His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. Rise up, be our help, And redeem us for the sake of Thy lovingkindness (Psalm 44:4-26). And on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. You shall not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. Tools. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 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. I will take away sickness from among you. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! He points them to the true blessings which are in Christ. Ephesians 1:3-5. So death works in us, but life in you. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. These are not always material blessings, however. Gods blessings are not sovereignly bestowed in the way He chooses but are mechanically obtained by doing the right things. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. 1. God's blessings are meant to protect us, guide us to the path of righteousness, and give us hope. How do you explain these errors? For there are no pains in their death; And their body is fat. However there are too many repetition eliminate some of the duplication. (4) What, if any, are the differences between temporal and eternal blessings? Awake, do not reject us forever. In Gods economy, serving others is a privilege and not a curse. 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. Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. When God promised Abraham that his seed was to be a blessing to all nations, this was a part of Abrahams blessing. He looked for a heavenly city, a city which God would prepare. 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). They would do especially well to give careful thought to this text in Hebrews: And what more shall I say? Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. Hebrews 11 and 12 Next we will look at our Lords teaching on blessing before turning to the rest of the New Testament to study divine blessing. You have entered an incorrect email address! S The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. God was in no hurry to fulfill His promised blessings. Death turned earthly, external appearances upside-down. 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. Adam was cursed with hard labor, providing for his family by the sweat of his brow. Gods blessing is found in trusting and obeying God and in the resulting enjoyment (blessing) of His presence and fellowship. 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). 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. But that forgiveness is not always guaranteed, and is usually conditional on our repentance. C Our faith in God and in His promise will result in the obedience of faith (Genesis 17:9-14; Romans 4:9-24; Hebrews 11:13-31; James 2:14-26). God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him! 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. Gods blessings took time to fulfill, and the process of fulfillment involved suffering and adversity. He suffered because of his deception concerning Sarah. 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. L What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" ( Matthew 5:5 ). We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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. Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it (Jeremiah 18:7-10). The son was just the beginning. Revelation 21 and 22. God also promised Abraham a great land that his seed would possess. Theres nothing like that in the New Testament. He and his mother struggled with Isaac and Esau. Phone: (262) 255-4750 There is a sense in which our suffering bears testimony to the end of sins dominion in our lives (1 Peter 4:1). But in addition to the deserved suffering of Israel, many godly Israelites suffered. Jesus simply did not fit the mold of Jewish expectations. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. (3) The Jews thought of Gods blessings in terms of material prosperity and His cursings in terms of material adversity and physical affliction. 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. Zechariah 8:13; 14:11 This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.. As a result, Jacob and his family moved to Egypt where they became a great nation. Unfortunately, many Christians today hold to the same basic errors held by the Jews of Jesus day. My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. PO Box 756 Oh, God, help us to live with faith. We will experience Gods comfort: They shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4). This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. 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. The trials and afflictions of the Israelites did not end with their exodus from Egypt. It is the blessing to which Abraham and every other Old Testament saint looked forward. 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. 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. God does not promise to make us wealthy but that our relationship with Him will prosper. The Bible teaches that all spiritual blessings are available only "in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). 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. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. Blessings have to do with God's Kingdom. In order to receive God's spiritual blessings, one must be in the right spiritual location, that is, in Christ. Now, Father, I need You to restore my heart. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, And washed my hands in innocence; For I have been stricken all day long, And chastened every morning. In the early days of Davids life, he was misunderstood and chided by his brothers (1 Samuel 17:20-30). He makes me lie down in green pastures. 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). The blessings here are plainly associated with happiness and welfare, both for Abram and others. A Study of God's Plan for Man. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 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. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Germantown, WI 53022-0756 He leads me beside still waters. (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. Pastor John, hello! They have been waiting for us to join them in entering into Gods promised blessings. 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 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. Whom have I in heaven but Thee? 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. This leads us right into the fourth blessing ( Ephesians 1:7 ), the redemption through His blood. The true view of temporal blessing seeks the enjoyment of Gods presence whether in pain or pleasure. This is what it means to be truly blessed. Blessings, Physical (5) God is able to bless men because He has borne their curse in Christ, and thus His holiness is maintained in His grace (see Romans 3:24-26). 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. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. We will be shown mercy: They shall receive mercy (Matthew 5:7). (7) The majority of the Jews in Jesus day concluded that Jesus could not be the promised Messiah because He failed to meet their expectations and desires. Yet our prayers betray us. Blog, A 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. All day long my dishonor is before me, And my humiliation has overwhelmed me, Because of the voice of him who reproaches and reviles, Because of the presence of the enemy and the avenger. Not one of them received the promised blessing. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.. We must view such blessing and suffering as temporary and not eternal. All of us deserve to suffer for our sins. So theres the principle. Jacob struggled with Laban (see Genesis 31:42). When Christians suffer for Christs sake, it is a blessing. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! Put it at the disposal of me and my mission. Thats the kind of radical life were called to live in the New Testament. 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. 1. Christians often find their third tithe years to be abundant with all types of blessings and invaluable lessons learned. He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor. Psalm 112:1-9 (NIV), Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. Surely Thou dost set them in slippery places; Thou dost cast them down to destruction. 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. But for Thy sake we are killed all day long; We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.". God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God. These are the blessings our Lord Himself brings to pass in His second coming. Use these Bible verses to remind you of the many blessing you can claim as a child of God! To be spiritual they say is the assurance of earthly pleasures; to be sinful is to bring upon oneself pain and suffering. I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. He struggled with Esau from the womb until the day he left Canaan. Suffering is both a blessing, and a means of blessing, when it is suffering for Christs sake: For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21). All, as the writer informs us in verse 39, gained approval through their faith. All, as he also reminds us, did not receive what was promised (verse 39, see also Hebrews 11:13). The blessings of God are not inconsistent with suffering. In everything [not just some thingsand not just spiritual things] give thanks: for this is thewill of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (I Thes. If we would understand what in the world God is doing in these days, we must understand what the Bible teaches about divine blessing. T Later Judah and his brothers suffered much over their ill-treatment of Joseph (see Genesis 37-45). God promised every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. 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. These saints also had faith, but their faith resulted in perseverance rather than in success or prosperity. The Israelites were greatly blessed in number while they sojourned in Egypt (Exodus 1:5-7). What is the basis for blessing and cursing? I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit. Before one can receive . 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. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
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