The blessings of God are not inconsistent with suffering. 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). 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. And he said, Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake (Matthew 5:10). It is the blessing which comes from faith in Jesus Christ and not from human effort or achievement. 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. It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Thy statutes (Psalm 119:71). But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Though Esau would not receive the physical blessings passed down from Abraham, Isaac did give him a smaller blessing of limited agricultural blessings . So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. The Israelites of Jesus day also held a distorted view of divine blessings. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. Only God can make something good from that which seems evil at the moment. (8) Divine cursing or condemnation is based upon an individuals decision and works. Foolishly, they sought to keep the Israelites subject to them as slaves and to keep them from leaving their land (Exodus 1:8-22). Faith and obedience are both necessary because each calls upon us to act, not on the basis of what we see, but on the basis of what He has said. It does not tell us that he was seventy-five when he first received the promise of a son. We must view such blessing and suffering as temporary and not eternal. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. God promised every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.. 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. God clarified the promise of the land in Genesis 15: And God said to Abram, Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. Three Advantages You Gain From Trusting In God, i love belivers portal.very inspiring and informarive, Thanks for the efforts to compile this. Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.". Thats the New Testament pattern: sacrificial generosity and service now; spectacular blessing later at the resurrection. When affliction comes into our life, we do not pray for Gods grace, nor do we ask God for wisdom, patience, or endurance. Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-6, 13-20; 17:15-21; 26:24; 27:27-29; 28:12-15; 47:9 They will attack you from one direction, but they will run from you in seven directions. Publication date: Mar 3, 2023. Blog, A Gods blessings are not sovereignly bestowed in the way He chooses but are mechanically obtained by doing the right things. They think of Gods blessings primarily in terms of that which is physical and material.102 They believe that because Christ has come, every promised blessing can be ours, now, if we but believe and ask for them in faith. Blessing and cursing are both temporal and eternal, the temporal being partial and mixed with sorrow, while the eternal is full and complete. They suppose prosperity is ones reward for being spiritual and that suffering is the consequence of sin. (18) Christians will suffer--and not just for sin. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Tools. J For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Then in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete (Genesis 15:13-16). In My Fathers house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. The common factor in all the blessings in the Bible is this: God's Kingdom. And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 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. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.. All too much like Jobs friends, they equate present affliction with sin, and they see it as a curse. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Psalm 112:1-2 (NIV), Blessed are those who keep my ways. Proverbs 8:32 (NIV), Each of these blessings depends on your not turning aside in any way from the laws I have given you; and you must never worship other gods. Deuteronomy 28:14 (Living), Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law. Psalm 94:12 (NIV), It is sin to despise ones neighbors; blessed are those who help the poor. Proverbs 14:21 (NLT), It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35 (NIV), A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Proverbs 22:9 (NIV), Good people will be generous to others and will be blessed for all they do. Isaiah 32:8 (NLT), Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and gains understanding. Proverbs 3:13 (NIV), A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 28:20 (NIV), The Lords curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. Proverbs 3:33 (NIV), People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell. Proverbs 11:26 (NIV), He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy. Proverbs 14:21 (NIV), Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. Proverbs 16:20 (NIV), An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end. Proverbs 20:21 (NIV), It will go well with those who convict the guilty and rich blessing will come upon them. Proverbs 24:25 (NIV), Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble. Proverbs 28:14 (NIV), The Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. By paying to God what we owe Him (that is, His tithes), He rewards us with blessings. The temporal blessings of Judaism were tempting in the light of the affliction they faced as Christians. W Gods national blessings and cursings were conditional. I 11:23-26). He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Your children will be blessed, as well as your crops; your herds will be blessed with calves and your flocks with lambs. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused,if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctifiedby the Word of God and prayer (I Tim. We can never, in and of ourselves, be worthy of divine 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). As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 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. I know that no matter how good their promises sound, they simply are not true. We must live by faith trusting God to fulfill His promises, even when our eyes tell us the opposite is happening now. I call that the showcasing of the blessing of God on the people of God in the Old Testament. Such eternal blessings are far greater than any temporary physical blessings we could receive. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!. Storing up spiritual treasures in heaven is far more important than physical prosperity. It is in Christ, the seed of Abraham, that we are blessed. 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. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.. 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. For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. And put them to use so you will be able ,Be prepared. on 03/30/2021. With that in mind, what is a biblical definition of what it means to be truly blessed?. The promised blessings of the Bible are the good which God has purposed and promised. We will be satisfied with personal and universal righteousness: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied (Matthew 5:6). BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT (Romans 4:3-8). 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. 1:9,10). Whereas, in the Old Testament, Israel had the promise of physical blessing, the church today has been promised spiritual blessings "in the heavenly realms." Our inheritance is reserved for us (1 Peter 1:4). For the Christian, good includes the blessing of all those who are the called in Jesus Christ. One only needs enough faith to be confident God hears and answers our prayers as we desire. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that {the limb} which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed (Hebrews 12:3-13). For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:7-18). They understood that the blessings God promised were not material, but spiritual, and that they were not temporal, but eternal. As we study the promised blessings of God, my hope is that the present pleasures of this life will fade in the light of the glory awaiting us. Suffering at the hand of a gracious God is a comfort, for our chastening evidences that we are Gods sons: For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. 1 Corinthians 11:1-2 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. And he said, Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account (Matthew 5:11). Download a Personal Copy of these Bible Verses about Blessings! Christians often find their third tithe years to be abundant with all types of blessings and invaluable lessons learned. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. 1. 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. 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. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. Gods blessing is not only the gift of those things which are good and desirable but the removal of the curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3). If you have not trusted in Gods promise of blessing in Jesus Christ, then you are under the curse of sin. Luke 6:20-28; 16:19-31 As to the first, many will claim that God loves and forgives us all unconditionally. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. (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. When we understand the difference between Gods temporal blessings and His eternal blessings, we learn to expect suffering and trials as a part of His plan, and as a part of His program to bring about eternal blessing for us. That plan incorporates all things (Romans 8:28), which includes pain, suffering, and sorrow. They would do especially well to give careful thought to this text in Hebrews: And what more shall I say? 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). When Jesus began to teach His disciples concerning His coming rejection, suffering, and death in Jerusalem, even His disciples reacted. 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. Gods earthly blessings were dependent upon Israels obedience to His Law. First the trial, then the blessing, the crown. Proud member Thou dost sell Thy people cheaply, And hast not profited by their sale. This is the profession of Job: And he said, Naked I came from my mothers womb, and naked I shall return there. Browse the best Bible verses about blessings in this collection of scripture quotes: Photo credit: GettyImages/Digitalskillet. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. Dont have a stingy heart. Neither Gods blessings nor His wrath are fully manifested in this life. Cursing may be accomplished by what appears to be Gods blessing. Our text speaks only of Old Testament saints. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. Living in the midst of a fallen world itself suffering from the curse of sin (Romans 8:18-25) results in a suffering of soul for the Christian. Last week Art Lindsley referenced Hebrew poetry found in the Bible to give a more complete picture of flourishing. This means that you do not get all your blessings in this life, but that death itself belongs to you as a gift, as a doorway to infinite, eternal, immeasurable blessing. If we are a child of God, we know His eternal plan allows only those things into our lives which result in our ultimate and eternal good: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). He shall receive a blessing from the Lord. He said, "I am the God that healeth thee." . May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans! You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. The Jews thought of God's blessings in primarily physical and . Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. 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. One can imagine how shocked men were to hear Jesus teach about Gods blessing and cursing precisely opposite from their own view: And turning His gaze on His disciples, He began to say, Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. Pastor John, hello! But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you Luke 6:20-28). Therefore his people return to this place; And waters of abundance are drunk by them. Your blessings in this life will be mixed with sorrow. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. F The Bible that you hold in your hand is aphysical book with a spiritual message. If Thy law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction (Psalm 119:92). 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? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. Because he was just and right in all his dealings. I see the term blessed associated with material possessions or family or health. It cuts across all ethnicities, all geographies, all politics, nationalities. Biblical blessings are often associated with protection and happiness. Bible verses about Blessings. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. The Abrahamic covenant takes up the promise of blessing: Now the Lord said to Abram, Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your fathers house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. 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. Were on a mission to change that. In summing up his life before Pharaoh, Jacob gave an account not of unceasing bliss but of much affliction: So Jacob said to Pharaoh, The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their sojourning (Genesis 47:9). S (12) Gods temporal blessing is neither synonymous with prosperity nor incompatible with suffering. Salem Media Group. The Lord will help you defeat the enemies that come to fight you. John 14:1-3 Gods promise to Abraham was not merely the promise of a son. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And they say, How does God know? (15) Since divine blessing is based upon the sovereign grace of God, we cannot demand it, and we dare not protest when Gods dealings with us do not appear to be a blessing. To me, it seems like the way God uses blessed or blessings in the Bible is very different from how its used now. Selah. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. The Israelites were greatly blessed in number while they sojourned in Egypt (Exodus 1:5-7). Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it (Jeremiah 18:7-10). For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong (1 Peter 3:13-17). These are not always material blessings, however. (1) Gods blessing refers to His purpose, pronouncement, and process of bringing about a persons good. Physical John 3:5 ESV / 23 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 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. They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth. Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. God does not promise to make us wealthy but that our relationship with Him will prosper. G Peter, who once rejected the idea of suffering, later has much to say about suffering in his epistles. Transcript Craig Scott Pastor, United Church of God Acts 3:25-26 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. (3) Gods blessing is opposed to cursing. They are not experienced in time, but in eternity. M However there are too many repetition eliminate some of the duplication. Now, Father, I need You to restore my heart. What the Bible says about Often, the Old Testament Israelite had a mistaken concept of Gods blessings. But what does it mean to truly be blessed according to Scripture? D The apostle John heard a voice from heaven saying, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord (Revelation 14:13). As we come to the study of divine blessing in our series, we begin by considering Gods promised blessings in the Old Testament. The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. Two Minutes with the Bible lets you start your day with short but powerful Bible study articles from the Berean Bible Society.