The Fullness of the Spirit’s Blessing
The LORD look with favor on you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:26
The third part of the Aaronic blessing relates to the Holy Spirit’s ministry in our lives. Literally it states, “May the LORD turn His face toward you,” and it has the idea of a continued gaze of God upon our lives. The third segment of the blessing foreshadows the Trinity but also emphasizes the security and fullness of God’s blessings upon us. As does the work of the Spirit, as Christ said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23). The Spirit’s work in our lives is to fully accomplish the fullness of blessings of the Full God-head.
None of this removes the fact that we live in a sinful world, with our sinful natures, and that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. Only after this life should we expect to enter into the fullness of the Kingdom. Yet the blessing still means that whatever the Spirit does in our lives He does in His power, not ours. This is the healing in the wings of the rising sun that Malachi spoke of (Mal. 4:2). This blessing, as the others, is not a bland hope that may or may not come true, rather it is the announcement of the good intentions of God toward us, a blessing that may be experienced today by all who claim it in faith.
The fullness found in conviction is part of the blessing, that God looks with favor on us when He convicts us of sin. This point is easily missed since conviction follows our failures, but, as David wrote, conviction is actually God speaking His truth in our hearts, teaching us His “wisdom deep within” (Psalm 51:6). Would it be considered a favor if a man or woman of notable financial success in life took time to look at your personal business affairs and gave you advice? Would it be considered a favor for a world-class athlete to take to time to advise a novice on how to improve his game? Would it be considered a favor for a skilled physician to thoroughly examine you at his expense and advise you on how to improve your health? Of course! In a greater way, the conviction of the Spirit places God’s truth in our lives, and leads us to repentance and confession. Confession means to agree with God, to accept what He says as the truth, to allow His wisdom and truth to go deep within our hearts.
The fullness found in fellowship with the Spirit is also part of this blessing, that God looks at us with favor throughout our lives. He opens our hearts to receive Him and to fellowship with Him. He enlarges our faith, deepens our confidence, and spreads His love throughout our hearts. He speaks peace to us, assuring us that because of Christ’s sacrifice, our warfare is finished, our peace is secured. His peace endures and assails every challenge of life, every problem of existence. In sorrow as in celebrations, He is with us and His face is not turned away.
Are you now experiencing this blessing? Are you now living within the realm of the blessing? It was by the announcing of the blessing that the Levites placed God’s name upon the people. It was given not merely as a pious wish but as an expression of the intent of the all powerful God, the God Who Is and Ever Shall Be. Reaching up in faith to God to receive His blessing is the simplest Christian exercise, no more than a thirsty child accepting a cup of water from his mother. This is the blessing God offers you. Will you receive it?
Prayer:
Lord, let us live within the realm of Your possibilities, not our own. Teach us truth in our innermost hearts. Show us Your victory and give us Your peace. Amen.