1. What Does It Mean To Be Blessed? Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you come out. Deut. 28:6

2. What Does It Mean To Be Blessed?  When you say “you’re blessed” what does that mean?  Share an experience where you knew you were blessed.

3. What Does It Mean To Be Blessed?  There is no one good answer to being blessed because we all desire and enjoy different things in life.  “Being Blessed” can vary from person to person.

4. What Does It Mean To Be Blessed?  What are the top 6 answers to: “What does it mean to be blessed?” 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

5. What Does It Mean To Be Blessed?  What are the top 6 answers to: What does it mean to be blessed. 1. A loving Family 2. Enjoyable Job/Career 3. Good Health 4. Financial Security 5. Ability to buy what you want 6. Free time to do the things you like

6.  Based on the blessings of your life, what would you say God expects from you?

7. What Does It Mean To Be Blessed?  Blessed  In Hebrew it means happy  In Greek it means “makaris” happy, bliss and also a self contained happiness.  This means our happiness is independent of our circumstances.  It is self-contained, meaning that regardless of what happens to us externally, we can truly be happy internally.  We can truly be genuinely blessed as followers of Christ.

8. What Does It Mean To Be Blessed?  We may use the word blessed inappropriately. For example to stop a conversation that is going on too long.  Well, that’s great, be blessed”. We may really mean please stop talking.  This is by no means the right way to use it.  Blessed is a biblical word. Unbelievers have not experienced the real blessing of knowing Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Only a child of God can truly understand and know the full extent of God’s blessings.

9. What Does It Mean To Be Blessed?  Being blessed is more that just money or emotional stability.  “Blessed” is a relational word.  It has a deeper meaning based on our relationship with God rather than the physical/external manifestations of God’s blessings.  We all know people that are financially successful and in good health that don’t have a relationship with God.

10. What Does It Mean To Be Blessed?  The true blessing is the “life-giving” relationship that we with Jesus, the Son of God.  If you love someone and give them a gift, the relationship is the primary motivation. The gift is an expression of love and appreciation for that person. This promotes feelings of gratefulness on the part of the receiver, which strengthens the relationship or friendship.  God so loved us that He gave His Son. God’s motivation is not His gifts to us but His love for us. Our heavenly Father desires to bless us because He loves us.

11. 1. Our blessings should flow to others. “I will bless you … and you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2 NIV) 2.When we bless others, God takes care of our needs. In Luke 18, Jesus says, “I guarantee this. Anyone who gives up anything for the kingdom of God will certainly receive many times more in this life and will receive eternal life in the next world to come.”

12. 3.Our blessings to others will come back on us. The more you bless other people and the more you help others, the more God blesses your life. Luke 6:38 tells us, “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back — given back with bonus and blessing” (MSG). You cannot out-give God.

13. 4. The more we’re blessed by God, the more he expects us to help others. Jesus said it this way in Luke 12: “Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given” (GNT).

14. What Does It Mean To Be Blessed?  Psalm 1-Contrast between a blessed person and a wicked person. Blessed PersonA Wicked Person Not Blessed Walks not in the counsel of the ungodly Takes counsel with the ungodly-doing wrong Doesn’t stand in the way of sinners Stands in the way of sinner-Hinder others Doesn’t sit in the seat of the scornful Is scornful; mean; extreme disrespect

15. What Does It Mean To Be Blessed?  What does the blessed person do?: Blessed PersonWicked Person Delights in the LawPays lip service-Heart not involved Meditates in the law night and day. Accepts the truth of God’s word. May read the law but doesn’t apply the law to their lives. Don’t enjoy the word Is like a tree that is planted; its leaf won’t wither. They prosper; are always in bloom and fresh. They are like a chaff which the winds blows away. Fruitless in good things. Find pleasure in wicked things.

16. What Does It Mean To Be Blessed?  Being blessed is being self-contained, meaning that regardless of what happens to us externally, we can truly be happy internally.  When we view life through the world’s eyes rather than the scriptures, it causes us to fall short of the life and the blessings God has for us.  If we think we are only blessed when things are going well for us than our concept of our heavenly father is limited.

17. What Does It Mean To Be Blessed?  We can be blessed regardless of what state we are in.  We must keep our relationship close with God.  God doesn’t desire for us to go through continuous struggles but He will be with us as we go through them.  God doesn’t willingly afflict the children of men.

18.  Matt. 5:1-16-”Be-Happy Attitudes” Beatitudes 1. Be Humble-Be Happy when you are poor in spirit, for yours in the kingdom of heaven. Admit your limitation 2. Be sorry & be willing to change-Be Happy when you morn, for you will be comforted. 3. Be strong but non-violent-Be Happy when you are meek, for you shall inherit the earth. 7. Be Open to doing right-Be Happy when you hunger and thirst after righteousness, for you will be filled. Righteous is the food and drink of our spiritual health.

19. 7. Be merciful/considerate-Be Happy when you are merciful, for you will receive mercy. 8. Be Pure/Clean-up your act-Be Happy when you are pure in heart, for you shall see God. 9. Be gentle/don’t overreact-Be Happy when you are peacemakers, for you will be called the children of God. 10. Be Ready-Be Happy when you are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for yours is the kingdom of heaven.

20. 11. Be patient & don’t think it’s strange that you go through issues-Be Happy when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12. Be Happy/Be Blessed-Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. In God you are made strong.

21.  What does it mean to be blessed? It means my life is planted in God’s hands and He is making it fruitful, durable and prosperous.  Christianity is not a formula to receive blessings.  It is an active relationship with God through our faith in His Son.  Being blessed by God involves His promises, provision and love.

22. References:  What does “blessed” mean?-Greg Laurie- Harvest Ministries.  Being blessed by God-Robert J. Barth- http://www.obcl.edu/index.php/meditation s  What does it mean to be blessed?- PlymouthSpirit- http://pymouthspiret.wordpress.com  What Does it Mean to be Blessed? Dylan Dodson  What Does it Mean to be Blessed? Carl Gobelman.