BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!
WHAT IS THE BLESSING OF GOD?
THE BLESSING OF GOD IS NOT LUCK
THE BLESSING OF GOD IS NOT CHANCE
THE BLESSING OF GOD IS NOT COINCIDENCE
“BLESS”IS OFTEN USED TO TRANSLATE “BARAK”, WHICH MEAS “TO KNEEL”
2 Chron. 6:13, Ps. 95:6, Gen. 27:33, Ex. 18:10, Deut. 28:4
IT ALSO MEANS TO KNEEL AS AN ACT OF ADORATION - “MAN BLESSING GOD” - “GOD BLESSING MAN” - AND “MAN BLESSING MAN”
EPH. 1 “AND GIVES THANKS FOR SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS”
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” — Ephesians 1:3
“BLESSING”: APPROVAL THAT ALLOWS OR HELPS YOU TO DO SOMETHING; HELP AND APPROVAL FROM GOD; SOMETHING THAT HELPS YOU OR BRINGS JOY.
THE STEPPING OF ABRAHAM LEAD TO OUR PERPETUAL BLESSING
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’” — Genesis 12:1-3
THE PURPOSE OF BLESSING:
BLESSED (GREEK): TO CONSECRATE WITH FAVOR OR TO CELEBRATE WITH PRAISES.
BLESS: TO SPEAK WELL TO OTHERS ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE.
TO SPEAK WELL TO SOMEONE. DON’T JUST THINK IT – SPEAK IT
THE PURPOSE OF BLESSING:
TO PROTECT YOU FROM POTENTIAL HARM
TO PROJECT YOU INTO YOUR PROPHETIC FUTURE
TO PERPETUATE YOUR PURPOSE IN THE EARTH
TO PROSPER YOU– THE BLESSING OF THE LORD MAKES ONE RICH AND ADDS NO SORROW TO IT
THE POWER OF BLESSING:
“And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.” — Deuteronomy 33:1 (KJV)
THIS BLESSING IS SPOKEN IN A MOMENT OF TRANSITION.
MOSES ON THIS SAME DAY WILL PEER INTO A POSSESSION THAT HE (HIMSELF) WOULD NEVER OBTAIN; A PROMISE THAT HE WILL NEVER ENJOY.
ON THE SAME DAY – HE RELEASES A BLESSING TO THE ONES THAT WILL!
MOSES RELEASES A BLESSING OF MOVEMENT, MOTION, MANNERS AND MOMENTUM TO THE 12 TRIBES!
JACOB PROPHESIED OUT OF A PATRIARCHAL (FATHERS) POSITION
MOSES BLESSED THEM BECAUSE OF HIS WILLINGNESS TO WALK WITH THEM THROUGH THE WILDERNESS.
WORDS OF BLESSING FROM MOSES – DUET. 33
VS. 6 Reuben: “live, and not die; and let not his men be few”
VS. 10 Levi: “they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar”
VS. 12 Benjamin: “The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.”
VS. 16 Joseph: “let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.”
VS. 7 Judah: “Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies.”
THE CONCEPT OF THE SPOKEN WORD (BOTH CURSING & BLESSING):
ACCORDING TO OLD TESTAMENT, THE SPOKEN WORD HAD THE POWER OF ITS OWN FULFILLMENT. THE WORD, ONCE SPOKEN, ASSUMED A HISTORY OF ITS OWN; ALMOST A PERSONALITY IN AND OF ITSELF. WORDS OF BLESSING OR CURSING HAVE THE SAME POWER OF SELF-FULFILLMENT.
EXAMPLE: WHEN ISAAC BLESSED JACOB, AS OPPOSED TO ESAU, HE COULD NOT RECALL THE BLESSING BECAUSE IT EXISTED IN HISTORY
(ISSAC = DAD; RACHEL = MOM; TWIN SONS = JACOB AND ESAU)
“And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed. Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine. Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.” — GENESIS 27:27-29 (KJV)
IT HAD ACQUIRED AN IDENTITY OF ITS OWN.
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY OVER YOUR CHILDREN
“And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.” — GENESIS 27:41 (KJV)
BLESSING AND CURSING RELEASE A POWER THAT BRINGS TO PASS THE CONTENT OF THE CURSE OR THE BLESSING.
THE PRIORITY OF VOICE:
“And this is the blessing of Judah: And he said, Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah…” — DEUT. 33:7
VOICE – (HEBREW) TO CALL ALOUD; TO CLAIM, TO PROCLAIM, TO SING OR TO THUNDER
VOICE – (WEBSTERS) THE SOUND PRODUCED AND UTTERED THROUGH THE MOUTH, AS SPEECH OR SONG. AN INSTRUMENT OR MEDIUM OF EXPRESSION.
“TO VOICE” - RIGHT OF EXPRESSION; “HE VOICED HIS OPINION”
“TO HAVE A VOICE” IS TO HAVE INFLUENTIAL POWER.
ANYONE CAN HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT YOUR LIFE, BUT NOT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE INFLUENCE IN YOUR LIFE!
BLIND BARTIMAEUS
“Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus in the way.” — MARK 10:46- 52,
“MERCY HAVE MERCY” - ASK AND RECEIVE; SAY NOTHING GET NOTHING!
BLIND BARTIMAEUS WAS PROCLAIMING WITH HIS VOICE; ASKING FOR MERCY; FOR A BLESSING!
TO PROCLAIM; FIRST TO CLAIM.
CLAIM – TO DEMAND AS A RIGHT FOR WHAT IS DUE. TO DEMAND, ASK FOR, OR TAKE AS ONE'S OWN OR ONE'S DUE
CLAIM A REWARD; CLAIM ONE'S LUGGAGE AT THE AIRPORT CAROUSEL; “THAT’S MINE!”
PROCLAIM - TO DECLARE PUBLICLY, TYPICALLY INSISTENTLY, PROUDLY, OR DEFIANTLY AND IN EITHER SPEECH OR WRITING
ANNOUNCE - TO GIVE OUTWARD INDICATION OF
IN OUR WORSHIP: TO PRAISE OR GLORIFY OPENLY OR PUBLICLY
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” — 1 PETER 2:9 (KJV)
“SHEW FORTH” – TO PROCLAIM
WE’RE BLESSED SO THAT WE MAY BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS!
WE MUST LEARN TO USE OUR VOICES MORE EFFECTIVELY.
IN THE CHURCH, WE MUST BLESS HIM AND OTHERS.
WE CAN BLESS EACH OTHER AND HIM WITH OUR VOICE