Blessings and Cursings In our prayers, we recognize God is involved in our lives. Pray for healing, blessings, guidance. Thanking God for our food implies we believe He had something to do with us having it. Pray to be guarded from the evil one, pray for wisdom, pray for open doors, pray for boldness. All this is good. However, all these blessing which we desire are not all that God does. We cannot pick and choose which passages we want to accept. The same God who promised blessings under certain conditions to His people also promised cursings under certain conditions. If we accept the blessings but reject the cursings, we are no better off than Martin Luther when he accepted the passages on faith but rejected the ones on baptism. Deuteronomy 11:26-29 Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the com mandments of the Lord your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God... And it shall be, when the Lord your God has brought you into the land which you go to possess, that you shall put the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal. Deuteronomy 28:1-2 Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you. Deuteronomy 29:19-21 and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, `I shall have peace, even though I walk in the imagination of my heart'... The Lord would not spare him; for then the anger of the Lord and His jealousy would burn against that man, and every curse that is written in this book would settle on him, and the Lord would blot out his name from under heaven. And the Lord would separate him from all the tribes of Israel for adversity, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this Book of the Law. (Some want to say chastening was only for the nation. This passage clearly shows individuals were included) Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live. Deuteronomy 32:39 Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. Joshua 8:33-35 Then all Israel... stood on either side of the ark before the priests, ...Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal... he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the congregation of Israel... Joshua 23:14-16 ...you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you... Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all the good things have come upon you which the Lord your God promised you, so the Lord will bring upon you all harmful things, until He has destroyed you from this good land which the Lord your God has given you. When you have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you... then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land which He has given you. 1 Samuel 2:6-7 The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. Even the wicked king Jehoram understood this principle! 2 Kings 5:7 And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy?... Job 5:18 For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole. Isaiah 45:7 I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.' Hosea 6:1 Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. Amos 3:6 If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it? Romans 11:22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. 1 John 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. Malachi 2:1-9 And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to My name," says the Lord of hosts, "I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your descendants and spread refuse on your faces, the refuse of your solemn feasts; and one will take you away with it... For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But you have departed from the way; you have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi," says the Lord of hosts. "Therefore I also have made you contemptible and base before all the people, because you have not kept My ways but have shown partiality in the law." Our materialistic, unbelieving attitudes have caused many to stumble. They read plain passages that teach of God's activities and hear some deny them. They will not want to listen to anything else we might have to say. Some of us are guilty of being partial with the Law. We can be partial by either apply it differently to different people or we can be partial in the sense we pick and choose which passages we want to believe. We must use all the passages, not pick and choose which ones we want to believe. We Must Accept Whatever The Lord Says 1 Samuel 3:17-18 And he said, "What is the thing that the Lord has said to you? Please do not hide it from me... Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him." Luke 24:25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Acts 24:14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. How Do We Know When We Are Being Chastened? There is no absolute way to point to something and say it is chastening without direct revelation from God. However we do have principles to apply. Just because we can not absolutely understand everything that happens does not mean we can not have faith in the principles taught in God's Word. How can we know when God does anything? Do we believe God bless us today? When? Where? How? We can t give a particular instance and say this was absolutely God blessing that person. How do we know that we weren't just in the right place at the right time? Was it a result of good planning? Was it the result of someone else's desire to help? Was God's hand in it? What about a combination of things where God somehow used our desires or someone else desires and efforts and used them for our benefit? What about when good things happen to bad people? We can read that we are to thank God for our blessings. Which ones? How do we know God is blessing us? The Bible tells us. In Deut. 8, the Jews were warned to not forget what we have comes from God. They were reminded how God delivered them from Egypt and brought water out of a rock and fed them manna. Deuteronomy 8:11-20 - They needed to remember what God had done for them and what He was continuing to do for them. Deuteronomy 8:18 And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. If God always fed them with manna and quail or gave them water out of a rock, they would have no problem remembering God was providing for them but the time was coming that more normal circumstances would prevail and it would be easy for them to forget that behind the scenes God was still actively helping them and blessing them. It would be during this time they would be in danger of being puffed up in pride and start believing that their prosperity came from their own efforts. We pray "Give us this day our daily bread". Exactly how does God do this? Can we point to any activity and say with absolute certainty that it is the work of God? We may not see any great miracles. We do our work, we go shopping, prepare the food and then thank God for it. When we thank Him for our food are we not saying that we recognize the fact that even though we might not understand how He does everything, we know He is behind all that we have? Even if we don't know how He works, does that stop us from having faith that he does accomplish what He says? Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Context of Deut. 29:29 - the blessings and cursings! When bad things happen, how do we know why it happened? Without revelation, we cannot point to a particular event and say absolutely this is the hand of God. However, we do have God's revelation which gives us insight into life that is beyond our natural ability. When we can read how God promises to chasten every child he receives, we should trust Him whether we fully understand or not. Matthew 18:1-4 ...Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. If we do not understand everything about how God works in our lives, does that mean He is not working? Does our lack of complete understanding limit what God can do? Are we going to be so vain as to say that "I don't understand it so therefore I reject it"? If we find ourselves not understanding something in God's Word, we need to change ourselves, not God's Word. We need to be studying and praying for wisdom. We know there are various reasons that we may suffer. We also know that God is Sovereign, He rules over His creation. He can control "natural" events to accomplish His purpose. Accidents, Disease, Doctors, sin of others, and our own foolishness can all be used by God to chasten us. How do we know when God is using events to chasten us? When pain comes, we can understand through the Scriptures we have an opportunity to examine ourselves. Must be honest in our examination. If guilt is found - Repent! When We Are Guilty, We Must Humbly Submit To Chastening Micah 6:12-13 For her rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. "Therefore I will also make you sick by striking you, by making you desolate because of your sins. Micah 7:7-9 Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me; He will bring me forth to the light, and I will see His righteousness. Micah 7:18-20 Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea... Sample Questions for Self-Examination 1. Am I studying as I should? 2. Am I forgiving as I should? 3. Am I depending on God as I should or am I drifting toward independence? 4. Am I loving as I ought to be? 5. Am I as merciful as I should be? 6. Am I controlling my temper and being patient? 7. Am I training my children by God's standards? 8. Am I striving to develop myself to teach God's Word? 9. Am I showing others that I am a Christian by the way I treat my family, the way I work, the way I take care of my responsibilities, etc.? 10. Am I bringing every thought into captivity to Christ? 11. Am I bridling my tongue? 12. Am I trying to hold on to a secret sin? 13. Am I allowing a root of bitterness to spring up? 14. Am I giving God glory by my life? 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you are disqualified. Lamentations 3:38-41 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that woe and well being proceed? Why should a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord; let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven. What if we are afflicted but honestly not aware of any sins in our lives? It can happen. It did with Job. He understood the need of examining himself, but when he did, he did not know anything that would bring such punishment on him. He did not understand why he was suffering. Job 16:16-17 My face is flushed from weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death; although no violence is in my hands, and my prayer is pure. Job 23:11-12 My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. Job 29:12-17 I delivered the poor who cried out, and the fatherless and he who had no helper. The blessing of a perishing man came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to the lame. I was a father to the poor, and I searched out the case that I did not know. I broke the fangs of the wicked, and plucked the victim from his teeth. What should our reaction be when we are not aware of sin in our lives? 1. Pray James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray... 2. Realize God may be testing you. You may be having an opportunity to show God that you love him more than anything else. That you have faith like Abraham. (1 Peter 1:5- 10) 3. Realize we may be an opportunity to glorify God in our affliction. Let others see your hope in difficult times. 1 Peter 3:14-17 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear... For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. Think about when Paul and Silas were in prison. It was not for anything they had done wrong. They had been treated unfairly and harshly. Yet they were singing, and the others were listening! Are those about us listening to our singing or sighing? 4. Know we may have an opportunity to grow spiritually. Romans 5:3-4 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. How do we know with absolute certainty why we are suffering? We must pray for wisdom and study God's Words and apply them to our lives in faith. Beyond that, both blessings and cursings are beyond our absolute understanding. We are called to study and understand the principles found in God's Word and walk by faith. Esther 4:14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" 1. Why did Vashti stand up to the Ahasuerus? 2. Out of all the women, why did he pick Esther? 3. Why did Mordecai happen to be at the right place in the right time to overhear the plot made against the king? 4. Why could the king not sleep at night? 5. Why were the records read that mentioned Mordecai exposing the plot against the king? 6. Why did Haman walk in to the presence of Ahasuerus when he was trying to thing of how to honor Mordecai? Philemon 1:15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 1. Why did Onesimus run away when he did? 2. Why did he decide to flee to Rome instead of another city? 3. How was he able to come in contact with Paul? Christians should be the most rejoicing people on earth! 1. When things go well - praise God! Give Thanks! 2. When we are persecuted: Luke 6:23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! for indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets." 3. When we are tested: 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. We have the opportunity to demonstrate our faith is real. We are not following because of the loaves, but because we love God above anything else! Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls - Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 4. When we are chastened - Hebrews 12:5-10 ...My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. We should know that in all things, God rules over all and is in control. Job 2:10 But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Wayne Wells wayneliz@twave.net http://users.twave.net/ncc