Church of 

the Lion

Good Sunday Morning — August 30, 2026

Universal Life Church — Wayne Adams

Today's Message: Are You Truly Blessed by God?

Good Sunday morning.

The message this morning is a question every Christian should seriously consider:

Are you truly blessed by God?

A lot of people say, “I am blessed.” They point to the new car in the driveway, the great job, the new house, the successful business, and the money in the bank.

There is nothing inherently wrong with having money or material possessions. The question is: Is that what Jesus meant by being blessed?

The New Testament gives us a very different picture of blessing.

Consider Zacchaeus. Luke tells us that Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and that “he was rich” (Luke 19:2). Yet when Zacchaeus stood before Jesus, he said:

“Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”
— Luke 19:8 (KJV)

Notice his words: “I give.” One interpretation of the present-tense language is that Zacchaeus was describing an ongoing practice of generosity. Scripture does not tell us his annual income, so we cannot assign him an exact modern salary. But Scripture deliberately tells us that this chief tax collector was rich.

Think about the principle.

If you possess tremendous wealth while proclaiming how financially “blessed” you are, how much of that blessing is reaching the poor?

When was the last time you looked at what God has placed in your hands and asked, “How much of this can I use to help someone else?”

Jesus challenged the rich young ruler even more radically:

“If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”
— Matthew 19:21 (KJV)

Jesus did not tell him to accumulate more so everyone could see how blessed he was.

Jesus pointed him toward treasure in heaven.

What Does the Bible Call a Blessing?

Look at Matthew 5:3–12 — the Beatitudes.

Jesus calls the poor in spirit blessed. He calls those who mourn blessed. He calls the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those persecuted for righteousness blessed.

What are their blessings?

The kingdom of heaven.

Comfort.

Mercy.

Being called children of God.

And ultimately, seeing God.

Jesus isn't describing bigger houses, newer automobiles, or larger bank accounts. He is describing spiritual and eternal blessings.

Jesus makes the contrast even sharper in Luke:

“Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.”
— Luke 6:20 (KJV)

Jesus also calls those who hunger, weep, and suffer rejection for His sake blessed.

Then comes a warning:

“But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.”
— Luke 6:24 (KJV)

That should make every Christian think carefully before pointing to material wealth as proof that God favors them.

Being wealthy does not automatically mean someone is condemned, just as being poor does not automatically make someone righteous. The issue is where your heart is and whom you serve.

Jesus said:

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth…”
— Matthew 6:19 (KJV)

Instead, He tells us to lay up treasures in heaven, because:

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
— Matthew 6:21 (KJV)

Jesus also warned:

“a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
— Luke 12:15 (KJV)

He immediately tells the story of the rich fool in Luke 12:16–21.

The man's land produces abundantly. He has so much that he decides to tear down his barns and build bigger ones. He plans to store everything for himself and live comfortably for years.

God calls him a fool.

Why?

Because he had accumulated earthly treasure while failing to become “rich toward God.”

Jesus repeatedly redirects us away from earthly wealth toward eternal treasure.

Matthew 19:21–24, Mark 10:21–25, and Luke 18:22–25 tell us about the rich young ruler. Jesus tells him to give to the poor, obtain treasure in heaven, and follow Him. Jesus then warns His disciples about how difficult riches can make entering God's kingdom.

Paul likewise tells us where Christian blessing is located:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”
— Ephesians 1:3 (KJV)

There is the blessing.

In Christ.

Peter says Christians have been given:

“an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven…”
— 1 Peter 1:4 (KJV)

James says:

“Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?”
— James 2:5 (KJV)

And Jesus tells the suffering church at Smyrna:

“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)…”
— Revelation 2:9 (KJV)

Think about those words:

Poor — but rich.

That alone should tell us that God's definition of riches is not the world's definition.

Galatians 3:8–9 and 13–14 explains that through Christ the blessing of Abraham reaches the nations and that:

“we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Romans 4:6–8 describes another tremendous blessing: having our sins forgiven and not counted against us.

Those are New Testament blessings.

Forgiveness.

Salvation.

The Holy Spirit.

Faith.

Mercy.

Eternal life.

An inheritance in heaven.

Knowing Jesus Christ.

What Kind of Fruit Is Coming From Your Life?

Some people profess Christ publicly while their everyday conduct tells another story.

James asks:

“Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?”
— James 3:11 (KJV)

Then:

“Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.”
— James 3:12 (KJV)

James is telling us to examine what is coming from us.

Jesus gives an equally serious warning:

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
— Matthew 7:21 (KJV)

Calling Jesus “Lord” is not merely about words coming from our mouths.

Jesus said:

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
— Matthew 7:20 (KJV)

We should therefore examine ourselves.

Is Christ changing us?

Do we love others?

Do we forgive?

Do we care about the poor?

Do we desire God's Word?

When we sin, do we repent?

Are we following Jesus, or are we merely using His name?

My Testimony

I know something about needing Jesus because I know where I came from.

For ten years, I was involved in black magic. My wife prayed for me.

Then, in 2012, I became seriously ill and was rushed to the hospital. The doctor told me that I might die. He had me sign paperwork authorizing emergency surgery if the first course of treatment failed.

Thankfully, the treatment worked, and I left the hospital that night. But the doctor told me they thought I might have cancer.

I went home with a bitter attitude.

One evening, I went upstairs into the bedroom. I experienced the room changing in a way that I understood as spiritual. I believed Jesus was there, although I could not physically see Him.

I said:

“Lord, You can use me or take me.”

Then there was a tremendous sound that seemed to come from above and strike near the closet behind me. The house shook. My son was downstairs, and he felt the shaking as well.

I asked Jesus to forgive my sins, and I repented.

Before that experience, profanity had dominated my speech. Afterward, something changed. The constant cursing stopped.

That was fourteen years ago.

The black magic left my life.

Did every problem disappear?

No.

Being a Christian does not mean you will never experience trouble again.

Paul himself wrote:

“there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:7 (KJV)

Paul asked God three times to remove his thorn. God's answer was:

“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)

Christians can experience suffering, weakness, sickness, persecution, financial difficulties, and other hardships while still being deeply blessed by God.

That is exactly why material prosperity cannot be our definition of blessing.

Do You Want to Be Born Again?

Jesus said:

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
— John 3:3 (KJV)

Jesus began His public preaching with:

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
— Mark 1:15 (KJV)

Repentance involves turning toward God—turning from unbelief and from the sinful direction of our lives—and believing the Gospel.

John 3:18 tells us:

“he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Jesus also said that the Holy Spirit would convict the world:

“Of sin, because they believe not on me.”
— John 16:9 (KJV)

But simply knowing that Jesus exists is not enough.

James gives us a startling example:

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
— James 2:19 (KJV)

Demons know that God exists.

They know who Jesus is.

Saving faith is more than merely possessing information about Jesus. It means placing your trust in Him.

Paul writes:

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
— Romans 10:9 (KJV)

Jesus Christ gave His life for us. His blood was shed on the cross. He died, was buried, rose from the dead, and reigns today.

If you want to come to Christ today, speak honestly to Him from your heart.

Confess your sins.

Ask His forgiveness.

Turn toward Him.

Believe that Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead.

Trust Him as your Savior and submit to Him as Lord.

Then begin walking with Him. Read His Word. Find a Bible-teaching church. Be baptized and grow in your relationship with Christ.

And when you ask yourself, “Am I blessed?”, don't begin by looking at your automobile, your house, your job, or your bank account.

Look to Christ.

Because the greatest blessing God can give you is not something money can buy.

It is Jesus Christ Himself.