Citizen's Blessings
Now that we know that God's Kingdom is spiritual and the Lord Jesus is the great King with all power, let us look at what this Kingdom does. In America, you have various laws and obligations that you must comply with, and at the same time, you are protected and receive services from the government. For example, citizens can access the police, emergency medical services, or the fire department. The government tries to protect its people and provide roads for its citizens. Citizens with lower incomes receiving allowances or food stamps from the food bank is feasible. Americans have rights and obligations. This is also the case in the Kingdom of God. God wants to bless us in various ways. This is a great grace of God and is entirely in His will and sovereignty. At the same time, God asks for something from us in return so that He can bless us. In this chapter, we cover the blessings of the citizen and the "laws" that come with these blessings.
The blessings
When Jesus came to earth, He taught about the Kingdom and demonstrated its principles. When Herod Antipas imprisoned John the Baptist, John sent two of his disciples to the Lord Jesus to ask if He was the One who was to come. John thought of the Messiah, the anointed King.
And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him: Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said to them: Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me. (Matthew 11:2-6)
In this list of the Lord Jesus, we see parts of the Kingdom of God. The Old Testament depicts these signs concerning the millennial Kingdom (Isaiah 26:19, 29:18, 35:5-6, 42:7, 42:18, 61:1). Jesus showed that these parts were already happening under His Kingship. These parts will be completely fulfilled during the millennial Kingdom, but Jesus has made all these parts available to His followers now. Here is the list.
- Blind will see
- Lame will walk
- Lepers will become cleansed
- Deaf will hear
- The dead will be raised
- To the poor, the gospel is proclaimed
This is already possible today in God's Kingdom. God's Kingdom is bigger and more powerful than we think. God wants to bless us with more than we can imagine. We will cover the following blessings of the Kingdom in the coming chapters.
- Forgiveness of sins
- Redemption from sins
- Justified and sanctified
- In Christ: a sacred life
- In Christ: a life with authority
- Salvation from death and eternal life
- Healing from diseases
- Liberation from demons
- Breaking the curse
- Giving the blessing
- Living in prosperity
- Receiving the Holy Spirit
- Direct connection with God
- The body of Christ
- Protection
- Victories
- Grace
- Wisdom
- Peace and joy
How to Cope with God's blessing?
This is a large list of blessings that God wants to give to His citizens. Before we examine this list, I want to clarify some points in this section. We cover these points briefly and vigorously with a few Bible texts.
1. God wants to offer us blessings out of His love. God wasn't initially obligated to give us things regardless of our actions or how much we prayed. It was God's will to allow us into His Kingdom and give us the blessings of His Kingdom. God is sovereign. This means God Himself decides what He wants to do. God has chosen in His sovereignty to bring blessings to the people of the earth and have their best interests at heart. This is solely because of God's grace and the works of our Lord Jesus. Now that God has allowed us into His Kingdom, He wants to give us everything we need. Earthly parents want to give their children presents, nice clothes, good food, and enjoyable trips. A parent loves their child and wants to see them grow up happy and prosperous. The same is true with God. God is our Father, and He loves His children.
Therefore, God wants to offer us blessings as a gift and ensure that we bless those around us. The greatest thing God has given to us is His own Son, the Lord Jesus.
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)
God wants to offer us all of it. If God the Father has already given His Son to us, how much more will God want to bless us with other blessings? We have a God who wants to give us blessings as a gift. It is God's will that we be blessed.
2. Looking at my own life, I enjoy the intimacy and relationship with God. We shouldn't "claim" or "demand" these blessings without entering into a relationship with God. Seek first God and His Kingdom. Put God first in your life and walk with God out of love. If you do that, God will bless you.
But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33)
In Greek, "seek" means we unceasingly seek God's Kingdom. We must always put God's Kingdom first, and not just on Sundays between 10 a.m. and noon. Making God and the things of His Kingdom a priority will cause Him to provide us with everything we need. Let’s see God's blessings as a relationship between man and God. We love God and want to serve God. God loves man and wants to serve man, just as Jesus washed the disciples' feet and healed the sick.
3. Because God wants to bless us doesn't imply that things can never rage or nasty things never happen. Most of the twelve disciples were mistreated and eventually killed. Paul also experienced moments of difficulty that weren't always going well. Conditions were sometimes appalling, yet the blessing of God remained in their lives.
From the Jews five times I (Paul) received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (2 Corinthians 11:24-27)
Sometimes, things can get complicated, and we may not experience God's blessing for a specific duration. Despite the Bible text above, Paul experienced many blessings and prosperity (Acts 20:34 and Philippians 4:18). He was a Roman citizen with rights, and God often supernaturally protected him during challenging periods on earth. This happened, for example, during the shipwreck that Paul suffered. Despite this challenging time, he and the crew were saved (Acts 27:22). Even during difficult times, God remains faithful and wants to bless us.
This is something we see in Joseph's life. Joseph had experienced difficult times, yet God's blessing was always present. This was the case when he was with his family; he was a slave of Potiphar, imprisoned, and then became a ruler. God's blessing was always in his life despite the unsteady circumstances.
The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. (Genesis 39:2-5)
Circumstances showed that Joseph was struggling, but God's blessing continued. Not only on Joseph but also on his work, blessing his master's house. Then, through a trick of Potiphar's wife, Joseph had to go to prison.
Then Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph's authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper. (Genesis 39:20-23)
While in prison, Joseph also prospered and proved to be a blessing to all. Even when conditions were harsh, Joseph continued to receive blessings from God. Eventually, Joseph became the viceroy of Egypt. Conditions were favorable then, and he was a blessing to the entire nation. Because of Joseph, the people didn't perish during the famine, and Egypt could even sell food to other countries also affected by the famine.
4. We must study the Bible and relate closely to God's prophecies and promises. God wants to bless us supernaturally; however, it is essential first to know that God wants to bless us and in what areas of our lives He wants to bless us. It is necessary to receive revelation about a blessing and ask God for it. The following text illustrates that God the Father has blessed us with every possible blessing. The blessings we will discuss in the coming chapters apply to everyone who is a son or daughter of God, but it is essential to be aware of these blessings.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (…). (Ephesians 1:3)
What is the meaning of spiritual blessings? First of all, it refers to every spiritual blessing. It demonstrates that God's blessing is not limited to one or two blessings per person; God wants to bless us with all the blessings and promises of the Word of God. Secondly, it refers to spiritual blessing. This doesn't mean that God's blessing is only immaterial or available only in the future. It means that these blessings are made available to believers by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works in the hearts of believers so that they share in all the blessings of God through the Holy Spirit. Finally, the word "blessing": according to the dictionary, this word means "salvation," "prosperity," "help," or "a gift from God." When God blesses us, He helps us, makes us prosperous in our work, and gives good things and gifts to His children.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
The Bible illustrates God’s desire to lavish us with beneficial gifts. Simultaneously, many gifts function through a relationship with God. God asks us to do certain things and then rewards us with gifts. We will discuss this later.
5. A critical action that applies to God's blessings is believing God wishes to give us something. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
What does it mean to have faith? Hebrews 11 answers this.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
At times, we cannot yet see the blessings of God with our physiological eye. It is crucial to believe that God wants to give us what He promises, even if there is an occasional deficit. We should know that God never lies and does as promised. Faith is firm ground and doesn't mean "maybe" or "maybe not." Faith is a reality, and it will happen. Faith is an assurance of things you don't see (immediately, but to be revealed in the future). Some blessings are still distant, and you may experience deprivation. However, believe in the invisible blessings of God, and they will become visible.
God asks us to believe in Him and rewards those who seek Him. Without faith, it isn’t possible to claim the blessings of God. In addition, God rewards those who seek Him, that is, those who have a relationship with Him. We covered this in point 2.
6. God wants to bless us. It is, however, essential to ask God for the blessing. There is an expression in Dutch that says, "Who asks, gets skipped." In other words, someone who asks for certain things will not receive it. Regarding God, it is the exact opposite, and we can say, "He who asks will receive."
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)
If someone needs healing, the key is to ask God for healing. If someone needs provision, it's essential to ask God for provision. According to step 5, this should go hand in hand with faith.
7. It matters to take action. In the following chapters, we will discuss some of God's blessings. Some blessings work according to instructions. God asks us to do certain things and gives us blessings in response to our actions. We will address this point in the following chapters for each blessing.
8. Many of God's blessings work extraordinarily, as we can see in the stories of Abraham and Joseph. God blessed Abraham and Joseph, and in the end, they received many assets. However, Abraham and Joseph weren't the only ones who were blessed. In the story of Joseph, we learn that Joseph's lord was also blessed. Joseph's blessing affected those around him. This also applies to Abraham and us.
Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Genesis 12:1-3)
God's blessing was on Abraham and also on the people who were kind to Abraham. Similarly, God's blessing on our lives also benefits others. For example, consider your workplace. If you are prosperous, the workplace will be thriving. Simultaneously, we shouldn't only ask God for things and blessings for ourselves but also ask God to bless others. It would be best to grant others what you want to receive yourself.
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men (…). (1 Timothy 2:1)
9. Express gratitude to God for all He has done and will do in your life. Gratitude is an essential part of our relationship with God, and being thankful to God in every circumstance is equally essential. Whether we feel happy, sad, or angry, we thank God for all His good gifts and who He is.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God (…). (Philippians 4:6)
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
10. Be patient to receive your blessing. There are times when God responds immediately to a question. Lazarus was a man who had died and had been lying in a grave for four days. The Lord Jesus, by the power of God, told Lazarus to come out of his grave, Lazarus immediately arose. God may answer our questions or requests immediately. But it is also possible that we must be patient and wait a moment. We find this principle in the story of Joseph. When Joseph was living with his family, he received a dream from God. His family members would bow down before him and honor him. For years, it appeared nothing would happen, and it seemed as if God had withdrawn His promise. Finally, this dream was fulfilled, and Joseph's family members knelt before him. Joseph's promise was fulfilled, but he needed patience. This was also true of Abraham. He received his promise of a son and offspring at an advanced age. Both situations were no longer possible naturally, but God's promises endured. Be patient, and God does what He promises!
Summary
In God's Kingdom, there are many blessings. Out of His sovereignty, God has decided to give us many blessings and gifts. We will deal with these blessings in the following chapters. Before we discuss these blessings, knowing how we deal with them is essential. God likes to provide us with things, but this doesn't always happen automatically. The key elements we have discussed in this chapter are:
- God wants to give us blessings out of His love.
- We receive blessings through intimacy and a relationship with God.
- It remains possible for circumstances to look bad. Yet God continues to bless us even in those circumstances.
- We need to know God's blessings and how they work.
- We must believe in God for the blessings.
- We must ask God for the blessings.
- We must take action to receive the blessings.
- We are a blessing to be a blessing.
- We should be grateful to God for all He does.
- Be patient to receive your blessing.