FOUNDATIONS FOR BLESSING
INTRODUCTION
1) The word ‘Blessing’ has been trivialised in our day.
2) People have a wrong image of God and the Church.
3) God is a loving Father whose primary desire is to bless people and do them good - both through Himself directly, and through His people.
‘Blessing’ – God’s favour, to consecrate, to make holy, to protect, to make happy, to bring increase, to empower to prosper in every area of life, to be successful, to be content and satisfied – for the believer blessing can bring an increased sense of identity as God’s child
FOUNDATIONS FOR BLESSING
Adam/Eve
Gen 1v28 – Then God blessed them and said to them “Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth…”
Noah
Gen 9v1 – So God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth…”
Abraham
Gen 12v1-3 - …I will bless you and make your name great and you shall be a blessing…and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”
Israel
Deut 28v1-14 – Now it shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God…that the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth…and all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you…
Church
Gal 3v7-14 – Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham…Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law…that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus…”
God wants His church today to pursue and dwell in His presence, to recognise and receive His blessing, and to learn to pray and pronounce His blessing over individuals, communities, and nations!
THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM
Gen 12v1-3 - …I will make you a great nation; I will bless you…and you shall be a blessing…and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed
Gal 3v13-14 – Christ has redeemed us from the curse…that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles
• God is a loving Father whose primary desire is to bless people
• As believers we are the seed of Abraham/in his family line
• The blessing of Abraham is part of our inheritance
• Israel was called as a nation to demonstrate the blessing of God
• God now wants to bless His church so we can demonstrate His blessing to nations
• Blessings Deut 28v1-14; Eph 1v3
GOD’S PRIESTS ARE CALLED TO RELEASE BLESSING
Lev 9v23-24 – And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people and fire came out from before the Lord
Deut 10v8 – At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi – to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord - to stand before the Lord to minister to Him - and to bless in His name – TO THIS DAY
1 Pet 2v9 – But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light
• Moses and Aaron went into God’s presence
• They came out of God’s presence and blessed the people
• God’s glory was seen and supernatural power was released
• The tribe of Levi was called to carry God’s presence – to minister to Him – and to bless in His name
• God placed in the mouths of the priests the power to speak words that caused God to release life-changing blessing upon the people
• As New Testament believers we are God’s new priesthood and we are called to –go into God’s presence – to minister to Him – to carry His presence - and to bless people
A HOUSE OF PRAYER - FOR BLESSING
Mark 11v17 - …My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations…
• The church is God’s house, the Father’s house. Therefore the church should be a house of prayer
• A house of prayer for blessing is formed in such a way as to enable God’s manifest presence to inhabit the house
• We then release the blessing of the kingdom and the rule of God into a particular area
• This will result in salvation and freedom for individuals, and transformation of communities
• The starting point for all of us is to become a house of prayer as an individual. This can then progress to our home, church, workplace
• Both individuals and the corporate house need to be clean and holy before the Lord
• Heart attitudes need to be evaluated. There should be a heart to love and bless, to see the good, and trust God to deal with the bad
• Out of a right heart we are to speak words of love and blessing over people’s lives, circumstances, and communities
PRAYER AND ACTION TOGETHER
Our words and prayers of blessing then need to find expression in action, and we should ask ourselves the following three questions:
1) What do I see in this community that is good and carries a kingdom value that I can support?
2) Who is God putting in front of me that I can bless?
3) Who is God putting in front of me that I should clearly share the gospel with?
No answers may come to mind straight away and that’s fine, but it is good practice to ask these questions on a regular basis.
CONCLUSION
• God’s desire to bless is absolutely outrageous. Nothing can stop Him.
• He designed us for a purpose, wrapped up in blessing.
• Heaven, our ultimate destination, is full of blessing, and we are invited to pray for the coming of heaven to earth right now (Math 6v10)!!!
FINALLY
The High Priestly Blessing
Num 6v24-17 – The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face towards you and give you peace
