In my meditation, I came to the conclusion that everything in life occurs in levels and/or have a way they are measured. Whether they are tangible or intangible objects; whether they are aquatic, terrestrial or celestial objects or phenomena; there are levels or degree at which things occur.
One of the things that fascinate me in my elementary Geography is the unit of measurement of certain things like: line of equal atmospheric pressure (isobar); rainfall (isohyet); cloudiness (isoneph); sunshine (Isohel); temperature (isotherm); wind (isotach); etc. It was interesting to me that these phenomena can be measured.
As intangible as the concept of faith may seem to us, it can be measured.
Romans 12:3 – measure of faith
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Mt. 17:20 – faith as a grain
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Mt 15:28 – great faith
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Mt 8:26 – little faith
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Luke 17:5 – increasing faith
And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Even when Jesus wasn’t talking about faith; the disciples realised that to be able to forgive the same person several times in one day, they needed help to grow in faith.
Interestingly also, blessing occurs in levels. Either by what was pronounced and/or how it was said.
– Example of what was said.
In Gen. 27:1-5, Isaac asked his firstborn (Esau) to go and prepare venison for him, so he could bless him before he died.
Before this time (Gen. 25:31-32), Esau had sold his seniority (his birthright) to Jacob, his younger brother. So technically, the blessing of the firstborn (Uncommon inheritance) does not belong to Esau. Somehow, Rebekah overheard Isaac and told Jacob her favourite child what to do in order to obtain the blessing. God was not happy with Esau because he didn’t cherish the special inheritance accorded to him (Roman 9:10-13).
Eventually the specific blessing Isaac was reserving for Esau was collected by Jacob. Even though Isaac still blessed Esau, but all the parties involved knew that one blessing was greater from the other.
Genesis 27:27-29
And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed: Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
May your life be like a field which The Lord has blessed.
May God give you the dew of heaven and the fatness of earth.
May you enjoy abundance of corn and wine.
People shall serve you. Nations shall bow to you.
You shall be lord over your brethren. May your siblings bow to you.
Everyone that curses you shall be cursed instead.
Those that bless you shall be blessed.
– Example of how the blessing was done.
It is believed in Israel and in biblical narrative that if an anointed servant of God blesses one by placing his/her right hand on the person’s head, the blessing received will be greater than if the same person put his/her left hand on the same individual.
In Gen. 48:8-20, Joseph presented his two sons before his father (Jacob), who could not see properly. The senior (Manasseh) was strategically placed on Jacob right hand, and Ephraim the junior to Jacob’s left. But when Jacob would bless them, he crossed his hands, putting his right hand on Ephraim and his left hand on Manasseh.
Genesis 48:18-20
And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
May your seed become multitude of nation. May your name be used as a blessing for others.
The bible reveals to us the position of where Jesus is seated in relation to that of His father. The bible makes us to know that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God.
Acts 2:32-33 – Peter sermon
Acts 7:55 – Stephen submission
Luke 22:69 – Jesus own word
Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.
I Peter 3:22 – Peter repeated
Psalm 110:1 – David prophesy
Mark 16:19 – Mark was inspired to repeat.
May you enjoy the dividend of the blessing of Jesus sitting at the right hand of God.
Why is Jesus sitting at God’s right hand? The bible tells us the significance of God’s right.
Exodus 15:6
Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
Psalms 89:13
Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
Psalms 118:16
The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.
I have tried to establish the biblical truth that blessing occurs in levels.
Where I’m going in essence is that God will bless you beyond any known measure.
1 Corinthians 2:9
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
May you begin to enjoy such specially prepared blessings from now.
May unusual blessings become yours.
May this is too much kind of blessing come into your life? Like Peter – go away from me…
May people testify that your own blessing is just too different and that they have never seen it or heard it like your type before.
May the proportion of your blessing; the timing and the impact go beyond the prediction and imagination of men. May it leave people’s mouth open ajar.
Abraham was someone his blessing went beyond measure. He left home at 75 years with few belongings and no child.
In a space of 25 years, God had blessed him to the level at which he had two sons; thousands of livestock and over 400 servants. At 140 years when he sent his chief servant to fetch a wife for Isaac, his kinsmen were so astonished to hear that he then had a grown up son and to see the huge gift he sent just to get a bride for his son.
Rebekah that hasn’t met Abraham’s family before too could not resist the urge to go with the servant. She knew that there must be much more from where the gifts had come from.
May the testimony about you propel others to believe in the living God.
When people hear your story, may they want to hear more because of how sweet it will sound to their ears.
May your destiny experience a giant leap forward.
May where you are now be dwarfed by where you will be by this time next year.
Your next year must dwarf your today.
Right from when God began to use men to do exploits, the bible tells us that the hand of God will just come upon them, and the people were able to do the uncommon.
People like Jonathan, David, Samson, Jephthah, Elijah, all did wonders when the hand of God came upon them. It was during Elisha’s time, that we hear of double portion of anointing. It was an unusual inheritance.
In 2 Kings 2: 10-14, Elijah told Elisha that he has asked a hard thing, but if he should see him when he’s been taken away, it would be possible.
So it happened that God bless Elisha with such an anointing that was beyond his predecessors. So that even in death, Elisha’s carcass was still performing miracles!
There is someone here, you are trying to measure up to your predecessor, God says that is not your benchmark. You are going higher than that.
May God demonstrate His new move through you.
Elisha started the school of prophethood at the lowest level. While some started as sons of prophets, he being a child of a farmer, started as a servant of prophet. He was a laughing stock in the eyes of the biological sons of prophet.
In 3 years though, the difference was clear. Elisha graduated into being the master of all the prophets in the land and in the region (2 Kings 2:15).
2 Kings 2:15
And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
There is someone here; God says He will make you a lord to your kind.
In 3 years from now, those that were highly placed than you shall come to call you ‘my master, my master’.
There will be a positive shift in the spiritual realm for you.
The mantle of uncommon inheritance will be placed in your hands.
Those who have gone ahead of you will come to bow to you.
Those who are mocking you now will come and ask you how you did it.
May the Spirit of God upon Elijah rest upon you.
Joseph was the 11th son of his father. Going by his position, he didn’t stand a good chance to Jacob’s estate. So that when he was relaying his dreams to his brothers, it wasn’t just an insult, it was unthinkable.
God however blessed him beyond any known measure.
There’s someone here, God says realistically your position doesn’t seem good, but He says, “I’m putting that aside, and I will fast track you”.
Another person is here, God says you are been looked at as an ordinary stone, what such people do not know yet is that you are a cornerstone. He says, I’m about to reveal that to them now.
To another person, God is saying that your time in the pit is over. Your years of slavery are gone. Your dungeon experience has elapsed. From now on, it shall be seasons of elevation for you; season of freedom; season of celebration and that of enjoyment in Jesus name.
Prayers
Ephesians 1:3 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
– Father, let all my spiritual blessings in heavenly places be made manifest in the physical.
Revelation 1:6 – And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
– Father, let my inheritance as a king and priest be vivid to all.
John 8:36 – If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
– Father, let my life be an evidence of someone you have make free indeed.
Romans 8:17 – And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint- heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
– Father, let my suffering for you result in glorification with your Son.
The sermon, May God Bless You Beyond Any Known Measure, by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye, was delivered on October 1, 2017