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Many Christians believe that the world and everything in it was created by God (Gen 1:1-31, Joh
1:1-3). He spoke them into being, for He commanded and they came (Psa 33:9). However,
incongruities are created in the minds of these believers when sermons on God´s commanded blessings are being delivered. In this essay, the trustworthiness of God´s commanded blessings is further discussed.

Instant Blessings

Instant blessings are common in the word of God. These manifest themselves in the healing of the sick (Luk 6:19, Acts 28:8) and raising of the dead to life as in the case of Lazarus (Joh 11: 43-44). The parting of the red sea is also an example of instant blessings. God commanded the sea to be parted instantly and it was so as Moses stretched his rod upon it (Gen 14:21-31). There are uncountable instant blessings that could be cited in the holy scriptures.

The Lord God has the power to speak that which are not, to fill one´s life and the power to remove that which disturb a person´s life. The purpose of these blessings is to fill His people with joy. The word of God is quick, powerful and living (Heb 4:12). It is not slow and weak as some might take it to be. Trust it and it would do you good. Whereas some of God´s blessings are instant, some occur overnight.

Tomorrow By This Time

A great famine in Samaria resulted in the death of many. Some women began to eat their own children. The cost of the head of an ass was sold for fourscore pieces of silver whereas the fourth part of a cab of dove´s dung cost five pieces of silver (2Kgs 6:25-30). The desperation was high and the people were dying because of the hunger, and “Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof” (2Kgs 7:1-2).

It is doubtful when such statements are made about the provisions of God. But the word of God must be trusted, especially, when spoken by His accredited servants. Human reasoning and intellectuality failed but the word of God triumphed. God was able to fulfill His word overnight. Humans did not know how this could be possible but it happened and all saw it. Some of these blessings may take a year but they shall surely come to pass if God says so.

Next Year by This Time

Some of the blessings of God follow the normal time of an event. Concerning the birth of Isaac, God commanded his blessings upon Sarah before she conceived. She was given the full gestational period of a human for her to see the manifestation of that blessing. The messenger of God said:

“And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year” (Gen 17:20-21).

The implication here is that all thing are possible for God but he does them according to the time He himself has set. Some of the blessings are instant whereas others take time to be realized. God speaks to our situations and circumstances to turn them round to the surprise of all people.

Conclusion

The Lord God has power over all things. He speaks and they came into being. He has the power to command blessings upon the lives of His children but people must be in expectancy and be prepared to receive them. The blessings may be instant or not but they shall happen if the Lord God speaks.

Prayer

May God command everything good thing that is lacking in your life to fall into your bosom and take away that which rob you of your joy. In the name of Christ Jesus. AMEN!

Introduction

This paper details that God bestows blessings upon His people who are called by His name. If believers would trust God unreservedly and take Him at His word, He would command His blessings upon their lives. The concept of blessing in this work is consistent with that described by Webster. According to Webster, a blessing is any means of happiness, a gift, benefit or an advantage which promotes temporal prosperity and welfare or secures immortal felicity. Webster adds that the divine favor is the greatest of all blessings. The author believes that when God promises his people blessings, He means all-encompassing blessings, in both the spiritual and physical realms (Eph 1:3, Php 4:19).

Blessings Preceding the Sabbath of Rest

In the Old Testament, the people, as well as the land, were supposed to observe Sabbath of rest. Humans were to remember the Sabbath which falls on the seventh day or Saturdays (Ex 20:8-11). The Sabbath of rest for the land lasted the whole of the seventh year. The land had to be left uncultivated in that year. It is recorded that:

“And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD. Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field nor prune thy vineyard. That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land” (Lev 25:1-5).

The above law is equally as important as the seventh-day Sabbath, so breaking it implies that the individual is guilty of breaking the entire law because James writes that if one observes the whole law and breaks one of them, s/he is guilty of the entire law (Jas 2:10). It is obedience to the law of God that brings down the blessings of God.

God Commands His Blessings

It is very challenging to abandon the land in the seventh year but God assures them, that, if they would be obedient to Him and keep His word, He would command His blessings upon them in the sixth year and the land shall bring forth fruit for three years. They would eat of the produce from the sixth year until the eighth year crops are ready to be harvested (Lev 25:20-22).

God requires only one thing from His people, and that is their obedience. They were expected to cultivate the land for six years and the Lord God Himself would give the increase. He would command the plantations to produce triple their ability to keep His people alive for three years. This would not be the result of their hard work but the unmerited blessings of the Lord God.

It could be argued that the blessings of God are not altogether earned but invoked upon the faithful. Of course, hard work forms part of the equation, it ought to be stated that hard work without God´s blessings is futile because unless God builds the house, they that build it labor in vain (Psa 127:1). If a person thinks that it is only hard work that makes people rich, s/he needs to be reminded of the word of God that says a person thinks that his or her power and might give him/her their wealth, then they have gotten it wrong because it is God that gives the power to get wealth, so that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto the fathers (Deut 8:17-18).

Conclusion

God expects His people to work with what they have been given but it is He who blesses the works of their hands (Deut 28:12). Believers have to be obedient to His word and act in faith if they were to receive the commanded blessings that only God gives.

Prayer: May the Lord God Almighty command His blessings-healings, wealth, protection and all your needs upon you so that you would cease from your own works. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN.