You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. We seek to obey God when we used to delight in disobedience. 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). For You make him most blessed forever; What is the basis for blessing and cursing? 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. 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. 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. That is why I am commanding you to share your resources freely with the poor and with others in need. Deuteronomy 15:10-11 (NLT), Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in his times of trouble. Biblical blessings are often associated with protection and happiness. Thou dost make us a byword among the nations, A laughingstock among the peoples. (14) God blesses all men physically and materially in this life out of His common grace. 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. Gods temporal blessings are not inconsistent with suffering. When God promised Abraham that his seed was to be a blessing to all nations, this was a part of Abrahams blessing. They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth. 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. F 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. BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT (Romans 4:3-8). So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Thy works (Psalm 73:1-28). His blessing is the reversal of the curse (see Genesis 12:1-3; Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). Thou dost make us a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to those around us. Many were the times in Israels history when God brought calamity upon His people due to their sins, yet the nation Israel never seemed to learn her lesson (see Psalm 78). Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. He blesses men out of His grace and curses out of His holiness. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. Malachi 3:10 (NIV), Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 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. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. But notice that in the list of things that belong to us is death. Obedience, stemming from gratitude, faith, love, and hope, which is empowered by Gods Spirit, brings the temporal blessings of God, while disobedience brings a curse (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; Psalm 106:3; 112:1; 119:1-2; Proverbs 8:32; Isaiah 44:3; Daniel 12:12; John 13:17; James 1:12; Revelation 14;13). For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Bible Verses about Blessings - Blessed Scripture Quotes. Yet our prayers betray us. (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. Verse Concepts. When affliction and adversity comes into our life, we conclude that suffering is incompatible with blessing. They would do especially well to give careful thought to this text in Hebrews: And what more shall I say? Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. Thats the orientation of Jesus Christ the king. 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. 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). Then in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete (Genesis 15:13-16). Gods blessing is not only the gift of those things which are good and desirable but the removal of the curse. 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. The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 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), Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it. Luke 11:28 (NIV), Im eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. The second group--those who suffered and endured by faith--are described in the last half of verse 35 through verse 38. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. What exactly do you believe those are?. Paul says, "The world is yours. Your children will be blessed, as well as your crops; your herds will be blessed with calves and your flocks with lambs. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. D Trust in Him, and you will be blessed. Geocoding in 1971. Nearly six hundred years passed from the promise of possessing this land to the time his seed actually acquired the land. Peter, who once rejected the idea of suffering, later has much to say about suffering in his epistles. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets. Spiritual Growth And Physical Blessing - Sermon Central He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. (4) God has the right to bless or to curse men (see Romans 9:19-21). No matter where a mom is on her journey, she's welcome at Where Moms Connect.. The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Give, and it will be given to you. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. To belong to Christ is to belong to God as our Father and to be heirs of all that God owns that is, everything. Photo Credit: Getty Images/Unsplash Read more Site Map About Us Help (6) How can a clear understanding of divine blessings help us to better understand Gods eternal plan, especially as it relates to man? OpenBible.info 1. Spiritual Blessings Growing Christians Ministries If Thy law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction (Psalm 119:92). 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. Bible Verses about Blessings - Bible Study Tools Are There Physical Blessings Today? | Berean Bible Society Acts 3:25-26 Matthew 16:21-27 But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. Surely Thou dost set them in slippery places; Thou dost cast them down to destruction. Blessings, Physical Psalm 21:6. 2 Peter 2:7-8 Blessings, Physical. All rights reserved. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Y 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. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Why dost Thou hide Thy face, And forget our affliction and our oppression? When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface: "It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. If not, we have reason to question whether our faith is real. All things are yours.". Three Advantages You Gain From Trusting In God, i love belivers portal.very inspiring and informarive, Thanks for the efforts to compile this. As it is written, He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. Verse Concepts. I know that no matter how good their promises sound, they simply are not true. By tracing the fulfillment of this promise through the Scriptures we will better understand Gods blessings. It is I who answer and look after you. Peter rebuked our Lord for speaking of His own suffering (see Matthew 16:21-22). These are the blessings our Lord Himself brings to pass in His second coming. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Whom have I in heaven but Thee? Let no one boast in men. Selah. 1:3), God has also blessed us withphysical things. Proverbs 10:22 Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. Gods blessings are not sovereignly bestowed in the way He chooses but are mechanically obtained by doing the right things. 5:18). 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. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Matthew 5:3-11 (NIV), Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it. Luke 11:28 (NIV), Jesus said, Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed. John 20:29 (NIV), In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35 (NIV), Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 (NIV), The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25 (NIV), Even if you should suffer for what is right, you will be blessed. 1 Peter 3:14, If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:14 (NIV), If you cant carry that ten percent of your harvest to the place where the Lord chooses to be worshiped; if you live too far away, or if the Lord gives you a big harvest, then sell this part and take the money there instead. Deuteronomy 14:24-25 (CEV), You should be happy to give the poor what they need, because then the Lord will make you successful in everything you do. Deuteronomy 15:10 (CEV), Each man is to bring a gift as he is able, in proportion to the blessings that the Lord your God has given him. Deuteronomy 16:16-17 (TEV), Obey the Lord your God so that all these blessings will come and stay with you: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him (Deuteronomy 8:2-6). There are no places to do pilgrimages in Christianity. It cuts across all ethnicities, all geographies, all politics, nationalities. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. You cannot be richer than a Christian. The Book of Hebrews brings the Old Testament faith into focus and clearly describes the nature of the blessings God promised and for which believers waited in faith. (5) God is able to bless men because He has borne their curse in Christ, and thus His holiness is maintained in His grace (see Romans 3:24-26). One would not have chosen Abrahams life to illustrate blessing. These trials came from the hand of the God who had promised to bless them: And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 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. No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. Next we will look at our Lords teaching on blessing before turning to the rest of the New Testament to study divine blessing. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES. It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" ( Matthew 5:5 ). But for Thy sake we are killed all day long; We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. This is what it means to be truly blessed. Strengthen and help me, Lord. For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 4 Powerful Examples of Blessings From God - Rock Solid Faith What the Bible says about Psalm 19:9. 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. 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). But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. And there shall no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His bond-servants shall serve Him; and they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. The promise of blessing passed from Abraham to Isaac (Genesis 26:24) to Jacob (Genesis 27:27-29; 28:12-15). God not only accomplished our salvation by the means of Christs suffering, but He uses suffering to draw men to Himself (Luke 6:20-23). Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. 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? Last week Art Lindsley referenced Hebrew poetry found in the Bible to give a more complete picture of flourishing. And on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. God's blessings are meant to protect us, guide us to the path of righteousness, and give us hope. 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. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. To be spiritual they say is the assurance of earthly pleasures; to be sinful is to bring upon oneself pain and suffering. Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. So too does history and our own experience. Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. What are spiritual blessings? | GotQuestions.org Proverbs 15:6 says, "In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenues of the wicked there is trouble.". For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Gods blessings are the fulfillment of His promise and the conclusion of a process which includes suffering and sorrow. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV), Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Ephesians 1:3-14 104 Harold G. Stigers, A Commentary on Genesis (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1976), p. 135. 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. - THANKSGIVING FOR THEIR DIVINE ORDINATION TO THE BLESSINGS OF GRACE. 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). List Of Over 80 Blessings In The Bible - Believers Portal (18) Christians will suffer--and not just for sin. 4:4,5). The Bereans "received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:10-11). The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 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. 101 See also Matthew 23:29-39; Acts 7:52. In everything [not just some thingsand not just spiritual things] give thanks: for this is thewill of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (I Thes. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. What Does the Bible Say About Blessings? - OpenBible.info Verse Concepts. Gods blessing is the overturning and removal of the curse due to sin. Good will comes to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. We shall see what they are, what they are not, and when they will be fulfilled. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 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). Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him! Cursing may be accomplished by what appears to be Gods blessing. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. Of how much more value are you than the birds! Why are they wrong? God does not promise to make us wealthy but that our relationship with Him will prosper. Death turned earthly, external appearances upside-down. 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. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. He said, "I am the God that healeth thee." . The reason, we are told, is that God wanted them to enter into blessings with us, at the same time. 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. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. of
