BLESSINGS

BLESSINGS

Matthew 5

Everybody wants a blessing and when someone sneezes, we are quick to respond, “Bless you.” We all offer this blessing but actually, according to its origin, it is a very spiritual response when someone sneezes.

One traditional explanation for the custom is that it began literally as a blessing, started by Pope Gregory I the Great (AD 540-604). He ascended to the Papacy just in time for the start of the bubonic plague in AD 590 (his successor succumbed to it). To combat the plague, Gregory ordered litanies, processions and unceasing prayer for God's blessing. When someone sneezed (seen as the initial onset of the plague), they were immediately blessed ("God bless you!") in the hope that they would not actually develop the disease.

In Spanish, there is a blessing which can be used as a tender farewell, especially from a parent: Vaya con Dios [via] (Go with God), also Adios (A Dios, to God).

We desire blessings and generally we think that blessings are financial. “Oh that God would bless me,” we say even as Jabez prayed in I Chronicles 4:10. We all want to be blessed but blessing are not necessary financial for as we read in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew 5:3. Nothing-financial there.

A blessing or the act of bestowing of such is related to holiness, divine will or one’s hope. In some Eastern religions and in Catholicism, only priests or bishops or deacons may give formal blessings but in many religions, anyone may bless another. I, personally, have made it a habit, adding it to my greetings when meeting someone; Bless you.” In Numbers 6:24, 25 we read the following blessing which is a priestly blessing and often used from the pulpit at the end of a church service.

“May the LORD bless you, and keep you; May the LORD make his face shine to upon you, and be gracious to you; May the LORD turn his countenance to you and grant you peace.”

In Genesis 12:3 the Lord said to Abram, “I will bless those that bless you and a curse on those that curse you.” I suspect that the reason America has been so blessed is because we have blessed Israel, being one of the very few nations to do so. It is the promise of the Word. Jacob would not loose himself from God, wrestling with an angel, until he was blessed, Genesis 32:26. The Psalmist, David begins his writings in chapter 1 with “Blessed is the man….” and then he lists the joys and promises that come to the man who walks obediently before the Lord. “Blessed is the man,” he writes. A few chapters later, David pens the following, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,” Psalms 33:12. In Psalms 106:3 he writes, “Blessed are those who keep justice and he who does righteousness at all times.” In Psalms 128:4 & 5 David writes, “Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord, the Lord bless you out of Zion.”

David knew how to write about blessings and no doubt it was because as he penned the words in Psalms 42:1,

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God."

“I wait with longing for the LORD, my soul waits for his word. My soul looks for the Lord more than sentinels for daybreak.” Psalm 130:6

In every situation, David’s search for God was with the deepest longing of his heart. Out on the hillsides, watching the sheep as a shepherd, he communed with God and learned the joy of being in the secret place with God for as he wrote in Psalms 91, “He who dwells in the secret place of the most high..”

Isaiah 30:18 has these words of blessings;

“And therefore will Jehovah wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he lift himself up, that he may have mercy upon you; for Jehovah is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.”

We all desire blessings but what are blessings. Matthew 5 talks about those that are blessed or happy because they mourn, they are kind, merciful, have pure hearts and strive for peace. Those that are persecuted are blessed, as are those about whom lies are told or reviled against or hated. Those that are blessed are special in God’s sight.

Blessings can come in the form of protection for as Paul and Silas were thrown into the inner part of the jail’s dungeon, God provided security for them and brought an earthquake and not only released them from the jail but caused the jailer to ask what he might do to be saved, Acts 16:22-37.

It was just shortly before this that Paul and Barnabas healed the cripple, were showered with flowers and then were stoned, Acts 14:8-29. In each situation, the Lord’s favor or blessing came to them and they ministered to the crowds.
               In Acts 20:35 we are told it is more blessed to give then to receive and in Ezekiel 34:26 I will send down 
showers in season; there will be showers of blessing--
We desire for God to send a refreshing shower of blessing from on high. That special blessing might come through a message from a pastor, a song or an encouraging remark from a friend. It comes through the sunshine, the beautiful flowers we see in the springtime and God’s wonderful nature all around us.
            "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, 
and my blessing on your descendants. 
They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams." (Isaiah 44:3-4)
 
            "In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. 
A fountain will flow out of the LORD's house."  (Joel 3:18). "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear 
as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb." (Rev 22:1)
 
            We are experiencing the Lord’s blessings now and we will when we live in the New Jerusalem.  What a joy and wonderful 
time that will be.  In John 13:17, we read;
 
                        “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
 
            Over and over in scripture we have been reading of the blessings that are poured on the Christians and here again we read of blessings. 
 There is often a condition, even though God is a merciful God, we must meet the conditions he has set out for us.  We are told to do these things so what are these things we are supposed to do?  They are:
 
1.       Believe in the miracles of Jesus                                           	John 10:37, 38
2.     God’s glory is revealed to those that believe                         	11:40
3.     Recognize that we must practice what we believe                  	13:17
4.     Know Jesus to know God					14:6,7
5.     Pray for and expect greater things                         		14:12-14
6.     Continually ask God for what you need to do the work            	16:24
While on the isle of Patmos, the Apostle John wrote some encouraging words about blessings from reading the word;

“Blessed is the man who reads aloud the word of this prophecy; and blessed be those who hear and who keep themselves true to the things which are written in it for the time [for them to be fulfilled] is near.” Revelation 1:3

“Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6

I'm coming soon! Blessed is the one who follows the words of the prophecy in this book." Revelation 22:7

Then he said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he said to me, "These are true words of God." Rev. 19:9

“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Rev. 16:15

1. "I am coming as a thief" - Rev. 16:15;

2. "I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you." - Rev. 3:3

3. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night," - 2 Peter 3:10;

4. "the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night," - 1 Thess. 5:2

In I Peter 1:20, we read, “ Foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but manifested in the last times for you:” and in the Living Bible, it reads “as a blessing to you.” When God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory, our faith and hope can now rest in him. We were not on the road to heaven but God paid a ransom (not silver or gold) but the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” (I Peter 1:17-20).

We have accepted that salvation even though we have not walked with God, touched him or sat down at a meal with him. Thomas was commended for believing after seeing Christ but we as some that have not seen, are blessed, John 20:29.

Blessings in the Psalms:

    The Book of Psalms starts with a beatitude:
    - 1:1-2: BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

    - 2:12: Blessed are all those who seek refuge and put their trust in Him!
    - Psalm 32 starts with two blessings. The penitential Psalm St. Augustine had pasted on his bed, to pray it often:
- BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) is he who has forgiveness of his transgression continually exercised upon him, whose sin is covered.
    Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
    - Psalm 119 starts also with two blessings, the Psalm of the Law of God, the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses. Verses 1 & 2
   BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled (the upright, truly sincere, and blameless) in the way [of the revealed will of God], who walk (order their conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord (the whole of God's revealed will).
    Blessed are they who keep His testimonies, and who seek, inquire for and of Him and crave Him with the whole heart.
    - Psalm 84 also has two blessings: verses 4 & 5
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
    - 33:12: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.
    - 34:8: Blessed is the man that takes refuge in the Lord.
    - 41:1: Blessed is he who considers the weak and the poor; the Lord will deliver him in the time of evil and trouble.
    - 94:12: Blessed is the man whom you discipline and instruct, O Lord, and teach out of your law.
    - 112:1: Blessed is the man who fears (reveres and worships) the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments.

          Finally, we read the words penned by David in Psalms 40:4, “Many blessings are given to those who trust the Lord and have no confidence in those who are proud, or who trust in idols.”

          First, we trusted God for our salvation for just as the Israelites went into the house as the blood was applied to the doorpost, thereby receiving their salvation, the death angel passing over them, so we have trusted God to give us his salvation as we have accepted his death for our sins.

          We trust God to make us successful as we purpose to meditate in his word, Psalms 1, Joshua 1:8. We trust God to make us successful as we walk in unity one with another, Psalms 133. We trust God to make us his precious jewels when we talk to one another about the Lord, Malachi 3:16. We trust God to meet our needs when we give sacrificially to him, Luke 6:38. We trust God when we tell everyone the good news that you forgive men’s sins, Psalm 40:9. We must trust the promises of God as David wrote in Psalms 56:4b.

          So blessings are for us and we have truly experienced those blessings. Let’s be thankful for the blessings we enjoy, continually praising God and looking for opportunities to bless others.