(1) What is blessing? By paying to God what we owe Him (that is, His tithes), He rewards us with blessings. Keep us, oh God, from trusting in our power. L (3) What is the relationship between blessing, faith, and obedience? It does not tell us that he was seventy-five when he first received the promise of a son. 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. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Death becomes your servant because of Christs triumph over death. You cannot be richer than a Christian. OpenBible.info Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Neither do we have basis for complaint if and when He withholds His blessings. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. You do not have to fear the future when God's hand is over your life. This is what it means to be truly blessed. Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. What a verse! 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. The Bereans "received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:10-11). Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Joseph, one of the Bibles great heroes and a son of Jacob, suffered a great deal in his early life. Sign up now to receive Two Minutes With the Bible every day in your email inbox. The promise of blessing passed from Abraham to Isaac (Genesis 26:24) to Jacob (Genesis 27:27-29; 28:12-15). 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. (From Forerunner Commentary). And put them to use so you will be able ,Be prepared. Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! 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. In Gods economy, serving others is a privilege and not a curse. Three Advantages You Gain From Trusting In God, i love belivers portal.very inspiring and informarive, Thanks for the efforts to compile this. List Of Bible Prophecies Not Yet Fulfilled. Almost daily, some bulk mailing assures me I am the lucky winner of one of several prizes. All I need do is contact them to identify my prize. 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. We begin to make decisions and to pursue a course of action which takes away the pain. 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). Of how much more value are you than the birds! The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Gods blessings took time to fulfill, and the process of fulfillment involved suffering and adversity. Were on a mission to change that. It is by blessing Him that we enjoy Gods blessings, rather than the curse of sin. In what ways does God bless only Christians? Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. This shall never happen to You. But He turned and said to Peter, Get behind Me, Satan! 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. Email: [email protected] Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? Jacob struggled with Laban (see Genesis 31:42). 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. Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm Central Time. 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. How will Abraham be blessed, and how will he become a blessing to others? Bible Verses About Blessings and Prosperity. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Thy works (Psalm 73:1-28). 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. Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. 3) states summarily the ground of thanksgiving, expanding it with glowing fullness in vers. They were blessed by God, through faith. (14) God blesses all men physically and materially in this life out of His common grace. He leads me beside still waters. As Gods suffering brought blessing to us, so our suffering is viewed as a blessing for us and a potential blessing for others. 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; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. To belong to Christ is to belong to God as our Father and to be heirs of all that God owns that is, everything. The first recorded promise of Abrahams son was made when Abraham was seventy-five years old (Genesis 12:4).98 Yet the child was not born to Abraham and Sarah until he was one-hundred years old (Genesis 21:5). Job 4:6. Your basket and your kitchen will be blessed. One only needs enough faith to be confident God hears and answers our prayers as we desire. And it shall come to pass, if thou . D They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord. We must therefore live by faith. Steps. Gods promise to Abraham was not merely the promise of a son. Think of being "in Christ" as a spiritual location. These are not always material blessings, however. For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. Thus, the blessings of the Old Testament are partial and provisional. Now, Father, I need You to restore my heart. If we get hungry for God and follow his commands if we seek spiritual growth, physical blessing will follow. Only God can make something good from that which seems evil at the moment. Jesus called blessed those who were poor, hungry, and sorrowful. And I think one of the most illumining texts about how we are blessed as Christians which we are; I would say we are infinitely blessed is 1 Corinthians 3:2123. 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). 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. Our text speaks only of Old Testament saints. 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. We will be satisfied with personal and universal righteousness: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied (Matthew 5:6). Arouse Thyself, why dost Thou sleep, O Lord? Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. God does not promise to make us wealthy but that our relationship with Him will prosper. They would do well to give more thought to the blessings of God as defined in Scripture. One would not have chosen Abrahams life to illustrate blessing. We must see that in the midst of our suffering, we are drawn nearer to God, and recognize this as true blessing. of The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 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. 1:9,10). C 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). He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. 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. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. Jordan puts his finger on the nub of the issue, I think, by referring to the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. When my heart was embittered, And I was pierced within, Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before Thee. 9:11 (CEV), Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding. Proverbs 3:13 (NIV), They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. Psalm 37:26 (NIV), The best of all the first fruits will belong to the priests. E I am not happy. The Lord your God will bless your work and everything you touch. Deuteronomy 15:10 (NCV), Blessed is the man who trusts in you. Psalm 84:12 (NIV), If the place of worship is too far from your home for you to carry there the tithe of the produce that the Lord has blessed you with, then do this: Sell your produce and take the money with you to the one place of worship. Deuteronomy 14:24-25 (TEV), Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. Psalm 89:15 (NIV), Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right. Psalm 106:3 (NIV), 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. Therefore his people return to this place; And waters of abundance are drunk by them. The Hebrews were Christians who came out of Judaism by faith in Jesus Christ. God is strong, and he wants you strong. How they are destroyed in a moment! (6) How can a clear understanding of divine blessings help us to better understand Gods eternal plan, especially as it relates to man? 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). (5) What errors concerning divine blessing can we see in the Jews of old and also in Christians of today? What the Bible teaches is that the physical blessings to these people will continue until and after Christ's return. The promised blessings of the Bible are the good which God has purposed and promised. As Asaph protested centuries ago in Psalm 73, the wicked may prosper, and the righteous may suffer. The reason, we are told, is that God wanted them to enter into blessings with us, at the same time. Philippians 4:19 The plan of God is to bring about His own glory and the Christians good (or blessing). Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. 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 land of Canaan was not to be possessed until Abrahams offspring had been oppressed and enslaved for four hundred years. Like Lot, we find our righteous souls vexed by sin (2 Peter 2:7-8). Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. 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. 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). But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart. The Israelites were greatly blessed in number while they sojourned in Egypt (Exodus 1:5-7). BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT (Romans 4:3-8). Now the first thing we notice is that God lets us know that he is a healer. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. Thats the orientation of Jesus Christ the king. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. As we study the promised blessings of God, my hope is that the present pleasures of this life will fade in the light of the glory awaiting us. Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts. 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. Last week Art Lindsley referenced Hebrew poetry found in the Bible to give a more complete picture of flourishing. If you have not trusted in Gods promise of blessing in Jesus Christ, then you are under the curse of sin. B . Put it at the disposal of me and my mission. Thats the kind of radical life were called to live in the New Testament. He makes me lie down in green pastures. They are His to give; they are also His to withhold. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. His blessings are offered in the form of a promise, and this promise must be believed by faith (see Genesis 15:1-6). 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. Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. When we suffer, we do not ask God for the mind of Christ, or the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we ask God to bless us by giving us a life free from the pain and sorrow we are currently experiencing. (2) The Jews thought of Gods blessings in primarily physical and material terms and not in spiritual terms. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (7) How do the temporal blessings and cursings which God promised the nation Israel relate to the life and experience of the Christian today? Their identification with Jesus Christ had brought on them the reproach of Christ and the opposition and persecution of unbelieving Jews. First the trial, then the blessing, the crown. 6:8). Then many people will thank God when we deliver your gift. 2 Cor. Verse Concepts. Proverbs 15:6 says, "In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenues of the wicked there is trouble.". And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. The primary goal of Gods perfect plan is to demonstrate the glory of God. 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. But just what has God promised to do for Abraham? (4) The Jews of Jesus day thought of Gods blessings not in terms of grace but in terms of works. O For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies. When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. For our soul has sunk down into the dust; Our body cleaves to the earth. 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). 5:18). The Christian life should be lived out in the light of the superiority of Gods promised blessings in comparison to the blessings an ungodly world holds out to us (Hebrews 11:24-26). S They are not in trouble as other men; Nor are they plagued like mankind. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. In our identification with Christ, we enter into His rejection and persecution by men, and in so doing are blessed by a closer walk with Him, a deeper fellowship with Him, and a growing hunger for heaven and the full blessings of God (see 2 Corinthians 4 and 5; Philippians 3:10; 1 Peter 2-4). How could it be that the blessed Son of God could suffer? 4:4,5). (17) The blessings our Lord accomplished on the cross of Calvary will not all be poured out on men in this life. The first group--those who succeeded by faith--are described in verses 32-35a. Deuteronomy 28:1-2. But this command I gave them: Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. Give, and it will be given to you. Thats in the list: All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death. Death is yours. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. A Psalm of David. He suffered because of his impatience in acquiring a son through Hagar. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. These trials came from the hand of the God who had promised to bless them: And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, What in the World Is Going On? Paul says, "The world is yours. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Temporal blessings are experienced by sinners, living in a sin-cursed world. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. The way human beings experience God's blessing changes with the redemptive storyline that traverses the major peaks of creation, fall, redemption, and final restoration. Psalm 21:6. Such men say if we employ the right approach, (their approach, usually for a donation), success is assured. 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. And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. These can all be good things, but I think you could also argue that if these blessings lead us further away from God, they are not truly blessings at all. Use these Bible verses to remind you of the many blessing you can claim as a child of God! She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. - Numbers 6:24-26. 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. Gods blessings are based upon His grace and not our works. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. Lets circle back now to Jordans reference to the Beatitudes. (18) Christians will suffer--and not just for sin. They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. (1) Gods blessing refers to His purpose, pronouncement, and process of bringing about a persons good. When affliction and adversity comes into our life, we conclude that suffering is incompatible with blessing. Peter, who once rejected the idea of suffering, later has much to say about suffering in his epistles. Both were cursed with death by being banned from the Garden and the tree of life. From later history, we know that because of Josephs ill-treatment by his brothers, he was enslaved in Egypt. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. Luke 14:14 (NIV), Give freely and spontaneously. Thus you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. Blessing and cursing are both temporal and eternal, the temporal being partial and mixed with sorrow, while the eternal is full and complete. 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. You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. Jeremiah 29:11 planning hope promises. All rights reserved. To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:8-9). Such eternal blessings are far greater than any temporary physical blessings we could receive. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Now thats a different discussion, one initiated by a discerning listener to the podcast named Jordan. Germantown, WI 53022-0756 Most of us are not quite this honest in our thinking, nor quite so bold in our rebellion against God and His Word. His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. The same errors which plagued the Israelites and Christians of old are popular in evangelical Christianity today. But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling; My steps had almost slipped. God promised to finish the work He started in us (Philippians 1:6). 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. 5. His teaching was different not as the result of a change in Gods plan, but due to the Jews misconceptions concerning Gods promised blessings. But Jesus taught us explicitly not to expect them now. These blessings are not fulfilled in this life, but in the next. 98 This verse tells us that Abraham was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. He referred to a blessing found in Numbers that . All of this made no sense to the Jews. Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 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 the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. He leads me beside still waters. If we would understand what in the world God is doing in these days, we must understand what the Bible teaches about divine blessing. James 1:2-5 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. What is the basis for blessing and cursing? 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.
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