The Joseph Blessing                                                                   12 March 2006

1.  Introduction.

· Biblical Blessing = words that correct spiritual impartation, spiritual life.

· God speaks into our life – Rhema = word that carries spiritual impartation/life.

· Luke 1:37.  No word from God shall be void of power.

· Whatever God reveals to us – revelation – we are entitled to possess.

· Often words from God are unfolding over the cause of your life.  (Ps 105:19)

· Often the full implications are not seen immediately – they unfold over a period of time.

· Personal word:  Gen 49:22-26.  Blessing of Joseph

· Personal Word becomes part of the Corporate DNA of the church.

2. The Blessing of Joseph:  Gen 49:22-26

2.1 Identity

Gen 49:22.      Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well whose branches run over the wall.

Identity           = answers the question “who am I”

                        = don’t identify with the past, with present, with opinions of people.

                        = Must agree with what God says I am!

E.g. Jude 6:12.  The Lord is with you – you mighty man of velar.

• God sees us and calls according to His purpose for our life.
• 2 Cor 5:17.  Any man in Christ = new creation = New Identity/purpose.
• With our identity of who we are in Christ, we become empowered.
• Who are you?  Who are we as a church?
• Joseph = He will add, he will increase.     Sonship – Builder

                                                                              Equipping, Empowering

(1) Fruitful bough

- Fruitful = to bear fruit, to grow, to increase.

- Bough = 1129 = “Ben” a son, a builder of the house.

· Branch of the tree carries the DNA to build, to produce fruit.

· Must abide in revelation with Christ, His call on our life – connection

(2) “By a Well”                                        - Prophetic Spirit/Anointing

· Well = 5869 = an eye, a fountain, sharp mental perception

· Two pictures here; a well – a source of life that flows and refreshes

                                                      An eye – to see, have vision, percept

· A prophetic anointing is over the church to hear and see

· Prophetic – calls people near to God the source of life.

            (3) Branches run over the wall.                                            - Missions – send

· Branches = daughter, villages                                     - Pioneer

· Wall – that which surrounds, contains or limits          - Breakout

· Picture of abundance, generosity, breaking out of containment.

· Must maintain generous spirit that goes out continually.

2.2. Conflict

Gen 49:23.  The Archers have sorely grieved him, shot at him, and hated him.

• All visionary people experienced, encounter opposition and spiritual resistant.
• Spiritual resistance comes through people: pressure from spiritual resistance.
• Archers = Masters of the Arrows             - Baal = the master, bird

                                                                              - Arrow = pierce, arrow that wounds.

Ps 64:3.  Bend bow to shoot arrows even bitter words.

• Note (1) Court opposition

                     (2) Attach by words, criticism, judgements.

• Key weapon used to oppose = words.
• Proverbs 18:21.  Death, life is in the power of the tongue.
• Tongue = “fork of flame”, wedge, evil speaks.
• People speaking own opinions, critical – releasing death
• When people ‘agree’ – demons or angels are released.
• James 3.  Tongue – a deadly poison.

2.3. Blessing to take hold of.

i. Bow – Godly Character

ii. Arms – Militant Spirit

iii. Heavens – Miracles – supernatural

iv. Deep – Spirit Life – flow of wine anointing

v. Womb – Soul winning

vi. Blessing of Father – Enlargement.