Patterns of Blessings
PATTERNS OF BLESSINGS
Have you ever wondered why some people in the Bible seemed to experience extraordinary favor from God? What made them different? Is it possible for us to experience that same level of divine blessing and connection today?
When we look at Scripture, we discover a fascinating pattern of individuals who received remarkable favor from God. These weren't just random acts of blessing—they reveal something profound about God's character and what He looks for in His relationship with us.
Extraordinary Examples of God's Favor in Scripture
Let's examine some remarkable examples of people who experienced God's extraordinary favor:
Enoch: The Man Who Never Died
In Genesis 5:23-24, we read about Enoch who lived 365 years (which was only about a third of the normal lifespan in those days). The Bible simply states that Enoch "walked in close fellowship with God, and then one day he just disappeared because God took him."
Imagine that! God was so pleased with Enoch that He simply took him to heaven without experiencing death. What an incredible display of divine favor!
Noah: The One Who Found Favor
When God decided to destroy the entire planet with a flood, Genesis 6:8 tells us that "Noah found favor with the Lord." Out of everyone on earth, only Noah received the opportunity to rescue his family from the catastrophic flood. The Bible describes him as "perfect in his generations"—not that he was sinless, but that he was completely devoted to God.
Joseph: Favored Even in Prison
Despite being sold into slavery by his brothers and falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, Genesis 39:21 says, "The Lord was with Joseph in prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite." God's favor was so strong that even in prison, Joseph found blessing, eventually becoming the prime minister of Egypt.
Moses: Face to Face with God
Exodus 33:11 reveals something extraordinary about Moses: "The Lord would speak to Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friend." God even declared to Miriam that while He speaks to prophets through dreams and visions, with Moses He speaks face to face. God told Moses directly, "I look favorably on you."
Job: God's Testimony
In Job 1:8, when Satan came looking for someone to destroy, God pointed to Job, saying, "Have you noticed my servant Job? He's the finest man in all the earth, and he's blameless." Imagine having God Himself testify about your character!
Samuel: Growing in Favor
First Samuel 2:26 tells us that "Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord." He became the most famous and important prophet-priest in Israel's history.
David: Promised Fame
God told David in 2 Samuel 7:9, "I've been with you wherever you've gone, and I've destroyed all your enemies before you. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who's ever lived on the Earth." David was described as "a man after God's own heart."
Elijah: The Chariot of Fire
In 2 Kings 2:11, Elijah was walking with Elisha when "suddenly a chariot of fire appears, drawn by horses of fire." This fiery chariot divided them, and Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind—another person who didn't experience death as we know it.
Daniel: Respect in Captivity
Even though Israel was taken into captivity because of their sin, Daniel 1:9 says God gave Daniel special favor: "I'm going to give the chief staff respect and affection for you." Daniel received an incredible position in the kingdom despite being a captive.
John: The Disciple Jesus Loved
John 13:23 describes John as the disciple "Jesus loved." While Jesus loved all His disciples, there was something special about His relationship with John.
Why Don't More People Experience This Level of Favor?
When reading these accounts, don't you find yourself thinking, "I want that kind of relationship with God"? Don't you desire to speak with God face to face, to have His favor open doors for you, to be directed and protected by Him in extraordinary ways?
So why don't more people experience this level of divine favor? The answer may be found in 2 Chronicles 25:2, which says of King Amaziah that he "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not with his whole heart."
The difference between those who receive extraordinary favor and those who don't often comes down to wholehearted commitment. Many Christians do what's right, but not with their whole heart. They're partially committed—maybe 70/30 or 80/20—but not 100%.
What Is God Looking For in People?
Second Chronicles 16:9 reveals: "The eyes of the Lord are running everywhere throughout the entire world to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him."
God is actively searching for people to bless! The Hebrew word translated as "blameless" means to be 100% given, to be wholehearted. It doesn't mean being sinless (Noah had problems with alcohol, David committed adultery and murder), but it means giving your entire heart to God despite your flaws.
Being wholehearted means giving God:
· Your mind
· Your emotions
· Your possessions
· Your career
· Your education
· Your family
· Your marriage
· Every category of your life
You're not just making room for God in your life; you're giving God all the room in your life.
The Danger of Half-Heartedness
The prophet told King Asa, "You've done foolishly in this. For now you will have wars." His half-heartedness brought problems into his life.
This is like the cheetah—the fastest land animal that can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph faster than any other creature. Yet the cheetah often misses its prey. Why? Not because it lacks speed, but because its heart is too small to sustain those speeds for long. It's a heart problem.
Similarly, many Christians want to live for God but lack the wholehearted commitment that brings extraordinary favor. We do what's right in God's sight, but not with our whole heart.
The Sixth Enemy of Wholehearted Commitment
What causes our hearts to be divided? There are five common traps the enemy uses to trip us up:
· Power
· Popularity
· Substance abuse
· Sex
· Money
But there's a sixth trap that's even more dangerous because it's so deceptively camouflaged: comfort.
Comfort means being comfortable with things God hates or being comfortable not loving the things God loves. It's settling for a Christianity that doesn't challenge us or push us toward complete surrender.
The question to ask yourself: "If Jesus decided to show up at my house today in the flesh, would there be something going on that would make me uncomfortable?"
Life Application
What would happen if every person reading this decided to move beyond comfortable Christianity into a new realm with God that brings favor, blessing, and anointing?
The key difference between those who experience extraordinary favor and those who don't is this: comfortable Christianity asks, "What do I need to do for me?" while wholehearted Christianity asks, "What does God want to do through me?"
This week, I challenge you to pray this prayer daily: "God, where might there be any division in my heart? I don't want a divided heart. Show me and reveal to me those areas where I'm not 100% given to you."
Ask yourself these questions:
· In what areas of my life am I holding back from God?
· What comforts am I unwilling to surrender?
· Am I more concerned with what God can do for me or what God can do through me?
· What would it look like for me to be wholehearted in my commitment to God this week?
God is looking throughout the entire planet for someone whose heart is completely His. Will you be that person?