The Blessed Life Series

The Blessing of a Blessing

This is not a blab it and grab it series.

This is not a more money cometh series.

This is not a nothing bad will ever come to me series and I won’t have to suffer.

But there is truth to Blessing.

Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Ted and I at our marriage (that our tent would be expanded and affect many)

Jewish blessings are a central part of Jewish life, serving as a way to express gratitude, recognize God's presence, and acknowledge divine blessings in daily life and religious practice.

Their origins can be traced back to the Torah,

-where God blesses Adam and Eve and

-Abraham, and where the Priestly Blessing is established.

Over time, various forms of blessing evolved, including blessings for specific events, blessings for fulfilling commandments, and blessings for enjoying life's experiences.

Blessing in Ancient Hebrew meant: anointed to win, empowered to overcome, and impossible to curse! Especially during the tumultuous times the world is experiencing...we need to walk in the blessing of the Lord!

We don’t really do that much in our culture, usually quite the opposite.

Before we dive into the text, though, let’s take a minute to talk about what blessing isn’t. Some of you may have heard the idea that we have the ability to create things with our words. Sometimes you will hear people talk about “manifesting.” This became popular with the book The Secret in 2006 and is popular today. It’s the idea that if you clearly visualize and speak your goals, the universe will work with you to co-create that thing. I am going to say good things over you and then the universe is going to kick in and make them happen.

A blessing is not manifesting!!

I’m sure by now you’ve heard the worship The Blessing. It’s straight out of scripture, super anointed, and set to memorable and powerful melody and chords. As I listened for the first few times through, I was overwhelmed by the fact that God is FOR us and WANTS to bless us.

One scripture that kept running through my mind was Deuteronomy 10:8 where it said that God appointed in the OLD TESTAMEMT the priests to pronounce blessings in His name. Their words were the avenue through which the blessing of the Lord would come upon the people.

“At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name, as they still do today.” Deuteronomy 10:8 NIV

What stood out to me the most was the fact that God had set up a system through which people could receive His blessing. God uses people to reach people and the priests were set up to pronounce blessings in His name. In fact this happened in 1 Samuel 1:9-17

1 Samuel 1:9-17

9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

12 As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither

wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

Not only did the Levites pronounce blessing in His name, Jesus actually did the same thing: “...He lifted up His hands and blessed them.” (Luke 24:50)

Ultimately, we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3), but the kingdom of God is voice-activated! Even Jesus’ ministry was a declarative ministry. He, quoting Isaiah, said this about Himself - that He was anointed “…To preach the gospel to the poor…To proclaim liberty to the captives…To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19)

What am I saying?

There is a Blessing from a Blessing!!

1. God wants to bless you!

Somebody needs to hear that today. You have had nothing but curses spoken over your life. You have always been the least, the last one picked, the unfavored in your family. And you live over those spoken words in your life.

You think the blessing is for someone else!!

Romans 8:31-39 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[i] against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.[j] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It’s time to get on the winning team. Do you really want to be fighting against God? Since God is FOR you, you should be also. Many times, we hinder what we receive from God because we don't believe we’re worthy. But praise God for the gospel of Jesus! God has qualified us through Jesus to receive all of God’s blessing. (Col. 1:12)

2. His blessing is released through declaration and His presence

“The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.” Proverbs 10:22

It’s His favor, wisdom, protection, abundance, ability, grace, joy, freedom, peace - all resting upon you and whatever you put your hand to.

Just for clarity, it doesn’t mean that life gets void of trials and nothing tough ever happens. There are definitely times of trial and challenges - but with the blessing of the Lord upon us, we have strength, endurance, and favor even in the tough times.