Blessing Series

Last Sunday at Mania Campsite

Blessed the new kitchen

Sneeze (“Bless you”)

“what a blessing”

“You are blessed” or “Be blessed”

Bless a meal (or a kitchen)

Numbers 6:24-26

The LORD bless you

and keep you;

the LORD make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

and give you peace.

So what is blessing?

Blessing is (broadly speaking)

Offering of God’s Favour (coming from God)

Or

Wishing for God’s Favour (coming from Humans)

A third is humans blessing each other

For the past few weeks we have been uncovering major themes in the book of Genesis.

Creation

Covenant

And this morning we look at Blessing as we find it in Genesis...

Genesis records the blessing that God intended for his creation and the blessing he promised when human wickedness corrupted the divine intentions. The covenant found in Genesis is essential to the understanding of the rest of Genesis and the Bible.

READ: Genesis 1:26-28

1.Living in a World of God’s Purpose

We live in a world that is contrary to the bible

Humans are no more than social animals

There is no purpose in life, no eternal significance or consequence

Human footprint has done nothing good as humanity advances

Talkback discussion: Because humans are animals, it is unfair to hold them accountable for their actions

The people in the ancient world wrestled with the same issues

Today: Debate Evolution vs. Creationism

Taken away focus from the true purpose for the book

Author’s Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcy write,

... what is at issue is not the specifics of evolution versus the specifics of Genesis ... at issue is the worldview claim that life is the product of impersonal forces versus the claim that life was designed by an intelligent agent. We must fight worldview with worldview.

The answers are spelled out in Genesis

God loves his people (he created) intention to bless them

in spite of their rebellion

Impersonal vs. Personal

Made himself known

Experience God’s Presence

2.Living with God’s Provision

Purpose of Covenant

God desires relationship with his people

Chooses to reveal himself so that people may know him

Given us resources and freedom to make use of them

Created and sustains life

Delegated responsibility to care for the world to human beings

God was telling Adam and Eve that he desired relationship with all the humans that followed them

Why did God bless Adam and Eve as they were leaving the garden? A human response would be to curse or to punish disobedient children, not bless them.

God has already given them dominion over the earth and the freedom to reap the benefits of all the earth has to offer. Now he says to them “be fruitful and multiply.”

More than a lesson on procreation—this blessing reflects God’s desire to have a relationship not just with Adam and Eve, but with their children, and their children’s children and with all of the humans that will ever inhabit the earth.

Even after we failed God, disobeyed God, disappointed our Father and Creator—God’s greatest desire is to bless us—to bless us and to have a relationship with us.

Remember our value to God—above the earth and all things in it

Remember our responsibility to be good stewards of all God has given us

Remember God’s desire to be in relationship with us

3.Living with God’s Promise

Since God wants us to obey Him, many of his covenants stress the necessity of obedience as a condition to receiving what He promises.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 prophesies about a new covenant.

Jeremiah 31:33 (NIV)

"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the Lord. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Hebrews 8:6 (NIV)

But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.

Unique personal relationship with God

His laws written on our hearts not stone

Jesus would establish this covenant

Male a fresh start today ... establish a permanent, personal relationship with God

Jesus promised God Spirit to believers to “internalize” how God want us to live our lives.

It is a daily process (2 Corinthians 4:16) of renewing the mind (Romans 12:2). Christ is being "formed in you" (Galatians 4:19) as "God works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose" (Philippians 2:13, NIV).

Sins are forgiven once and for all

Inherit eternal life (relationship with God after this life)

What does God promise in our relationship?

Rely on Him, worship Him, follow Him—and we are never alone. He will be with us always. He gives us salvation from sin, he provides us comfort through the Holy Spirit, he listens to our prayers, he knows the desires of our heart, and it is his desire to prosper us and to bless us all the days of our lives.