2-- A Bible Study About Blessings

Bible Study About Being Divinely Blessed and Verbally Blessing Others (Compiled by Bible lover Bill) Blessed (Author unknown) If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who won't survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world. If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world. If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare, especially in the United States. If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not. If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch. If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all. You are so blessed in ways you may never even know. If you are feeling blessed, repay the blessings bestowed unto you and do something for others. *1.) What were your feelings as you read that list? Note:

I did a New Testament download using the Lockman Foundation NASB Bible software. 84 “bless”s and “blessed”s originally downloaded. I deleted the ones that were not directly related for the purpose of this study which was to find out why true Christians should be divinely blessed and if they are supposed to say “bless you” or “you are blessed by God”. I also deleted a few verses that might be considered controversial or have several interpretations.

First, in relation to God’s Old Testament chosen people: Luke 13:34-35 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, {the city} that kills the Prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen {gathers} her brood under her wings, and you would not {have it!}!

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Behold, your house is left to you {desolate;} and I say to you, you will not see Me until {the time} comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord!’” (also in Matthew 23:37-38) (from the Literal Bible Translation and the Analytical-Literal Translation: "Blessed is the One coming in the name of the Lord." Psalm 118:26) Acts 3:25-26 “It is you who are the sons of the Prophets and of the Covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘and in your seed all the families of the Earth shall be blessed.’ For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one {of you} from your wicked ways.” *2.) How can Jews get blessed by God now? In relation to Romans 11 (read before going on), Galatians 3:8-9 & 13-14 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Gospel beforehand to Abraham, {saying,} “All the nations will be blessed in you.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer…. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, “cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”-- in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. *3.) What change in the people who get blessed by God happened at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ? When was this blessing realized? How true Christians are blessed by God. Ephesians 1:3-14 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, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, {that is,} the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the Earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose Who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the Gospel of your salvation— having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, Who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of {God's own} possession, to the praise of His glory. *4. How many blessings from God are listed in the wonderful Ephesians passage and what are they?

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Titus 2:11-13 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny un-Godliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and Godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. *5. What is the blessed hope that Christians are looking for? (You should read in Romans 8 and 2 Peter before answering.) Now for the section about why individuals get blessed by God: Matthew 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, He [Jesus Christ] went up on a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him: Matthew 5:2 And He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying, 1. Matthew 5:3 “Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous-- with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and Salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven!-- future blessing POOR, a. [L. pauper.] 4. Destitute of value, worth or importance; of little use; trifling. 7. Of little worth; unimportant; as in my poor opinion. 8. Unhappy; pitiable. 2. Matthew 5:4 Blessed [with a happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!-- can be a current blessing 3. Matthew 5:5 Blessed (joyous regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the Earth! -- future blessing 4. Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied! -- can be a current blessing 5. Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy! -- can be a current blessing from the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary-MER'CIFUL, a. [from mercy.] Having or exercising mercy; compassionate; tender; disposed to pity offenders and to forgive their offenses; unwilling to punish for injuries; applied appropriately to the Supreme being. The Lord passed before him (Moses) and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth. Exodus 34 MER'CY, n. [L. misericordia.] 1 That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant. In this sense, there is perhaps no word in our language precisely synonymous with mercy. That which comes nearest to it is grace. It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency, but exercised only towards offenders. Mercy is a distinguishing attribute of the Supreme Being. The Lord is long-suffering and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty. Numbers 14. 6. Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God! -- future blessing 1 Peter 1:21-23 “Who by Him [Jesus Christ] do believe in God [the Father], that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Holy Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 7. Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the makers {and} maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the children of God!-- can be a current blessing 8. Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven!-- future blessing

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Matthew 5:11 Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. Matthew 5:12 Be glad {and} supremely joyful, for your reward in Heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you. [2 Chronicles 36:16] -- future blessing Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the Earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can its saltiness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men. Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven. [See Ephesians 2:8-10.] For more thinking-(a) Reread the Beatitudes and think of your spiritual testimony. (b) Reread the Beatitudes and think of the development of a few of your beliefs/convictions. James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which {the Lord} has promised to those who love Him. James 5:9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and {is} merciful. *6.) What kind of individuals are blessed? Explain each one as if you are teaching a group. The Beatitudes of Revelation-1. Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he (or she) who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. 2. Revelation 19:9 Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” (Matthews 25:34-- "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are Blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”) 3. Revelation 22:7 “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” 4. Revelation 16:15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”) 5. Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. 6. Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. 7. Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes”, says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.” *7.) What kind of individuals are blessed? Rewrite in a simpler way each of these verses in Revelation or write how you would teach each. Jesus Christ said, Matthew 11:6 “And Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” Luke 11:27-28 While Jesus was saying these things (about demons being casted out and why they could come back into an individual), one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.” But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and observe it.”

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Matthew 16:13-17 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some {say} John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal {this} to you, but My Father Who is in Heaven.” John 20:26-29 After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace {be} with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed {are} they who did not see, and {yet} believed.” Matthew 13:13-18 “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, 'You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; for the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and it would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see {it,} and to hear what you hear, and did not hear {it.} Hear then the parable of the sower. Luke 10:21-24 “At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, that You have hidden these things from {the} wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal {Him.}” Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed {are} the eyes which see the things you see, for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see {them,} and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear {them.}.” John 13:12-17 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined {at the table} again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for {so} I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor {is} one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. Acts 20:33-35 I have coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my {own} needs and to the men who were with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Luke 12:35-38 “Be dressed in readiness, and {keep} your lamps lit. Be like men (and women) who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open {the door} to him when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself {to serve,} and have them recline {at the table,} and will come up and wait on them. Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds {them} so, blessed are those {slaves.}.” Luke 12:43 “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.” (Matthew 24:46 “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.”) Luke 14:12-15 And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and {that} will be your repayment. But when you give a reception, invite {the} poor, {the} crippled, {the} lame, {the} blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have {the means} to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” When one of those who were reclining {at the table} with Him heard this, he said to Him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God!”

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James 1:19-25 {This} you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak {and} slow to anger, for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and {all} that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for {once} he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect Law, the {law} of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man (or woman) will be blessed in what he (he or she) does. 1 Peter 3:8-17 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. For, “The one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his (or her) tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. “and do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled”, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always {being} ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 1 Peter 4:12-16 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if {anyone suffers} as a Christian, he (or she) is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this Name. *8.) Why can someone be blessed? What must they do? 1 Corinthians 14:13-16 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. What is {the outcome} then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. Otherwise if you bless in the spirit {only,} how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? Otherwise if you bless in the spirit {only,} how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? *9.) In what situation, how, and when should true Christians not bless? Now to humans giving blessings: Romans 1:25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever. Amen. 2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed {be} the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 2 Corinthians 11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is Blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. Mark 14:61 But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the blessed {One?}” 1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {obtain} an inheritance {which is} imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

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Ephesians 1:3-4 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, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him…. Revelation 7:9-12 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and {all} tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches {were} in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” And all the angels were standing around the throne and {around} the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, ¶ “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, {be} to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 5:11-14 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in Heaven and on the Earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, {be} blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped. *10.) Who should be the beings primarily(more often) blessed by humankind? James 3:8-10 But no one can tame the tongue; {it is} a restless evil {and} full of deadly poison. With it we bless {our} Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come {both} blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Luke 6:28 “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 1 Corinthians 4:11-13 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, {even} until now. Matthews 10:13 “If the house is worthy, give it your {blessing of} peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your {blessing of} peace.” *11.) Who and when should true Christians bless? What kind of blessing should be given? 2 Corinthians 1:12-15 For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and Godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you. For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end; just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus. In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive a blessing; *12.) What kind of confidence can a true Christian have in order for them to help others they meet have wonderful blessing? How would you have such confidence without being prideful? Concluding questions: *13.) In the section of Christians blessing others, what seems to be left out? (Many end their letters with such. No appropriate verses were deleted.) *14.) How should we respond when someone verbally blesses us? *15.) In what ways can you be a proper blessing to someone else?

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