James 1:2-5 Joseph, one of the Bibles great heroes and a son of Jacob, suffered a great deal in his early life. Satan, once our master, has now become our enemy. The true view of temporal blessing seeks the enjoyment of Gods presence whether in pain or pleasure. These are the blessings our Lord Himself brings to pass in His second coming. Jordan puts his finger on the nub of the issue, I think, by referring to the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong (1 Peter 3:13-17). 2 Peter 2:7-8 A Psalm of David. The term blessed is thrown around in our culture today, and its all over our Bibles too. 5:18). But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. (19) Gods promised blessings do not assure us we will escape the wrath of men toward God, but only that we will escape the wrath of God toward men. There are no priests or saints through whom we have to go to God, but only Jesus Christ. You will be blessed when you come in and when you go out. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (7) How do the temporal blessings and cursings which God promised the nation Israel relate to the life and experience of the Christian today? Theres no great temple-like edifice in Christianity. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (3) What is the relationship between blessing, faith, and obedience? And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Related Topics: Dispensational / Covenantal Theology, Theology Proper (God), Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. 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). For He knows the secrets of the heart. Verses 3-14. What a verse! 4-14. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And my people shall never again be put to shame. But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. The adversity of those whom Jesus called blessed made them discontent with this world, causing them to look ahead to the promised blessings of the kingdom of God. This false view of blessing justifies ones expectations of no pain and all pleasure in this life. 1. Gods promise to Abraham was not merely the promise of a son. Things were bad and about to get worse. 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. How will Abraham be blessed, and how will he become a blessing to others? (5) God is able to bless men because He has borne their curse in Christ, and thus His holiness is maintained in His grace (see Romans 3:24-26). Bible verses about Blessings. Full and unhindered blessing can only take place in heaven, when Satan is bound, sin and death defeated, and the things corrupted by sin (including our bodies and this world) made new. As I conclude this lesson, let me share a quotation by Harold Stigers in his commentary of the Book of Genesis: God designs certain tests and trials in regard to earthly things so that we may see that our inheritance resides in God Himself--in our finding them nothing without Him, and Him everything even without them.104. 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. Suffering is also a blessing because it is a part of Gods process of sanctification. Philippians 4:19 trust Jesus. Gods national blessings and cursings were conditional. But what does it mean to truly be blessed according to Scripture? While we are primarily blessed with all spiritual blessingsin the heavenlies (Eph. God promised to bless Abraham and his offspring. 1:3), God has also blessed us withphysical things. Put simply, Gods blessing does not mean that we are free to indulge in every sensual pleasure, but neither does it mean that we must deny every earthly pleasure. God promised every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets. His teaching was different not as the result of a change in Gods plan, but due to the Jews misconceptions concerning Gods promised blessings. John 3:16. God also promised Abraham a great land that his seed would possess. (Marriage and children are both a blessing, but neither is without its trials and suffering.) Temporal blessings are those blessings which God bestows upon sinful men, living in a fallen world, flowing from His grace. They will likely be a part of an Arab confederation known as "the king of the South" (Daniel 11:40-41 . For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future all are yours, and you are Christs, and Christ is Gods. Men are not only condemned because they are destined to destruction, but because they deserve it and have decided for it (see Genesis 12:1-3; Deuteronomy 28; John 3:18; Revelation 16:5-6). I believe this text provides the key to understanding Gods blessings, especially their relationship to suffering and adversity. You do not have to fear the future when God's hand is over your life. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Matthew 5:3-11 (NIV), Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it. Luke 11:28 (NIV), Jesus said, Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed. John 20:29 (NIV), In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35 (NIV), Praise be to 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 (NIV), The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25 (NIV), Even if you should suffer for what is right, you will be blessed. 1 Peter 3:14, If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:14 (NIV), If you cant carry that ten percent of your harvest to the place where the Lord chooses to be worshiped; if you live too far away, or if the Lord gives you a big harvest, then sell this part and take the money there instead. Deuteronomy 14:24-25 (CEV), You should be happy to give the poor what they need, because then the Lord will make you successful in everything you do. Deuteronomy 15:10 (CEV), Each man is to bring a gift as he is able, in proportion to the blessings that the Lord your God has given him. Deuteronomy 16:16-17 (TEV), Obey the Lord your God so that all these blessings will come and stay with you: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. All of us deserve to suffer for our sins. 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 the healthiest churches, we find a holy conspiracy between pastors who gladly care for the sheep, and sheep who do what they can so that the pastors might serve joyfully. Yet Thou hast rejected us and brought us to dishonor, And dost not go out with our armies. Then many people will thank God when we deliver your gift. 2 Cor. He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. (2) Gods curse is the process of bringing about mans deserved retribution of divine judgment. To have enough faith is to have the means to move God into blessing us as we think best, they say. M The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. The complete and final fulfillment of Gods promise to Abraham is yet to occur. The same errors which plagued the Israelites and Christians of old are popular in evangelical Christianity today. The Israelites of Jesus day also held a distorted view of divine blessings. Peter rejected the thought out of hand. You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on Gods interests, but mans. Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Their identification with Jesus Christ had brought on them the reproach of Christ and the opposition and persecution of unbelieving Jews. Psalm 19:9. Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! 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. While we are clothedspiritually in Christs righteousness, I wouldnt advise leavinghome physically unclothed. I love it. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still . This leads us right into the fourth blessing ( Ephesians 1:7 ), the redemption through His blood. Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm Central Time. of The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Good will comes to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. HCSB, ISV, BBE. In this glorious anthem, in which the apostle, tracing all to the Divine Fountain, enumerates the glorious privileges of the Church, and blesses God for them, he first (ver. For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Obedience, stemming from gratitude, faith, love, and hope, which is empowered by Gods Spirit, brings the temporal blessings of God, while disobedience brings a curse (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; Psalm 106:3; 112:1; 119:1-2; Proverbs 8:32; Isaiah 44:3; Daniel 12:12; John 13:17; James 1:12; Revelation 14;13). When affliction and adversity comes into our life, we conclude that suffering is incompatible with blessing. Only with the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ does permanent blessing come into clear focus. A secondary goal is to accomplish the good of those who love God: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Temporal blessings are incomplete and never without a measure of sorrow and suffering. He called those blessed whom the Jews regarded as accursed. Always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. There is a sense in which our suffering bears testimony to the end of sins dominion in our lives (1 Peter 4:1). 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). He makes me lie down in green pastures. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. The very food we eat everyday would also be classified aphysical blessing. 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). When God promised Abraham that his seed was to be a blessing to all nations, this was a part of Abrahams blessing. Thou dost make us a byword among the nations, A laughingstock among the peoples. To belong to Christ is to belong to God as our Father and to be heirs of all that God owns that is, everything. TopicalBible In Gods economy, serving others is a privilege and not a curse. Temporal blessings are not to be measured so much in terms of material prosperity, physical health, or the absence of pain, as in the enjoyment of Gods presence. 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. You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things. Psalm 128:1-2 (NCV), Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 (NIV), If they listen and obey God, then they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. Israel was the showcase of Gods blessings among the nations. In the context of prayer, Paul prayed that he might have the Lord's prospering on his physical journey to visit the saints at Rome (Rom. His teaching was radically different from that of the Jewish religious leaders of His day. All things are yours. Jesus said, Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).