The Flip Side of Blessings, Part 1

When someone blesses you with never a bad idea to pay it forward. But if possible you should also pay a backward coming your way next Pastor Paul Sheppard talks about the beauty of reciprocity. It is destined for victory message. The flipside of blessings. But first he and I would like to say a quick word about the value of partnership best you know every day on destined for victory, asked people to stand with us financially and in 2021. Our prayers are friends might consider if you haven't done so already becoming a destined for victory partner Pastor Paul joins me right now. Pastor take a moment and tell us why partners are so important to this ministry you I'm glad you brought that up Lane partners are really the lifeline of this ministry without those people committed to giving regularly. We literally could not continue doing what were doing. I guess people hear that a lot, but it is really true without partners. We simply can't get the gospel out to the world. The gospel is free but the plumbing cost an awful lot of money and we want to continue preaching. As I've said in times past we've got generations to reach that have never heard the gospel and they misunderstand when they hear people talk about things like serving the Lord and we need to make it plain to them. The only way I can do it is with my partners, helping us reach them through their generous gifts. I'm so grateful for every single partner and I'm playing in 2021. That God will give us thousands more.

There are many more outlets and many more opportunities we could take advantage of in our ministry but the only thing that holds us back is lack of income. So I'm praying that God is going to touch the heart of many more people to realize that with just your gift of $20 or more.

You can help us remain strong on the stations and outlets were on and reach many more with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor that's what it's all about reaching more people with the gospel and if you make that commitment by pledging $20 or more per month to help us do that will send you with our thanks a couple of great gifts including one of Pastor Paul's most popular CDs. The best of let my people smile. It's a compilation of some of his most humorous illustrations and stories, something that we know will make you laugh and learn at the same time. So, call 855-339-5500 or mail your gift letting us know you wish to become a partner. Our address is destined for victory PO Box 1767, Fremont, CA 94538. You can also sign up by clicking become a partner at the top of the homepage it Pastor Paul.net and if you're already a partner Pastor Paul and I want to say a heartfelt thank you and challenge you to consider becoming a legacy partner. These are special ministry friends were able to support us with gifts of $2500 or more each year. The details are available at the website. Pastor Paul.net or by calling 855-339-5500 and if you can't partner with us today but would like to make a generous donation to destined for victory. We plan to send you Pastor Paul's booklet. Caregivers need to care to all your friends like what you done for your parents like what have you done for the people who got you through the toughest time of your life around and say thank you. That's more than verbal and that's just part of living responsibly when reciprocity is possible we should practice it a few moments ago. I use the phrase pain at backward, which is just another way of saying blessing the person who first blessed you today on destined for victory. Pastor Paul Sheppard takes us to the book of second Kings the story of Elisha to show us what pain it backwards is all about us join him now for today's message. The flipside blessings you know you love me and made it and you don't know how this functional you are. You love being needed to shower.

We have some things that other people may God is made all of us, people who should be a blessing. The other, but this whole thing that some of y'all have. You just trip and think the world would know what to do without you. I dare you to die. I double dare you. We fear we will be double dare you to die. I've said for years, but it will repeat now one these days you're gonna die. Hopefully they will have a service a funeral or memorial. Whatever y'all have chosen and then some code will probably cry if you minimize blessing, but what will happen after that. If you think they can do without you. They don't take you to somebody's mortuary or cemetery. They will drop you in a hall. The gray and then will go back to the charger for my house and if they black they do eat chicken and potato salad as a wee bit awful live on the,, passive. I would submit a funeral with my daddy but said Green Bay to go down the road green beans hello somebody, the last person put a role on your plate, also we all have a role Green Bay one place and is a plus in the corner slice and poundcake and you think they won't know what it will be a mess when they go so you just got life goes on without you. So make the best of the provisions God makes for you so that you can practice self-care and let other people care for you and we need to do. We we need to avail ourselves. Sometimes people's lives are not of high quality of the ship because you don't bill yourself about some of you that I don't have friends. What have you made any. Have you made any plans have to be made. They don't just jump out of nowhere. You gotta make, you must show yourself friendly. Gotta act like you want to know somebody have a conversation and then have to start out all deep.

You have to give them your deepest secrets you will know them but just get started talking about who they are. Let them find out who you are and see if this is a relationship God can blast and so you need to yourself. If you need a if you need a friend. Be proactive if you you are looking for a spouse. You gotta be proactive.

I know I have heard other people's present. Some women think about a family well where you somebody now you are you will available where people are being friendly, being nice to be engaging is not desperate not desperate but me and Jean and so you just need to make some will I influence people because of my broadcast ministry media minister influence people all around the country and parts of the world and that what you think about dating services. I think that wonderful now you have to be design a little bit of everything you have to be designing, but it puts you on a platform where people accidentally run into you and you will have to check each other so you don't if you're not feeling don't do it in the quest from say what I think it can be a blessing.

I know people who are married well because of dating services and so I'm just telling you what can be done if you got a level of faith.

I got some superscript. All I do believe God is going okay. Got you will be at your job, whatever. And God will bring him and introduce you to according to you, I suppose, but pass the saying amen wrong with going on eHarmony just designing prayerfully go on prayerfully go on match.com, eHarmony, Christian, something like that Negroes get together all the people me black people meet.com all right; the girls get together but whatever it is.

Anyway, practice self-care and avail yourself of opportunities to build meaningful relationships with other people.

Right.

That's my long PS for the last message. Now let's get into the current message go with me to second Kings chapter 4, and now we going to delve into the passage where we see what happens after the prophet begins availing himself of this blessing God has given him through this wealthy woman and her husband. Let's look at what happens after their other practical lessons to learn. This is in the shouting part of the series and old men.

I'm not going who not going in the E flat at all. We just can't talk about real life stuff all right.

Look at verses 12 through 17. This is again NIV he said to his servant to Hayes I call the sugar might so we called her and she stood before him.

Elisha said to him tell her you have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you.

Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the Army.

Elisha got clout sealingly talk to the president talk to the leader of the Army. He got clout you need to have clout is a follower, don't shrink back. I don't want to be seen and heard that you need to be seen in her let your light shine be excellent be the best at whatever your job is like God. Open doors and take you in the halls and places it wouldn't otherwise go, but that you're walking in the favor of God and he opens doors for you just like you did for Elisha. All right, so now look at this. Can I speak to the commander of the king, and she said I have a home among my people. I love that you like.

I'm good I'm good. And then Elisha said to his servant. Her Hayes I said she has no son and her husband is old bad combination.

In Bible times. Verse 15 then Elisha said call her so he called her. She stood in the doorway. About this time next year. Elisha said you will hold the sun in your arms know my Lord. She objected, please man of God don't mislead your servant for 17, but the woman became pregnant by her old husband. God is a good God, thank you Jesus in the world has come to became pregnant in the next year.

About that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her. Let me make the first of of the few points in this section of our series point number one shut this down when reciprocity is possible we should practice it. When reciprocity is possible we should practice it will I mean I mean when you can give him thanks and appreciation for what you have received if I can bless someone who has blessed me I should do it. That's what I like to know when he same send you so good to me. See, a lot of Christians are awfully pious and dense equipment to roles is something I can bless you and me, so I will get back to you. You are only given one thing you know is a blessing and a blessing. I will have to get blast back from you on the side. If you receive the blessing it makes perfect sense for you to say like Eli submitted want to express my appreciation and that's what's going on reciprocity when it's possible we should practice that don't you realize and don't you remember that David long after his best friend Jonathan was day.

David is walking around saying who was alive from the family of Jonathan and his dad sold out his bed so was hardly a blessed but was his boy while Saul tried to kill him.

Saul's own son Jonathan made sure he stayed alive and so he's walking around Jonathan's bed. Saul's bed life is moved on. He's the king but he still say was so good to me.

The poor shepherd boy when you first meet him and they may come against him as well his friend. They will be right back with more of today's destined for victory message from Pastor Paul Sheppard, senior pastor, destiny Christian Fellowship in Fremont, California.

Remember you can always listen to the broadcast on demand@pastorpaul.net that's Pastor Paul.net and there to find a host of great resources or online store when the shipment I woman blessed Elisha he blessed her right back but she was about to find out that sometimes blessings come with great responsibilities is Pastor Paul and the rest of today's message. The flipside of blessings and so Harry is now years later on the king I'm in charge of everything on the show. Jonathan in a way that he'll never sleep thickly desires to bless him, even in legacy. So how can I be a blessing to and he finds out because he inquires when you know Jonathan had a boy who when he was just a toddler had a terrible accident and he is crippled in both legs, both he crawls around he is crippled. This figure, and when David heard that all exit, go get a winter little bar and got son muffin. The chef is his name and brought him to the Kings Thomas and the king looked at him and he said just I don't even care all he called himself a and David say you understand your dad and I will boys monitor time.

That was my dutiful real. I might as well be your uncle David don't call me in the king but his uncle David and I will take care of you because of what your dad meant to me and he said you will from now you will always eat table. I'm going to make your life far better. I wish I could heal you everything I can do one of your need to be met one of your bills is going be paid because of the love I have for your father. Let me tell you something that's biblical with you. You need to turn around and find a way to blessed. What have you done for your friends lately. What have you done for your parents lately. What have you done for the people who got you through the toughest time of your life do you need to turn around and say hey thank you that's more than verbal and that's just part of living responsibly when reciprocity is possible we should practice it. That's what he likes doing when he gave that prophecy under the anointing of God, but it would never come forth. Had he not even inquired what can I do when he found out what she didn't see has no son, husband he checked in on high, and God put his word-of-mouth and as a result, she got pregnant, so practice reciprocity whenever you can listen to the next practical lesson here.

Look at the first three words of verse 18 just the first three words the child grew that goes on. That's fine. But before he gets out to his father and the reapers. I want to zoom in on the practicalities of what God is doing through Elisha's life so he gave him this word of prophecy for this woman who had never borne a child. She bears a son and the child grew. Point number two with blessings come responsibilities with blessings come responsibilities. Blessings are all fun and games.

Blessings are all cookies and Kool-Aid going back to my childhood. I only know this is still likely little packets called about a color you want already not as reason I want to take time and sit through some subtleties in the text is because I see a bunch of believers these days who just think walking by faith is the ceiling and committed to being a balanced shepherd in the family of God as a leader as a pastor I have to leave then feed the flock you a healthy diet.

I can't let you believe stuff just because it's fun to believe it. Just because God gives you a blessing, but Hassan been hard work, the child grow. See, that's all you see the child zoom in. How many I don't know the child remains the child You whole bunch of nights. Somebody the child was crying you're trying to sleep.

The child was with Karen on this. All our jaw had to take shifts. It means that the child had to be fed at a time that you had scheduled a feeding. It means the child had to be taught in me. The child had to be played with when you were tired and me. The child had to be cuddled and included nurtured in all and you you want a bright and there is no in certain seasons.

Apparently, there is no such thing. You stop every now and then somebody you know bath or shower can just feel like God himself. But you called this child taken up all my time all my the child grew means that blessing had a whole you have to just make so much for being here for Pastor Paul Sheppard's message.

The flipside of blessings. For more on the destined for victory ministry to contact us for prayer to find out how you can request Pastor Paul's booklet care for the caregivers please visit Pastor Paul.net that's Pastor Paul.net but miracles don't mean being no misfortune misfortunes in our lives don't mean God doesn't work miracles you got understand that both happen in the kingdom economy that's next time I Pastor Paul Sheppard shares his message. The flipside of blessings.

Until then, remember he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion in Christ, you are destined for victory