I cannot think of a single Christian that does not desire the blessing of the Lord. We earnestly seek and desire God’s blessings on our life. We want the Lord to bless our spiritual life, our home life, our children, our finances, our churches and our ministries. Is there anything wrong with that? Of course not. But the fact remains that we do not always get what we ask for.
What does it mean to be blessed? The common assumption, I believe, is that when God has blessed a person then they will enjoy physical health, financial prosperity, and a general sense of happiness and well-being.
I want us to see that when Jesus blesses something He breaks it. The blessing results in breaking. The prayer for “more” results in “less”. The request for “increase” results in “decrease”. The prayer for blessing results in brokenness.
Do you want to be a blessing to other people, or a burden? Most Christians would say they want to be blessing to others. So God blesses them and then breaks them.
What is going on here? Simply put, the blessing of the Lord is in being reduced to Christ. Who is blessed? Not the one who is rich in spirit, but the one who is poor in spirit. The poor in spirit possess the Kingdom. Those who are broken are blessed, and those who are blessed are broken.
The heart-cry of a disciple of “more of Jesus”. How do we get “more” of Jesus? By getting less of us. With less of me there is more of Him. As I am decreased, He is increased. This is what it means to be blessed.
A brother in the Lord related the following experience to me. As he was watching television he says he came across a woman who was yelling, “Increase! Increase! God wants to increase you and all you have!” This brother says he staggered out of his chair laughing, and said, “Decrease! Decrease! Keep decreasing me Lord, till all there is left is YOU!” Friends, when we understand the blessing and the breaking then we will find ourselves responding the same way. What I love about this is the brother LAUGHED as he rejected the “increase” and embraced the decrease. This is what it means to take up the Cross.
We cry out for “increase” but God has already (past tense) blessed us with “every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). We have the blessing already. What we are lacking is the breaking. We want the blessing without the breaking. But it is not that we need more of the Lord, because we already have all of Him; we just need less of everything else.
After Jesus blessed the bread, and broke it, and gave it to them, their eyes were opened and they knew Him. Until you have the blessing and the breaking your eyes will remain closed. Blessings alone do not open our eyes. Indeed, blessings by themselves tend to close our eyes. We do not come to know Him in the blessing, but in the breaking. Then what we already have in Him will be revealed. Our eyes will be opened and we will see that He has been standing there the whole time.
Do you want to know Him? Do you want to see Him for Who He is? Do you want to go deeper? Do you want to have your eyes opened? Embrace the blessing AND the breaking; receive them both. If you are a bruised reed or a broken cistern, take heart, because you are making progress.
Related Posts:
The blessedness of brokenness. I had no clue until – my first husband lived the life before me. The grain of wheat has to die in order to live. The alabaster box had to be broken so the fragrance could be poured forth. The gold has to be tested in the fire in order to get the brilliance of the beauty. A broken and a contrite heart He will not despise. AMEN AMEN AMEN
Chip,
You really seem to hit the nail on the head in your articles. I can tell that you understand these principles through experience, more so than by reading.. I am not all of the way there, but have experienced your articles first hand for the most part. It is so invigorating that there is someone out there who will share these principles with others, as most mature believers that I know are so very evasive in sharing anything with others. Breaking and suffering are the main tools in the Lord’s arsenal to refine us, however I know so few who understand what is going on when it is happening, so they miss out on what He is doing in their lives or they simply walk away for something better…Thanks again for the wonderful articles!!
In Christ Jesus,
J.Christopher
I remember the day not long ago when the Holy Spirit spoke those words of Jesus to me, “Take eat, this is my body that is broken for you”…as soon as he finished speaking these words he said, “You are the bread that is broken for them, you are the body that is being broken in trials, temptation and circumstances in order to bring forth the true word (bread) of life”.
I can’t tell you how receiving that understanding helped me to realize the “working in” of the word in our lives and how that word becomes flesh in us.
Just wanted to share this.
My mother gave me a taste for spiritual things but since her passing last year, I have been open to others with the same drift. I’ve been reading “My Utmost For His Highest” and these articles which seem to be similar. Also, My Baptist church pastor seems to be earnestly seeking but I know I cannot get all I need just from his sermons and books. Our sunday school class is sincere, informative into scripture and seeking but fellowship is mostly very shallow. Thank you Chip.
How appropriate to share this Word today April 12, and I just saw my comment that I left 6 months ago and to have you give me this same Word “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”
Truly a blessing and a refreshing, I’M SO THANKFUL THAT THE WEBSITE IS UP AND RUNNING AGAIN. I’m going to DIRECT ALL THE BELIEVERS ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE TO YOUR SITE, EVEN THE LEGALISTIC ONES AS WELL because they need to be delivered from the bondage of legalism.
Shamim, you are so right!
We are in bondage when we are legalists.
Loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength,
And our neighbor as ourself, well that is all God requires.
All our actions, thoughts and words should come from this love
And of course we don’t have to nit pick, everyone’s actions. We love them, be a godly example to them, and truly live the truth.
This is freedom indeed. Though not easy, it gets easier each time we
Reflect Jesus to others. Soon it is our only way to be, no matter what
Is happening around us. We remain peaceful, trusting and obeying Him.
This breaking is so incredibly painful.
Sometimes I despise myself.
This religious spirit is so tenacious, and hateful.
How I long to be free of it.
Please pray for me.
The beautiful thing is that you desire to be free of it. It is a process.
As we grow in His Spirit living in us, we reflect His quiet, gentle Spirit
More and more each day. Praying for you, I am 60, and am still seeing it unfold. But the waiting is well worth it, for we learn nothing from easy. It is through every trial that we are polished and refined more and more. We will shine like pure gold, as a result.
Sweet Sharon, gladly! Lord, you hear the cry from her heart and know her need. Jesus YOU are the One who said, “Whom the Son sets free, is free indeed!” May Sharon behold, and see you on the Cross – the words from Your lips, “It is finished!” resonate in her heart and mind, and behold the rent veil that has given her that access into Your very presence Father! It IS done! May she sit at Your feet, KNOWING beyond a doubt that You HAVE set her free – indeed! In Jesus’ blessed name, Amen.
I’m kind of amazed at your insight. Jesus’ words are making more sense with your explanations.
Your writings have touched me deeply. I believe that I am being broken. You have helped me find hope in what feels like a hopeless life. You have helped me see a higher purpose in what feels like a drowning in an insane depression. I do not know how to love Jesus but I feel like I need Him desperately. He is all I have to count on. Thank you for your truly wonderful and helpful writings.
The answer is . . . . Jesus. To live like Jesus. To reflect Jesus to everyone. Those who do not know Him, may ask if we consistently
Reflect Jesus to everyone. In what we think, do, say. Words are powerful ! Let us be quick to listen- intently- slow to speak, and slow to become part of the solution. Jesus is the solution to all issues.
When we are slow, reflective, and quiet, The Spirit speaks, guides us
In what to do, say or to stay quiet. IF WE ONLY LISTEN, HE WILL SPEAK. WE CANT HEAR WHEN WE ARE TALKING.
Well said, Marta! That’s the voice of experience speaking.
Amen
Amen AMEN AMEN!!!!!
great article chip, I have been finding that the gospel is about transition, and when we keep transforming into his image that he is restoring since the garden, we will automatically know /walk/do/obey because he lives in us and we in him there will be no guessing where /what/why/who he wants us to do, it’s exciting living in and with him everyday, God bless you brother
That’s it, Rusty. We go wherever the Wind blows. You don’t move the Wind, the Wind moves you. Blessings brother.
I needed this message today. I realized that I am blessed! I have been through so much brokeness, but have learned much in the process.
As with the feeding of the 5000, the blessing, the breaking, the giving, the increase.
I’ve tried to fit in with others, but wasn’t meant to. And God has helped me through it all. Even though as I continually grow spiritually I was lacking some understanding, and this message has helped me to see and understand … wisdom! Lol. I’m me, and that’s all there is to it! Not to be like anyone else, and not led by what others are saying, but to listen to the Holy Spirit who is my teacher. This is my breakthrough!
Thanks, Chip, for sharing!
Ilene! God made you to be you. You don’t need to fit in to anyone but Him. Freedom!
Chip, this article so resonates in my spirit. This is not a topic to be preached but one to be lived, in HiM. Blessings brother. Glad your power is back on.
Thank you sir! Me too!
When the weather, which God uses to get His point across, is the reason we stop, look, listen, it is a blessing. We huddle close to stay warm, rather than everyone in their own rooms, away and otherwise
Entertained. The blessing is in the power obtained from doing nothing. We have such busy lives, a break, even by candlelight is a blessing. And this I know, a 3 day water fast, regenerates every cell in our intestines, and our immune system is regenerated. But, I am happy your power is back on, brother Chip! Our love to Karla, you are both in our prayers every night.
In the telling of the feeding of the many with the fish and loaves it is seldom mentioned the time involved in the blessing and the breaking. This was a process of actually physically handling the bread and the fish, blessing it and breaking it and than handing it over to His Disciples to distribute among the people there. Christ Himself did this and it must have taken many hours and actual effort to acheive. Conservatively 6 hours and possibly as many as 12 hours based on the number of people there. Than the real miracle of “the broken pieces gathered together” filling many baskets is realized. This too took time and effort as they were gathered and placed in the baskets.
This is an example of the progressive miracle that we often in our 21st century, “I want it now”, way of thinking, cannot comprehend or accept. We want the miracles that happen instantaneously, when what God in fact is giving us, is the miracle that takes much time and effort and many blessings and breakings to acheive His purpose.
The most amazing miracle here is the miracle of “the broken pieces gathered together”. My life and the lives of anyone I know who are growing in Christ, are examples of “the broken peices gathered together”. Only as we reflect on all of the brokenness in our lives and then see how Christ has gathered them together to create a miracle, can we fully appreciate the breaking process.
Just my thoughts.
Thanks Chip! Glad your power is back on. The ice-storm was a big one! We didn’t lose the power, but everything outside froze solid…. 🙂 Anyway, I want to thank you for that teaching. Someone dear to me decided to become a Christian many years ago. She held on to everything – the prosperity, the “good” life, the drinking, the “sexy” clothes etc. When I said something one day to her, gently pointing out what you said above, the reply was “I’m a King’s Kid! He just wants to bless me!” How tragic it is when the words of Jesus, “Follow me” are not heard, or ignored. How sad that ME still wants to rein, and there is no room for Jesus. Broken is not a part of her vocabulary, but building up self-esteem is the core. She is now being broken, and I pray God will make her landing softened by His great arms! May she decrease and let Him increase. THEN she will find peace, and the blessing that she has been looking for everywhere else but in Him. Amen.
Blessings and brokenness must be interconnected, but most of the time the last word takes place first, before the blessedness comes. That is the way with our Master, and that is the way for those who follow him too.
Thank you Chip. I woke up at 4 am today following a tiring Sunday and what a way to begin my Sabbath Day, to turn to a broken Lord, whose sacrifice has made me whole. So I keep coming to him, to partake of him, so that in my brokenness and weakness I may be filled with his grace and joy.
It is always a treat to receive your posts and you are very right in what you say–your post reminded me of a book I read once called AGAPE/EROS–true love starts out unconditionally and then developes into a passion as time goes on and yes there is pain along the way but Gods peace rules along the way and at the end there is the eternal icing
Thanks for sharing that, Ken. I haven’t considered that use of the word eros but it is something to consider.
We should have so much respect for the Word of God that we will be like the psalmist who said,” I will meditate on your precepts and have respect to your ways [the paths of life marked out by your law]. I will delight myself in your statutes; I will not forget your word” (Psa. 119:15-16).
The Psalmist was delighted to meditate on the word of God. He did not want to forget God’s precious instructions and promises. Our Father wants us to fill our eyes and our ears continually with his word so that we will live the way he wants us to live “in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation. Our lives should be constant examples of obedience to the instructions we have been given in the word of God. This is to say: In thy will, I will delight, I never will forget thy word.
I know and rest in confidence upon it that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will secure justice for the poor and needy of His believing children (Psa. 140:12)., my beloved focus on the Lord not the circumstances around you. Our God is secured justice and favor for us in Yeshua’s Name.
I am blessed to be a blessing to others. I can only increase in Christ Jesus.
Amen. So very true!
THANK YOU, CHIP!!!! Lots of food for thought here. Am in the middle of some breaking – painful but worth it! “Lord help me EMBRACE the decrease & ACCEPT Your will for me. Thank You THAT Your grace is sufficient for me. Please continue to open my eyes & my heart as I determine to press on. Please help me to keep my eyes on Jesus & to remember that You are w/me WHEREVER I go. Help me to trust You Lord. I NEED YOU!!!!!! Amen.
“
That’s a good prayer! Thanks for reading, Jo.
But it is not that we need more of the Lord, because we already have all of Him; we just need less of everything else. I say Amen to this revelation. Oh Jesus you are the ne can make every thing on us. Oh God please grant me your wisdom and understanding. Chip, grace be with you.