Living a Blessed Life, In Balance

Text: 3 John 1:2-4, Jeremiah 29:11-13
Preacher: Ptr. Sael Anota
Service: Morning Service
Focus: Maturity/Fellowship
Monthly Theme: “Unfolding God’s Abounding Blessing”

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Life is All About Balance

Life is like walking on a tightrope - we must master the art of maintaining balance while navigating the high-tensioned wire called life. The key is balance. As Albert Einstein wisely said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep on moving forward.”

Balance is essential in every area of our existence. When things are out of balance, there is a great tendency for things to get worse and not work properly.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” — 3 John 2

The Quest for Success and Its Dangers

Every person desires to become successful, prosperous, and rich - even Bible-believing, God-fearing Christians desire this for specific purposes. Unfortunately, because of ignorance, misinformation, and faulty wisdom, people have made crazy decisions that they still regret or are paying consequences for today.

“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil…” — 1 Timothy 6:9-10

Some have gone to extremes to get rich, falling into temptations and snares. We sometimes go to extremes when we want something badly, but when things are out of balance, disaster follows.

The Danger of Extremes

Balance is crucial because extremes lead to problems:

Physical Extremes

• Too much eating makes you fat; too much dieting makes you skinny
• Too much stress makes you weak; too much rest makes you lazy
• Too much spending makes you a shopaholic; too much saving makes you a hoarder

Spiritual Extremes

• Too much emphasis on prosperity doesn’t necessarily mean God’s favor
• Too much emphasis on poverty as closeness to God is equally erroneous
• Too much focus on spiritual matters while refusing to discuss practical needs is unhealthy

Both extremes are not good ways to understand how God’s Kingdom operates. We must unfold God’s abounding blessings by living a blessed life in balance.

God’s Concern for Our Financial Well-being

The theme of Christianity is not about prosperity or money alone, but God knows that while we’re on Earth, our main concerns and worries usually revolve around financial provision. This is why Jesus talked extensively about money matters:

Jesus and Money

• 16 out of 38 parables Jesus taught deal with possessions and money
• The Bible has 500 verses on prayer and faith
• But over 2,350 verses on money and possessions

These statistics reveal that God wants us to know that our concerns are also His concerns. He talked more about money matters because money matters to Him.

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” — John 14:13

Multi-Dimensional Prosperity

The prosperity of God is multi-dimensional. It is God’s will for us to prosper:

• Financially - having our material needs met
• Physically - enjoying good health
• Spiritually - having our souls prosper

This is the three-part blessing of being obedient to His will and commands. God’s success plan for humanity encompasses the prospering of spirit, soul, and body with both spiritual and physical blessings.

God’s Thoughts Toward Us

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” — Jeremiah 29:11

It is God’s will for us to live a blessed life, not only in heaven but also here on Earth. His thoughts toward us are thoughts of peace, prosperity, and hope.

God’s Supernatural Ability

“Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us.” — Ephesians 3:20 AMP

God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or think. His power is unlimited, and His desire is to bless His people beyond measure.

Seven Supernatural Blessings

God wants to release seven supernatural blessings to those who honor Him:

1. Double Portion (Joel 2:23)
2. Financial Abundance (Joel 2:24)
3. Restoration (Joel 2:25)
4. Miracles (Joel 2:26)
5. God’s Divine Presence (Joel 2:27)
6. Blessings Upon Your Family (Joel 2:28)
7. Deliverance (Joel 2:32)

These blessings are available to believers who walk in obedience and honor God with their lives.

The Church: Blessed Beyond Measure

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world…” — Ephesians 1:3-4

The Church is blessed beyond measure with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. We have been chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him in love.

God’s Challenge: Tithing and Offerings

The Divine Challenge

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” — Malachi 3:10

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.” — Luke 6:38

The Purpose of Tithing

Tithing and offerings are God’s management program for His church. He doesn’t need our financial or material things - everything already belongs to Him. He asks for 10% of everything (time, talents, treasures) as a sign of acknowledgment of this fact.

Key principles about tithing:

• Money is not our problem; management of it is
• Tithing is not about money; it’s about management
• It’s about our ability to set aside, our will, our control, our discipline
• God consistently says: put aside 10% of everything for My purpose

The Path to Prosperity

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” — Joshua 1:8-9

The path to true prosperity involves:

• Meditating on God’s Word day and night
• Observing and doing what is written
• Being strong and courageous, not afraid or dismayed
• Trusting that God is with you wherever you go

“So keep the words of this covenant and obey them, so that you may prosper and be successful in everything that you do.” — Deuteronomy 29:9 AMP

Living in Balance

To live a blessed life in balance, we must:

Avoid Financial Extremes

• Don’t worship money or make it your god
• Don’t despise money or refuse to manage it wisely
• Practice good stewardship while trusting God’s provision

Maintain Spiritual Balance

• Don’t become so heavenly minded you’re no earthly good
• Don’t become so earthly minded you forget eternal things
• Keep both spiritual and practical matters in proper perspective

Practice Wise Management

• Honor God with your tithe and offerings
• Make wise financial decisions guided by biblical principles
• Trust God’s provision while exercising personal responsibility

Declaration of Balanced Blessing

Make this declaration: “I choose to live a blessed life in balance. I will not go to extremes in my pursuit of success or in my spiritual life. I trust God’s multi-dimensional prosperity for my spirit, soul, and body. I will honor Him with my tithe and offerings, knowing that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all I can ask or think.”

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Conclusion: The Blessed Life in Balance

God’s desire is for you to prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers. This is not about choosing between spiritual blessing and material provision - it’s about experiencing God’s complete blessing in every area of your life.

Balance is the key. When we maintain proper balance between:

• Spiritual growth and practical living
• Trusting God and taking responsibility
• Receiving blessing and being a blessing
• Faith and wisdom in financial matters

We position ourselves to experience the fullness of God’s abounding blessings. Remember, God’s thoughts toward you are thoughts of peace and prosperity. His challenge stands: prove Him in your giving, and He will open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings you cannot contain.

Live blessed. Live balanced. Live in the fullness of God’s abundant provision.

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“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” — Ephesians 3:20-21