Redefining The Blessing Part 2 The Purpose Of The Blessing by Apostle Joshua Selman: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Redefining the Blessing: where we stopped

In his presence we access wisdom. In his presence we access power. In his presence we access light Psalm 122:1

Redefining the blessing is a shift God is bringing to us

The concept of the blessing is a biblical concept. The first initiator was God himself Genesis 1:28

God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldeans and began to propose a series of blessings to him Genesis 12:1 to Genesis 12:3

God can bless and men can also bless. A blessing was spoken over Rebecca when her family released her Genesis 24:60

Men can be blessed Psalm 1:1. Men can bless the Lord Psalm 103:1

Generally, blessing is connected to favor, advancement, peace, protection, preservation and triumph

Barak: to stoop down, to bow. In relation to God it is worship.

Bless the Lord does not mean give him money or make his life better. There is nothing we can add to God

It is the woman with the alabaster box. To cast your golden crown, to stoop down in worship, to acknowledge and honor him

Eulogia: a good word. A pronouncement that produces an effect of wealth, peace, protection. The priest was commanded to declare the blessing upon the people

A prophetic pronouncement deposits grace on lives that guides them into possibilities, from prosperity to favor

Isaac blessed Jacob instead of Esau Genesis 27

Even though it came through deceit, the blessing rested on Jacob, to the point that Esau cried as a hardworking adult over the value of the blessing

Makarios: the portrait of the result of the blessing. Fortunate, one who has already triumphed, one who has prospered

In the Old Testament, blessings were largely speakings. Prophetic pronouncements backed by the power of God which, received by faith, produced favor, preservation and protection

In the New Testament the concept began to change with the arrival of Jesus as the Christ

3 concepts to keep as a rule of thumb:

• The blessing of Abraham
• The blessing
• Blessings

The blessing of Abraham Isaiah 51:2

Unlike the popular narrative across the body of Christ, it has nothing to do with physical or material things

It is a mystery shrouded in the story of a man. It contains the formula to find salvation, to connect to the Christ

The blessing of Abraham is justification by faith. Abraham believed God though it was impossible and it was credited to him for righteousness

Like faithful Abraham, when we believe that we have been saved, redeemed, that our sins are forgiven, no matter how impossible, it is credited to us

You are a partaker of the blessing of Abraham, but that does not mean God asked you to count the stars. The material part comes later. The foundation is faith

The blessing is the promise of the Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the blessing. It is not what he brings, it is who he is, alongside all the resources that come with him Galatians 3:13 to Galatians 3:14

Peter's first sermon on the day of Pentecost Acts 2:39

Jesus corrected the reason Esau cried. It does not matter whether you come late or early, provided you come into Christ, you have access to the blessing

The Holy Spirit comes as the blessing Psalm 133

In that gathering God commanded the blessing, in this case the Spirit. It was an adumbration of the day of Pentecost Acts 2:1 to Acts 2:4

Blessings are the effects

When you say you are blessed, it does not just mean you got a job. A job is not the reason you are blessed. A car is not the reason you are blessed

If you base the blessing on these things you are carnally minded. It would mean many people without Christ are blessed. Nobody without Jesus Christ is blessed

Through diligence you can buy a car, a house. You can route some of the effects that parallel the blessing even without Christ

The only condition to be blessed: you have gone through the process that released the blessing of Abraham, justification by faith. That gives you access to the Spirit who is the blessing himself

You can have the Holy Spirit and never have the evidence of his presence manifest. Many people have him and the only way you know is when they pray in tongues

The expressions of the blessing are primarily spiritual: peace, the fruit of the Spirit, godlike character. You cannot outsource these outside Christ. You cannot tame the flesh by mechanics

You can be rich and not be blessed. You can be prosperous and not be blessed. The concept of blessing is exclusive to those who are in Christ

The purpose of the blessing

Dr. Myles Munroe: when the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable

Abuse is abnormal use. Every time the purpose of a thing is not known, you will use it in an abnormal way

The ratio of him to them Genesis 12:3

For every him that curses you, there are many them. For every one person who looks down on you, there are many who love you, honor you and desire your good

Do not be frustrated. The naysayers are a minority compared to the many sincere people who love you

The psychology of men tilts towards the one looking, even when 1,000 are saying hosanna. Train your mind Philippians 4:8

Families goes beyond nuclear houses. It extends to people groups

Created for good works Ephesians 2:10

The NLT says God's masterpiece

Not what he is planning. He is not wondering what to make out of your life. There is a script already

Everything in the kingdom derives its value to the degree to which it is connected to purpose

The beauty of Esther meant nothing until it became connected to purpose. When it became a tool for the salvation of God's people, it found its value

Do not celebrate things for what they are. Celebrate them for their ability to fulfill kingdom purpose. A job, a promotion

A believer says, "I have a promotion because I have found a better expression, a better influence to bless lives and advance the program of God"

Nothing in itself exists for itself. The orange tree does not eat its orange. The mango tree does not eat its mango

Everything in creation finds fulfillment when it lives for a cause bigger than itself

The man not in Christ is largely about self. Two expressions in the Bible disturbed me: the poor wise man Ecclesiastes 9:15, and the rich fool Luke 12:16 to Luke 12:21

Wisdom and poverty should not go hand in hand. The prosperity of fools Proverbs 1:32

What made the rich man a fool was that he did not look at a bigger cause beyond himself. He built barns and told his soul to rest

The purpose of the blessing in any expression is so that you can reach out to others

Your job, your singing, your gifts, your abilities only derive their value to the degree to which they are connected to purpose

2 purposes of the Holy Spirit as the blessing

1. To help the believer experience the reality of victory, dominion and fulfillment while on earth

   2 Peter 1:4

   It is important to have the experience. He that is joined to Christ is one spirit 1 Corinthians 6:17

   When the Holy Ghost comes upon an individual he has the singular assignment of helping that believer experience the reality of victory, dominion and fulfillment

   It is impossible to walk in victory, to walk in dominion, to live a fulfilled life without the blessing

   Go any route. You will never truly live a victorious life in Christ, never truly walk in dominion, never truly find fulfillment, except and unless the blessing is upon you

2. To empower the believer to fulfill the mandate of being a global blessing

   Genesis 12:3

   Extending salvation, extending healing, extending wealth, extending victory, extending deliverance, extending preservation like Joseph

   Joseph was an instrument of preservation, not only for his family but for the Jews. He was raised not as a deliverer but as a preserver

   The Holy Spirit is fair.

   He works in you first so you become an experiential beneficiary of the victory of Christ, and then he reminds you there is a mandate. It is not all about you

   A cup overflows because it is first filled. You are filled to the brim, then you overflow to the nations John 7:37 to John 7:39

Yesterday you said, "I am blessed." Now you say, "I am a blessing."

Why are you blessed? Because you have received Jesus, been justified by faith, received the blessing of Abraham, and it gives you access to the promise of the Spirit through faith

You do not need a job yet to say it. You do not need an award yet.

The coming of the Holy Spirit gives you the capacity and the potential to be a blessing. Whether you actually will be is part of the teaching

All who know you will thank God because you are alive. Your parents and loved ones will get on their knees one day and say, "Thank God for the gift of a child."

Leicester will thank God you are here. The United Kingdom will thank God you are here. The body of Christ will thank God you are here.

People will name their children and their businesses after you.

There are names we do not give our children even though they are in the Bible. Lucifer, Beelzebub. There is a story behind the name that does not bring glory to God

We live in a very selfish world. There is a level and quality of living you will never understand until you are a blessing

If your life is all about yourself and your nuclear environment, you are far short of God's standard

The greatest fulfillment in my life is not just preaching but seeing that you are shaping cultures, discipling nations. Someone literally depends on my spiritual efficiency for their growth

God must sort your own life too

It is difficult to truly be a blessing until God sorts your own life. Pray the prayer of the psalmist Psalm 90:14

Satan keeps you preoccupied because when you are done with yourself, the next thing is to look out for the nations

By the time you lift your eyes you have days left on earth, and you have lived a selfish life. Not because you are selfish, it is a manipulation from darkness

Every man gives according to his riches in glory. You need to have first before you can give Acts 3:6

• Everything needed for life and godliness that has been released in Christ and is yet to find expression in my life, bring me into that reality on time.
• Let finances come on time.

One way Satan distracts from being blessings is to cause trouble around us so we never find personal victories

You cannot go and save another nation when your own nation is at war. Kings called their allies already enjoying peace to come and join them

When your child has a problem, your finances are going down, your health is failing, you will not have time to be a blessing. It is a strategy

Pray to step into the covenant of peace, nothing missing, nothing broken, so that you have the time. Time to participate in the kingdom and even to fund it

People will rise from here and set up organizations and fund God's program without manipulation.

Creation is waiting Romans 8:18, Romans 8:19

Creation is waiting eagerly for the day God reveals who his children really are.

You do not look like it now, but keep working, keep building. Let the blessing keep doing its work in you 1 John 3:2

You should be able to defend the ministry of the blessing in your life. When they ask "How?" and "To what end?" you can explain

Many believers say "I am blessed" but cannot say what it means. It must become one of the things most surely believed

Your results matter to God

Your results are important not only to you but to God. Producing results validates many things upon the earth about God

It validates that he is love. It validates that the product he created is efficient

Companies recall thousands of cars over a widespread defect, losing millions, for the sake of their reputation. The Bible calls it his namesake

His logo is on your life and it matters that you are not purported as a fake product.

In business you buy reputation, not just products. Peel the logo off an original and it is considered fake

The integrity of the king is at stake upon the earth until the saints manifest a life of dominion and victory

My life changed when I realized that, as mighty as God is, the preservation of his name and reputation in the world of men depends on my efficiency

He invests in my life because he loves me, but also for his name's sake. Nations go to war and spend millions to protect one citizen. You are a defender of God's reputation and love

My conviction to produce results did not come from a carnal desire to be great.

I found in the Bible that producing results gives evidence of the might, love, power and wisdom of Jesus upon the earth

Whether in prayer, fasting, learning, building, creativity, productivity, leadership, I am all about seeing my life produce hundredfold. I do not have time for 30-fold or 60-fold

They glorified God in me Galatians 1:24

This should be your object of pursuit. Not just to be rich, intelligent or rise to the zenith of your career. Until you hit this target you are not yet there

The reflection principle John 17:1

God glorifies the Son so that the Son, in being glorified, brings glory to the Father

The moon has no glory of itself. It derives its illumination from its alignment with the sun Genesis 37:9

When you align yourself to God by his Spirit, you shine his light through you to the nations. We are the ambassadors, the extensions of his wisdom, power and possibilities Ephesians 3:10

Why God desires that you produce results John 15:1 to John 15:8

The Father is not the vine. The Father is the initiator of that program, the husbandman who planted it

Fruit bearing is how the Father is glorified. The branch that bears fruit is purged to bear more

Fruit that remains John 15:16

Longevity of your impact. I am fruitful because the blessing is upon me

You are the salt and the light

Matthew 5:13 to Matthew 5:14

Salt has 2 assignments: to bring taste value, and to preserve

It is never too late to add salt to food. Some ingredients are timing dependent, and if you fail to add them at the right time you produce a disaster

Last year I microwaved something beyond its time. I opened it and said, "No, this can't be me. I reject this kind of testimony." It had burnt

But even when the meal is served you can still add salt. There is always space for your relevance. Never too late for a believer to be relevant

You add value to any system. Your blessing is not in your acquiring, it is in your addition, your giving

When you say "I am a blessing," what you are saying is not "I have." You are saying "I am a giver."

The carnal man, and sometimes we preachers, engineer people's minds into believing that being a blessing is in the acquisition of things. No. The fact that you are a giver already means you have

God demonstrated that he was a blessing not just by creating the heavens and the earth but by giving Jesus John 15:13

No one has received a Nobel Prize for receiving. It is always for giving. If I come into a system I do not think "What will I get?" I have re-engineered my mind

When you say "I am blessed," you mean: I am in Christ, the Holy Spirit is resident within me and gives me access to all the resources for my victory, dominion and fulfillment

When you say "I am a blessing," you mean: I am a giver. I take advantage of the Holy Spirit and the resources he has put in me and I extend salvation, healing and hope

As a businessman I am a blessing. As a doctor I am a blessing, not just treating patients. As a lecturer, as a pastor, I am a blessing

Salt that has lost its savor is salt in name, but in impact it is not there. It means the capacity to be a blessing

Impact is not about number. You do not use the same quantity of salt as rice. You are not disadvantaged if you are few

God can send two people over a city and he sends you as salt. Within you is the capacity to infiltrate the system.

Your territory should feel the effect of the glory, power and wisdom of God

Light

Illustration: the 4 dark rooms

A room dark for 10 years, a room dark for 1 year, a room dark for 1 week, a room dark for a few hours.

Connect all to the same source and switch on the light

It does not factor the longevity of darkness. If it is true light, it comes up and drives darkness out immediately

Light does not have to be everywhere to be felt. From one point it shines

The definition of darkness in your city is not your light going off, it is your presence not being there. Darkness is a territory without the church, without God's people

When I get into an aircraft traveling to a nation I rejoice. I feel sorry for darkness because I carry the blessing. Darkness as ignorance, darkness as crisis, darkness as yokes

As I speak, behind the scenes the Holy Ghost is lighting up every darkness in your life. Paul called it being flooded with light Ephesians 1:17 to Ephesians 1:18

The word is epignosis, coming to oneness with the knowledge. Not just awareness

The mentality of a blessing

You are not a source of inconvenience to people. You are not a burden. I know you do not have a job yet, but it first starts with a mentality

The mentality to rise up and walk is what attracts the grace to rise up and walk.

The man at the Beautiful gate was kept there so that he would see. If the gate was beautiful, my life can be beautiful Acts 3:2

Many people do not have the mentality of a winner. I do not mean arrogant marketing of self. I mean settled confidence

I do not need a job to convince me I am light or salt. The word of God says so. You first believe, then you become. You do not become and then believe

Baruch haba Psalm 118:26. You come into a family, into a territory, with greetings and blessings. You come as a blessing

The grace to the territory means someone who did not even attend the conference may suddenly find their prayer life coming alive because grace was supplied

Only two prayed in Paul and Silas' prison, but when the blessing came, everyone Acts 16:25 to Acts 16:26

I carry life. I carry health. When you see me, I represent God's mercy. I represent hope. I represent love and grace. I shake hands with you, good for your destiny.

You are not the one who is disadvantaged 2 Corinthians 4:18

It has nothing to do with being a preacher. It is a mentality. My atmosphere is a blessing. My words are blessings

If all believers carried this mentality you would receive both vertically and horizontally.

Whoever is sitting close to you is an orchestration of the wisdom of God. The grace may flow through the person next to you, not directly from the man of God

Take away the narrative that only a few people are blessings

I am not blessed because of a car parked in my house or celebrity status. That is poor education. If you say you are blessed because of things, you were not mentored well

Mature believers hinge their justification to Christ and the Spirit, not to works, not even to their efforts

As a preacher, I am not blessed because of abundance of revelation or because many follow me. Those are evidences of the blessing

The reason I am blessed: I have received the blessing of Abraham, been justified by faith, imputed righteousness though not deserving.

It gives me access to the Spirit of grace with every spiritual resource in heavenly places in Christ Ephesians 1:3

Imagine if a wife had this understanding toward her husband: "I am a blessing. I did not come as a curse to you." Imagine a man toward a woman. Many marriages would be fixed

Imagine employees carrying this mentality to their jobs, however menial or noble. You are a factor

Jacob in Laban's house Genesis 30:27

Jacob expected things to change when he got there. Laban had to consult diviners about the reason for his prosperity, and it was traceable to Jacob.

When Jacob said he needed to leave, Laban said no way

Your corporation will double, triple, quadruple your salary to keep you. Not because of your technical value.

Some will quietly consult spirits and be told, "Drive this sister away and your company goes down." One man becoming like a nation

If I have to preach to be a blessing, then I am not really a blessing. I am a blessing to my world because there is a mandate upon me

I am God's masterpiece, his workmanship Ephesians 2:10

Good works, not bad works, not evil works

The consciousness of being a blessing transfers to you the discipline to remain a blessing.

It gives staying power to resist gossiping and the things that steal, kill and destroy. Those demean your status in Christ

You cannot invest 24 hours bleeding many hearts and go back to bed rejoicing. You cannot be a blessing that way

Many in the body of Christ purport to be blessings, but all they bring to themselves and those around them is pain and regret.

There are people who can never keep friends. The validity of their friendship is 2 weeks

• Satan, that manipulation that keeps making me a disadvantage to people, I curse it by the blood.

I am a blessing means people wake up and say, "Father, thank you for your Spirit, but thank you for this person."

A husband says to his wife, "It has been 10 years, 20 years, but your presence in my life is an advantage."

Children say to their parents, "You are the most visible expression of the mercy of God to me."

Your boss can be Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus or Herod. You can still thrive. Daniel did not need to change his boss to be light, salt and a blessing

God can place you in Egypt under a Pharaoh who does not serve your God, and Pharaoh recognizes you are a blessing and makes you second in command Genesis 41

Nebuchadnezzar and the fiery furnace Daniel 3:24 to Daniel 3:30

Nebuchadnezzar blessed the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and passed a verdict, a decree against anyone who speaks against their God. There is no other God that can deliver after this sort

Nebuchadnezzar and the forgotten dream Daniel 2:46 to Daniel 2:47

The king forgot his dream and called the astrologers, sorcerers and necromancers. They could not reveal it, and he said he would kill them all. He did not punish himself for forgetting his own dream

Daniel said, "King, do not be hasty. Give me time." The secret was revealed, and the king worshipped Daniel

There are people who look down on you now, but nations, kings and nobles will look for you and call you to their office

Some will swallow their pride and say, "I have to admit that you are a blessing.

It took me a long time, but your consistency has tamed my ego to a point I cannot deny it." May that be your testimony.

2 implications of saying "I am a blessing"

1. You are joined to the blessing

   John 1:16, John 15:1

   The only one who can be a blessing is the one who remains perpetually connected to the blessing. It is in your abiding that you bear fruit

   You are not just connected to a pronouncement. You are connected to the living Spirit Colossians 2:3

2. You are a giver

   A determination within my heart to be a giver. A giver of life, a giver of hope, an extension of God's possibilities. Everything increases when it comes in touch with you

   I challenge ministers of the gospel. When our theology of being a blessing ends only with giving money, no. It is beyond money

   You can use words and change the trajectory of a man's life. Then, of course, material blessings.

   Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his other wives, but to Isaac he gave everything, the blessing Genesis 25:5 to Genesis 25:6

   Take away a donation mentality. If you are dealing with people not of faith, use the terms they are used to. Become all things to all men. When you fill your forms, write donation

   But in the kingdom, God did not donate to us. He gave. Like him, we are givers

   Financial resources are the least on your giving list. An intercessor is a giver. A comforter is a giver. One who encourages the downcast is a giver. Every preacher is a giver

   The salary is only a token to honor your value. I am a giver beyond this. Expect beyond salary.

   God has a package for you, and it only comes to the one with a giver mentality

People around the world send messages: "I was about to take my life when your message came."

God is able to bless people because you work in partnership with him. He sends a message, a book, your organization, your NGO, your value

Closing charge

Leave knowing that you are blessed and that you are a blessing, with the capacity to explain and defend both

Acts 20:35

The word used is blessed, not rewarding. In receiving you are also blessed

The Holy Spirit, your will, the word of God and the teaching priest work together like the ingredients in a meal

To produce a believer who is victorious, walks in dominion and lives a fulfilled life

Prayers and declarations

• Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me. Forget not his benefits.
• Barak. To stoop down, to worship, to give him the honor due his name.
• Thank you for everything received.

Psalm 103:1 to Psalm 103:2

• I am a blessing. I am not just blessed, I am a blessing.
• Lord, I obtain grace to respect the ministry of the blessing, the Holy Spirit within me, and to walk ever conscious of that ministry.
• I obtain grace to be a blessing indeed, to manifest as the blessing that I am.
• A blessing to my family, to my city, to the United Kingdom, to my place of work.

Cast down every imagination, every high thing, every suggestion of darkness 2 Corinthians 10:5

Those who are products of the ill speakings of people who called you names in anger. It is the scourging tongues of men Job 5:21

Words are spirit. They can minister life or minister death

• Every mentality, every speaking of darkness suggesting otherwise, trying to threaten this revelation and this mandate of being a blessing, using my past, my failures, I take authority over it in the name of Jesus.
• I rebuke fear. I rebuke doubt. I rebuke intimidation. I rebuke envy. I rebuke unforgiveness. I rebuke jealousy.
• These negative traits cannot be found within and around my life.
• I cast down every negative speaking, from a spouse, from parents, from school.

You are a blessing, man of God, whether or not the ministry is thriving. My dear sister, you are a blessing.

Where the blessing is commanded

Psalm 133:3

Life:

• Life void of sickness
• Life void of diseases
• Life void of curses
• Life void of poverty
• Life void of limitations

It is not enough to know you are a blessing and a possessor of it.

You must understand the spiritual dynamics responsible for releasing the blessing like a river. How to activate and release the blessing

The river flowing from the east side of the temple. Every dead fish that came in contact with it came alive Ezekiel 47

A river flows from the throne of God and brings healing to the nations Revelation 22:1 to Revelation 22:2

With your bills piling up, do not change your confession. I am blessed. I am a blessing. Those bills will change because the blessing is on you

The blessing is indestructible. It programs a man to become indomitable. It may take time to manifest. Many have the Holy Spirit and are not able to manifest the riches of that life

Make it right with Jesus

The blessing is only for those in Christ. It is a family word, a family affair

Outside Christ there is no possibility to be blessed in the Bible's way, or to be a blessing

It is never too late to make it right with Jesus John 14:6

• Lord Jesus, I love you with all my heart.
• I believe you are the Son of God. I believe you died for my sin.
• Right now I receive you into my heart. Be my Savior, be my Lord, and be my King.
• I declare from today that I am a child of God. I live for Jesus all the days of my life.
• I go forward ever and backward never. Amen.

• Father, thank you. As many as come to you, you will in no wise cast away.
• These ones have come declaring the lordship of Jesus over their lives. We decree it will be a new beginning for every one of them and the grace to walk in victory.
• I commend you to the blessing himself, the Holy Spirit, that you will be built, you will be established, and you will serve Jesus all the days of your life.