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Thus, his wait would have been more than twenty-five years. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. To belong to Christ is to belong to God as our Father and to be heirs of all that God owns that is, everything. He called those blessed whom the Jews regarded as accursed. 4:4,5). in 1971. (4) God has the right to bless or to curse men (see Romans 9:19-21). God's blessings are meant to protect us, guide us to the path of righteousness, and give us hope. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. It is the blessing which comes from faith in Jesus Christ and not from human effort or achievement. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. By paying to God what we owe Him (that is, His tithes), He rewards us with blessings. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. This false view of blessing justifies ones expectations of no pain and all pleasure in this life. Our Lords suffering and sacrificial death were Gods means of blessing us: It is you who are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. For you first, God raised up His Servant, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways (Acts 3:25-26). Dont have a stingy heart. When we observe the Lords Supper, we are partaking ofphysical elements, the bread and the cup, which convey aspiritual message (I Cor. These blessings are not fulfilled in this life, but in the next. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Humanly speaking, men are blessed or cursed on the basis of their response to Abrahams seed, Jesus Christ (Genesis 12:3; Psalm 24:3-6; 32:1-2; 84:4-5; 89:14-18; John 3:16-18; 14:6; Acts 3:26; Romans 4:6-8; Galatians 3:9, 13-16; 1 John 5:11-12). 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). Gods blessings are not sovereignly bestowed in the way He chooses but are mechanically obtained by doing the right things. 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. A review of Jesus teaching about the kingdom of God and about the blessings of God explains why His teaching was found unacceptable by the Jews. Like Lot, we find our righteous souls vexed by sin (2 Peter 2:7-8). I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me (Psalm 119:75). This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Germantown, WI 53022-0756 There are no priests or saints through whom we have to go to God, but only Jesus Christ. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 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). God promised to finish the work He started in us (Philippians 1:6). His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. They knew these blessings would not come in life, but after death and resurrection: All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Gods plan is purposed to bring glory to Himself and blessing to us. (2) Gods curse is the process of bringing about mans deserved retribution of divine judgment. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. TopicalBible And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever (Revelation 22:1-5). - THANKSGIVING FOR THEIR DIVINE ORDINATION TO THE BLESSINGS OF GRACE. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. 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). The Jews thought of God's blessings in primarily physical and . Philippians 4:19 trust Jesus. Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. What the Bible teaches is that the physical blessings to these people will continue until and after Christ's return. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Steps. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. Notice that every creature of God is good;that is, every piece of beef, chicken, pork, fish or shellfish weeat is good and not to be withheld as unclean today. Proud member This is one of the reasons Jesus teaching and His offer of the kingdom was rejected. 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. These are the very ones who would be chided today for their lack of faith. 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. If a nation repented of its sin and turned to God, its threatened judgment could be averted. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. Just as our Lord suffered because of His identification with sinful men, so God has purposed that we who trust in Him should suffer because of our identification with Him. 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. 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). 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. He suffered because of his deception concerning Sarah. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, What in the World Is Going On? The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. It is that New Jerusalem which comes down from heaven at our Lords return (Revelation 21:1-2). If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. In the Old Testament we find that while the righteous were those who believed Gods promise of blessing, they were also those who suffered innocently.100 David suffered for his sins (Psalm 32), but he also suffered innocently for the Lords sake (see Psalm 22). Then in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete (Genesis 15:13-16). And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Blessings, Physical. Peter rejected the thought out of hand. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. We can never, in and of ourselves, be worthy of divine blessings. Divine blessing certainly is not well understood. Related Topics: Dispensational / Covenantal Theology, Theology Proper (God), Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. Rise up, be our help, And redeem us for the sake of Thy lovingkindness (Psalm 44:4-26). The Bible that you hold in your hand is aphysical book with a spiritual message. The point I wish to underscore here are the two very different categories of saints. Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm Central Time. If I had said, I will speak thus, Behold, I should have betrayed the generation of Thy children. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. You have entered an incorrect email address! And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. And He said, Write, for these words are faithful and true. And He said to me, It is done. Death becomes your servant because of Christs triumph over death. It is I who answer and look after you. Such eternal blessings are far greater than any temporary physical blessings we could receive. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve; and afterward they will come out with many possessions. But Thou hast saved us from our adversaries, And Thou hast put to shame those who hate us. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other. Romans 1:12 (NLT), You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous. (4) What, if any, are the differences between temporal and eternal blessings? #blessed Its a social media tag for when someone feels blessed and who has, or is getting, everything theyve dreamed of getting. I believe this is the dwelling of which our Lord Jesus spoke just before His death: Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21:1-8). It was not in Abrahams lifetime that the promise of a great nation was fulfilled. P Eternal blessings are full and complete, the enjoyment of physical and material prosperity, the full manifestation of Gods goodness and glory, and the absence of sin, Satan, death, and the curse. Well, normally we do rejoice in a merciful God who forgives. Always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. Christians often find their third tithe years to be abundant with all types of blessings and invaluable lessons learned. Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Gods national blessings and cursings were conditional. There is a sense in which our suffering bears testimony to the end of sins dominion in our lives (1 Peter 4:1). We will never share your personal information and you can unsubscribe at any time. And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Those who identified with Israel and Israels God would also be blessed, as God told Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3). She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Deuteronomy 28:1-2. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.. Verse Concepts. His blessings were not the kind they wanted. The full and final blessing of God is not accompanied with sorrow. They would do especially well to give careful thought to this text in Hebrews: And what more shall I say? Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Unlike many Israelites in the Old Testament, and most of the Jews of Jesus day, Abraham looked for a better blessing. You do not have to fear the future when God's hand is over your life. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 9:11 (CEV), Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding. Proverbs 3:13 (NIV), They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. Psalm 37:26 (NIV), The best of all the first fruits will belong to the priests. Browse the best Bible verses about blessings in this collection of scripture quotes: Photo credit: GettyImages/Digitalskillet. Z. (6) Gods glory is revealed in both His blessing and His cursing (see Exodus 34:5-7). I must do whatever it takes to be happy, even if that involves disobedience to Gods revealed Word.. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, And washed my hands in innocence; For I have been stricken all day long, And chastened every morning. In Gods economy, serving others is a privilege and not a curse. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. They would do well to give more thought to the blessings of God as defined in Scripture. Blessings that we receive, whether material or spiritual, all have to do with the coming of God's Kingdom, whether here and now in small glimpses, or eternally when God makes all things new (Revelation 21:5, Isaiah 43:19). on 03/30/2021. Our text speaks only of Old Testament saints. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Why did your father, Josiah, reign so long? (17) The blessings our Lord accomplished on the cross of Calvary will not all be poured out on men in this life. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? If we had forgotten the name of our God, Or extended our hands to a strange god; Would not God find this out? When Christians suffer for Christs sake, it is a blessing. To be spiritual they say is the assurance of earthly pleasures; to be sinful is to bring upon oneself pain and suffering. Every word in the Bible is for us; for our learning. Some preachers and teachers promise Gods blessings as confidently as the mail promises a free gift. (13) Adversity and suffering is not synonymous with sin and cursing. Proverbs 10:22 God gives rain and sunshine to men, and in His grace He delays judgment, giving opportunity for repentance. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. Gods temporal blessings are not inconsistent with suffering. God blesses the Christian by bearing our curse in the person of Jesus Christ. But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Few understand the blessings of God as they should. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.. Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:8-12). The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God (1 Peter 4:14-16). All day long my dishonor is before me, And my humiliation has overwhelmed me, Because of the voice of him who reproaches and reviles, Because of the presence of the enemy and the avenger. Such men say if we employ the right approach, (their approach, usually for a donation), success is assured. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (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). All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!. The common factor in all the blessings in the Bible is this: God's Kingdom. All of those referred to were people who obtained Gods approval through their faith in Gods promise. 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). 11:23-26). This shall never happen to You. But He turned and said to Peter, Get behind Me, Satan! Philippians 3:8-12 Verse Concepts. 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. 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. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. You cannot be richer than a Christian. Ephesians 1:3-14 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. We ask God to take away the pain and the circumstance. All things are yours.".