CHAPTER 39: THE ART OF THE BLESSING 2023
Because I am saved, I have a great opportunity of living life guided by the Holy Spirit. How I do that is the “Art of the Blessing.” The Lord said He will give me knowledge I didn’t have. He does that regularly, He keeps His promise, His Word. What am I going to do with it? This is a lesson on how to use the instructions He has put forth. What are the instructions? Obedience in love, in the Word, prayer and execution of a life in Christ. I have a choice, and it is not hard to understand, so says the Word…
Deuteronomy 30:11-14
11 “This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach. 12 It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ 13 It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ 14 No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.
Do I do what needs to be done with a cheerful spirit, a spirit of “I get to do the Lord’s work!” Or do I grumble and complain and say “I have to do this.” Hopefully more often than not, I do the Lord’s work with a cheerful heart. The art of the blessing is about my style, is it attractive or not? Am I on fire in the new life I have been given, or not? You see, God is a perfect being, a divine being and He gave me perfect gifts, divine gifts. Since I’m not perfect and I’m not divine, I’ll need help managing, I can’t do it without God. How do I handle these gifts with gratitude, efficiency, and a “get it done right” attitude? I must go to Him and say,
“Teach me, show me, hold me in good order, let all that I have been given honor You, Almighty Father, In Jesus Name..”
Isaiah 41:13
New Living Translation13
For I hold you by your right hand—
I, the Lord your God.
And I say to you,
‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.
I must listen and pray for Discernment. As He reveals His will, I listen intently for His way, not my way. Is it challenging? No. This is not rocket science, I’ve already been given the miracle of a new life in Christ, He is with me. There is so much to do in my life it’s not possible to do it. In God, all things are possible. God can move the laws of physics for you and what needs to be done. Has He ever done it before? Yes, He has. In the old testament, back in the day when the Israelites had been given the promised land, Joshua was having a day of it, although he was at war with an enemy army, the daylight was running out and what was to be a win for Israel could be lost because night was coming, time was a problem — Joshua prayed for a longer day — and God granted the prayer.
Joshua 10:13-14
New King James Version
So the sun stood still,
And the moon stopped,
Till the people had revenge
Upon their enemies.
That is a big deal to me. What can I do with this God in my life?
God wants the very best for me. Why don’t I give my very best? Offer my prayers and a heart to succeed at everything given to me. Art is a beautiful way to display what the Lord has given. My notes crafted perfectly on the page, the office, house, chores, financials, reports, absolutely anything I do, do with expertise..
Philippians 2:14-15
New International Version
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[a] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
Sometimes it require finesse’, yes? Artful, I’ve discovered is also found in the handling of situations. A brilliant way of handling chaos in those around you, those in your business, family, church, even when hard things need to be said and solved. Rally your troops to the cause, pray to the Holy Spirit for discernment, the art of the blessing requires you and me, given responsibility in people, places and things in our lives, to acquire and implement good order in all aspects of the day, bringing glory and honor to the King, having Faith in His will for you to do your job — correctly.
Isaiah 43:1-2
But now, this is what the LORD says– he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Chapter 39 — how you administrate the talent you have been afforded. And there is challenges, the testing of your metal, you will come against great opposition. Billy Graham said it very well: “Don’t think of Satan as a harmless cartoon character with a red suit and a pitchfork. He is very clever and powerful, and his unchanging purpose is to defeat God’s plans at every turn – including His plans for your life.”
Jeremiah 17:10
New International Version
10 “I the Lord search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
according to what their deeds deserve.”
The Art of the Blessing is my style. Pinash’, my dance, the moves as one would say — my moves with the Lord, God and me. How I roll with responsibility, people, places and things the Lord has seen fit to give me, how I roll with direction, i.e. the blessing of information — how to handle the miracles God gave me for His glory, not mine. Do this and He will bless the life you have..
Revelation 3:8
I know your works. Because you have limited strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name, look, I have placed before you an open door that no one is able to close.
Chapter 39, The Art of the Blessing, when asked what that means. It means learning to wield the power He’s given you with honor, goodness, love, humility, knowledge and wisdom — effective only in His grace and mercy, by His hand, not yours.
2 Corinthians 13:5
New International Version
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
Don’t fail the test, do the work. Walk through the gauntlet with strength and wisdom in your Faith, become stronger, better, giving Him the Glory for what is happening in your life.
2 Peter 1:10-11
Holman Christian Standard Bible
10 Therefore, brothers, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. 11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you.
Mistakes will be made, don’t give up, accept the challenge and rise up in the Lord, fight again for all that is good, holy and God.
2 Chronicles 15:7
New International Version
7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
And when you receive small or great responsibility, do it with style, excitement, creativity and correctness in the power of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in His word, in His Name —
There is a great discussion in the Word in regards to the Bema Seat of Christ, it is an assessment that the Lord Jesus makes on each one of us, not for judgement at the end, but rather for what we have done with our redemption. It is to say, yes, you are saved, now let’s take a look at what have you done with it. Depending on what that is, one could be awarded as they enter the gates of heaven, however for those who did nothing with their new life, still they are afforded Heaven, but they enter without any award for service. This is not to be confused with unbelievers.
The Bible says unbelievers will be judged in the first sense – “condemnation,” while believers will be judged in rewards.
Paul wrote in 2nd Corinthians 5:10: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what we have done whether good or bad..” My friends, we have been delivered from the hands of fate into the arms of God. What are you going to do with it? How you going to handle yourself? What will Jesus say to you on that day when you stand before Him on your way into Heaven, and the Lord says what have you done with the gift of salvation I have given you?
Chapter 39 The Art of the Blessing 2023
Amen, Amen.
