Simple steps to receive blessing

“How blessed are those who observe his decrees, who seek him with all of their heart.” (Psalm 119:2 NIV)

Many promises in the Bible are very simple and clear with what they say, and this is one of them! 

Want to be blessed, do these two things: 

1. Observe God’s decrees (His commands)

“Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.” (Deut. 4:40)

“And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Ez. 36:27)

2. Seek Him with all your heart!

“And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matt. 6:33 NLT)

It’s pretty easy to understand!

Mike Frenchbible promises
Like newborn babies!

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Pet. 2:2-3 NIV)

This passage of scripture was written to brand new “baby believers.” And like all babies, they needed to be fed “milk” in order to grow. But, there does reach a point when the diet leaves “baby food” to adult solid food.

The writer of Hebrews talks about this: “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:12-14). Paul saw the same problem with the Corinthian believers; they had not grown in their faith, and he could only give them “milk” because they were not ready for solid food. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)

The problem with many believers is that they never mature beyond the “baby Christian stage” and this is very dangerous! They remain weak, immature, and noneffective in their Christian life.

A Christian’s spiritual diet should consist of the Word of God!

The truths taught in the Bible are rich spiritual food for Christians! Peter wrote in 2 Pet. 1:3-11, that God has given us everything we need for life through our knowledge of Him. He lists character qualities that need to be added to our beginning point of faith in order for maturity to take place and to have a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mike Frenchbible promises, like newborn babies
Angels help you!

“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.” (Rev. 5:11 NIV)

  • Angels, Angels, Angels, they’re everywhere!

“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly.” (Heb. 12:22)

  • You can’t always see them, but they are still there!

So was the case of Elisha’s servant when he saw the king’s vast army coming to attack. Elisha wasn’t concerned because he could see what his servant couldn’t see! God’s angels in chariots of fire! So he prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17)

  • You can see them sometimes, but you may not be aware of it!

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (Heb. 13:2)

  • They are God’s messengers

Many times, throughout the Bible, God’s messages were delivered through His angels. Here is just one example:

“And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.” (Luke 1:11-13)

  • Angels are used of God to help you

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” (Psalms 34:7).

“Therefore, angels are only servants – spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.” (Heb. 1:14)

Notice that this verse says that angels are “sent to help people who will inherit salvation.” When I was in Vietnam, before I became born again, I thought it curious that I always arrived at places on the DMZ just after they were attacked and I left places just before they were attacked. And, I was shot at, and could even hear the bullets whiz right past my ears, but I was never hit! After arriving back home, I discovered that a pastor had prayed for me every day during his family’s evening mealtimes. He prayed, “Lord, please watch over Mike and keep him safe from any harm.” I do believe God heard his prayers and sent angels to help me. It wasn’t long after I arrived back home that I became a follower of Jesus. I “inherited salvation,” so to speak.

  • Angels perform God’s Word

“Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.” (Psalms 103:20)

Mike Frenchbible promises, angels
Cleansed from a guilty conscience

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience.” (Heb. 10:22a NIV)

When I was about ten years old, I went to the five & dime store with my dad where there were shelves and shelves of toys. When nobody was looking, I slipped a little toy into my pocket and left the store with my dad and did not pay for it. My conscience immediately started to bother me. That night I couldn’t sleep and imagined the worst-case scenarios. I was a thief! I had stolen something. I imagined being arrested and taken to jail! The next day, my dad had to go back to the same store to get something and I went with him. I secretly slipped the toy out of my pocket and back onto the store shelf. I immediately felt a great sense of relief and happiness.

The conscience

Webster’s New World Dictionary defines the conscience as: “a knowledge or sense of right and wrong, with a compulsion to do right; moral judgement that opposes the violation of a previously recognized ethical principle and that leads to feelings of guilt.”

Someone asked an old Indian for his definition of the conscience. He said, “A conscience is a wheel within your heart with sharp arrows pointing outward. When you do something wrong, the wheel turns and the arrows hurt you. But, if you continue doing it, the points break off.”

The Bible says you can sear your conscience

“Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1 Tim. 4:1-2)

Guard your conscience and keep it in good shape

“Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (1 Pet. 3:16)

“Keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.” (1 Tim. 1:19)

Mike Frenchbible promises, cleansed from a guilty conscience
Every spiritual blessing is yours

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Eph. 1:3)

Every spiritual blessing in Christ

The word blessing in Ephesians 1:3 is a translation of the Greek word eulogy, and it means “to speak well of.” And, God has spoken well of you and He has pronounced good things for your benefit. The good things that God has decreed are beyond our ability to number, but we can outline a few by looking at the verses that follow the statement (Ephesians 1:4–13).

Good things for you from God

  • God chose us. Ephesians 1:4 says that He has “chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.”

  • God made us to be holy and without blame. God has chosen to make us holy and blameless, and all because of His love, His good pleasure, and His grace (verses 5–6).

  • God extended His grace to us with salvation. This is even more amazing when we realize that He made that decision before sin even entered into the world. (Eph. 2:5)

  • God adopted us as His children. (Eph. 1:5). Not only has God chosen us to be made holy, but He grants us full status as His children, with all the benefits thereof. John 1:12 says, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name.” When we believe the gospel, we receive full access to the Father, able to call out to Him as His children.

  • God made us “accepted in the beloved.” (Eph. 1:6). The blood of Christ has taken away the guilt of our sins, and we stand before the Father as perfectly accepted.

  • God gave us redemption through His blood. (Eph. 1:7). Redemption speaks of buying one’s freedom, paying a ransom. The price for our sins, the payment to buy us out of eternal condemnation, was fully paid by the blood of Christ. In Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin, but we become slaves to God. Since we are bought and paid for by His blood, we have an obligation to glorify God in our body and spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:20).

  • God gave us the forgiveness of sins. (Eph. 1:7). It is closely related to redemption, but looks at the other side of the coin. In paying the ransom for our sins, the debt of sin was canceled, and we were forgiven. We no longer have the burden of guilt for violating God’s holy laws.

  • Knowing the mystery of His will. (Eph. 1:8–10). God has given us wisdom and insight through His Word and has shown us His desire to bring all things together to glorify Christ.

  • The inheritance that is given to us through Christ. (Eph. 1:11). What is included in that inheritance? The riches of glory, the presence of God, the eternal home – these don’t even scratch the surface of all the blessings that belong to our inheritance.

  • The sealing of the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 1:13). When we become God’s children, He places His mark of ownership on us, guaranteeing our eternal security. This is spoken of as the down-payment of our full redemption, to hold us until the day Christ brings us to Him.

How to get these blessings

These blessings are readily accessible to everyone who is in Christ Jesus. The way to be in Christ is to repent, or turn away from our sins (Acts 17:30), confessing to God that we are sinners (Proverbs 28:13; Romans 10:9). When we believe that Christ died to take our punishment and now lives to give us new life (1 Corinthians 15:3–4), He grants us forgiveness of sins and all the blessings that accompany that salvation.

Therefore…

Given the spiritual blessings we have received through Christ in the heavenly realms, we should give praise to God the Father.

Today, take a moment to consider the spiritual blessings God has given you and give Him praise for all of them.

Mike Frenchbible promises, spiritual blessings are yours
Co-workers with God!

“For we are co-workers in God’s service.” (1 Cor. 3:9a)

As God’s co-workers, be of good service

  • Help your neighbors

“The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gal. 5:14)

How? Get to know them. Begin with those who live on your street or block. When you see them in their yard, stop and say hello. As you get to know them, pay attention to their needs, and then pray for those needs. God’s Holy Spirit will prompt you about what to do when that kind of help is needed. Then do it!

  • Help those who are lonely or needy

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matt. 25:40)

How? Visit your local rest home and ask to visit someone who never gets visitors. Become friends with them and become their regular visitor. Visit shut ins – people who can no longer physically get out, and may be lonely, or may need someone to get something from the store for them. Your pastor may be a good person to ask to refer you to someone.

Mike Frenchbible promises, co-workers with god
You are the salt of the earth! But watch out!

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?” (Matt. 5:13)

Salt is needed by all known living creatures and is used for both flavoring and preservation. If abused, it can be harmful. It is also detrimental to have no salt intake because it regulates the water content in our bodies.

Salt without flavor is no good!

Jesus said we are “the salt of the earth,” but He went on to say, “what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?”

He said, “It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

Jesus was talking about believers who have once been strong but have lost their fervor or gusto. He spoke of this in the book of Revelation, when He said to the churches, “You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” (Rev. 2:4-5)

It happens gradually

Believers who were once strong and vibrant in their faith, who were once on fire for Him, cool down and become lukewarm. Eventually, they become ineffective and unproductive in their relationship with God. This is dangerous!

Jesus spoke about being lukewarm

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” (Rev. 3:15-18 KJV)

Here’s what Jesus said to do

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Rev. 3:20 KJV)

“Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.” (Rev. 3:2-3)

Therefore…

“Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Return to Me," declares the LORD of hosts, "that I may return to you," says the LORD of host.” (Zech. 1:3 NASB)

Mike Frenchbible promises, you are the salt of the earth
Help in the day of trouble

“In the day of my trouble I will call upon you: for you will answer me.” (Psalm 86:7 NIV)

Everyone is visited by trouble from time to time, it’s just a part of life. A lot of promises in the Word of God give us great assurance about turning to God during times of trouble.

Help in the day of trouble

“For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:5)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

“The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” (Psalm 9:9)

Therefore…

”Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.” (James 5:13)

”Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” (Psalm 50:15 NKJV)

Mike Frenchbible promises, help when in trouble
A simple formula for happiness

“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” (Phil. 2:4 NIV)

This is a simple formula for happiness

Helping others does a number of positive things for you. There are two immediate benefits from helping others. First, you feel good because you are helping others, and secondly, others feel good because they are getting help from you. It’s a win-win situation.

Many other benefits

Studies show that when people get involved in helping others, the mesolimbic system, which is the portion of the brain responsible for feelings of reward, is triggered. The brain releases feel-good chemicals and spurs you to perform more kind acts — something psychologists call “helper’s high.”

In a study by United Health Group, 78 percent of people who volunteered to help others over a 12-month period said they felt that their helping activities lowered their stress levels. They were more calm and peaceful than people who didn’t help others.

Kindness is contagious

aAccording to a study by researchers at University of California, Los Angeles, and University of Cambridge and University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom. “When we see someone else help another person it gives us a good feeling,” the study states, “which in turn causes us to go out and do something altruistic ourselves.”

But the main reason we should help others is because God told us to.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” ( Gal. 6:2)

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:4)

When you help others you are helping Jesus!

“’For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” (Matt. 25:35-40)

Mike Frenchbible promises, happiness