Blessings Across Generations: A Call to Empower

 

Summary

The patriarchs of the Old Testament, revered as the fathers of the Jewish faith, played a crucial role in passing down the covenantal blessings of God to future generations. This act of transferring God's promises was not merely a tradition but a profound responsibility that instilled hope, purpose, and an anticipation of God's goodness in the lives of the next generation. The patriarchs understood that God is a generational God, concerned not only with the present but with the unfolding of His kingdom throughout history. Their passion for giving and receiving blessings was immense, as illustrated by the story of Esau and Jacob, where the blessing was so coveted that it led to deception and rivalry.

Today, we find ourselves in a world filled with unblessed individuals, particularly men who have not received the blessing that was once expected to be passed from father to son. This lack of blessing has led to a generational gap, where many are unable to pass on what they themselves have never received. The patriarchs, however, provide us with a model to follow. Joseph, for instance, witnessed his father Jacob bless his sons, extending God's favor to the third generation. This act underscores the importance of not only fathers but also grandfathers in the spiritual lineage, as God is a three-generational God.

For those who have never experienced such a blessing, the absence is palpable. Many men long for the touch of a heavenly Father through an earthly one, a longing that can bring grown men to tears. To change the trajectory of the next generation, we must actively bless them, sharing with them the promises, favor, and purposes of God. By doing so, we can transform our families and culture, empowering them to walk with purpose and confidence, knowing they are blessed.

Key Takeaways:

1. The patriarchs' role in passing down God's covenantal blessings highlights the importance of generational faithfulness. This act instills hope and purpose, reminding us that God's promises are not just for the present but for future generations. [00:30]

2. Understanding God as a generational God shifts our focus from individualism to a broader vision of His kingdom advancing through history. This perspective encourages us to invest in the spiritual legacy we leave behind. [01:19]

3. The story of Esau and Jacob illustrates the deep longing for a father's blessing, a desire that remains relevant today. This longing points to the need for intentional blessing and affirmation within families. [01:45]

4. The absence of a blessing creates a generational gap, leaving many unable to pass on what they have not received. The patriarchs provide a model for bridging this gap by actively blessing and affirming the next generation. [02:45]

5. By blessing the next generation, we can transform our families and culture, empowering them to walk with purpose and confidence. This act of blessing is a powerful testimony of God's favor and promises. [04:21]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - The Role of the Patriarchs
- [00:48] - Passing on Covenantal Blessings
- [01:03] - Anticipation of God's Goodness
- [01:19] - God as a Generational God
- [01:32] - The Passion for Blessing
- [01:45] - The Story of Esau and Jacob
- [01:59] - The Coveted Blessing
- [02:15] - A World of Unblessed People
- [02:30] - The Generational Gap
- [02:58] - Joseph and the Third Generation
- [03:13] - The Role of Grandfathers
- [03:40] - The Longing for Blessing
- [04:09] - Changing the Next Generation
- [04:21] - Transforming Families and Culture

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 27:1-40 - The story of Esau and Jacob and the blessing.
2. Genesis 48:8-20 - Jacob blesses Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.
3. Proverbs 13:22 - "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children."

#### Observation Questions
1. What role did the patriarchs play in passing down God's covenantal blessings according to the sermon? [00:30]
2. How did the story of Esau and Jacob illustrate the importance of a father's blessing? [01:45]
3. What example from the sermon shows the significance of grandfathers in the spiritual lineage? [03:13]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding God as a generational God change the way we view our responsibilities to future generations? [01:19]
2. In what ways does the absence of a blessing create a generational gap, and how can this gap be bridged according to the sermon? [02:45]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the emotional impact of not receiving a blessing, and how does this affect individuals and families? [03:56]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own family history. Have you experienced the passing down of blessings or spiritual guidance? How has this shaped your life? [02:15]
2. If you have never received a blessing, how can you seek out spiritual mentorship or guidance to fill this gap in your life? [03:40]
3. Consider the next generation in your family or community. What specific actions can you take to ensure they receive the blessings and promises of God? [04:09]
4. How can you actively participate in transforming your family and culture by blessing others? What steps will you take this week to start this process? [04:21]
5. Identify a young person in your life who may not have received a blessing. How can you affirm and encourage them in their spiritual journey?
6. What practical ways can you incorporate the idea of being a "three-generational" influence in your family or community? [03:26]
7. How can you create a legacy of faithfulness and blessing that will impact not just your children, but your grandchildren as well? [03:13]

Devotional

Day 1: Generational Faithfulness in God's Promises
The patriarchs of the Old Testament played a pivotal role in passing down God's covenantal blessings to future generations. This act was not just a tradition but a profound responsibility that instilled hope and purpose. It reminded each generation that God's promises were not only for the present but also for the future. The patriarchs understood that God is a generational God, concerned with the unfolding of His kingdom throughout history. Their commitment to this responsibility serves as a model for us today, encouraging us to be faithful in passing on the spiritual legacy to those who come after us. [00:30]

Genesis 17:7 (ESV): "And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you."

Reflection: Who in your life can you intentionally bless today, ensuring that God's promises are passed on to the next generation?


Day 2: A Broader Vision of God's Kingdom
Understanding God as a generational God shifts our focus from individualism to a broader vision of His kingdom advancing through history. This perspective encourages us to invest in the spiritual legacy we leave behind. By recognizing that God's work transcends our individual lives, we are motivated to contribute to His kingdom in ways that impact future generations. This understanding calls us to be intentional in our actions, knowing that they have the potential to influence the unfolding of God's kingdom. [01:19]

Psalm 78:5-6 (ESV): "He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to invest in the spiritual legacy you will leave behind for future generations?


Day 3: The Deep Longing for a Father's Blessing
The story of Esau and Jacob illustrates the deep longing for a father's blessing, a desire that remains relevant today. This longing points to the need for intentional blessing and affirmation within families. Many individuals, particularly men, have not received the blessing that was once expected to be passed from father to son. This absence creates a generational gap, leaving many unable to pass on what they have not received. By recognizing this need, we can take steps to bridge the gap and ensure that the next generation receives the blessing and affirmation they long for. [01:45]

Genesis 27:34 (ESV): "As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, 'Bless me, even me also, O my father!'"

Reflection: Is there someone in your family or community who needs your blessing and affirmation today? How can you offer it to them?


Day 4: Bridging the Generational Gap
The absence of a blessing creates a generational gap, leaving many unable to pass on what they have not received. The patriarchs provide a model for bridging this gap by actively blessing and affirming the next generation. Joseph witnessed his father Jacob bless his sons, extending God's favor to the third generation. This act underscores the importance of not only fathers but also grandfathers in the spiritual lineage. By following this model, we can ensure that the next generation is empowered to walk with purpose and confidence, knowing they are blessed. [02:45]

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in bridging the generational gap in your family or community today?


Day 5: Transforming Families and Culture Through Blessing
By blessing the next generation, we can transform our families and culture, empowering them to walk with purpose and confidence. This act of blessing is a powerful testimony of God's favor and promises. It is not just about words but about imparting a sense of identity and purpose that aligns with God's kingdom. As we bless others, we participate in God's work of transformation, creating a ripple effect that extends beyond our immediate circles and into the broader culture. [04:21]

Numbers 6:24-26 (ESV): "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

Reflection: What specific blessing can you speak over someone today to empower them to walk in their God-given purpose?

Quotes


The patriarchs understood that God is a generational God. It's not just about me, myself, and I, but it's about what God wants to happen in the future as His name, His person, His program, and His kingdom is advanced in history. [00:01:10]

Great passion was taken to give the blessing and to receive the blessing. We're even told about Esau, whose brother Jacob stole the blessing from his older brother because that's how desperate a young man was to get the blessing from his father. [00:01:32]

Today we live in a world of unblessed people and unblessed men. They have not received the blessing. It was expected that a father would touch his son, share with him what God had said to him, and what God wanted to do through him for that young man. [00:02:04]

We're living in a day of regression. We're living in a day of parental pain and the pain of children because how can you pass on something you've never received? But the patriarchs give us guidelines. They give us direction because they remind us of how critical it is. [00:02:37]

Joseph watched his father Jacob bless his sons, Jacob's grandsons, when he was coming to the end of his life. What a moment it was to see Jacob put his hands on the third generation and give God's favor in their lives. [00:02:58]

If you've never been blessed, if you've never had a patriarch, a godly person in your life who's been walking with God to share with you God's truth, God's favor, God's purpose, God's blessing, I remember when we called all the men of the church who had never felt the blessing. [00:03:40]

See grown men come crying because they longed for the touch of the transfer of the heavenly Father through an earthly father for their future. If we're going to change the next generation, we've got to give them a blessing. [00:03:56]

We've got to tell them about the promises of God, the favor of God, the purpose of God, and yes, the advancement of the kingdom of God. And when we do that, we'll see a shift in our families and a shift in our culture. [00:04:11]

They will no longer be aimless. They will walk around with the crown on their head that testifies, "I've been blessed." [00:04:29]

A Jewish child longed for the blessing. It was the father's responsibility to transfer these covenantal promises of God's favor to the next generation, and by passing it on, they had an anticipation of hope, an anticipation of purpose, and an anticipation of the goodness of God following them into the next generation. [00:00:42]

It was understood that that young man would have a family of his own, and he would need to transfer it to his children. [00:02:28]

A good man has an inheritance for his children's children. [00:03:30]

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Transcript
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