Boom: Blessings, Opportunities, Outpouring & MiraclesՕրինակ

BLESSINGS

Thanks for joining in this four-day 'BOOM' devotional. We are believing over each participant that they would experience the Blessings, Opportunities, Outpouring, and Miracles of God in the midst of their everyday life. Where the past season may have been one of isolation and hardships relating to global events, we have confidence that God is up to something new and wants you to be involved!

“Blessed are the eyes that see the things you see!” (Luke 10: 23)

Luke records how Jesus commissions His disciples to go into every community across the nation of Israel, to declare that the Kingdom of God has come, to proclaim the Good News of Jesus, to heal the sick, and to bless every community they visited in His name. Yet nothing could have prepared them for what was about to occur!

AUTHORITY TO BLESS

In obedience, Jesus’ disciples went off in pairs. They carried His authority and returned with incredible stories of how the demons trembled before them and submitted to their commands. This was Jesus’ intention all along; for his disciples to declare salvation, proclaim blessings, remove curses, and bring freedom.

We can understand the disciple’s excitement and enthusiasm around the mighty works they witnessed when they returned. Still, Jesus draws their attention to their salvation and the calling to pronounce the good news to others. They are blessed because their salvation is secure, not because of these great displays of power.

The Commission Jesus gave these disciples applies to us since it was a forerunner of what He later said to all the believers after His resurrection; “Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:21-22 NLT

It’s a good reminder that we also have authority in Jesus’ name. Authority to BE a blessing everywhere we tread our feet, bringing blessing upon households and communities. Have you ever found yourself focusing more on a desire to be blessed or to revel in the great demonstrations of power at your hand? Jesus wants His disciples to focus on bringing blessings.

CHOOSE FAITH

Luke records that Jesus rejoices over the news brought back by His followers. He is genuinely overjoyed at their faith.

Over the previous months, Jesus had hoped they were watching and learning from Him, seeing Him free people with spiritual oppression, healing dilapidating health challenges, and performing many miracles. They witnessed how He would respond in most situations, which often went against the grain of customs and human wisdom.

The Bible speaks clearly about the tension between human wisdom and heavenly wisdom. We must replace human wisdom with that of heaven since human wisdom can only function out of human resources, human ideals, and purposes. After witnessing Jesus interact with people, the disciples activated their faith, and so must we.

Their faith overcame fear!

God has tied Heavenly wisdom together with the crucial ingredient of faith so that we experience the wisdom of God in the process of acting on what He says. That was what these disciples witnessed through Jesus, and now their own obedience. They saw impossible things, in answer to prayer everywhere they went.

CONCLUSION

Blessed to be a blessing.

You might be familiar with this Christian adage. But it is a truth worth believing. When prayers are prayed by unqualified and insecure people who are not sure what to do, our act of faith establishes God’s Kingdom in the present day. We are sent to be a blessing in our communities and spheres of influence.

If Jesus saw it fit to send out disciples to declare blessings everywhere, then we can expect that this commission remains today, and we have the same authority.

1. How might I be a blessing to those around me today?
2. Who can I be praying for their healing, breakthrough, restoration, and favor?