2020.06.21.Sermon.Father’s day_THE FATHER’s Blessing for Father’s Day
William Akehurst, HSWC
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.
•Our HEAVENLY FATHER has provide a special blessing so that we might receive HIS blessing and be called HIS Children.
•Receive it and Declare it to those around you! This is something YOU as a Child of GOD can do!
Scriptures Referenced: Numbers 6:22-27, Matthew 7:7-11, Luke 11:13, Genesis 48:20, John 1:12-13, Ruth 4:11, 1 Peter 2:9
Define: bless
v.t. blessed blest, bless•ing.
1. to consecrate or sanctify by a religious rite; make or pronounce holy.
2. to request God's divine favor upon or for: Bless this house.
3. to bestow some benefit upon; endow: Nature blessed me with strong teeth.
4. to extol as holy; glorify: Bless the name of the Lord.
5. to protect or guard from evil (usu. used interjectionally): Bless you!
6. to make the sign of the cross over or upon.
Matthew 7.7-11
Vs. 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?
Luke 11:13 Blessings of the GIFT of the HOLY SPIRIT
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?
Message for Father’s Day comes from Jewish teachings of the Fathers blessing.
In the evening after every Shabbat, the (orthodox) Jewish father will typically gather his children and say a blessing over each one of them.
A specific blessing for the sons (boys),
Ye'simcha Elohim ke-Ephraim ve'chi-Menashe.
May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.
This blessing came from Jacob when he blessed his sons to become the twelve tribes of Israel. As he was on his deathbed, Joseph brought his sons Ephraim and Manasseh before his father to receive a blessing from him. This blessing from Jacob extended his inheritance to his grandsons. Jacob blessed his grandsons by proclaiming over Ephraim and Manasseh: “Israel will speak of you in their own blessings by saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’” (Genesis 48:20)
But why this blessing to sons now?
These young men rejected the attactions of the world in that day; they followed in the faith of their grandfather Jacob; and they accepted their adoption into the house of Jacob, which God named Israel, and became two of the twelve tribes of Israel.
So, when we bless a boy in this traditional manner, we are asking the Lord to guard his heart against the attractions of the world and open it to accept the calling of CHRIST on His life so that he may be adopted into the house of God.
“To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12–13)
We are asking the Lord to bestow on him the abundant blessings of the Lord’s kingdom as a child of the King and fellow heir.
Amen. Let it be so!
The Jewish father or mother would also speak a special blessing over each daughter (girls).
Ye'simcha Elohim ke-Sarah, Rivka, Rachel ve-Leah.
May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.
Today in our culture, it seems odd to ask GOD to make a girl, a daughter like these women of faith from Old Testament history, but in this blessing, we are not only asking that our daughters become good role models, we are asking God to make them like Ruth.
Let me explain.
At the very end of the Book of Ruth we are given insight on this blessing.
Ruth 4:11 “And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do you worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:”
Ruth was a Moabite woman, and was not only accepted into the house of Israel, but she also helped to build it by becoming the great-grandmother of King David and from His lineage, from Bethlehem came Christ JESUS.
So in blessing the daughter, we ask the LORD to bring her into HIS house as Ruth was brought into the house of Israel, so that she bring Glory to GOD and be part of building HIS Kingdom.
Amen. Let it be so!
And the point here is that these blessings are practiced every week after service on the evening of Shabbat, or the Sabbath.
In most Christian homes, I would dare to say we don’t practice this custom. And many have not received any sort of blessing from their earthly father. In my life in 2005, I had learned about the Father’s Blessing and went to my dad and asked specifically for his blessing. He agreed and placed his hands on me and prayed and spoke a blessing over me. Little did I know then that the LORD would call him home several months later.
Many of you may have never received a similar blessing, but I want to assure you, it’s not too late. There is something very special about the fathers blessing that we as GOD’s children can receive. This is the blessing that comes from the HEAVENLY FATHER to HIS Children, which includes you and me.
GOD HIMSELF gave it to the priest to speak over the children of Israel so that the LORD GOD would be able to bless the people. It had to be spoken over them so that HE could place HIS blessing upon them.
As a child of GOD, we can receive this blessing too, and even now.
I am not a Jew, I am not of the tribe of Levi, but I can assure you that I am a CHILD OF GOD. And scripture tells us something very important about ourselves as Christians, as believers in the Way, Truth and Life, in JESUS CHRIST our LORD and Savior, we are according to scripture.
1Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;”
So as HIS peculiar people, as HIS Chosen Generation, and as part of a Holy Nation and a Royal Priesthood in we show forth HIS praise; you and I can also declare and speak and proclaim this special blessing over others also, and GOD HIMSELF will bless those who receive it and will place HIS NAME on them. This is the LORD’s Blessing that was pronounced by GOD HIMSELF to proclaim over HIS CHILDREN.
The HEAVENLY FATHER’s Blessing.
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,
CONCLUSION: As part of the Royal Priesthood, Allow me to pronounce GOD, our HEAVENLY FATHER's BLESSING over you! Receive it with your hands lifted up.
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
(The LORD blesses and protects you.)
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
(The LORD’s face radiates with joy because of you, HE will be gracious to you and show HIS favor.)
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
(The LORD’s presence will be upon you and IN you by HIS SPIRIT and you will know HIS peace.)
27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
(You have been named by GOD as HIS CHILD, and HE will bless you with HIS Presence-THE HOLY SPIRIT, and HIS PEACE, SHALOM.)
HE has declared this, not I, this is the LORD's doing and it is wonderful...
Praise GOD and Amen, so be it.
Be blessed and be a blessing.
Pastor Bill
