Count Your Blessings

Thankful for Family - Everyone Counts

Sunday November 22nd, 2020 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

Numbers 26

THE MESSAGE

God counts every single individual in a family. He counts us one by one because He loves us. Love your family and choose to live a life of gratitude.

THE BIBLICAL CONTEXT

And it came to pass, after the plague, that the Lord spoke to Moses and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying: "Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel from twenty years old and above, by their fathers' houses, all who are able to go to war in Israel." So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, saying: "Take a census of the people from twenty years old and above, just as the Lord commanded Moses and the children of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt" (Numbers 26:1-4)

Key Word: Census (S'u et rosh-literally, "Lift up the head")

1. COUNTING IS AN EXPRESSION OF LOVE

Who Counts? Everyone Counts

Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel (Numbers 26:2)

1. God ordered the first census in human history as a sign of His love.
2. God ordered a census to show his desire to enhance their confidence and feelings of self-worth.

Lift up the head of each individual, call out their names and let them know you love them.

2. COUNTING BECAUSE YOUR ARE PRECIOUS

What Counts? Count What Is Precious

...by their fathers' houses (Numbers 26:2)

1. Count each moment with your family everyday.
2. Count the precious moments to live a life of gratitude.

Lift up the head of each individual, tell them they are precious to God.

3. COUNTING TO ADD VALUE

How To Count? Count To Add Value

These are those who were numbered of the children of Israel: six hundred and one thousand, seven hundred and thirty (Numbers 26:51)

1. Count what good things are added to you
2. Count how the person adds value to your life.

Lift up the head of each individual, acknowledge how they add value to your life

4. COUNTING BECAUSE YOU ARE PART OF GOD'S PLAN

Why Count? You Are God's Custom-Made Plan

...from twenty years old and above,...all who are able to go to war in Israel (Numbers 26:2) "Everyone of the children of Israel shall camp by his own standard, beside the emblems of his father's house (Numbers 2:2)

1. God counts everyone to accomplish His plans.
2. The God-given purpose for every individual is custom-made by God.
3. Only you can carry your flag- your calling is custom made just for you.

Lift up the head of each individual, point them in the right direction to fulfill the plan only he or she can fulfill.

5. COUNTING TO ENHANCE THE FAMILIES, TRIBES, AND COMMUNITY

When To Count? Count Everyday.

To these the land shall be divided as an inheritance (Numbers 26:53)

The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel (Exodus 30:15)

1. God counts everyone, to enhance families, tribes, and communities,
2. God counts the rich and the poor as equals.
3. The family is only as strong as the individual, so enhance everyone in the family.

Lift up the head of each individual, let them know that they are special, that they matter, and that they count everyday.

6. COUNT ON GOD

Whom To Count On? Count On God In Everything

...the children of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt (Numbers 26:4)

...according to the number of names individually (Numbers 1:2)

1. God knows your name,
2. You are not just a statistic, a number.

Lift up your head and look to God. You can count on Him always.

APPLICATION

• 1. Affirmation: Affirm the gifts and calling of each family member.
• 2. Acknowledgment: Acknowledge his or her value, place, and presence within the family.
• 3. Action: Act on the affirmation and acknowledgement of each family member.