BLESSINGS AND CURSES

MEMORY VERSE: As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. Proverbs 26:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 7

What is a blessing? A blessing is a summons to all the forces in heaven, on earth, and underneath the earth to work in favor of a man. A curse, on the other hand, is a summons to all the forces in heaven, on earth, and underneath the earth to work against a man. When a man is under a curse everything God created will work against him. When a man is under a curse people will hate him for no reason – even people who don’t know him from Adam. Look at what Cain said after he was cursed. Genesis 4:14 says, “... and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.”

Blessings and curses don’t have an expiry date. They, especially curses, travel from generation to generation. In Joshua 6, Joshua put a curse on Jericho. Verse 26 says, “And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.” Hundreds of years later, one man by the name of Hiel tried to rebuild the wall of Jericho and the curse came on him. 1 Kings 16:34 says, “In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.” Curses are real and powerful, so also are blessings. Do everything possible to get the latter.

There are two sets of people who can change the course of one’s life through blessings and curses. The first is one’s parents especially one’s father. All your father needs to say is "God bless you" and you are made. Even if he is an unbeliever; his blessings can put an end to struggling in your life. His curses, which i pray you don’t get, can change the course of your life. Reuben is an example of a son who was cursed. Although, he had everything going on for him, he was the firstborn and all that. Because he slept with his father's concubine, the father cursed him and that cancelled out the blessing of the first born upon his life. The second is one’s spiritual parents i.e. your pastors. Your pastor may not be as educated as you are, he may not even be able to speak the Queen’s English but i want you to know that his blessings can turn your life around for good and his curse can do the opposite. Blessings and curses are not free; they are provoked. Proverbs 26:2 says, “As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.” Although, Esau was the firstborn of Isaac, he still had to provoke his father’s blessing. Genesis 27:4-3 says, “Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.”

NOTE: If your father or spiritual father blesses you, you are made and if they curse you, God have mercy!

ACTION: Do everything possible to get their blessings not their curse. One way to provoke their blessings is by making them happy.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world