The Power Of A Blessing!

Rachel and I have been blessed beyond measure countless times throughout our years of ministry. Recently, a lot of the blessings we have received have been centered around God's gracious gift of Rachel being with child for the first time. Jesus has a special blessing for those with the mentality, pursuit, and execution of giving, for the Bible says in Acts 20:35, "...It is more blessed to give than to receive."

This past week I spent several days at prayer camp in Alabama. On Tuesday, I made it a point to be a blessing to one of our missionary families that lives close to the camp: The Tesseneers to India. 

Though I set out to be a blessing to them, I believe they were the greater blessing to me. Our fellowship was sweet, they gave us a gift, and then treated me to lunch. I daresay, even though I set out to be a blessing to them, they'll receive the greater blessing! Praise the Lord for Danny & Denise Tesseneer!

First, let me share how this type of giving is a blessing to the one receiving.

I. The receiver is surprised. A proper receiver never begs, insinuates, or makes his gifts happen, but he simply trusts and waits on God.

II. The receiver is encouraged. Though sometimes it's hard for a giver at heart to properly receive a blessing, he is always encouraged. If you ever feel the Lord prompting you to be a blessing to someone, no matter how small or large the blessing may be, trust God, and be that blessing. God wants to use you to be the encouragement the receiver needs.

III. The receiver is provided for. The simple truth is: we all have needs. God provides these needs through many different sources, and we are thankful for all the ways that God provides. Ultimately, every receiver must learn to be content in Christ through every day.

Last, let me share the blessing it is to be the blesser as opposed to the receiver.

Now, obviously, you can't help those times when somebody wants to be a blessing to you, making you the receiver, but we should all have the intentions and pursuits of being a blesser to someone as God leads.

I. The blesser blesses because he knows Jesus said to. Just as the early church was reminded by their preacher about the blessing of being a giver, I wish to exhort the same. Here's the whole verse to the statement that was mentioned earlier...Acts 20:35 "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." 

II. The blesser that blesses is taken care of by Jesus. Please recall to your mind the following verse that Jesus encourages every blesser with: Luke 6:38 "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." 

III. The blesser that blesses understands the law of sowing and reaping. He realizes the last part of the previous verse that was mentioned, "...For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Let me also add, the blesser realizes the law of sowing and reaping is not his motive for giving. The blesser's motive is saturated with the true charity of First Corinthians Thirteen: a benevolent love that gives without expecting anything in return...a love that's profitable for the glory of God!

To those that have blessed us: we only hope that we can be as much of a blessing to you as you have been to us! We also pray that our blessings would not fall just on those that have blessed us, but on any to whom the Lord guides!

Let me end by saying: 1. We can't go wrong by giving, 2. As we give, we are displaying the very heartbeat of God, and 3. We will never out give God or exhaust His resources! Let's focus on being Spirit-lead givers more consistently throughout our lives!

Posted by Justyn Smith • Pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church • Peoria, IL