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. So theres the principle. Peter rejected the thought out of hand. Abraham had to buy a small parcel of ground for a burial site for his family (Genesis 23:1-20). A Study of God's Plan for Man. K They are His to give; they are also His to withhold. All of us deserve to suffer for our sins. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. His teaching was radically different from that of the Jewish religious leaders of His day. 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. 1 Peter 2:21; 3:8-9, 13-17; 4:1, 14-16 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. For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Jeremiah 29:11 planning hope promises. 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. We must view such blessing and suffering as temporary and not eternal. Your infinite glory, greatness, grander, majesty, and unlimited ability. The blood of Christ has taken away the guilt of our sins, and we stand before the Father as perfectly accepted. (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). 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. 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. They will attack you from one direction, but they will run from you in seven directions. 5:18). I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me (Psalm 119:75). Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Gods blessing is not based upon human merit or works, but upon His grace. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 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. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. Thats the orientation of Jesus Christ the king. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. 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. His desire was to demonstrate His blessings to all men so that men from every nation would seek blessing in Him. 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. He also promised to make him a great nation (Genesis 12:2; 15:5; 17:5-6). Gods blessing is found in trusting and obeying God and in the resulting enjoyment (blessing) of His presence and fellowship. 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). To belong to Christ is to belong to God as our Father and to be heirs of all that God owns that is, everything. 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. For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. When my heart was embittered, And I was pierced within, Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before Thee. What is the basis for blessing and cursing? 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. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Now the first thing we notice is that God lets us know that he is a healer. F 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. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. They are paupers I mean, poverty-stricken paupers compared to the lowliest Christian. These blessings are not fulfilled in this life, but in the next. As Israel trusted in God and obeyed His Law by faith, God poured out the blessings promised in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that {the limb} which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed (Hebrews 12:3-13). To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. When affliction and adversity comes into our life, we conclude that suffering is incompatible with blessing. (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. Of late I have been having discussions with my friends around what it means to be blessed. When affliction comes into our life, we do not pray for Gods grace, nor do we ask God for wisdom, patience, or endurance. Gods plan is purposed to bring glory to Himself and blessing to us. 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. The point I wish to underscore here are the two very different categories of saints. As we come to the study of divine blessing in our series, we begin by considering Gods promised blessings in the Old Testament. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. A Psalm of David. You cannot be richer than a Christian. Q Bible prophecy reveals that the descendants of Esau will exist in the end time. The blessings here are plainly associated with happiness and welfare, both for Abram and others. 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. Next we will look at our Lords teaching on blessing before turning to the rest of the New Testament to study divine blessing. To belong to Christ is to belong to God as our Father and to be heirs of all that God owns that is, everything. (Marriage and children are both a blessing, but neither is without its trials and suffering.) And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3). Thou dost make us a byword among the nations, A laughingstock among the peoples. Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart. Gods promise to Abraham was not merely the promise of a son. Moms come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing's for sureall moms need to connect with other moms! in 1971. Paul later put it this way: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. (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. Psalm 22; 24:3-6; 44; 73; 78; 94:12; 119:67, 71, 75, 92 The complete and final fulfillment of Gods promise to Abraham is yet to occur. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. Abrahams life had its own trials. God blesses the Christian by bearing our curse in the person of Jesus Christ. 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 . 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. And righteousness from the God of his salvation. We now desire that which we once found offensive and repulsive. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. 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. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! 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. 101 See also Matthew 23:29-39; Acts 7:52. This was the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:5-7; 13:14-15) whose boundaries were more fully defined in Genesis 15:18-21. Blessings, Physical Their journey to the promised land held many trials. Gods blessings took time to fulfill, and the process of fulfillment involved suffering and adversity. May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 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. 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. 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. 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. It is also only in eternity that the curse of God will be fully poured out on sinners. (16) One of the blessings God gave Abraham and his seed (which includes us as believers) is that of being a blessing to others. Temporal blessings are those blessings which God bestows upon sinful men, living in a fallen world, flowing from His grace. Cursing may be accomplished by what appears to be Gods blessing. Verse Concepts. But what of Gods eternal blessings? Deuteronomy 28:1-68 ESV / 265 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful "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. 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. (5) The Jews of our Lords time believed suffering was incompatible with Gods blessings. When Israel turned from God, the promised cursings came. Your blessings in eternity will not. Three Advantages You Gain From Trusting In God, i love belivers portal.very inspiring and informarive, Thanks for the efforts to compile this. If we get hungry for God and follow his commands if we seek spiritual growth, physical blessing will follow. 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. These are not always material blessings, however. Thou dost give us as sheep to be eaten, And hast scattered us among the nations. At the time of Sarahs death, the land of Canaan was possessed by the Canaanites (Genesis 12:6) and Abraham did not own any part of the promised land. What a verse! 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. Unfortunately, many Christians today hold to the same basic errors held by the Jews of Jesus day. The first recorded promise of Abrahams son was made when Abraham was seventy-five years old (Genesis 12:4).98 Yet the child was not born to Abraham and Sarah until he was one-hundred years old (Genesis 21:5). So death works in us, but life in you. Peter, who once rejected the idea of suffering, later has much to say about suffering in his epistles. Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. 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), Give freely without begrudging it, and the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. While not a pleasant experience in itself, suffering can be the source of comfort and assurance. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock, in the land that he swore to your fathers to give you. 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). Your blessings in this life will be mixed with sorrow. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. The prophets suffered themselves and also spoke of the Messiah to come as the One who would suffer for the sins of men (Isaiah 52:13--53:12). God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him! Storing up spiritual treasures in heaven is far more important than physical prosperity. Think of being "in Christ" as a spiritual location. They suffered for Gods sake and not for their own sins (Psalm 44:22). After David was anointed as Israels future king, and Sauls replacement, David spent his days fleeing for his life from Saul who was bent on killing him (1 Samuel 18-31). 100 When I speak of innocent suffering here, we must all understand that no mortal is ever innocent, save in the blood of Jesus Christ. 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. This is the profession of Job: And he said, Naked I came from my mothers womb, and naked I shall return there. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV), Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. O It does not tell us that he was seventy-five when he first received the promise of a son. Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them. I think the Beatitudes, taken together, provide a beautiful summary of the blessings promised to the followers of Christ: six immeasurable blessings are sandwiched between the summary promise Theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3, 10). You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. To be spiritual they say is the assurance of earthly pleasures; to be sinful is to bring upon oneself pain and suffering. But, as it is written, What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. W The Bible that you hold in your hand is aphysical book with a spiritual message. They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! By paying to God what we owe Him (that is, His tithes), He rewards us with blessings. Strengthen and help me, Lord. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 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. In the context of prayer, Paul prayed that he might have theLords prospering on his physical journey to visit the saints atRome (Rom. And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. (6) Gods glory is revealed in both His blessing and His cursing (see Exodus 34:5-7). How they are destroyed in a moment! Suffering at the hand of a gracious God is a comfort, for our chastening evidences that we are Gods sons: For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. The pure shall see God. Such suffering serves as a test of our faith and obedience as we see from Jobs experiences.99 Precisely at times like these, Gods people find their perspectives changing and discover Gods presence as their true source of blessing: Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart! John 3:16. Put all the billionaires together. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.. C But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve; and afterward they will come out with many possessions. However there are too many repetition eliminate some of the duplication. They mock, and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high. God chose Israel as the object of His blessings. Email: berean@bereanbiblesociety.org Humanly speaking, men are blessed or cursed on the basis of their response to Abrahams seed, Jesus Christ (Genesis 12:3; Psalm 24:3-6; 32:1-2; 84:4-5; 89:14-18; John 3:16-18; 14:6; Acts 3:26; Romans 4:6-8; Galatians 3:9, 13-16; 1 John 5:11-12). (9) Blessing or cursing are not necessarily evident in the means God employs to produce His desired goal. This bundle contains the Year of Blessing annual . To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:8-9). All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Psalm 24:5. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21:1-8). Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Bible Verses about Blessings - Blessed Scripture Quotes. In summing up his life before Pharaoh, Jacob gave an account not of unceasing bliss but of much affliction: So Jacob said to Pharaoh, The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their sojourning (Genesis 47:9). But that forgiveness is not always guaranteed, and is usually conditional on our repentance. Thats the New Testament pattern: sacrificial generosity and service now; spectacular blessing later at the resurrection. 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. You do not have to fear the future when God's hand is over your life. One only needs enough faith to be confident God hears and answers our prayers as we desire. Abraham was one-hundred and sixty years old when Jacob and Esau were born. It is in Christ, the seed of Abraham, that we are blessed. 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. All things are yours. Jesus said, Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). (13) Adversity and suffering is not synonymous with sin and cursing. Labs When we observe the Lords Supper, we are partaking ofphysical elements, the bread and the cup, which convey aspiritual message (I Cor. Germantown, WI 53022-0756 For all things are for your sakes, that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. For You make him most blessed forever; All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. (17) The blessings our Lord accomplished on the cross of Calvary will not all be poured out on men in this life. The Christian life should be lived out in the light of the superiority of God's promised blessings in comparison to the "blessings" an ungodly world holds out to us (Hebrews 11:24-26). Now thats a different discussion, one initiated by a discerning listener to the podcast named Jordan. But Jesus taught us explicitly not to expect them now. P Because he was just and right in all his dealings. 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). We will be part of Gods family: They shall be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9). 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. Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. Let no one boast in men. 4-14. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 (1) What is blessing? The writer to the Hebrews differs with such thinking. Temporal blessings are not to be measured so much in terms of material prosperity, physical health, or the absence of pain, as in the enjoyment of Gods presence. 4:4,5). (6) How can a clear understanding of divine blessings help us to better understand Gods eternal plan, especially as it relates to man? Along with sin came the curse. 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. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless. That plan incorporates all things (Romans 8:28), which includes pain, suffering, and sorrow. Verses 3-14. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 The accursed were those who were rich, well-fed, and happy. Israel was the showcase of Gods blessings among the nations. He said, "I am the God that healeth thee." . 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? Our very clothing is a physicalblessing. These are the very ones who would be chided today for their lack of faith. I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. If a nation turned from God, its promised blessings would be taken away: At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. Death becomes your servant because of Christs triumph over death. God also promised Abraham a great land that his seed would possess. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. His blessing is the reversal of the curse (see Genesis 12:1-3; Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). And in so doing, we actually miss the blessing God has for us in affliction. I know that no matter how good their promises sound, they simply are not true. And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Only God can make something good from that which seems evil at the moment. But just what has God promised to do for Abraham? Whom have I in heaven but Thee? Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" ( Matthew 5:5 ). The second group--those who suffered and endured by faith--are described in the last half of verse 35 through verse 38. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your Gods, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. Deuteronomy 15:10 (Msg), Worship the Lord your God and his blessing will be on your food and water. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 1. They are not experienced in time, but in eternity. Proverbs 15:6 says, "In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenues of the wicked there is trouble.". 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. Verse Concepts. God does not promise to make us wealthy but that our relationship with Him will prosper. 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.
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