Just what I said, Helen, you didn't know it at the time, but the concept you
were practicing (rightly or wrongly, depending on one's denomination) was
the Priesthood of All Believers.

Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: "Helen" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 9:24 AM
Subject: Re: Blessing


> 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