SEMESTER 6
392 – Count Your Blessings
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: ECCLESIOLOGY VI (HYMNOLOGY) LESSON # 92
THE DOCTRINES AND EFFECTS OF CHURCH MUSIC – COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
Read: Heb. 13:1-6
, Ps. 68:18-20, Phil. 4:19
INTRODUCTION:
1. This song is presenting blessing counting as a spiritual therapy.
2. That is to say, “Refuse to be mentally manipulated by your passing circumstances.”
III: We are often totally mesmerized by the things that are presently happening to us.
3. The suggestion of the writer is “Force your gaze to the bigger picture of life.”
III: More is happening than today’s sinus drainage, and you are part of it.
4. Satan always seeks to put us in depression, and we must learn to rise above it.
5. The solution this song suggests is, “Count your blessing instead of sheep.”
6. This is not just a poem or song, but great spiritual therapy when assailed by trial.
I. IN THE TRIALS (TEMPTATIONS) OF LIFE
1. Remember that what Satan presents as temptation, God is permitting as a trial.
2. Satan purposes your destruction by it, but God uses it to refine your gold.
3. In your own strength you will soon be saying, “I just cannot handle this anymore.”
III: Yesterday was terrible and the day before worse, today is better, but Oh! I dread tomorrow.
4. The more you think, the worse you feel, and the worse you feel, the worse you think.
5. What shall I do? – Eat more? – Change churches? – Jog daily? – Join a movement? – Go to a psychiatrist?
6. This suggestion is count your blessings and it will change your whole outlook.
II. IN THE BURDENS AND SORROWS OF LIFE
1. Your children are living in sin, and they ignore, if not hate, your counsel.
III: Many people who love their children deeply, live with that successfully.
2. A loved one is dying of a loathsome disease. How can I go on?
3. People expect more of me than anyone can possible give.
4. My body is racked with pain and there is no cure for my disease, no one cares.
5. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. These troubles will remain, but you can live with them.
III. WHEN YOU ARE CONSIGNED TO MATERIAL INSUFFICIENCY
1. We know little of it, but many Christians are consigned to poverty.
III: By the Serbian family, the Moslem beggar and the Filipino divers. (Hear on tape.)
1. Christians of past generations have often lived in great poverty.
2. Remember you have promise of daily bread from one with unlimited resource.
3. You also have present blessings which money cannot buy for anyone.
IV. WHEN YOU VIEW LIFE’S OVERALL CONFLICT
1. Have you not thought, “This or that, I could handle, but not all of it together.”
2. Think of the quadruple temptation of our Lord in the wilderness. (Typical)
3. He retreated to the promise of sufficient provision from God, His father.
4. Angles came and ministered to Him and there is no shortage of angles.
5. Count your many blessings. Angles will attend, for this counting is praise.
6. Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end. He will never leave you alone!
7. If depression is your lot, do two things: Try this therapy and preach this back to me.