God Bless You?

Andry · #1 23rd September 2004, 02:59 PM

When someone says to you, "God bless you" are you more blessed had the person not said it? Does that somehow prompt God to send more blessings to you?

Similarly with prayer...when someone says, "I'll pray for you (or with you, or prayer of agreement)", what happens on God's side? Did God not hear our lone prayer, or overlooked us, and therefore if one or more prays with us it's a 'louder' voice for God to hear?

What I believe as a constant from God's side, is that he loves everyone of us the same. He has not overlooked any of us, and though our paths and callings may be different, they are all precious in his sight. Yes, freewill is involved in how we choose to respond. But, when we are faithfully in prayer standing for something and fully confident of it, when we say to someone, "I covet your prayer", how does that prompt God any further?

didaskalos · #2 24th September 2004, 12:56 AM

The love of God is the only thing that is consistant and is not variable. It is funny that some Christians state that it is different for all of us. He wants evil for some while blessings for others. They say that this fictional "variable love" is the deciding factor at all times regarding all things and that is why bad things happen. It is not. There is reaping what we sow, there is random chance, and there is the design and plan of the devil. These all are factors in what happens in your life.
You are right. God has already given us all things that pertain to live and godliness.... what else is there to ask for?
dids

lovesblessing · #3 24th September 2004, 03:06 AM

Originally Posted by andry

When someone says to you, "God bless you" are you more blessed had the person not said it? Does that somehow prompt God to send more blessings to you?

Similarly with prayer...when someone says, "I'll pray for you (or with you, or prayer of agreement)", what happens on God's side? Did God not hear our lone prayer, or overlooked us, and therefore if one or more prays with us it's a 'louder' voice for God to hear?

What I believe as a constant from God's side, is that he loves everyone of us the same. He has not overlooked any of us, and though our paths and callings may be different, they are all precious in his sight. Yes, freewill is involved in how we choose to respond. But, when we are faithfully in prayer standing for something and fully confident of it, when we say to someone, "I covet your prayer", how does that prompt God any further?

Hello Andry!

When we speak words of blessing over someone, it's a good thing for us and them. Jesus had the children come to Him so He could bless them. I would think He would approve in our blessing someone in the name of God.

In the old covenant the blessing was something to be sought after....especially in families. Words have power and so when we speak good things for someones life, it increases their awareness of the love and goodness of God. And I believe it also reflects back on us, that God is pleased by our obedience to His word "to bless and not curse", whether it be an enemy or friend!

According to Jesus in Matthew 18:19-20, the prayer of agreement was a powerful thing. "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (In the Amplified Bible it says that when we go to God in the name of Jesus, (John 14:13-14) that whatever we ask in His name, it is like presenting to God all that Jesus is!) One thing about the prayer of agreement tho', it should be between people who are in agreement on all things in their lives.....not just that one thing at that one time. Because the folks really aren't in agreement, only trying to "work" a principle of Gods. All that said, does it move God anymore? Perhaps yes, in that is would simply strengthen a persons faith in what they were believing for, from their point of view. Corparate faith is greater than individual faith....although, I'm not exactly sure how it does that!

And then again, perhaps it wouldn't move God anymore. He has His plans for each of us, and as long as were are desiring to be in His will for our lives, perhaps He simply moves as He has planned all along? (I know, wishy-washy, right?

) Seriously, I think it is more along the lines of bolstering our faith for something we are believing for when we pray prayers of agreement, knowing that someone else is believing for good things for us. Does that make any sense, or should I just have not butted in here????

Ah, well......Blessings to you Andry!

Blessed Be Jesus My Lord!!!!!

lovesblessing

riverpastor · #4 24th September 2004, 11:40 AM

When I was in India back in '92, it was amazing to see how many, especially young, people came to ask, not for a miracle, but for "the blessing" of Christ.

To give a blessing is to believe and be in agreement with the blessing that the Father has already blessed them with in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

As in giving, it helps to understand that God has "blessed" a ministry or person or family and that you are merely acting in faith by giving to what God has blessed. You are coooperating with the Kingdom in providing BY FAITH THROUGH GRACE to something that God has called "blessed". You become a channel of blessing.

Likewise, through prayer...

Johnny Be Good · #5 24th September 2004, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by didaskalos

The love of God is the only thing that is consistant and is not variable. It is funny that some Christians state that it is different for all of us. He wants evil for some while blessings for others. They say that this fictional "variable love" is the deciding factor at all times regarding all things and that is why bad things happen. It is not. There is reaping what we sow, there is random chance, and there is the design and plan of the devil. These all are factors in what happens in your life.
You are right. God has already given us all things that pertain to live and godliness.... what else is there to ask for?
dids

I hope this doesn't derail this thread, but Dids, do you really believe that 'there is random chance"?

Lovesblessing--God bless you! I think that we cannot comprehend with our finite minds what happens when 1, 2 or more folks come into agreement and pray, but I absolutely believe without question that the results the Word says take place with each DOES HAPPEN. *I find this easy to believe, personally, because my 'knower' knows it's true and just automatically overrides my intellect. I didn't really even choose to go with my 'knower' vs. my intellect; my 'knower' just took control! I'm blessed!

RP--I didn't understand a thing you typed!

What should my 'knower' gleen from your post?!

Can you spell it out more simply for me. bro?

victoryword · #6 24th September 2004, 01:53 PM

To me, it's a lot nicer than saying, "God CURSE you!"

Aaaaaaaaaa - chooooooooooo

God curse you son!

Hhhhhmmmm. Just doesn't sound right.

riverpastor · #7 24th September 2004, 03:13 PM

VW - lol

JBG - Simply that we are getting behind the blessing instead of in front of it blindly (presumption). We "bless" because God has already "blessed". Offering a blessing to someone is an act of faith. You allow the Blesser on the inside of you to bless another. Just like you allow the Giver on the inside of you to give to another. Or you allow the Healer on the inside of you to heal another.

didaskalos · #8 24th September 2004, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by Johnny Be Good

I hope this doesn't derail this thread, but Dids, do you really believe that 'there is random chance"?

Not so must that I would get dogmatic about it... I do believe it exists but that we are also delivered and protected from the negative effects of random events... i.e. "accidents".

Psalms 91:10 ASV
10 There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent.

(See some of the alternate renderings:
(CEV) and no terrible disasters will strike you or your home.
(GNB) and so no disaster will strike you, no violence will come near your home.)

Deuteronomy 4:41-42 NASB
41 Then Moses set apart three cities across the Jordan to the east,
42 that a manslayer might flee there, who unintentionally slew his neighbor without having enmity toward him in time past; and by fleeing to one of these cities he might live:

Deuteronomy 19:4-5 NASB
4 "Now this is the case of the manslayer who may flee there and live: when he kills his friend unintentionally, not hating him previously--
5 as when a man goes into the forest with his friend to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, and the iron head slips off the handle and strikes his friend so that he dies--he may flee to one of these cities and live;

Luke 10:31 LITV
31 But by a coincidence, a certain priest was going on that road; and seeing him, he passed on the opposite side.

Deut. 22:6 (KJV)
If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:

1 Samuel 6:9 (KJV)
And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Beth-shemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us; it was a chance that happened to us.

2 Samuel 1:6 (KJV)
And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

Eccles. 9:11 (KJV)
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Blade · #9 25th September 2004, 12:02 AM

Originally Posted by andry

When someone says to you, "God bless you" are you more blessed had the person not said it? Does that somehow prompt God to send more blessings to you?

Similarly with prayer...when someone says, "I'll pray for you (or with you, or prayer of agreement)", what happens on God's side? Did God not hear our lone prayer, or overlooked us, and therefore if one or more prays with us it's a 'louder' voice for God to hear?

What I believe as a constant from God's side, is that he loves everyone of us the same. He has not overlooked any of us, and though our paths and callings may be different, they are all precious in his sight. Yes, freewill is involved in how we choose to respond. But, when we are faithfully in prayer standing for something and fully confident of it, when we say to someone, "I covet your prayer", how does that prompt God any further?

For the God Bless you mmmm.. I have to go with victoryword on this one.

As for prayer well it's whats between us and him. What I mean is we know Jesus did it all

Yet satan still fights us every step of the way. So where one will put a thousand to flight 2 will put ten thousand to flight.

Andry · #10 26th September 2004, 01:11 AM

Originally Posted by victoryword

To me, it's a lot nicer than saying, "God CURSE you!"

Aaaaaaaaaa - chooooooooooo

God curse you son!

Hhhhhmmmm. Just doesn't sound right.

Ahhh, yes of course.

But if truth be told, probably the majority my "good mornings" to friends and colleagues had nothing to do with sincerely wishing/hoping/giving them "good" mornings, or that it even was a good "morning", but mere salutations as expected in our western culture.

I would venture that many of us in our "God bless yous...." do the same, as part of our casual (ie. without faith thought or consideration) "spiritual" salutation among the brethren. Doesn't that somehow 'cheapen' and (and to an extent take in vain simultaneously) the "God" and the "bless" part?