“Blessings & Curses – I”
INTRODUCTION: Read Deut. 11:26-28
I like to have things spelled out for me if someone ask me to do a job … what is the RIGHT WAY, WRONG WAY. Have you ever had a job to do, and no one told you WHAT to do, or HOW to do it? There are 2 ways it can turn out … a BLESSING or a CURSE!
We see these options every day … even in our homes:
“Clean up your room!” … You will receiver either a BLESSING or a CURSE.
“Do your homework.” … BLESSING or a CURSE.
“Be in by 11:00 PM!” … BLESSING or a CURSE.
CHILDREN like to know what is EXPECTED of them. They appreciate it when things are clearly spelled out for them.
With GOD, it’s very much the same … WE are His CHILDREN! There are BLESSINGS if we do His will … and CURSES if we don’t! You don’t REALLY WANT to be CURSED by God … DO YOU? I’ve been cursed by the best! BUT … I sure don’t want to be cursed by GOD!
In Deut. 27:9-13 we see the SITUATION … all turn.
Moses is giving the people God’s rules & regulations. He takes the people to Mt. Gerizim & Mt. Ebal … AND ENCOURAGES them in 27:10.
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!).
In Deut. Chapter 27, Moses is preparing them for what will actually take place in Joshua 8:30-35.
NOTICE … only the CURSES are listed here … (27:15-26). NO BLESSINGS are listed … WHY? What is the last word of the O.T.? “curse” - Malachi 4:6 – “And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” The O.T. ends with a CURSE.
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:”
We have 2 SIDES here this morning. On the RIGHT, we have Mt. Gerizim … the side of the BLESSINGS. On the LEFT, we have Mt. Ebal … the side of the CURSES.
I. CURSE #1 – 27:15 – Those on Mt. Ebal (LEFT side), say “Amen”.
This is the 2nd of the 10 Commandments – “Thou shalt not make thee any graven image.” BUT … this goes a little further … there’s a CURSE attached! What’s the DIFFERENCE? “and putteth it in a secret place”
You & I probably don’t have a problem with the 2nd Commandment. You probably don’t have any carved idols in your house … on a shelf … on your mantle. You don’t bow down to a carved image … DO YOU?
There’s a story of a group of Archeologists 1000 yr. from now, digging up an ancient civilization known as “Bell”, in a place called “Florida”. They wanted to get an idea of the culture … their way of life … their religion.
LISTEN to what they write: “We think we have found their object of worship, although we don’t exactly understand the nature of their god. It is interesting to note that in all their houses, there contains a strange box, which we are sure must have housed their god. Everything centers around this box. All the furniture is placed to that everyone in the room can see this box.
“Some god-boxes have wired & cables attached to the wall. Some have wires attached to a pole, that looks like a strange tree. From what we can gather, a great deal of time was spent in front of these god-boxes. Some of them even ate their meals in front of it. Some of them have these god-boxes in their bedrooms, kitchen, and some of the more religious of this ancient civilization even have them in their bathrooms. These god-boxes seem to be the center-point of their life.”
NOW … Who says that we don’t bow down to “images”?
This curse goes DEEPER than “carved images” … it goes to the HEART … “and putteth it in a secret place”. The Lord looks into your HEART. He is a discerner of the thoughts & intents of your heart.
WHAT IS an “idol”, anyhow? It’s something you SACRIFICE to. It doesn’t have to be on a shelf … it can be in the “secret place” of your heart. An “idol” is ANYTHING that takes the place of God in your life.
o We only have a limited amount of TIME. If you haven’t SACRIFICED some time for GOD … THEN … you have an “idol” that’s taking the place of God in your life.
o We only have a limited amount of MONEY. If you haven’t SACRIFICED some as a tithe for GOD … THEN … you have an “idol” that’s taking the place of God in your life.
ANYTHING that you let take GOD’S PLACE in your life … is an “idol” … in the “secret place” of your heart.
NOW … WHAT ABOUT THE BLESSING? It’s found in the N.T. - 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:”
And all the people on Mt. Gerizim (right side) said “Amen”.
The choice is yours … a BLESSING or a CURSE. You can take your “idol” out of the closet (the secret place of your heart) and surrender it to Jesus. If you DON’T, you’ll receive a CURSE. If you do, you’ll receive the BLESSINGS that God has for you. Don’t let a secret idol cause God’s curse to fall on you. Your eternal BLESSINGS are weighed in the balances.
II. CURSE #2 – 27:16 – Those on Mt. Ebal (LEFT side) say “Amen”.
This is similar to the 5gth Commandment – “Honor thy father & thy mother”. Exodus 21:17 – “And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.” This is a serious sin … a serious offense. Contempt of PARENTS is put right up there with contempt of GOD. WHY? BECAUSE … 1 usually follows the other. Children’s relationship with their parents is an indication of their relationship with God. CHILDREN … take this COMMAND of God seriously … OR … you’ll have to take His CURSE seriously if you don’t.
STORY – A young boy skipped school to go fishing. As he was walking home, with his fishing pole in his hands, he met his friends. They asked, “Did you catch anything?” “No, but I’ll sure catch it when I get home!”
WHY are there so many problems, with the younger generation, in the HOME … at SCHOOL … with the LAW. BECAUSE … children don’t listen to their parents … LIKE YOU & I ALWAYS DID … Amen?
On the other hand, WHY is there such a lack of discipline in the home? ANSWER: Undisciplined parents … many of whom are lacking self-discipline.
STORY – A husband & wife were having an argument over extravagant, unnecessary spending. HUSBAND: “You accuse me of reckless spending … When did I ever spend money extravagantly?” WIFE: “Remember that fire extinguisher you bought several months ago? You haven’t used it once!”
Undisciplined parents produce undisciplined children. PARENTS, are you disciplined with the TIME you spend with your children? … Your PRAISE/CRITICISM ratio (Blessing/Curse)?
Each passing generation sees more & more temptations for our youth. When I was a kid, drugs weren’t even an issue … it was more cigarettes & beer. Can you imagine what temptations our grandchildren, Great-grandchildren will face? Instead of drug dealers, there might be “Hypnosis dealers”. “Hey kid … want to get high? For 10 bucks I’ll hypnotize you!”
There is a CURSE attached to NOT honoring your parents … don’t take it lightly. Parents aren’t perfect … mine weren’t … I wasn’t. BUT, kids … your responsibility is to make sure that you don’t DISHONOR them. If you do, you’ll live under the CURSE of God.
NOW … let’s find the BLESSING … it’s in the N.T. - Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
And all the people on Mt. Gerizim (right side) said “Amen”.
“peacemakers” … Does this describe YOU in the home? Parents/Kids … Are you part of the PROBLEM … OR … part of the SOLUTION? BE a BLESSING … AND … You’ll RECEIVE a BLESSING.
CHRISTIAN … as a CHILD of God … honor your Heavenly FATHER. You have a CHOICE … a CURSE … OR … a BLESSING.
III. CURSE #3 – 27:17 - Those on Mt. Ebal (LEFT side) say “Amen”.
Each family was given a piece of land for an inheritance from the Lord … that’s why they called it the “Promised” land. They were never to permanently sell it, or let it leave the family. Moving the landmark, meant changing the boundary line. It was STEALING the land that they had inherited from God … claim-jumper. If they did it, they were CURSED.
When we are born-again, we receive an INHERITANCE from the Lord. Jesus staked His claim to us. BUT … there is a “claim-jumper” who wants to move the landmark so you don’t get all that you have coming to you. There is one who wants to rob you of the BLESSINGS that God has for you. Satan has already been CURSED … AND … he wants to take over God’s territory in your life.
Have you set up parameters … boundaries … fences? Does the Devil know how far he can go with you? Are there some areas in your life that you have some “No Trespassing” signs posted? OR … have you opened the gate for him to steal your BLESSINGS? Are you letting him trespass on your church attendance … your family time … your thought life … your habits? Give him an inch, and he’ll take a mile.
You & I will be held accountable as to whether we LAID CLAIM to the blessings of Christ … OR … if we’ve let the Devil jump our claim.
NOW … let’s find the BLESSING in the N.T. - Rev. 16:15 – “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”
And all the people on Mt. Gerizim (right side) said “Amen”.
How will you & I stand naked & ashamed before Him … because we haven’t laid up any treasures in Heaven? There’s a BLESSING that Jesus wants to give you … WHEN … you watch out to make sure the Devil doesn’t steal your BLESSING.
IV. CURSE #4 – 27:18 - Those on Mt. Ebal (LEFT side) say “Amen”.
NOW … who would lead a blind person over a cliff … into the path of a car … into a telephone pole? We wouldn’t think of it … WOULD WE?
What about the SPIRITUALLY BLIND? Jesus said that there were some who “have eyes, yet they see not.” The Apostle Paul talks about those “having the understanding darkened … because of the blindness of their hearts.” The god of this world has BLINDED the hearts and minds of the lost.
BUT … Christians have “spiritual eyes” … AND … we aren’t to cause the spiritually blind to wander out of the way – 27:18 again. Don’t lead the lost away from the path of the cross.
In O.T. times, the watchman of the city was to give out a warning if there was any danger approaching. If the warning was given, but not heeded, the watchman wasn’t held accountable. BUT … if the watchman failed to give the warning, he was held accountable.
People don’t respond very well to WARNINGS:
o There are warnings on cigarette packs … may cause cancer … often ignored.
o We are warned about wearing seatbelts … often warned.
o Sometimes when you are stopped for speeding, you are given a warning.
Jesus has appointed you & I as WATCHMEN. Ezekiel 33:8-9 – ribbon
You & I have a RESPONSIBILITY … AND … we will either receive a BLESSING … OR .. a CURSE.
NOW … What about the BLESSING in the N.T.? Luke 13:35 – “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
And all the people on Mt. Gerizim (right side) said “Amen”.
Don’t lead the spiritually blind down the path of eternal destruction, through inconsistent living. There are spiritually blind people around us every day … heading for the edge of the Lake of Fire. Some are so close they can feel the heat. It’s our responsibility to lead them in the way that leads to eternal life. It’s your choice … to be a BLESSING or a CURSE.
CONCLUSION: We will look at the rest tonight.
Which do you prefer … a BLESSING … OR … a CURSE? The answer is OBVIOUS.
BUT .. we know many who are going to be CURSED for eternity … BECAUSE … they have never trusted Jesus as their Lord & Savior. In the “secret place” of their heart, they have never trusted Jesus to save them. They are on the path of destruction.
MAYBE we are SAVED … BUT … under a CURSE … BECAUSE:
o We are bringing dishonor to our EARTHLY parents … AND … to our HEAVENLY Father.
o We are letting the Devil claim-jump the BLESSINGS of our inheritance.
o We aren’t warning the spiritually blind of the danger ahead.
Let’s strive to hear those words of Jesus – “Well done, thou good & faithful servant.” And all God’s people said “Amen.”
STAND – PRAY
OUTLINE FOR HANDOUT:
“Blessings And Curses” – I
INTRODUCTION: Deuteronomy 11:26-28
- There are BLESSINGS if we do God’s will … CURSES if we don’t!
- Deuteronomy 27:9-13 – The situation.
- The last word in the O.T. is “curse” – Malachi 4:6 … the BLESSINGS come in the N.T. through Christ –
Ephesians 1:3
I. CURSE #1 – 27:15
- An “idol” is anything that takes the place of God in your life … in the “secret place” of your heart.
BLESSING #1 – Ephesians 1:3 – Surrender your “idol” to Jesus.
II. CURSE #2 – 27:16
- Contempt of parents usually leads to contempt of God.
- Undisciplined parents produce undisciplined children.
- Children are responsible to honor their parents.
BLESSING #2 – Matthew 5:9 – Are you a “peacemaker” in the home? Part of the problem, or part of the solution?
III. CURSE #3 – 27:17
- Satan is a “claim jumper” who wants to rob you of the blessings God has for you.
- Don’t let Satan trespass on your Christian landmarks.
BLESSING #3 – Revelation 16:15 – “watch” so that you don’t stand before God naked and ashamed.
IV. CURSE #4 – 27:18
- The god of this world has “blinded” the hearts and minds of the lost … they are “spiritually blind”.
- We are to be a “watchman”, and give out the warning – Ezekiel 33:8-9.
BLESSING #4 – Luke 13:35 – Christians are responsible to lead the “spiritually blind” TOWARD the cross, not AWAY FROM it.
CONCLUSION:
- Those who have never put their trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior are on the path of destruction … a CURSED thing!
- As Christians, don’t miss out on God’s BLESSINGS … strive to hear God say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
