(Galatians 3:13-14 NKJV) Christ has 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”), (14) that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
What is the Curse?
- The curse is a declaration which dooms someone to failure.
You are Redeemed from the curse!
- Christ has purchased us, ransomed us and rescued us from the curse of doom, destruction and failure.
(Galatians 3:14 TPT) Jesus, our Messiah, was cursed in our place and in so doing, dissolved the curse from our lives, so that all the blessings of Abraham can be poured out upon even non-Jewish believers. And now God gives us the promise of the wonderful Holy Spirit who lives within us when we believe in him.
What is THE BLESSING?
- The Blessing is a declaration which empowers someone to succeed AND PROSPER.
- The Blessing means that things that used to work against you begin to work for you!
Why Did God Put the BLESSING On Us?
- It has been God’s plan from the beginning.
(Genesis 1:26-28 NKJV) Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (27) So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (28) Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
(Genesis 9:1 NKJV) So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.
(Deuteronomy 28:1-2 NKJV) “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. (2) And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:
(Deuteronomy 28:9-10 NKJV) “The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. (10) Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you.
- We will be a holy people for God.
Establish (HEB) = raised up to become a powerful people; to bring them on the scene
- Holy (HEB) = set apart, consecrated, purified, protected from ruin
- Holy people = blessed people
- THE BLESSING sets us apart to bring us on the scene and be a powerful people.
(1 Peter 2:9 NIV) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
- People will see that you are called by God.
What about us will they see?
Deuteronomy 28:10—They will see we are “called his children, his people, his portion, and his inheritance; and that they are his, and he is theirs, by the care he takes of them, the provision he makes for them, and the protection they have from him.” —John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible
(Genesis 26:26-29 NLT) One day King Abimelech came from Gerar with his adviser, Ahuzzath, and also Phicol, his army commander. (27) “Why have you come here?” Isaac asked. “You obviously hate me, since you kicked me off your land.” (28) They replied, “We can plainly see that the LORD is with you. So we want to enter into a sworn treaty with you. Let’s make a covenant. (29) Swear that you will not harm us, just as we have never troubled you. We have always treated you well, and we sent you away from us in peace. And now look how the LORD has blessed you!”
They will see that we are prospering, enlarging, increasing and walking in the overwhelming abundance of God in every realm of life.
(Deuteronomy 28:10 NLT) Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the LORD, and they will stand in awe of you.
- People will be astonished and respect us because of God.
The God they see in us will cause a reaction in them.
(Deuteronomy 28:10 MSG) All the peoples on Earth will see you living under the Name of GOD and hold you in respectful awe.
“In the plain sense of the verse, it will be natural for nations to feel reverence for a people that is such an obvious recipient of God’s blessings, for this Divine bounty will testify to the Name that they bear upon themselves. Each nation will have its god or set of beliefs, but all nations will come to realize that only God is the source of all strength and blessing—even of the powers that they ascribe to their gods. If so, the nation that is intimately associated with God will inspire the awe of all the others (R’ Bachya).” —The Chumash, Stone Edition
(2 Chronicles 9:3-4 NLT) When the queen of Sheba realized how wise Solomon was, and when she saw the palace he had built, (4) she was overwhelmed. She was also amazed at the food on his tables, the organization of his officials and their splendid clothing, the cup-bearers and their robes, and the burnt offerings Solomon made at the Temple of the LORD.
(Isaiah 61:9 NIV) Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.”
- We are blessed so we can be a blessing to others.
(Genesis 12:2 AMPC) And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others].
Abraham’s reason for being blessed was to be a blessing.
Our motivation for accumulation is distribution!
(Zechariah 8:13 NLT) Among the other nations, Judah and Israel became symbols of a cursed nation. But no longer! Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!
(Psalms 37:21 NLT) The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.
(Psalms 37:25-26 NIV) I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. (26) They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.
(Proverbs 11:25 CJB) The person who blesses others will prosper; he who satisfies others will be satisfied himself.
(2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NLT) Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. (7) You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” (8) And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
(1 Timothy 6:17-19 NLT) Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. (18) Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. (19) By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.