SHELTERED BY GOD'S FAVOUR - PART 2

THURSDAY 05 JANUARY 2023

Today, we are going to gain more insight into the realities of the blessed, with view to an intense practical power of their association with God. Let's find out more!

Reference: Psalm 128:1-2 New International Version (NIV) "A Song of Ascents. Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways. You will eat the fruit of your labour; blessings and prosperity will be yours."

"The blessed" is the name we use to address a godly man when the Spirit of God is actively present in his life and abiding in oneness with his spirit. The blessing resting upon him is shaped to direct his ways, and designed on purpose to touch and influence his life, such that he'll be full of it. This implies that there is something about the blessed, that is more than just being prosperous.

Psalm 31:19 (NIV) reads, "How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you." Who stored up the good things? God Himself! Do you understand what it means for God to have planned well for those who fear Him? It means that their thoughts have never escaped God's notice and attention. That's one of the manifold reasons they are called the "blessed."

Another point is that the verity of our union and communion with the Godhead makes us the blessed. John the Evangelist, in his Johannine epistle noted, "We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3 NLT). Beloved, the blessed engage in constant fellowship with the Godhead. Our daily communion is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ, and so, we enjoy God's presence even more, with Christ, and agreeably, nothing in this world is sweeter, better and more desirable than such comradeship.

As the blessed who fear the Lord, we are the very members of Christ's body - the church (Ephesians 5:30 NKJV), which is quite deep and so, we partake of His divine nature and ever-increasing glory. Our intimate interaction with the Lord is an intense affirmation that we function as the gods (Psalm 82:6 NIV). Jesus Himself confirmed, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are "gods"'? (John 10:34 NLT). In fact, many a time, as the blessed, the manner of our conversation with Supreme Deity is strikingly overwhelming.

To instantiate this, 2 Corinthians 14:2 reads, "For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit" (NIV). The realm of speaking in tongues! Beloved, that's the harmonious nature of our speech and conversation with God. It is where the office of the angels are immensely active and expansive. What a dignity to stay in touch with bodiless, transcendental, uncreated and incorruptible being, namely God.

The blessed! What more can I say? Their functionality in the earth realm is unfathomable (John 3:8 NLT). Aside from ministering to us, the angels ardently admire us because we excite their curiosity and attention. For instance, the Bible says that even the angels longed to catch a glimpse of things, such as grace, bestowed upon us by God Himself, [right from the prophecies regarding grace] which were not [meant] for the prophets and their time, but for us, through the death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus Christ (see 1 Peter 1:10-12 AMP). Although there are deeper and mind-boggling realities I could share about the blessed, I will hold back for the sake of time. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Genesis 12:1-3; Proverbs 10:6; Matthew 5:6-8; John 20:29; 2 John 1:2.

Exuberant Declaration: The hand of God is mightily evident upon me and I'm highly blessed at all times. The Lord crowns me with His blessings, and surrounds me with favour, steadfast love and mercy. He satisfies me with the good things of life and establishes peace within my walls. He has made the places all around my hill, a goodly and euphoric heritage, and He sends down the showers of blessing to me in all seasons - in their measure of great capacity. The trees of the field yield their fruit for me, and the earth yields its increase to satisfy my desires, and I function as a byword of blessing among all the nations of the earth. Hallelujah!