We are called to be a blessing to all! And to be blessed…

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

I have talked about this topic before (and posted about it on the Stone Fire Community website) and recently discussed it with a brother in Christ. Let's first notice the blessings we can inherit for being a blessing—"called so that you may inherit a blessing."

My disclaimer here is that I strongly disapprove of the Prosperity Gospel. However, despite the erroneous and controvercial theology, there are some aspects that are important to consider with an open mind, in light of the scriptures.

God is a God of all blessings, a source of all that is good. In the Bible, "the Father of Lights" refers to God, specifically mentioned in James 1:17 where it describes God as the source of all good and perfect gifts, signifying that He is sovereign, unchanging and the creator of all light, including the sun, moon, and stars; essentially highlighting His constant and reliable nature

But we do not try to twist God's hand to get a blessing. But the teaching in the Bible in both the Old and New Testament promises that if we plant seeds in faith and love, God will bless us in unexpected ways according to His timing and Sovereignty, giving us a harvest from the rich soil of God's Kingdom.

Jesus said "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” - Jesus in Luke 6:38.

Paul underlined this spiritual principle in chapter eleven of the book of Hebrews. "And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Hebrews 11:6.

There it is! A shocking truth that we need to believe, have FAITH, and trust that God is the SOURCE of supply of all we need, not all we crave, want or desire in the flesh. We seek God's Kingdom first and rest will fall into place and God will meet our needs. This is Jesus teaching in Matthew chapter 6. "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33

I share this because I fail in this area. I am cautious as I don't want to see my Father as a Santa Claus or an ATM!

Yet, this is a big challenge for me. I am certainly not preaching to you but reminding us of sound theology. To see that my Father God wants to give generously, from His heart. Abundantly more than any earthly father. He wants to give as our loving heavenly Father. Far, far more than our earthly fathers would ever imagine.

On the other hand, this is balanced out by what is known as the "baptism of suffering" in the Assembly of God, where I fellowshipped in the 70s. Here are a few scriptures that can introduce us to this:

• The "baptism of suffering" is a phrase from the Bible that refers to Jesus's suffering and crucifixion. The phrase is used in Luke 12:50, which says, "I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished."

• "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12-13

"Be content with what you have" means to be satisfied with your current situation in life, accepting what you possess without constantly wishing for more or comparing yourself to others; it encourages a mindset of gratitude for the blessings you already have.

Let's consider the 3 keys of Seed Faith (based on Oral Robert's teaching).

Key 1: God is the Source of our Supply - a rich and plentiful Kingdom of wealth.

Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus". This verse is a declaration of God's provision for believers. A divine truth. A divine promise!

"May God supply all your needs" is a phrase that expresses hope and well-wishing for someone to have their needs met. It is a sentiment based on faith and belief in God.

Philippians 4:19 is a declaration of God's provision for believers. It does not mean that people will never experience challenges, but that God will empower them for every situation. 

While God promises to meet people's needs, His timing may differ from their expectations. It is important to trust in God's perfect timing.

Key 2: Plant your seeds of faith.

Trusting God to supply your needs in His way and in His timing. The Old and New Testament is full of teaching this principle of giving from the heart of love and generosity. Refer to the scriptures above.

Key 3: Expect a miracle.

Expect a harvest. God will outgive anyone, any earthly father! This is where these scriptures agree: Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:19 and Luke 6:38. God is the God of the miraculous.

Key 3, is where my weakness lies. One thing I know affected me, when I look back to the image of my own father. He was a generous and wonderful man. But he had the disease of alcoholism, as did my mother, which transformed him (and my mother) every night at home into angry, drunken people. I experienced this throughout most of my childhood up to 1978, when he passed on.

How did this impact my life? It made me scared, anxious, depressed and insecure - giving me a skewed image of a father and it mirrored (projected) this onto Father God.

This is a very critical matter to me. I think this is one of the root causes of my some of my lack of faith and trust in God. This experience of a "father" confused me and traumatised me, and one of the reasons that brought me to my knees, opening the door to enter the kingdom of God.

There may be many other factors. However, it is my responsibility to learn to trust and put my faith in God to change my early experiences as a father.

I need to let God give to me, out of His Father's heart, a loving faith and trust to expect miracles as I look to God and plant my seeds of faith.

My Prayer

"Lord God, I pray for your inner healing today to transform me. Take away the doubts – the distrust – the confusion. Heal the images of my painful, traumatised past. Heal me. Wash me. Pick me up and put me on your lap, to experience your embrace. Full of love. May I open my scared heart and mind and soul fully, to let you in. I want to believe and have faith in your healing power and you’re giving nature.”_

Reflection

For some years now, I have "insufficient" income. Living below a "normal" standard of living, plus battling with a "crisis of faith". I wonder if God has taken me out of the game, as such and put me on the bench? For how long? Maybe to learn to

•      See Him more clearly
•      Follow Him more closely and
•      Love Him more dearly – more deeply

Reference: “The Father-Heart of God” by Floyd McClung, 1984. Strangely, this is the same year I began to practice as a social worker and give my life for the good of others as a therapist.