God Wants You to Live with His Blessing Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:26-28 We often think of the blessing of God as being a reward. We think that if we do good, God will bless us. But when did God bless Adam and Eve? It was the first thing He did after He created them! Adam and Eve hadn’t done anything yet that He could reward them for. The blessing of God was not a reward; it was an equipping! The first thing that God did after He created man in His own image was to bless him! The blessing of God is standard equipment for mankind. We need His blessing. We were not designed to live independently of God’s grace. We were designed to live with His blessing. The blessing of God is also a revelation of God’s heart. If the first thing He did was to bless us, then clearly God is a God of blessing. His nature is to bless. His heart is a heart of blessing. It was the first thing He did! He didn’t wait a day or an hour or a minute. He blessed them immediately! He didn’t make them perform or pass a test. He just blessed them! Blessing flows from the heart of God to all his creation, and especially to the people He created in His own image. What is the blessing of God? It is His favor and His grace. It is health and prosperity. It is success and happiness and fulfillment. It is guidance and wisdom and power. God defined the blessing by saying, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion…” So the blessing is fruitfulness and success and multiplication and victory and mastery and dominion! How did God release the blessing? He spoke words! God blessed them, saying… God spoke the blessing, and the Spirit of God came and activated the blessing. 17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Genesis 3:17 We also tend to think of the curse as being a punishment for disobedience. It is true that disobedience brought the curse, but the curse was not really a punishment. It was a consequence. God is not a God of punishment, but He is a God of consequences. Before the fall, Adam and Eve were in alignment with God. They were in agreement with God. They were in connection and right relationship with God. The blessing flowed from God’s heart to their lives. But after their disobedience, they were out of alignment with God. The connection was broken. The alignment was broken. The flow of blessing was lost. Satan had gained an entrance into their lives, and evil would produce a curse. God’s heart is not to punish, but to redeem. God is not really a God of punishment, but He is a God of consequences, and these consequences were really bad. The curse was not a punishment to be endured, but a consequence, a loss of alignment that needed to be fixed. Something had been lost that needed to be restored, because God is a God of blessing. It is His plan and His way. 1 So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. Genesis 9:1 After the fall, Adam’s race became so corrupted that the flood was the only answer. God had to cut out the growing cancer of sin and try to launch a new beginning. He chose a man called Noah, and his family. Immediately after the flood, what did God do? The first thing God did was to bless Noah and his sons. It was a new beginning. God placed a fresh blessing on His covenant man, because that is how God designed us to live. But the seed of sin was still in Noah and his family. People began to multiply on the earth again, but the cancer of sin also grew and multiplied. So the Lord looked for another man to be His friend and covenant partner. God chose Abraham. Through Abraham’s seed (Jesus Christ), God intended to eliminate the curse completely and restore the blessing forever. 1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. 2 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.” Genesis 12:1-3 God found a friend and a new covenant partner in Abraham. God revealed His heart and His nature again by immediately declaring a blessing over Abraham. God wanted to bring the blessing into the earth. God wanted to bless the people He made in His own image. God revealed through Abraham another part of His plan for us: “I will bless you...and you shall be a blessing.” God was going to bless His covenant man and make him a blessing to others. God’s desire is that we would have a heart like His own heart – a heart of blessing. God wants to bless us (His covenant people) and make us a blessing to others. But all blessing flows from God. You can’t become a blessing if you don’t receive the blessings of God. You can’t give what you don’t have! God also gave Abraham an amazing promise – the promise of the Messiah! “And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” This was the promise that Jesus Christ the Savior would be born as a descendant of Abraham, the friend of God. And how did God express this promise? In the language of blessing! “And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” God’s plan was that Jesus Christ would completely reverse the curse and restore the blessing “to all the families of the earth”. This is the “blessing of Abraham” for anyone who will receive salvation through Jesus Christ. But God also mentioned a curse for those who would curse Abraham. This was the language of covenant: “Your friend is my friend. Your enemy is my enemy.” But let’s look at this idea a little closer: 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, Matthew 5:44 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Romans 12:14 Even though God told Abraham he would curse those who cursed Abraham (covenant talk), God’s real heart is to bless. Jesus taught us to bless even those who curse us, because this is God’s heart. God basically said, “I am willing to curse your enemies, because this is your covenant right. But my heart is really a heart of blessing. Would you give up your right to have your enemies cursed? Would you come into agreement with me and bless even your enemies? Would you pray for their salvation? Would you forgive them and wish them the same salvation that you have? Then you will really be in agreement with God’s heart. Then you will really show yourself to be a child of God! When we bless people rather than curse them, we release more of God’s grace and power. When we bless rather than curse, we affect people’s destinies. The Spirit of God can work in their lives to save them, rather than to destroy them. This is God’s real desire. In this way, we reveal God’s heart. In this way, we truly work in partnership with Him. How do we bless? We speak words of forgiveness and blessing, and the Spirit of God backs up our words. How do we curse? We speak words of accusation and judgment, and demons are activated by our words. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now and kiss me, my son.” 27 And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said: “Surely, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed. 28 Therefore may God give you of the dew of heaven, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine. 29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, and let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be those who bless you!” Genesis 27:26-29 Somewhere in Genesis, in the early history of man, it became a custom for fathers to bless their sons, especially the firstborn son. Why did they do this? They certainly knew that God had blessed Adam and Eve, and Noah, and Abraham. They were probably imitating God and following His example. That’s a good thing! Why was there a special blessing for the firstborn? The firstborn son was a prophetic symbol of Jesus. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, and the “firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:29) This blessing was so important and powerful that Jacob, the son of Isaac, deceived both his firstborn brother and his father to get it. God didn’t approve of Jacob’s way of getting the blessing. But God loved that Jacob valued the blessing enough to go after it. Jacob’s firstborn brother Esau didn’t value the blessing and sold it for a bowl of stew. How was the blessing given? How was it activated? The blessing was released by the spoken word, a prophetic word from God’s Spirit. 22 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.” Numbers 6:22-27 Even under the Mosaic covenant of law, which brought a curse for disobedience, God still wanted His people to be blessed! It is not God’s nature to curse. It is His nature to bless. God was trying to fight the curse with His blessing. That’s grace! But He needed His priests to help him. God actually instructed his priests to regularly bless the people of Israel. How were they to do this? God told them to speak the blessing over them. God wanted to bless Israel, but He needed the priests to speak the word of blessing. Then God could bless them. Then the Holy Spirit could come and activate the blessing for them! Pastors and leaders in the body of Christ should bless their churches and their congregations today. Pastors and ministers should speak the blessing of God over the church regularly, because God wants to bless the people and He needs your words of faith to release that blessing! Don’t speak curses over God’s church. God’s heart is not a heart of judgment or accusation or punishment. God’s heart is to bless and heal and redeem and transform. Speak blessing! Release the blessing! 9 Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 In 1 Chronicles chapter four, we read about a man named Jabez who became famous for one thing: he asked God for His blessing. How did Jabez know to do that? What inspired him to pray that prayer? Jabez knew that God had blessed Adam. And Noah. And Abraham. And Jabez knew about the priestly blessing. Jabez discerned the nature of God and the heart of God. Jabez knew that God is a God of blessing. Many of us think that asking God for His blessing is selfish. But Jabez knew better. Jabez prayed this way: “Oh, that You would bless me indeed!” What does that mean? It means: “Bless me a lot! The extra-large blessing, please! Bless me like You blessed Abraham! I’m Your friend, too. I’m Your covenant man, too! Cause me to prosper and be in health. Teach me and lead me and guide me and grant me success and victory by Your grace and favor on my life!” He also prayed that God would enlarge his territory. What does that mean? For Jabez it probably meant more land – a bigger piece of the Promised Land. For us today it would mean more influence, a bigger ministry, and more success. He also prayed that the hand of God would be with him. He was asking for favor and grace. He was asking for the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit to be with him. He was asking for guidance and wisdom. He also prayed to be kept from evil: “Keep the devil out of my life and my decisions. I don’t want to hurt anyone or cause any harm.” The Bible says that God granted his request. God did not get mad at him for asking for all that blessing! God likes it when we understand His heart. And it was not a selfish prayer. Remember Abraham? God said, “I will bless you…and you shall be a blessing!” God wants to bring blessing into the earth. You can’t share what you haven’t received! Jabez knew that! 13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. Mark 10:13-16 All parents desire that their children would be blessed. And Jesus wanted to bless them. It was only Jesus’ disciples that didn’t understand! Isn’t that strange? Jesus’ disciples thought that Jesus had much more important things to do than to bless some little children. They didn’t remember Genesis 1:28! Jesus taught His disciples that the kingdom of God is for people with childlike hearts. (Heaven is actually a very fun place!) People who are too serious don’t know how to receive it or enjoy it. The kingdom of God is a gift, not a reward. It is received by faith, not earned. What is the blessing that the parents wanted for their little children? They wanted God’s Spirit upon them. They wanted angels assigned to them. They wanted favor, grace, protection, success, guidance, wisdom, health, and prosperity. How did Jesus release the blessing to the children? (Pay attention - this is important kingdom business!) He laid His hands on them and released the Holy Spirit upon them. And then He spoke words over them. He probably spoke general blessings and Bible promises over them. He probably also spoke individual prophetic words for each child concerning their callings and their destinies. He also took them in His arms. (Pay attention - this is important kingdom business!) He loved them! He showed them affection! Do this for your children also! And if you are a pastor or a church leader, do it for all the little children in your church! Jesus did! 21 When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. 22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22 In this passage in Luke three, we see what is called the Father’s blessing. Jesus publicly received the Father’s blessing. Every son and daughter needs this! Again, this is not a reward. This is an equipping. This is a father openly giving love, approval, acceptance and identity to his son or daughter. Every child needs this. Every father needs to do this for each of his children. If you are a pastor or a spiritual leader, you can do this for your spiritual children and church members. They will thrive and grow strong under your blessing. If they do not receive your blessing, they will not feel loved or accepted or approved. They will not grow as well. And God wants to do this for you! Spend some time with the Father. Ask Him to speak to your heart. Ask Him to show you His love for you. He will do it! The Father’s blessing will change your life and ministry! 50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. Luke 24:50-51 When God first made Adam and Eve in His image, He blessed them. And He gave them a commission: multiply, be fruitful, and fill the earth. After Jesus was raised from the dead, His followers were born again in His image. And He blessed them and gave them a new commission: preach the gospel and make disciples of the nations. In other words, multiply and fill the earth…spiritually. Jesus instituted the new covenant. And what did He do right before He went back to Heaven? He lifted His hands and blessed them. He restored the blessing. (Do you know what the last word of the Old Testament is? It is “curse”.) Jesus restored the blessing, just like in Genesis 1:28. The blessing is not a reward. It is an equipping. It is a gift. We need that blessing. We have a big commission to fulfill! And God’s heart is to bless us. It is His nature and desire. 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… Ephesians 1:3 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 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. Galatians 3:13-14 There was a curse of the fall and a curse of the law. The curse of the fall came from Adam and Eve’s sin. The curse of the law came from not obeying the laws of God under the Mosaic covenant. Jesus redeemed us from both curses on the cross. The full reversal of the curse of the fall will be seen at His second coming, when we receive resurrected, immortal bodies. But the reversal of the curse of the law is for now! Jesus took the curse on the cross – He actually became a curse for us – so that we might receive the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus. Abraham was declared righteous before God because He believed God’s promise. (Genesis 15:6. See Abraham vs. Moses) Abraham was richly blessed, not because of his performance, not because he kept laws or commandments, but because he was in covenant with God. Abraham received God’s promise and God’s grace by faith. In Christ, we can have the same blessing. Do what Jabez did. Don’t try to qualify for God’s blessing. It’s not a reward. It’s an equipping. Jesus already made you qualified. Just ask God for His blessing. Ask with a childlike heart. Ask every day! More blessing, Lord! Bless me and make me a blessing, just like Abraham! 1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. Revelation 22:1-3 In the end of the book, in the end of the history of man, the blessing is completely restored. The curse of forever gone. No more curse. That’s just the way God wants it! Adam, the first man, released the curse, but God became a man and swallowed up the curse on a Roman cross. He restored the blessing forever
Posted on: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 09:58:43 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015