I think the Beatitudes, taken together, provide a beautiful summary of the blessings promised to the followers of Christ: six immeasurable blessings are sandwiched between the summary promise Theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3, 10). Only in eternity will the full blessings of God be poured out on Gods people. The writer to the Hebrews differs with such thinking. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface: "It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. If not, we have reason to question whether our faith is real. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. If a nation turned from God, its promised blessings would be taken away: At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, God forbid it, Lord! Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. We will be satisfied with personal and universal righteousness: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied (Matthew 5:6). We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. Thats in the list: All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death. Death is yours. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff While we are primarily blessed with all spiritual blessingsin the heavenlies (Eph. If you have not trusted in Gods promise of blessing in Jesus Christ, then you are under the curse of sin. Death becomes your servant because of Christs triumph over death. We now loathe that which we once loved. The promised blessings of the Bible are the good which God has purposed and promised. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV), Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Almost daily, some bulk mailing assures me I am the lucky winner of one of several prizes. All I need do is contact them to identify my prize. Unlike many Israelites in the Old Testament, and most of the Jews of Jesus day, Abraham looked for a better blessing. (6) The Jews concluded those who prospered were pious (spiritual, righteous), while those who suffered were sinners. But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE, we also believe, therefore also we speak; knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. Temporal blessings are incomplete and never without a measure of sorrow and suffering. It is that New Jerusalem which comes down from heaven at our Lords return (Revelation 21:1-2). Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. For what does the Scripture say? God clarified the promise of the land in Genesis 15: And God said to Abram, Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. The same errors which plagued the Israelites and Christians of old are popular in evangelical Christianity today. When we struggle with sin and the flesh (Romans 7), we know it is because we have become a new creation in Christ. Thou dost sell Thy people cheaply, And hast not profited by their sale. We now desire that which we once found offensive and repulsive. For I was envious of the arrogant, As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Our Lords suffering and sacrificial death were Gods means of blessing us: It is you who are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. For you first, God raised up His Servant, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways (Acts 3:25-26). But this command I gave them: Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. C The point I wish to underscore here are the two very different categories of saints. Because all of Gods blessings are a gift of His grace, through the work of Jesus Christ, we have no basis for demanding His blessings. Abraham had to buy a small parcel of ground for a burial site for his family (Genesis 23:1-20). Gods earthly blessings were dependent upon Israels obedience to His Law. Routinely, such letters go in the trash without my even opening them. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles.". Philippians 4:19 trust Jesus. He makes me lie down in green pastures. Jacob saw much strife in his family and suffered much over the loss of Joseph and then Benjamin. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. That is why God blessed him. Jeremiah 22:15 (NLT), Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. Nearly six hundred years passed from the promise of possessing this land to the time his seed actually acquired the land. When God promised Abraham that his seed was to be a blessing to all nations, this was a part of Abrahams blessing. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? Thus, the blessings of the Old Testament are partial and provisional. Things were bad and about to get worse. But what of Gods eternal blessings? Z. These saints also had faith, but their faith resulted in perseverance rather than in success or prosperity. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. Philippians 4:19 This false view of blessing justifies ones expectations of no pain and all pleasure in this life. Oh, God, help us to live with faith. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. At times like these, the Word of God becomes much more precious and meaningful: Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Thy word (Psalm 119:67). (5) The Jews of our Lords time believed suffering was incompatible with Gods blessings. They were blessed by God, through faith. That is why I am commanding you to share your resources freely with the poor and with others in need. Deuteronomy 15:10-11 (NLT), Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in his times of trouble. So too does history and our own experience. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God (1 Peter 4:14-16). So remove evil from your house. Job 22:23 (NCV), Even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice. Luke 11:28 (NLT), (Help the unfortunate) and you will be blessed. When Christians suffer for Christs sake, it is a blessing. Blessings, Physical He looked for a heavenly city, a city which God would prepare. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. - Numbers 6:24-26. Some preachers and teachers promise Gods blessings as confidently as the mail promises a free gift. Paul later put it this way: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. H Here are 20 BIble verses about God's blessing that show us how He blesses us materially and spiritually, and that Jesus Christ as our atonement for sin is the ultimate blessing God has given to all. The difference between these two categories is not that one group has faith while the other does not. His teaching was radically different from that of the Jewish religious leaders of His day. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. If Thy law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction (Psalm 119:92). At other times, Israels suffering was not due to her unbelief and rebellion. (12) Gods temporal blessing is neither synonymous with prosperity nor incompatible with suffering. Gods blessings are based upon His grace and not our works. Deuteronomy 28:1-2. Always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. They suppose prosperity is ones reward for being spiritual and that suffering is the consequence of sin. Christians often find their third tithe years to be abundant with all types of blessings and invaluable lessons learned. God also promised Abraham a great land that his seed would possess. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. The trials and afflictions of the Israelites did not end with their exodus from Egypt. He makes me lie down in green pastures. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. Proverbs 3:13-18 (NIV), The memory of the righteous will be a blessing. Proverbs 10:7 (NIV), He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. Proverbs 21:21 (NIV), Jesus said to his host, When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. This is not a blessing. The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. Psalm 41:1-2 (NIV), Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it. Luke 11:28 (NIV), Im eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. "In everything [ not just some things and not just spiritual things] give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (I Thes. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (2) In what ways does God bless all men? In our identification with Christ, we enter into His rejection and persecution by men, and in so doing are blessed by a closer walk with Him, a deeper fellowship with Him, and a growing hunger for heaven and the full blessings of God (see 2 Corinthians 4 and 5; Philippians 3:10; 1 Peter 2-4). And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. And it shall come to pass, if thou . But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:2-5). Blessings that we receive, whether material or spiritual, all have to do with the coming of God's Kingdom, whether here and now in small glimpses, or eternally when God makes all things new (Revelation 21:5, Isaiah 43:19). They understood that the blessings God promised were not material, but spiritual, and that they were not temporal, but eternal. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. They would do especially well to give careful thought to this text in Hebrews: And what more shall I say? Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.