Praise God from whom ALL BLESSINGS flow! Jesus is our source of blessings, and our greatest blessing!
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…
Psalm 72:17,18 – …men shall BE BLESSED iN HIM: all nations shall call Him blessed...let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Philippians 4:19 – …my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:33 – …seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.
I Peter 1:3 – …according as His Divine power given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.
Hebrews 7:7 – …beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.
Numbers 6:24 – “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” 27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I WILL BLESS THEM.”
Ps 132:15 – I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread.
Malachi 3:10,12 – Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it... “And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.
Ps 67:1-2,5-7 – God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah 2 That Your way may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations… Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. 6 Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
BLESSINGS ON OBEDIENCE
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 – “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: 3 “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.4 “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. 5 “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.6 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. 7 “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.8 “The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.9… 12 The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand...
BLESSEDNESS OF BLESSINGS
Are you experiencing blessings in your life? There are secrets to abundant blessings found in Scripture!
Most people want to be blessed! Few know how to tap into the wonderful reservoir of blessings that are available to us. Our Creator God delights to bless His people! He loves for us to meet His conditions of blessing, and to pour out showers of blessings upon us.
BLESSINGS DEFINED
Blessings are not just material, temporal things – they also even more importantly have to do with spiritual things!
Greek “Makarios” – means to be fully satisfied; happy. It refers to those receiving God’s favor, regardless of the circumstances.
If we think that GOD’S BLESSINGS mainly have to do with material things, we could pursue those kinds of things, and place too much importance on them. We might primarily spend a lot of our prayer time asking God for them – and if we don’t get them, wonder whether we’re truly blessed by God.
SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS
We are BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS through Christ. (Ephesians 1;3)
Scripture shows that spiritual blessing is: Anything God gives that makes us fully satisfied in Him. Anything that draws us closer to Jesus. Anything that helps us relinquish the temporal and hold on more tightly to the eternal.
Regeneration
Regeneration is the radical spiritual change in which God brings an individual from a condition of spiritual defeat and death to a renewed condition of holiness and life. The biblical doctrine of regeneration emphasizes God’s role in making this spiritual change possible.
Galatians 3:14 – …in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
John 6:63 – It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life
Romans 8:2 – And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
2 Corinthians 3:6 – He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Hebrews 10:19-20 – Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us,
Justification
To be justified is to be declared perfectly righteous, not on account of anything which we do or have done, but solely on account of perfect life and substitutionary death of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 3:8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the good news [of the Savior] to Abraham in advance [with this promise], saying, “IN YOU SHALL ALL THE NATIONS BE BLESSED.”
Romans 4:7-8 – “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.
Isaiah 45:25 – In the Lord all the descendants of Israel shall be justified, and shall glory.’ ”
Acts 13:39 – …and by Him everyone who believes is justified...
Romans 3:24 – ...being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Romans 5:1 – Therefore, having been Justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Sanctification
SANCTIFICATION is the process of being conformed to the image Christ. The same Holy Spirit that comes in and gives a sinner a life continues to work by purging him of sin and quickening him to works of righteousness.
Acts 3:25-26 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
I John 4:17 – And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So, we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
I Corinthians 1:30 – But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption…
BEATITUDE BLESSINGS
The following words are BLESSINGS from JESUS…
Matthew 5:3-11 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 So leap for joy—since your heavenly reward is great. For you are being rejected the same way the prophets were before you.
BLESSINGS OF SEEKING THE LORD
Proverbs 8:34-35 – Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord…
Matthew 6:33 – …seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.
DAILY BLESSINGS
Psalm 68:19 – Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits.
BLESSINGS ENRICH OUR LIVES
Proverbs 10:22 – …the BLESSING OF THE LORD makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.
Psalm 65:9 – You visit the earth and water it: you greatly enrich it with the river of God…
BLESSINGS OF GOOD HEALTH
Exodus 23:35 – …you shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless your bread and your water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of you.
FAITHFULNESS BRINGS ABUNDANT BLESSINGS
Proverbs 28:20 – A faithful man shall ABOUND WITH BLESSINGS…
BLESSINGS OF MEDITATION IN THE WORD
Psalm 1:1-3 – Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither;
and whatever he does shall prosper.
Joshua 1:8 – This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Psalm 119:9-11,97,99 – How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word… 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You…Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For your testimonies are my meditation.
BLESSINGS OF FORGIVENESS AND CLEANSING
Ps 32:1,2 – BLESSED is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.2 BLESSED is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
BLESSINGS OF PROVISION
Psalm 132:15 – I will ABUNDANTLY BLESS her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread.
BLESSINGS OF GOD’S FAVOR
Numbers 6:22-27 – And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: 24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” ’27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.
GOD’S BLESSINGS UPON HIS PEOPLE
Psalm 3:8 – … Your BLESSING is upon Your people.
BLESSINGS UPON THOSE WHO ARE WILLING AND OBEDIENT
Isaiah 1:19-20 – If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
BLESSINGS OF HEARING THE WORD AND OBEYING IT
Luke 11:28 – But He (Jesus) said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Revelation 1:3 – BLESSED is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
James 1:25 – …he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be BLESSED in what he does.
Revelation 22:7,14 – “Behold, I am coming quickly! BLESSED is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”… BLESSED are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
BLESSINGS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Proverbs 10:6 – Blessings are on the head of the righteous…
CHOOSE BLESSINGS
We have choices to make. We can choose to live a life that is BLESSED, and produces life. Or, we can choose to live a life that is cursed, which brings forth death and destruction.
THE LIFE GOD BLESSES (JIM CYMBALA)
(The following summarizes and condenses some important principles of obtaining God’s blessing and favor in one of Jim Cymbala’s books – “THE LIFE GOD BLESSES”. 1
A HEART AFTER GOD
2 Chronicles 16:9 – …the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.
Special note: God is searching for hearts that he can marvelously show the world how He is well able to help, strengthen, and bless! God doesn’t look at things the way men often do. He looks at the heart. He wants our hearts to be whole-heartedly devoted, pure, and faithful.
The kind of heart he is drawn to, and looking for is one that is after His own heart. (I Samuel 13:4) When our hearts are in harmony, and in submission to His, we will discover the secret of abundant blessings.
Hebrews 4:16 – Let us therefore come boldly before the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and help in our time of need.
When blessings become a curse… Biblical illustration
Sometimes gifts can become an ugly, tragic reality, if they are not stewarded carefully. Blessings should not make us proud. They should be received with thanksgiving and humility, remembered gratefully, and utilized in such a way as to glorify the Lord and be a blessing to others.
Blessings can become a curse if we get proud and forget where they comes from and take the glory and the credit for our blessings upon ourself. Blessings can be harmful if we are not delighting in God, and living to please Him!
A Tragic Example – KING UZZIAH
King Uzziah’s reign had a good beginning. He was a progressive, industrious, well respected king – greatly blessed by the Lord. What were the reasons for his success? “GOD HELPED HIM!” He was “GREATLY HELPED!”. God’s BLESSING was the secret of King Uzziah’s wonderful success. “As long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him.” (2 Chronicles 26:5,7, 15).
The Hebrew word translated “prospered” means “to push ahead”. As long as he was looking to the Lord for guidance and protection, he was pushed forward, surrounded, helped, and blessed by Almighty God. As Uzziah was “seeking the Lord” – it led to God’s blessing. Seeking the Lord is at the heart of our relationship with the Lord because “anyone who comes to him (God) must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly SEEK HIM.” (Hebrews 11:6).
Jeremiah 29:13 – You will seek me and find me when you SEEK me with all of your HEART.
Matthew 6:33 – Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
Uzziah’s downfall was his pride.( 2 Chronicles 26:15-16) His heart became proud and he lost God’s favor. He started thinking he could do anything he wanted. What led to his pride was the blessing of God! He didn’t maintain humility. He lost sight of what had brought prosperity, and it went to his head. He started thinking it was his talent and his leadership that had accomplished so much. Blessings can either humble us and draw us closer to God, or us to become full of pride and self-sufficiency. How we respond to the Lord’s blessings brings all the difference. The blessings can either humble us and draw us closer to God, or they can lift us up and allow our hearts to become full of pride and self-sufficiency.
WARNING
Deuteronomy 8:11-14, 17-18 – Be careful that you DO NOT FORGET THE LORD YOUR GOD, failing to observe His commands, His laws and decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then YOUR HEART WILL BECOME PROUD AND YOU WILL FORGET THE LORD YOUR GOD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the lad of slavery… You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But REMEMBER THE LORD YOUR GOD, FOR IT IS HE WHO GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE WEALTH, and so confirms His covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
Special note: There is a danger! Answers to our prayers can cause our hearts to become proud and stop humbly seeing the Lord! Pride has a devilish quality that keeps us from sensing our need for God’s grace, or deflecting the glory for our blessings back to the Lord.!
ARROGANCE AND PRIDE
The sin of arrogant independence infected the heart of King Uzziah. As he foolishly pursued something God had forbidden him to do, and he was confronted about that he was full of rage.
2 Chronicles 26:18 – “while he was raging at the priests … in the Lord’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead.”
Consequences OF PRIDE
King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. For many years he was forced to live apart from society, temple worship, and his family. Even his death was pitiful. Despite all he had accomplished he couldn’t even be buried with the other kings in the royal cemetery. He was smitten with a dreadful disease (leprosy) and his life that had begun so good ended up in tragedy. The Lord is able to discern between a proud spirit and a humble heart.
PRAYER IS A KEY – CLINGING TO THE PROMISES OF GOD
There is a battle between believing the great promises of God, and so often the still unchanged situations we might continue to face after we pray. Our challenge is to wait in faith for the day of God’s favor and salvation.
What about the times when nothing seems to change. We don’t see a miraculous supply immediately, or no dramatic change happens in our circumstances immediately? Sometimes our circumstances may seem to get worse than before. We have a tendency to give up. We need to learn to WAIT upon the Lord in faith. No matter what difficulties we face, or how bad things seem to be going, we must WAIT upon the Lord, and cling to his promise “I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:14-16)
Isaiah 40:27-31 – Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom…. Those who WAIT ON THE LORD shall renew their strength…
The secret is to have a heart that waits on the Lord, to keep waiting in faith and glad expectation for the things he has promised. We need to have faith in God, and one of the hardest part of faith is WAITING. We need to believe and pray, but also go further by waiting until we experience the reality of His promises in our lives as He answers. He promises to answer! (Jeremiah 33:3) We must WAIT and keep on WAITING until faith turns to sight.
Psalm 25:3 – Indeed let no one who WAITS on YOU BE ASHAMED;… For You are the God of my salvation; on You I WAIT all the day.
Psalm 27:14 – WAIT on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; WAIT, I say, on the Lord!
Psalm 40:1 – I WAITED patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.
Isaiah 49:8 – In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you.
1 – The Life God Blesses by Jim Cymbala, 2001, Zondervan Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA – pages 11, 69,72, 76-78, 79-80,82, 136-147
Special Acknowledgement: Thanks to John Miranda for assistance in helping prepare part of this message and for sharing it at our online service.
