Obedience, stemming from gratitude, faith, love, and hope, which is empowered by Gods Spirit, brings the temporal blessings of God, while disobedience brings a curse (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; Psalm 106:3; 112:1; 119:1-2; Proverbs 8:32; Isaiah 44:3; Daniel 12:12; John 13:17; James 1:12; Revelation 14;13). Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. God's blessings are meant to protect us, guide us to the path of righteousness, and give us hope. When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end. This means that you do not get all your blessings in this life, but that death itself belongs to you as a gift, as a doorway to infinite, eternal, immeasurable blessing. 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. Yet Thou hast rejected us and brought us to dishonor, And dost not go out with our armies. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Luke 6:20-28; 16:19-31 Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. After David was anointed as Israels future king, and Sauls replacement, David spent his days fleeing for his life from Saul who was bent on killing him (1 Samuel 18-31). As to the first, many will claim that God loves and forgives us all unconditionally. The blood of Christ has taken away the guilt of our sins, and we stand before the Father as perfectly accepted. Proverbs 15:6 says, "In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenues of the wicked there is trouble.". 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. Browse the best Bible verses about blessings in this collection of scripture quotes: Photo credit: GettyImages/Digitalskillet. These are not always material blessings, however. Redemption speaks of buying one's freedom, paying a ransom. 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. In Christ, God bore the curse of sin and death and provided for us eternal life in its place. . In Genesis 22:16-18, God again blesses Abram, and adds that blessing is due to his obedience to God's commands. 4:4,5). Thats the New Testament pattern: sacrificial generosity and service now; spectacular blessing later at the resurrection. He blesses men out of His grace and curses out of His holiness. 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. While not a pleasant experience in itself, suffering can be the source of comfort and assurance. Thats in the list: All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death. Death is yours. From later history, we know that because of Josephs ill-treatment by his brothers, he was enslaved in Egypt. (6) Gods glory is revealed in both His blessing and His cursing (see Exodus 34:5-7). Exodus 1:5-22 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. We ask God to take away the pain and the circumstance. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. God gives rain and sunshine to men, and in His grace He delays judgment, giving opportunity for repentance. D All of those referred to were people who obtained Gods approval through their faith in Gods promise. 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 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. And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 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. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. But Thou hast saved us from our adversaries, And Thou hast put to shame those who hate us. But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. Are we becoming more like Jesus by the power of the Spirit? All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. 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. Abraham was one-hundred and sixty years old when Jacob and Esau were born. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.. Put the bounce back in my step, the smile back on my face, and the dance back in my feet. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. The adversity of those whom Jesus called blessed made them discontent with this world, causing them to look ahead to the promised blessings of the kingdom of God. And in so doing, we actually miss the blessing God has for us in affliction. We will see God: They shall see God (Matthew 5:8). All of us deserve to suffer for our sins. Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. 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. Later Judah and his brothers suffered much over their ill-treatment of Joseph (see Genesis 37-45). He shall receive a blessing from the Lord. As Asaph protested centuries ago in Psalm 73, the wicked may prosper, and the righteous may suffer. Use these Bible verses to remind you of the many blessing you can claim as a child of God! HCSB, ISV, BBE. 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. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies. Why dost Thou hide Thy face, And forget our affliction and our oppression? The Christian life should be lived out in the light of the superiority of God's promised blessings in comparison to the "blessings" an ungodly world holds out to us (Hebrews 11:24-26). Let that sink in. Unfortunately, many Christians today hold to the same basic errors held by the Jews of Jesus day. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. The full and final blessing of God is not accompanied with sorrow. Here are 10 bible verses about unexpected blessings that will bring you peace and joy when you need it most. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. That is why I am commanding you to share your resources freely with the poor and with others in need. Deuteronomy 15:10-11 (NLT), Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in his times of trouble. If we are a child of God, we know His eternal plan allows only those things into our lives which result in our ultimate and eternal good: 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). Gods temporal blessings are not inconsistent with suffering. Cite this page: Editor: Stephen Smith. Death becomes your servant because of Christs triumph over death. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. For I was envious of the arrogant, As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (13) Adversity and suffering is not synonymous with sin and cursing. In the context of prayer, Paul prayed that he might have theLords prospering on his physical journey to visit the saints atRome (Rom. June 10, 2013. We begin to make decisions and to pursue a course of action which takes away the pain. 98 This verse tells us that Abraham was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Now, Father, I need You to restore my heart. (6) The Jews concluded those who prospered were pious (spiritual, righteous), while those who suffered were sinners. He makes me lie down in green pastures. Only with the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ does permanent blessing come into clear focus. 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). Blog, A The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Notify me of follow-up comments by email. With the coming of Christ, the blessings of God are more spiritual than material, and they come to those who appear not to be blessed as men would appraise blessing (see Luke 6:20-23). Like Job, they would be badgered by their friends to find the sin in their life, and confess it so they could be blessed. The Israelites of Jesus day also held a distorted view of divine blessings. 1 Chron 23:13. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21:1-8). - Numbers 6:24-26. Yet our prayers betray us. . So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). These blessings fit the definition laid down in Proverbs 10:22: It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. (8) Divine cursing or condemnation is based upon an individuals decision and works. But what does it mean to truly be blessed according to Scripture? The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? What is the basis for blessing and cursing? 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. In the Old Testament we find that while the righteous were those who believed Gods promise of blessing, they were also those who suffered innocently.100 David suffered for his sins (Psalm 32), but he also suffered innocently for the Lords sake (see Psalm 22). 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). 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). (12) Gods temporal blessing is neither synonymous with prosperity nor incompatible with suffering. Such eternal blessings are far greater than any temporary physical blessings we could receive. Your blessings in this life will be mixed with sorrow. What the Bible teaches is that the physical blessings to these people will continue until and after Christ's return. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 10:22 tells us that "the blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.". (2) Gods curse is the process of bringing about mans deserved retribution of divine judgment. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. I will take away sickness from among you. Exodus 23:25 (NIV), Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9 (NIV), Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 (NIV), Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him. Such men say if we employ the right approach, (their approach, usually for a donation), success is assured. (1 Kings 10:1, 45). God promised every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on Gods interests, but mans. Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. 1:9,10). And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 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. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. Download a Personal Copy of these Bible Verses about Blessings! Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. His teaching was different not as the result of a change in Gods plan, but due to the Jews misconceptions concerning Gods promised blessings. Notice that every creature of God is good;that is, every piece of beef, chicken, pork, fish or shellfish weeat is good and not to be withheld as unclean today. Jacob struggled with Laban (see Genesis 31:42). But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. The true view of temporal blessing seeks the enjoyment of Gods presence whether in pain or pleasure. Verse Concepts. 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. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. 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. (9) Blessing or cursing are not necessarily evident in the means God employs to produce His desired goal. 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. 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). 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. When we understand the difference between Gods temporal blessings and His eternal blessings, we learn to expect suffering and trials as a part of His plan, and as a part of His program to bring about eternal blessing for us. Salem Media Group. So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God. To have enough faith is to have the means to move God into blessing us as we think best, they say. Most of us are not quite this honest in our thinking, nor quite so bold in our rebellion against God and His Word. He also promised Abraham that he would become a blessing to all who would bless him. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, God forbid it, Lord! Temporal blessings are not to be measured so much in terms of material prosperity, physical health, or the absence of pain, as in the enjoyment of Gods presence. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. He and his mother struggled with Isaac and Esau. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. Routinely, such letters go in the trash without my even opening them. His blessings are offered in the form of a promise, and this promise must be believed by faith (see Genesis 15:1-6). We seek to obey God when we used to delight in disobedience. As we come to the study of divine blessing in our series, we begin by considering Gods promised blessings in the Old Testament. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. What the Bible says about Blessings, Physical ( From Forerunner Commentary ) Proverbs 3:9-10 By paying to God what we owe Him (that is, His tithes), He rewards us with blessings. There is no geographic center for Christianity. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. In order to receive God's spiritual blessings, one must be in the right spiritual location, that is, in Christ. The Hebrews were Christians who came out of Judaism by faith in Jesus Christ. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. - THANKSGIVING FOR THEIR DIVINE ORDINATION TO THE BLESSINGS OF GRACE. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. Theres no great temple-like edifice in Christianity. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless. G Surely Thou dost set them in slippery places; Thou dost cast them down to destruction. He also promised to make him a great nation (Genesis 12:2; 15:5; 17:5-6). 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). Job 1 and 2 And if it costs you your life, lay it down. Jesus says very plainly, Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:33). The pure shall see God. At times like these, the Word of God becomes much more precious and meaningful: Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Thy word (Psalm 119:67). Put all the billionaires together. 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. But this command I gave them: Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13-16). I will take away sickness from among you. They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth. As it is written, He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 Now the first thing we notice is that God lets us know that he is a healer. And Im going to circle back and probably end there and affirm what he sees and show why it is such a great answer to his own question. The second group--those who suffered and endured by faith--are described in the last half of verse 35 through verse 38. Pastor Sadler, you referred to our having physical blessings today. 1. With that in mind, what is a biblical definition of what it means to be truly blessed?. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still . First and foremost, Gods blessing involves the forgiveness of our sins, the defeat and destruction of Satan, the passing away of that which is old and corrupted by sin, and the creation of that which is holy and acceptable. Tools. O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Your blessings in eternity will not. Adam was cursed with hard labor, providing for his family by the sweat of his brow. Some Christians seem to be saying that we can be assured of receiving all the promises now. Abrahams life was not one of uninterrupted bliss, yet he was blessed of God in every way (Genesis 24:1). For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Unlike many Israelites in the Old Testament, and most of the Jews of Jesus day, Abraham looked for a better blessing. (1) The Jews thought of Gods blessings primarily in terms of the here and now, while Gods Word speaks of the fulfillment of His promised blessings in terms of the future. There will always be some among you who are poor. (2) In what ways does God bless all men? Temporal blessings are those blessings which God bestows upon sinful men, living in a fallen world, flowing from His grace. So theres the principle. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 101 See also Matthew 23:29-39; Acts 7:52. And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? His desire was to demonstrate His blessings to all men so that men from every nation would seek blessing in Him. They would do especially well to give careful thought to this text in Hebrews: And what more shall I say? For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. Sign up now to receive Two Minutes With the Bible every day in your email inbox. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. Through Thee we will push back our adversaries; Through Thy name we will trample down those who rise up against us. You do not have to fear the future when God's hand is over your life. 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. Gods blessing is not based upon human merit or works, but upon His grace. It is that New Jerusalem which comes down from heaven at our Lords return (Revelation 21:1-2). Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Deuteronomy 28:1-2. Three Advantages You Gain From Trusting In God, i love belivers portal.very inspiring and informarive, Thanks for the efforts to compile this. You shall not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. Our blessings are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). When Christians suffer for Christs sake, it is a blessing.
Judaisms errors concerning divine blessings can be summed up in these statements. May it not be said of us that our faith is too small, or to help us to look to You, to see in You, Your infinite power.
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