Being Blessable

In my previous article called The Blessing of Abraham, I explained from Scripture how the blessing the Lord gave to Abraham applies to those who are in Christ. In this article, I'd like to explain how to be eligible for these blessings and all the Lord's blessings. 

Let me ask you a question: Does the Lord bless us, regardless of how we live, even if we are disobedient, wicked, and rebellious?

Obedience Opens the Door
Listen to what the angel of the Lord said to Abraham, after he willingly offered his only son on the altar in obedience to the Lord:

The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." (Gen 22:15-18)

Abraham’s single act of obedience opened the door for God to 1) bless him, 2) make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, 3) allow his descendants to take possession of the cities of their enemies, and 4) bless all nations on earth through his offspring.  All of this happened “because Abraham obeyed God.”

This same principle is true for Abraham’s descendants. In order for God to bless them and fulfill His promise to them and through them, they must keep his ways.

Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him." (Gen 18:17-19)

This passage tells us that we as children of Abraham must keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him. All of these promises that God made to Abraham are contingent upon the children of Abraham keeping the Lord’s way by doing what’s right and just. Then the promises will be fulfilled, including the promise that “Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.” 

This teaches us that the blessings are conditional and require our obedience. It teaches us that we must remain blessable, in order for the Lord to bless us. 

Of course, there is grace for our failures, weaknesses, and shortcomings. But the Lord blesses obedience, not disobedience, rebellion, and wickedness. You will not find any place in Scripture where it says God blesses disobedience, rebellion, and wickedness, or rewards those who live that way. There is no place in Scripture where that is taught, but rather the opposite. Scripture says we must live our lives in a way that is blessable. This is in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

Also see Deut 28:2-8; Psalm 37; Jer 17:7; Mal 3:10; Prov 22:9; 28:20; Js 1:12; Gal 6:7-8.

"Praise the LORD. Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed." (Psa 112:1-2)

"Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord." (Psa 119:1)

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless." (Psa 84:11)

Even Jesus said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." (Luk 11:28)

The same is true in the opening of the book of Revelation, where the blessing is conditional:

He says, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” (Rev 1:3)

Likewise at the closing of Revelation it says, "And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book." (Rev 22:7, NASB)

Look at the beatitudes in Matthew 5. The Lord pronounces blessings upon those who are blessable. Blessed are the meek, blessed are the pure in heart, blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the merciful, etc. You don't see one that says, "Blessed are the drunkards, blessed are the liars, blessed are the adulterers, blessed are the ungodly..." etc. 

As the apostle Paul said, the wicked shall not inherit the kingdom of God:

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor 6:9-11)

Offering Your Body as a Living Sacrifice to God

The apostle Paul said:

“I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom 12:1-2)

Just as Abraham offered up Isaac on the altar to God in obedience to Him, just as the Lord Jesus offered Himself in obedience to the Father on the cross for us, we must offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God. This is acceptable to God as a spiritual act of worship. This is how we worship and serve God.

Helen Roseveare, former missionary to the Congo, said the Lord taught her that it is a privilege to serve the Lord and even to suffer for Him. "All He wants is the loan of your body." She learned that the Lord wants us to thank Him for trusting us with the opportunity to suffer, even if He never tells us why.

Matthew Henry wrote: “The presenting of the body to God implies not only the avoiding of the sins that are committed with or against the body, but the using of the body as a servant of the soul in the service of God. It is to glorify God with our bodies (1Co_6:20), to engage our bodies in the duties of immediate worship, and in a diligent attendance to our particular callings, and be willing to suffer for God with our bodies, when we are called to it. It is to yield the members of our bodies as instruments of righteousness, Rom_6:13…it is a proof and product of the dedication of our souls to God.”

We must not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. It’s a life transformation (Gr., metamorphoo) like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. Only then will be able to prove (Gr. dokimazō) what the will of God is. 

To prove (Gr. dokimazō) what is the will of God means to discern it, distinguish it, try it, test it out, and judge it to be worthy.

One way that we will be able to clearly judge His will to be worthy is when we do His will and see how blessed we are when we do. We are blessed inside and out, through and through, when we obey God.

Apart from Jesus We Can Do Nothing

Don't try to obey God apart from Christ, because without Him you can do nothing. He said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5). 

This means you should not try to live a life of obedience to God apart from Christ and expect to receive blessings from God, because you can do nothing without Him.

Remain in His Love By Obedience

We must keep the Lord's commands in order to remain in His love and the Father's love. Jesus said, "If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love." (Joh 15:10)

God Rewards for Doing Good and Punishes Sin

The Lord always rewards everyone for whatever good he does and punishes wrongdoing. 

As Paul the apostle wrote: "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you." (2Th 1:8-10)

Moreover, he said, "because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free." (Eph 6:8). 

"There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (Rom 2:9-10)

This principle of reward for doing good and punishment for following evil is not only applicable in this life here on earth, but in the afterlife once we die. How we live now affects us both in this present life and the life hereafter.

"God will repay each person according to what he has done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger." (Rom 2:6-8).

This is why we all need to repent of our sins and have faith in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. 

As David wrote: "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit." (Ps 32:1-2)

Faith is a Key to Being Blessable

Faith is another key to being blessable. One example of that is Mary, who was blessed, because she believed.

"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!" (Luk 1:45).

The same is true of all those who have faith in God. Hebrews 11 is the biblical Hall of Faith that tells of so many ancient people of faith who were rewarded, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Samson, Barak, Gideon, Moses, and many others.

Closing Words 

These keys to being blessable, which I have outlined in this study, are not only applicable in this life here on earth, but in the afterlife once we die. Let us pray and ask the Lord to make us blessable, and then let us trust and obey Him, so that we may BE blessable.

Attribution notice: Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission. Other Scripture taken from NASB, where noted, copyright Lockman Foundation, used by permission.

Author's note: If you enjoyed this post, please also see the following: The Blessing of Abraham, The Afflictions of the Righteous, God Exalts the Humble and Brings Down the Proud, and The "Never" Promises to the Righteous. Also see What's Wrong with the Prosperity Gospel? You may find the Main Directory for this blog at Home, and you may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master." 

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

The Blessing of Abraham

I would like to show you what the seven-fold blessing of Abraham is that God gave to him and how it relates to you as a believer in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Gen 12:1-3)

He took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." (Gen 15:5)

I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." (Gen 22:17-18)

Components of the Blessing
Let's look at the seven components of the blessing:

1. The promise to bless Abraham

2. The promise that he will have a great name (reputation) 

3. The promise that he would become a great nation (have many descendants)

4. God will bless those who bless him

5. God will curse those who curse him
6. Abraham will be a blessing

7. All nations will be blessed through Abraham

Fulfillment of the Blessing
Here are some biblical examples of how the blessing of Abraham is fulfilled:

1. Abraham 

a) Great name: Had a great name and was considered a mighty prince among the people (Gen 23:6)

b) Many descendants: Had many descendants through Jacob and Esau/Edom his grandsons. 

• Ishmael became a great nation and had 12 sons who became chiefs
• Isaac’s son Jacob had 12 sons, who became 12 tribes
• Esau had 12 male descendants (among his 5 sons and 10 grandsons) who became chiefs of 12 tribes in Edom (aside from Amalek born to his concubine)
• Esau’s descendants had a part in the founding of Ancient China and Japan, and played an important role in Russian history.
• Abraham had 6 sons through Keturah: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Of course, from Midian came the Midianites, who lived in the Arabian Peninsula.

c)   Became extremely wealthy (Gen 13:2)

2. Jacob 

a) Had good relationships with the Canaanites among whom he lived as a stranger

b) Became a nation called Israel that possessed the land of Canaan

c) God blessed Jacob’s unusual breeding practices

d) Laban was blessed through his association with Jacob (Gen 30:27,30)

e) Became exceedingly wealthy shortly after Rachel his wife gave birth to Joseph (Ge 30:43)

3. Joseph 

a) Joseph prospered while in Egypt (Ge 39:2)

b) The Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in everything he did (Ge 39:3)
c) Joseph found favor in the eyes of his Egyptian master Potiphar, who put him in charge of his entire household and entrusted to his care everything he owned (Ge 39:4)

d) From the time Potiphar put Joseph in charge of everything, the Lord blessed his household because of Joseph, and the blessing of the Lord was upon everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field (Ge 39:5)
e) While in prison, the warden put all the prisoners under his authority (Ge 39:21-23)

f) Became ruler of all Egypt (Ge 41:37ff)

g) Saved Egypt, Israel, and other nations from perishing during famine.

4. Judah became a tribe from which the line of David and many kings descended, included the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

5. Solomon son of David became a very wise, wealthy and great king that was sought out by other rulers like the Queen of Sheba. God promised him wisdom, riches, honor, and a long life if he continued in righteousness, and it was fulfilled. (2 Chron 9:13-29). He was so unbelievably wealthy that he "surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches" (I Kings 10:23).

6. Esther became Queen of Persia (Est 2:18) and all the Jews in the Persian realm were blessed through her, because through her intervention they were not annihilated.

7. Mordecai became a high official of King Xerxes as well, and the same is true of him that all the Jewish people were blessed by him, just as King Xerxes was blessed when Mordecai reported the two, would-be assassins that intended to kill the king.

8. Daniel became ruler of the province of Babylon 

a) The head prefect over all the wise men there. 
b) He remained through the reign of 5 kings

c) Influenced those kings for the glory of God, and they were blessed through him.
d) He wielded tremendous power and influence
e) He served with great honor and distinction

9. The Lord Jesus - The blessing of Abraham is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the “Seed” of Abraham (Galatians 3:16).

10. The apostle Paul brought the gospel to the entire known Roman world of the first century (Rom 15:19), many people came to know Christ through him, many were healed, delivered from demons, and many churches were planted through him. Many people in Israel also received support from the Gentiles during the famine through the collection that Paul took up and the offering he brought to Jerusalem.

How This Applies to Us Today
This blessing continues today in the life of every true disciple of Jesus Christ, possessing the faith of Abraham that led him to obey God, since we are descendants of Abraham, the children of promise (Gal 3:7,14, 29; 4:31).

1) The promise to bless us 

a) Blessed spiritually with justification and with every spiritual blessing (Eph 1:3)

b) Blessed in every area of our temporal and eternal lives

c) Note that the land God promised to Abraham is the type of the better land; the nation is a type of the spiritual nation, the temporal blessing is a type of the eternal blessing.

2) The promise that we will have a great name (reputation) 

3) The promise that we would have many descendants, especially spiritual ones

4) God will bless those who bless us

5) God will curse those who curse us 

a) “Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.” (Psa 34:21)

b) Also see Ps 35:1-8, 26

c) “God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.” (2Th 1:6-7)

6) We will be a blessing to others whom we associate with

a) Not merely a recipient of blessing, but a medium or conduit of blessing to others.

b) Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” So this is not a “bless me” message, but one that clearly has others in mind.

7)    All nations will be blessed through us

Your life has a ripple effect, like a pebble when it drops into the still water, causing blessings to ripple from one person to the next across the whole world. Each and every word -- even unspoken -- and action of yours causes a ripple that spreads throughout the entire world. It's time to take that seriously.

Closing Words
This is the gospel that was announced to Abraham. “The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith,” (Gal 3:8-9).

This is what we were redeemed for. “He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promised of the Spirit.” (Gal 3:14).

Attribution notice: Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission. Image courtesy of Jan van 't Hoff Dordrecht, copyright 2023 Gospel Images, www.gospelimages.com, used by permission.

Author's Note: If you enjoyed this message, you may also like other articles about prayer, like Being Blessable, Prayer Promises, which you can find on the Home page of this blog, as well as other articles of mine Bowing Low in Worship. Also see What's Wrong with the Prosperity Gospel? I also invite you to visit my collection of blogs at Writing for the Master. Now let me ask you a very important question.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.