We all enjoy being blessed by our elders and long to receive more from God. However, as blessings come our way, a spirit of greed can sometimes creep in, making us desire more and more. This attitude can turn us into “one-way streets,” hoarding blessings like a squirrel stuffing its cheeks or a monkey grabbing all the bananas it can hold. Society often encourages us to constantly seek more, rather than being content with what we have.
But God doesn’t bless us just for our own sake; He blesses us with the purpose of sharing those blessings with others. Many people find fulfillment in philanthropy, while others quietly give their time, money, or talents to those in need. There is great joy both in receiving God’s blessings and in becoming a blessing to others. Through His blessings, God has taught me how to pass that blessing on by passing this learning of Blessing Lesson to others.
When you turn to the Book of Ezekiel 34:26 'I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. ‘
God speaks of a blessing for the people of Israel through the prophet Ezekiel, and this blessing has two key parts:
“I will make them” – God will make the person blessed (the one whom He has chosen to receive His blessing).
“the places surrounding” – The areas and people around this person will also be blessed as a result of this blessing (others will share in the blessing that God has given to this individual).
When God created the man he blessed him in his own Image and to increase in numbers and he blessed man to rule all that he has created. Genesis 1:27-28 'So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” '
He also warned that he will die when he eats from the forbidden tree that will lead to Sin, Sin is the antidote for coming down in blessing. Blessing can come down when we Sin. Genesis 2:17 'but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
As we seek God’s blessing, He calls us to a “hill of blessing” (referred to as “my hill a blessing”) where He can pour out His blessings upon us. This hill symbolizes a place of holiness—an elevated place of spiritual purity. As he writes in Ezekiel 43:12 '“This is the law of the temple: All the surrounding area on top of the mountain will be most holy. Such is the law of the temple. For us to receive God’s blessings fully, He desires us to come to a place of holiness.
Some might argue that no one is truly holy, so how can God bless us in our imperfection? To receive God’s blessings, there are three essential qualities we must embody to stand on the “hilltop” where He blesses.
Clean Hands
Pure Heart
Who does not trust in Modern Idolatry
Clean Hands
Why is hands laid first ?
Our hands are what we extend to receive God’s blessings.
We receive every thing (Physically / Spiritually) thru our hand.
To truly receive His blessings, our hands must be clean, symbolizing purity and readiness.
We also use these hands in prayer, and when sin or impurity stands between us and God, it becomes a barrier to His blessings. Isaiah 1:15 'When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood! '
Examine your hands in these areas to ensure they are clean:
Are your hands pure and free from corruption? Psalms 24:3-4 'Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord ? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. '
Do you take money from others or give as bribes ? Psalms 15:5 'who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.'
One who has not taken other people’s things (Money / name / work credit / Lords Credit etc..) ? Ezekiel 33:15 'if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die. '
Are your hands itching for the love of money and lust to get more ? 1 Timothy 6:10 'For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. '
Do you give cheerfully and liberally to God for his works in the world 2 Corinthians 9:7 'Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. '
While the previous five points address how our hands may be bound to material aspects of this world, there is also a spiritual calling for our hands: to bless and pray for those who persecute and curse us. With hands folded in prayer, we ask God to bless those who may hate us, fulfilling the command found in Matthew 5:44 'But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, '
Pure Heart
The heart is the core and center of a person; it not only pumps blood throughout the body but also drives the individual, influencing their actions and choices. It can either uplift or lead one downhill, away from the mountaintop God desires for us. Jesus explains what a pure heart looks like in Mark 7:21-23 'For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” '
Our hearts became corrupted by the sin of disobedience committed by Adam and Eve.
There are 12 wicked Sins that defy a pure heart (sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly)
The heart gives root to the thoughts of evil. Mark 7:21 “out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come”
Therefore, both the heart and the mind are crucial in determining whether we stay on God’s mountain of holiness or fall away from it.
Any sin causes us to descend from this mountain, but the primary factor that leads to being cast off is “Pride.” Satan ~ Lucifer was thrown down from God’s Arch Angels because of his pride Ezekiel 28:17 'Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. '
When the heart is filled with pride, it fails to give credit to God and denies Him the glory He deserves. Romans 1:21-22 'For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools '
Ways to make your heart Pure
Seek God’s forgiveness - Ask him to fill the love of God in your heart Revelation 3:20 'Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. '
Ask God to examine you to see wrong in your heart Psalms 139:23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts., Ask him to examine the 12 Sins listed that makes him Evil Mark 7:21-23 'For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” '
Ask God to humble you and remove the pride Proverbs 16:5 'The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. '
Surrender your mind and body to Lord and ask him to cleanse you Romans 12:1-2 'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. '
Modern Idolatry
Isaiah 42:8 '“I am the Lord ; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. '
What is Trusting in an Idol?
Worshiping any God other than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Equating all gods and placing faith in them as if they are all equal.
Relying on a person or object for help when in trouble, instead of trusting God.
Depending on worldly things or systems to resolve your problems, rather than seeking God’s intervention.
God gave this command to Moses for the Israelites to follow.
Exodus 20:3-5 '“You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, '
Some might say, “I’m a Christian and don’t worship other gods, so I’m not affected by this.” However, we can still fall into the trap of modern idolatry.
Our modern idols are numerous and diverse. Even for those who don’t physically bow before a statue, idolatry is often a matter of the heart—manifesting as pride, self-centeredness, greed, gluttony, a love for possessions, and ultimately rebellion against God. Is it any surprise that God despises such idolatry?
We often worship at the altar of materialism, feeding our desire to inflate our egos through the accumulation of more “stuff.” Our homes are overflowing with possessions, and we build larger and larger houses with more closets and storage space to accommodate everything we buy—much of which we haven’t paid for or even used.
We often worship at the altar of our own pride and ego, which frequently manifests as an obsession with our careers and jobs.
We worship at the altar of self and our selfishness - prioritizing our own fulfillment above all else, disregarding the needs and desires of others. This often manifests in self-indulgence through alcohol, drugs, sexual sins, and overeating.
The origin of idol comes from Satan who tempted to say, you will be like God. Genesis 3:5 '“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” '
Satan tempts us to indulge in worldly desires, causing us to rely on the world—this is a form of idolatry. We often convince ourselves that only the worship of physical idols constitutes idolatry, leading us to continue pursuing worldly pleasures while falsely believing we are free from the sin of idolatry. As 1 John 2:16 “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”
This doesn’t mean we don’t need homes, clothes, cars, or other possessions—denying these needs would be foolish. God desires for us to have these things, but it’s overindulgence and the constant desire for more that leads to idolatry. Our Heavenly Father knows our needs and will provide for us, so we don’t require anything beyond what He has already given. if you look at old testament, he blessed Abraham, He blessed Job with riches more than any one else when they had their priorities to God.
Any friendship with world is Idolatry - James 4:4 'You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. '
Our bodies are temples of the living God, and we must treat them with the utmost respect and care to avoid worshiping modern idols. As 2 Corinthians 6:16 , “What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’”
Ways to Overcome Idolatry (Modern and Any Form)
Submit to God and Confess Your Worldly Desires – When you submit to God and confess the desires that tie you to worldly idols, He will fight against and remove those things from your life. - James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. '
Love the Lord with All Your Heart and Soul – How do we love God? By giving Him glory in everything we do and keeping Him first in all aspects of our lives Matthew 22:37 'Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ '
We spend time with those we love, so make time to be with Jesus.
The more you spend time with Him (through reading, meditation, and prayer), the more your love for Him will grow.
He will bless you abundantly, and your eyes will be focused on Him. As you keep your gaze on Him, His blessings will continue to flow. The secret to receiving this blessing and becoming a blessing to others lies in this. Once you become a overcomer on the three outlined ones, he will bless you with this blessing
Psalms 24:5 'They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. ‘
Amen