Download Digging Deeper Week 5 – The Tenth Blessing Part 3

Day 1
The “Tenth” Blessing
Numbers 6:22-27
22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the
Israelites. Say to them: 24 “‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine
on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ 27
“So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
God is in the blessing business. Some of God’s blessings are General blessings, which he
provides for everyone (sunlight, laughter, even the air we breathe). But some blessings, though
He desires to give them to us, require us to position ourselves to receive them. If we aren’t
ready to receive what He has for us, He patiently waits for us to turn back to Him, calling us
back to Him the whole time. And when we turn to God, He gives us peace. There are two
definitions of peace:
The World’s definition – absence of conflict.
Biblical definition – “shalom,” which is the fullness of the presence of God.
The World’s definition is situational (based on our circumstances). The World’s definition can’t
bring you piece in a world full of conflict. Since recorded history only 8% of the time has been
considered peaceful. So in this world full of conflict we need the biblical definition of peace.
We are never guaranteed a life without conflict or danger. Safety consists not in the absence of
danger, but in the presence of God.
Do you have the peace of God? Can you have peace even during the tough times in life?
Day 2
The “Tenth” Blessing
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; 13 planted
in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They will still bear fruit
in old age, they will stay fresh and green, 15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; (Psalm 92:12-15)
“the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Num 6:26)
When we read this verse we get the imagery of Jesus turning his face toward us and locking
eyes with us in the midst of the chaos around us. And in that moment we are overcome with a
peace as we put our trust in Him. Psalm 92 describes His people as a palm tree. Palm trees are
referred to as monocots. Unlike other types of trees, these monocots have vascular strands
that form a network similar to thick steel, cable woven from a lot of smaller steel wires. Each
strand in these bundles are connected to the root system, which is deep and wide. When the
storm comes, the trees may bend almost horizontal, but because of their flexible support
system and stable structure, they pop back up. The palm tree takes the brunt of the storm, but
they are not uprooted.
Sometimes we pray against the storm God is using to make us stronger. Do we trust God
enough to allow Him to use us, even if it means He has to take us through a storm? We may
need to embrace the storm so that God can use it in our life.
What type of root system do you have? Are you rooted and grounded in Christ like a palm
tree is rooted and grounded? If we are not interconnected to Christ we will be uprooted by
the storm.
Day 3
The “Tenth” Blessing
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we
now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. (Rom 5:1-2)
Peace with God
If God wants us to have peace, why does it sometimes feel like peace is unobtainable? How do
we get that peace? If you don’t have peace with God you won’t have lasting peace. The world
can’t give you the peace that satisfies. God created us to find peace in a relationship with Him.
Romans 5 tells us that if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior that we now have
peace with God. This is a one-time event that happens when we are saved. God now counts us
as friend and adopts us as His children instead of being an enemy of God, trapped in our sin.
This is the first step in having peace in your life, but it does not guarantee peace.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have
trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Jesus tells us that we will have trouble in this world, but take heart because He has overcome
the world. If you don’t know the One who has overcome the world, you can’t have the peace
that transcends your current situation that only He can bring.
Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not, why don’t you do so today? If you do
know Jesus as Lord, do you trust that He can bring you peace that goes beyond your current
situation? Thank God for His good and perfect gift of peace.
Day 4
The “Tenth” Blessing
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and
sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such
things. (Phil 4:6-8)
Peace of God
The peace of God is not guaranteed just because you are a Christian. The peace of God is
conditional (unlike peace with God). If you have peace with God, but are still anxious, it might
be because you don’t have the peace of God. The peace of God requires a right relationship
with God. Then when you pray the peace of God will fill you. We have full access to the peace
of God, but we often don’t take advantage of it. When we bring our requests to God we can’t
come with expectations of God or desiring God to rubber stamp our desires, instead we must
lay them before the throne of God and accept whatever His will is in the matter. Then we will
be filled with the peace of God that transcends all understanding and our current situation.
Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
Are you anxious about anything in your life? If so, you can have the peace of God right now,
just give the situation to God.
What situations has God given you peace about in the past? Thank God for His peace and
trust He’ll do the same in the future.
“I have seen the face of the Captain and all is well” – Do you see His smile?
Day 5
The “Tenth” Blessing
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think
about such things. (Phil 4:8)
Eight filters to Peace
Philippians gives us eight things to focus on to help us keep the peace God gives us. Whatever
is True, Noble, Right, Pure, Lovely, Admirable, Excellent and Praiseworthy. When we think
about these things God protects our minds and our peace. Satan likes to try to steal our peace
by attacking us with negative thinking, but when we focus on the good things God tells us to
think about, we can stand strong against Satan’s attacks. We have to be especially vigilant
when we are tired or emotional. Satan loves to attack us when we are down or tired. When he
does attack we must focus on what is true – God’s Word is truth; what is noble – how would
God have us act; what is right – God’s Word is our standard for what is right, what is pure –
Christ is our standard for purity; what is Lovely – how lovely are the feet of those who bring the
Good News; what is admirable – Christlikeness, to be like Christ; what is excellent –
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly
lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17);
what is praiseworthy – Christ Jesus is worthy of all our praise.
Have you felt Satan attacking your peace late at night, on a business trip, when there’s stress
at work, when you are sick, or when you are feeling down? How can keeping your thoughts
focused on the things of God help you keep your peace?
Day 6 & 7
The “Tenth” Blessing
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Rom 12:18)
Peace with Others
If you don’t have the peace of God you can’t have peace with others. If you find yourself in
conflict with others all the time, it’s not that you’ve met a lot of jerks, but that you don’t have
the peace of God. The Church is full of diverse people and opinions, but do we allow it to
cripple us, or do we move forward prayerfully to accomplish the will of God? We can’t allow
ourselves to be pawns used by Satan to cripple the Church.
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. (Psalm 29:11)
God is a God of blessing and wants to pour out his blessing on us so that we can be a blessing in
our Church, our families, our work place and wherever we go. As we are being the blessing to
others, God fills our lives with His peace so that we may withstand the attacks of Satan and the
trials we face in this life.
Do you have peace with God? Do you have the peace of God? Does it show in your
interactions with others?
How has God blessed you this week? Have you asked God to bless the work of your hands or to
show you ways you can be a blessing to others?
Have you thanked God for His blessings this week? Have you thanked God for His peace?
Make a habit of thanking God every day when you wake and when you lie down. List specific
examples.
Spend time consciously thinking about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable,
excellent and praiseworthy.