The letters i.e. is Latin meaning – that is. This weeks subject is about the word Blessed. The scriptures definition of the word blessed is much different from the way we use it.
Blessed is the person that keeps or does the things written in the bible. Revelation
1:3, “Blessed is he that Reads and they that Hear the words of this prophecy and Keep those things which are written in it: for the time is at hand.”
According to Revelation 1:3 the definition of Blessed are those that read, hear (Listen), and keep (Do) the scriptures.
- Read (give complete attention)
- Listen (comprehend all that God’s giving)
- Do (practice)
John the writer of Revelation tells us that the blessed persons today are those that read God’s word. They give Him their undivided attention. They are giving God their complete concentration.
Next they hear the instructions God is giving them. They are listening to all the information the lord is sharing with those that desire to hear Him. Being very attentive.
The third is to Do i.e.(obey) what God has asked them to do by means of regularly
putting action to his commands. Do and keep are the same word given to mean
continue practicing what He has said.
Only then through reading, listening, and doing will God consider us blessed.
Blessed means happy. True happiness come from knowing you are doing what
pleases God no matter what is experienced at the time. John 13:17, “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.”
That’s why the beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12 and Luke 6:20-26 are so hard to understand. Each person described in the beatitudes experiences joy in the
mist of their problems. Yet they are happy because they have God’s saving assurance. Therefore they gladly obey him.
Blessed are the poor in spirit.
Blessed are those that mourn.
Blessed are the meek.
Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for right.
Blessed are the merciful.
Blessed are the pure in heart.
Blessed are the peace makers.
Blessed are the persecuted for righteousness sake.
(Matthews 5:1-12) Eight points of suffering yet they are happy. Why?
Pure happiness and being truly blessed come from knowing you heard from God and understand what he has said and now you are doing what he has asked,
regardless of what is going on around you.
True joy and praise rises above the deepest troubles. Real blessedness come from the heart where sorrow cannot intrude. It is knowing they are in Christ and He
is in their heart.
What is it these blessed people must Do? What is it that the bible describes as a must for these people to be considered Blessed? They must have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his work on the cross.
What is the bible’s overall condition to be considered Blessed? It is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. John said in St. John 20:31, “But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing you might have life through his name.”
Why were the scriptures written? Answer it was written so that we might believe. That we might believe what? These (scriptures) where written so that we might
believe that Jesus is the Christ.
Christ means Messiah, Saviour, and Lord. According to Revelation 1:3, blessed means placing your faith in God’s only provision Jesus the Christ. When a person does this then they are doing what Revelations describes as blessed.
True blessing come to those who believe that Jesus is the Christ. And that believing the scriptures leads them to trust Christ for their sin.
That person will have eternal life through Jesus’s name when they believe with all their heart, might, and strength, Matthews 22:37 & Mark 12:30,33.
They must accept the work Christ did on the cross trusting his death, burial, and resurrection. They must accept it as a substitution for their sin. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin, Hebrews 9:22.
Until a person is born again they cannot be fully blessed. Like the candidate that knocked on the homeowner’s door and asked for his vote because the government is filled with greed, corruption and wastefulness. “And you want to try to fight it.” The homeowner asked. “Are you kidding?” said the candidate. “I want to get in on it!” Much like the candidate most people want to get in on being blessed, but can
not until they are saved.
The question is have you understood what it means to be blessed according to Revelations 1:3? Well are you Blessed to read the bible which is about the Lord Jesus? Are you Blessed in hearing the Lord Jesus? Are you Blessed of doing what the lord Jesus asks you to do?
Blessed people don’t try they trust. If I asked you how are you? What would you say i.e. Blessed.