"Blessings And Curses" - Ii

“Blessings & Curses” – II

INTRODUCTION: Read Deut. 11:26-28

Moses is giving the people God’s rules & regulations. He takes the people to Mt. Gerizim & Mt. Ebal.

There are 2 GROUPS:

o 6 tribes on Mt. Ebal to shout “Amen” to God’s CURSES … (those on my left).

o 6 tribes on Mt. Gerizim to shout “Amen” to God’s BLESSINGS … (those on my right).

In the valley was the Ark Of The Covenant & the Priests … the Tribe of Levi (that will be ME!).

Only the CURSES are listed here … (27:15-26). Blessings come in the N.T. … in Christ. It is in HIM that we find the BLESSINGS. Ephes. 1:3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

This morning we looked at 4 CURSES & BLESSINGS.

• 27:15 – It’s a CURSE to make an idol and put it in a secret place. We may think we have no idols. BUT … God doesn’t judge just MAN-MADE idols … He also judges the idols of the HEART. The BLESSING is in having our sins forgiven.

• 27:16 – It’s a CURSE to dishonor our parents. We need to remember that we are the children of our Heavenly Father. The BLESSING is in being PEACEMAKERS.

• 27:17 – It is a CURSE to jump a claim. God laid claim to you when He purchased you with His own blood. Don’t let the Devil steal your blessing. The BLESSING comes when we guard our treasures, and lay them up in Heaven.

• 27:18 – It’s a CURSE to lead a blind man astray. We need to lead them TO the cross … NOT … away from the cross. The BLESSING comes when we act as a WATCHMAN, and warn the wicked of impending danger of the wrath to come.

Let’s CONTINUE, as we look at God’s CURSES … and BLESSINGS.

I. CURSE #5 – 27:19 - Those on Mt. Ebal (LEFT side), say “Amen”.

Here is a CURSE on unjust judges. Do we have any “judges” here? I guess we can skip this one! Not so!

Instead of throwing out this CURSE, let’s APPLY it to ourselves. You & I judge people every day … their motives … thoughts … intents.

There are 4 ASPECTS OF JUDGMENT:

1.- We Aren’t To Be A Judge - Romans 14:13 – “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.”

When we judge other people, and take the place of God, we pervert justice – 27:19. There is a CURSE attached to doing this. We aren’t able to judge the heart of our fellow man. THEREFORE …

2.- God Is To Be The Only Judge - Romans 14:4 – “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth.”

It’s a DANGEROUS thing … a CURSED thing … to try to take God’s place as a judge. Only God knows the heart. Ever wish you could read minds? I can ... right now. Same on you!

How would you like to have your thoughts put on a billboard for all to see. How would you like to walk around like a comic book character, with a bubble over your head with your thoughts printed in it … for all to see? God can SEE your thoughts … THEREFORE … only He is able to judge you.

3.- We Will Be Judged If We Judge Others - Romans 2:1 – “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.”

When we judge others, God is judging us. That’s something to think about. Have you also noticed that those who judge you, are just as guilt of doing the same thing themselves? They might call it by a different name. They might not SEE it in themselves … BUT … they are quick to see it in you … AND … point it out! They will be judged by God.

4.- If Any Judging Is To Be Done, We Should Judge Ourselves - 1 Cor. 11:31 – “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” We need to reserve all judgment for OURSELVES. We need to judge our actions … our motives … our hearts.

STORY – A father was getting onto his young son for telling lies. He told his son, “When I was your age, I never told lies!” The young boy thought about this for a few seconds, and asked his Dad, “Well then, how old were you when you started?”