Blessings and Curses.

Deuteronomy 30 v 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life that both you and your seed shall live. In giving us a free will God sets before us a choice of eternal life with Jesus, or eternal death, ( separation from God ) in hell with satan. GENESIS I v 28 The first blessing came to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden when God blessed them and said, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it. And have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over everything that moves upon the earth. God gave them everything that they needed to carry out God's commands, but before long they disobeyed God and sinned against Him. GENESIS 3 v 1-13 v 14. And the Lord God said to the serpent, Because you have done this you are cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field. Upon your belly shall you go and dust shall you eat all the days of your life. v 16. Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception. In sorrow you shall bring forth children and your desire shall be to your husband and he shall rule over you, v 17. And to Adam He said, Because your have hearkened unto the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree which I commanded you, saying, you shall not eat of it, cursed is the ground for your sake, in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life. What a contrast between a blessing and a curse. In GENESIS 4 vl-l1. we see the first two sons of Adam taking offerings to God. Cain's was a gift of fruit and God would not accept it because it should have been a lamb, as was Abel's. Cain was angry and shortly afterwards killed Abel. God cursed Cain, put a mark upon him and sent him away GENESIS 6 v 1-2 ; v 4-7 ; And it came to pass that when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were boom unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair and they took them wives of all which they chose. There were giants in the land in those days and also after that when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men and they bare children to them. The same became mighty men which were of old men of renown.. And God saw that the wickedness of men was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth and it grieved Him at His heart. So God flooded the earth and destroyed the population, with the exception of Noah and his family. The wrath and curses of God are awesome and frightening and are things to be avoided at all costs. They usually end up with those cursed being designated a place in hell and later in the lake of fire and brimstone. GENESIS 12 v 1-2 . Now the Lord had said to Abram, get you out of your country and from your kindred and from your father's house unto a land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation and I will bless you and make your name great and you shall be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless you and curse him that curses you and in you shall all families be blessedWhat a tremendous thought here, that if we are obedient to God and worship Him in sincerity and truth not only shall we be blessed but we can be a blessing to others. Moving on to EXODUS 32. When Moses was away from the camp the people asked Aaron the high priest to make them an idol to worship. This he did and the Israelites Began a riotous time of dancing, immorality and worshipping a golden calf . Moses returned to the camp and was angered at what he saw. EXODUS 32 v 26 -1 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, Who is on the Lord's side, ? let him come to me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said to them, Thus says the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate, throughout the camp and slay every man his brother and every man his companion and every man his neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses. and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. . It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God., and feel the effects of His wrath.. JOSHUA . I v 2 ; Moses my servant is dead, now therefore arise and go over this Jordan, you and all the

people unto the land which I do give them, even to the children of Israel. V5 ; There shall not any man be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you. v 7 Only be you strong and very courageous that you may observe to do according to the law which Moses My servant commanded you.. These blessings are usually conditional but the unsaved often get the same blessing as the Christians because they live together in the same community or country.. God blessed the Israelites time and time again but in the battle for Ai, hundreds of the Israelites were killed because of the sin of one man.. JOSHUA 7 v I ; But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing, for Achan , the son of Carmi the son of David, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah took of the accursed thing and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. Finally Achan admitted his crime. He was cursed by God and he and his family and his herds were stoned to death and burned. Read JOSHUA Chapter 7. In the midst of all the blessings and wrath of God came a challenge from Joshua to the Israelites. Joshua 24 v 15 ; And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve.. Whether the gods which your fathers served that were in the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell , but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.. However when Joshua and his elders had died, the Israelites went back into sin. JUDGES 2 v I I - 1 2 ; And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim. And they forsook the God of their fathers which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods of the gods of the people that were round about them and bowed themselves unto them and provoked the Lord to anger..vl4-15 When the people worshipped God and were obedient to Him, they were abundantly blessed, but when they provoked God to anger the result was usually severe.. I SAMUEL 6 v 19 ; And God smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord. Even He smote of the people fifty thousand and three score and ten., and the people lamented because the Lord had smitten many of the people with great slaughter. There is usually a period of anger, pain and sorrow when the punishment comes.. King David was no exception. 2 SAMUEL . I I v 4-5. And David sent messengers and took her, and she came in unto him and he lay with her, for she was purified from her uncleanness and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived and sent and told David and said, I am with child.. v 14-15 ; And it came to pass in the morning that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter saying, Set you Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle and retire you from him, that he may be smitten and die. God sent Nathan the prophet to tell King David that his sin was known and that he was to be punished. 2 SAMUEL 12 v 7 - 14. (I 0-1 1.) Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbour and he shall he with your wives in the sight of this sun. There is always a consequence for all our actions, either a blessing if they please God or a curse if we provoke His anger. PSALM 24 v 3-5 ; Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, or who shall stand in His holy place ? He that has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity or sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.. Let us not be drawn away from our worship of God and enticed to bow down before others gods in this sinful world.; PROVERBS IO v 27-3 0 ; The fear of the Lord prolongs days but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. The hope of the righteous shall be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.. The way of the Lord is strength to the upright but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. The righteous shall never be moved, but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. Isaiah 44 v 3 Psalm 41 v 1-2 ; 3 1 v 1-2 Romans 15 v 29 ; I Corinthians 2 v 9

Ephesians I v 3 . 2 v 13 ; Revelation 5 v 12 . 7 v 12 ; Men prayed to God to bless them. I CHRONICLES 4 v IO And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, 0 that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast and that Your hand might be with me. And that you would keep me from evil that it might not grieve me, And God granted him that which he requested. A prayer that should come from the heart of all believers. PSALM 28 v 9 Save Your people and bless Your inheritance, feed them also and lift them up for ever. PSALM 67 v 1-2 ; God be merciful unto us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us Selah. That Your way may be known upon the earth, Your saving health among all the nations. PSALM 107 v 1-2; 0 give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy. God is pleased when we bless and worship Him in sincerity and truth. PSALM 104 v 33-35 ; I will sing unto the lord as long as I live, I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of Him shall be sweet,. I will be glad in the Lord. . Let the sinner be consumed out of the earth and let the wicked be no more. Bless you the Lord 0 my soul, Praise you the Lord. What better way to get a blessing from God than to praise Him and be obedient. Men were instructed to bless them that cursed them. MATTHEW 5 v 44 ; But I say to you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you.. ROMANS 12 v 14 ; Bless them which persecute you, bless and curse not. I CORINTHIANS 4 v 12 ; And labour working with our own hands, we bless. Being persecuted we suffer it ; Men blessed others DEUTERONOMY 33 v I ; And this is the blessing wherewith Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of Israel before his death. JUDGES I v 15 ; And she said to him give me a blessing, for you have given me a south land, give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs. Blessings can be great or small but God rewards the giver. MATTHEW IO v 42 ; And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, he shall in no wise lose his reward. We are instructed to bless God, PSALM I I I v I . Praise you the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. LUKE 4 v 8 ; And Jesus answered and said to him, get you behind me satan, for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve. JOHN 4 v 23 - But the hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth, for the Father seeks such to worship Him, PSALM 96 v 8-9; Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name, bring an offering and come into His courts. 0 worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness fear before Him all the earth, MARK 12 v 3 0 ; And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. So we bless God for all His love and compassion towards us. We thank Him for Calvary and a risen Saviour. PSALM 30 v 1-2; 1 will extol You 0 Lord for You have lifted me up, and have not made my foes to rejoice over me, 0 Lord my God, I cried unto you and You have healed me. PSALM 34 v 1-3 ; I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord, the humble shall hear thereof and be glad. 0 magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together PSALM 63 v 3-5 ; Because Your lovingkindness is better than life my lips shall praise You. Thus will I bless You while I live, I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul

shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise you with joyful lips. PSALM 103 v 1-2 ; Praise the Lord 0 my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord 0 my soul and forget not all Ms benefits. PSALM 107 v 1-2 ; I I I v I ; 108 v 1-4 ; 115 v 12-14 ; 11 7 v 1-2 Now, about these curses. GENESIS 3 . Adam and Eve sinned against God and He cursed them and sent them out of the garden of Eden. It is a sad thing to be out of God's presence. GENESIS 4 v 10- 12 ; And He said what have you done ? The voice of your brother's blood cries unto Me from the ground. And now are you cursed from the earth which has opened her mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand, When you till the ground it shall not henceforth yield unto you her strength. A fugitive and a vagabond shall you be in the earth, Cain was sent out of the presence of the Lord. GENESIS 6 v 1-9, (Worth reading. ) v 5-6 ; And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.. And it repented the Lord that He had made man in the earth and it grieved Him at His heart. God cursed the people and sent the flood upon them which wiped out the population, with the exception of Noah and his family. God had given the people ample time to repent of their evil ways but they rejected God and His commandments. DEUTERONOMY 28 v 45 ; Moreover these curses shall come upon you and shall persue you and overtake you, till you be destroyed. Because you hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord God, to keep His commandments and His statues which He commanded you. GENESIS 9 v 24-26 ; And Noah awoke from his wine and he knew what his younger son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be to his brethren, And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem and Canaan shall be his servant.. PROVERBS 3 v 33 ; The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked, but He blesses the habitation of the just. ROMANS 2 v 8-9 ; But unto them that are contentious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath. Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first and also of the Gentile. NUMBERS 14 v 27-29 ; How long shall I bear with this evil congregation which murmur against Me ? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel which they murmur against me. Say to them, As truly as I live says the Lord. As you have spoken in My ears so will I do to you. Your carcases shall fall in the wilderness and all that were numbered of you, according to you whole number from twenty years old and upward which have murmured against Me. JOSHUA 23 v 16 ; When you have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and made other gods, and bowed yourselves to them, Then shall the anger of the Lord be kindled against you and you shall perish quickly from off the good land which He has given you. So Scripture clearly defines the results of being obedient to God and worshipping Him and rejecting God to go and serve satan. But where will these unsaved people go at death if they have been cursed or rejected by God ? The words related by Jesus in LUKE 16 v-19-31 give us the answer. LUKE 16 v 22-24 ; And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom.. The rich man also died and was buried. The rich man was an unsaved man who did not worship God. When he died his body was buried but his soul went into the torment section of hell. There he saw Abraham who was in the paradise section of Hell with Lazarus. He called out to Abraham for mercy and help but none was forthcoming. He knew where he was and why, REVELATION 14 v 9-11 ; And the third angel followed them saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, The same shall drink of wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the

Lamb . And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever and they have no rest day nor night who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name. REVELATION 20 v 12 -15; And I saw dead small and great, stand before God and the books were opened , and another book was opened which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it and death and hell delivered up the dead were in them. and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire, this is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire REVELATION 21 v 27 ; And there shall in no way enter into it anything that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination or makes a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. ISAIAH 66 v 23-24 ; And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, says the Lord. And they shall go forth and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me , for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched, and they shall be an abhorring to all flesh. Let us seek to please God , by our obedience to His Scriptures and worship Him in love and sincerity. Then we shall have the blessings we deserve and not incur the wrath of God and eternity in hell Let us bless one onother and be quick to forgive, My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary. Saviour Divine, now hear me while I pray Take all my guilt away, 0 let me from this day Be wholly Thine. When ends Life's transient dream when deaths s cold sullen dream When death's cold sullen stream Shall o'er me roll Blest Saviour then in love, fear and distrust remove Oh bear me safe above, A ransomed soul.