There is more in 2024
Good evening church, trust you’re all well & blessed. I asked for that song, “The Priestly blessing” to be played last, as I would like to preach from Numbers 6:24-26 (Very familiar to some).
Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV) – 24The Lord bless you and keep you; 25the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
But, tonight as we break the Scripture down, so we will also speak the blessing over ourselves & others … and by doing so, we can be sure that there will be more in 2024!
More blessings, breakthroughs, growth, more of the goodness of God, and a desire to seek Him first! Amen?
So tonight, as we decipher (open & break up to understand & discover) the Word, I pray that your hearts will be ready, to receive from God, as I speak & pray His word over you!
So, I trust that each point that I will mention below, will have a meaning for you today, and in the days, weeks, months & year to come!
My first prayer for you, and this congregation, May the Lord bless you!
This is my 1st prayer for you, that God will bless you! To be blessed by God is one of the greatest joys that we can know & experience in this life! You may not have it all together, but you’re blessed! Samples….
It is God’s intention for us to know His blessings on our lives. In Genesis 1:22 God confirms prosperity and happiness upon mankind, saying to them: “Be blessed, be fruitful & multiply… (Some people take this personally, no names mentioned!)
John 16:24 “Ask & you will receive!” God’s blessings!
John 16:24 (NIV) – Until now you have not asked for anything in My Name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
James “We don’t have, because we do not ask.”
1 Chronicles 4:10a – Jabez prayed: ”Oh that you would bless me!”
It is on God’s agenda that you will be blessed! (And prosper)
So, today I speak God’s blessings from His Word, over you, over your family, your health, marriage, relationships, career, finances etc. Receive them by faith, Amen?
The 2nd part of the “Aaronic blessing” is, that the Lord will keep you!
This word, “to keep” us is a strange word, but with a significant meaning! To “keep” means to: watch over, preserve & guard, but it also goes further than this…
To “keep” also means to defend, and to (defend: He will be by your safe place, your strong tower in times of trouble) to keep from harm! To take care of us, or to tend, as someone would tend to a well-loved garden. Its even to support & uphold us! So my 2nd prayer for you, is that God will keep you, amen?
Prayer #3: May the Lord be gracious to you!
The primary meaning of the word gracious is to be kind & good. This is exactly what God wants to be to us: Kind & good Psalm 34:8a – “Taste & see that the Lord is good.” God is good. All the time…
So the Lord wants to be gracious to you, He wants to be kind and good to you… But He also wants to be merciful, and give favour to you & me!
The unique quality of being gracious, is that it means to be approachable. In God’s graciousness to us, He wants us to know that He is approachable (Praise God!) the line is never engaged, never a bad signal, no dropped calls, always have airtime and that He is there for you & me! So, may God be gracious to you, church!
My 4th prayer for you all is that you will know God, that you will have a friend in God!
That old hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus”
Numbers 6:26 “May the Lord turn His face toward you… this expression speaks of intimacy, that God is closer than you think and that He is just a prayer away, and that this possibility is at your disposal, church, visitor & friend!
You see, when you turn your face towards someone, you give them your full attention & focus, yes? In the same way, God wants to turn His face towards you, and give you His full attention & focus, if only we will call upon Him.
Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV) – Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
“Call unto Me, and I will answer you (you have my attention) child of God, because He loves you, values you & approves of you!
Do not let the lies of the enemy deter you from the fact that you are a valued child of God!
My last prayer for you, is that God will fill you with His peace, for there cannot ever be real peace within you, without the Prince of Peace!
This peace is not about tranquillity or absence from war, but about the heavenly gift of peace!
Philippians 4:7 (NIV) – And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
And the peace of God that transcends all understanding, will guard your heart & mind in Christ Jesus!
Also John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind & heart…”
John 14:27a (NIV) – Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.
This peace of God that money cannot buy, that’s not available on any shelf, is the peace of God that is far & above all human understanding!
So I conclude, with this prayer for you and your families:
“May the Lord bless you, and keep you, may the Lord make His face shine upon you & be gracious to you, May the Lord turn His face toward you, and give you peace!
Receive this for yourself, claim it & realise by faith that there will be more in 2024, Amen?
**Close with prayer
**Last song
**Benediction: Jude 24:25 (NIV) – To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy.
