The Way Of BlessingSample

I Bless You…

The prophet Isaiah reminds us that:
“The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed." (Isa. 50:4)

As we come to pronounce the desire of God to bless, the power is not found in our words but in the response of God to our proclamation as one who has been given delegated authority. It’s not that our words are magic, but that they carry authority if we are in the right position.

In the corner of my room is a rather fine—although unusual—seat, and there is a story involved. Daphne was leading a blessing team close to the English border and had stayed in a home where the husband was a retired craftsman. She commented on a rather unusual seat and he explained its background. Meanwhile, two thousand miles away and unaware of Daphne’s conversation, I was talking with the Lord about the practice and exercise of authority, and sensed Him saying that He would teach me more when I arrived home.

When I returned Daphne started to tell me about her trip and surprised me by saying that we had been given a gift of a chair. She then explained the background; the man had been producing perfect replicas of what had been called in Roman Empire times ‘the Seat of Authority’. It was collapsible; a magistrate might go to the center of a town and his servant would carry the seat, complete with Roman emblem.

As long as the magistrate was on his feet, he was no more than a Roman citizen; however, the moment he sat in the seat of authority, his words carried the full force of the Emperor himself. Once he left the seat, he was no more than a man amongst men.

We were given one of the replicas complete with historical provenance. Other copies are in London museums and with the Royal household. I learned so much and thanked the Lord. I am seated with Christ in the heavenly places, and so are you as a believer. His name is our ‘seat’ in terms of authority. Found in Him, we can speak normal words that are clothed in all of heaven’s delegated authority. That’s where we need to be when we bless.

The Bible refers often to calling on the name of Jesus or praying in His name. It is part of the wider story where the people of Israel call on the name of the Lord. It could take many pages and indeed books to explore what this means, but it can also be summarized in this way.

When we pray in His name, we are calling on the promise of His character. We are asking Him to come and ‘hallow’ His name by releasing the fullness of who He is into our lives and of those around us, causing Him to be called holy. We are leaning on His mercy and compassion. Part of the promise of His character relates to His authority—His is the King of all kingdoms, part of our commitment to Him is that we call Him Lord, we recognize no other ultimate authority. So in speaking in His name, we are coming with His authority to address all that is broken or in need of renewal in the life of people, communities and land.