If you’re around Christians at all. . .you’re going to hear them tell you how blessed they are.
And please understand, there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s a great thing to say. . .because we are blessed.
Deuteronomy 28:3-6 in the New Living Translation says:
“Your towns and your fields will be blessed. Your children and your crops will be blessed. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be blessed. Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be blessed. 6 Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed.”
We’re blessed because the Word of God says we’re blessed and no circumstances or no one can change that.
There are no asterisk at the bottom of the page under these verses from Deuteronomy 28:3-6.
As you focus on this passage you realize the words are not conditional or exclusionary. Meaning they apply selectively in their application to believers.
There is only one key to the application of these verses and it’s found in Deuteronomy 28:1-2 in the Classic Amplified Bible which says:
“Now it shall be, if you diligently listen to and obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all of His commandments which I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you pay attention to the voice of the Lord your God.”
If we listen to and obey His instructions. . .then His blessings will overtake us.
Why does He deserve to bless us so.
The scriptural response is to that we can bless others.
Don’t get me wrong. . .God wants you blessed. However, the foundation of God’s covenant with you. . .is that you’re blessed so you can be a blessing.
So many Christians mistakenly think that God’s covenant with us is found in the first fourteen verses of Deuteronomy 28. But that is not the covenant!
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 describes the blessings that keepers of the covenant will receive from God.
The actual covenant with us is first spoken to Abram in Genesis 12:1-3 in the King James Bible which says:
“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kingdom, and form thy father’s house, unto a land that I will bless thee, and make thy name great; AND THOU SHALT BE A BLESSING. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall ALL FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED.”
Child of God. . .get a hold of what I’m about to say. You can’t bless anybody else if you’re living from paycheck to Prozac.
It’s also important to understand that you can’t bless anyone else unless you have first been blessed yourself.
James 2:15-16 says:
“If brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”
God is calling us to go BEYOND OUR OWN PERSONAL BLESSINGS, and BECOME A BLESSING!
I really want you to get ahold of this next statement…write it down…get it deep into your spirit.
God does not prosper you for the purpose of raising your standard of living. He prospers you so that you can raise your standard of giving.
Genesis 12:2 says:
“And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you [abundantly], And make your name great (exalted, distinguished); And you shall be a blessing [a source of great good to others].”
This is a great verse to personalize. . .particularly the last sentence.
“And <<Your Name>> shall be a blessing [a source of great good to others].”
Why does God desire to bless His people? He wants us blessed so we can become a blessing to others.
2 Corinthians 9:8 in the Amplified Bible says:
“And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].”
God wants you walking in the end-time Office of the Giver.
God wants you to be a difference-maker; a destiny-shaper; a world-changer and a blessing to everyone you meet.
Jesus understood the reason He was born.
John 18:37 in The Living Bible says:
“Pilate replied, “But you are a king then?” “Yes,” Jesus said. “I was born for that purpose. And I came to bring truth to the world. All who love the truth are my followers.”
Do you know why you were born?
Jeremiah 1:5 says:
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
The word “before” is used twice in this verse and it clearly indicates that the child was known before conception into time past.
The word “I” is used four times which clearly indicates that God is the one doing the speaking and that He knew this child before he was ever created by a physical act of intimacy.
The words “thee” and “thou” are used five times in this verse and it indicates that a baby is more than a bunch of goo and a mass of cells without a purpose and life plan.
It’s clear. . .Jeremiah was known as a person before he was ever born . . . and so were you.
Would it surprise you to know that you were created to meet a need?
Hear me very clearly. . .there are four things I want you to get deep in your spirit.
First, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know what that need is yet.
Second, it doesn’t matter if you don’t feel qualified to meet anybody else’s need.
Third, it doesn’t matter if you wonder how you can help meet anybody else’s needs when you can’t even meet your own.
Fourth, it doesn’t matter if you can’t see your potential as a difference maker because God can. . .and He’s the only One that counts.
Galatians 1:15 in the Amplified Bible:
“But when He, Who had chosen and set me apart [even] before I was born and had called me by His grace (His undeserved favor and blessing), saw fit and was pleased.”
God was not only pleased with your birth but He has plans for you.
Jeremiah 29:11 in the New International Version says:
“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
God’s plans include you being productive. . .making a difference; meeting needs and blessing others.
Titus 3:14 in the New Living Translation says:
“Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.”
No question. . .you were created to be a difference maker.
Matthew 6:33 in the Amplified Bible says:
“But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness] His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.”
God’s way of doing. . .is caring for others. . .do good for others. . .being a blessing to others.
Ephesians 6:8 which says:
“Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”
The Message Bible translates Ephesians 6:8 like this:
“Good work will get you good pay from the Master. . .”
God wants you to be able to close your eyes and see yourself being a blessing to others. Sometimes they will know the blessing is from you. . .and sometimes they won’t.
Proverbs 10:22 in the Amplified Bible says:.
“And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves].”
Can you see yourself blessing others?
You should be. . .you’re blessed to be a blessing.
Pastor Joel Osteen said:
“When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance.”
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Harold Herring