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Blessing is the gift for your relationship with God.

In the Bible, a blessing is depicted as a mark of God’s relationship with a person or nation. When a person or group is blessed, it is a sign of God’s grace upon them and perhaps even presence among them. To be blessed means that a person or people take part in God’s plans for the world and humanity.

We often go to God with our requests, but have you considered going to God to thank him for your blessings? A journal of blessings is a great way to accentuate the blessings that you see in your life. Sure it is easy to ask for blessings, but it is just as easy to be thankful for blessings.

What is a blessing according to the Bible?

When God called Abram to go to the Promised Land (Genesis 12:1-3), He promised to bless him, make his name great, and through him, to bless all the families of the earth. The blessings here are plainly associated with happiness and welfare, both for Abram and others. In Genesis 22:16-18, God again blesses Abram, and adds that blessing is due to his obedience to Gods command When God called Abram to go to the Promised Land (Genesis 12:1-3), He promised to bless him, make his name great, and through him, to bless all the families of the earth.

The blessings here are plainly associated with happiness and welfare, both for Abram and others. In Genesis, God again blesses Abram, and adds that blessing is due to his obedient to God’s commands. As in the Psalms, the best life is available for those who love and fear God and order their lives according to His Word. Romans

Two Types of Blessings

The Bible says that the gift of the Holy Spirit is meant to bring to us “the blessing of Abraham” (Gal.3:14). When God blessed Abraham, He told him, “I will bless you and you will be a blessing. In you all the families of the earth will be blessed…” (Gen.12:3,4).

There are two parts to that blessing: “I will bless you” and “You will be a blessing”. This is what happens when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Most believers seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit to be blessed themselves and not in order to be a blessing to others. This is why there are so many counterfeit experiences of the Holy Spirit rampant in Christendom today.

Blessings and Jesus:

Some of Jesus’ most famous words are contained in Sermon on the Mount, and seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

3. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

4. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

5.Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

6.Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

7.Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

8.Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

9.Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Here this message describe about Jesus first and foremost importance words on.”Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

1. What is poor in spirit?

Poor in spirit means that you feel you have no moral riches and are in need. You feel you need ‘spiritual’ life. ‘Poor’ used in this verse means ‘reduced to being a beggar’.  This makes sense and we can confirm its meaning by comparing other statements of Jesus, for he often said the same things in many ways. One good match that seems to bring light to the phrase is:

Statements of Jesus

1. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (NIV Mark 2:16-17)

Those who feel they are sinful or ‘morally sick’ and so cry out to Jesus to be saved, are ‘poor in spirit’ thus they are the ones and only ones that inherit God’s kingdom. Those who are self-righteous are morally confidant and rich, these Jesus cannot save.

This makes sense that Jesus would make this the first attitude of a Christian because it is by being poor in spirit or ‘reduced to being a beggar’. That you actually ‘begin’ the Christian life with this explains why it is the first be-attitude. It also fits and explains the second attitude of mourning which is the other side of the same coin. It naturally follows for a Christian once recognizing his poverty due to sin, he will mourn on account of it.

God will make happy, or ‘bless’ such people with inexpressible spiritual riches and joy. This is the core message of the gospel.

Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

2. Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. “Luke: 18.9-14

Apostle Paul and his Spirit

3. Letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Saviour and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.1Timothy1:15-16

For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.1 Corinthians 15:8-10

4. Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her Luck; 138

Statement of John the baptize

5. “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Matthew 3:11

UN WORTHY

6. But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. Matthew 8:89

7.If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing.Matthew 10:12-14

8.I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. Luke 7:7

9. According to Eusebius, Peter thought himself unworthy to be crucified as his Master, and, therefore, he asked to be crucified “head downward “by his request so he would not die the same way Jesus died since he thought he wasn’t worthy. – II Peter 1:13-14

Who is worthy?

10.“Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.Revelation 3:3-5

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant by Jesus.

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.

So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses. “Matthew 18:21-35

Conclusion

There are two parts to that blessing:  as we discuss early “I will bless you” and “You will be a blessing”. This is what happens when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Most believers seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit to be blessed themselves and not in order to be a blessing to others. This is why there are so many counterfeit experiences of the Holy Spirit rampant in Christendom today.

Jesus said that the power of the Holy Spirit would make us His witnesses (“a blessing to others”, as He Himself was) to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8). This is “the blessing of Abraham” who was told that “the entire world will be blessed because of you” (Gen.12:3-Living). Families living in the uttermost parts of the earth would be blessed through Abraham. And families living in the uttermost parts of the earth will be blessed through us, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus told the Jews in the synagogue at Nazareth about His being anointed with the Spirit and the blessings that would flow out as a result, He mentioned, “preaching the gospel to the poor, healing the broken-hearted, delivering the oppressed, announcing freedom for the captives, sight for the blind and the blessings of God, to one and all” (Lk.4:18, 19-Living). Notice that every single result of the anointing was blessing to others. Peter’s words in Cornelius’ house agrees with this: “Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power and He went around doing well and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.” (Acts 10:38). Again we notice that the emphasis is on blessing to others.

Yet many Christians do just that: They advertise the good they do, in order to impress people that they are serving God. Jesus told us that even our left hand should not know what our right hand does.

God wants to bless us – immensely. But He does not want us to become reservoirs or lakes. He wants us to be channels through which rivers of living water flow out to others (Jn.7:37-39). And He wants those rivers to flow secretly and quietly, for the glory of God alone.

Every gift of the Spirit mentioned in the New Testament epistles is meant to bless others (1 Cor.12; Rom.12; Eph.4). Even the gift of tongues that edifies us personally is given primarily so that we might always be spiritually fresh and in touch with God, so that we can serve others better.

Those who seek after personal blessing primarily – whether physical health, material prosperity or emotional excitement – have not understood God’s purpose at all. These are only the crumbs that fall from His table.

Our calling as believers is to follow in Jesus’ footsteps – and He did not come to earth to be blessed Himself but to bless others.

 Servant of God

Bro. David Samuel.