Scripture: Proverbs 18:20-21; Numbers 6:24-26; Acts 4:32-37
Title: Bless You!
Theme: Blessing Others Through our Words!
INTRO:
Grace and peace this morning in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
How many of us have either heard these words or have spoken these words?
+ "Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen." (Catholic)
+"We give You thanks for food and drink and all that You provide: flowers, mountains, stars above, family by our side. Grant that we might hear Your voice and always be our Guide; From now until the end of time may we, in You, abide. Amen" (Ecumenical)
+Be present at our table Lord. Be here and everywhere adored. These mercies bless and grant that we may feast in fellowship with Thee. Amen. (Methodist/Wesleyan)
+Bless, O Lord, This food to our use and us to thy service, and keep us ever mindful of the needs of others. In Jesus' Name, Amen. (Traditional)
+God is great, and God is good. Now, we thank him for our food. By his hands we all are fed. Thank you, Lord, for our daily bread. Amen. (Children)
All of those of course are blessings that people all over the world say before they eat their meal. It is a sacred time dedicated to blessing the food and a note of thanksgiving to Our LORD who provides our daily bread.
What may be interesting to know is the fact that by saying those words we are telling the mashed potatoes, the green beans, the bread and whatever we are eating to be blessed – to be supernaturally enhanced with God’s presence, power and provision. We are calling down a blessing upon the very food before we eat it. We are asking for a spiritual transformation to take place in the food and therefore in us as well.
The idea of blessing things and people is an ancient one – most of us have heard the Traditional Gaelic Blessing:
May the Road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of your hand.
It is important to understand that those are not merely nice words to say or to send someone on a note card. By saying or writing those words we are in fact sending a supernatural blessing upon the person(s) we want to read those words. We are seeking for them to receive a supernatural blessing through our words and actions. We are doing what we can to help them receive a real, transformative and existential blessing.
We are participating in the same spiritual exercise that we see the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY do and various people in the Bible do. Blessing others is a spiritual exercise that we can do each and every day of our lives. The Bible is clear that we have the power to send someone a blessing that can help transform another person’s life. The Bible is clear that we have the power to help someone reach the next level in their lives and that we have the power to help shape their future for the good.
Let’s take some time this morning to look at all of this –
HOW WE CAN BLESS OTHERS THROUGH OUR WORDS
The Bible tells us that:
1. Our words have the power to bring a blessing into the lives of others
In the very first chapter of the Bible we find the first blessing ever written – it is a blessing from the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, from our Creator God, from the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to Adam and Eve:
“God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:28)
In saying those words to Adam and Eve the LORD was giving them the ability and blessing to bring forth children, to populate the whole the earth and to be the human leaders over all that God had created on our earth. In other words, the LORD gave Adam and Eve dominion (stewardship) over all that He had created on our earth.
Those words of blessing were more than words – they supernaturally transformed Adam and Eve (physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually) and they changed the order of dominion of the earth. While they were in the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve had the keys to the kingdom of Earth.
It was God’s intention that Adam and Eve live out a life filled with all kinds of blessings. That is why God created the earth and mankind in the first place. Earth would be a place where LOVE would reign supremely, where UNITY would be experienced and where HOLINESS would be enjoyed. Earth would be a place where the LORD GOD AMIGHTY would visit and spend time with human beings. Earth was to become very much like the earth that the Apostle John wrote about in Revelation 21 – 22.
It was God’s intention that Adam and Eve’s children, their grandchildren and every human being that would be born would live under God’s direct and immediate blessings. But as we know Adam and Eve sinned and part of these blessings were removed but not all. It is still possible for us today to be a blessed people who can in return bless others like our Heavenly Father blesses.
We see that in the life of Abraham where God blesses Abraham in Genesis 12 that he will be blessed.
“I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (v. 2 – 3)
Those words are powerful! They are declarations of God’s power, protection, provision and presence to be with Abraham, with his descendants and with those whom he in turn pronounced a blessing. This blessing was not solely for Abraham and his family to enjoy but to share –
“in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Abraham was blessed to be a blessing.
We see that also in the instructions that God gave his priests recorded in Numbers 6:24 -26. It was their job to share God’s blessings upon God’s people. Their words were to change people’s lives, their families lives and their futures.
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face to shine upon you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” (RSV)
I like the way that the Amplified Bible puts these verses:
Numbers 6:24-26 Amplified Bible (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you];
25 The Lord make His face shine upon you [with favor],
And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness];
26 The Lord lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval],
And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].’
Again, we must understand that these words are more than mere words – they are words that the LORD gave to the Sons of Aaron the first priests to say to the people – words that would bring about God’s literal protection, favor, love, approval and peace. And now since we who are followers of Jesus our Savior and LORD are a kingdom of priests (priesthood of all believers) we now have the power and the wonderful privilege to bless others.
1 Peter 2:9 –
“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”
Just as Our Heavenly Father’s words have the power to bring forth life, we who have been created in His image have the power to bring forth life and blessing in our words as well. The Book of Proverbs makes this very clear:
“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” – Proverbs 10:11
“Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction. The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” - Proverbs 18:20-21
“Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” – Proverbs 16:24
“A person’s anxiety will weigh him down, but an encouraging word makes him joyful.” – Proverbs 12:25
Recently, I heard a story about a little boy named Michael who was looking forward to his mom having his little sister. Each day he would sing to his little sister while she was in his mom’s womb the song –
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You never know, dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
Little Michael was already doing his best to be a good big brother. He was speaking words of blessing to her. He was loving her, telling her how important she was and that she was like sunshine.
Everything was going okay. The baby was growing, and the family was looking forward to a new addition to the family. That is until little Michael’s mom went into labor. Suddenly, there were all kinds of complications and as a result of all those complications and other issues it looked like the little baby girl would not make it. She had arrived but she was not healthy. The doctors quickly placed her in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) but there was little hope that she would ever leave the unit alive.
Her parents were devastated. This was not supposed to happen. This was not supposed to happen to their little girl. She was not supposed to be fighting for her life in the NICU.
Suddenly, it dawned on the mother that her brother Michael may never get to see his little sister alive. He would never get to hold the little girl that he had been singing over these past months. He would never get to see his little sunshine alive.
Michael’s mom made up her mind that she would do whatever she could to get them together so she snuck him into the NICU so that he could at least see his sister. She knew he would be crushed but she just had to let him see her at least once. To not let him see he would be devastating.
When they got there, she told him that they had to be quiet so no one would notice them. But he just couldn’t be quiet. He started singing to her his song – “YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE”.
A nurse noticed them and of course heard him and was just about to kick them out because siblings were not allowed in the NICU but then she noticed the monitors. As soon as little Michael had started singing his sister’s heart began to slow down and get into rhythm. The nurse changed her mind and asked Michael to continue singing. There was something happening that she couldn’t understand but the little girl was starting to pink up, become calm and stabilize.
Over the next few days the little girl not only got better the family was able to take their precious daughter home. It seems like the words of blessing that little brother Michael had been singing over his sister had a transformative effect. No one knows what exactly happen, but I think we all know what happened – that little brother’s words of blessing changed the situation. He spoke words of love – of sunshine – of peace and health into his little sister. (Story heard from Joel Osteen - The POWER of BLESSING Others)
This morning – our words – our blessings can have an amazing effect on the lives of our family member, on our friends and on others as well.
II. Not only can our words bless others the Bible tells us that they can help others rise to the next level:
The Apostle Peter understood this reality when he wrote the words in 1 Peter 3:9-10
“Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. For the Scripture say, ‘If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.”
The Apostle Peter is telling us that we have the ability to help someone make it to the next level – emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. He knew this firsthand. More than twice in the Apostle’s life the LORD JESUS specifically blessed him – the LORD spoke words of blessing over his life that transformed him to the next level - to become a new person – to have a new mission in life.
Luke chapter 5 (five) shares with one of those times. Jesus was teaching/preaching on the shoreline and the crowds quickly got so big that the LORD knew that He needed to get to a better advantage point. Seeing Peter’s boat, Jesus asked Peter if he would take them both a little way from the shore. Peter agreed. Now, Jesus could see the crowd and with his voice going over the water the crowd could hear Jesus better.
Luke tells us in verses 4 – 6 that Jesus rewarded Peter for his obedience by giving him a huge catch of fish. Now, that was a huge blessing because Peter and his friends had not caught any fish the night before.
But then, Jesus did something else.
In verses 10 – 11, Luke tells us that Jesus blessed Peter into a whole new adventure – He blessed Peter to take a new step in his life – to become a fisher of men. Jesus invites Peter to leave his nets behind to become a man that would heal, that would cast out demons, that would bring salvation and holiness to the lives of thousands of people. Luke tells us that Peter left everything and began to follow Jesus. Jesus’ blessing had taken Peter’s life up to another level.
Jesus does this again in Matthew 16 right before He, Peter, James and John go up the Mount of Transfiguration. Matthew tells us that Jesus asked His disciples who they thought he is and Peter is quick to say – “You are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
Jesus blesses Peter again and in that blessing once again transforms his life - Peter’s life takes another step up.
The Apostle Peter would become one of the great leaders of the Early Church. We see that happening in Acts chapter 2 (two). Jesus’ blessings propel Peter into becoming the Church’s first great leader.
It was not James nor John who were given the privilege of speaking the sermon on Pentecost Sunday. It was not any of the other disciples whose voice the Holy Spirit used to bring 3,000 to salvation. It was the Apostle Peter’s voice. Now, that is a blessing!
Of course, the rest of them were also given a blessing – we read that blessing in Luke 24:50-52. Each of them was blessed to be evangelist, world changers filled with God’s Holy Spirit. But on the day of Pentecost, it was Simon Peter who was blessed. It all happened because of his obedience, his faith and his courage that Jesus blessed him to take the next step.
The Bible tells us over and over again that parents are given the privilege to bless their children. That parents have the ability to bring blessings into their lives. We read about Job praying blessings over his children. We read about Isaac blessing his children. We read about Jacob blessing both his children and grandchildren. We read about King David giving Solomon both a charge and a blessing.
Today, we need to take the time to bless our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We need to say words of blessing over them and speak words of blessing to them. We need to let them know that we are blessing them and teach them that they can bless others through their words.
Perhaps one of the most famous stories illustrating all of this is found in Genesis 48. The patriarch Jacob is almost at death’s door. He goes to visit Joseph and his two sons for the final time. It was to be more than just saying goodbye to Joseph and his family. It was to be a time of blessing. Jacob was going to speak words of blessing over Ephraim and Manasseh. He was going to do his part to make sure that they could become the men God intended them to become.
The words that Jacob spoke were not mere words – they contained power, they helped created the future for both of those children and their tribes. Jacob’s blessing came to pass. His blessing became reality. Jacob said that the younger would rule over the elder and Israelite history tells us that the tribe of Ephraim did rule over the tribe of Manasseh. Jacob’s blessings became reality. Jacob’s blessings had power. So, too can ours.
Our words of blessing can help others – our children, our grandchildren and the New Testament tells us that our blessings can even help our friends. We see this happening in the lives of Saul/Paul and Barnabas.
Even though Saul was not Barnabas’s son, he still was blessed by Barnabas. In fact, the Bible gives the idea that one of Barnabas’s greatest traits was that he had the gift of blessing others – of spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically bringing a blessing to others – that is what it means when it says that he was a man of encouragement. His words of encouragement – his words of blessing made a visible difference in the lives of others.
At the time of Saul’s repentance and conversion one believed in Saul. No one really believed that he was now a Jesus follower. No one wanted Saul. No church group wanted him to be a part of their fellowship.
Barnabas, however, was the exception. He saw something in Paul that none of the rest of the Early Church could see. Barnabas saw greatness in Paul. He saw a man who the Holy Spirit could use to do the impossible.
So, while others were standoffish, Barnabas blessed Paul. He spoke words of blessing over Paul and about him. He took Paul as his partner when no one else would. As a result of Barnabas’s blessing and encouragements one of the greatest evangelists, church planters and Christian writers was launched.
All of this lets us know this morning that our words have great power. Our words, our blessings, our encouragement and our prayers can transform not just our lives but the lives of all those around us. Our words can help someone make it to the next level in their lives. Our words can bring about healing and wholeness into someone’s life.
We live in the perfect time for us to use our words as blessings and encouragement. We live at the perfect time to share words of blessing to our children, to our grandchildren and to people in general. If there is ever a need to proclaim blessing upon people, it is today.
We all know that we live in a time when there is so much strife, so much debasing, arguing and people putting each other down. We live in a time when too many people are being cursed and not blessed. We are living in a time of blessing famine; of blessing deprivation and starvation.
But we can become BLESSING CHANGE AGENTS.
We can be instruments of blessing. We can in the name of Jesus be Counter Cultural in an amazing Positive Way. We can do what we see the Apostle Paul doing in his letters. Listen to some of his words of blessing towards different churches and individuals.
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Jesus Christ, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6 – this was a blessing given to the congregation that met in Rome).
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – (Philippians 4:6-7 – this was a blessing given to the congregation that met in Philippi)
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” - Philemon 1:25
The Apostle Paul knew that his words had power. He knew that his words contained the power of the Holy Spirit. They had the power to bring life and healing. They had the power to change people’s lives. They had the power to bring about spiritual blessing, favor and miracles. Paul knew that his “baby” churches needed to be undergirded with words of blessings.
The Apostle Paul knew that the people reading his letters needed to hear words of blessing and encouragement. He knew that if they were going to live the life of a Jesus follower, they would need God’s supernatural blessings of peace, grace, endurance, unity, protection and presence. And so, he did his part – He took the time to write words of blessing to each and every one of them. He took the time to tell them that in the name of Jesus they would be blessed with peace, grace, endurance, faith, unity, protection and all other kinds of spiritual blessings.
The Apostle Paul was a Hebrew of the Hebrews. He took the Word of God seriously. He believed it. He knew that God’s words have power and if God made man in the image of Himself then man’s words could have power. Paul choose to use his words as an instrument of blessing just like His Heavenly Father used his words to bless mankind.
And Paul was right. We can transform a person’s life by giving them a blessing. We see this happen in a small way when we say thank you to someone or tell them that they are doing a great job. Immediately we can see a change in their eyes. We can tell that we touch a positive vibe or nerve. We have blessed them.
That is just a taste of what we can do. We can proclaim blessings over them – protection. strength, positivity, health, unity, faith, endurance, peace to name just a few.
The Apostle Paul wasn’t the only one doing this – we see that the Apostle John also shares blessings:
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. - 3 John 1:2
If you want to do a wonderful Bible study, then take some time and see all the blessings that Jesus shares in the New Testament. We see them in the Sermon on the Mount, we see them in John chapter 17 and we see them in various chapters in all the Gospel. Places where Jesus would share words of blessing over his disciples and others.
What does all this mean – it means that Our Lord, parents and friends have the ability to help others make it to the next step in their lives – it means that God has given us the ability to speak blessings – speak words that will help others live better, enjoy God’s protection, provision and presence.
What are some of the practical ways we can bless others:
Here are a few suggestions:
If you are blessing a friend, you can say things like –
“Rebekah, your heavenly father loves you and know today that you are safely in His care.”
“David, may the LORD bless you today with wisdom, knowledge and insight.”
“Paul may the LORD bless you with strength and help you at work today. May the Lord pour out his favor upon you.
“Susie, may the LORD bless you with His protection, His peace and His Presence today.”
“William, may the LORD bless you today with the riches of God’s grace and may your life be empowered by God’s Holy Spirit to do wonderful things for your family, friends and the Kingdom of God.”
At first it may feel strange – we are not used to blessing others. It is a practice that we in the church had forgotten. But the more you bless people to have a great day in Jesus, to experience God’s love, peace, unity, power and protection the easier it will become and the more you will see that people will love to be in your presence. You will become a well of blessing.
If you are blessing a child or a young person you might say:
Katherine, may you know how much the LORD loves you and I love you. May you know and experience the depth and breath of living an abundant life that Jesus Christ promises us. May you be filled with strength, favor and anointing today. May your life be filled with joy and peace.
George may the LORD grant you riches beyond measure – riches of wisdom, riches of friendships and riches of abundance. May you become the leader that the LORD needs in today’s world. May you be blessed by everyone you meet and be a blessing to them as well.”
And you can always use the Aaronic blessing:
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face to shine upon you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” (RSV)
However, you want to do it, whatever you want to say let us do some blessing this week. Whether our children are 60 or 6 let’s pour some blessings out on them. Let’s do the same for our friends and then let us do the same to others this week. Let us share a blessing with them.
Close with the song – MAKE ME A BLESSING
