(5) The Jews of our Lords time believed suffering was incompatible with Gods blessings. 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. What the Bible says about He makes me lie down in green pastures. 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). Since the Mosaic covenant spelled out Gods blessings and cursings in this way in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28-30, this is not difficult to understand. 5:18). 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. (1) Gods blessing refers to His purpose, pronouncement, and process of bringing about a persons good. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. While we are clothedspiritually in Christs righteousness, I wouldnt advise leavinghome physically unclothed. For what does the Scripture say? For the Christian, good includes the blessing of all those who are the called in Jesus Christ. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He restores my soul. 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. I love it. For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. Verse Concepts. Verse Concepts. God clarified the promise of the land in Genesis 15: And God said to Abram, Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Along with sin came the curse. And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Neither Gods blessings nor His wrath are fully manifested in this life. (3) What is the relationship between blessing, faith, and obedience? "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. His blessings were not the kind they wanted. Arouse Thyself, why dost Thou sleep, O Lord? 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. (12) Gods temporal blessing is neither synonymous with prosperity nor incompatible with suffering. Why did your father, Josiah, reign so long? We will be shown mercy: They shall receive mercy (Matthew 5:7). Selah. In Christ, we receive every blessing because He is worthy (see Ephesians 1; Revelation 5:9-14). Acts 3:25-26 For You make him most blessed forever; All too much like Jobs friends, they equate present affliction with sin, and they see it as a curse. On the other hand, Jesus said, Blessed are the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3). Therefore his people return to this place; And waters of abundance are drunk by them. Enter into the joy of your master.. Give, and it will be given to you. 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. 4 Powerful Examples of Blessings From God - Rock Solid Faith Our prayers reveal an understanding of Gods blessings virtually identical with the mistaken view of the Jews in Jesus day. Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them. 25 Bible verses about The Fear Of The Lord . 23 Prayers for Healing That Provide Strength and Comfort (Marriage and children are both a blessing, but neither is without its trials and suffering.) Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. I know that no matter how good their promises sound, they simply are not true. God not only graciously blesses men, He also graciously delays the curse so that men might be saved (see Romans 9:22-24). We will never share your personal information and you can unsubscribe at any time. But in the case of these innocent sufferers, their suffering was not attributed to their sin but was the outgrowth of their righteousness. And my people shall never again be put to shame. And it shall come to pass, if thou . They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth. 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. Thus, his wait would have been more than twenty-five years. 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. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (6) Gods glory is revealed in both His blessing and His cursing (see Exodus 34:5-7). 6:8). His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. Psalm 21:6. 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. A Psalm of David. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Psalm 19:9. Dont have a stingy heart. 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. So theres the principle. 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. For He knows the secrets of the heart. Death becomes your servant because of Christs triumph over death. The Whole Bible for the Whole Christian - CultureWatch Selah. 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. But Jesus taught us explicitly not to expect them now. Only in eternity will the full blessings of God be poured out on Gods people. The blood of Christ has taken away the guilt of our sins, and we stand before the Father as perfectly accepted. In fact, suffering can be a blessing in the hand of God. The primary goal of Gods perfect plan is to demonstrate the glory of God. Why are they wrong? We will be satisfied with personal and universal righteousness: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied (Matthew 5:6). And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies. Blessings have to do with God's Kingdom. Temporal blessings are incomplete and never without a measure of sorrow and suffering. While not a pleasant experience in itself, suffering can be the source of comfort and assurance. Perhaps best of all, our suffering for Christs sake deepens our love for our Lord and our fellowship with Him: More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 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 Israelites were greatly blessed in number while they sojourned in Egypt (Exodus 1:5-7). If we do not understand Gods temporal blessings, and His eternal blessings, we will not understand the plan of God. Just a few - of many - New Testament texts make this clear: Mark 1:4-5 And so John the Baptist appeared . (19) Gods promised blessings do not assure us we will escape the wrath of men toward God, but only that we will escape the wrath of God toward men. 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). God was in no hurry to fulfill His promised blessings. 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 . It is in Christ, the seed of Abraham, that we are blessed. Trust in Him, and you will be blessed. The blessings here are plainly associated with happiness and welfare, both for Abram and others. As Israel trusted in God and obeyed His Law by faith, God poured out the blessings promised in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. First the trial, then the blessing, the crown. 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. Foolishly, they sought to keep the Israelites subject to them as slaves and to keep them from leaving their land (Exodus 1:8-22). He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. Ephesians 1:3-5. A beautiful way to begin any new year is with a dox Help me to rejoice always, Father, for this is Your will for me. (2) Gods curse is the process of bringing about mans deserved retribution of divine judgment. Christians often find their third tithe years to be abundant with all types of blessings and invaluable lessons learned. At other times, Israels suffering was not due to her unbelief and rebellion. Heres the principle: in Gods wisdom, the Jewish religion of the Old Testament was largely a come and see religion. As we come to the study of divine blessing in our series, we begin by considering Gods promised blessings in the Old Testament. J She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. Proverbs 3:13-18 (NIV), The memory of the righteous will be a blessing. Proverbs 10:7 (NIV), He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. Proverbs 21:21 (NIV), Jesus said to his host, When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. The Bible teaches that all spiritual blessings are available only "in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Well, normally we do rejoice in a merciful God who forgives. Unlike many Israelites in the Old Testament, and most of the Jews of Jesus day, Abraham looked for a better blessing. These blessings are not fulfilled in this life, but in the next. 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. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. They are based upon His sacrifice at Calvary but are realized in His coming to judge the earth: And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. What an amazing promise--a promise which will surely be fulfilled! For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.. And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. The same errors which plagued the Israelites and Christians of old are popular in evangelical Christianity today. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. 49 Bible Verses about Blessings From God - Knowing Jesus The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 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. Lets circle back now to Jordans reference to the Beatitudes. Peter, who once rejected the idea of suffering, later has much to say about suffering in his epistles. Germantown, WI 53022-0756 Thou dost cause us to turn back from the adversary; And those who hate us have taken spoil for themselves. In order to receive God's spiritual blessings, one must be in the right spiritual location, that is, in Christ. Z. So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God. May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. (7) Divine blessing is based upon divine grace and not human merit or effort. - THANKSGIVING FOR THEIR DIVINE ORDINATION TO THE BLESSINGS OF GRACE. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. Blessings, Physical 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. 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. Often, the Old Testament Israelite had a mistaken concept of Gods blessings. For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Then many people will thank God when we deliver your gift. 2 Cor. Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. And he said, Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account (Matthew 5:11). Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. 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. Job 4:6. From the Scriptures, we have seen that suffering is neither incompatible with faith nor inconsistent with Gods blessings. Psalm 24:5. So it is today. Bible Verses about Blessings - Bible Study Tools 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). Thou dost sell Thy people cheaply, And hast not profited by their sale. 102 This is not to say they do not believe in spiritual and eternal blessings, but only that their emphasis is on present material prosperity. Job 1 and 2 Y Proud member He makes me lie down in green pastures. Of how much more value are you than the birds! Thats the New Testament pattern: sacrificial generosity and service now; spectacular blessing later at the resurrection. Jordan puts his finger on the nub of the issue, I think, by referring to the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Thy statutes (Psalm 119:71). They are not in trouble as other men; Nor are they plagued like mankind. The term blessed is thrown around in our culture today, and its all over our Bibles too. L Ephesians 6:12-13,15-19 And that about wraps it up. God is - bible.com PO Box 756 Labs What a verse! But that forgiveness is not always guaranteed, and is usually conditional on our repentance. We will see God: They shall see God (Matthew 5:8). God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. As a result, Jacob and his family moved to Egypt where they became a great nation. (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). It is also only in eternity that the curse of God will be fully poured out on sinners. Bible verses about Blessings. For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. For I was envious of the arrogant, As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. I will take away sickness from among you. 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). It was not in Abrahams lifetime that the promise of a great nation was fulfilled. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.. There is no geographic center for Christianity. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 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. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. God's Promises to Abraham - Life, Hope & Truth But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? James 1:2-5 Such eternal blessings are far greater than any temporary physical blessings we could receive. 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). 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. God is not the only one who pronounces blessings. God is strong, and he wants you strong. A review of Jesus teaching about the kingdom of God and about the blessings of God explains why His teaching was found unacceptable by the Jews. It is by blessing Him that we enjoy Gods blessings, rather than the curse of sin. To be spiritual they say is the assurance of earthly pleasures; to be sinful is to bring upon oneself pain and suffering. Philippians 3:8-12 However there are too many repetition eliminate some of the duplication. 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; If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Thus you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. Such men say if we employ the right approach, (their approach, usually for a donation), success is assured. 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. 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. Fax: (262) 255-4195 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. The pure shall see God. Whether God in His goodness enables us to succeed, or whether His grace enables us to endure our suffering, let us realize that God is able to make use of suffering to produce blessings. 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. 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. What is the basis for blessing and cursing? 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. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. All things are yours.". The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. (5) What errors concerning divine blessing can we see in the Jews of old and also in Christians of today? While we are primarily blessed with all spiritual blessingsin the heavenlies (Eph. 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. God gives rain and sunshine to men, and in His grace He delays judgment, giving opportunity for repentance. 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. Keep us, oh God, from trusting in our power. Gods temporal blessings are not inconsistent with suffering. He said, "I am the God that healeth thee." . Transcript Craig Scott Pastor, United Church of God If we would understand what in the world God is doing in these days, we must understand what the Bible teaches about divine blessing. They would do especially well to give careful thought to this text in Hebrews: And what more shall I say? Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart run riot. They would do well to give more thought to the blessings of God as defined in Scripture. 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. This child was not merely an adopted heir, but Abrahams own son (Genesis 15:1-6). Let no one boast in men. These trials came from the hand of the God who had promised to bless them: And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. (10) Blessing and cursing have present manifestations, but they are not fully manifested until the second coming of Christ. When Jesus began to teach His disciples concerning His coming rejection, suffering, and death in Jerusalem, even His disciples reacted. He also promised Abraham that he would become a blessing to all who would bless him. 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.