A Father's Day Blessing Series

2020.06.21.FATHERS DAY - THE SABBATH BLESSING

William Akehurst, HSWC adapted from and email received from the Messianic Bible Project

Key Points:

• A father blesses his children and gives good gifts.

• How much more our HEAVENLY FATHER blesses us, places HIS NAME upon us, and gives us the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT.

Matthew 7:7-11 KJV

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you:

8 For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Matthew 7:7-11 the Passion Translation

7 “Ask, and the gift is yours. Seek, and you’ll discover. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For every persistent one will get what he asks for. Every persistent seeker will discover what he longs for. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door

9 “Do you know of any parent who would give his hungry child, who asked for food, a plate of rocks instead? 10 Or when asked for a piece of fish, what parent would offer his child a snake instead?

11 If you, imperfect as you are, know how to lovingly take care of your children and give them what’s best, how much more ready is your heavenly Father to give wonderful gifts to those who ask him?”

I Learned Something New while preparing this message: The Hebrew name Matthew or Matityahu means “gift of Yahweh” or gift of GOD. That “Gift” is the Holy Spirit. Interesting that the NEW TESTAMENT of CHRIST begins with the “Gift”.

Hebrew Matthew is “give his good Spirit,” a reference to asking for the Holy Spirit. See also Luke 11:13

Luke 11:13

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Acts 2.38; 5:32

(2:38) Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

(5:32) And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey him.

the Holy Spirit, as a “gift,” is bestowed upon the obedient believer (Acts 2:38; 5:32; 1 Cor 6:19), and is an abiding presence in his life.

1Cor 6.19 What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?

Numbers 6:22-27 KJV

22 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

23 Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,

24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.

Numbers 6:22-27 Passion Translation

22-23 Now the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons that they are to give this special blessing to the people of Israel:

24-26 ‘May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace.’

27 This is how Aaron and his sons shall call down my blessings upon the people of Israel; and I myself will personally bless them.”

"They shall put My name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them." (Numbers 6:27)

God’s heart is for each of us is to live blessed lives.

But with so many temptations in our daily lives from ungodly teachers, religions, and media, how can we nurture this blessing for ourselves and for the children in our spiritual reach—whether they are our own children, relatives, students, or neighborhood kids?

The Bible gives us many opportunities to impart blessings, and we will look at one here: the Sabbath Blessing.

God blessed one day during the week as holy. That set-apart day gives us a unique opportunity to impart blessings of His protection, wisdom, and encouragement over others, especially the children in our care.