So Blessed

Aug 5, 2021

“The blessing through the Spirit that is ours through Christ is what Jacob received and it is the only remedy against idolatry. Only that blessing makes idols unnecessary. As with Jacob, we usually discover this only after a life of 'looking for blessings in all the wrong places.' It often takes an experience of crippling weakness for us to finally discover it. That is why so many of the most God-blessed people limp as they dance for joy.”

- Tim Keller

When life is going well and we have an abundance of good things all around us, we often say we are “blessed”. But a blessing isn’t just to signify something good in our life. As Pastor Jared shared this weekend, in the Old Testament, a blessing was a ceremonial act. A blessing consisted of powerful words spoken over someone. Think about a fence with posts, beams and nails holding all of the pieces of wood in place. The nails can be removed, but the holes still remain. Our words are like those holes. We can apologize for our words, but the wounds still remain. Or our words have the power to be lifegiving and bring hope to a weary soul!

In Hebrew, the word for blessing is barakah, which means “a transmittal of God’s favor”. To baruch is to kneel down by someone, to empower them to prosper and thrive, to do well, to succeed. I can distinctly remember three different times someone spoke words of blessing over me that deeply affected the trajectory of my life. Their words affected me so deeply that I can visualize where I was sitting, the series of events that led up to and the specific words - the blessing - they spoke over me.

“Blessing” goes so much deeper than from one person to another. In the New Testament, Jesus tells us: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

We can’t receive the blessings Jesus has for us unless we know Him first! Blessing is God giving you and I power to do what we were created to do.

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

- Genesis 1:28

“God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.’”

- 2 Corinthians 9:8-9

Rick Warren says, “God created us on purpose for a purpose!” Think about your life. Who has spoken a blessing over you? How has it made an impact on you? Now ask God who YOU need to speak a word of blessing over. It may just change their life!