1:9,10). The same errors which plagued the Israelites and Christians of old are popular in evangelical Christianity today. The difference between these two categories is not that one group has faith while the other does not. (1) What is blessing? But that forgiveness is not always guaranteed, and is usually conditional on our repentance. So too does history and our own experience. Our Lords suffering and sacrificial death were Gods means of blessing us: It is you who are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. For you first, God raised up His Servant, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways (Acts 3:25-26). Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. All of this made no sense to the Jews. Routinely, such letters go in the trash without my even opening them. The Book of Hebrews brings the Old Testament faith into focus and clearly describes the nature of the blessings God promised and for which believers waited in faith. For there are no pains in their death; And their body is fat. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Gods promise to Abraham was not merely the promise of a son. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface: "It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. God gives rain and sunshine to men, and in His grace He delays judgment, giving opportunity for repentance. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Put all the billionaires together. There is no geographic center for Christianity. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Those who identified with Israel and Israels God would also be blessed, as God told Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3). While the Old Testament records many instances in which Israel suffered for their sins, texts like this one in Psalm 44 indicate there are times when Gods people suffer innocently, for His sake (see verse 22). F T But notice that in the list of things that belong to us is death. Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart run riot. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. As Israel trusted in God and obeyed His Law by faith, God poured out the blessings promised in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. These are not always material blessings, however. Theres nothing like that in the New Testament. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. Often, the Old Testament Israelite had a mistaken concept of Gods blessings. The Jews thought of God's blessings in primarily physical and . They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! Humble yourself as Jesus said: "Blessed are the 'poor in spirit': for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 5:3) Read this and the other eight blessings for you as they were explained by Jesus, in Matthew 5, which are keys to unlocking such personal blessings. The Jews of old and many Christians and others today think of Gods blessings in terms of the immediate enjoyment of physical and material pleasures and the absence of pain. It cuts across all ethnicities, all geographies, all politics, nationalities. While we are primarily blessed with all spiritual blessingsin the heavenlies (Eph. These saints also had faith, but their faith resulted in perseverance rather than in success or prosperity. Later Judah and his brothers suffered much over their ill-treatment of Joseph (see Genesis 37-45). O That plan incorporates all things (Romans 8:28), which includes pain, suffering, and sorrow. The prophets suffered themselves and also spoke of the Messiah to come as the One who would suffer for the sins of men (Isaiah 52:13--53:12). And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? The apostle instructed Timothy, having food and raimentlet us be therewith content (I Tim. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. In what ways does God bless only Christians? He also promised Abraham that he would become a blessing to all who would bless him. It is also only in eternity that the curse of God will be fully poured out on sinners. Moms come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing's for sureall moms need to connect with other moms! Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:8-12). God is not the only one who pronounces blessings. (3) Gods blessing is opposed to cursing. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. Peter rejected the thought out of hand. He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. (1) Gods blessing refers to His purpose, pronouncement, and process of bringing about a persons good. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. They suppose prosperity is ones reward for being spiritual and that suffering is the consequence of sin. The true view of temporal blessing seeks the enjoyment of Gods presence whether in pain or pleasure. In the healthiest churches, we find a holy conspiracy between pastors who gladly care for the sheep, and sheep who do what they can so that the pastors might serve joyfully. For example, in Luke 14:1314, he said, When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. I love Jesuss logic: You will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. (10) Blessing and cursing have present manifestations, but they are not fully manifested until the second coming of Christ. Proverbs 10:22 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. The blessings here are plainly associated with happiness and welfare, both for Abram and others. And as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. L Put the bounce back in my step, the smile back on my face, and the dance back in my feet. The rich man spent eternity in hell while Lazarus spent eternity enjoying the blessings God promised in Abraham. (3) What is the relationship between blessing, faith, and obedience? D These are the very ones who would be chided today for their lack of faith. 4:4,5). James 1:2-5 His blessings are offered in the form of a promise, and this promise must be believed by faith (see Genesis 15:1-6). And he said, Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account (Matthew 5:11). In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts. God not only accomplished our salvation by the means of Christs suffering, but He uses suffering to draw men to Himself (Luke 6:20-23). For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.. 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth. For our soul has sunk down into the dust; Our body cleaves to the earth. If we had forgotten the name of our God, Or extended our hands to a strange god; Would not God find this out? When we observe the Lords Supper, we are partaking ofphysical elements, the bread and the cup, which convey aspiritual message (I Cor. Dont have a stingy heart. Humanly speaking, men are blessed or cursed on the basis of their response to Abrahams seed, Jesus Christ (Genesis 12:3; Psalm 24:3-6; 32:1-2; 84:4-5; 89:14-18; John 3:16-18; 14:6; Acts 3:26; Romans 4:6-8; Galatians 3:9, 13-16; 1 John 5:11-12). And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. A Psalm of David. And in so doing, we actually miss the blessing God has for us in affliction. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. And it shall come to pass, if thou . Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. You have entered an incorrect email address! In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession, to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:3-14). 5. If you have not trusted in Gods promise of blessing in Jesus Christ, then you are under the curse of sin. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. We must see that in the midst of our suffering, we are drawn nearer to God, and recognize this as true blessing. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Thats the New Testament pattern: sacrificial generosity and service now; spectacular blessing later at the resurrection. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. And He said, Write, for these words are faithful and true. And He said to me, It is done. The Lord will bless you with full barns, and he will bless everything you do. Deuteronomy 28:2-8 (NCV), I will also bless the Gentiles who commit themselves to the Lord and serve him and love his name, who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who have accepted his covenant. Isaiah 56:6 (NLT), A beautiful palace does not make a great king! "In everything [ not just some things and not just spiritual things] give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (I Thes. Blessings, Physical. Some Christians seem to be saying that we can be assured of receiving all the promises now. In summing up his life before Pharaoh, Jacob gave an account not of unceasing bliss but of much affliction: So Jacob said to Pharaoh, The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their sojourning (Genesis 47:9). But Jesus taught us explicitly not to expect them now. It is I who answer and look after you. - Numbers 6:24-26. I see the term blessed associated with material possessions or family or health. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve; and afterward they will come out with many possessions. Of late I have been having discussions with my friends around what it means to be blessed. Bible Verses About Blessing Others " The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Numbers 6:24-26 Scriptures on Blessing and Favor Blessing and favor are found with the Lord and amongst His People. To those who equated wealth and ease with piety and the blessing of God, the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) was shocking and disturbing. Let that sink in. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. There is a sense in which our suffering bears testimony to the end of sins dominion in our lives (1 Peter 4:1). But Thou hast saved us from our adversaries, And Thou hast put to shame those who hate us. I think the Beatitudes, taken together, provide a beautiful summary of the blessings promised to the followers of Christ: six immeasurable blessings are sandwiched between the summary promise Theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3, 10). For example, Genesis 49:1 . This child was not merely an adopted heir, but Abrahams own son (Genesis 15:1-6). As I conclude this lesson, let me share a quotation by Harold Stigers in his commentary of the Book of Genesis: God designs certain tests and trials in regard to earthly things so that we may see that our inheritance resides in God Himself--in our finding them nothing without Him, and Him everything even without them.104. For You make him most blessed forever; Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. John 14:1-3 His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Psalm 112:1-2 (NIV), Blessed are those who keep my ways. Proverbs 8:32 (NIV), Each of these blessings depends on your not turning aside in any way from the laws I have given you; and you must never worship other gods. Deuteronomy 28:14 (Living), Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law. Psalm 94:12 (NIV), It is sin to despise ones neighbors; blessed are those who help the poor. Proverbs 14:21 (NLT), It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35 (NIV), A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Proverbs 22:9 (NIV), Good people will be generous to others and will be blessed for all they do. Isaiah 32:8 (NLT), Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and gains understanding. Proverbs 3:13 (NIV), A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 28:20 (NIV), The Lords curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. Proverbs 3:33 (NIV), People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell. Proverbs 11:26 (NIV), He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy. Proverbs 14:21 (NIV), Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. Proverbs 16:20 (NIV), An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end. Proverbs 20:21 (NIV), It will go well with those who convict the guilty and rich blessing will come upon them. Proverbs 24:25 (NIV), Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble. Proverbs 28:14 (NIV), The Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. Matthew 16:21-27 A secondary goal is to accomplish the good of those who love God: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). The full and final blessing of God is not accompanied with sorrow. Christians often find their third tithe years to be abundant with all types of blessings and invaluable lessons learned. The accursed were those who were rich, well-fed, and happy. Trust in Him, and you will be blessed. It was not in Abrahams lifetime that the promise of a great nation was fulfilled. Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. Paul says, The world is yours. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Gods earthly blessings were dependent upon Israels obedience to His Law. Whether God in His goodness enables us to succeed, or whether His grace enables us to endure our suffering, let us realize that God is able to make use of suffering to produce blessings. They are His to give; they are also His to withhold. (1 Kings 10:1, 45). Jesus teaching concerning His own suffering and death took His disciples by surprise: From that time Jesus Christ began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other. Romans 1:12 (NLT), You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous. First the trial, then the blessing, the crown. (13) Adversity and suffering is not synonymous with sin and cursing. And instead of telling the world to come to us Come see how I bless my people; God never says that he says, Go go to the world. Some toyed with the thought of turning back into Judaism to escape persecution. Gods common grace is extended to all men, without distinction. C All of us deserve to suffer for our sins. Where Moms Connect is a unique mom's ministry curriculum that brings women together and helps them connect naturally, through discussion, Bible study and fun. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. When Adam and Eve disobeyed the command of God and sinned in the Garden of Eden, sin entered the human race. This was the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:5-7; 13:14-15) whose boundaries were more fully defined in Genesis 15:18-21. The suffering of some saints should be no more troublesome to us than the success of some saints, or even the success of some sinners. Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-6, 13-20; 17:15-21; 26:24; 27:27-29; 28:12-15; 47:9 If Thy law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction (Psalm 119:92). And righteousness from the God of his salvation. We must view such blessing and suffering as temporary and not eternal. If we would understand what in the world God is doing in these days, we must understand what the Bible teaches about divine blessing. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Our Lord Himself took upon Himself the task of serving. (19) Gods promised blessings do not assure us we will escape the wrath of men toward God, but only that we will escape the wrath of God toward men. To have enough faith is to have the means to move God into blessing us as we think best, they say. The son was just the beginning. And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? In the early days of Davids life, he was misunderstood and chided by his brothers (1 Samuel 17:20-30). Blessings, Physical And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles.". Storing up spiritual treasures in heaven is far more important than physical prosperity. As to the first, many will claim that God loves and forgives us all unconditionally. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toilthis is the gift of God. Suffering at the hand of a gracious God is a comfort, for our chastening evidences that we are Gods sons: For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. He leads me beside still waters. Give, and it will be given to you. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused,if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctifiedby the Word of God and prayer (I Tim. "Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways." Psalm 128:1 (NIV) "Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. He suffered because of his impatience in acquiring a son through Hagar. Awake, do not reject us forever. The common factor in all the blessings in the Bible is this: God's Kingdom. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. These were much more perplexing times as we see from the agony of this psalmist: Thou art my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob. Abraham may not have left Haran immediately which would mean that Abraham was younger when the promise of a son was first given to him. Well, normally we do rejoice in a merciful God who forgives. Abraham had a twenty-five year wait for the blessing of a son. He protects them and keeps them alive; he publicly honors them and destroys the power of their enemies. Psalm 41:1-2 (LB). While we are clothedspiritually in Christs righteousness, I wouldnt advise leavinghome physically unclothed. The ultimate good is that which manifests Gods glory. They would do well to give more thought to the blessings of God as defined in Scripture. of Put simply, Gods blessing does not mean that we are free to indulge in every sensual pleasure, but neither does it mean that we must deny every earthly pleasure. Abrahams life had its own trials. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. He is author of. Strengthen and help me, Lord. (9) Blessing or cursing are not necessarily evident in the means God employs to produce His desired goal. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. By faith, these saints conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises,103 shut the mouths of lions, received their dead back to life, and so on. Three Advantages You Gain From Trusting In God, i love belivers portal.very inspiring and informarive, Thanks for the efforts to compile this. Philippians 4:19 trust Jesus. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. From later history, we know that because of Josephs ill-treatment by his brothers, he was enslaved in Egypt. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.
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