We are SO BLESSED! We are BLESSED with so many BLESSINGS that we can never thank and praise the Lord enough for all of them! We are blessed with not only lots of material blessings, but ‘ALL spiritual blessings’ through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 1:3)
WE ARE LOVINGLY BLESSED BY OUR CREATOR
Ephesians 1:5 – How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
Psalm 72:17 – So that his name may be honored forever! May the fame of his name spring forth! May it shine on, like the sunshine! In Him all will be blessed to bless others, and may all the people bless the One who blessed them.
what produces BLESSINGS IN YOUR LIFE?
Most people want to BE BLESSED!! However, 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 BLESSINGS, and to pour out showers of BLESSINGS upon us.
SECRETS TO ABUNDANT BLESSINGS
There are special secrets to experiencing BLESSINGS in your life. Are you experiencing His blessings in your life?The following verses are a Biblical reminder of some of the conditions that lead to abundance and fruitfulness.
2 Chronicles 16:9 – The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen (help; bless) those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
God is on a search for those whose hearts are right, to show to them and the world His abundant blessings. Jesus came to bring abundant life (John 10:10).
SEEKING THE LORD
Matthew 6:33 – …seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
PRAYER
2 Chronicles 7:14 – If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
PRAYER is a key — steadfastly clinging to God’s promises!
PURE HEARTS
Matthew 5:8 – Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
DAVID
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!
1 Samuel 13:14 – But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own HEART. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”
I Samuel 16:7 – But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
SOLOMON
I Chronicles 28:9 – And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
Luke 16:15 – Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.
THE KIND OF HEART HE IS DRAWN TO, AND LOOKING FOR IS ONE THAT IS AFTER HIS OWN HEART
A heart that is out of tune, and out of sync with God’s heart will produce a life of spiritual barrenness and missed opportunities. BUT, WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE IN HARMONY, AND IN SUBMISSION TO HIS WILL, WE WILL DISCOVER THE SECRET OF ABUNDANT BLESSINGS!!
BLESSINGS CAN BECOMES A CURSE
We were reminded in this message (see Part 1) of the fact that if blessings are not responded to properly, they can cause peoples hearts to become proud, and become a curse instead of a blessing.
We need to always remember to humbly acknowledge the Lord as the source of our blessings, and to give Him due honor and glory through them. He wants the abundant blessings He gifts us with to be stewarded very carefully, and utilized in ways that will bring glory to Him and bless others.
Blessings should not make us proud. they should be received with thanksgiving and humility, remembered gratefully, and stewarded wiselyl!
In this message (see Part 1) we saw that the reason for King Uzziah’s success and prosperity was because of the Lord’s help and blessing upon him. As long as he sought the Lord, the Lord caused him to prosper. When his heart was caught up in pride, that led to his downfall and shameful ending.
TO PROSPER
The Hebrew word translated “prospered” means to “PUSH AHEAD”. As long as King Uzziah was “seeking the Lord” – it led to God’s abundant blessings upon his life and the kingdom.
SEEKING THE LORD
Hebrews 11:6 – And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.
Jeremiah 29:13 – You will SEEK me and find me when you SEEK me with all your heart.
GOD’S BLESSINGS UPON HIS PEOPLE
Psalm 3:8 – … Your BLESSING is upon Your people.
ABRAHAM WAS BLESSED
Genesis 24:35 – the Lord has blessed my master greatly (Eleazer)
Special note: Through the Abrahamic covenant we are also blessed!
Genesis 12:2-3 – I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a BLESSING. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be BLESSED.”
Galatians 3:14 – that the BLESSING of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
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…
MULTIPLIED BLESSINGS
Psalm 107:38 – He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; and He does not let their cattle decrease.
Psalm 144:13 – That our barns may be full, supplying all kinds of produce; that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
BLESSINGS OF PLENTY
Joel 2:26 – You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you;
and My people shall never be put to shame.
Psalm 81:16 – he should have fed them also with the finest of wheat: and with honey out of the rock I should have satisfied you..
Amos 9:13 – “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.
GOD IS ABLE TO TURN CURSES INTO BLESSINGS
Deuteronomy 23:5 – Nevertheless the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.
THE LORD COMMANDS BLESSING WHERE THERE IS UNITY
Psalm 133:1-3 – Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! … For there the Lord commanded the blessing— life forevermore.
THOSE WITH CLEAN HAND AND PURE HEARTS ARE BLESSED
Psalm 24:4-5 – He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
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.
BLESSINGS OF TRUST
Jeremiah 17:5-8 – “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. 6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited.7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
BLESSINGS OF GENEROSITY
Psalm 41:1-2 – Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, and he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.
Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Acts 20:35 – remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
BLESSINGS OF BEING CHOSEN OF THE LORD
Psalm 65:4 – Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple.
Psalm 94:12 – Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple.
BLESSINGS OF THE NAME OF THE LORD
Psalm 118:26 – Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
BLESSINGS OF FAITH
John 20:29 – Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
James 2:5 – Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
BLESSINGS OF ENDURING TEMPTATION
James 1:12 – Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
BLESSINGS OF BEING READY FOR JESUS RETURN
Revelation 16:15 – “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments…
BLESSINGS OF GATHERING
Isaiah 65:8 – “As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, ‘Do not destroy it, for a blessing is in it,’
So will I do for My servants’ sake,..
Hebrews 10:24-25 …let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
BLESSINGS OF THE GOSPEL
Romans 15:29 – I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
BLESSINGS OF COMMUNION
I Corinthians 10:16 – The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
THE EARTH IS BLESSED
Hebrews 6:7 – …the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
BLESSINGS, NOT CURSING FROM OUR MOUTHS
James 3:10 – Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
ETERNAL BLESSINGS
Matthew 25:21,23,34 – His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’… His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
HOW WE RESPOND TO THE LORD’S BLESSINGS MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE
WARNING! DANGER!
There is a danger, when answers to our prayers cause our hearts to become proud and stop humbly seeking the Lord! Pride can destructively cause our hearts to distance ourselves from the Lord, and humbly acknowledging our dependence on Him for everything! The sin of arrogant independence can infect so that we think can do things our own way, and take the honor and glory upon ourselves, regardless of the Lord’s instructions. (2 Chronicles 26:18)
Deuteronomy 8:11-14, 17-18 – “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 12 lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; …17 then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’18 “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
WHAT TO DO IN RESPONSE TO BLESSINGS?
Psalm 116:12-14 – What shall I repay to the Lord for all His benefits to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. 14 I will pay my vows to the Lord; May it be in the presence of all His people!
THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE
We have so much to be grateful for in this life. Each and every day. Sometimes constant life demands, struggles, and worries give more room to defeat than to a heart of thanks. Or we may forget, in the midst of busyness and pressures, just to pause and give thanks, for all that God has done, and continues to do in our lives.
Let’s choose to give Him thanks and praise every day!
ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL!
Psalm 103:1-5 – “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
I Thessalonians 5:18 – “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Ephesians. 5:20 “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
2 Corinthians 9:15 – “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”
Praise God from whom ALL BLESSINGS flow!
JESUS IS WORTHY OF BLESSING
Revelation 5:12 – “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
Jesus is the source of blessings, and our greatest blessing!
____
Special Acknowledgement – Thanks to Evelyn Asuncion for her assistance in the preparation of some of this message, and for sharing it at our online service.
