Reverse The Curse

REVERSE THE CURSE

2 Kgs. 5:27; Gal. 3:13

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: Doctor humor

1.PATIENT: “Will my measles get better next week, doctor? DOCTOR: “I don’t like to make any rash promises!”

2. DOCTOR: “How are you now, Mr. Gibson, after your heart operation?” MR. GIBSON: “Well, doctor, I’m fine, but I seem to have two heartbeats!” DOCTOR: “Oh dear, I wondered where my watch had gone!”

B. THESIS & TITLE

1. Today we’re talking about curses: what they are, can they affect us, and are curses talked about in the Bible.

2. The title of tonight’s message is “Reverse the Curse!”

I. WHAT (& WHY) IS A CURSE?

A. WHAT IS A CURSE?

1. A curse is a wish (verbal) for evil or misfortune to befall a person, often by someone who feels they have been wronged.

2. Many modern movies have a curse in them – Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl; Snow White; Curse of the Mummy; Ella Enchanted, etc.

3. Some people feel like they or their family have a curse on them. There is a popular teaching about “Generational Curses.” I don’t believe that born again, Spirit-filled Christians can be under a curse because, if they’ve fully surrendered, they have a new Master, Jesus. And no one is stronger than He!

4. In some countries where there is Voodoo & witchcraft, witch-doctors are paid to cast spells on people. Most of them are trying to get evil spirits to attack someone. The good thing is, those forces can’t touch Christians; “the wicked one touches them not” 1 Jn. 5:18. We are covered with the blood. We have power over evil spirits in the Name of Jesus (Luke 10:19; 1 Jn. 4:4). Remember, the Lord Jesus gave us authority over evil spirits; Matt. 10:1 says, “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” Never be afraid of them – they’re afraid of you if you’re in Christ!

5. A HUMOROUS STORY tells about an old man who went to see a Wizard. He asked the Wizard if he could remove a curse he’d been living with for 40 years.

The Wizard said, "Maybe...but you’ll have to tell me the *exact* words that were used to put the curse on you." The old man said, "I can do that, I remember them well. The man in robes said these words, ‘I now pronounce you man and wife.’"

B. CURSES IN THE BIBLE

1. There are a number of instances in the Bible of believers declaring a curse on a wrongdoer for a crime, and these were often sanctioned by God and came to pass: Noah on Canaan (Gen. 9:25); Jacob on Simeon & Levi (Gen. 49:7); Jotham on Abimelek (Judg. 9:57); Elisha on Gehazi (2 Kgs. 5:27); Peter on Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5:5-10); and Paul on Elymas the Sorcerer (Acts 13:11).

2. However, don’t get the idea it’s God’s will for you to put curses on people. Jesus said, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” Mt. 5:44. Paul said, “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not” Rom. 12:14.

3. A “curse” from God is very serious; it’s a judgment or sentence on those who’ve done wrong. The biggest curse of God is on those who violate His Law; “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law” Gal. 3:10; Deut. 27:26. This curse consumes the earth & all the people in it, because they sin (Isa. 24:6). Sickness and death are two of the most visible results.

II. CAN A CURSE BE REVERSED?

A. GEHAZI RECEIVED A CURSE

1. In 2 Kings 5:27 when Gehazi, Elisha the prophet’s servant, lied and stole the property of Naaman the ex-leper, Elisha pronounced God’s curse on Gehazi, “Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Gehazi left Elisha’s presence with his skin leprous, as white as snow!

2. But, very interestingly, three chapters & seven years later, in 2 Kings 8:4-6, we find Gehazi in the palace of the King (Joram, son of Ahab), hob-knobbing with the King. Gehazi, who is again called, “the servant of Elisha,” is recounting the story of the woman whose son Elisha healed.

3. Now this wouldn’t be possible if he still had leprosy; “Anyone with...a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ They must live alone; they must live outside the camp” Lev. 13:45-46.

4. The word spoken over Gehazi was “Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” This was an endless curse for a bad decision.