Scripture:
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 NKJV
[1] “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. [2] And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: [3] “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. [4] “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. [5] “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. [6] “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. [7] “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. [8] “The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. [9] “The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. [10] Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. [11] And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. [12] The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. [13] And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. [14] So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
Observation:
I know there is a lot of scripture here this morning. But just look at it. There are so many promises from the Father here that I couldn’t stop at just one or two I had to get them all so that we would understand just what GOD wants to do for us and what it takes to get these things. As I was reading all these promises and thinking about the people they had been spoken to realizing that I had been adopted into that family by salvation through Christ. I started to think, man, GOD is good. HE has it all spelled out in HIS word. Over my life, I have come to love words. Their meanings and how they are used. Words are how conversations are had. Another thing I love. Looking at the first verse here in Deuteronomy chapter 28. We get the key to the rest of what is being said. “Now it shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your GOD, to observe carefully all HIS commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your GOD will set you high above all nations of the earth.” Now, what I noticed about the very first verse is that there is a word in there that has a contingency to it or a condition attached. You might say it’s a very small word with a big meaning. What the word “IF” does is it introduces a condition or a supposition. So its value in the verse can not be missed. Just after the verses that I believe the Holy Spirit chose this morning is another group of verses that have the word if in them as well. But they go in the exact opposite direction as these verses. So, let’s look at what is being said to release what GOD wants for us. “If” you carefully observe the commandments,” now I want you to know that what I am not saying nor are these verses saying is if you carefully observe the commandments you will get to heaven…. that’s not what’s being said, so I want to make that clear. Nowhere in these verses is that being said. But “IF” you look at the verses that follow, you can see that GOD wants to bless you. But “IF” you don’t want the blessings, it’s pretty easy not to get them. Let’s take a quick flyover of what GOD wants to do in your life. Verse 2 says, ” Now all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you because you obey the voice of the LORD your GOD. The list runs on for the next 12 verses and honestly leaves nothing out from where you live to when you travel, down to what you eat will be blessed, your enemies will be defeated and flee 7 ways, your storehouse will be blessed and you will be established as belonging to the one true GOD. However, that’s where our word pops up again… “IF” you keep the commandments and walk in HIS ways. Verses 10 through 14 are more blessings from people who will see you belong to HIM and fear you, to HIS treasure being opened up to you, being the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. Man, I’m telling you it doesn’t get any better than this. However, the word pops up again in verse 14, one last time.
Application:
I have known Jesus Christ as my LORD and SAVIOR for a little over 14 years now. But for the longest time, I didn’t understand how to walk in His blessings. When I was reading this and processing it this morning, I started thinking about the prodigal son. Thinking about the fact that he had all the blessings… but wanted to do things his way for a minute until he realized that the promises of the enemy were all lies and that they left him empty and wishing for pig slop to eat. I remember the day I turned to the LORD. That amazing feeling that everything was going to be alright. At some point, I started to walk in a different direction, and before I knew it, I was so far away from HIM that it hurt. Now, in that walk looking back, I realized one thing GOD never left me, but he could bless my disobedience. I’m not saying HE did not protect me. However, walking in disobedience HIS hand of blessing could not be there. The very second I said to myself. This is not working the way I thought it was going to and committed to following the LORD’S way again. The blessings have not stopped HIS provision has been there. Even when I can’t see where it’s coming from, HE continues to make sure I have what I need. My salvation is secure. I know that. But I want the LORD’S blessings on my life. I want to walk. I’m the land of milk and honey here on Earth. Walking with GOD in the cool of the day. Today, I get the opportunity to see where I was a few short years ago every day. I get to pray for people who may never know that I have done it. But one day they will have an idea, man. I need to do something different and turn to the LORD, making a decision to walk in HIS ways so that they can experience the blessings that HE has in store for them. There is honestly no secret to receiving them. It’s simple “IF” you want them… long life, provision, blessed travels, and all the list make the decision to get them. LORD bless you and keep you made. HIS face shines upon you and be gracious to you. The day the prodigal son turned, his father saw him ran to him, hugged his neck, and blessed him. If you are not walking in HIS blessings today, I want to challenge you to get on your knees and ask HIM what is it that is keeping them from you. When HE responds, then do what HE says, and listen for that still small voice. It may come in the form of a Bible verse that you have committed to memory. It may come in a good, orderly direction. HE may speak to your spirit, saying you need to forgive that person or you need to make that right somehow. My suggestion is to obey HIS voice. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Speak what is told to you do what the word that has been written on your heart says. GOD wants to bless you, “IF” you want it. But I don’t believe HE can bless your disobedience.
Prayer:
Father, we love you, and we want that to show in the way we live. It’s by no mistake that you have put this on my heart. I want to be obedient to your word not just for the blessings but because I want to see your face and the clear picture you your character is described in your word we get to see who you are, and we know that you want us to walk in your blessings. Help us to be obedient to what you ask of us. Help us to hear your voice through the still small whisper or the scripture you have placed on our hearts. You are our GOD, and we are your people. Let that be shown in the way we conduct ourselves. We want to please you, we want your face to shine on us. Help to obey your voice. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.