PUBLICATION DATE: AUGUST 28, 2012

ou are born to be blessed.  How do these words affect you? This is quite a stirring announcement for anyone who has never been told this news. It just may send a shiver up your spine. God has plans to bless you. You are worthy of the supernatural gift of God’s blessings.

The Power of Prophetic Blessing is a loving message for Christians. John Hagee, the world-renowned evangelical pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas has written this new book and released it in time for the fall and holiday gift giving season. He is also the N. Y. Times bestselling author of four books and the Jerusalem Countdown which sold over a million copies. He has experienced the blessings that God has given to us and he wants to share the power of these blessings with the reader.

Let me tell you, this book was not at all what I expected. I figured I’d get an interesting run down of all the blessings mentioned from Genesis to Revelation. It would be interesting and I’d nod and confirm, yes, I’ve heard of that. Wrong. I was given a life changing message, an astonishing revelation, as promised on the book cover. The blessings are for me, and you.

Pastor Hagee’s book describes the Genesis blessings, God’s blessings on Christians, Abrahamic blessing, the prophetic blessings of Jesus Christ and our blessings on God. That’s a surprise isn’t it? You can bless God. The author describes the Biblical blessings and details how they affect us in our daily walk. The first blessing was placed upon Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 1:28) This blessing was on the first marriage and the children that would be born from it.

The information gleaned from this book should touch the reader on a profound personal level. There is a lot to grasp and take to heart as the power of God’s blessings are mapped out and explained. It is best read in portions and pondered. The book is separated out in three sections; Defining the Prophetic and Priestly Blessings, The Prophetic Blessings and Releasing and Receiving the Blessing. There is an intense message here for you to accept. You deserve God’s blessings. They can, and will, change your life. God has a divine assignment for His people. As a Christian your assignment is created specifically for you and no one else but you. You need to find it to seek the ‘good’ life, the blessed life that God ordains. Hagee also reminds us that as Christians we have an enemy. As long as we are doing God’s will we can expect to be persecuted. Satan will see to it. Yet Christ blesses us as all are persecuted for righteousness sake. (Matthew 5:10) We are promised the kingdom of heaven.

One very meaningful chapter of the book covers the prophetic blessing and touch. When parents bring home an infant they hold and care for the little vulnerable one. Touch gives an infant and all children a sense of security. The author emphasizes how important touch is. A great gift for your loved ones is the power of a blessing and a touch such as a hug, laying hands on the head or a simple pat on the hand or shoulder. Christ was an example when He touched others. He blessed and healed people as He touched them. He also touched children and warned that if anyone harmed one of “the least of these” you harm me.

Hagee explains that the blessings were meant for His Chosen ones, the Jews. He writes of the proof of blessings that Israel was given in the past and today and why we need to support them. He also reasoned why the Christian is able to share in God’s blessings due to the gift of life that Christ gave to all.

John Hagee leaves the reader with a series of blessings that a pastor can bestow upon a congregation, a parent can release or give to children, and an individual to a spouse. A person can also ask for blessings over a business or any circumstance that will be enhanced by the power of God.

I wish I had known and understood the blessings that a parent can release to children when my own boys were small.  I pray that Christians read and take the time and read this book and take it to heart. This is a book that I will read more than once. I recommend it for a group read and as a devotional accompaniment to your Bible. I must point out that I have never listened to Pastor Hagee’s television or radio ministry or read any of his books. I had no preconceived notions of his work.

And as mentioned in the book, God told Moses how Aaron was to bless the children of Israel saying;

“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.”

–Susan Faloon

have to be perfectly honest and say that it’s a struggle to even know where to begin with this review of John Hagee’s newest book, The Power of the Prophetic Blessing.

Let’s begin with the most obvious realization of this book.  This is a word of faith, health, wealth, and prosperity message.  John Hagee has taken one of the most well known scriptures from the Old Testament, Numbers 6:22-27, and built the entire book on how you can claim “Your best life!” by accurately applying this method.  “What method?” you say.  The necessary steps to take to proclaim a prophetic blessing over your life, your spouse, your children, your grandchildren, your business … you get the idea.

The sub-title for this book was my first red flag.  An Astonishing Revelation for a New Generation, it says.  I’m usually a little bit leery when someone has written a book based on Old Testament scriptures and calling it an ‘astonishing revelation’ or ‘for a new generation’.  This scripture has been there for thousands of years.  The only thing astonishing or new about it is how John Hagee wishes you to apply it to your life.

This book is heavy on scripture references so I would suggest you have your Bible ready and be willing to spend much time verifying the accuracy, as in proper context, of the scriptures … including the actual blessing itself.  In other words, be a good Berean and see if it lines up with the Word of God.

John Hagee outlines the actual steps, to the finest detail, of how to apply the blessing to whomever you’re praying over.  This includes such things as: you must have authority to even give the blessing; you must give it while standing; you must give it with lifted hands; it must be done in the name of the Lord, you must be face-to-face when giving or receiving it and finally, you must do it loudly!

Not only are these steps required, the author is bold enough to proclaim that God can do nothing (yes, he said God can do nothing) unless you speak it first.  And, you must have the faith to believe it will happen.  This includes everything from being healthy, your business thriving, your marriage being renewed … the list literally goes on and on.  Great emphasis is spent on speaking and touching while giving the blessing.

I think the most troubling contradiction comes when the author is describing a discussion he had with a Rabbi about the Numbers 6:22-27 blessing and how they agreed on how wonderful and mighty it is.  John Hagee goes on, in the very next paragraph, to tell us that the blessing is only meant for those that know Jesus Christ as their Lord.  I don’t think that was part of the discussion he had with the Rabbi.  Yet, no explanation is given to the reader as to how he makes the jump on that.

John Hagee will recount many of his own life stories in an attempt to prove that it does work.  Not only does he recount his life stories, he’ll recount his own successes as well.  His point is, “So can you!”   This is a very ‘me’ centered book which instructs you on how to tell God what it is you want, then wait for it in faith.

I’ll go ahead and give a shout-out to the 800 lb elephant in the room.  If this prophetic blessing can be prayed and lives can be transformed and health, wealth and prosperity can be obtained … then why isn’t he, and others who agree with him, out there praying in the hospitals; praying in the poorest of poor countries; praying in the half-way houses, etc?

For Christians that really enjoy reading WoF (Word of Faith) teaching, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this book.  Since reading and reviewing are quite subjective, I can say that I am not one of them, but, I think you probably already figured that out by now.

–Rose Michels