A God Sized Blessing

by Josh Hollingsworth
(Bryant, Arkansas)

Numbers 6:22-27

INTRODUCTION:
What in our lives do we consider to be a blessing? How about having more money at the end of the month than having more month at the end of our money. Do we count it a blessing to see our family and friends? Do we see our freedoms as Americans as a blessing? Are our possessions a blessing to us? How many things can we count as blessings in our lives?

Blessings come in various shapes and sizes but can also be spiritual. The Bible talks about a blessing being one of the ways of asking God’s divine favor to rest upon others. The blessings in Numbers 6:22-27 help us to understand what a blessing was supposed to do. These blessings demonstrate love, encourage others, and provide a model of caring to those who watch.

THEME: HOW DOES A BLESSING CONVEY THE HOPE OF GOD?

I. BLESSINGS CONVEY THE HOPE THAT GOD WOULD KEEP US.
    (vs. 24)

  A. The Hope That God Would Keep Us Is His Favor. (vs. 24)
    1. Favor is the state or condition of being approved.
    2. Fear can motivate us.

  B. The Hope That God Would Keep Us Is His Protection.
    (vs. 24)
    1. Protection is the act of protecting or the state of being         protected.
    2. Protection from Satan.

T.S. HOW DOES A BLESSING CONVEY THE HOPE OF GOD?

I. BLESSINGS CONVEY THE HOPE THAT GOD WOULD KEEP US.
    (vs. 24)

II. BLESSINGS CONVEY THE HOPE THAT GOE WOULD MAKE HIS     FACE SHINE ON US.
    (vs. 25a)

  A. God’s Face Will Shine Upon Us When We Please Him.
    (vs. 25a)
    1. Please means to give pleasure to, to gratify.
    2. We please God by loving Him.
    3. We please God by praising Him.

  B. Gods Face Will Shine Upon Us When We Obey His     Commandments. (vs. 25a)
    1. We obey God’s commandments by being righteous.
    2. We obey God’s commandments by fearing Him.

NOTE: We have a fear of God when we obey him and do what is right.

T.S. HOW DOES A BLESSING CONVEY THE HOPE OF GOD?

I. BLESSINGS CONVEY THE HOPE THAT GOD WOULD KEEP US.
    (vs. 24)
II. BLESSINGS CONVEY THE HOPE THAT GOD WOULD MAKE HIS     FACE SHINE ON US.
    (vs. 25a)

III. BLESSINGS CONVEY THE HOPE THAT GOD WOULD BE     GRACIOUS TO US.
    (vs. 25b)

  A. God Will Be Gracious To Us When We Are Merciful. (vs. 25b)
    1. Mercy is kind or compassionate behavior shown to an         enemy, offender, or towards others.
    2. We should be merciful to our friends and family.
    3. We should be merciful to our enemies.

  B. God Will Be Gracious To Us When We Are Compassionate.
    (vs. 25b)
    1. Compassion is pity for suffering, with desire to help, sympathy.
    2. We need to have compassion for the lost.
    3. We need to have compassion like Christ did.

T.S. HOW DOES A BLESSING CONVEY THE HOPE OF GOD?

I. BLESSINGS CONVEY THE HOPE THAT GOD WOULD KEEP US.
    (vs. 24)
II. BLESSINGS CONVEY THE HOPE THAT GOD WOULD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE ON US.

    (vs. 25a)
III. BLESSINGS CONVEY THE HOPE THAT GOD WOULD BE GRACIOUS TO US.
    (vs. 25b)

IV. BLESSINGS CONVEY THE HOPE THAT GOD WOULD LIFT UP HIS     COUNTENANCE UPON US.
    (vs. 26a)

  A. God Will Lift Up His Countenance Upon Us By Giving Us His     Approval. (vs. 26a)
    1. Approve means to regard as worthy, proper, or right.
    2. God approves of us when we do good.

  B. God Will Lift Up His Countenance Upon Us By Revealing His     Face To Us. (vs. 26a)
    1. God reveals his face to us when we die to self.
      (a.) Dying to self requires repentance.
      (b.) Dying to self requires brokenness.
    2. God reveals his face to us when we follow him.

T.S. HOW DOES A BLESSING CONVEY THE HOPE OF GOD?

I. BLESSINGS CONVEY THE HOPE THAT GOD WOULD KEEP US.
    (vs. 24)
II. BLESSINGS CONVEY THE HOPE THAT GOD WOULD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE ON US.
    (vs. 25a)
III. BLESSINGS CONVEY THE HOPE THAT GOD WOULD BE GRACIOUS TO US.
    (vs. 25b)
IV. BLESSINGS CONVEY THE HOPE THAT GOD WOULD LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON US.
    (vs. 26a)

V. BLESSINGS CONVEY THE HOPE THAT GOD WOULD GIVE US PEACE.
    (vs. 26b)

  A. God Gives Us Peace Through His Promises. (vs. 26b)
    1. Peace is freedom from mental agitation or anxiety.
    2. God promises true peace to believers.

  B. God Gives Us Peace Through Prayer vs. (v.26b)
    1. Peace comes from talking to God.
    2. Peace comes when God talks to us.

CONCLUSION:
How does a blessing convey the hope of God? Blessings convey the hope that God would keep us. Blessings convey the hope that God would make his face shine on us. Blessings convey the hope that God would be gracious to us. Blessings convey the hope that God would lift up His countenance on us. Blessings convey the hope that God would give us peace.

Blessings convey the hope that God would keep us. Do you feel that you are in God’s favor today? Will you ask for forgiveness of your sins and be reunited with Christ as we speak?

Blessings convey the hope that God would make his face shine on us. Do you please God and obey his commandments? Will you let God be your top priority in your life?

Blessings convey the hope that God would be gracious to us. Are you merciful and compassionate? Will you ask God to mold you and make you into his image so that you can be merciful and compassionate like Christ?

Blessings convey the hope that God would lift up His countenance on us. Do you feel that you have God’s approval or that He has revealed His face to you? If not will you come to him in repentance and brokenness today?

Blessings convey the hope that God would give us peace. Do you have peace through God’s promises and through prayer? Will you make a commitment today to find God’s promises in the Bible, memorize them and then pray for God’s peace?