Proverbs 10:22 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 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). As we come to the study of divine blessing in our series, we begin by considering Gods promised blessings in the Old Testament. 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! Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. He makes me lie down in green pastures. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. (4) What, if any, are the differences between temporal and eternal blessings? But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you Luke 6:20-28). We ask God to take away the pain and the circumstance. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her. F And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3). 100 When I speak of innocent suffering here, we must all understand that no mortal is ever innocent, save in the blood of Jesus Christ. Are we becoming more like Jesus by the power of the Spirit? It is not that one group is more spiritual than the other. We must see that in the midst of our suffering, we are drawn nearer to God, and recognize this as true blessing. He points them to the true blessings which are in Christ. Our heart has not turned back, And our steps have not deviated from Thy way, Yet Thou hast crushed us in a place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock, in the land that he swore to your fathers to give you. Only with the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ does permanent blessing come into clear focus. God gives rain and sunshine to men, and in His grace He delays judgment, giving opportunity for repentance. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. Blessings, Physical Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. (15) Since divine blessing is based upon the sovereign grace of God, we cannot demand it, and we dare not protest when Gods dealings with us do not appear to be a blessing. We will experience Gods comfort: They shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4). They will likely be a part of an Arab confederation known as "the king of the South" (Daniel 11:40-41 . They think of Gods blessings primarily in terms of that which is physical and material.102 They believe that because Christ has come, every promised blessing can be ours, now, if we but believe and ask for them in faith. I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. (3) Gods blessing is opposed to cursing. 5. 1:9,10). For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Exodus 1:5-22 U In this glorious anthem, in which the apostle, tracing all to the Divine Fountain, enumerates the glorious privileges of the Church, and blesses God for them, he first (ver. On the other hand, Jesus said, Blessed are the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3). Gods earthly blessings were dependent upon Israels obedience to His Law. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets. Rise up, be our help, And redeem us for the sake of Thy lovingkindness (Psalm 44:4-26). The trials and afflictions of the Israelites did not end with their exodus from Egypt. 4:4,5). 2 Peter 2:7-8 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. Of how much more value are you than the birds! Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. Eternal blessings are full and complete, the enjoyment of physical and material prosperity, the full manifestation of Gods goodness and glory, and the absence of sin, Satan, death, and the curse. When our Lord presented Himself as Israels Messiah, He taught a great deal about the blessings of God. Hebrews 11 and 12 6:8). Verse Concepts. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. I have become a cynic when it comes to promises received in the mail. And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? Gods blessings are the fulfillment of His promise and the conclusion of a process which includes suffering and sorrow. The promise of blessing passed from Abraham to Isaac (Genesis 26:24) to Jacob (Genesis 27:27-29; 28:12-15). 2 Chron 30:27. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. But in addition to the deserved suffering of Israel, many godly Israelites suffered. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. But what of Gods eternal blessings? God promised every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). We must view such blessing and suffering as temporary and not eternal. Salvation is "in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:10). (2) The Jews thought of Gods blessings in primarily physical and material terms and not in spiritual terms. For He knows the secrets of the heart. Deuteronomy 8:2-6; 28; 30:15-20 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God. 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? Your blessings in this life will be mixed with sorrow. God is strong, and he wants you strong. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. Many were the times in Israels history when God brought calamity upon His people due to their sins, yet the nation Israel never seemed to learn her lesson (see Psalm 78). - THANKSGIVING FOR THEIR DIVINE ORDINATION TO THE BLESSINGS OF GRACE. Labs They knew these blessings would not come in life, but after death and resurrection: All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. With that in mind, what is a biblical definition of what it means to be truly blessed?. With Thy counsel Thou wilt guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. In order to receive God's spiritual blessings, one must be in the right spiritual location, that is, in Christ. I Geocoding The difference is that one group seems to succeed on the basis of faith while the other group suffers by faith. Thou dost cause us to turn back from the adversary; And those who hate us have taken spoil for themselves. When we observe the Lords Supper, we are partaking ofphysical elements, the bread and the cup, which convey aspiritual message (I Cor. O Matthew 16:21-27 So remove evil from your house. Job 22:23 (NCV), Even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice. Luke 11:28 (NLT), (Help the unfortunate) and you will be blessed. To me, it seems like the way God uses blessed or blessings in the Bible is very different from how its used now. Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts. Along with sin came the curse. The primary goal of Gods perfect plan is to demonstrate the glory of God. Ephesians 1:3-5. The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. First the trial, then the blessing, the crown. They are His to give; they are also His to withhold. Spiritual Growth And Physical Blessing - Sermon Central For there are no pains in their death; And their body is fat. The ultimate good is that which manifests Gods glory. Heres the principle: in Gods wisdom, the Jewish religion of the Old Testament was largely a come and see religion. God blesses the Christian by bearing our curse in the person of Jesus Christ. It is I who answer and look after you. To belong to Christ is to belong to God as our Father and to be heirs of all that God owns that is, everything. What are the promises of God? | GotQuestions.org Through Thee we will push back our adversaries; Through Thy name we will trample down those who rise up against us. Later Judah and his brothers suffered much over their ill-treatment of Joseph (see Genesis 37-45). Lets circle back now to Jordans reference to the Beatitudes. Galatians 3 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, Behold, we are your servants. But Joseph said to them, Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? There are no priests or saints through whom we have to go to God, but only Jesus Christ. (4) God has the right to bless or to curse men (see Romans 9:19-21). Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! For example, Genesis 49:1 . For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 83 Bible Verses about Blessing - DailyVerses.net The reason, we are told, is that God wanted them to enter into blessings with us, at the same time. And is there knowledge with the Most High? Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect (Hebrews 11:32-40). And he said to his disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. All things are yours.". Let no one boast in men. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Archaeologists Discover 2,000-year-old Gemstone With balm Of Gilead Engraved On It, The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. Proverbs 10:22 (NIV), For those who are always generous and lend freely, their children will be blessed. Psalm 37:26 (NIV), If you return to the Almighty, you will be blessed again. By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God (1 Peter 4:14-16). (6) How can a clear understanding of divine blessings help us to better understand Gods eternal plan, especially as it relates to man? All of the prophets of Israel were resisted, rejected, and persecuted because they spoke to men for God: And the Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place; but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy (2 Chronicles 36:15-16).101. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him (Deuteronomy 8:2-6). But this command I gave them: Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. Gods blessings took time to fulfill, and the process of fulfillment involved suffering and adversity. For the Christian, good includes the blessing of all those who are the called in Jesus Christ. But in the case of these innocent sufferers, their suffering was not attributed to their sin but was the outgrowth of their righteousness. The difference between these two categories is not that one group has faith while the other does not. (5) What errors concerning divine blessing can we see in the Jews of old and also in Christians of today? The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. Psalm 41:1-2 (NIV), Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it. Luke 11:28 (NIV), Im eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Those honest enough to admit it reason something like this: God wants to bless me. . 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). Revelation 21 and 22. But what does it mean to truly be blessed according to Scripture? How is it related to cursing? Because all of Gods blessings are a gift of His grace, through the work of Jesus Christ, we have no basis for demanding His blessings. Why dost Thou hide Thy face, And forget our affliction and our oppression? Bible verses about Blessings. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us. Now, Father, I need You to restore my heart. Think of being "in Christ" as a spiritual location. When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. A Psalm of David. He restores my soul. And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. That means He wants me to be happy. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. John 3:16. Perhaps the most puzzling passage in the Old Testament concerning Gods blessings comes from the Book of Proverbs: It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it (Proverbs 10:22). Surely Thou dost set them in slippery places; Thou dost cast them down to destruction. Full and unhindered blessing can only take place in heaven, when Satan is bound, sin and death defeated, and the things corrupted by sin (including our bodies and this world) made new. Not one of them received the promised blessing. To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. I am not happy. Their identification with Jesus Christ had brought on them the reproach of Christ and the opposition and persecution of unbelieving Jews. You have entered an incorrect email address! 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. But for Thy sake we are killed all day long; We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. All rights reserved. God clarified the promise of the land in Genesis 15: And God said to Abram, Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. 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. Gods blessing is not based upon human merit or works, but upon His grace. Q What exactly do you believe those are?. AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due. You cannot be richer than a Christian. Proud member God is not the only one who pronounces blessings. If you have not trusted in Gods promise of blessing in Jesus Christ, then you are under the curse of sin. 3) states summarily the ground of thanksgiving, expanding it with glowing fullness in vers. Living in the midst of a fallen world itself suffering from the curse of sin (Romans 8:18-25) results in a suffering of soul for the Christian. It can range from getting a new girlfriend, a new job, or a pay raise, to finding a ten-dollar bill on the sidewalk or getting surprisingly good news. For You make him most blessed forever; For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds (Matthew 16:21-27). They will attack you from one direction, but they will run from you in seven directions. As a result, Jacob and his family moved to Egypt where they became a great nation. 1 Chron 23:13. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Jeremiah 29:11 planning hope promises. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. Our blessings are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Divine blessing in the Bible is always physical and spiritual because it is fixed upon the reality of the fullness of life in the presence of God. We can never, in and of ourselves, be worthy of divine blessings. 1:3), God has also blessed us withphysical things. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve; and afterward they will come out with many possessions. Blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21). Trust in Him, and you will be blessed. Two Minutes with the Bible lets you start your day with short but powerful Bible study articles from the Berean Bible Society. 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. What a verse! Then Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear. Whom have I in heaven but Thee? God's blessings are meant to protect us, guide us to the path of righteousness, and give us hope. While not a pleasant experience in itself, suffering can be the source of comfort and assurance. I call that the showcasing of the blessing of God on the people of God in the Old Testament. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. Peter rejected the thought out of hand. Because he was just and right in all his dealings. of Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Like Lot, we find our righteous souls vexed by sin (2 Peter 2:7-8). And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. In all that he does, he prospers. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. He makes me lie down in green pastures. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. TopicalBible You will be blessed when you come in and when you go out. From the Scriptures, we have seen that suffering is neither incompatible with faith nor inconsistent with Gods blessings. 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. 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. These blessings are not fulfilled in this life, but in the next. 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. I know that no matter how good their promises sound, they simply are not true. He referred to a blessing found in Numbers that . Awake, do not reject us forever. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your Gods, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. Deuteronomy 15:10 (Msg), Worship the Lord your God and his blessing will be on your food and water. Being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. If suffering is meant to result in our spiritual growth, in a deeper level of commitment, and in greater intimacy and communion with our Lord, we must accept suffering as a part of Gods good and perfect plan for our lives, one purposed to result in our good, in a blessing for us. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. "Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. (16) One of the blessings God gave Abraham and his seed (which includes us as believers) is that of being a blessing to others. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. V You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. The plan of God is to bring about His own glory and the Christians good (or blessing). When we struggle with sin and the flesh (Romans 7), we know it is because we have become a new creation in Christ. I must do whatever it takes to be happy, even if that involves disobedience to Gods revealed Word.. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. The Hebrews were Christians who came out of Judaism by faith in Jesus Christ. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. We must live by faith trusting God to fulfill His promises, even when our eyes tell us the opposite is happening now. Keep us, oh God, from trusting in our power. The blood of Christ has taken away the guilt of our sins, and we stand before the Father as perfectly accepted. Help me to rejoice always, Father, for this is Your will for me. Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-6, 13-20; 17:15-21; 26:24; 27:27-29; 28:12-15; 47:9 Pastor Sadler, you referred to our having physical blessings today. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that {the limb} which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed (Hebrews 12:3-13). Why are they wrong? In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Such suffering serves as a test of our faith and obedience as we see from Jobs experiences.99 Precisely at times like these, Gods people find their perspectives changing and discover Gods presence as their true source of blessing: Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart! The rich man spent eternity in hell while Lazarus spent eternity enjoying the blessings God promised in Abraham. You do not have to fear the future when God's hand is over your life. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever (Revelation 22:1-5). (3) The Jews thought of Gods blessings in terms of material prosperity and His cursings in terms of material adversity and physical affliction. Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm Central Time. 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. To have enough faith is to have the means to move God into blessing us as we think best, they say. He said, "I am the God that healeth thee." . God not only graciously blesses men, He also graciously delays the curse so that men might be saved (see Romans 9:22-24). How do you explain these errors? 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. When my heart was embittered, And I was pierced within, Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before Thee. God's Promises to Abraham - Life, Hope & Truth The Abrahamic covenant takes up the promise of blessing: Now the Lord said to Abram, Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your fathers house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord..
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