Deuteronomy 11 – The relationship between faith and prosperity

Deuteronomy 11:13-21 “It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul, 14 that He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil. 15 “He will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. 16 “Beware that your hearts are not deceived, and that you do not turn away and serve other gods and worship them. 17 “Or the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you.

18 “You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 19 “You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. 20 “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your sons may be multiplied on the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens remain above the earth.

What is the relationship between faithfulness and blessing? Is it the case that if we follow certain rules we will be blessed by God?

That certainly seems to be the case for Israel. Prosperity was directly linked to faithfulness. However, even for Israel this did not mean that there would not be difficulties. There were still battles to fight, and natural disasters to overcome. For Israel, faithfulness to God meant that they would be ultimately successful even in the face of trials.

Christians are not Israel. We do not receive the promises made to Israel. We are not under the covenant made between God and Israel.

God promises Christians that faithfulness will be rewarded with a fully restored relationship with God. We have the opportunity to receive grace (and a restored relationship with God) through our faith in Christ.

We are not promised prosperity and anyone who tells you otherwise is preaching a gospel other than Christ. We follow a savior who suffered through trials, who was tempted, who was persecuted, and who was killed. Why should we expect any different?

The good news is that we follow a savior who conquered death and is seated next to God. We can expect the same, if we have faith.

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Deuteronomy 9 – A blessing is never deserved

Deuteronomy 9:4-6 “Do not say in your heart when the LORD your God has driven them out before you, ‘Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,’ but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is dispossessing them before you. 5 “It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 6 “Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people.

Do not think that we are any different. God does not bless us because we are righteous. God does not bless us because we are faithful. God does not bless us because we deserve it.

God blesses us because we have aligned ourselves with God and God is faithful to fulfill the promises he has made to those who have sought him out.

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Numbers 32 – Make me a blessing

Numbers 32:1-25 Now the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had an exceedingly large number of livestock. So when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that it was indeed a place suitable for livestock, 2 the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben came and spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the congregation, saying, 3 “…4 the land which the LORD conquered before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.” 5 They said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession; do not take us across the Jordan.” 6 But Moses said to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben, “Shall your brothers go to war while you yourselves sit here?…16 Then they came near to Moses and said, “We will build here sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones; 17 but we ourselves will be armed ready to go before the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 “We will not return to our homes until every one of the sons of Israel has possessed his inheritance. 19 “For we will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Jordan toward the east.” 20 So Moses said to them, “If you will do this…this land shall be yours for a possession before the LORD. 23 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out…25 The sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, “Your servants will do just as my lord commands.”

We are not alone. A God centered life is not a life of “every-man-for-himself”. We have a responsibility to be sure that the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of others are met.

The tribes of Gad and Reuben discovered the land that God was blessing them with. They were excited with this discovery and wanted to live in God’s blessing. But God was still in the process of bringing about the blessing for the rest of Israel. Gad and Reuben had a responsibility to work for God in bringing about the blessing of others.

When we discover the blessing that God has set aside for us, it is not an excuse to stop doing the work of God in other peoples lives.

When we wallow in our own blessing and ignore what we have been called to do to bless another, then we have sinned against God.

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Numbers 14 – Don’t make God change his plans

Numbers 14:20-24 So the LORD said [to Moses], “I have pardoned [the Israelites] according to your word; 21 but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD. 22 “Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, 23 shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it. 24 “But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.

Even if we are Christians (people who have faith in Christ) there are consequences for testing and disbelieving God. When we grumble about God and fail to put our efforts into doing what God has called us to do, we put ourselves in danger of being left out of some of God’s blessing.

Have faith and follow through on what God is calling you to do. He can accomplish anything, but God will change his plans for you if you are unwilling to be faithful.

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John 20 – Receiving Jesus’ Spirit of peace

“So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”

At our darkest hour, in our loneliest circumstance, when we we feel doomed; Jesus will come to us and speak peace. All we need to do is recognize his presence in our midst. All we need to do is receive the blessing he is longing to breath out on us.

Recognize Jesus, receive the Spirit, go in peace; regardless of your circumstances.

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Joshua 22 – A blessing

“‘Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.’ So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents.”

This is very similar to the commandment in Deuteronomy and the Gospels to love God with all you heart, mind, strength, and soul. Let’s break it down:

Love the Lord your God and…
1) Walk in his ways
2) Keep his commandments
3) Hold fast to him
4) Serve him with all your heart and soul

With this instruction the Joshua blessed the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

This weekend may you walk in the ways of Jesus, keep his commands, hold fast to Jesus in all your circumstances, and serve Jesus with all your heart and soul.

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Joshua 15 – Give me a blessing

“Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it; so he gave him Achsah his daughter as a wife. It came about that when she came to him, she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. So she alighted from the donkey, and Caleb said to her, ‘What do you want?’ Then she said, ‘Give me a blessing; since you have given me the land of the Negev, give me also springs of water.’ So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.”

When was the last time you just straight up went to your spouse and asked for a blessing? It seems like that might be a good thing to do now and then. It gives one spouse the opportunity to make the other spouse feel special. In spousal relationships it can be so easy to misinterpret what the other person is saying. Being direct can be a wonderful thing.

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Leviticus 12 – The first baby dedications

“When the days of [a new mother's] purification are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the doorway of the tent of meeting a one year old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering.”

I’d think a lamb and a pigeon would be the least of what we could give to thank God for the blessing of our children.

How do we thank God when we are greatly blessed? Do we just say thank you? Do we do something? Perhaps we need to more consistently put our thanks into actions.

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Leviticus 5 – Bribing God

“If his means are insufficient for two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then for his offering for that which he has sinned, he shall bring the tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering”

In order to purchase two birds as a sin offering an individual would have to have a certain amount of resources to purchase the birds from a trapper. Most people did not have the knowledge, skill, or equipment to get the birds on their own. For those who did not have the resources to procure two birds God provided an alternative; a tenth of an ephah of flour. A tenth of an ephah is about two liters. This amount is not insignificant, but it would be a resource which everyone could obtain. It was a small enough amount to be feasible, but it was a large enough amount that a certain amount of work and sacrifice would be put into the offering. Grinding flour is a long, tedious job, and giving away two liters of flour is giving away a significant investment of your time.

We are living in a time when God does not ask us to make animal sacrifices. God has given us a means for the forgiveness of our sins through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Still we are called to sacrifice. Too often we focus solely on giving God money. God has not called all of us to give money; some have very little money to give. God is calling us to sacrifice our time, and our energy. God has made it possible for each of us to give back to him what he has blessed us with. Be sure you are not trying to buy off God with your money; be sure to sacrifice your time and your energy for God’s purposes.

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Psalm 21 – Praise God

O LORD, in Your strength the king will be glad, and in Your salvation how greatly he will rejoice! You have given him his heart’s desire, and You have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.

For You meet him with the blessings of good things; You set a crown of fine gold on his head. He asked life of You, You gave it to him, Length of days forever and ever. His glory is great through Your salvation, Splendor and majesty You place upon him. For You make him most blessed forever; You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the lovingkindness of the Most High he will not be shaken.

God may not have made you a king, but he has blessed you. Take time to praise God for his blessing. Write down your praises. Speak them verbally to God. Share your praises with your community. Inspire those around you to recognize the amazing ways God is moving in your life.

I praise God for my wife and family. For a job I love. For the opportunity to study more of God’s Word every day. I praise God for being with us and guiding us through the challenges of life. For using the obstacles we experience to make us more faithful followers of Christ. I praise God for the opportunity to lead others to Jesus at home, at church, and at work. I praise God for the talents I have been blessed with and the opportunity to use those talents to further God’s kingdom.

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Psalm 5 – The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

For it is you who blessed the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.

When we live within the shelter of God, when we follow God’s instructions and focus on his love, then we are surrounded with the favor of the Lord. This favor does not mean that we receive all we would wish for, rather it means that we have the opportunity to live with God’s blessing upon us; we live with light hearts, a clear conscience, and the peace that comes from knowing and walking alongside Jesus Christ.

This shield of favor does not deflect all the possible attacks that come against us, but it certainly does help when we are attacked. When we are constantly worshiping God, we are less likely to be destroyed by the evil that may cross our path.

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Ruth 2 – Bless it like Boaz

“Boaz replied to Ruth, ‘All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.’”

Boaz sees a young woman collecting some of the left over grain in his fields. He could have ignored her, he could have chased her away, he could have abused her; instead he took the time to determine who she was. Then he made an effort to bless her as she had blessed Naomi.

Every day we have the oopportunity to be like Boaz. We have the opportunity to see those around us who are in need of a blessing, and we have the opportunity to bless them. However, most of the time we do not take advantage of these opportunities: we ignore, we toss aside, we abuse.

Be like Boaz, take the time to notice those around you who need a blessing.

…and just because the hymn’s been running through my head…

Out in the highways and byways of life,
many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
making the sorrowing glad.
Make me a blessing, make me a blessing,
Out of my life, May Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love;
Tell of His pow’r to forgive:
Others will trust Him if only you prove
true ev’ry moment you live.
Make me a blessing, make me a blessing,
Out of my life, May Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

Give as ’twas given to you in your need;
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed;
Unto your mission be true.
Make me a blessing, make me a blessing,
Out of my life, May Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

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Genesis 48 – Blessing the younger

Jacob begins to bless Joseph’s sons, however Joseph becomes upset when Jacob begins to give his his younger son the greater blessing. Jacob responds, “I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”

There is an allusion to Jacob’s childhood when he tricked his father into blessing him rather than Esau his older brother. Rather than being tricked Jacob chooses to bless the younger of his grandchildren.

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Genesis 25 – Blessing in, around, and through conflict

After Abraham dies Isaac and Ishmael together bury him along side Rachel in the grave purchased from the “sons of Heth”. The Bible then records how God kept the promise to bless both Ishmael and Isaac. Both are given children and land and possessions. Both are blessed because God promised they would be blessed.

However, being blessed does not mean that there are no longer any problems. Rebekah and God talk about how her two children will struggle with one another. They are a blessing, but they will also be a source of conflict.

In our lives God’s blessing does not mean that we will no longer be in conflict. Conflict is an ongoing part of life. We are blessed in, around, and through conflict. It is a good thing to remember that God’s blessing is upon us even as we go through extreme conflict.

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Eulogia (a blessing) The Koine Greek Word of the Day Podcast

Eulogia (a blessing) may speak of the consecrated bread used in the Eucharist.  To subscribe to this podcast please go to iTunes and subscribe to “The Koine Greek Word of the Day Podcast”.

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Matthew 19 – Being single is a blessing

It’s okay not to marry.  The American Christian culture for one reason or another has pressured its young adults into feeling that marriage is a requirement; that if you do not marry and have babies you have failed.  Jesus and Paul, however, both say that it is okay not to marry;  in fact they both say that it is good or better for some to not marry.

I was called to marry.  I married young and well; however I had many friends who married young and poorly.  It would have been better for them to wait.  If God is not calling you to marry, don’t.  If God has not yet placed you into a position to marry, that’s okay.

When I was pastoring there were many Sunday mornings when I understood the benefits of priests being celibate.  When you have a spouse, and especially when you have children, there are times when you are not able to focus on what God is calling you to do as you could when you were single or childless.  There were Saturday nights when I was up from 1-4am cleaning up various bodily fluids and comforting sick children.  I know I was not fully focused on God as I led worship the next day.

There have been times when I would have engaged in a ministry, but the responsibilities to my wife and children precluded my availability.  Singleness is a blessing.  Childlessness is a blessing.  Marriage is a blessing.  Children are a blessing.  No matter where you are rejoice in your blessing and listen to God’s leading in your life.

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