Numbers 6:22-27 – PASS IT ON!
Of course, after we have been saved and have experienced the good news of salvation we are to pass it on. We are to pass on that Good News to those who need to hear it. 1 Peter 3:15
Also, as Christians we are to learn God’s Word and experience his blessings. As we learn God’s Word and experience his blessings, we are to pass it on to other Christians. Hebrews 10:24-25, Colossians 3:16
There is still another way you can pass on the good things that God has done for you. It is by praying a blessing on others, especially those who know Jesus as Savior. In fact I want to encourage you to start praying a blessing on your Church. By praying God’s blessing on each other you indeed “Pass it on!” You have been blessed and you are sharing the blessing!
It is in Numbers 6:22-27 that Aaron and his family of priests are commanded to give a blessing upon the children of Israel. I feel that this blessing should be used by us today and that we have every right and responsibility to do so. God has blessed us. Let us pass on the blessing.
THE PRIVILEGE OF PRIESTHOOD – Vss. 22-23
Vss. 22-23 – It was a privilege of priesthood for Aaron and
his Sons, the priests, to bless the Children of
Israel.
The priests had many privileges that the common people did not. They were the ones who could offer the sacrifices. They were the ones who could enter the holy place in the tabernacle or temple, and the high priest alone could enter the “Holy of Holies” to sprinkle blood on the Mercy Seat” once a year.
There is no Aaronic Priesthood today. We do, however have our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:14-16, Hebrews 7:24-25
Jesus is the great High Priest.
But there are priests today.
If you are a believer, you are one of those priests.
1 Peter 2:4-5 – To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, [5] Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the living stone on which the church is built. Most men have rejected Christ, but nonetheless He is chosen of God and precious.
We that have believed on the Lord Jesus as Savior are “living stones”. He has given each of us life and each one of us is built into what is a spiritual house or God’s spiritual temple. Ephesians 2:19-22
Not only are we a spiritual house, part of God’s temple in Christ, but we are now a “holy priesthood”. As a holy priesthood we are set apart for God’s service.
Not only are we a holy priesthood, but we are a royal priesthood.1 Peter 2:9 – But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
As a royal priesthood we serve the King of Kings and will one day reign with Him.
One of the key things that a priest did was to offer sacrifices to God.
According to 1 Peter 2:5 we are also an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
This is a concept that most Christians really do not understand. As priests before God we are to make sacrifices.
The ultimate sacrifice for sin has been made by the Lord Jesus. We do not have to atone for our sins. Christ did that on the cross!
But there are sacrifices we can offer as His priests.
- We are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. Romans 12:1-2
- We are to offer the sacrifice of praise to God. Hebrews 13:15
Hebrews 13:15 – By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
- We are to offer the sacrifice of good works.
- We are to offer the sacrifice of sharing in the financial needs of the church, missionaries, and Christians in need. Hebrews 13:16
We are to offer the sacrifice of prayer. Revelation 8:3-4, Matthew 6:6, Ephesians 6:18, James 5:16
Now I will not kid you. Any sacrifice that we make as a Kingdom of priests will cost us something. And this sacrifice of praying a prayer of blessing upon your church will require the sacrifices of time, work and faith.
The sacrifice is worth it if:
- We love and appreciate God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and want to please Them.
- We love our church and want to see it blessed.
- We love our fellow church members and want to see them blessed.
- We love the unsaved and want to see them blessed.
THE PRAYERFUL PRONOUNCEMENT OF PRIESTHOOD – Vss. 24-26
The pronouns in this passage are singular.
The whole group of believers is blessed as the individual is blessed.
This blessing should be our desire and prayer upon each and every believer our church.
Numbers 6:24 – The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
Notice our prayer needs to be to the Lord.
It is only He who truly blesses.
Each Christian has received many blessings.
- You have been blessed with forgiveness of sin.
- You have been blessed with everlasting life.
- You have been blessed with the indwelling Holy Spirit.
- You have blessed with grace, mercy and peace.
- You have been blessed with the privilege of prayer.
- You have been blessed with Christian friends.
- You have been blessed with God’s faithfulness.
In fact your blessings in Christ are so abundant that Ephesians 1:3 says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
So if we as Christians already have these blessings why should we pray for them to be blessed?
- God honors our prayers when we pray for others.
- It helps our own attitude towards others.
- Although we have all Spiritual blessings in Christ, most Christians aren’t taking advantage of them.
Our prayer to bless them might make them aware of the blessings they have and the blessings they need to appropriate.
- Our prayer that God bless them is an expression of our love for them.
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
It is God alone who keeps.
It is God alone who protects.
It is God alone who keeps us safe.
It is God alone who keeps us from temptation and delivers us from evil.
Every member of our little congregation faces trials, tribulations, and temptations.
It should be our active desire that God keep them through all of these things. Psalm 121:7-8
You never know how the Lord will bless when we pray prayers of God’s keeping upon us and others.
Numbers 6:25 – The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
Do you like having approval?
It might be the approval of a wife or husband, a child or a parent. It might be the approval a boss, or a friend, or a neighbor or a church member.
How about the approval of God?
If the Lord makes his face shine upon us, that would indicate approval. It would indicate that God is smiling on us.
You should want God to smile on each one of your fellow members of this congregation.
You should want God to work in the life of each member of the congregation, so that if He can’t smile right now, God will do what is necessary to smile on them again.
Pray that each member of the congregation will receive the full benefit of God’s smile.
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The New Testament blessings recorded in Scripture included a wish for grace, for God’s unmerited favor. We received that the moment we trusted Christ as Savior. However we never outgrow our need for more grace for daily situations and for God’s richest blessings in our lives. 2 Peter 3:18
Numbers 6:26 – The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
We should prayerfully desire that God would give us full attention, turn his face towards, “lift up his countenance upon” each and every believer.
When God does that, individual sin has been dealt with on the part of each believer and God is fully attuned to their prayers.
The final part of this prayer of blessing is for peace.
It should be our prayer that the peace of God will rule inside of each believer’s.
This was the desire of our Lord Jesus. It should be our desire for others. John 14:27
THE POWER OF PRIESTHOOD – Vs. 27
Numbers 6:27 – And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
God is saying, “As the priests put My name in blessing upon the children of Israel, I will bless them.” The power of the priesthood is the power of answered prayer!
Why do our people not have a fuller grasp of the blessings of God in their lives? It is because we do not have the love or faith to ask God to give them those blessings! Mark 11:22-24, 1 John 5:14-15
Here is my challenge to you for the next 30 days:
- Memorize Numbers 6:24-27, one verse a week.
- Pray this prayer of blessing upon your church every day, at least once a day.
- Believe with all your heart that God will answer your prayer.
- Forsake all sin that would hinder you getting an answer to that prayer.
It is by praying this prayer of blessing on others that you PASS IT ON!