BORN TO BE Blessed RELEASING GOD'S PROMISES INTO THE LIVES OF THOSE YOU LOVE JOHN HAGEE The publisher wishes to acknowledge that a portion of this material is adapted from The Power of the Prophetic Blessing by John Hagee. Copyright © 2013 by John Hagee Published by Worthy Publishing, a division of Worthy Media, Inc., 134 Franklin Road, Suite 200, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027. HELPING PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE HEART OF GOD eBook available at worthypublishing.com Library of Congress Control Number: 2013931706 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from The New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture marked (ESV) is taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard ® ® Version (ESV ). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture marked (KJV) is taken from the King James Version. Public domain. Scripture marked (NASB) is taken from the New American Standard Bible®. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture marked (NIV) is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Italics added in Scripture quotations are the author's emphasis. Portions of this material were first published in The Power of the Prophetic Blessing © 2012 by John Hagee. Published by Worthy Publishing, Brentwood, Tennessee. For foreign and subsidiary rights, contact Riggins International Rights Services, Inc.; rigginsrights.com Published in association with Ted Squires Agency, Nashville, Tennessee ISBN: 978-1-61795-190-9 (hardcover w/jacket) ISBN: 978-1-61795-232-6 (international edition) Cover Design: Christopher Tobias, Tobias' Outerwear for Books Meadow Photo: © MOF/Getty Images Sea Photo: © Warren Goldswain/Fotolia Interior Design and Typesetting: Kimberly Sagmiller, Fudge Creative Printed in the United States of America 13 14 15 16 17 18 QGFF 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 T C ABLE OF ONTENTS You Were Born to Be Blessed! PART 1: THE PROPHETIC BLESSING Chapter 1: What Is the Prophetic Blessing? Chapter 2: The Prophetic Blessing in Scripture Chapter 3: Releasing the Blessing Through the Spoken Word Chapter 4: Releasing the Blessing Through Physical Touch Chapter 5: How to Release the Prophetic Blessing Over Your Children PART 2: PROCLAMATIONS Proclamations for Repentance, Forgiveness, and Salvation Proclamations for a Prosperous Spiritual Life Proclamations for Wisdom, Purpose, and Guidance Proclamations for Family Proclamations for Godly Relationships Proclamations for New Beginnings Proclamations of Servanthood Proclamations for Overcoming Adversity Proclamations for Healing Proclamations for Reconciliation and Restoration Proclamations for Protection and Safety Proclamations for Divine Prosperity and Favor A Parting Blessing Notes Y W B B B ! OU ERE ORN TO E LESSED I have a message of hope and truth for everyone reading this book who wants to live a fulfilled and successful life: God Almighty has declared that every one of His children is born to be blessed! The Prophetic Blessing is a spoken declaration by a spiritual authority over the life of an individual. The words of the blessing carry the power to control and direct the life of the person over whom they have been spoken. The Prophetic Blessing will revolutionize your life and the lives of your family members—children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, godchildren—no matter their age or current circumstances, enabling them to rise to a higher level of accomplishment and creating spiritual, physical, emotional, and relational prosperity. The power and permanence of the Prophetic Blessing have been clearly charted over the centuries in sacred Scripture. The Jewish people have obeyed the principles and received the benefits of the blessing; however, its potential has been sadly overlooked by most Christians for over two thousand years. This transforming supernatural blessing spoken by spiritual authority has the power to sculpt your life and the lives of your children for today, tomorrow, and forever! When I taught the power of the Prophetic Blessing to my congregation, I directed every father and mother to lay hands on his or her children and speak a blessing over them. I instructed them to personally profess the future accomplishments they desired for each child. Lives were immediately changed. Weeping could be heard from every corner of the sanctuary. Testimonies began pouring in of sons and daughters whose lives were transformed by the power of the Prophetic Blessing spoken over them by their spiritual authority. School grades improved; behavioral problems and low self-esteem vanished! Their children walked and talked with an air of confidence they had never demonstrated before. The power of the Prophetic Blessing has changed the course of our ministry and positively impacted our congregation, our nation, and the nations of the world with supernatural results that were beyond our most aspiring dreams or imagination. And it can transform your family too! I've written Born to Be Blessed to teach you how to release the power of the Prophetic Blessing into your family. Your children were born to be blessed—and you, as their parent or spiritual authority, can proclaim that blessing in accordance with the sacred Scriptures and watch it become reality in the lives of those whom you love. In part 1 of this book, I'll explain the Prophetic Blessing, show you how God's blessing dramatically changed lives throughout Scripture, and then teach you how to release the God-ordained Prophetic Blessing in your own family through the Spoken Word and physical touch. Along the way, I'll share powerful, encouraging stories of families—just like yours—who have experienced the profoundly transforming power of the Prophetic Blessing. In part 2, I'll share several specific proclamations you can speak over your children and loved ones in order to release the supernatural power of the Prophetic Blessing in your home and family. You don't need to wait any longer; you have the power to turn your family around today! Regardless of your family's situation or how hopeless you may feel at this very moment, declare that you will no longer accept a mediocre existence for your family. Begin thinking of your children as successful in everything they put their hand to. I encourage you to end all destructive speech about your children, their current circumstances, and their future. Instead, look at a family picture and say out loud, “My children were born to be blessed!” You don't need to search any further for the answers to the challenges of your life; you just need to read this book, believing that you and your children have the potential to lead a blessed life… because you were born to be blessed! PART 1 T P B HE ROPHETIC LESSING C 1 HAPTER WHAT IS THE PROPHETIC Blessing? W hen we encounter a stranger who sneezes in the elevator, most of us instinctively say, “God bless you!” A Hispanic farewell proclaims a blessing for a safe journey through the phrase “Vaya con Dios.” Even Boaz of the Old Testament greeted his reapers with a blessing: “The LORD be with you” (Ruth 2:4). There are many ways man desires to extend God's blessing upon others. These kinds of statements may seek God's favor upon something or someone; however, they are not examples of the God-ordained Priestly Blessing, nor are they an impartation of the Prophetic Blessing. Let us begin by defining the difference between the Priestly Blessing and the Prophetic Blessing. THE PRIESTLY BLESSING The book of Numbers houses within its pages what is often referred to as the Lord's Prayer of the Old Testament. The Lord commanded Moses to instruct Aaron and his sons to bless the children of Israel by placing His Name upon them. Aaron and his sons comprised the priesthood of Israel, and therefore this passage is referred to as the Priestly Blessing. This profound proclamation is one of God's gifts to His own, for within its sacred text He defines the essence of the word blessing. In its promises, we can see the heart of God and experience a small portion of the great love He has for us. Read aloud the transforming promises from God to you in the Priestly Blessing: And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’ “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” (Numbers 6:22–27) The Priestly Blessing was not just for Moses, Aaron, and the elite members of the tribe of Levi; it was intended for every person on the face of the earth. That means the Priestly Blessing is for you—and for your children. This awesome promise can only come from an awesome God. This blessing comes to you directly from the Creator of heaven and earth. The prophet Isaiah called Him “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Sacred Scripture calls Him the great “I AM” and the Good Shepherd of the sheep (Exodus 3:14; John 10:11). The mighty source of blessing that knows no limit is Emmanuel, “God with us,” and the hope of glory. He is the immortal and invisible God. He can restore your dead marriage, heal your diseased body, and renew your distressed mind. He has promised to make you the head and not the tail. He will give you houses you didn't build, vineyards you didn't plant, and wells you didn't dig. He will plant you by rivers of living water, and whatsoever you do will prosper! He is the Lord who gives you the power to get wealth. The verb to bless in Hebrew is related to the noun knee and can mean “to adore on bended knee” (Psalm 95:6) or “to present something of value to another.” Nearly every Hebrew blessing begins with this word, for God deserves all of man's praise and adoration (Psalm 113:2). Through the Priestly Blessing, God is bestowing His favor on His creation—mortal man. How humbling! This is the purest expression of His mercy and grace.1 God blesses His children by