Summary: BIG IDEA: It is “The GOD of my father and mother” who blesses me, and I want to be that ‘father’ so my children will also know the Blessing of the LORD GOD my HEAVENLY FATHER.

2020.01.17. My Father’s Blessing

William Akehurst, HSWC

BIG IDEA: It is “The GOD of my father and mother” who blesses me, and I want to be that ‘father’ so my children will also know the Blessing of the LORD GOD my HEAVENLY FATHER.

My father’s blessing

In July 2004, I met with my father and mother at their home and shared the thought that the LORD was calling me into the ministry. I didn’t know exactly what that meant, but I knew I needed something from my parents. On their back deck, I asked my father specifically for his blessing. I had recently learned about the Father’s Blessing and wanted my father to give me his blessing. While he wasn’t expecting such a request, he agreed and placed his hands upon me and prayed over me his words of blessing over my life and family. While I don’t remember his exact words, I do know I received his blessing that day.

It’s interesting that less than 2 years later, my father was called to his eternal home, and I was immediately called into ministry by the LORD. I was deeply impacted by Psalm 40 that day, (a story for another time) and it became my heartsong:

Psalms 40:1-4, 8-10

1I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.

10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy loving kindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

In the weeks and months that followed, many people stated that my father’s mantle was placed upon me at his death. But I believe the transfer started at his blessing. And in a sense, since that time, I have been “going about my father’s business” in many ways. Aren’t we all called to be “about our HEAVENLY FATHER’s Business?” I believe JESUS mentioned something like that at the age of 12.

Many times throughout scripture, we see the father figure blessing his children. Remember Isaac and his sons Esau and Jacob and the misdirected blessing. The father’s blessing was tradition, and Jacob and Esau were familiar enough with it to know about birthright and the importance of that blessing. Through deception Jacob received the blessing and when Esau asked for his from his father, Isaac said it was too late and had already been given and there was none left to give. That shows the significance of how important the blessing is. But I believe that our HEAVENLY FATHER’s Blessings will never run out!

Later in scripture, knowing his time was short, the aged Jacob called his sons to receive their blessing and he spoke words of blessing over each son. As we read through Genesis 49, we realize some of his words are harsh and direct and speak to the character of the son. Yet when he came to Joseph, Jacob spoke a greater blessing over him, a spiritual blessing and pointed out that it was GOD who gives the actual blessing.

Genesis 49:22-26 22 “Joseph is a fruitful tree, a fruitful tree by a spring, with branches climbing over a wall.

23 Archers provoked him, shot at him, and attacked him. 24 But his bow stayed steady, and his arms remained limber because of the help of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, 25 because of the God of your father who helps you, because of the Almighty who gives you blessings from the heavens above, blessings from the deep springs below the ground, blessings from breasts and womb.

26 The blessings of your father are greater than the blessings of the oldest mountains and the riches of the ancient hills. May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the prince among his brothers.

That is one magnificent blessing! In Jewish tradition, the oldest son receives the greatest blessing, a double portion of what each of the rest of the heirs would receive. Yet here we see Jacob pronouncing his greatest blessing upon Joseph, the 1st born of his first love, but second wife Rachel; and not to his oldest son Ruben of Leah, his first wife by more deception. It’s also interesting that Joseph brought his young sons to Jacob to be blessed and that Jacob blessed the younger over the older. So we see it’s not always the oldest or firstborn that receives the greatest blessing. But that’s for another discussion.

So the point is that the Father’s blessing is an important role of the father to his children. Yet, in our American culture, this is not a standard. And I would say, perhaps it should be.

As a father, I view the ultimate blessing to pass on to my children, as the importance of having an active relationship with our Heavenly Father and salvation through CHRIST JESUS. The greatest blessing we could possibly pass on, is for us to impact our children to seek to know JESUS as Savior and know and love our HEAVENLY FATHER. We can’t do it for them, but we can “train up a child in the WAY they should go”.

Now, let’s looking further…perhaps your earthly father has passed, now what?

Scripture tells us over and over again that it is GOD the FATHER, the GOD of our fathers, who gives and provides the blessing. Our earthly fathers were limited, but our HEAVENLY FATHER is limitless and knows no bounds. If you recall the story of Isaac, Esau and Jacob once more; after Jacob had received the blessing and Esau asked Isaac for his, Isaac said the blessing was done, and there was nothing left for Esau. Wow, that’s hard.

But Jesus taught us to regard the GOD of the Universe as our ABBA FATHER, our Daddy, as we are HIS Children.

And while the earthly father may pronounce blessing over the child, the real blessing comes when our Heavenly Father pronounces HIS blessing upon you and me. And though we live in a finite world, the HEAVENLY KINGDOM is infinite, and so are HIS UNLIMITED Blessings.

So once again, from WHERE do blessings come?

Every blessing comes from the Father.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

(GW) Every good present and every perfect gift comes from above, from the Father who made the sun, moon, and stars. The Father doesn't change like the shifting shadows produced by the sun and the moon.

Side note. Jesus said “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30)

We are blessed by the FATHER through CHRIST, and we are blessed by JESUS from the FATHER.

I truly believe that the greatest blessings are Spiritual.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessing and Praise be unto the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer.

Jesus spoke and declared blessing upon us when he said, Matthew 5:3-12 “blessed are those who…”

…recognize they are spiritually helpless. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

…mourn. They will be comforted.

…are gentle. They will inherit the earth.

…hunger and thirst for God's approval. They will be satisfied.

…show mercy. They will be treated mercifully.

…thoughts are pure. They will see God.

…make peace. They will be called God's children.

…are persecuted for doing what God approves of. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

When people insult you, persecute you, lie, and say all kinds of evil things about you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad because you have a great reward in heaven! The prophets who lived before you were persecuted in these ways.

So, did you see it? The blessing produces a reaction.

It is GOD who has declared blessing over us and HIS blessing not contained, it causes a reaction. And we learn that this blessing can be passed down from generation to generation.

Genesis 26:24 That night the Lord appeared to Isaac, and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Don't be afraid, because I am with you. I will bless you and increase the number of your descendants for my servant Abraham's sake.”

So the blessing from the “GOD of our fathers” and mothers can be passed down. It’s not to stop with you or me!

YOU may be that “father, mother or guardian” that passes on the blessing.

So, if it’s to start with YOU, then how? Ask and receive.

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Remember Jabez? He asked…Bless me indeed.

1 Chronicles 4:10 Jabez asked and prayed to the God of Israel, “Please bless me and give me more territory. May your power be with me and free me from evil so that I will not be in pain.” God gave him what he prayed for.

GOD, our HEAVENLY FATHER gives good gifts with our best interest in mind.

Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

But understand this…the purpose of the GOD of our father’s blessing is to provide for more than our own selves. What good is a blessing if it is contained? When Jabez asked for more territory, it was for a greater impact on his world. And when he asked for GOD’s Power to be upon him, he was seeking GOD’s SPIRIT and Presence to be upon him.

With blessing comes great responsibility. So, we need to ask for our Father’s Blessing with the understanding that it’s not just for us, but for those we can impact for HIS plan and purpose.

James 4:3 You ask and don't receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

We are blessed so that we can bless others.

So, you want to receive OUR FATHER’s Blessing?

Let’s ask together.

Thank YOU FATHER, for YOUR infinite Mercy and Grace endures for all time and beyond. YOU alone are our FATHER and in CHRIST, YOU have called us YOUR SONS and DAUGHTERs, YOUR CHILDREN. Thank YOU FATHER for BEING our FATHER, who we can call upon at any moment, any instance, any place and time for help, healing, correction, direction, discernment, wisdom and understanding. We know that (James 1:17) “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights” Every blessing comes from YOU FATHER. And we need and depend on YOU for everything. We ask that YOU would bless us FATHER with every Heavenly and Spiritual Blessing. Pour out YOUR SPIRIT upon us. Bless us with the POWER of YOUR PRESENCE to overflow us to impact those around us. We desire more of YOU LORD GOD OUR FATHER, we desire that YOU would flow through us with YOUR blessings. We speak from YOUR WORD which blesses us. And we say, Blessed are YOU LORD GOD, King of the Universe. Let everything we do be a praise unto YOU. And we come before YOU FATHER, in Jesus Name, to ask, believe and receive of YOUR Blessing over us. Let it be so according to YOUR WORD, FATHER. Amen and amen.

So when I sign off with the words, “Be Blessed and Be a Blessing.” I trust you now understand something a little deeper than a simple signature tag line.

I am blessed by the LORD, and am to be a blessing to those I encounter. And it’s the same for you too.

With that, I speak this over all who read these words: In the NAME of the LORD GOD OUR FATHER…

Be Blessed, and BE a Blessing, Amen.

Bill

Additional Scriptures:

Being Blessed and Being a Blessing.

Psalms 103:1-5 (shouldn’t we give back to the LORD, what HE has given to us?)

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases;

4 Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us (HIS blessing), that we should be called the sons of God:

Psalms 103:13 As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.

Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Psalms 112:1-2

1 Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man that fears the LORD, that delights greatly in his commandments.

2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.