1. TWO KINDS OF BLESSINGS WHAT KIND ARE THEY?Special blessings in JesusGeneral blessings HOW DO WE GET THEM?Receive in faithAutomatically! WHO BENEFITS?ChristiansEveryone HOW LONG DO THEY LAST?Time and eternityThis life only WHAT ARE THEY BASED ON?Jesus’ Person, life, death, resurrection. Being made in God’s image DO THEY LEAD TO SALVATION? YesNo A BIBLE VERSEJOHN 14/6: Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” MATTHEW 5/45: God makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

2. WAYS THAT GOD BLESSES ALL PEOPLE Work – at its best, interesting and fulfilling. Earth – beautiful and useful. Humans not doing well! Families – EPH 3/14: I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. Friends – just stop and think of your close friends. Government – ROM 13/1: there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. 4 for it is God's servant for your good. Without order in society, chaos rules. Trades unions – improve life for workers. Helping agencies – some Christian, some secular. All alike do good. Arts – beautiful and excellent things for people to get into. Painting, music, writing, theatre. Consumers of art as well as the producers! Again, you don’t have to be a Christian! Intellect – invention, discovery. Medical research for the good of all.

3. WHAT YOU CAN DO Treat other people the way God does. MATT 5/44: But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Recognise these general blessings are NOT second best. They are part of God’s plan for humanity. Don’t ever run them down. Praise God for them. PHIL 4/8: whatever is true, honourable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, if there is any excellence, worthy of praise, think about these things. Get involved where you can. Politicians need our support if they are honourably trying to serve us – even if we don't support their party! Watch channel 81! Pray for them. They are serving God’s wider purposes for human beings.