When we speak of one or more who are blessed, when one is a blessing or when one blesses, implicit in these illustrations are objects of God's favor, gladness, satisfaction, well-being or prosperity. Such benefits, either individually or collectively, translate into a bona fide "State of Blessedness." A most notable illustration in the creation story, whereby our Creator, Sustainer and Judge, Almighty God, bestows blessings upon creation itself. Sea creatures and fowls that soar in the air were the objects of the first recorded blessing in the Bible: "And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth." (Genesis 1:21-22).
On the sixth day of creation, God created man, both male and female, as His image bearers and conferred a blessing upon them. As a result of this unique relationship with man, God issued him a mandate to exercise dominion and control over both the earth and animal life. Thus, the gift of this divine blessing delegated authority to man and the responsibility of performing a task, job or function. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Genesis 1:27-28).
The scope of the subject of blessedness and its impact thereof, extends from the physical to the spiritual. However, what remains common in either case is the fact that to bless or a blessing flows both to and through its recipient. For example, God blesses His creation, but through creation God continues to bless all humanity. His vast abundance sets the stage that drives the inclination of His creation towards this yearning for an ultimate state of blessedness:
PSALM 104
14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
16 The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
20 Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
22 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
24 O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
At this juncture, the focus changes from blessings or blessedness of a physical orientation to that which is exclusively spiritual and based on a covenant (or agreement) relationship with God. This event would prove to be significant, extensive and of epic proportions. Hence, the scene now shifts to the call of Abram or "High Father". Eventually, God would change his name to Abraham. The literal translation of Abram's new name means "Father of a multitude."
Therefore, in Genesis, chapter 12, God calls Abram to leave his homeland and his family. The family of Abram were practitioners of idolatry: "And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods." (Joshua 24:2). Consequently, this was a prerequisite to the purpose and plan of God and the monumental blessing that would come to pass: "Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:1-3).
What a promise and the prospect of this incredibly awe-inspiring blessing is literally beyond one's capacity to comprehend! Of course, Abram's response was nothing less
than a demonstration of his faith in God. Such great faith resulted in his decision to obey the call of His (and our) God: "So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran." (Genesis 12:4). My dearly beloved brothers and sisters, let us
take a moment to consider the crux of this matter. Abram willingly, faithfully and boldly left behind any and everything that ever meant anything to him, and followed God!!! The moral of this story? Well, you've probably noticed and concluded, as I have, that blessings or blessedness are a byproduct of OBEDIENCE to the will of God.
The direct impact of the faithful acts of Abram have proven extensive and far-reaching. That is, the blessings bestowed upon Abram, along with God's promises, guarantees our blessings, and the blessings of humankind, through Abram and in our principal heir, Jesus Christ! As blessings or blessedness under the New Covenant now take on spiritual overtones, and a new and living way is now proclaimed by Christ. His pronouncement of these blessings (or Beatitudes) are graphically and authoritatively delivered in His Great Sermon on the Mount. These represent the principles or the character and conduct of the Kingdom people. We, as Kingdom men and women are being groomed as future occupants of the Kingdom of Heaven. We, as Kingdom men and women on earth, must strive to steadfastly structure our lives in accord with these new standards of living, so as to ensure that our heavenly destination comes to realization.
Let us now hear and meditate on the Pronouncement of Blessings (Beatitudes) of the Kingdom, and delivered by our King, Jesus Christ:
Matthew 5
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Obviously, such a radical life style is in opposition to all beliefs, practices and standards of secular society. Literally, the world is turned upside down by the inherently unchanging, inerrant and infallible standards of the Kingdom of Christ and God! For further edification, and as objects of God's favor, allow the Beatitudes of Revelation to be a blessing to you all. Remember, once we have been blessed and have assumed a state of blessedness, we have taken on a new obligation and responsibility, and thus it is compulsory for us to be a blessing and bless the Lord:
REVELATION 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their wor
ks do follow them.
16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
22:7,14 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
As I bring this message to closure, and lest I be remiss in my duties and responsibilities as a practitioner of Kingdom principles, I must echo the sentiments of the apostle Paul and then proceed accordingly: "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." (Acts 20:27). As blessings are a direct consequence of obedience, by the same token, curses are a direct consequence of disobedience. Please read (Deuteronomy 28).
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