Pt. 3 The Spiritual Soundness Fo Blessing Series

The Scriptural Soundness of Blessing

October 21, 2012 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor

Introduction

A The time to bless someone is now.

1 Two times Jesus was anointed by other people: one with a pound of ointment & the other with 75 lbs. of ointment (Mary & Nicodemus).

a Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. 8 But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, "Why this waste? 9 "For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor." 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. 11 "For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. 12 "For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. 13 "Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her." Matt 26:6-13 (NASB)

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. 39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. John 19:38-40 (NASB)

b One is remembered & the other is not. Why?

aa Mary, a former prostitute, poured perfume on Jesus’ feet

bb Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin & a secret Christian poured 75-100 lbs. of ointment on Jesus.

c Mary blessed a living Jesus, Nicodemus a dead Jesus.

2 D. L. Moody said, “There is a lesson here. How very kind & thoughtful we are to a family who has lost a member, & what kind words are said after the person is dead & gone. Would it not be better to say a few of those good things before they go? Wouldn’t it be better to give some of your bouquets before a man dies than to go & load down his coffin with them? He cannot enjoy them then.

3 It’s better to give a rose to someone when they are alive than a whole wreath when they are dead.

B Can you recall a time when someone spoke a good word to you that strongly impacted your life?

1 Can you remember doing that for someone else?

2 Your list of 7: Appreciation, acceptance, approval, affection, attention, affirmation, admiration

I How biblical is all this “blessing” stuff?

A The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, & when it was translated into Greek (Septugint LXX), the translators used the Greek work eulogy to translate the Hebrew word bless (barak).

1 In the Old Testament, bless appears 330 times, in the New Testament the word eulogeo & its many forms appear 44 times.

a Jesus used it often

b He practiced blessing & directed His disciples to do the same.

2 The Old Testament is full of passages describing the practice of blessing others.

a Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 23 "Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, 'Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them: 24 The LORD bless you, and keep you; 25 the LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.' 27 "So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them." Num 6:22-27 (NASB) (ORANGE)

aa Last line: “so they (Aaron & his sons) shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, & I will bless them.”

bb As Aaron & his sons are blessing Israel, they are putting God’s name on them as well as God’s blessing.

b Our blessing releases God’s intended blessings on others as well as ourselves.

c 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." Num 6:22-27 (TLB)