physical blessings in the bible

And on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Revelation 21 and 22. The Lord your God will bless your work and everything you touch. Deuteronomy 15:10 (NCV), Blessed is the man who trusts in you. Psalm 84:12 (NIV), If the place of worship is too far from your home for you to carry there the tithe of the produce that the Lord has blessed you with, then do this: Sell your produce and take the money with you to the one place of worship. Deuteronomy 14:24-25 (TEV), Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. Psalm 89:15 (NIV), Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right. Psalm 106:3 (NIV), Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. Psalm 128:1 (NIV), Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. 1 Corinthians 11:1-2 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. We must see that in the midst of our suffering, we are drawn nearer to God, and recognize this as true blessing. At other times, Israels suffering was not due to her unbelief and rebellion. Why is that? All of the prophets of Israel were resisted, rejected, and persecuted because they spoke to men for God: And the Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place; but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy (2 Chronicles 36:15-16).101. The Lord will help you defeat the enemies that come to fight you. I love it. (3) The Jews thought of Gods blessings in terms of material prosperity and His cursings in terms of material adversity and physical affliction. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. If a nation repented of its sin and turned to God, its threatened judgment could be averted. The full and final blessing of God is not accompanied with sorrow. The common factor in all the blessings in the Bible is this: God's Kingdom. Proverbs 10:22 He also promised Abraham that he would become a blessing to all who would bless him. This was the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:5-7; 13:14-15) whose boundaries were more fully defined in Genesis 15:18-21. AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due. (5) The Jews of our Lords time believed suffering was incompatible with Gods blessings. Related Topics: Dispensational / Covenantal Theology, Theology Proper (God), Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. When we struggle with sin and the flesh (Romans 7), we know it is because we have become a new creation in Christ. Gods blessing is the overturning and removal of the curse due to sin. This child was not merely an adopted heir, but Abrahams own son (Genesis 15:1-6). "Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways." Psalm 128:1 (NIV) "Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. God does not promise to make us wealthy but that our relationship with Him will prosper. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him (Deuteronomy 8:2-6). Yet our prayers betray us. What a verse! Our heart has not turned back, And our steps have not deviated from Thy way, Yet Thou hast crushed us in a place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death. How were these saints so successful? In what ways does God bless only Christians? While the Old Testament records many instances in which Israel suffered for their sins, texts like this one in Psalm 44 indicate there are times when Gods people suffer innocently, for His sake (see verse 22). Blessings have to do with God's Kingdom. S As to the first, many will claim that God loves and forgives us all unconditionally. J Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. We will be co-owners of the whole world: They shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). Gods plan is purposed to bring glory to Himself and blessing to us. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. To be spiritual they say is the assurance of earthly pleasures; to be sinful is to bring upon oneself pain and suffering. The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Berean Bible Society To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:8-9). You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things. Psalm 128:1-2 (NCV), Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 (NIV), If they listen and obey God, then they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. Being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Sign up now to receive Two Minutes With the Bible every day in your email inbox. The Jews thought of God's blessings in primarily physical and . List Of Bible Prophecies Not Yet Fulfilled. O Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. K of The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. in 1971. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. In the context of prayer, Paul prayed that he might have the Lord's prospering on his physical journey to visit the saints at Rome (Rom. I am not happy. When we understand the difference between Gods temporal blessings and His eternal blessings, we learn to expect suffering and trials as a part of His plan, and as a part of His program to bring about eternal blessing for us. That is why God blessed him. Jeremiah 22:15 (NLT), Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. When affliction and adversity comes into our life, we conclude that suffering is incompatible with blessing. 103 Notice that while these saints obtained promises (verse 33) they did not receive what was promised (verse 39). Your blessings in eternity will not. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still . The plan of God is to bring about His own glory and the Christians good (or blessing). N Gods blessing is not based upon human merit or works, but upon His grace. Uphold me with Your generous Spirit. The accursed were those who were rich, well-fed, and happy. We ask God to take away the pain and the circumstance. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. Every word in the Bible is for us; for our learning. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, Behold, we are your servants. But Joseph said to them, Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? The true view of temporal blessing seeks the enjoyment of Gods presence whether in pain or pleasure. The promised blessings of the Bible are the good which God has purposed and promised. Job 4:6. Eternal blessings are experienced by saints who have been transformed into the image of Christ, whose mortal bodies are left behind and who live in a new world free of sin, of Satan, and of the curse (see 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 21 and 22). Since the Mosaic covenant spelled out Gods blessings and cursings in this way in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28-30, this is not difficult to understand. It is not that one group is more spiritual than the other. Why did your father, Josiah, reign so long? There are no priests or saints through whom we have to go to God, but only Jesus Christ. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Biblical blessings are often associated with protection and happiness. 5:18). Because he was just and right in all his dealings. Adam was cursed with hard labor, providing for his family by the sweat of his brow. That plan incorporates all things (Romans 8:28), which includes pain, suffering, and sorrow. The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. Psalm 41:1-2 (NIV), Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. They suffered for Gods sake and not for their own sins (Psalm 44:22). He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor. Psalm 112:1-9 (NIV), Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. Israel was the showcase of Gods blessings among the nations. For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Joseph, one of the Bibles great heroes and a son of Jacob, suffered a great deal in his early life. With the coming of Christ, the blessings of God are more spiritual than material, and they come to those who appear not to be blessed as men would appraise blessing (see Luke 6:20-23). And righteousness from the God of his salvation. Let that sink in. Restore unto me the joy of my salvation, Father. Paul adds that itis set apart by God in accordance with His Word and prayer,a clear indication that we are to offer thanks to the Lord forwhat we have at every meal. While we are clothedspiritually in Christs righteousness, I wouldnt advise leavinghome physically unclothed. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV), Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. But that forgiveness is not always guaranteed, and is usually conditional on our repentance. Here are 10 bible verses about unexpected blessings that will bring you peace and joy when you need it most. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. The point I wish to underscore here are the two very different categories of saints. And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, And washed my hands in innocence; For I have been stricken all day long, And chastened every morning. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. So too does history and our own experience. God promised to bless Abraham and his offspring. Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! You shall not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. Thou dost make us a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to those around us. Neither Gods blessings nor His wrath are fully manifested in this life. It is also only in eternity that the curse of God will be fully poured out on sinners. Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart. Verse Concepts. These trials came from the hand of the God who had promised to bless them: And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. They would do especially well to give careful thought to this text in Hebrews: And what more shall I say? For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (2) The Jews thought of Gods blessings in primarily physical and material terms and not in spiritual terms. A Psalm of David. These were much more perplexing times as we see from the agony of this psalmist: Thou art my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob. Unfortunately, many Christians today hold to the same basic errors held by the Jews of Jesus day. James 1:2-5 Jeremiah 18:7-10 Just a few - of many - New Testament texts make this clear: Mark 1:4-5 And so John the Baptist appeared . Germantown, WI 53022-0756 Abrahams life had its own trials. Then in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete (Genesis 15:13-16). . Psalm 22; 24:3-6; 44; 73; 78; 94:12; 119:67, 71, 75, 92 C For I will not trust in my bow, Nor will my sword save me. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies. Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, Thou wilt despise their form. I believe this text provides the key to understanding Gods blessings, especially their relationship to suffering and adversity. But what does it mean to truly be blessed according to Scripture? God is not the only one who pronounces blessings. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts. Death turned earthly, external appearances upside-down. Paul says, "The world is yours. Though Esau would not receive the physical blessings passed down from Abraham, Isaac did give him a smaller blessing of limited agricultural blessings . 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 In fact, suffering can be a blessing in the hand of God. Put it at the disposal of me and my mission. Thats the kind of radical life were called to live in the New Testament. These blessings fit the definition laid down in Proverbs 10:22: It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it. Indeed, this is how many translations of the Bible, including the New King James Version, translate Paul's statement to the Galatians: "Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made" . Your infinite glory, greatness, grander, majesty, and unlimited ability. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13-16). "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Suffering is both a blessing, and a means of blessing, when it is suffering for Christs sake: For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21). The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. The Bereans "received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:10-11). This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.. God also promised Abraham a great land that his seed would possess. Your blessings in this life will be mixed with sorrow. Jesus simply did not fit the mold of Jewish expectations. A secondary goal is to accomplish the good of those who love God: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). In Gods economy, serving others is a privilege and not a curse. (5) God is able to bless men because He has borne their curse in Christ, and thus His holiness is maintained in His grace (see Romans 3:24-26). And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. Thats the orientation of Jesus Christ the king. (6) Gods glory is revealed in both His blessing and His cursing (see Exodus 34:5-7). I see the term blessed associated with material possessions or family or health. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. It is that New Jerusalem which comes down from heaven at our Lords return (Revelation 21:1-2). (5) What errors concerning divine blessing can we see in the Jews of old and also in Christians of today? Lets circle back now to Jordans reference to the Beatitudes. TopicalBible To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. The son was just the beginning. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. The second group--those who suffered and endured by faith--are described in the last half of verse 35 through verse 38. When my heart was embittered, And I was pierced within, Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before Thee. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. T You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. When Jesus began to teach His disciples concerning His coming rejection, suffering, and death in Jerusalem, even His disciples reacted. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Rarely, if ever, do I see people posting about how blessed they are as poor in spirit or persecuted like we read about in the Beatitudes. O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. Like Lot, we find our righteous souls vexed by sin (2 Peter 2:7-8). God promised every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. We can never, in and of ourselves, be worthy of divine blessings. (17) The blessings our Lord accomplished on the cross of Calvary will not all be poured out on men in this life. The story of the rich man and Lazarus underscore this principle (see Luke 16:19-31). (9) Blessing or cursing are not necessarily evident in the means God employs to produce His desired goal. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:2-5). You cannot be richer than a Christian. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Z. (16) One of the blessings God gave Abraham and his seed (which includes us as believers) is that of being a blessing to others. (6) How can a clear understanding of divine blessings help us to better understand Gods eternal plan, especially as it relates to man? And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. Perhaps best of all, our suffering for Christs sake deepens our love for our Lord and our fellowship with Him: More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. All this has come upon us, but we have not forgotten Thee, And we have not dealt falsely with Thy covenant. These blessings are not fulfilled in this life, but in the next. If a nation turned from God, its promised blessings would be taken away: At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. (11) Ultimately, blessing or cursing are the result of ones response to Gods provision of forgiveness and righteousness in Jesus Christ, the promised seed of Abraham (see Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-6; John 3:18; 14:6; 1 John 5:12). Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Put all the billionaires together. The way human beings experience God's blessing changes with the redemptive storyline that traverses the major peaks of creation, fall, redemption, and final restoration. And in so doing, we actually miss the blessing God has for us in affliction. May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans! But, as it is written, What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. We must therefore live by faith. What the Bible says about Blessings, Physical ( From Forerunner Commentary ) Proverbs 3:9-10 By paying to God what we owe Him (that is, His tithes), He rewards us with blessings. The Book of Hebrews brings the Old Testament faith into focus and clearly describes the nature of the blessings God promised and for which believers waited in faith. In our identification with Christ, we enter into His rejection and persecution by men, and in so doing are blessed by a closer walk with Him, a deeper fellowship with Him, and a growing hunger for heaven and the full blessings of God (see 2 Corinthians 4 and 5; Philippians 3:10; 1 Peter 2-4). You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. W And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. He called those blessed whom the Jews regarded as accursed. Were on a mission to change that. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve; and afterward they will come out with many possessions. Your basket and your kitchen will be blessed. And if it costs you your life, lay it down. Jesus says very plainly, Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:33). Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm Central Time. Men are not only condemned because they are destined to destruction, but because they deserve it and have decided for it (see Genesis 12:1-3; Deuteronomy 28; John 3:18; Revelation 16:5-6). (18) Christians will suffer--and not just for sin. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.