of Yahweh and enclosed within his circle of blessing. At times this hedge is seen in the guidance of parents, the discipline of loved ones, the warning of friends, the direction of the church, and the justice that restrains us from evil. God often uses these means to shelter us and keep us. Not only always sheltering, he keeps us from wandering. Because sometimes we tend to wonder, we are like sheep, we like to go astray. So when he put a hedge around us, he keeps us from wandering. At other times, the hedge may include trials and tribulations, and that is just to strengthen our faith and to draw us closer to God. Job's life shows that adversity does not cancel God's favor. After enduring severe testing, Job received double blessing because he maintained his integrity and his piousness. And he declared, when he goes going through all what he was going through, he declared, I know my Redeemer live. And that is a song, brothers and sisters in Christ, that when we are going through trials and tribulation, we have to say, I know that my Redeemer lives.

SPEAKER_00 12:49

I know that he is my refuge and my strength. I know that he gave his life for me. We have to express that faith.

SPEAKER_01 13:10

No matter what season we are going through. Whether we're going through the spring season, whether we are going through a drought season, whether we are in the wilderness, whether we are on the top of the mountain, he gave us an example of how we should go through life when we have trials and when we have blessings. Reflection. How do you feel, view God's hedge of protection in your life? How do you review it? Do you see it as a blessing? Do you see it as a trial? Or do you see it at both? Contemplate on what the hedge of protection is to you. Call to discipleship. Will you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior today and come under his protection? Under the hedge of his protection? He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will just accept you as you are. Give him your heart today and trust that he will keep it in his safe hands. He will keep it in safety. He will not break your heart. He's not a heartbreaker, he's a heart mender. Let's pray. Almighty Elohim. We rejoice that your eyes are upon us and that you have put a hedge of protection around us. We continue to praise you and glorify your name. From the rising of the sun to the going down of the sea. Your name will forever be praised in our mouth. For you are our refuge and our strength, and you are the light of our salvation. O merciful and gracious God, bless us as we leave this blessed Lord, this devotion. Go with us in our going, walk with us in walk with us and keep us safe. And now may the grace of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit rest and abide with us now and forevermore. Continue to follow me on westport.com, iHeart Spotify, and please follow me there. Thank you. See you next week in Jesus' almighty name. Amen.