The great nation was still one seed, Jacob. Eternal blessings are experienced by saints who have been transformed into the image of Christ, whose mortal bodies are left behind and who live in a new world free of sin, of Satan, and of the curse (see 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 21 and 22). May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans! So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. Transcript Craig Scott Pastor, United Church of God Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Deuteronomy 8:2-6; 28; 30:15-20 Our very clothing is a physicalblessing. 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. Blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21). When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 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. Christians often find their third tithe years to be abundant with all types of blessings and invaluable lessons learned. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 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). And it shall come to pass, if thou . God's blessings are meant to protect us, guide us to the path of righteousness, and give us hope. O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? There are no places to do pilgrimages in Christianity. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!. There will always be some among you who are poor. Then many people will thank God when we deliver your gift. 2 Corinthians 9:11 (CEV), 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 his: Sell your produce and take the money with you to the one place of worship. Deuteronomy 14:24-25 (TEV), God blesses those who are kind to the poor and helpless. You do not have to fear the future when God's hand is over your life. So death works in us, but life in you. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! His desire was to demonstrate His blessings to all men so that men from every nation would seek blessing in Him. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. Luke 14:12-14 (NIV), You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous. For what does the Scripture say? 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.". But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling; My steps had almost slipped. These six blessings summarize what it means to live forever under the kingdom, the heavenly rule of God: So in summary, (1) the presence of God seen and enjoyed in the face of Christ, (2) covering us with mercy because of all our sins, (3) calling us his children, (4) comforting us for all pain and loss in this world, (5) bequeathing to us the universe for a familiar homeland, and (6) everything set right in our souls and in the social order of the new world this is our great reward. Only God can make something good from that which seems evil at the moment. Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. What the Bible says about Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. 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 fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. With Thy counsel Thou wilt guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. These are not always material blessings, however. I believe this text provides the key to understanding Gods blessings, especially their relationship to suffering and adversity. How will Abraham be blessed, and how will he become a blessing to others? He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. 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. List Of Bible Prophecies Not Yet Fulfilled. Geocoding The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. Pastor Sadler, you referred to our having physical blessings today. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. (6) How can a clear understanding of divine blessings help us to better understand Gods eternal plan, especially as it relates to man? Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Bible Verses about Blessings - Blessed Scripture Quotes. For You make him most blessed forever; No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. So too does history and our own experience. He blesses the Christian temporally by His presence, by producing our growth and maturity, and by creating a hunger for the full and final blessings of heaven. It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Thy statutes (Psalm 119:71). This is what it means to be truly blessed. Blessing and cursing are both temporal and eternal, the temporal being partial and mixed with sorrow, while the eternal is full and complete. 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. 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 . Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart run riot. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession, to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:3-14). 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. Abrahams life was not one of uninterrupted bliss, yet he was blessed of God in every way (Genesis 24:1). Gods blessing is not based upon human merit or works, but upon His grace. Phone: (262) 255-4750 All things are yours.". The suffering of some saints should be no more troublesome to us than the success of some saints, or even the success of some sinners. 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). 1. You have entered an incorrect email address! I will take away sickness from among you. PO Box 756 - THANKSGIVING FOR THEIR DIVINE ORDINATION TO THE BLESSINGS OF GRACE. Now the first thing we notice is that God lets us know that he is a healer. J 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. 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. Gods blessing is not only the gift of those things which are good and desirable but the removal of the curse. Your basket and your kitchen will be blessed. R And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. 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). If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? How is it related to cursing? 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. Judaisms errors concerning divine blessings can be summed up in these statements. Because he was just and right in all his dealings. May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. But what does it mean to truly be blessed according to Scripture? The unnamed author of this epistle reminds these Christians of their Old Testament roots. 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. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. God was in no hurry to fulfill His promised blessings. He referred to a blessing found in Numbers that . To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. In Gods wisdom, the church of Jesus Christ is not an ethnic or geographic or political or national entity. Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. I I see the term blessed associated with material possessions or family or health. 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). 5:18). Satan, once our master, has now become our enemy. Jeremiah 18:7-10 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Paul says, The world is yours. L Abraham had a twenty-five year wait for the blessing of a son. To have enough faith is to have the means to move God into blessing us as we think best, they say. Photo Credit: Getty Images/Unsplash Read more Site Map About Us Help (5) What errors concerning divine blessing can we see in the Jews of old and also in Christians of today? Such eternal blessings are far greater than any temporary physical blessings we could receive. One only needs enough faith to be confident God hears and answers our prayers as we desire. Redemption speaks of buying one's freedom, paying a ransom. Their journey to the promised land held many trials. And as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. I call that the showcasing of the blessing of God on the people of God in the Old Testament. A Study of God's Plan for Man. Whereas, in the Old Testament, Israel had the promise of physical blessing, the church today has been promised spiritual blessings "in the heavenly realms." Our inheritance is reserved for us (1 Peter 1:4). of What the Bible teaches is that the physical blessings to these people will continue until and after Christ's return. For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds (Matthew 16:21-27). Jesus simply did not fit the mold of Jewish expectations. Romans 4:3-8; 5:3-5; 8:18-25, 28; 12:14 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. God blesses the Christian by bearing our curse in the person of Jesus Christ. For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Gods blessing is the overturning and removal of the curse due to sin. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. It is that New Jerusalem which comes down from heaven at our Lords return (Revelation 21:1-2). Thou dost make us a byword among the nations, A laughingstock among the peoples. These saints also had faith, but their faith resulted in perseverance rather than in success or prosperity. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. 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. OpenBible.info Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts. (2) Gods curse is the process of bringing about mans deserved retribution of divine judgment. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13-16). The apostle John heard a voice from heaven saying, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord (Revelation 14:13). But what of Gods eternal blessings? We shall see what they are, what they are not, and when they will be fulfilled. 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. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Cursing may be accomplished by what appears to be Gods blessing. In Christ, we receive every blessing because He is worthy (see Ephesians 1; Revelation 5:9-14). 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. 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. When affliction comes into our life, we do not pray for Gods grace, nor do we ask God for wisdom, patience, or endurance. This bundle contains the Year of Blessing annual . God chose Israel as the object of His blessings. W 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. It is the blessing to which Abraham and every other Old Testament saint looked forward. 5:18). 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. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Only in eternity will the full blessings of God be poured out on Gods people. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. The writer may have meant that they were given promises, but they did not receive them.

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