In Genesis 22:16-18, God again blesses Abram, and adds that blessing is due to his obedience to God's commands. There is no geographic center for Christianity. If Thy law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction (Psalm 119:92). Because all of Gods blessings are a gift of His grace, through the work of Jesus Christ, we have no basis for demanding His blessings. Revelation 21 and 22. We can never, in and of ourselves, be worthy of divine blessings. Temporal blessings are incomplete and never without a measure of sorrow and suffering. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. Luke 14:14 (NIV), Give freely and spontaneously. 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. 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. Put simply, Gods blessing does not mean that we are free to indulge in every sensual pleasure, but neither does it mean that we must deny every earthly pleasure. This is the profession of Job: And he said, Naked I came from my mothers womb, and naked I shall return there. For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (5) What errors concerning divine blessing can we see in the Jews of old and also in Christians of today? Ephesians 1:3-14 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). For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. Thats the orientation of Jesus Christ the king. And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:2-5). Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. June 10, 2013. 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. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. James 1:2-5 Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. I am not happy. Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm Central Time. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. 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. L Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. When God promised Abraham that his seed was to be a blessing to all nations, this was a part of Abrahams blessing. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessing and cursing are both temporal and eternal, the temporal being partial and mixed with sorrow, while the eternal is full and complete. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. They would do well to give more thought to the blessings of God as defined in Scripture. 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). 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. He suffered because of his deception concerning Sarah. 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. 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. Put the bounce back in my step, the smile back on my face, and the dance back in my feet. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Enter into the joy of your master.. Job 1 and 2 And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies. God does not promise to make us wealthy but that our relationship with Him will prosper. 1:9,10). Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13-16). And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. It is in Christ, the seed of Abraham, that we are blessed. Our Lords suffering and sacrificial death were Gods means of blessing us: It is you who are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. For you first, God raised up His Servant, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways (Acts 3:25-26). (2) In what ways does God bless all men? 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. S 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. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. Routinely, such letters go in the trash without my even opening them. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. W We will be part of Gods family: They shall be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9). But notice that in the list of things that belong to us is death. 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. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Christians often find their third tithe years to be abundant with all types of blessings and invaluable lessons learned. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 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. Jacob struggled with Laban (see Genesis 31:42). To be spiritual they say is the assurance of earthly pleasures; to be sinful is to bring upon oneself pain and suffering. Gods temporal blessings are not inconsistent with suffering. And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth. Biblical blessings are often associated with protection and happiness. (7) How do the temporal blessings and cursings which God promised the nation Israel relate to the life and experience of the Christian today? 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. And the failure to recognize this distinction between Gods plan for Israel in the Old Testament and Gods plan for the church in the New Testament has caused a lot of people to put way too much emphasis on earthly blessings today. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. How will Abraham be blessed, and how will he become a blessing to others? And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Two Minutes with the Bible lets you start your day with short but powerful Bible study articles from the Berean Bible Society. Lets circle back now to Jordans reference to the Beatitudes. Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? A Prayer for God's Power. Jacob saw much strife in his family and suffered much over the loss of Joseph and then Benjamin. To belong to Christ is to belong to God as our Father and to be heirs of all that God owns that is, everything. As we study the promised blessings of God, my hope is that the present pleasures of this life will fade in the light of the glory awaiting us. The complete and final fulfillment of Gods promise to Abraham is yet to occur. But in the case of these innocent sufferers, their suffering was not attributed to their sin but was the outgrowth of their righteousness. Temporal blessings are those blessings which God bestows upon sinful men, living in a fallen world, flowing from His grace. There are no priests or saints through whom we have to go to God, but only Jesus Christ. And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. Where Moms Connect is a unique mom's ministry curriculum that brings women together and helps them connect naturally, through discussion, Bible study and fun. You do not have to fear the future when God's hand is over your life. Gods promise to Abraham included a land and a seed. Abrahams seed was to begin with a son. My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. 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). 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. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. 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. The Bible teaches that all spiritual blessings are available only "in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). He points them to the true blessings which are in Christ. For You make him most blessed forever; Good will comes to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. What the Bible says about 1 Chron 23:13. Things were bad and about to get worse. His blessing is the reversal of the curse (see Genesis 12:1-3; Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). The story of the rich man and Lazarus underscore this principle (see Luke 16:19-31). God promised to bless Abraham and his offspring. The plan of God is to bring about His own glory and the Christians good (or blessing). He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve; and afterward they will come out with many possessions. 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. 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. Your infinite glory, greatness, grander, majesty, and unlimited ability. Your basket and your kitchen will be blessed. I see the term blessed associated with material possessions or family or health. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. 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). (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. Labs God promised every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. 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. 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. It can range from getting a new girlfriend, a new job, or a pay raise, to finding a ten-dollar bill on the sidewalk or getting surprisingly good news. Our heart has not turned back, And our steps have not deviated from Thy way, Yet Thou hast crushed us in a place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death. Your children will be blessed, as well as your crops; your herds will be blessed with calves and your flocks with lambs. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end. 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. They knew these blessings would not come in life, but after death and resurrection: All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 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. Dont have a stingy heart. Psalm 22; 24:3-6; 44; 73; 78; 94:12; 119:67, 71, 75, 92 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. 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). (4) What, if any, are the differences between temporal and eternal blessings? Phone: (262) 255-4750 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. We now loathe that which we once loved. 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 mistreat you Luke 6:20-28). How they are destroyed in a moment! When affliction and adversity comes into our life, we conclude that suffering is incompatible with blessing. Help me to rejoice always, Father, for this is Your will for me. He makes me lie down in green pastures. (12) Gods temporal blessing is neither synonymous with prosperity nor incompatible with suffering. Photo Credit: Getty Images/Unsplash Read more Site Map About Us Help Next we will look at our Lords teaching on blessing before turning to the rest of the New Testament to study divine blessing. 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). The Israelites of Jesus day also held a distorted view of divine blessings. But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Gods blessings took time to fulfill, and the process of fulfillment involved suffering and adversity. In the early days of Davids life, he was misunderstood and chided by his brothers (1 Samuel 17:20-30). They mock, and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high. Bible prophecy reveals that the descendants of Esau will exist in the end time. For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. Your blessings in eternity will not. To those who equated wealth and ease with piety and the blessing of God, the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) was shocking and disturbing. By tracing the fulfillment of this promise through the Scriptures we will better understand Gods blessings. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. 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). 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). His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, Behold, we are your servants. But Joseph said to them, Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 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. 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. 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. They have been waiting for us to join them in entering into Gods promised blessings. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Psalm 112:1-2 (NIV), Blessed are those who keep my ways. Proverbs 8:32 (NIV), Each of these blessings depends on your not turning aside in any way from the laws I have given you; and you must never worship other gods. Deuteronomy 28:14 (Living), Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law. Psalm 94:12 (NIV), It is sin to despise ones neighbors; blessed are those who help the poor. Proverbs 14:21 (NLT), It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35 (NIV), A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Proverbs 22:9 (NIV), Good people will be generous to others and will be blessed for all they do. Isaiah 32:8 (NLT), Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and gains understanding. Proverbs 3:13 (NIV), A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 28:20 (NIV), The Lords curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. Proverbs 3:33 (NIV), People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell. Proverbs 11:26 (NIV), He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy. Proverbs 14:21 (NIV), Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. Proverbs 16:20 (NIV), An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end. Proverbs 20:21 (NIV), It will go well with those who convict the guilty and rich blessing will come upon them. Proverbs 24:25 (NIV), Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble. Proverbs 28:14 (NIV), The Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. 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. They are His to give; they are also His to withhold. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. J These were much more perplexing times as we see from the agony of this psalmist: Thou art my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob. Last week Art Lindsley referenced Hebrew poetry found in the Bible to give a more complete picture of flourishing. But just what has God promised to do for Abraham? His teaching was radically different from that of the Jewish religious leaders of His day. Here are 10 bible verses about unexpected blessings that will bring you peace and joy when you need it most. There are no places to do pilgrimages in Christianity. 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). All this has come upon us, but we have not forgotten Thee, And we have not dealt falsely with Thy covenant. Blessings, Physical Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. But for Thy sake we are killed all day long; We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. Thus, his wait would have been more than twenty-five years. 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. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. in 1971. 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. 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. You will be blessed when you come in and when you go out. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Thou dost make us a byword among the nations, A laughingstock among the peoples. His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. This was the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:5-7; 13:14-15) whose boundaries were more fully defined in Genesis 15:18-21. 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. We will never share your personal information and you can unsubscribe at any time. 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. 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). How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. And put them to use so you will be able ,Be prepared. 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). Heres the principle: in Gods wisdom, the Jewish religion of the Old Testament was largely a come and see religion. For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Proud member You have entered an incorrect email address! They are paupers I mean, poverty-stricken paupers compared to the lowliest Christian. 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. Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou hast taken hold of my right hand. Thou dost give us as sheep to be eaten, And hast scattered us among the nations. In Gods economy, serving others is a privilege and not a curse. But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. We must live by faith trusting God to fulfill His promises, even when our eyes tell us the opposite is happening now. They were blessed by God, through faith. The Lord will help you defeat the enemies that come to fight you. These blessings are not fulfilled in this life, but in the next. Paul answers in Ephesians 1:3: God has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing every blessing that heaven can conceive for the eternal happiness of Gods people will be ours. E 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) What a verse! May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 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. 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. Indeed, this is how many translations of the Bible, including the New King James Version, translate Paul's statement to the Galatians: "Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made" . 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.. The apostle John heard a voice from heaven saying, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord (Revelation 14:13). At other times, Israels suffering was not due to her unbelief and rebellion. God gives rain and sunshine to men, and in His grace He delays judgment, giving opportunity for repentance. 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. If you have not trusted in Gods promise of blessing in Jesus Christ, then you are under the curse of sin. 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. 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. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. 11:23-26). Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. (Marriage and children are both a blessing, but neither is without its trials and suffering.) 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. The point I wish to underscore here are the two very different categories of saints. (5) The Jews of our Lords time believed suffering was incompatible with Gods blessings. What exactly do you believe those are?. 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! And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.