God wants to bless people.  It is his nature.  Just as a good father always wants the best for his children, our Heavenly Father wants the best for those he loves.  What we forget at times is that we are often his chosen instruments for doing so.

God’s original intent was to rule the earth through his children as his representatives. As he gave Adam and Eve dominion over the earth, he gave them authority to rule. Their words carried authority just as the words of Jesus carried authority.  I believe Adam and Eve, before their sin, had the same authority we saw in Jesus as he walked the earth as a sinless man.  I believe they could quiet the storms, walk on water, curse a fig tree, or give life to something just as Jesus did.  Jesus came not only to obtain forgiveness for our sins, but also to show us what we lost through our rebellion and what we could regain through an intimate relationship with the Father.  As Adam and Eve were to use their dominion to spread the culture of heaven over the earth, we too are to carry that influence.

Authority was given up through rebellion, but regained in Christ.  As his sons and daughters now, he still wants to rule the earth through his children who can represent him well.  Jesus told us that he only did what he saw the father doing and only spoke what we heard the Father saying.  He told Philip those who had seen him (Jesus), had seen the Father.  That is perfect representation.  In the same way, we are to be Spirit-led and do or say what our Heavenly Father would do or say if he were physically present.  When we pray according to his will, it is done because God honors the authority to rule that he has given us through Christ.  Our spoken words carry the same authority.

One of the privileges we have as sons and daughters of the King is the privilege of blessing.  In the epistle of James, he rebukes Christians for speaking curses over others or even over circumstances and directs them to speak only life-giving words.  He uses the analogy of a spring.  When fresh water flows out (blessings and truth), life is released.  When salt water flows from the spring (curses), death is the result.  James tells us that we are to always be sources of fresh water because that represents the heart of God.

Of course, Proverbs 18:21 comes to mind where the writer says, “The tongue has the power of life and death.”  When we speak life, we impart life.  When we speak death, we impart death.  Why?  Because our words have authority. In Ephesians 4:29, Paul declares, “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up.” Jesus goes further and instructs us to bless even those who would curse us because we represent a Father who sends rain and blessing on both the righteous and the wicked.  He also sends discipline and judgment, but that is his business.  Our business is to bless through our prayers and our words.  Satan imparts death.  Jesus imparts life.

One of the priestly functions of the children of God is to impart blessings.  In Numbers 6, Moses was told, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites.  Say to them: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.  The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.’  So, they will put my name on the Israelites and I will bless them.” Notice the Lord was willing and even desired to bless, but waited on the priests to declare the blessing before he acted.  We too are priests and God often waits on us to declare a blessing before he releases it. 

We are in a partnership with God for ruling the earth and dispensing blessings from heaven.  Blessings release good things on the earth.  The earth needs all the good things it can get…peace, health, provision, protection, justice, love, forgiveness, etc.  As we speak blessings, we impart life.  Paul tells us also that we reap what we sow.  We harvest what we plant and we plant by broadcasting seeds.  Blessings are seeds we are broadcasting and planting.  If we sow blessings, we eventually reap blessings. 

Now, I believe we are to be Spirit-led in our blessings.  Who are we to bless and how are we to bless them?  Blessings are valuable because they bear good fruit.  We should develop a habit of sensing who and how God wants us to bless. When Jesus sent out the seventy disciples to preach and perform miracles he said, “When you enter a house, first say ‘Peace to this house. If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them. If not, it will return to you.’” (LK. 10:5-6).  When in doubt, we still speak good things over people, but we tune in especially to those God puts on our hearts.

So today, be fresh water to those you encounter…not just those you know, but even strangers for they are not strangers to God.  Be sensitive to the Spirt and ask who he wants you to bless and what the blessing should be. Be a priest to those God puts in your path. Both you and the world will be better for it. May the Lord bless you today and meet your greatest need.