Originally posted: 7/24/2020
The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever… (11:31).
Interesting that this is how Paul refers to God, especially after he had just chronicled all he had endured in order to faithfully serve his Forever Blessed God.
…in far more labors; imprisonments; beaten times without number; in danger of death; thirty-nine lashes five times; beaten with rods three times; stoned; shipwrecked three times, a night and a day in the deep; frequent journeys; in dangers from rivers… from robbers… from countrymen… from the Gentiles… in the city… in the wilderness… on the sea… among false brethren; labor and hardship; sleepless nights; in hunger and thirst; in cold and exposure.; daily pressure of concern for all the churches, (11:23-28).
And still he knew… his God is Blessed Forever.
Blessed: 2128. εὐλογητός eulogētós, gen. eulogētoú, masc.–fem., neut. eulogētón, adj. from eulogéō (2127), to bless. Inherently blessed, well–spoken of, worthy of praise This adj. ending in -tos makes the word to mean “inherently worthy to be praised,” and is in all instances ascribed to God the Father and also to Christ (Rom. 9:5), for no one else is inherently worthy of such praise, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (emphasis added).
Inherently: “existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute.”
And what is also inherently obvious; Paul was not focusing on his trials. Paul’s focus was on what he knew to be true about his God. No matter what happens in this life, He is inherently worthy of praise, permanently and Forever. It essentially Who He is: Worthy to be praised; every attribute of His Character is Blessed Forever.
Consider Him Who Is Blessed Forever
- His Greatness is unsearchable; He Is Blessed Forever
- Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised,
And His greatness is unsearchable, (Psalm 145:3).
- Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised,
- His Name alone is exalted; He Is Blessed Forever
- Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above earth and heaven, (Psalm 148:13).
- Let them praise the name of the Lord,
- He alone is the King of the nations; He Is Blessed Forever
- There is none like You, O Lord;
You are great, and great is Your name in might.
7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations?
Indeed it is Your due!
For among all the wise men of the nations
And in all their kingdoms,
There is none like You, (Jeremiah 10:6-7).
- There is none like You, O Lord;
- He is God’s Beloved Son; He Is Blessed Forever
- After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased,” (Matthew 3:16-17).
- He is God over all; He Is Blessed Forever
- To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen, (Romans 9:5 ESV).
- He possesses every spiritual blessing; He Is Blessed Forever
- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (Ephesians 1:3).
- He is the image of the invisible God; He Is Blessed Forever
- He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, (Colossians 1:15).
- He is the Creator; He Is Blessed Forever
- For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him, (Colossians 1:16).
- He holds all things together; He Is Blessed Forever
- He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together, (Colossians 1:17).
- He is the Head over His church; He Is Blessed Forever
- He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything, (Colossians 1:18).
- He is the Exalted Lord; He Is Blessed Forever
- …God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, (Philippians 2:9-11).
- He is worthy to receive glory and honor and power; He Is Blessed Forever
- And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created,” (Revelation 4:9-11).
How do we respond to Him Who Is Blessed Forever?
I am convinced it was exactly because Paul knew, was persuaded and believed that he served the God Who Is Blessed Forever, that he was enabled to endure.
As Paul exposed the schemes of the enemy in twisting the Truth of the gospel for their own profit, he chastises the Corinthians for their readiness to give attention to the lies of deceitful workers who are seeking to make a name for themselves rather than exalt the name of Him Who Is Blessed Forever.
For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully, (11:4).
And because Paul knew, was persuaded and believed that he served the God Who Is Blessed Forever, he confronted the false apostles; because when you know Truth, and are committed in faith to Truth; Truth must be defended.
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deed, (11:13-15).
We too must be ready to defend the Truth. Because the truth is, many would rather have their ears tickled than bow before Him Who Is Blessed Forever.
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths, (2 Timothy 4:2-4).
As we pursue Him Who Is Blessed Forever, let us commit to never wander from the simplicity and purity of our devotion to Christ.
But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ, (11:3).
Let us seek Him in His Word, simply (with singleness of purpose) and purely (with no ulterior motive).
And let us humbly ask Him to teach us His Truth that will protect us from being led astray and strengthen our devotion to simply and purely love Him Who Is Blessed Forever with all that we are.
Blessed are You, O Lord;
Teach me Your statutes, (Psalm 119:12).
Knowing Truth will lead to praise and commitment to defend the Truth; it just will. Fixing our thoughts and minds on Truth will shine the spotlight on Him Who Is Blessed Forever.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me,” (John 14:6).
So, today as we close our time together, let us praise Him Who Is worthy to be praised; declaring back to Him the Truth that will turn our eyes to Him and strengthen our love and devotion for Him Who Is Blessed Forever.
I love You, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies, (Psalm 18:1-3).
I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul will make its boast in the Lord;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.
3 O magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together, (Psalm 34:1-3).
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle, (Psalm 103:1-3).
Lord Jesus, truly You Are Blessed Forever. Please empower us by Your Holy Spirit, to set ourselves apart for You alone. Grant us Your wisdom we pray, through simplicity and purity of devotion. And when You come again for Your church, may we be ready for You as Your pure and spotless bride.
For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. 3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ, (11:2-3).