[Image by pixabay]
There is a lot of discussion about curses lately, and we need to understand what the bible says about it. Many are familiar with these verses in Proverbs and James.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words. (Proverbs 18:21, AMP)
Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts]. (James 3:10, AMP)
Cursing
Now when we consider there are those engaged with the darkness, seeking to destroy the work of God, this adds a new level of interest. Especially when we see the results of their dark work manifesting in people, families, churches, etc. These things are happening all over the world, and should be no surprise. God is pruning His church, removing the chaff, and judgment if needed. The darkness has people aligned with satan and his agenda. They are being diligent, doing their ceremonies, and have a goal. They are seeing results and are gloating. Considering what God thinks of this gloating over harm to His children – this is a frightening place to be.
“He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.” (Proverbs 17:5, AMP)
Do not gaze and gloat [in triumph] over your brother’s day, The day when his misfortune came. Do not rejoice over the sons of Judah In the day of their destruction; Do not speak arrogantly [jeering and maliciously mocking] In the day of their distress. (Obadiah 1:12, AMP)
In praying about these things, I received this:
The ones yielded to me are MY CHILDREN. YOU ARE ONE OF THEM. I CARE FOR MY CHILDREN. Consider the question about alignment. Who is in agreement with agendas of the enemy? Who is it that speaks the same word as those who curse the church? Who is this partner within the ranks of the “church”? Even the congregants speak this way. This must shift, and reverence before me is your “antidote”. Align with ME and see the enemy fall before you. “Bless your enemies” was the command. The way of my kingdom is overcoming by the blood of the lamb and the words of your testimonies. The not fearing death part is also important, because you are “sold out” to ME. Giving Me ALL. (Not just time, money, and talents – your unforgiveness, problems, anger, situations, etc.) This is what I desire of my children. My blessings and protection come for those that LOVE ME. Clean hands, pure heart, yes. But in LOVE. Keep this in the forefront. “Curses will not land without cause”. When you fall to sin, it brings cause for the enemy to get curses to “stick”. CLEANSE BEFORE ME! REPENT ALL YOU SINNERS! THE LIFESTYLES OF SIN ARE CATCHING UP WITH YOU. GOSSIPS. SLANDERERS. IDOLATERS. CEASE THIS BEHAVIOR!!!
We need to be careful, because God loves the righteous and the wicked. We are not to return evil with evil. So then, what is our response? If these curses are landing, what is the solution? Our answer is found in this two-sided verse.
Like the sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying, So the curse without cause does not come and alight [on the undeserving]. (Proverbs 26:2, AMP)
If a curse is spoken lands with effect, why are we not protected? The other side of the question is this: What are we doing that is allowing the curse to “stick”?
The Accuser
The …accuser of our [believing] brothers and sisters has been thrown down [at last], he who accuses them and keeps bringing charges [of sinful behavior] against them before our God day and night. (Rev 12:10, AMP)
This behavior is well understood by looking at Job 1:9-11, where satan accuses repeatedly, looking for the smallest thing to bring curses (steal, kill, and destroy)
Protection
We need to understand promises are often preceded by a condition. We can claim scriptures of protection and provision, but we need to read the whole verse (or passage) to understand how this works.
“Behold, today I am setting before you a blessing and a curse– the blessing, if you listen to and obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to and obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following (acknowledging, worshiping) other gods which you have not known. (Deuteronomy 11:26-28, AMP)
and My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 AMP)
Other examples of conditional blessings are found in Psalm 23, 24, 91. Watch the first few words – for those who abide…
Remedy
The following verses came when digging into some of the concepts mentioned above. When there is a “debt” of sin against a brother, it needs to be made right (forgiveness – “sorry, I was wrong”).
Proverbs 6:1-5
My son, if you have become surety (guaranteed a debt or obligation) for your neighbor,
If you have given your pledge for [the debt of] a stranger or another [outside your family],
If you have been snared with the words of your lips,
If you have been trapped by the speech of your mouth,
Do this now, my son, and release yourself [from the obligation];
Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor,
Go humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor [to pay his debt and release you].
Give no [unnecessary] sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids;
Tear yourself away like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter
And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
The “debt” also applies to a wrong done, a debt of sin. Also being trapped by words – word curses or agreement. Confession, asking for forgiveness – this is the way out of the “debt”.
1 peter 3:8 (all of chapter 3 is applicable – Godly living)
Finally, all of you be like-minded [united in spirit], sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted [courteous and compassionate toward each other as members of one household], and humble in spirit; and never return evil for evil or insult for insult [avoid scolding, berating, and any kind of abuse], but on the contrary, give a blessing [pray for one another’s well-being, contentment, and protection]; for you have been called for this very purpose, that you might inherit a blessing [from God that brings well-being, happiness, and protection].
PEACE
Peace is something that we pursue, and claim the “peace that surpasses understanding”. There is some deeper understanding to be found in the roots of the Hebrew understanding of peace. (See Strong’s numbers below. Also, see biblehub.com for extensive tools in the interlinear bible.)
Shalom H7965 (שָׁלוֹם) – Peace, completeness, welfare, well-being, safety, prosperity
Shalam H7999 ( שָׁלַם) – To be complete, to be sound, to make amends, to finish, to repay, to reward – covenant related
Shalom is nothing missing, nothing broken. Think about that. Needs met. Wholeness of body, soul, and spirit. Nothing broken – relationships, finances, business, provisions, ALL OF IT. Almost “too good to be true”, the highest well wishing one could speak over another, but yet this is what God desires. But know this does not come without obedience. The promises are usually made with a condition of obedience.
Shalam expresses the act of bringing something to a full, satisfactory conclusion—whether by paying a debt, restoring what was lost, rewarding righteousness, or settling hostility so that peace prevails. The verb moves in two main directions: human-to-human responsibility (legal, social, relational) and divine-to-human activity (judgment, recompense, covenant faithfulness). In either sphere the underlying idea is wholeness achieved through just settlement.
Though shalam is distinct from the noun shalom, its action often results in shalom.
Broken promises fracture shalom; shalam repairs it.
Seeking further…
You are seeing what has happened here. The brokenness that has flowed from these churches has caused great debts (wounds, sin) that have not be repaid or restored. These are allowing the curses to “stick”. This healing is what I desire, and they (the offenders) must know so the breach (broken covenant) can be repaired. I am not done with these. I WILL have my reunited church. These people are MINE, and yet they do not KNOW ME. I desire for them to KNOW ME and KNOW ME FULLY. The parts they know (about Me) are not enough to sustain them in trials. These trials will require UNITY under ME. Start HERE and the rest of the unity will flow. Selah.
So the conclusion is this:
We need to take a look at our walk and compare it with the high standard established by the word of God. Yes, there is grace and forgiveness. BUT, we need to do the same for others! Is there idolatry? (anything that distracts from God [how much time does HE get?], or the place we go FIRST, before taking things to God [comfort foods, relationships, wisdom, etc]) If there is strife, it has a root. All good things come from God, and if it isn’t good, we should be able to discern where it came from. There is sin in the camp, and it needs to be rooted out. It starts with an individual (you and me), only looking in the mirror at what OUR PART of the problem is. Gathering in repentance and making things right will put us in alignment with the heart of the Father, and open the door to healing. IT ALL STARTS HERE.
Communion. Fasting. Praying. Seeking. Acting like children of GOD in both love and authority.
Then the curses will have nothing to “stick” to.
