Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff Full and unhindered blessing can only take place in heaven, when Satan is bound, sin and death defeated, and the things corrupted by sin (including our bodies and this world) made new. 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 apostle John heard a voice from heaven saying, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord (Revelation 14:13). 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). That is why God blessed him. Jeremiah 22:15 (NLT), Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. W So remove evil from your house. Job 22:23 (NCV), Even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice. Luke 11:28 (NLT), (Help the unfortunate) and you will be blessed. All of the prophets of Israel were resisted, rejected, and persecuted because they spoke to men for God: And the Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place; but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy (2 Chronicles 36:15-16).101. Hebrews 11 and 12 Our prayers reveal an understanding of Gods blessings virtually identical with the mistaken view of the Jews in Jesus day. And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Put all the billionaires together. In the early days of Davids life, he was misunderstood and chided by his brothers (1 Samuel 17:20-30). This is to be the pattern for the Christians dealings with others, including our enemies (Matthew 6:44-48; Acts 14:15-17; 17:30-31). What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? But Thou hast saved us from our adversaries, And Thou hast put to shame those who hate us. 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. The very food we eat everyday would also be classified aphysical blessing. I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me (Psalm 119:75). God is strong, and he wants you strong. 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. And that about wraps it up. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Salem Media Group. 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). Their identification with Jesus Christ had brought on them the reproach of Christ and the opposition and persecution of unbelieving Jews. 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. List Of Bible Prophecies Not Yet Fulfilled. It is not that one group is more spiritual than the other. With that in mind, what is a biblical definition of what it means to be truly blessed?. 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. When we observe the Lords Supper, we are partaking ofphysical elements, the bread and the cup, which convey aspiritual message (I Cor. 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. While we should not seek suffering in this life, we should expect it, recognizing it as a part of the plan of a loving God who is bringing about our good and His glory. Surely Thou dost set them in slippery places; Thou dost cast them down to destruction. 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. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. In the context of prayer, Paul prayed that he might have theLords prospering on his physical journey to visit the saints atRome (Rom. Unfortunately, many Christians today hold to the same basic errors held by the Jews of Jesus day. 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! In fact, suffering can be a blessing in the hand of God. In all that he does, he prospers. How is it related to cursing? I must do whatever it takes to be happy, even if that involves disobedience to Gods revealed Word.. J Gods blessings took time to fulfill, and the process of fulfillment involved suffering and adversity. He is author of. 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). The complete and final fulfillment of Gods promise to Abraham is yet to occur. Some preachers and teachers promise Gods blessings as confidently as the mail promises a free gift. It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Thy statutes (Psalm 119:71). In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. I love it. In God we have boasted all day long, And we will give thanks to Thy name forever. With Thy counsel Thou wilt guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. How will Abraham be blessed, and how will he become a blessing to others? They would do especially well to give careful thought to this text in Hebrews: And what more shall I say? The story of the rich man and Lazarus underscore this principle (see Luke 16:19-31). Death becomes your servant because of Christs triumph over death. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? 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). If not, we have reason to question whether our faith is real. 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. You cannot be richer than a Christian. Both were cursed with death by being banned from the Garden and the tree of life. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. 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. But just what has God promised to do for Abraham? Well, normally we do rejoice in a merciful God who forgives. (7) How do the temporal blessings and cursings which God promised the nation Israel relate to the life and experience of the Christian today? You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. It is I who answer and look after you. If we had forgotten the name of our God, Or extended our hands to a strange god; Would not God find this out? It cuts across all ethnicities, all geographies, all politics, nationalities. 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. Our very clothing is a physicalblessing. Satan, once our master, has now become our enemy. Their journey to the promised land held many trials. Next we will look at our Lords teaching on blessing before turning to the rest of the New Testament to study divine blessing. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. Thats the orientation of Jesus Christ the king. 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. 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. We ask God to take away the pain and the circumstance. And if it costs you your life, lay it down. Jesus says very plainly, Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:33). "Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. Thats the New Testament pattern: sacrificial generosity and service now; spectacular blessing later at the resurrection. Phone: (262) 255-4750 As Israel trusted in God and obeyed His Law by faith, God poured out the blessings promised in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. For He knows the secrets of the heart. Related Topics: Dispensational / Covenantal Theology, Theology Proper (God), Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.. Restore unto me the joy of my salvation, Father. June 10, 2013. His teaching was radically different from that of the Jewish religious leaders of His day. 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. Ephesians 1:3-14 He also promised to make him a great nation (Genesis 12:2; 15:5; 17:5-6). The unnamed author of this epistle reminds these Christians of their Old Testament roots. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:1-3). Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. 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. But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. Why did your father, Josiah, reign so long? What the Bible teaches is that the physical blessings to these people will continue until and after Christ's return. Abrahams life was not one of uninterrupted bliss, yet he was blessed of God in every way (Genesis 24:1). I am not happy. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. A secondary goal is to accomplish the good of those who love God: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). We begin to make decisions and to pursue a course of action which takes away the pain. Eve was cursed with pain in child-bearing and with the dominion of her husband over her. (2) The Jews thought of Gods blessings in primarily physical and material terms and not in spiritual terms. 3) states summarily the ground of thanksgiving, expanding it with glowing fullness in vers. of 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. Temporal blessings are those blessings which God bestows upon sinful men, living in a fallen world, flowing from His grace. I see the term blessed associated with material possessions or family or health. Gods promise to Abraham was not merely the promise of a son. He and his mother struggled with Isaac and Esau. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. Perhaps the most puzzling passage in the Old Testament concerning Gods blessings comes from the Book of Proverbs: It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it (Proverbs 10:22). Let that sink in. We will never share your personal information and you can unsubscribe at any time. A Study of God's Plan for Man. . And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 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. Almost daily, some bulk mailing assures me I am the lucky winner of one of several prizes. All I need do is contact them to identify my prize. 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. 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. Blessing may be accomplished by what appears to be Gods cursing. Let no one boast in men. (6) The Jews concluded those who prospered were pious (spiritual, righteous), while those who suffered were sinners. He makes me lie down in green pastures. 1. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, What in the World Is Going On? 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). For the Lord is a God of justice, blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:18 (NIV), Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV), The best of all the first fruits and of all your special gifts will belong to the priests. Deuteronomy 8:2-6; 28; 30:15-20 God gives rain and sunshine to men, and in His grace He delays judgment, giving opportunity for repentance. Zechariah 8:13; 14:11 The true view of temporal blessing seeks the enjoyment of Gods presence whether in pain or pleasure. 1:9,10). Therefore his people return to this place; And waters of abundance are drunk by them. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. (14) God blesses all men physically and materially in this life out of His common grace. 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. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. TopicalBible Lets circle back now to Jordans reference to the Beatitudes. (7) Divine blessing is based upon divine grace and not human merit or effort. 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. Thus, the blessings of the Old Testament are partial and provisional. The great nation was still one seed, Jacob. Download a Personal Copy of these Bible Verses about Blessings! 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! They are not in trouble as other men; Nor are they plagued like mankind. Just a few - of many - New Testament texts make this clear: Mark 1:4-5 And so John the Baptist appeared . . No matter where a mom is on her journey, she's welcome at Where Moms Connect.. 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. They think of Gods blessings primarily in terms of that which is physical and material.102 They believe that because Christ has come, every promised blessing can be ours, now, if we but believe and ask for them in faith. And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. Acts 3:25-26 Deuteronomy 28:1-2. 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. Put the bounce back in my step, the smile back on my face, and the dance back in my feet. The Abrahamic covenant takes up the promise of blessing: Now the Lord said to Abram, Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your fathers house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. 5:18). And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.