Bestowing The Blessing Series

In an earlier message, when I spoke about the importance of casting a vision, I briefly touched on the topic of blessing. When we begin claiming new territory for the Lord, and as we invite others to join us to do the same, blessing is a vital component in keeping people motivated to continue fighting for the Promised Land. John Maxwell says that when we bless others, we are communicating our faith in them, which will in turn spark them into action.(1)

When Jacob blessed his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh, he said, “Let my name be upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac” (Genesis 48:16). This was an immense bestowal of trust and confidence that he placed on his two grandchildren, for Jacob was willing to leave his own name and reputation with them. He even expressed how his blessing would enable them to succeed, and “grow into a great multitude in the midst of the earth” (48:16).

Our communication of blessing – or bestowal of blessing – is vital for producing a great multitude of Christ-followers in the midst of the earth. If we want to possess new territory for the Lord and win the land for Christ, and also leave behind an ever-increasing legacy of faith, then we must bless those whom we are leading; and then, as they begin living in the confidence of the blessing, they will help us in claiming the land. This morning, I wish to share how this works.

Seeking Out Spiritual Children (vv. 16-17)

16 And Caleb said, “He who attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.” 17 So Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.

Caleb had recently declared, “Give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day” (Joshua 14:12). He then jumped at the opportunity of conquering his possession, beginning with Hebron and the sons of Anak (15:13-14). He then set his sights on Debir (15:15), and Caleb promised his daughter in marriage to whomever seized and conquered Kirjath Sepher on his behalf.

As Caleb began working to expand his boundary lines, he was simultaneously prospecting for a new son-in-law to propagate his blood line. He wanted to find the strongest and bravest man suitable as a husband for his daughter, and the person who won Achsah’s hand in marriage was Othniel (v. 17). From Caleb’s search for a son-in-law, we learn something that we can apply to our own efforts. Caleb was able to see more than just the acquisition of real estate. He realized that the land would mean nothing without descendants to occupy and maintain it. When we become task-oriented, focused only on the vision, we can easily forget the main reason why we were called.

Jesus stated our true purpose in the Great Commission. He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20a). We were called to the divine purpose of 1.) leading people to faith in Christ, and 2.) growing them in their new relationship with Him.

When we are pursuing a calling, we should be aware that we are doing so with the intention of sharing our faith. But all too often, believers can become so focused on conversion that they drop the ball when it comes to teaching and discipling. In other words, we can become so focused on possessing the land that we might forget about filling it with spiritual offspring.

Whenever we fail to disciple new believers, they will often fall and drift away from the faith altogether. We will then be left with many trophies and no shelf on which to place them. If we only look at conversion experiences as notches on our belt, and we fail to invest in people’s spiritual growth, then our belt will crack and fall apart and we will lose our spiritual britches; meaning, we will lose everything we worked for.

Caleb realized that the key to maintaining the land was multiplying his family; and as a believer, our task is growing the family of God by investing in the lives of others. When we are leading a group of people, whether we realize it or not, we are a parent with spiritual offspring. For example, Beth Moore says, “When older women pour their lives into younger women and their children, they are birthing spiritual offspring . . . I will always have the opportunity to ‘mother’ a few spiritual offspring as long as I am willing to invest myself.”(2)

The apostle Paul had spiritual children. In stating how he wanted to help the Galatian believers to grow in Christ, he once addressed them as, “My little children, for whom I labor . . . until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19). Paul informed the believers at Corinth, “I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:14-15).