Paul wrote:  But blessing is always to be used very carefully, as
we can see from the many instances of blessing or promising safety to the
wrong people which haunted Israel most of their days.

Helen responds:  Well, at that time, I had no such things in my mind or heart.
I wasn't thinking "well, I'm a priest in Christ Jesus, so I can bless these
people with this Aaronic blessing".......my blessing to them came from a
prompting by the Holy Spirit out of love for them......no more and no
less.  And if anyone was looking at me, they may have seen that shikinah
glory shining in my face, too.  I knew nothing of any blessings being made
to the wrong people.  It was an innocent and loving gesture by me to them,
and if they were not willing to receive it as such, then the blessing came
back to me.
I am so thankful to God this morning that my relationship with Him has no
need for a formal priest or minister to dictate to my heart what I can or
cannot do in ministering to others.  The ministry of reconciliation is mine
just as much as it is theirs.

Helen



At 09:04 AM 1/6/04 -0500, you wrote:
>I get your point, Helen, but in the example you give that is the Aaronic or
>priestly blessing, to be given only by the priests (that's what the LORD is
>saying, this isn't to be done by the members of the congregation, but by you
>priests).  Your point (whether you realize it or not, smile) is the
>priesthood of all Believers which would give you the right to bless others
>in the Name of JESUS.  But blessing is always to be used very carefully, as
>we can see from the many instances of blessing or promising safety to the
>wrong people which haunted Israel most of their days.
>
>One interesting thing which there is no historical proof of but is still
>something to think about is that the priests hold their hands out over the
>congregation as they say the Blessing because, originally, when Aaron and
>the priests said the Blessing, the Shikinah Glory of the LORD, the Eminance
>or Glowing that came from the face of Moses actually came out of their hands
>and extended fingers onto the Congregation like an anointing.
>
>Wow, huh?  Smile.
>
>Paul
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Helen" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 8:57 AM
>Subject: Re: Blessing
>
>
> > And God told Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to bless the children of
> > Israel saying:
> >
> > 24  The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
> > 25  The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
> > 26  The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
> > (Numbers 6)
> >
> > Of course, some denominations keep the blessing of this blessing for the
> > high and mighty clergy to place upon their congregants, and it's a no-no
> > for a mere lay person to use it to bless anyone.  I used it once as I was
> > leaving a private meeting in the home of another member, sincerely
>desiring
> > that God bless the others, and I was sharply taken to task by an elder,
> > telling me I couldn't do that, but only the minister of the church was
> > allowed to use it.
> >
> > Helen
> >
> >
> >
> > At 08:38 AM 1/6/04 -0500, you wrote:
> > >Hey, John
> > >
> > >I can't think of a specific case (or of much of anything else this
>morning.
> > >Smile.)  but I'm sure Lutherans and Episcopalians (Anglicans in England)
> > >also do blessings as well as the other liturgical folks at baptisms and
> > >dedications.
> > >
> > >Paul