Blessingdiscussion Friday 25.11.2016
The Beatitudes
5 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,For they shall be filled.7 Blessed are the merciful,For they shall obtain mercy.8 Blessed are the pure in heart,For they shall see God.9 Blessed are the peacemakers,For they shall be called sons of God.10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
What does it mean to be blessed?
Unfortunately when the term Blessings are used the first thing that comes to mind for many people are endless riches, a dream house, or luxury travel. But if we read the Bible correctly and with the intent of obeying what it says, you will find it difficult to wish for wealth and luxury. Jesus said things such as, “the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20), and “those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last” (Matthew 20:16, NLT), and “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return” (Luke 12:48, NLT), and “These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs” (Matthew 6:32, NLT).
What was Jesus’ purpose in saying such things? Was it just to be a spoil sport? Did he want to make sure we were miserable while here on Earth so we would long for heaven? Or was it because he knew what would really make us happy?
To Be Blessed Means 
One of my favorite Scripture passages is the Beatitudes that we just read in Matthew 5:1-12, where Jesus lists what it means to be blessed. It’s certainly not what comes to my mind when I think of being blessed or when I pray for others to be blessed. Remember all those childhood prayers, “Bless Mommy, Daddy, and Auntie Sue”? We had no idea what we were saying! Where we actually saying, “Let them be poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure, peacemakers, and persecuted.”
So how could such things lead to happiness? It seems like they lead more to the opposite of happiness. But the Beatitudes tell us one thing clearly. We can never be happy when we live self-centered lives. We may be fooled into thinking we’re happy for a while, but eventually it will fold in on us because true happiness can be found only in a relationship with God. Only the One who made us knows what will truly make us happy and give us satisfaction in life. We have to get to the end of ourselves and the beginning of God to gain any lasting contentment in life. And that can only happen through divine revelation through God's Word and personal transformation with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. It’s the “pearl of great value” (Matthew 13:46), worth selling everything to gain it. And ultimately, it’s the secret to true satisfaction.
We should spend time reading the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) and asking God to give us insight into what they mean in our life. Pray that God will give us a desire for Him that is all-consuming. Ask for victory over anything that keeps us from desiring him in such a way. And ask that God give us a real sense of what it means to be satisfied.
Blessing [N]
God’s intention and desire to bless us is a central focus of his covenant relationships. For this reason, the concept of blessing infiltrates the biblical record. Two distinct ideas are present in the blessings of Old Testament .First, a blessing was a public declaration of a favored status with God. Second, the blessing awarded power for prosperity and success. In all cases, the blessing served as a guide and motivation to pursue a course of life within the blessing.
The Old Testament Terms for blessing abound in the Old Testament, occurring over 600 times. The major terms are related to the word meaning “to kneel, “ since in earlier times one would kneel to receive a blessing.
The history of Israel begins with the promise of blessing.The curse, which had dominated the early chapters of the bible story ( Genesis 3:14 Genesis 3:17 ; 4:11 ;5:29 ; 9:25 ), was countered by God’s promise to Abraham that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” ( Gen 12:3 ). The record of Israel’s past is best understood as an outworking of blessing and cursing ( Deut 27:1-28:68 ).
The institutions of societythe family, government, and religionwere the means by which ceremonial blessings were received. Within the family the father blessed his wife and children ( Gen 27:27-29 ; 49:25-26 ; 1 Sam 2:20 ). In the government context, the ruler blessed his subjects ( 2 Sam 6:18 ; 1 Kings 8:14 1 Kings 8:55 ). Those who possessed a priestly role were bestowed with the privilege of blessing ( Gen 14:19 ;Lev 9:22 ).The tribe of Levi was set apart “to pronounce blessings in the Lord’s name” ( Deut 10:8 ; 21:5 ).
Three common themes are present in formal Old Testament blessings. First, the greater blesses the lesser, a fact picked up by the writer of Hebrews to demonstrate the superiority of Melchizedek to Abraham ( Heb 7:6-7 ). Second, the blessing is a sign of special favor that is intended to result in prosperity and success ( Deu 28:3-7). Third, the blessing is actually an prayer for God’s blessing: “May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful” ( Gen 28:3 ).
In a less ceremonial sense, the Scriptures declare a general blessing on the righteous. Those who are obedient to God’s commands are blessed with affluence and victory ( Deu 28:1-14 ). On the other hand, those who are disobedient are cursed ( Deu 28:15-68 ) and suffer the consequences of drought, disease, and deprivation.
It is also possible for a person to “bless” God. The terminology arises as a response to the blessings gave by God: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” ( Psalm 103:2 ; KJV ). These incidences of “bless” are usually translated “praise” or “extol” in modern versions today.
In the New Testament the parallels between the Old and New Testament usages of blessing are striking. In the Old Testament to be blessed is to be granted special favor by God with resulting joy and prosperity. In the New Testament, however, the emphasis is more on spiritual rather than on material blessings.
God’s promise to Abraham again serves as a foundation for blessings. The pledge that “all peoples on earth shall be blessed” ( Gen 12:3 ) is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ ( Ga 3:8-14 ). He has borne the consequences of the curse for believers ( Gal 3:13 ) and blessed them with the forgiveness of sins ( Rom 4:6-9 ; seePsalm 32:1-2 ). Believers are “blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ” ( Eph 1:3) and now inherit the blessings promised through the patriarchs Abraham , Isaac and Jacob( Hebrews 6:12Hebrews 6:15 ; 12:17 ; 1 Peter 3:9 ). As a result of receiving God’s blessings in Christ, believers are called to be a source of blessing to the world, especially in response to those who persecute them ( Luke 6:27-28 ; Rom 12:14 ; 1 Cor 4:12 ; 1 Peter 3:9 ; cf.Isa 19:24 ; Zech 8:13 ).
In a general sense, the terms for blessing in the New Testament are used to designate that one is favored by God. Included among these are Jesus ( Mark 11:9-10 ); children ( Mark 10:13-16 ); Mary ( Luke 1:42 Luke 1:48 ); the disciples ( Luke 24:50 ); those who “have not seen and yet have believed” ( John 20:29 ); and those who endure trials ( James 1:12 ; 5:11 ). As in the Old Testament, when these words are ascribed to God they end up in “praise” ( Rom 1:25 ; 9:5 ; 2 Cor 11:31 ).
The most recognizable references to blessing come from the teachings of Jesus. He declares that in spite of difficulties at the present time, the promises of God’s salvation and coming kingdom bring a state of happiness and recognized favor with God ( Matt 5:3-10 ; Luke 6:20-22 ). The conclusion of the Scriptures proclaims the end of the curse ( Rev 22:3 ) and the eternal blessedness of the people of God ( Rev 20:6 ; 22:7 ).
The word blessed is a wonderful word. Christians use the words blessed and blessing a lot, and most of the time we mean it. But people use it sometimes as an expression to terminate a conversation that is going too long.
They would say something like, “Well, that’s great. Wow. Hey, praise the Lord and God bless you.” This can be translated, “Please stop talking now.” That, of course, is not the proper way to use it.
Blessed is a Christian word. It is a spiritual word. It is a biblical word. And it has been hijacked by our culture. People may talk about “blessings” in their lives, but the nonbeliever has no idea what a real blessing is, because only the child of God truly knows what it is to be blessed. It is also worth noting that Jesus both began and concluded His earthly ministry blessing people.
So what does it mean to be blessed?The word blessed Jesus used in the Sermon on the Mount is from the Greek word makarios, which means to be happy or blissful, but it also means a self-contained happiness. The Greeks called the Island of Cyprus “the happy isle.” They believed that because of its geographical location, perfect climate, and fertile soil that anyone who lived on Cyprus had it made in the shade. And the term they associated with the island was makarios. They believed everything you needed to be happy was right there on Cyprus.
We can’t all move to Cyprus, but the idea is that our happiness is independent of our circumstances. It is self-contained, meaning that regardless of what is happening to us externally, we can be truly happy internally. We can be genuinely blessed as followers of Jesus Christ.
“What is a blessing according to the Bible? What does the Bible mean by bless?”A blessing, according to the Dictionary, is "the act or words of one that blesses,"or"a thing beneficial to happiness or welfare."In the Bible, there are several words that are usually translated as "blessing"or "bless."The Hebrew word most often translated "bless" is barak, which can mean to praise, congratulate, or salute, and is even used to mean a curse. Genesis 1:22 is the first occurrence, when God blessed the sea creatures and birds22 And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."Likewise, in verse 28, God gave the similar blessing to Adam and Eve28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."When God called Abram to go to the Promised Land Genesis 12:1-3The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you."The blessings here are plainly associated with happiness and welfare, both for Abram and others. God again blesses Abram, and adds that His blessing is due to hiobedience to His commands.In Genesis 22:16-1816 "This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that 17 I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants[a] beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. 18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed-all because you have obeyed me."We read about more blessings but by other people in the Bible .When Rebekah left her family to become Isaac’s wife, her family blessed her:Genesis 24:6060 They gave her this blessing as she parted:"Our sister, may you become the mother of many millions!May your descendants be strong and conquer the cities of their enemies."
When Isaac was about to die, he pronounced this blessing on his son, Jacob:Genesis 27:28-2928 "From the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth,may God always give you abundant harvests of grainand bountiful new wine.29 May many nations become your servants,and may they bow down to you.May you be the master over your brothers,and may your mother's sons bow down to you.All who curse you will be cursed,and all who bless you will be blessed."Another Hebrew word for blessing is esher, which is also translated as happiness. Job 5:17 "Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty."The Psalmist says that believers should consider it a blessing when God is at work in our lives to direct us in the right pathPsalm 1:1-3 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,Nor stands in the path of sinners,or sits in the seat of the scornful;2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,And in His law he meditates day and night.3 He shall be like a treePlanted by the rivers of water,That brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither;And whatever he does shall prosper. God’s punishment is actually a display of His love for us, like a parent who disciplines a child who plays in the middle of the street. The book of Psalms is full of references to this kind of happy blessing for those who love and fear the Lord God. In the New Testament, there are two primary Greek words translated as "blessing."Makarios carries the meaning of happiness that we just looked at. The Beatitudes of Matthew 5 and Luke 6 describe the happy state of those who find their purpose and fulfillment in God. As in the Psalms, the best life is available for those who love and fear God and order their lives according to His Word. Romans 4:6-8 ties this happy blessing to those whose sins are forgiven, for they know the relationship to God has been restored. 6 David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:7 "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven,whose sins are put out of sight.8 Yes, what joy for thosewhose record the Lord has cleared of sin."Eulogeo focuses more on good words or the good report that others give of someone and also describes the blessing that we say over our foodMatthew 26:2626 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take this and eat it, for this is my body."This word is where we get our English word "eulogy," in which we speak well of one who has passed away. Ephesians 1:33 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with ChristPaul praises God for all the spiritual blessings that He gives us in Christ, and 1 Peter 3:9 instructs us to bless those who mistreat us, because we were called to receive a blessing from God.9 Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.Bringing these threads together, we see that a blessing is a statement of good will and happiness that is said about another, as well as the condition that fulfills those good words. God’soriginal design in creation was for His creatures, including mankind, to experience prosperity, peace, and fulfillment, but that design was ruined when sin entered the world. Statements of blessing are a wish for God to restore His favor on others or a declaration of His natural goodness. The ultimate blessing that God has given is the new life and forgiveness that comes through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. The material blessings we enjoy from day to day are temporary, but the spiritual blessings available to us in Christ include time and eternity, as well as material and immaterial things. The Psalmist says inPsalm 146:5"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God"Blessing is the projection of good into the life of another. It isn’t just words. It’s the actual putting forward your will for the good of another person. It always involves God, because when you wish the good of another person, you realize only God is capable of bringing that. So we naturally say, “God bless you.”
You can bless someone when you wish their good under the request of God. You ask God on their behalf to support the good that you wish for them. This is the nature of blessing. It is what we are to receive from God and then give to another.
Now we need to expand that just a little bit, because it isn’t just a verbal performance.It isn’t “bless you” when you say it is said through gritted teeth. It’s a generous outpouring of our whole being into blessing the other person. So, among other things, you don’t want to hurry a blessing. It becomes a habit that we say thoughtlessly, “God bless.” Well, that’s better than a lot of other things we could say, but we want to be able to put our whole self into our blessing. That is something we need to be thoughtful about. We don’t just rattle off a blessing. It’s a profoundly personal and powerful act.
InNumbers 6:24ÔÇô26, we find the great Aaronic blessing. This is the blessing Moses instructed his brother, Aaron, to place on the people of Israel. 24 'May the Lord bless youand protect you.25 May the Lord smile on youand be gracious to you.26 May the Lord show you his favorand give you his peace.'Thank God for it! Because when you try to improve on it, you realize you are not going to make much headway.
“The Lord bless you.” That means “May God bring good├ö├ç┬¬constantly into your life.” “The Lord bless you and keep you.” That means “May God protect you. and build His safekeepingaround you. And may the blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit be over you and keep you.” Stop for a moment and think about saying that to someone: “God bless you and keep you.” Imagine looking them in the eyes when you say it. This is very intimate and can almost beintimidating. I’ve seen it in groups where people broke out in tears or laughter because it touched them so deeply.
When saying you. One should emphasize it.This needs to be very personal. “God bless you and keep you. God make his face to shine upon you.”There’s so much about the face of God in the Bible. One of the most precious things that we can have is living before the shining face of God. Now, if you have trouble with understanding the shining face of God then just look at grand-parents when they look at their grandchild watch their face shine on that child, that can give you a little idea. There is such radiance that comes out of a person with the shining face. And your face is meant to shine. Glory is meant to be shared from God to human beings. Glory always shines.
“What is a benediction in the Bible?”A benediction is a declaration of blessings from God upon His loved ones. Benedictions are found at the close of some New Testament epistles 2 Corinthians 13:1414May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.Benedictions, though brief, offer words of assurance or instructions designed to bring joy, peace, comfort, and security to those who place their trust in God.Benedictions from Scripture are often read or recited near the close of a worship service. In this context, benedictions embody a call to unity, faith, and joy among believers. Reciting a benediction is meant to encourage believers and stimulate joy and commitment to God. Additionally, many believers find mediating on benedictions during their "quiet times" is a soothing balm which deepens the spirit, provides comfort for the ailing heart, and strengthens the unsure soul. Benedictions can be a remarkable source of healing because the words themselves are life John 6:6363 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.John 6:6868 Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal lifeThere are many benedictions recorded in Scripture. Here are a few examples, starting with one of the most well-known: Numbers 6:24-26"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"Psalm 121:7-8"The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore"Philippians 4:7"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" Thessalonians 3:11-13"Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints"
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word"Hebrews 13:20-21"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen"2 Corinthians 13:11"Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you"
23. Psalm 20:1-6 (My personal favourite)
In times of trouble, may the Lord respond to your cry!
May God keep you safe from all harm!
May He send you help from His sanctuary and strengthen you
May He remember all of your gifts and look favorably on your offerings.
May He grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans!
May we shout with joy when we hear of your Victory flying banners to honor our God! May the Lord answer all your prayers! (I have taken the words Israel and Jerusalem out to make it more personal when using it as a blessing for some )
“What is a house blessing? Is a house blessing biblical?”A house blessing (also referred to as "house healing" or "house cleansing") is a ritual performed by a religious leader with the intention of protecting those who live in the house from hardships and trouble. Many religions have some form of house blessing that is a part of their regular practices or traditions.In Christianity, a house blessing is an ancient tradition. In Protestantism and Orthodox Christianity, the blessing usually takes the form of a prayer over the house, but it may vary from each region and religion to the next. Sometimes the blessing takes the form of hanging a framed picture of Christ with a prayer printed on it. Catholic priests perform house blessings for their church members by sprinkling holy water in each room while praying for the inhabitants of the house. Priests will often do house blessings on Epiphany (January 6) to commemorate the Magi visiting Jesus and bringing Him gifts (Matthew 2:11).In the Bible, God Himself blessed the houses of His servants for His purposes and glory Genesis 39:55 From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master's household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar's household for Joseph's sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished.Ezekiel 44:3030 The first of the ripe fruits and all the gifts brought to the Lord will go to the priests. The first batch of dough must also be given to the priests so the Lord will bless your homes.There is nothing that indicates that a ritual preceded the blessing. God simply blessed His people who were following in obedience to Him.There is nothing visibly sinful or unbiblical about a house blessing. It is a tradition of man. The Bible does not require any ritual in order for God to bless a home, nor does it list any rules about how a house blessing should be done. As a tradition, a house blessing is something we are free to choose or not choose to do. To avoid trusting in superstition, we should remember that it is God who blesses, not a picture in a frame, cross or water from a shaker.