The Lord will bless you with full barns, and he will bless everything you do. Deuteronomy 28:2-8 (NCV), I will also bless the Gentiles who commit themselves to the Lord and serve him and love his name, who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who have accepted his covenant. Isaiah 56:6 (NLT), A beautiful palace does not make a great king! In everything [not just some thingsand not just spiritual things] give thanks: for this is thewill of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (I Thes. 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). (6) How can a clear understanding of divine blessings help us to better understand Gods eternal plan, especially as it relates to man? 5. 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. For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. The complete and final fulfillment of Gods promise to Abraham is yet to occur. I love it. Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm Central Time. They suppose prosperity is ones reward for being spiritual and that suffering is the consequence of sin. Verse Concepts. All too much like Jobs friends, they equate present affliction with sin, and they see it as a curse. While not a pleasant experience in itself, suffering can be the source of comfort and assurance. One only needs enough faith to be confident God hears and answers our prayers as we desire. Strengthen and help me, Lord. We will experience Gods comfort: They shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4). When Christians suffer for Christs sake, it is a blessing. His blessings are offered in the form of a promise, and this promise must be believed by faith (see Genesis 15:1-6). He is author of. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 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. 1:9,10). Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Verse Concepts. No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. - Numbers 6:24-26. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him! God does not promise to make us wealthy but that our relationship with Him will prosper. If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 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). Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And is there knowledge with the Most High? Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth. What the Bible says about Men are not only condemned because they are destined to destruction, but because they deserve it and have decided for it (see Genesis 12:1-3; Deuteronomy 28; John 3:18; Revelation 16:5-6). Christ is the source of all our blessings; indeed, He is the blessing: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. C In what ways does God bless only Christians? Only God can make something good from that which seems evil at the moment. The difference between these two categories is not that one group has faith while the other does not. The apostle instructed Timothy, having food and raimentlet us be therewith content (I Tim. What a verse! "Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. A Prayer for God's Power. Paul adds that itis set apart by God in accordance with His Word and prayer,a clear indication that we are to offer thanks to the Lord forwhat we have at every meal. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3). Transcript Craig Scott Pastor, United Church of God Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. By faith, these saints conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises,103 shut the mouths of lions, received their dead back to life, and so on. There is a sense in which our suffering bears testimony to the end of sins dominion in our lives (1 Peter 4:1). For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:7-18). Divine blessing refers to Gods purpose to bring about the good of an individual or nation, His proclamation of this purpose by His promise, and a program of bringing about this blessing which includes suffering and adversity. 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. 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. When God promised Abraham that his seed was to be a blessing to all nations, this was a part of Abrahams blessing. For our soul has sunk down into the dust; Our body cleaves to the earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Were on a mission to change that. 1. 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). 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. O And said, By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. S Uphold me with Your generous Spirit. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE, we also believe, therefore also we speak; knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. The unnamed author of this epistle reminds these Christians of their Old Testament roots. M 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 abuse you. 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. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. 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). But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Fax: (262) 255-4195 See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. John 14:1-3 This is to be the pattern for the Christians dealings with others, including our enemies (Matthew 6:44-48; Acts 14:15-17; 17:30-31). Psalm 24:5. 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. They were blessed by God, through faith. He struggled with Esau from the womb until the day he left Canaan. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 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. Abraham had to buy a small parcel of ground for a burial site for his family (Genesis 23:1-20). He shall receive a blessing from the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit., Saying, If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. First the trial, then the blessing, the crown. Jesus simply did not fit the mold of Jewish expectations. 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. (4) What, if any, are the differences between temporal and eternal blessings? But just what has God promised to do for Abraham? And righteousness from the God of his salvation. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. If you have not trusted in Gods promise of blessing in Jesus Christ, then you are under the curse of sin. When Israel turned from God, the promised cursings came. 1 Corinthians 11:1-2 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. I believe this text provides the key to understanding Gods blessings, especially their relationship to suffering and adversity. All of those referred to were people who obtained Gods approval through their faith in Gods promise. 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. The true view of temporal blessing seeks the enjoyment of Gods presence whether in pain or pleasure. Some Christians seem to be saying that we can be assured of receiving all the promises now. God's blessings are meant to protect us, guide us to the path of righteousness, and give us hope. Are we becoming more like Jesus by the power of the Spirit? Our blessings are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). And in so doing, we actually miss the blessing God has for us in affliction. By paying to God what we owe Him (that is, His tithes), He rewards us with blessings. May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans! It is I who answer and look after you. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. 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). But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Lets circle back now to Jordans reference to the Beatitudes. Paul says, "The world is yours. 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. 1. Thou dost make us a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to those around us. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Such eternal blessings are far greater than any temporary physical blessings we could receive. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future all are yours, and you are Christs, and Christ is Gods. Gods blessing is found in trusting and obeying God and in the resulting enjoyment (blessing) of His presence and fellowship. A Study of God's Plan for Man. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. 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. Redemption speaks of buying one's freedom, paying a ransom. This bundle contains the Year of Blessing annual . 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 is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. 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. 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. Blessing may be accomplished by what appears to be Gods cursing. 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). 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. I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me (Psalm 119:75). Geocoding 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. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.. He referred to a blessing found in Numbers that . He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, What in the World Is Going On? K Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart. Psalm 19:9. Some toyed with the thought of turning back into Judaism to escape persecution. The promised blessings of the Bible are the good which God has purposed and promised. Neither Gods blessings nor His wrath are fully manifested in this life. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. It does not tell us that he was seventy-five when he first received the promise of a son. Phone: (262) 255-4750 You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal so that a blessing may rest on your household. Ezekiel 44:30 (NIV), Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you. Deuteronomy 16:17 (NIV), Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and on is word he meditates day and night. 1:3), God has also blessed us withphysical things. More likely, he meant that they received some of the promises but not the promises which could only be fulfilled at the second coming of Christ, promises which are still future for us. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. How will Abraham be blessed, and how will he become a blessing to others? 1:9,10). 1 Chron 23:13. 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. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles.". This is one of the reasons Jesus teaching and His offer of the kingdom was rejected. Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them. 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. Let that sink in. While we are primarily blessed with all spiritual blessingsin the heavenlies (Eph.
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