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How do you explain these errors? The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. But in the case of these innocent sufferers, their suffering was not attributed to their sin but was the outgrowth of their righteousness. The Lord will help you defeat the enemies that come to fight you. 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. Here are 20 BIble verses about God's blessing that show us how He blesses us materially and spiritually, and that Jesus Christ as our atonement for sin is the ultimate blessing God has given to all. (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. 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. 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). It is by blessing Him that we enjoy Gods blessings, rather than the curse of sin. Salvation is "in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:10). While we are clothedspiritually in Christs righteousness, I wouldnt advise leavinghome physically unclothed. June 10, 2013. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Unlike many Israelites in the Old Testament, and most of the Jews of Jesus day, Abraham looked for a better blessing. If His people forsook the Law, then earthly cursings were promised: See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans! The promise of blessing passed from Abraham to Isaac (Genesis 26:24) to Jacob (Genesis 27:27-29; 28:12-15). 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. Or heres the way James puts it: 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 (James 1:12). 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. May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Because he was just and right in all his dealings. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.. These blessings are not fulfilled in this life, but in the next. We begin to make decisions and to pursue a course of action which takes away the pain. But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. They have been waiting for us to join them in entering into Gods promised blessings. Jeremiah 18:7-10 The pure shall see God. He is author of. 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. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff As Israel trusted in God and obeyed His Law by faith, God poured out the blessings promised in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. 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. (12) Gods temporal blessing is neither synonymous with prosperity nor incompatible with suffering. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. We will be co-owners of the whole world: They shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). The blessings here are plainly associated with happiness and welfare, both for Abram and others. 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) The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. Death turned earthly, external appearances upside-down. 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. The accursed were those who were rich, well-fed, and happy. Abraham was one-hundred and sixty years old when Jacob and Esau were born. . Matthew 16:21-27 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. And He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Devotions for Growing Christians Spiritual Blessings Ephesians 1:3 - "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." Read Ephesians 1:3-14. Proud member Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. In the context of prayer, Paul prayed that he might have theLords prospering on his physical journey to visit the saints atRome (Rom. 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. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Verse Concepts. (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). Undergrace, eating a ham sandwich is acceptable. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. 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. Rarely, if ever, do I see people posting about how blessed they are as poor in spirit or persecuted like we read about in the Beatitudes. 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. Blessings have to do with God's Kingdom. 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. To belong to Christ is to belong to God as our Father and to be heirs of all that God owns that is, everything. Verse Concepts. Our blessings are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). This child was not merely an adopted heir, but Abrahams own son (Genesis 15:1-6). For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong (1 Peter 3:13-17). I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me (Psalm 119:75). And righteousness from the God of his salvation. One only needs enough faith to be confident God hears and answers our prayers as we desire. 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. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. God is not the only one who pronounces blessings. May these Scripture quotes increase your faith and trust in our Lord! TopicalBible Let that sink in. They would do well to give more thought to the blessings of God as defined in Scripture. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. 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. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. We must live by faith trusting God to fulfill His promises, even when our eyes tell us the opposite is happening now. L For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The story of the rich man and Lazarus underscore this principle (see Luke 16:19-31). In order to receive God's spiritual blessings, one must be in the right spiritual location, that is, in Christ. Thus you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. 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. 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.". Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-6, 13-20; 17:15-21; 26:24; 27:27-29; 28:12-15; 47:9 Gods blessing is found in trusting and obeying God and in the resulting enjoyment (blessing) of His presence and fellowship. Gods common grace is extended to all men, without distinction. God is strong, and he wants you strong. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. I am not happy. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface: "It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Paul says, The world is yours. What is the basis for blessing and cursing? The plan of God is to bring about His own glory and the Christians good (or blessing). And in so doing, we actually miss the blessing God has for us in affliction. Good will comes to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. Luke 14:14 (NIV), Give freely and spontaneously. 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. And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 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. 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. - 2 Corinthians 9:8 Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. - THANKSGIVING FOR THEIR DIVINE ORDINATION TO THE BLESSINGS OF GRACE. Publication date: Mar 3, 2023. So too does history and our own experience. 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. 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). This is not a blessing. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. We now desire that which we once found offensive and repulsive. He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. 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. There is no geographic center for Christianity. 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? 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. Thats the New Testament pattern: sacrificial generosity and service now; spectacular blessing later at the resurrection. In Christ, God bore the curse of sin and death and provided for us eternal life in its place. Abraham may not have left Haran immediately which would mean that Abraham was younger when the promise of a son was first given to him. It is the blessing which comes from faith in Jesus Christ and not from human effort or achievement. I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Like Job, they would be badgered by their friends to find the sin in their life, and confess it so they could be blessed. I love it. Now the first thing we notice is that God lets us know that he is a healer. Related Topics: Dispensational / Covenantal Theology, Theology Proper (God), Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. Let's take a close look at blessing from the bible: who blesses who, how we receive blessings, how we give blessings, physical versus spiritual blessings, and finally how the flow of blessing can influence our prayers. As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. (8) Divine cursing or condemnation is based upon an individuals decision and works. I have become a cynic when it comes to promises received in the mail. 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. You cannot be richer than a Christian. From the Scriptures, we have seen that suffering is neither incompatible with faith nor inconsistent with Gods blessings. Neither Gods blessings nor His wrath are fully manifested in this life. It is in Christ, the seed of Abraham, that we are blessed. God not only accomplished our salvation by the means of Christs suffering, but He uses suffering to draw men to Himself (Luke 6:20-23). You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 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. He restores my soul. The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. In the context of prayer, Paul prayed that he might have the Lord's prospering on his physical journey to visit the saints at Rome (Rom. You do not have to fear the future when God's hand is over your life. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13-16). 3) states summarily the ground of thanksgiving, expanding it with glowing fullness in vers. 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. Psalm 21:6. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. I believe this is the dwelling of which our Lord Jesus spoke just before His death: Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. Some preachers and teachers promise Gods blessings as confidently as the mail promises a free gift. We will be part of Gods family: They shall be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9). Amram's sons: Aaron and Moses.Aaron, along with his descendants, was set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense in the presence of Yahweh, to minister to Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever. Heres the principle: in Gods wisdom, the Jewish religion of the Old Testament was largely a come and see religion. 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Verse Concepts. These are not always material blessings, however. To have enough faith is to have the means to move God into blessing us as we think best, they say. 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. For I was envious of the arrogant, As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. What the Bible says about 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. The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. It is that New Jerusalem which comes down from heaven at our Lords return (Revelation 21:1-2). Download Article. These saints also had faith, but their faith resulted in perseverance rather than in success or prosperity. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (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. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. The apostle John heard a voice from heaven saying, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord (Revelation 14:13). The Israelites of Jesus day also held a distorted view of divine blessings. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. 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). 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). . 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. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 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. Neither do we have basis for complaint if and when He withholds His blessings. To me, it seems like the way God uses blessed or blessings in the Bible is very different from how its used now. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Gods blessing is not only the gift of those things which are good and desirable but the removal of the curse. 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. 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. Israel was the showcase of Gods blessings among the nations. 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. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. (11) Ultimately, blessing or cursing are the result of ones response to Gods provision of forgiveness and righteousness in Jesus Christ, the promised seed of Abraham (see Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-6; John 3:18; 14:6; 1 John 5:12). The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. N Thus, his wait would have been more than twenty-five years. Peter, who once rejected the idea of suffering, later has much to say about suffering in his epistles. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve; and afterward they will come out with many possessions. Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. Their journey to the promised land held many trials. What exactly do you believe those are?. Our very clothing is a physicalblessing. To be spiritual they say is the assurance of earthly pleasures; to be sinful is to bring upon oneself pain and suffering. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused,if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctifiedby the Word of God and prayer (I Tim. Blessings that we receive, whether material or spiritual, all have to do with the coming of God's Kingdom, whether here and now in small glimpses, or eternally when God makes all things new (Revelation 21:5, Isaiah 43:19). He blesses men out of His grace and curses out of His holiness. 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.