Are Christians' blessings only material, or are they above and beyond the material?
Believers' blessings are not limited to material things; they are above and beyond the material. The material certainly enters in because people are human, but spiritual realities, especially faith, are central. Faith is the God-given ability to believe what God says, and doctrine must come by faith.
Les explains that Christians' blessings are above and beyond the material, even though material things enter in because we are human. He notes believers may not all enjoy perfect health and do not have to, since their blessings transcend physical circumstances. The believers in Greece were abounding in everything, beginning with faith. Les also warns that experiences must not replace faith: doctrine comes by faith, and faith plus doctrine produces experience, while experience without doctrine will not fly and does not please God. Faith itself is God-given ability and power to believe what God says, the basis for studying and understanding the Word. He cautions against bringing Old Testament instructions for Israel, such as Malachi's storehouse giving or animal sacrifices, into operation now.