Blessings And Curses

Blessings and Curses

Romans 12:14, 17-21

“Blessing” = Authoritative pronouncement of God’s favor (Oxford Dictionary)

“Curse” = a malevolent appeal to a supernatural being for harm to come to somebody or something, or the harm that is thought to result from this MS® Encarta® Reference Library 2003.

“Curse” can also speak of swearing

“Malevolent” = having a harmful or evil effect or influence

So . . .

“Pronounce God’s favor on those that persecute you and do not hope that harm or evil comes upon them.”

We do not believe in curses

Just like, we do not believe in demons

We do not want believe that we are able to curse someone

We see pictures in our minds of three witches of Macbeth

“Bubble, bubble toil and trouble – one more drink and I’ll see double”

"Eye of newt, and toe of frog,

Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,

Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting,

Lizard’s leg, and howlet’s wing,--

For a charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble."

Macbeth (IV, i, 14-15)

The Bible tells how we can curse our friends, family and future with our mouths

That is why we are not to take God’s name in vain

We actually ask God to send someone to Hell

Which is one reason the curse damns the one that uses it.

There are several things in scriptures that tell us that we curse our own children to the third and fourth generations

I know that those are true. I have seen them

Police officers, counselors and priest that know to look for these things can see many examples of generational curses in our society today

But, “Bless those that curse us?” Are you kidding?

A whole genre of TV and movie shows has come up about “the peaceful ex-marine, SEAL, etc. goes after the bad guys that killed his family, friend, boss, partner, etc.

That is why Paul tells us in verse 2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, “

Basically, if everybody is doing it, it is the wrong thing to do

Why? Because we are Christians, that is why

God said it in the OT, Jesus said it, and here, Paul repeats it

We are to bless and not curse

We are to ask God to bless our enemies

“Repay no one evil for evil” v 17

Not because they do not deserve it

Because we are Christians (little christs) and are taught to HATE evil

If you dress like the world and act like the world, how will people know you are a Christian?

How will they know they want to be Christians?

“Live in peace with all” v 18

Paul acknowledges this is impossible

He says, “Do not let the breaking of peace be on you.”

Do everything in your power to live in peace with all – Christ is our example

“Father, forgive them . . .”

Feed them, water them, kill them with kindness

“Heap coals of fire on his head.” v 20

Many ideas

Because of the idea of peace and blessing, probably not burn, harm, kill, hurt, etc.

Ancient Egyptian model = carrying a pot of coals on his head to show repentance

Possible since this scripture quotes Proverbs which was closer to ancient Egypt

Coal from God’s alter touched Isaiah’s mouth and made him clean

Facial “heat” of embarrassment for treating a good person so badly

Heating metal to make it pure and remove dross

Bringing your enemy under God’s conviction

And, you thought this was a scripture that allowed you to curse someone by blessing them (Hahahahahahah)

WRONG, this is done to insure they are in Heaven with you

We are not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good v 21

Evil is powerful = God knows it and so did Paul

Evil will harm all it touches

Abe Lincoln said, “Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?”

Same thing

When we play around with evil, we learn to hate

Hate fills our hearts and destroys everything we try to accomplish

This makes us more bitter and more hateful

Eventually, we spend all of our time blaming God, blaming our enemies,

Then hating God, hating others, hating ourselves, hating everything

Evil cannot be controlled

Some here with hate-filled hearts

God will give you a new heart

(Ps 51:10) (Ezek 11:19, 36:26)

To read more go to www.opendoorstochrist.org

Rev. O. K. Neal