Our service of blessing
Mark 10:13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. (NIV)
Luke 24:50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
Blessed
1) To praise, to celebrate with praises or giving of thanks
2) To invoke blessings
3) To consecrate a thing with solemn prayers
a) To ask God's blessing on a thing
b) To pray God to bless it to one's use
c) To pronounce a consecratory blessing on
4) Used of God
a) To cause to prosper, to make happy, to bestow blessings upon
b) Favored of God, blessed
Why?
1 Pet 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Sowing and reaping? Could my words be determining my blessings?
Mark 4:14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop-- thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
Ø I don’t know about you but one of the first things that seems to change when I am having a hard time is the words that I speak. They become almost instantly negative. Could it be that satan is not only trying to take what I have said but change what I will say?
o Not only negative words but stop me from speaking blessings?
o Saying nothing is also “not speaking blessings”
Rom 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (NIV)
What?
Bless your food
Mark 6:41 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. (NKJ)
Bless each other
Bless your enemies
Luke 6:27 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
1 Cor 4:12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
How?
Ø By Faith
o Heb 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
Ø The obvious things (Be thankful)
o Things they have done, are doing
Ø Speak good things over someone
o The best, prosperity, health, success, strength,
Ø Prayer of consecration (set apart and bless for holy use)
o Holiness
o Freedom from Sin, flesh, worldliness