1 Peter 2:21; 3:8-9, 13-17; 4:1, 14-16 T Why are they wrong? The second group--those who suffered and endured by faith--are described in the last half of verse 35 through verse 38. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). I have become a cynic when it comes to promises received in the mail. 1. For He knows the secrets of the heart. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts. The Christian life should be lived out in the light of the superiority of God's promised blessings in comparison to the "blessings" an ungodly world holds out to us (Hebrews 11:24-26). 2 Peter 2:7-8 And instead of telling the world to come to us Come see how I bless my people; God never says that he says, Go go to the world. Since the Mosaic covenant spelled out Gods blessings and cursings in this way in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28-30, this is not difficult to understand. Routinely, such letters go in the trash without my even opening them. Labs Tools. (4) God has the right to bless or to curse men (see Romans 9:19-21). Jesus simply did not fit the mold of Jewish expectations. Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them. The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. The temporal blessings of Judaism were tempting in the light of the affliction they faced as Christians. So too does history and our own experience. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Now thats a different discussion, one initiated by a discerning listener to the podcast named Jordan. When affliction comes into our life, we do not pray for Gods grace, nor do we ask God for wisdom, patience, or endurance. Three Advantages You Gain From Trusting In God, i love belivers portal.very inspiring and informarive, Thanks for the efforts to compile this. If I had said, I will speak thus, Behold, I should have betrayed the generation of Thy children. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. 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. Give, and it will be given to you. In his lifetime, Abraham would not possess the land of Canaan. Suffering at the hand of a gracious God is a comfort, for our chastening evidences that we are Gods sons: For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. Christians often find their third tithe years to be abundant with all types of blessings and invaluable lessons learned. Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever (Revelation 22:1-5). U These are not always material blessings, however. 3) states summarily the ground of thanksgiving, expanding it with glowing fullness in vers. Gods temporal blessings are not inconsistent with suffering. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. All of this made no sense to the Jews. The rich man spent eternity in hell while Lazarus spent eternity enjoying the blessings God promised in Abraham. Therefore his people return to this place; And waters of abundance are drunk by them. For what does the Scripture say? (20) If Gods blessing cannot be equated with prosperity and ease, neither can it be said that His blessing is automatically associated with asceticism (denying ourselves of earthly pleasures). Paul says, "The world is yours. Being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 The son was just the beginning. Eternal blessings are full and complete, the enjoyment of physical and material prosperity, the full manifestation of Gods goodness and glory, and the absence of sin, Satan, death, and the curse. Jacob saw much strife in his family and suffered much over the loss of Joseph and then Benjamin. For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. All things are yours.". The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? (From Forerunner Commentary). Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Ephesians 1:3-5. So death works in us, but life in you. Uphold me with Your generous Spirit. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. He leads me beside still waters. When my heart was embittered, And I was pierced within, Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before Thee. Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! We now loathe that which we once loved. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. I call that the showcasing of the blessing of God on the people of God in the Old Testament. Suffering is both a blessing, and a means of blessing, when it is suffering for Christs sake: For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21). A Study of God's Plan for Man. Your basket and your kitchen will be blessed. (1) The Jews thought of Gods blessings primarily in terms of the here and now, while Gods Word speaks of the fulfillment of His promised blessings in terms of the future. A Psalm of David. These were much more perplexing times as we see from the agony of this psalmist: Thou art my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob. The promised blessings of the Bible are the good which God has purposed and promised. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. The term blessed is thrown around in our culture today, and its all over our Bibles too. We will experience Gods comfort: They shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4). They knew these blessings would not come in life, but after death and resurrection: All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Berean Bible Society
Of how much more value are you than the birds! The trials and afflictions of the Israelites did not end with their exodus from Egypt. 100 When I speak of innocent suffering here, we must all understand that no mortal is ever innocent, save in the blood of Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. When Adam and Eve disobeyed the command of God and sinned in the Garden of Eden, sin entered the human race. 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 Often, the Old Testament Israelite had a mistaken concept of Gods blessings. 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. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. And my people shall never again be put to shame. And as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. What a verse! And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. He suffered because of his impatience in acquiring a son through Hagar. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. What the Bible says about Blessings, Physical ( From Forerunner Commentary ) Proverbs 3:9-10 By paying to God what we owe Him (that is, His tithes), He rewards us with blessings. As Asaph protested centuries ago in Psalm 73, the wicked may prosper, and the righteous may suffer. Abrahams life had its own trials. Before one can receive . He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. What the Bible says about While we should not seek suffering in this life, we should expect it, recognizing it as a part of the plan of a loving God who is bringing about our good and His glory. Phone: (262) 255-4750
Divine blessing refers to Gods purpose to bring about the good of an individual or nation, His proclamation of this purpose by His promise, and a program of bringing about this blessing which includes suffering and adversity. Moms come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing's for sureall moms need to connect with other moms! 4-14. These can all be good things, but I think you could also argue that if these blessings lead us further away from God, they are not truly blessings at all. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, And washed my hands in innocence; For I have been stricken all day long, And chastened every morning. Foolishly, they sought to keep the Israelites subject to them as slaves and to keep them from leaving their land (Exodus 1:8-22). Then many people will thank God when we deliver your gift. 2 Corinthians 9:11 (CEV), If the place of worship is too far from your home for you to carry there the tithe of the produce that the Lord has blessed you with, then do his: Sell your produce and take the money with you to the one place of worship. Deuteronomy 14:24-25 (TEV), God blesses those who are kind to the poor and helpless. While not a pleasant experience in itself, suffering can be the source of comfort and assurance. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. If we do not understand Gods temporal blessings, and His eternal blessings, we will not understand the plan of God. He called those blessed whom the Jews regarded as accursed. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Why did your father, Josiah, reign so long? Why dost Thou hide Thy face, And forget our affliction and our oppression? Pastor John, hello! And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. And He said, Write, for these words are faithful and true. And He said to me, It is done. For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. A beautiful way to begin any new year is with a dox As Gods suffering brought blessing to us, so our suffering is viewed as a blessing for us and a potential blessing for others. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. This child was not merely an adopted heir, but Abrahams own son (Genesis 15:1-6). Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart run riot. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Psalm 21:6. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. That means He wants me to be happy. This leads us right into the fourth blessing ( Ephesians 1:7 ), the redemption through His blood. The story of the rich man and Lazarus underscore this principle (see Luke 16:19-31). Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him (Deuteronomy 8:2-6). While the Old Testament records many instances in which Israel suffered for their sins, texts like this one in Psalm 44 indicate there are times when Gods people suffer innocently, for His sake (see verse 22). Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.