THE POWER OF THE BLESSING

Title: THE POWER OF THE BLESSING

By Rev Samuel Arimoro

Main Text:  Proverbs 10:22 - "The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it." 

INTRODUCTION 
The blessing of the Lord is a powerful force that brings transformation and supernatural increase to the life of a believer. It is not just a spoken word but a divine empowerment that enables us to prosper, succeed, and excel in every area of life.
Adam lost the blessing through disobedience.
Abraham got the blessings by his obedience.
Struggling, and stagnation is an evidence that you lack the blessing.
Proverbs 10:22 tells us that the blessing of the Lord makes one rich without adding sorrow to it. This means that when God blesses, He does so with no strings attached, and it comes with peace, joy, and contentment. This sermon explores the nature of God's blessing, the power it carries, and how we can activate and walk in it daily. 

1. UNDERSTANDING THE BLESSING OF THE LORD

a) The Blessing as Divine Empowerment (Genesis 1:28) 
From the very beginning, God blessed mankind, empowering Adam and Eve to be fruitful, multiply, and have dominion. The blessing is God’s empowerment for us to succeed, grow, and fulfil His purposes on earth. 

b) The Blessing Versus the Curse (Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15)
The Bible clearly distinguishes between the blessing and the curse. When we walk in obedience to God, we position ourselves to receive His blessings. Disobedience, however, leads to curses. The blessing of God sets us apart and brings supernatural favour, provision, and protection. 

c) The Nature of God’s Blessing (James 1:17) 
God’s blessings are good, and perfect, and come from above. They are not fleeting or temporary but have eternal value. When God blesses us, it is an expression of His love and grace. 

2. THE POWER OF THE BLESSING IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER 

a) Supernatural Provision and Abundance (Philippians 4:19) 
God’s blessing provides more than enough. As with Isaac, who sowed in a time of famine and reaped a hundredfold (Genesis 26:12), when we walk in God’s blessing, we experience supernatural provision, even in challenging times. 
A blessed person does not pray for material blessings, he attracts material things naturally.

b) Divine Protection and Preservation (Psalm 91:1-7)
The blessing of the Lord comes with divine protection. Just as God protected Israel in the land of Goshen during the plagues in Egypt, God’s blessing will keep us safe from harm, even when danger is all around us. 

c) Fruitfulness and Multiplication (Genesis 1:28; John 15:5)
When we are blessed by God, we are empowered to be fruitful and multiply in every area of life. This fruitfulness extends beyond material wealth to include spiritual growth, relationships, and impact for God's Kingdom. 

d) The Blessing Averts Curses (Gal. 3:13,14; Proverbs 10:22)
It has the power to break curses and make you prosper in the midst of hardship.

3. BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF THE POWER OF THE BLESSING 

a) Abraham: Blessed to be a Blessing (Genesis 12:2-3; 13:2)
God called Abraham out of his homeland and blessed him, making him wealthy and prosperous. God’s blessing on Abraham’s life also caused him to be a blessing to others. Through him, all the nations of the earth were blessed. 

b) Joseph: Prosperity in Every Place (Genesis 39:2-5, 41:39-44) 
Joseph experienced the power of the blessing even in slavery and imprisonment. Because the Lord was with him, everything he touched prospered. Eventually, he was elevated to the position of second-in-command in Egypt. 

c) David: Anointed and Empowered for Victory (1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 8:6)
David was anointed by God and experienced the power of the blessing in his leadership and battles. The blessing brought him victory over his enemies and established his kingdom. 

4. HOW TO ACTIVATE THE BLESSING OF THE LORD 

a) Walk in Obedience (Deuteronomy 28:1-2) 
Obedience to God’s Word is a key to activating His blessing. When we obey God and follow His commands, His blessings overtake us in every area of life. 
Adam lost it through disobedience, Abraham got the blessing by obedience. Just obey God and the blessing will begin to speak.

b) Speak the Blessing (Proverbs 18:21; Numbers 6:24-26)
There is power in our words. We can activate God’s blessing by speaking life, favour, and abundance over our lives, our families, and our endeavours. The priestly blessing in Numbers 6 is a model of declaring God’s blessing upon His people. 

c) Live by Faith (Hebrews 11:6; Galatians 3:9)
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. We must believe in the power of His blessing and walk by faith, not by sight. Like Abraham, who believed in God and it was credited to him as righteousness, we too must have faith in God’s promises. 

d) Be A Tither (Malachi 3:10)
Anytime you pay tithes you get the blessing. You cannot access the blessing until you are a faithful Tither.
God promised to bless Abraham in Genesis 12:3, the fulfilment of the blessing came when he paid tithes in Genesis 14:18-21.

f)  Through Prayers (1Chron. 4:9-10)
  Jabez provoked the blessing upon his life through prayers. He was born in sorrow and he became honourable through prayers.
Jacob prayed in Genesis 32:24-28 and God changed him from an individual to a nation.

g) By working (Deuteronomy 28:12)
No matter how hard you pray if you are idle, the blessing will not come. You must work hard and be diligent (Proverbs 10:4).

h) Through Fatherly Declaration (2 Chronicles 20:20)
God always confirm the words delivered by fathers.
Isaac was in love with Esau and wanted to bless him but because he was blind he passed the blessing to Jacob. Gen. 27:27
Spiritual father gives you a feather to fly. The value you place on your spiritual father will determine your placement in life.

5. MAINTAINING THE BLESSING OF THE LORD

a) Stay Humble (James 4:6-7)
Humility is essential for maintaining God’s blessing. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. When we acknowledge that every blessing comes from Him, we position ourselves to receive more. 

b) Be a Blessing to Others (Genesis 12:2; Acts 20:35)
We are blessed to be a blessing. As we generously give and bless others, God continues to pour His blessings upon us. The more we bless others, the more we are blessed in return. 

c) Remain in God’s Presence (Psalm 91:1; John 15:4-5) 
The blessing of the Lord is found in His presence. We must remain connected to God through prayer, worship, and the study of His Word to continually experience His blessing. 

CONCLUSION
The blessing of the Lord is a powerful force that brings supernatural prosperity, protection, and favour. It guarantees protection and averts curses.
It is not dependent on circumstances but on our relationship with God. When we walk in obedience, live by faith, and remain humble and generous, we will continually experience the power of His blessing in our lives. May we understand and activate this blessing and be channels of His blessings to the world around us. 

PRAYER POINTS

1. "Lord, help me to walk in obedience to Your Word to activate Your blessing in my life."
 
2. "Father, I declare that Your blessing will bring supernatural provision and abundance to me." 

3. "O God, surround me and my family with divine protection as we walk in Your blessing." 

4. "Lord, make me fruitful and multiply the work of my hands for Your glory." 

5. "Father, let the power of Your blessing elevate me to positions of influence and impact." 

6. "O God, help me to remain humble and acknowledge You as the source of all my blessings." 

7. "Lord, grant me the grace to be a blessing to others as You have blessed me." 

8. "Father, increase my faith to believe in the power of Your blessing in every area of my life."
 
9. "O God, remove every hindrance that stands in the way of my blessings." 

10. "Lord, keep me in Your presence and let Your blessing continually flow in my life." 

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

1. I declare that the blessing of the Lord is upon my life, bringing wealth without sorrow. 

2. I declare that I am blessed in the city and blessed in the field. 

3. I declare that God's blessing empowers me to prosper in every area of my life. 

4. I declare that I am blessed to be a blessing to others. 

5. I declare that no curse or hindrance can stop the flow of God’s blessing in my life. 

6. I declare that I am walking in divine favour and supernatural increase. 

7. I declare that I am protected and preserved by the blessing of the Lord. 

8. I declare that God’s blessing is multiplying everything I set my hands to do. 

9. I declare that I am anointed and empowered for victory in every battle. 

10. I declare that I will remain connected to God and experience His blessing continually.