God Blessed; you too bless it! That is living in the blessing!
Living in the Blessing Lesson # 2 And God Blessed It part 2
2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that [pertain] to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption [that is] in the world through lust.
Every believer has been given all thing needed by His divine power. God’s heart is for every believer to partake in the exceedingly great and precious promises. The influence and union with God as multiplied as we come into the knowledge of truth about Jesus Christ. Living in the blessing, first step is to know and understand that you are blessed; it is what God has given!
Ephesian 1:3 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, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
The Blessed One has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Blessed to be chosen, adopted, and accepted in the Beloved. Many are looking for the blessing but have not believed the word that we are blessed. Living from the blessing is much better than living to get the blessing. The cross of Christ affords this opportunity to every believer.
Hebrews 6:17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed [it] by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it [is] impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before [us].
God’s desire is for every believer to have their soul anchored to the truth. When one’s soul is anchored to the immutable word of God, circumstances, emotions, evil reports, and even all hell cannot rule the heart of the believer. We may be swayed a little, but not removed from the anchor of our soul!
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
In last week’s lesson we discussed every time God started relationship with man He would bless him. In this covenant of grace, we learn the same is true. Our revelation of God grows greater as Jesus brings the truth to us. Every good and perfect gift is from above, it is God the Father blessing His children. Many religious traditions tell how God will pound you with evil and somehow it is a blessing from Him. No, the scripture clearly says the good and perfect gifts come from Him, and there is no variation or shadow of turning. Some have not lived blessed because they accepted the evil in their life, as if it came from God! The Father sent Jesus for our abundant life; the enemy of our soul has come to steal, kill, and destroy.
Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God [is] evident, for "the just shall live by faith." 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them." 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who hangs on a tree"), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
The Father has blessed us in making Jesus a curse for us. Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law. We are now able to receive the promise of the Spirit through faith in Jesus work at the cross. We are blessed because the object of our faith is in Jesus the Messiah. If it is our works of the law then it cannot be of faith. Because of Jesus obedient act we can walk in the blessing of righteousness.
Matthew 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Because Jesus bore the curse we are empowered to love our enemies. The Father is especially kind to His children but we must not miss the truth He allows His goodness on the just and the unjust. The heart of the Father is the way to living in the blessing.
Luke 6:27 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 "bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
The Blessed One has blessed to such a degree we have been called to bless and do not curse. Jesus work at the cross is so great we can bless and not curse, even those who have spitefully used us. The strength of being blessed is the freedom to bless in negative circumstance. Some ask why they are not experiencing the blessing, but find themselves cursing many circumstances in their life.
Romans 12:9 [Let] love [be] without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 [Be] kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
The power of the blessing is so great, it allows us to walk in the God perspective. The power of the blessing works through love. For God so loved… When we love what God loves and abhor what He abhors we are free to walk in our blessing. Some believers cannot walk in victory because they have not loved what God loves and hate what God has hated. Living in the blessing yields to the love of God for our actions in life.
Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil.
Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Bless and do not curse is a reoccurring theme of this covenant of grace. Blessing those who persecute you keeps your heart clean to live in the blessing. This covenant of grace calls us to repay no one evil for evil. With all that is in you live peaceably with all men. Let a blessing be in your mouth.
Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but [rather] give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance [is] Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Once the believer’s heart is established in who they are in Christ there is practical application to living in the blessing. Bless and do not curse; do not avenge yourselves. This covenant of grace calls us to entrust ourselves to our faithful Creator. Because of the Father’s power of the blessing, we can feed our enemy if he is hungry, give drink if he is thirsty. Your actions motivated by your blessing is an eternal action that will affect even your enemy. Evil can be overcome with good!
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all [of you be] of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, [be] tenderhearted, [be] courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
Because of the strength of the Father’s blessing to us we are called to bless! We are blessed, we bless, and we are called to be a blessing. If we live in the blessing we will inherit a blessing.
2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
Whatever the thoughts were, to justify not living in the blessing, it needs to be brought low. Wrong thoughts create mindsets, mindsets create arguments, and the argument creates strongholds that need pulled down. Believer’s cursing their enemies, jobs, and circumstances become a hinderance to living in the blessing. Reverse it by putting the blessing in your mouth! God has blessed, get in agreement with Him!
