THE BLESSINGS OF GOD

A study of the fact of God's blessings is a wonderful study. God is the greatest giver of all. James 1:17
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. The Father exemplified the greatest possible giving when he gave his only begotten Son for sinful man. There are numerous Hebrew and Greek words translated bless, blessed, and blessings. Viewed collectively they mean "to declare happy, to speak well of, very happy." Again, I stress that God is the source of all true blessings.

I. Those that God blesses. In a general sense, God blesses all men in that He has provided for all Acts 17:28 For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' Matthew 5:45 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.

However, in actuality God only blesses certain ones in the sense of his salvation and providence. Consider those whom God has said he blesses (also consider the opposite application).

II. Those that trust in God. "Blessed is the man that trusts in Him," declared the Psalmist in chapter 34 v: [8] Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalms 34:7,9,10 [7] The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. [9] Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. [10] The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

To trust in God means we believe him and rely on him. The trust taught is child like, as a child trusts in his parents for provision and guidance Matthew 18:3-4 [3] "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. John 6:47-48 (NKJV) 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life.

III. Those who consider the poor. Again, God plainly speaks through his word: "Blessed is he that considers the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble" (Ps. 41: 1). The biblical principle is, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20: 35). Giving is the key to receiving. 2 Corinthians 9:9-11 [9] As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." [10] Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, [11] while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

IV. Those who hear instruction. Wisdom says, "Hear instruction, and be wise and refuse it not" (Prov. 8: 33). "Blessed is the man that hears me," God's word continues, "watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors" (vs. 34). God also said, "Whoso loves instruction loves knowledge: but he that hates reproof is brutish (Prov. 12: 1).

V. Those who keep God's ways. God's word unequivocally says, "Now therefore hearken unto me, O you children: for blessed are they that keep my ways" (Prov. 8: 32). Jesus said, "If you know these things, blessed are you if ye do them" (Jn. 13: 17, ). Matthew 7:26 [27] But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Matthew 7:24-25 [24] "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: [25] and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

Talking about keeping God’s ways, His righteousness, merits, and atonement, while the person is not conformed to His word and spirit, is only living in self-deception. Let it be observed, that it is not the man who hears or believes these sayings of Christ, whose building shall stand, when the earth and its works are burnt up; but the man who DOES them.

VI. Those who endure. "Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him," declared the Spirit in James (Jas. 1: 12). Peter taught that if one turns back to the world, it would have been better for him to have never known the way of righteousness 2 Peter 2:20-21 [20] For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. [21] For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. There is a strong warning here. If someone once knows Christ and has returned to the world, his fate is going to be worse than if he had never begun with Christ. Why? Because he has known the truth and he has chosen to deliberately reject it. And even more, he is living against it. He has corrupted the truth of Christ and is leading others into destruction, dooming their very souls. We must endure to the end to be blessed of God.

VII God's blessings are in Christ. The casual student of the scriptures should be familiar with the expression "in Christ." It is in Christ that the Father spiritually blesses man today. Hear the apostle Paul: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1: 3). Appreciate the fact that "all spiritual blessings" are in Christ.

CONCLUSION: Please note that all these blessings are “in Christ”. You must know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior to receive these blessings from God. He can not bless as long as we deny His Son that He sent into this world to forgive us our sins. If you have never confessed your sins to Jesus Christ and asked Him to forgive you, do it now. Say Jesus the bible says that all of us have sinned and I ask You to forgive me my sins against God. I am sorry for my sins and I receive You right now into my life as my Savior and Lord. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now you can experience the blessings of God in your life.