BLESSING
What is a blessing?
What does a blessing look like?



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    April 14, 2010
BLESSING
What is a blessing?

What does a blessing look like?

We may wish for a blessing like the one given in Genesis 12:2-4a.

1.    A blessing is a hopeful prayer:  a blessing was one way of asking for God's divine favor to rest upon others.

In Numbers 6:22-27 we get an idea of what a blessing was supposed to do.  Its five parts convey hope that God would:
   
    A.    bless and keep them.  (favor and protection)

    B.    make His face to shine upon them.  (be pleased)

    C.    be gracious.  (merciful and compassionate)

    D.    turn His face toward them.  (give His approval)

    E.    give peace.
   
    When you ask God to bless others or yourself, you are asking Him to do these five things.  The blessing you offer will not only help the one receiving it, it will also demonstrate love, encourage others, and provide a model of caring to others.

2.    A blessing is a joy shared.

    A.    We should have joy in Christian growth.    (Ephesians 3:14-21)

B.    We should have joy in blessing our family.    (Genesis 49:1-28,                  key on v 28; Psalm 127:3-5)
How often do you share with your children, spouse, parents the wishes and prayer you make for them now and for the future?

C.    Joy can come by blessing complete strangers.  (Luke 2:25-35;
Luke 10:25-37)
        This could bring us JOY!

    D.    We are commanded to bless our enemies.    (Luke 6:27-36)
        Could this bring us JOY?
        Jesus wasn't talking about having affection for enemies: He was talking
        about an act of the will you can't fall into this kind of love it takes
        conscious effort.  Loving our enemies means acting in their best interests.
        Grant your enemies the same respect and rights that you desire for yourself.

3.    A blessing is the privilege of praising our God.

    A.    We can bless God.    (Psalm 103 key on v 1)
        Blessing God means:
        1)    remembering all He has done.  (Vs. 2-5)

        2)    fearing Him and obeying His commands.    (vs. 17 & 18)

        3)    doing His will.    (V 21)

        Does your life bless the Lord?
        Do your words bless the Lord?
        Do your actions bless the Lord?

    B.    We can (MUST) bless God for His greatest blessing.    (Ephesians 1:3-14
        Key on vs. 3-6)

        Jesus is God's greatest blessing.

Bless Him for who He is and all He has done.

Thank you Jesus!


Genesis 12:2-4 (New King James Version)                                                             
2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you  And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."  4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Numbers 6:22-27 (New King James Version)                                                       
22 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23 "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: 24 "The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;  26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace."'  27 "So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them."

Ephesians 3:17 (New King James Version)                                                           
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Genesis 49:28 (New King James Version)                                                    
28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing.

Psalm 127:3-5 (New King James Version)                                                            
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Luke 2:34-35 (New King James Version)                                                              
34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Luke 6:28 (New King James Version)                                                                     
28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

Ephesians 1:3 (New King James Version)                                                                     
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,