Text: Hebrews 11
Key verse: It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau. (verse 20)
A man’s labour is commended if the reward is passed on to the next generation, so much is said about family businesses that have lasted over a hundred years because they were successful at passing on their vision from one patriarch to the next.
In the same way, we serve a multi-generational God whose blessings and judgments pass from one generation to the other. How is it possible to pass on the blessing since it is invisible?
Isaac is our worthy example of the power of words to transfer blessings from one generation to the other.
” It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.”
It is not every word spoken that comes to pass, it is words spoken in faith by the speaker that carries the life-giving potential, and when the one whom they are spoken over receives them, the manifestation is inevitable.
By the words spoken at creation, the universe was made, by the words spoken as seed faith takes root in the heart of man. Words are powerful and full of potential, some carry life-giving abilities while some carry destructive power in itself.
I never understood the power of blessings until l moved to a part of my country and lived among a tribe that believes in the power and potency of words. Young and old alike pray a blessing over others; they are quick to reject any words spoken concerning them whose implications may not seem favourable. A funny example l recall is a man trying to use a lift to get to a lower floor in a building, he stops the lift and asks the woman in the lift if it is going down, the woman immediately starts to reverse his words that she will never go down in life but go up always, yet the lift was going down.
Today our attention is drawn to the benefit of expressing our faith through words, what is in your heart are mere wishes and desires until you express them as words.
Isaac also exemplified the ability to create the life you desire for your children by your words. A blessing is as powerful as the creativity of the one giving it. Like faith, a blessing has a desired end it hopes for, and the power of those words rests in the invisible power of the one being called to bless. When we bless, the power behind our words rests in the ability of the God we serve or represent.
Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” Genesis 1:28
They gave her this blessing as she parted: “Our sister, may you become the mother of many millions! May your descendants be strong and conquer the cities of their enemies.” Genesis 24:60
“From the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine.”
29 “May many nations become your servants, and may they bow down to you.”
“May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed.” Genesis 27:28 & 29
No two blessings are the same, it is time to sit down and determine what life you want to see your children living, and turn the picture you see in your mind\’s eyes into the words of blessings you speak over them, not when you are about to leave the earth, but as often as your heart pleases, knowing that your words backed in faith will create the life you have spoken for them.
Esau found out late what had happened to him, but he wept until another word was spoken that empowered him to break free from the limitation that was placed on him.
Esau pleaded, “But do you have only one blessing? Oh my father, bless me, too!” Then Esau broke down and wept.
39 Finally, his father, Isaac, said to him, “You will live away from the richness of the earth, and away from the dew of the heaven above.
40 You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck.” Genesis 27:38-40
Your words have the power to limit, confine, or restrain anybody\’s progress too, so be careful how you use your words. Verbal abuse happens when people misuse their words and create limiting beliefs around the people they have spoken those words to. These words end up building mental strongholds that hold them captive in their life endeavours producing fear, anger, shame, pride, timidity, and low self-esteem.
If you recall speaking such words, they may have been said in a time of anger, you can reverse them it is not too late, Its power will be broken even if it is never forgotten.
“I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” Matthew 18:18
As a minister of God, you have power as a priest to bless the people you Shepherd even as Melchizedek blessed Abraham, speak life over your people, empower and unleash them to a life of divine impact and dominion.
Don’t hold back your words, release them as seed, and as rain and believe God to make them good especially when they are God’s words spoken from your mouth.
Speak Blessings,
Roses & Thorns
