Blessings over Students and Teachers

We believe that ministers have been given the authority to bless God’s people so that they may be successful in the accomplishing of His will and purposes (Numbers 6:23-27). And because of this the following blessings (to bless means to ask the favor of God over a person or a thing) were pronounced over our students and educators during our Back to School Sunday Service held on September 18, 2011.

As you face challenges during this school year, know that you are blessed (favored) of God.  And no matter what you’re going through, you can speak these words over your life.  For example, you can say out loud, “God has blessed me to go out, befriend the lonely and hurting, give hope to the hopeless…”

And whether you’re a student or an educator, this will be one of the best school years of your life.

Back to School Blessing over Students
As you start this new year of school, we send you out with our blessings. We want you to know that along with God, Pentecostal Tabernacle is walking with you in prayer. You are not alone.

When you walk down the halls, remember that you are on mission together with God. In the midst of friendships, classes, games, performances, and events, may God remind you that He created you for His glory and to be His light in the earth.

We bless you to go out, befriend the lonely and hurting, give hope to the hopeless, and rise above the popularity contests that have trapped so many.

We bless you with the ability to give your best effort in the classroom, always seek the truth, ask your teachers, your fellow students, and yourself hard questions, and never settle for easy answers.

We bless you to take every thought that will destroy your life’s purpose, capture it, and make it obedient to the way of Christ who wants the very, very best for your life.

We bless you to go and have fun, to live lightly and enjoy this school year such as you have never done before.

We bless you to not spend too much time looking forward to the next quarter, next semester, next trimester, next year or even next week.

We bless you to live in the now and not to worry about tomorrow.

We bless you to be free to be your true self, the self you were created to be because of Christ.

We bless you to remember that there is always a way out when you’re tempted.

We bless you to not crumble to peer pressure but instead to find that nothing will satisfy you-absolutely nothing-unless it is a gift from God.

We bless you to have the wisdom to discern which relationships are from God and which are not from God but from Satan who desires to ruin your life.

We bless you to have the courage to live out that wisdom which is a gift that comes from God.

We send you out with God’s blessing so that, as you move about your schools and campuses, you will carry deep in your heart the undying fire for God’s kingdom purpose for your lives in this school year. Amen.

Back to School Blessing over Teachers
Father God, we bless each teacher with Your enablement to teach with wisdom as they help to shape the mind of each of their students.

Father God, we bless each teacher to be equipped with Your ability to teach with truth, for they help to shape the conscience of each of their students.

Father God, we bless each teacher with Your ability to encourage and to teach each student with vision, reminding them that they, as teachers, help to shape their students’ futures.

Father God, we bless each teacher with Your empowerment to teach with love, reminding them that they help to shape the character of their students.

Father God, we bless each teacher with Your protection from danger such as accidents and illness (Philippians 4:6). You are their stronghold in the day of trouble (Nahum1:7). You are the protection of each teacher from the evil one. (John 17:15). And Your angels are keeping watch over each teacher to guard him or her where ever they may go. (Psalm 91:10, 11)

Father, God we bless each teacher with Your empowerment to be gracious in carrying out their Kingdom Assignment, which is their profession of teaching.  Amen.

Bishop Brian C. Greene