1. Blessing is Prophetic
When you bless in accordance with the Father’s intent and purpose, your blessing is prophetic.
One of the NT Greek words for blessing is ‘eulogeo’, which means, ‘to speak well of.’ Today, we speak a ‘eulogy’ as we reflect positively on someone’s past life and achievements. A eulogy is frequently used in the context of a funeral or memorial service.
However the Father speaks His word of blessing ahead of time, speaking forward, and that blessing has the power to bring His intentions to pass.
In our culture today, people are more likely to complain, speak negatively and criticize, than to bless. People are more likely to forecast harm than prophesy good.
Because of this, speaking and praying words of blessing may seem unnatural for us at first. However, it is time to align our words and our lifestyle with the Kingdom of God.
2. Blessing Carries an Impartation
“So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” (Numbers 6:27)
God instructed His priests to speak a blessing over God’s people. (Num 6:22-27) As they spoke the blessing, something tangible was being imparted to the people, and God followed the words to bring about His blessing.
‘Peace’, or ‘Peace be with you’ was (and continues to be) a common greeting in Jewish culture. Jesus told His disciples that something tangible was released when they spoke a word of ‘peace’ upon households they entered. (Luke 10:5, Matt 10:12)
The fuller meaning of the Hebrew word for peace, ‘shalom’ includes peace, wholeness, wellness, and prosperity. [2]
This teaches us something about Kingdom culture. You too have the ability to bless, and to release the ‘shalom’ of God—something tangible imparted by the Holy Spirit.
Power follows your words. Are your words empowering the move of the Holy Spirit?
3. Blessing is Powerful in Times of Opposition
Blessing is powerful to cut through the plans and strategies of the enemy. Life-giving words, sourced in the Father’s heart, break the power of cursing and negativity. (Prov 18:21)
Jesus teaches us to bless our enemies. (Matt 6) He teaches us when in the trial, to move in the opposite spirit of what is taking place. Blessing releases the power of God when we are undergoing opposition from others to God’s purposes in our lives.
4. Blessing Flows out of an Abundance Mindset
We often pray, ‘Lord bless so and so’ but have lost the real meaning and power of blessing. We have reduced blessing to a wish, something we can hope and pray for.
However, the Kingdom mindset is one of plenty and abundance.
In the context of prayer, blessing requires a shift of perspective. We are not praying for something, we are praying with something.
Jesus said, ‘Freely you have received, freely give.’ (Matt 10:8b)
You are empowered to bless others, as you comprehend the abundance that you have received from God and that you have access to. You carry something that you can give away!
Blessing is an act of faith. (Heb 11:20-21)
5. Blessing is an Honor of Leaders
Those of us who are parents and leaders have a special mandate from God to bless our children, as well as those we lead and serve. The Scripture is full of examples of fathers and leaders who blessed.
Blessing was part of the priestly function in the OT and today in God’s Kingdom we are all ‘priests’ (1 Pet 2:9, Rev 1:6) and God’s sons and daughters, with the ability to bless.