The Blessings of God

Gods Blessings

What is a blessing?

1. the act or words of a person who blesses.

2. a special favor, mercy, or benefit: the blessings of liberty.

3. a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness.

4. the invoking of God’s favor upon a person: The son was denied his father’s blessing.

5. praise; devotion; worship, especially grace said before a meal: The children took turns reciting the blessing.

What are some of Gods blessings?

1. Grace

2. God’s love

3. Gods mercy

4. Forgiveness of sin

5. Heaven

6. The Church

7. Family

8. Health…..etc.

Why does God bless people?

“And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.” (Deuteronomy 28:1-6 ESV)

Q. 193. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?

A. In the fourth petition, (which is, Give us this day our daily bread,)  acknowledging, that in Adam, and by our own sin, we have forfeited our right to all the outward blessings of this life, and deserve to be wholly deprived of them by God, and to have them cursed to us in the use of them; and that

neither they of themselves are able to sustain us, nor we to merit, or by our own industry to procure them; but prone to desire, get, and use them unlawfully: we pray for ourselves and others, that both they and we, waiting upon the providence of God from day to day in the use of lawful means, may of his free gift, and as to his fatherly wisdom shall seem best, enjoy a competent portion of them, and have the same continued and blessed unto us in our holy

and comfortable use of them, and contentment in them; and be kept from all things that are contrary to our temporal support and comfort.

Ultimately, God blesses His people so that they may be a blessing to Him.

Does God bless all people?
You have heard me speak of Gods will in the past; it is a coin; there are two sides to this coin. They are not two wills, but one. One is the compound sense and the other the divided. In one sense, grace is for the elect and in the other, it falls to the unregenerate, secondarily. Specifically, blessings are for Gods people alone; However, many things that are intended to bless Gods people have an effect on the unregenerate and reprobate. For instance, sun, rain, food, etc. Many people understand this as what is called common. Gods grace is far from being ‘common’. It is particular. Nothing God does is common and the decree of God is for His people alone. In lieu of common grace, I am more comfortable with benevolence. The doctrine of common grace is a reformed doctrine. It is founded in a number of passages, but the passage in Matt 5:45  is the lynchpin:

“For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and lsends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

God sends rain on the elect and the reprobate.

Do all blessings flow from God?

James 1:17
Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

Psalms 31:19-21 (NLT) 19 Your goodness is so great! You have stored up great blessings for those who honor you. You have done so much for those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. 20 You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues. 21 Praise the LORD, for he has shown me his unfailing love.
Being Content in Christ

Believers are exhorted to be content in all things. It is easier said than done. All believers are at different levels. Their fortitude is based on their faith.

Look at a believer who is a bundle of worry and nerves and there you see a man or woman without faith. Sure, we all have our issues. However, believers cast their burdens upon He who is the burden carrier. Granted, we are not bulletproof. We are emotional creatures and God is well aware of that. He knows our frames are as dust. He makes amends for that when He refines the saint. All things work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.

Augustine writes:
Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure;

where your treasure is, there is your heart;

where your heart is, there is your happiness.

Contentment in Christ does not happen superficially. It is deep down and a brother to sanctification. If you recall, in our earlier classes on sanctification, sanctification is a positive work of the Holy Spirit that resides within us. It is the transforming of our minds via Gods Holy and perfect word of life. Conversion takes Gods word and makes it effectual to us. He that has begun a good work will take that work into completion until Christ returns!

One writer wrote:
“We can be content in Christ, regardless of our circumstances, because in Him we have everything we need, both for now and forever (see Colossians 2:10). How can we not be content if we realize that as believers in Christ we are “joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17), and will inherit everything from the Father that Christ inherits? How can we remain discontented when we realize the implications of passages like Romans 8:32—”He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things?” God the Father has already given us the greatest and most fulfilling gift possible—God the Son. And in addition to Him, our Father will “freely give us all things” necessary in this life as well. Knowing, therefore, the infinite value of Christ, we can be content.”

Biblical Stewardship

Stewardship defined is:

the position and duties of a steward, a person who acts as the surrogate of another or others, especially by managing property, financial affairs, an estate, etc.

2.

the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving: New regulatory changes will result in better stewardship of lands that are crucial for open space and wildlife habitat.

What does the believer have stewardship over? Truth! Everything the believer is responsible for when it comes to stewardship is compiled in scripture. What the scriptures say is what we are responsible to. Well, you might say, “Scott, what of the man or woman who does not know all of the scriptures or what of the man who is a babe in Christ?”
These people are still responsible to truth. All sin against Gods word is error and all men are accountable to that error. A man dying not knowing that lying is a sin is still accountable to it. Having said that, what are some biblical things that we are stewards of?

Tolerance is a poison that dilutes truth for the sake of a false unity that is never to be. To sacrifice truth for unity is akin to sacrificing Christ again.

Tolerance, much like a tie, should be worn correctly. The same tie that brings smartness to the man wearing it can be the same tie that hangs a man.