Hello everyone,
“And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favours] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others].
And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves].”
This was the covenant blessing God spoke over Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3. The Bible says the Lord blessed Abraham in ALL things.
What a wonderful covenant to live in, where God personally promises to keep His hand of blessing on you. Wrapped up in that blessing is His goodness, protection, and bountiful provision. That blessing will even cause the nations of the world to be blessed through you.
Well, the Bible teaches us that through Jesus Christ, we have received the same covenant blessing that was given to Abraham and passed down to his descendants - Isaac and Jacob. Galatians 3:14 says that through our receiving Christ Jesus, the blessing promised to Abraham has come upon the Gentiles so that we, through faith, are all able to receive the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Immediately we see a difference in this new promise of God’s blessing. This new covenant we have in Christ Jesus is far greater than the one granted to the patriarchs of old.
Hebrews 7:22-23 says, “In keeping with [the oath’s greater strength and force], Jesus has become the Guarantee of a better (stronger) agreement [a more excellent and more advantageous covenant].”
This covenant is far greater for two distinct reasons. Firstly, it’s received by faith, not human lineage. Secondly, the promise isn’t the hand of God resting upon a person’s life, it’s the Spirit of God Himself inhabiting a person’s heart.
Let’s read Galatians 3:14 from the Amplified Classic version, “To the end that through [their receiving] Christ Jesus, the blessing [promised] to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might [all] receive [the realisation of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit.”
From Abraham’s seed, which was Isaac, came a lineage that finally led to the Son of God coming to earth to die for our sins. When He rose again, and ascended back to His Father in heaven, He released His Holy Spirit to inhabit every life that surrendered to His Lordship.
What does this means for us? When we willingly choose to accept Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour, we enter into the New Covenant we have in Him. That new covenant means we are able to see the fulfilment of the promised Holy Spirit, where He comes to live inside us! The full measure of God’s Presence dwells in us, forever! Everything we will ever need for victory, peace and joy in this life is in God, Who lives in us!
Now we are able to embrace a personal, living, loving relationship with God Himself. A relationship where His own Spirit inhabits us - we don’t have to beg or wish or wonder if He is with us - He IS IN us!
This is the promised blessing - He fills our hearts with His Presence which, with our continual surrender to Him, influences everything about us. He transforms us from the inside out - from our thoughts, to our attitudes, to the way we speak and the things we do. And when we live like this - controlled by the Spirit of God - goodness and mercy follow after us, and His favour surrounds us!
In this new covenant we have in Christ Jesus we are able to truly know and experience Him in His fullness. His power, His goodness, His wisdom, His love that conquers all and never fails, His peace that passes all understanding, and His irrepressible joy that gives us inner strength is our portion!
Even if we don’t always feel these things, it doesn’t mean they’re not there. Remember Galatians 3:14 says, “... by faith we receive the realisation of the promise of the Holy Spirit.” While He is living inside us, His kingdom is too! God’s Word says His righteousness, peace and joy are our portion. We just need to agree with His Word and decide to believe it for ourselves!
I want to show you what I mean by saying His kingdom is inside us. Romans 14:17 says, “[After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
That means God’s righteousness, that secures our right standing with Him, and His victory over the power of sin is part of our new nature in Him. We don’t ever have to fear punishment from Him, we can boldly draw near to His throne of grace, receive His mercy, and supernatural help to move forward in the right direction.
Look at what Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favour to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].”
So when we miss the mark, we turn to Him, receive mercy for failing, and grace (His supernatural help) to adjust our ways to align with His will and move on. No guilt, or shame, or condemnation is ours!
Do you remember how the beginning part of Romans 14:17 says, “[After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes],...”. That doesn’t mean the promise doesn’t include God’s bountiful provision. That will always be a supernatural result of His kingdom living inside us. We can never separate God from His goodness!
This first part of Romans 14:17 is emphasising the godly order of first things first! Our promise is first and foremost God living inside of us, inhabiting us and influencing every area of our lives with Himself - as we make Him and His Word our first priority.
Then, as a result, the outward evidence of His blessing becomes obvious through His provision in our lives.
Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.”
There it is - the supernatural result of putting our priorities in order and seeking the right things first! This is the true blessing of the Lord! By His Holy Spirit we are able to put Him first in our lives and enjoy every blessing that comes from that!
Why don’t you ask the Holy Spirit to help you have a strong and clear revelation of His Presence that is living inside you right now! He will give you a clear perspective of the true blessing that is yours through Christ Jesus!
All my love,
Jenny
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