Numbers 6:22-27 – “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:  24 “The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”‘ 27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”  NKJV

Let’s pick up where we left off yesterday and look at each aspect of this BLESSING from Numbers Six.  In this BLESSING there are Three Specific Statements and each Statement leads to and facilitates the next one in terms of emphasis.  If I just said:  “YAHWEH Bless & Keep You….” That would be enough!  BUT, then we build on that in the next statement and move on to the Grand Finale in the third statement.  Hang on to your hats, fasten your seatbelts, and let’s begin the journey.

FIRST:           THE LORD BLESS YOU & KEEP YOU…

“Bless” – – That’s the “Spoken Word” accompanied by the Power of God.  It’s the “Good Word”.  That “Good Word” was spoken by God and “channeled” through people usually through a “word” or “sentence” that painted a PICTURE!

Let me give you an example of what I’m talking about which is found so beautifully in The Twenty Third Psalm.  “The Lord is my Shepherd…. I shall not want… He makes me lie down in green pastures and beside still waters….”  THAT’S A PICTURE!  Sadly, in our English language that can sometimes be dull, we’d probably just say:  “It was peaceful.”  In the Hebrew, it is much more powerful!  “He makes me to lie down in the lush green pastures….”

THE BLESSING:

Many, if not all, are couched in pictures!  “The Blessing” was a word “spoken”, usually, if not always in pictures.  AND, that pictured the person being blessed as reaching their Highest & Best!  It is a picture of the Abundant Life Jesus spoke of and proposed for us.

I HOPE YOU SEE THIS!  God wills your “Highest” & “Best”!!!  He wills your “Fullest Potential” as a human being!  He wills you to come to complete fulfillment!  Therefore, “The Blessing” was just that pictured to the individual.  The speaker could see it and the hearer as well.  So when I “bless” you I am declaring that I not only desire, but “see” God’s Highest & Best for you.  I speak that by saying – “YAHWEH Bless You!”  I “see” you living at your “fullest potential” in the Covenant.  That’s how I picture you and that’s how it shall be through the Grace & Power of God.

TWO IMPORTANT WORDS:

                                                “Prosperity and Success”

These are two words that have caused such a stir in the Church World that it is almost mind-boggling.  I’ve seen Christians almost come to blows over their disagreement regarding these two words.  I want to say something here that some will accept and agree with and others will turn me off once I’ve said it.  THE BLESSING of Prosperity & Success did not begin in terms of “money”.  It began “within”.  It began on the INSIDE in the heart!

Originally, it was Prosperity & Success in your spirit, mind, emotions, body, and then certainly in everything that you touched.  BUT – – in that order!  You see Prosperity began with:  I’m prosperous in my “walk” with God.  I am rich/wealthy in my “walk” with God.  I am successful in “Walking with God.”  I have a prosperous mind!  My mind is wealthy!  I am very successful in receiving “divine enlightenment” to understand “divine truth!”  THAT’S BLESSING!

We would continue by saying – My Emotions are very prosperous.  They are “not” poverty stricken with anger, rage, bitterness, envy, jealousy, malice, greed, or corruption!  I am a rich person for I am “filled” with the Love of God, the Peace & Joy of God!  THAT’S BLESSING!

My Body is blessed!  My “heart” is very successful at being a heart.  My “lungs” are very successful at breathing.  My “entire body” is very prosperous at producing life!  My body functions to perfection because of THE BLESSING! 

THEN – – In that state, “whatever I touch” brings prosperity & success in the natural.  HEAR ME PLEASE!  A “prosperity” that is MONEY that is not “first” in your spirit is very dangerous!  The Bible makes that incredibly clear!

Proverbs 10:22 – – “The Blessings of the Lord makes rich, but adds no sorrow with it…”

I know that I’ve ventured into an area that some will struggle with.  I am not suggesting that God’s Sovereignty is in any way compromised in all this.  I am not suggesting that you can have everything including wealth and fame by just saying you have it.  I am not saying that there is not a responsibility on our part to “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and ALL THESE THINGS will be added to you.”  I am saying that it is GOD’S DESIRE to BLESS His Children with Abundant Life in every dimension of life.  “He wants us to prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2)

Let’s put this on hold for another day may God allow this to get into your spirit and cause you to “see”, truly “see” His Purpose for His People!  Realize that when you “link” His name to another human being you are asking Him to bring to bear His fullness into that person’s life and situation.  You are “linking” that person to the I AM THAT I AM and all He is.

May God richly bless and guide you through your day as you bask in the sunlight of His love, mercy, person, power, and grace!  More tomorrow!