Russellville Christian Center

The Power of BLESSING 10/8/23 susan allen Blessing: Words that paint a picture in someone’s mind that helps them see who GOD CREATED them to be   Siblings blessing siblings (Gen 24:60-Rebekah blessed by her siblings concerning her future as she leaves to marry Isaac) : Thou art our sister; be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let they seed possess the gate of those which hate them.   Rebekah was naturally unable to produce what GOD had PROMISED BUT the Blessing had already been spoken! THE BLESSING is a STRENGTH TO US when we are unable to naturally PRODUCE what GOD has PROMISED   OUR WORDS were always designed to be PROPHETIC in NATURE Our CHILDREN SEEK those WORDS that tell them WHO THEY ARE   Gen 26 and 27 Esau and Jacob SEEKING the blessing Jacob so wanted it that he was willing to manipulate to get it. Once the blessing was spoken it remained. Jacob’s behavior did not change what was spoken. The blessing is not done by what you see naturally- it is spoken by what God said out of His nature It is spoken by faith   Heb 11:20-AMP  [With eyes of] faith Isaac, looking far into the future, invoked blessings upon Jacob and Esau. 21 [Prompted] by faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and bowed in prayer over the top of his staff.     GRANDPARENTS Gen 48:10- Israel (Jacob) blesses his grandchildren.   Balak tries to get Balaam to curse the children of Israel (the descendants of the ones we have been speaking of who have been blessed)   Num 23:7-8 NIV… 'Come,' he said, 'curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.' 8 How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced? :11 Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!" 12 He answered, "Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?" :19- God is not a man, that he should lie, Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? 20 I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.   THIS is the power of you speaking the blessing NOW                           Some History on The Blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh: The blessing is performed differently in every family. In some traditional homes, only the father blesses the children. In other families, both parents give blessings–either together and in unison, or first one parent, followed by the other. In some homes the mother blesses the girls and the father blesses the boys.Usually the person giving the blessing places one or both hands on the child’s head. Some parents bless each child in succession, working from oldest to youngest. Others bless all of the girls together, and all of the boys together.After the blessing, some parents take a moment to whisper something to their child–praising him or her for something he or she did during the week, or conveying some extra encouragement and love. Almost every family concludes the blessing with a kiss or a hug.There are also different customs as to when the blessing is recited. Some families bless their children immediately before or after Kiddush. Others prefer to bless just after lighting the Shabbat candles.  In some families with grown children who no longer live at home, this blessing is imparted over the phone on Fridays.It seems strange that the blessing for boys singles out Ephraim and Menashe instead of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — or, for that matter, any other great biblical leaders who were men (Joseph, Moses, King David, King Solomon). A few answers have been proposed.The view most commonly held is that of contemporary Israeli Rabbi Mordechai Elon who wrote that Ephraim and Menashe are the first pair of brothers in the Bible who do not see each other as competitors. They do not struggle for power, and their dynamic as a family never seems to be the source of great difficulty in either of their lives. By blessing our children to be like Ephraim and Menashe we seek to bestow upon our children the legacy of peace and harmony between brothers.Another interpretation, by 19th-century Israeli Rabbi Shmuel Hominer, notes that Ephraim and Menashe grew up in Egypt, unlike the patriarchs who all grew up in Israel. Ephraim and Menashe maintained their distinct identity as Israelites, even though they lived in a place where they were surrounded and outnumbered by the Egyptians and their gods. The ability to remain faithful to Judaism, even when it is a struggle, is a legacy that we want to pass on to our children.Beyond the weekly blessing on Friday nights, many parents recite this blessing on special occasions, such as at a child’s brit milah or naming ceremony, bar or bat mitzvah, and wedding. Any important milestone in a child’s life, from the first day of school to birthdays, to the day they graduate high school or college, can be appropriately marked with this blessing.  

FAITH CHECK part 2 9/24/23 susan allen What to do with DOUBT James 1:2 ESV Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.   Doubt often comes as the CARE--the pressure of the situation coming back Phil 4:6 ESV do not be anxious about anything But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.   (Heb 4:16 kjv Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.)   Have you INVITED GOD INTO THE SITUATION? Have you been clear? DO you even know what you desire?   James 4:2 …you have not because you ask not   Phil 4: 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.   1 Peter 5:7 AMP  Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.