The Priestly Blessing – Part Two
Having looked at what we called “The Priestly Blessing” as found in our text (Numbers 6:22-27) we continue this lesson by asking, how about today? Does God desire to bless us, and if so, how? “The LORD bless you and keep you;” Indeed the Lord does desire to bless us! Today, those blessings come through Jesus Christ - Ep 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” They come especially to those described in Mt 5:3-12 ‘"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” And the Lord desires to provide and care for us! As described by Jesus in Mt 6:25-32 ‘"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” But this care is conditional, the condition described in Mt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” -- Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and the priestly blessing will be upon you too!
“The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;” Just as all spiritual blessings come through Jesus, so God’s grace is now manifested through His Son - Jn 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Yes, God desires to show His smile of favor upon us, but it is imperative that we not receive it in vain! - 2 Co 6:1-3 “Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,”. -- How sad that God’s grace is so freely extended, yet so few accept His grace!
“The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” Through Christ, peace with God is now possible - Ro 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And as we continue to pray, God bestows peace through His Son - Ph 4:6-7 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -- The Father is willing to give us peace, but do we accept it?
We have been learning about “The Priestly Blessing”.... How God wanted to bless Israel under the Old Covenant through His priests in the Aaronic priesthood. We have noted that the same sort of blessings are available today, but the blessings of God are bestowed through His Son, Jesus Christ. Who today is our “High Priest” - He 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” The point of this lesson is simple, yet profound.... If you desire “The Priestly Blessing” today, you must be in Christ. He must be your High Priest; for that is how God is blessing His people today! - Ep 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” Are you in Jesus Christ? How does one get “into” Christ, where they can receive the blessings He offers as our High Priest? Consider what is said in Ga 3:26-27 “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Having looked at what we called “The Priestly Blessing” as found in our text (Numbers 6:22-27) we continue this lesson by asking, how about today? Does God desire to bless us, and if so, how? “The LORD bless you and keep you;” Indeed the Lord does desire to bless us! Today, those blessings come through Jesus Christ - Ep 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” They come especially to those described in Mt 5:3-12 ‘"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” And the Lord desires to provide and care for us! As described by Jesus in Mt 6:25-32 ‘"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” But this care is conditional, the condition described in Mt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” -- Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and the priestly blessing will be upon you too!
“The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;” Just as all spiritual blessings come through Jesus, so God’s grace is now manifested through His Son - Jn 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Yes, God desires to show His smile of favor upon us, but it is imperative that we not receive it in vain! - 2 Co 6:1-3 “Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,”. -- How sad that God’s grace is so freely extended, yet so few accept His grace!
“The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” Through Christ, peace with God is now possible - Ro 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And as we continue to pray, God bestows peace through His Son - Ph 4:6-7 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -- The Father is willing to give us peace, but do we accept it?
We have been learning about “The Priestly Blessing”.... How God wanted to bless Israel under the Old Covenant through His priests in the Aaronic priesthood. We have noted that the same sort of blessings are available today, but the blessings of God are bestowed through His Son, Jesus Christ. Who today is our “High Priest” - He 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” The point of this lesson is simple, yet profound.... If you desire “The Priestly Blessing” today, you must be in Christ. He must be your High Priest; for that is how God is blessing His people today! - Ep 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” Are you in Jesus Christ? How does one get “into” Christ, where they can receive the blessings He offers as our High Priest? Consider what is said in Ga 3:26-27 “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
