We can be more. We can put lust, greed, strife, hatred, and everything evil which doesn’t identify with our identity in Christ under control. We can choose to by wisdom observe more and speak less, to choose to ignore and disregard inflammatory and annoying remarks, we can choose peace and calmness of spirit over claiming to be right or smart. We can be more.
Without the spirit, the Body dies (James 2:26). However, where the spirit remains, the body stays alive. Just as the body lives on food, the spirit lives on the Word (Matthew 4:4). The Word of God is Spirit and Life. As long as you feed your spirit with the relevant Word of God, you shall live..
Some people don’t feel very welcome, accepted or loved in one Church, so they pack up and leave to another Church (in search of love and warmth). Some say they’ve not been able to fit into the ‘cliques’ that exist in their local Church. Others are uncomfortable with a new Church leadership style (usually following a change in Church government). For some, the Pastor and/or Church members are not ‘nice’ or caring enough (or at all). I heard it been said once, that a couple walked away from a Church because an usher was rude to them.
If you have been with me on this study, remember that we took a side journey from the sub-topic “Victory Through Faith” in order to find out how Abraham became the ‘Father of Faith’. You can read a bit more about that here.
Today we conclude our brief study on Abraham by looking at ‘The Blessing of Abraham’.
God pronounced the blessing on man immediately after creating him (Genesis 1:28). However Adam’s sin and fall introduced the curse which brought in spiritual death, sickness and poverty. Through His death, burial and resurrection, the Lord Jesus settled the curse forever, did away with it and re-established the blessing (Galatians 3:13-14).
When we look at the first mention of the blessing, we gain an understanding of what the blessing means….
“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1:28 NKJV
……be fruitful, multiply, increase, expand, dominate…
I find that the blessing is often mentioned alongside fruitfulness, expansion, increase, abundance, or influence in the scripture. Sometimes we find a combination of these mentioned.
From Proverbs 10:22, we see the value of the blessing….
The Blessing Makes Rich! The Blessing Makes Rich!! The Blessing Makes Rich!!!
So the blessing is an empowerment to prosper.
We find the answer to this in Genesis 12:1-3….
“Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family and from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:1-3 NKJV
If we want to line-list the Blessing of Abraham, we will have;
So, what do we see here? We see;
This is ‘The Blessing of Abraham’ and it pretty much covers everything anyone would want in life to feel successful, doesn’t it?
So did Abraham become all that God promised? Sure!
Genesis 24:1-2, summarizes for us that God blessed Abraham in all things….
“Now Abraham was old, [well] advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.” Genesis 24:1 AMP.
What exactly can fall under ‘all things‘?
Genesis 24:35 mentions some of them;
“The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great (wealthy, powerful); He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys.
Genesis 24:35 AMP
So Abraham put his hands to work and the blessing manifested.
Genesis 24:35 is actually a testimony from Abraham’s servant (as he went seeking a wife for Isaac from the house of Bethuel). According to his testimony, Abraham had become; greatly blessed, wealthy, powerful, an owner of flocks and herds, silver and gold, camels and donkeys and master servants and maids. I love the way Abraham’s possessions are mentioned in multiples- flocks, herds, camels, donkeys, etc. And talking about Abraham’s servants, I found it almost ‘mind-blowing’ that Abraham went to war (to rescue his nephew Lot) with 318 trained men born in his household! So how big was Abraham’s household? If he went with 318 men, how many were left behind? How many wives, children, mothers were not counted? So how exactly big was Abraham’s household? Talk about being blessed! In modern day, Abraham would have been described as a very powerful and influential person.
Abraham experienced the blessing through faith, obedience and patience.
I love the blessing of Abraham and I am so glad that I am an heir of Abraham. I am a partaker of this blessing.
Yes, I am an heir of Abraham and the Blessing of Abraham is mine.
Someone says ‘Grace, how did you come about that?’
First, Abraham became the father of faith because he believed God’s promises and he was counted righteous through faith. Therefore because I believe God’s Word by faith also, I am an heir of Abraham. Abraham is my father.
“In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God,” Galatians 3:6-7 NLT
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Galatians 3:26-29 NKJV
Who is an heir? Someone legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person’s death. A person who inherits and continues the work of a predecessor. A beneficiary, grantee, inheritor, successor.
Yes, I share in the same Blessing of Abraham..
“What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.” Galatians 3:8-9 NLT
I am an heir of Abraham and I have the blessing of Abraham. I have the Blessing! God has empowered me to prosper. And just as God blessed the handworks of Abraham causing increase and expansion leading up to wealth, influence and dominion, even so the blessing causes the works of my hands to prosper, leading up to wealth, influence and dominion. I walk by faith, I walk in-step with the Spirit, I live by the Word and I inherit the blessing. I am blessed, my name is blessed, and I am a blessing to nations…..and so are you!
When God entered into a covenant with Abraham, it was to assure him that the promise will be fulfilled, that the blessing will not fail. As Christians we stay confident that the blessing will prevail because of the covenant made by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. The blessing will not fail.
Thank You Jesus!
Remember that you can access previous parts of this study as follows; Part 1: Study Background. Part 2: The Scope of the Christian Victory. Part 3: How Christians Gained Victory. Part 4: How Faith, Love and Hope Mix Together for Victorious Christian Living. Part 5: The Nature of God’s Love. Part 6: Characteristics of God Kind of Love. Parts 7 and 8: Winning Through Love. Part 9: How to develop our love nature. Part 10: Giving Is Not (always) Love. Part 11:Victory Through Faith: Understanding Faith. Part 12: Victory Through Faith: The Righteousness of God. Part 13: The Stimulus for Faith. Part 14: The Faith of Abraham (A). Part 15: The Faith of Abraham (B).
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Blessings & Love Always!
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us
I remember when I got born again; June 1993 at one of the branches of Deeper Life Bible Church, Nigeria. It was my first time at the Church, a friend had invited me for their regular Sunday service. There was a talk on the importance of choosing heaven over hell; talk about a broad way that leads to hell and a narrow path which leads to heaven. Yours truly didn’t want anything to do with hell, so off to the front roll I marched as soon as the alter call was made for people to make a decision for Jesus. I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ; hell lost a soul; Heaven’s gain….
As I think about my spiritual rebirth day, I am reminded of the process that brought me to my current spiritual status of being alive in Christ. Having heard the message on salvation as was preached that day (deliverance through faith in Christ Jesus), the expected response from me was to confirm my believe by simply walking down the aisle towards the Preacher, who led me to confess the ‘sinner’s prayer’.
Twenty-eight years later, even with a little stormy time along my walk, my salvation status hasn’t changed; I know that I am born again. I received my salvation that day, and that hasn’t changed.
Unknowing to me, the only good thing about that day wasn’t that I got born again, no, I was also delivered from the curse (Sickness, Poverty and spiritual death), because the same sacrifice that bought my salvation also bought my healing.
Bartimaeus son of Timaeus was a blind roadside beggar. On this particular day when Jesus walked out of Jericho, Bartimaeus didn’t want alms, he’s learnt how to ASK and RECEIVE gifts through the years. Today, he wanted a different kind of gift;…. healing for his eyes. All attempts by bystanders to stop him proved futile. In the end Jesus connected with his faith, his sight was restored. Bartimaeus RECEIVED his sight, ….just like that. He believed Jesus could heal him, he asked for his healing and he got it.
“Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.“
Mark 10:52 NKJV
Do you believe Jesus has healed you? And if I may kindly ask; ‘have you received your healing in the same way that you received your salvation?‘
Healing confessions are no good if we lack the conviction that we are already healed. Our confessions and partaking in communion do not in themselves bring healing, they are ways in which we further proclaim and maintain that we are healed.
Someone asks; ‘Grace, I am currently taking medications for a health condition, do you advice me to discontinue?’
Not at all, drugs or not, the truth remains that Jesus bought our healing. As Jesus would say…..’believe comes before seeing‘. So believe and receive.
By His Stripes I am healed.
Lord I believe that by the Stripes of Jesus I was healed. I receive my healing, and I declare that I am working in it everyday.
Thank You Lord!!
“Therefore take up The Whole Armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”
Ephesians 6:13-18 NKJV
To put on the whole armor of God is to be continually conscious of, and unflinchingly committed to proclaiming who we are and what we have in Christ while living in this reality.
The armor of God is not a combative tool, no, we are not fighting with the enemy, rather we stand in the victory that Christ has already won for us.
The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. It is the only offensive component of the armor of God, the rest are defensive.
The Sword of the Spirit operates as both offensive and defensive.
It is interesting to note, that of the usual regular offensive tools in a soldier’s armory (bows, arrows, spear, sling, rod, etc), it is the sword that makes the list of whole armor of God.
What is peculiar about the sword? A soldier’s sword is usually made of 2-edged sharp blades that can cut, pierce/thrust. According to Hebrews 4:12-13, the Word of God, (referred in Ephesians 6:17 as the Sword of the Spirit) is potent and can permeate the 3 parts of man (spirit, soul and body). It is therefore an ultimately effective tool.
Hebrews 4:12-13 tells us how effective the Sword of the Spirit is…..
“For the word of God is ALIVE, and POWERful. It is SHARPER than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”
Hebrews 4:12-13 NLT
It is documented as the Holy Bible, written by men as they were inspired by God. The Word is the Belt of Truth and the Sword of the Spirit in the armor of God; that is the written Word and the spoken Word. The Word is Jesus Christ! (John 1:1).
In Matthew 4, Jesus Himself used this Sword against the enemy….’It is written’!!! That’s the only response the Lord gave the enemy.
By speaking and declaring the Word. When we make our confessions of faith, we are wielding the Sword of the Spirit. For the weapons of my warfare are not carnal but MIGHTY in God. Halleluyah!
To sit under the teaching of the word of God is great, to read the Word all year round is awesome, wonderful. These inscribes the Word on the tablets of your heart, in your spirit. But that is just becoming equipped to use the Sword of the Spirit. Until we open our mouths and speak the Word we are not wielding the sword of the Spirit.
There are 3 things I want to bring out from Ephesians 6:13-18….
“Therefore take up The Whole Armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”
Ephesians 6:13-18 NKJV
1. There is the Whole Armor of God
2. There is an evil day
3. There is a ‘Standing’
The rest of this portion of scripture is a description of the whole armor of God. To understand the Whole Armor of God, you can follow my Bible Study series on this here.
I like to point out that there is an “evil day” that comes to every believer in Christ Jesus. That is the day when your faith/belief is challenged, when lack wants to rattle your believe in God’s provision, when trials and temptations want to cease your mind like a flood, when sickness and disease want to kill you, when it appears you are suddenly confused and bewildered by life’s circumstances. Ephesians 6 is saying put on the whole armor of God always so that when this “evil day” comes, you can STAND and overcome in victory. Halleluyah!
So put on (always) the whole armor of God and the way to wield the Sword of the Spirit is by our confessions of faith.
In Lack:
Surely, my Father shall supply ALL of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
For Worry:
I do not worry about a thing, not about food, clothing or shelter. For my Father clothes the lilies of the field which neither toil nor spin, He feeds the birds of the air which do not sow or gather into barns, He will surely take care of me (Matthew 6:25-34). So I cast all my cares upon the Lord, because I know that more than anyone else, He cares for me (I Peter 5:7). I take on the yoke of Christ, I preach the Word in and out of season, I am fully committed to the Father’s business (Matthew 6:33-34).
In Trials And Temptations:
I am born of God and so I overcome the world and the evil in it (1 Peter 5:4). I am not alone, the Godhead resides in me, for I am in Christ, Christ is in the Father, and Christ is in me (John 17:21). The Holy Spirit indwells my body leading, guiding, teaching, and comforting me (John 16:13). I have the exact same life of God in me, eternal life is in me and greater is He that is in me than the one who operates in the world (I John 4:4). CHRIST IS IN ME….that is my HOPE of GLORY/VICTORY/MANIFESTATIONS. Halleluyah! Christ is in me. I owe no man nothing except Love. I am born of God, God is love and so I am love (I John 4:8). And love conquers all things, love never fails I Corinthians 13). I win in my my relationships and interactions. I win by the Spirit of love in me.
For Confidence To Proclaim The Good News:
I have authority in the name of Jesus to preach, to teach and to make disciples of all men (Matthew 28:18-20). I have boldness and utterance (Ephesians 6:19). I have authority in the name of Jesus over satan and his agents. I have authority in the name of Jesus to heal the sick, to not die from poison, to cast out demons, to release the oppressed (Mark 16:17-18).
For Direction:
My spirit bears witness with God’s Spirit in me that I am God’s son. I am born of God, I am a son of God and so I am LED by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14, 16). The Holy Spirit leads me in the right direction. I have and follow the Good Shepherd, Jesus, He leads me to my pleasant places (Psalm 23, John 10:14).
For Healing And Health:
God sent His Word (Jesus) and healed all my diseases (Psalm 107:20). Himself TOOK my infirmities and BORE my Sicknesses in His Body on the cross (Matthew 8:17). Jesus Took Them All. He bore my griefs, He carried my sorrows. He sustained wounds and bruises for my transgressions and iniquities, carried the full punishment, paid the full price. By His wounds/stripes I am healed (Isaiah 53:5). He defeated sin, sickness and death. No sin, no punishment, I am free from the curse! Free from sin, free from sickness, free from the death. He took upon Himself the chasetisement for my peace. I have peace. Oh! Jesus took it all! I am free (John 8:36).
Halleluyah!!!!
I am sure you can write up many more for yourself. We have the Word of God for every situation and circumstance. Praise God! We wield our Sword by speaking the Word.
The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. It should be drawn always, wielded by speaking it continually; in all times and seasons.
We are to stop rehearsing (magnifying) what the enemy is doing by saying and speaking it to every Tom, Dick and Harry, no, speak the Word, magnify the Word. Speak it and hold on to it until your miracle manifests, then share your testimony widely with everyone (magnify God). This is not to say do not seek help if you need it, please seek counsel and maybe reach out to a trusted saint to pray the prayer of agreement with you if you need to. But yearn, desire, seek to grow in your faith also and the way to do that is to deepen your relationship with the God (through the Word and prayer), this builds your understanding of God and boost your confidence to take on faith feats on your own.
Do not leave your sword sheathed, pull it out; speak it, Magnify the Word and Works of God. Halleluyah!!
Contrary to hope, Abraham believed in hope; that is, when there was nothing to hope for, Abraham had hope God’s promise would come through. Abraham had absolutely no reason to hope; he was old, his body was weak, his sexuality and sexual drive was as good as gone. Sarah was also weak, have you imagined how the womb of an 89year old woman could hold a baby?
Abraham had a very good relationship with people; relatives, neighbors, servants, etc. He treated people with respect and dignity. His negotiation with God concerning depraved Sodom and Gomorrah goes to show; 1. his relationship with God and 2. his concern and care for people (Genesis 19). When Abraham went out to save Lot (from his troubles), I found it very interesting that most of the men that accompanied Abraham were servants born in his own house; over 300 men.
I have often read phrases like ” forgive for your own good“… or forgive for the burden is yours so lighten up yourself” These phrases sound good and factual but I have always felt uncomfortable reading or hearing them. I used to wonder if that’s the reason God asked us to forgive those who hurt us.
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32 NKJV
Note that it says even as God in Christ forgave us…
How did God forgive us? Jesus paid the price for our sin by shedding his blood(Heb 9:22) and by faith in this sacrifice we receive forgiveness. If someone does not receive this forgiveness, he/she struggles to fellowship with God.
Now let’s transpose this with our relationship with one another; ….when a brother hurts another it is important that he forgives his brother not only for his peace of mind or good but also for the good of the one who hurt him so that real fellowship is restored. The one who hurt his brother must acknowledge the hurt and receive the forgiveness for a genuine fellowship.
Sometimes a brother makes light of a hurt and dismisses the forgiveness as unnecessary and still expects the hurt brother to “move on”…..this is not right.
In summary what I am saying is that;
1. Forgiveness is not only for the forgiver but also for the forgiven.
2. The forgiven has to acknowledge and receive forgiveness for genuine fellowship to be restored
3. It is pertinent that we let the one who has hurt us know and that we have forgiven (let’s not bottle it up and pray it will go away). It’s up to the forgiven to receive it or not.
