Blessings Multiplied! Tapping into the Abundance of God’s Overflow

As we consider the many ways in which believers have an advantage in life, I want to dig a little deeper and explain that the advantages I’m discussing are all a part of the blessing of God upon His children.

While many don’t see themselves as blessed, and some might consider their lives as cursed, once we grasp the truth of the blessing, that truth will set us free.

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).

Let’s go back to the beginning and see how the blessing began and follow it through time to its ultimate destination—the body of Christ.

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:27-28).

We often read over this passage and give little attention to what the blessing of God might mean. God’s blessing on Adam and Eve was not simply a “good luck, hope it goes well” kind of thing. It was an empowering and provision to succeed in God’s purpose for them: to fill the earth, subdue it, and have dominion.

It is important to remember our previous discussion of the power of words, and how God calls those things that are not as though they were. God’s blessing upon Adam and Eve was declared, “God blessed them, and God said to them.” The power of the blessing was in the words God spoke.

In the Gospels, in each account of Jesus multiplying the loaves and fishes, it mentions that He blessed those elements. The blessing of multiplication was released through His words! Your blessings will be released through your words as well.

The blessing was a spiritual reality that was meant to accompany Adam and Eve everywhere they went and in everything they put their hands to. Everything was going to go their way because it was God’s way. God had decreed the blessing.

When Adam and Eve sinned and chose independence from God, not only did they unleash the curse on the earth, but they also lost the blessing. They were on their own. Life would now be a struggle of “good and evil” (the tree they ate from), and the blessing would be limited. Life would be hard.

As we jump forward to the time of Abraham, we see God once again promising a blessing. He spoke to Abraham.

Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3).

For God to accomplish His purpose of redemption and salvation for mankind, He had to begin with a man, and He had to speak to that man and about that man. God’s purposes are accomplished by words. God had given the earth to man, and man’s redemption would have to be accomplished through a man. Abraham was chosen to be the man through whom God would eventually bring forth the “Seed” who would bless the nations: Jesus, the Son of Man, Son of God.

God’s heart was to restore the blessing to mankind. He began with Abraham. I won’t take the time to develop the full story of Abram/Abraham, but let us consider the effects of the blessing that God pronounced upon him.

Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold (Genesis 13:2).

For all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever (Genesis 13:15).

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward” (Genesis 15:1).

And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6).

In just these four verses, we can glean a tremendous revelation of what the blessing of God means. The blessing of God on Abraham made him rich, gave him an inheritance forever, protected him, rewarded him, and established him in righteousness by faith! Abraham had an advantage!

How does that impact us today?

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham (Galatians 3:7 KJV).

Did you know that the blessing that was upon Abraham is now upon all who have faith in the finished work of the cross?

So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham (Galatians 3:9).

Most of us have very little understanding of what this means. We may evaluate our lives and conclude that there is little evidence of the blessing. What are we missing? To begin with, the blessing is by faith.

Many Christians have believed for forgiveness but have never entered into all that is available by faith. It would be like receiving a free ticket to an amusement park for the day and then just sitting at the entrance. You would have access to all the rides and entertainment, but you wouldn’t enjoy any of it because you didn’t understand that when you received the ticket, you received the blessing of the entire amusement park. Many Christians live at the front door of the blessing but never enter in. Some are even taught that it would be wrong to expect such a blessing. Again, our perception of God so often limits our experience in life.

Let’s unwrap more of this blessing.

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:13-14).

Wow! Not only have we entered into a blessing, we have been redeemed from a curse! What does this mean? The “curse of the law” refers specifically to the consequences that Israel would suffer for their lack of obedience to God and His Word (the Law of Moses). Sadly, many today still live with the mindset of blessings and curses based on their behavior, and most realize that they can’t measure up, so they feel they deserve the curses and hardships of life.

But praise God, our better covenant with God is a result of Jesus’ behavior, not ours! Jesus lived a sinless life; defeated temptation, sin, and the devil; and as an exclamation point, He defeated death. And His victory is our advantage, our blessing! When we believed in this redemptive work of Christ, we entered into the “blessing of Abraham” that God had promised thousands of years ago. By faith the Spirit of God has quickened our spirit and made the blessing available. The blessing is ours!

The curse that includes everything that Adam’s sin unleashed has been nailed to the cross. Everything that was against you, including all of your failures, sins, and fears, has been removed and done away with. You have the advantage! You have the blessing!

Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross (Colossians 2:14).

If there is nothing against you, you are blessed. You have the advantage! While unbelievers struggle with guilt and fear, you are free to enjoy peace with God. You are free to walk in His joy!

Paul spoke of the reality of this blessing.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

Paul understood that this Gospel message, the Good News, was not just an escape from hell but also an empowerment for the abundant life of which Jesus spoke.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

Paul understood the abundant life to be the blessing of God.

But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ (Romans 15:29).

Peter understood the blessing when he wrote:

Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9).

What does this blessing mean for us? What does this inheritance look like?

Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin (Romans 4:7-8).

If you have been forgiven and sin is not being imputed unto you, you are blessed. You are free from guilt, condemnation, and fear.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

What an advantage! Whether you know it or not, your born-again spirit has no fear but is a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Are you living in the blessing? Have you believed the advantage?

The sooner we accept and believe that we are blessed, the more quickly we will be able to be a blessing to others. The more we walk in the joy of the Lord, the more we can spread His joy to others. The more we live in freedom from guilt, the more we can minister that freedom to others. The blessing transforms you from victim to victor. The blessing opens your spiritual eyes to see the possibilities and not just the problems.

While others think they need to be delivered, you know that you have been delivered!

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Colossians 1:13).

The blessing is upon you in everything you do if you will believe it. Only our unbelief and self-condemnation keeps us from enjoying the power of His blessing.

All of the promises of God for His children past and present are “yes and amen.”

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us (2 Corinthians 1:20).

When you understand the blessing, you begin to read the Bible with new eyes. You are no longer reading from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, but from the Tree of Life. You see His goodness all throughout the Word. You see blessings, promises, and potential. You have the advantage!