The Blessing of Gods Face | Jentezen Franklin

Monday, February 9

This message reveals how one short prayer can place God’s name upon your life and invite His favor and peace for your entire family. Drawing from his new book “The Power of Short Prayers,” Pastor Jentezen Franklin shows what it truly means for God to shine His face upon you in every season of life.

Key Verses

Numbers 6:22-27; Revelation 1:6; John 9:1; John 9:8; Genesis 16:10-13; Psalm 94:9; Psalm 92:10; Matthew 6:4

Key Points

The Lord is your Keeper. You don’t have to fear when God is your Keeper. He will keep your family, business, and miracles. You may face opposition, but no one can curse you when God has blessed you. God chose the words of this blessing, not man.

God is paying attention to you. Like a proud father, God’s face is shining, and His attention is completely upon you. He is not looking at you with disappointment. He sees you and knows what you’re going through. Everyone else may overlook you, but Jesus sees the unseen. He is the God who sees you.

God is covering you in grace. God doesn’t give you what you deserve, but what Jesus paid for to give you. You’re not a bother to God. You’re His child, and His grace is covering you. He is beaming at you with delight, not disappointment.

God has put His Name on you. The blessing of Numbers 6 is not from man, but God. When God prays for you, it will come to pass.

Introduction

In this powerful message, Pastor Jentezen Franklin reminds us that the blessing found in Numbers 6 is not a human wish or a poetic prayer—it is a direct command from God Himself. Every word of this ancient blessing was intentionally chosen by the Lord and given to His people as a declaration of His heart toward them. When spoken in faith, it releases God’s promised favor, protection, grace, peace, and His delighted attention—His shining face—over our lives.

This blessing reveals a God who does not stand distant or disinterested, but one who bends low toward His people, watches over what He blesses, and marks them with His name. Most remarkably, God ends this command with a promise: “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” When God’s name is placed on His people, blessing is guaranteed—not because of our perfection, but because of His faithfulness. As we study this passage together, we are invited to receive this blessing personally and to recognize God’s keeping power and loving gaze at work in our everyday lives.

Reflection Question :

What stood out to you most from Sunday’s message about God’s blessing and His shining face?

The Power and Structure of the Blessing

The blessing in Numbers 6 is not a human poem or heartfelt prayer—it is God’s direct command. Verse 22 begins, “The LORD said to Moses…,” showing that these words originate in heaven, not human creativity. God Himself authored them, instructed the priests to speak them exactly, and invested them with supernatural authority. What God commands carries real power. This blessing is declarative, not merely symbolic. When spoken as God directed, it releases something spiritual over His people.

A Progressive, Three-Part Structure

The blessing builds intentionally, escalating from protection to presence to peace:

“The LORD bless you and keep you” This foundation uses baruch (bless)—picturing God, the powerful King, stooping low to grant favor, protection, and provision. He doesn’t just bless—He keeps, guarding what He gives. No curse, attack, or opposition can override what God has blessed and preserved.

“The LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you” This shifts to presence. God’s shining face signifies His pleasure, approval, and nearness. Grace is unearned favor—goodness given because of His loving character. Blessing here is not just about receiving; it’s about who is with us.

“The LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace” The climax: God lifts His countenance—fully attentive, engaged, and relational. The result is shalom—wholeness, completeness, nothing missing, nothing broken. This is God’s settled rest, even amid trouble.

The progression is clear: Blessing → Presence → Peace Provision → Relationship → Wholeness

God Our Keeper: Blessings Preserved

When God declares Himself our Keeper, what He blesses cannot be stolen. Circumstances don’t cancel it. People don’t undo it. The enemy cannot reverse it. God not only starts blessings—He sustains them.

Knowing this blessing is God’s direct command (not human words), how does that change the way you receive or speak it?

Which part of the three-part progression—protection/keeping, shining face/grace, or full attention/peace—do you need most right now, and why?

God keeps what He blesses—no curse or circumstance can undo it. Where in your life can you trust Him more as your Keeper today?

The Radiance of God's Favor

We all know the wonderful feeling of approval—whether from a loving parent, a teacher, or a superior at work. How much greater it is to know that the God of the universe, the Creator of all things, looks upon each of us with lovingkindness and approval! In the original Hebrew, the “you” in this verse is singular (often rendered as “thee”), meaning God isn’t just blessing a crowd—He is looking at you personally.

What does it mean to have God smile upon you? When He lifts His face toward His worshipers, He directs His loving attention to them, granting shalom—peace. Shalom is far more than the absence of conflict; it means wholeness and completeness—nothing missing, nothing broken, physically or spiritually. God’s smiling face is His pledge of good favor. His blessings abound to His faithful people: the peace of knowing He is God and in control, His provision for our daily needs, His mercy and patience toward a sin-filled world, His unbelievable love, and priceless grace.

Imagine for a moment the God of the universe gazing lovingly at you, just as you gaze into the face of your beloved child, parent, or friend. Your heart overflows, and all your worries fade. God sees you in your trials and longs to help and comfort you, just as you want to help and comfort your loved ones. When you call upon Him with a sincere, loving request, His face will shine upon you—just as it did for Hagar in her desert wilderness.

Where in your life right now do you most need to feel God’s shining face of favor, approval, and loving attention?

Think of a time when someone’s loving look or approval lifted your heart. How much more powerful is it to receive that same kind of gaze from the God of the universe? How can you lean into that truth this week?

The Shining Face of Grace

Numbers 6:25-26 (NIV) “the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

“Be gracious to you” means God’s unmerited favor—grace that covers us freely, even when we don’t deserve it. “Give you peace” is shalom: complete wholeness in every area of life, the deep rest only God provides.

Pastor Jentezen Franklin applied this practically: he spoke the blessing daily over his children as they headed to school or at bedtime. Parents act as priests over their home, declaring favor and protection. In church anointing services, the blessing is spoken with oil, marking people for healing, deliverance, and fresh strength.

As new-covenant believers, we are “a kingdom and priests” (Revelation 1:6). We can declare this blessing over ourselves, family, and friends. When spoken in faith, God fulfills His promise: “I will bless them” (Numbers 6:27)—bringing favor, protection, healing, and deliverance.

Make it regular: speak Numbers 6:24-26 over your household, loved ones, or yourself daily. Trust God to place His name and blessing where His words are declared.

Where have you seen God’s unmerited grace cover you when you felt undeserving?

In what area of your life do you most need His shalom (wholeness and peace) right now?

Who will you start declaring this blessing over regularly this week, and why?

Conclusion

The blessing in Numbers 6 reminds us of a powerful truth: God’s people are marked by His favor, His delight, His grace, His peace, and His name. This is not a temporary encouragement—it is a spiritual covering backed by God’s own promise, “I will bless them.” When God blesses, He also keeps. When He looks at His children, His face does not turn away in disappointment—it shines with love.

This week, let this blessing move from something you hear to something you receive and declare. Speak it over your life, your family, your home, and one another. Trust that God is watching over what He has blessed and that His peace is resting on you.

Call to Action:

Memorize Numbers 6:24–26 and speak it aloud daily—over yourself and over someone else this week.

Closing Prayer:

Lord, we receive Your blessing today. Bless us and keep us. Let your face shine upon us and be gracious to us. Turn Your face toward us and give us peace. We thank you that you have placed your name on us and that You have promised to bless us. May we walk this week covered by your favor, guarded by Your keeping power, and confident in Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Final Anchor Verse – Numbers 6:24–26 (NIV): “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

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