It is impossible for the sons of GOD to enumerate the blessings they have received from the hand of the LORD which HE has been pleased to make them aware of; let alone those benefits and blessings they have received from HIS hand of which they have no direct knowledge. Long before they ever drew their first breath the LORD had determined to bless them every day of their lives. HE alone determined when and where they would be born, all of the incidents they would experience, who their friends would be, and what influences they would come in contact with.
Romans 8:28 says "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Long before we ever knew of HIS love to us and before we ever heard HIS call HE had ordained all things to come to pass in our lives for our benefit if we are HIS elect. "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:31) The people of GOD are indeed a privileged people who have been the recipients of HIS grace and mercy long before they were ever born or had done good or evil. (see Rom.9:11) "And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?" (Rom 9:23-24)
There is nothing that can stir the gratitude of an unworthy sinner more than a revelation of the fact that he is saved totally and completely by the grace of GOD apart from any merit accomplished or foreseen in himself. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Rom 5:8-9) This is the culmination of all of the blessings which GOD has determined to bestow on HIS elect. All of their blessings in this world and that which is to come spring out of this glorious redemptive work of their magnificent SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Some would have us believe that the elect have indeed received a great benefit in being appointed unto an eternal home in glory which is purchased for them by the LORD; but then they would tell us that all of the blessings which they receive in this life come to them based on their relative obedience to HIS commands. They feel that the only way GOD's people can receive HIS blessings from day to day is by and according to their own merit. Such a message appeals to the natural religious bent of mankind. It only seems fair and right that every man should receive blessings based on his or her being deserving of them. Those who are not obedient in their view (according to a standard which has different definitions from one group to the other) receive less blessings than those who by dedication and faithfulness essentially earn GOD's favor and cause HIS smile to be upon them.
Some espouse this blessing to be forthcoming based on financial faithfulness. They press men to tithe and present a picture of great financial returns to those who will fork over certain percentages of their money to the LORD's work (so called). Some say that men are blessed if they will get busy and produce the fruit of the SPIRIT or go out and win souls so that the blood of sinners will not be on their hands. There is no end to the different levels and extents of duty which these work mongers press upon men as being the key to spiritual vitality and ultimate "timely blessings". They believe that coercing men and women to abide by certain standards of conduct will insure their blessing as a result of their faithfulness.
Though such a doctrine is very appealing and sensible to mans religious mind the truth is that such a mindset is contrary to the truth. GOD has determined to bless HIS children on the basis of HIS promise and the redemptive work of CHRIST rather than their relative merit. It is impossible for men to merit any blessing from the LORD based on any "good work" which they may perform. The LORD said "when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." (Luke 17:10) A man cannot be "rewarded" for doing what he is expected to do.
Rather than "obedience" being the cause of blessings; having been given an obedient spirit and a love for the things of GOD is the result and manifestation of HIS spiritual blessing and is a benefit which is given to the sons of GOD alone. The LORD made this promise through the prophet, "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Heb 8:10-12)
GOD has determined in HIS purpose and according to HIS promise to bless HIS children by turning their hearts toward HIM. "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Gal 4:6) The sons of GOD do not need the lash of the law laid upon them to coerce them to follow HIM. HE said "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27) The LORD has decreed his purpose to bless HIS children and has sent HIS SON to purchase their redemption in time and eternity. "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1Cor 6:19-20) Some of those benefits which the sons of GOD are daily (i.e presently) loaded with include:
Chastening as sons. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Heb 12:6) Those who are without chastisement have no reason to believe that they are the sons of GOD regardless of what "works" they may perform. GOD does not give HIS sons over to a reprobate mind but "tenderizes" them through exercising them to discern good and evil. (see Heb.5:14; 12:11)
Teaching by HIS SPIRIT. "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." (John 16:13) "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32) "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." (John 14:6-7)
A living HOPE. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (1Pet. 1:3) As Peter testified so do all of the born again sons of GOD, "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." (Joh 6:68) It is this present hope that compels the sons of GOD to cleave to HIM and follow HIM. "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1John 3:3) Knowing that any expectation of blessing we have is in HIM. "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Col 1:27) HE is a very present help in time of trouble.
mam