This is my Bible.This is my Bible.I am what it says I am,I am what it says I am,I have what it says I have,I have what it says I have,I can do what it says I can do.I can do what it says I can do.Today, I’ll be taught Today, I’ll be taught the Word of God,the Word of God,I boldly confess, I boldly confess, My mind is alert,My mind is alert,My heart is receptive,My heart is receptive,I’ll never be the same.I’ll never be the same.I am about to receive,I am about to receive,The incorruptible, indestructible, The incorruptible, indestructible, ever-living seed of the Word of ever-living seed of the Word of God.God.I’ll never be the same,I’ll never be the same,In Jesus’ Name.In Jesus’ Name.

Blessing or a Blessing or a CurseCurse

Lesson 2Lesson 2

Spiritual Spiritual PrinciplePrinciple

He shall have He shall have whatsoever he whatsoever he

saithsaithWords set spiritual forces in motion to Words set spiritual forces in motion to

bring what you say to passbring what you say to pass

Importance of Our WordsImportance of Our Words

Proverbs 18:21Proverbs 18:21

Life and death are in the power of the tongue, Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit of it. and they that love it shall eat the fruit of it.

James 3:10James 3:10

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.to be.

What you say has the power to BLESS or to CURSEWhat you say has the power to BLESS or to CURSE

The Reality of Curses The Reality of Curses in The Biblein The Bible

Deuteronomy 30:19Deuteronomy 30:19

I call heaven and earth to record this day against I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:both thou and thy seed may live:

Only two positions in which you can live:Only two positions in which you can live:

1. You can live in the dimension of 1. You can live in the dimension of BLESSINGBLESSING oror

2. You can live in the dimension of a 2. You can live in the dimension of a CURSECURSE

Deuteronomy 11:26-28Deuteronomy 11:26-28

Behold, I set before you this day a blessing Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.after other gods, which ye have not known.

The Scripture says: (Deuteronomy 28:1-2, The Scripture says: (Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15)15)

• You receive You receive BLESSINGBLESSING because of because of OBEDIENCEOBEDIENCE

• You receive the You receive the CURSECURSE because of because of DISOBEDIENCEDISOBEDIENCE

Definition of TermsDefinition of Terms

BLESSINGBLESSING: The impartation of the : The impartation of the supernatural power of God into a human supernatural power of God into a human life by the SPOKEN word of God’s life by the SPOKEN word of God’s delegated authority.delegated authority.

CURSECURSE: A prayer for injury, harm, or : A prayer for injury, harm, or misfortune to befall someone. When misfortune to befall someone. When applied to God, it is a term expressing applied to God, it is a term expressing divine displeasure or vindictive divine displeasure or vindictive (revengeful in spirit) justice.(revengeful in spirit) justice.

Once soberly uttered, the blessing or curse could Once soberly uttered, the blessing or curse could not be recallednot be recalled

Examples of BlessingsExamples of BlessingsGod blesses: God blesses:

• By giving life, riches, fruitfulness, or plenty – Genesis 1:22,28By giving life, riches, fruitfulness, or plenty – Genesis 1:22,28

• Abraham and His descendents – Genesis 12:1-3Abraham and His descendents – Genesis 12:1-3

• Turning us from evil – Acts 3:25-26Turning us from evil – Acts 3:25-26

• Forgiving our sins – Romans 4:7-8Forgiving our sins – Romans 4:7-8

The patriarchs pronounced benefits on their children, often near their The patriarchs pronounced benefits on their children, often near their deaths – Genesis 49:1-28deaths – Genesis 49:1-28

Even if spoken by mistake, the blessing could not be taken back – Even if spoken by mistake, the blessing could not be taken back – Genesis 27 (Isaac conferring the blessing on Jacob)Genesis 27 (Isaac conferring the blessing on Jacob)

Leaders often blessed people, especially when getting ready to leave Leaders often blessed people, especially when getting ready to leave them. These included Moses (Deut 33) and Joshua (22:6-7)them. These included Moses (Deut 33) and Joshua (22:6-7)

Jesus began His ministry by pronouncing blessing (Matt 5:3-12) and Jesus began His ministry by pronouncing blessing (Matt 5:3-12) and when He ascended into Heaven (Luke 24:51)when He ascended into Heaven (Luke 24:51)

Examples of CursesExamples of Curses

God spoke a curse on the serpent (Gen 1:14), on the God spoke a curse on the serpent (Gen 1:14), on the ground (Gen 1:17), on Cain (Gen 4:11)ground (Gen 1:17), on Cain (Gen 4:11)

Jesus cursed the fig tree (Mark 11:14)Jesus cursed the fig tree (Mark 11:14)

The curse of those who reject spiritual authority: The curse of those who reject spiritual authority: Noah pronounced a curse on Canaan (Gen 9:25) Noah pronounced a curse on Canaan (Gen 9:25)

The curse of anti-Semitism: Isaac spoke a curse on The curse of anti-Semitism: Isaac spoke a curse on anyone who cursed Jacob (Gen 27:29 also Gen 12:3)anyone who cursed Jacob (Gen 27:29 also Gen 12:3)

Balak, king of Moab, hired Balaam to curse the Israelites Balak, king of Moab, hired Balaam to curse the Israelites (Num 22-24)(Num 22-24)

Every CURSE has a ”cause” – You need to determine Every CURSE has a ”cause” – You need to determine whywhy

The Power of Your WordsThe Power of Your Words

Genesis 31:32; 35:16-20Genesis 31:32; 35:16-20

Jacob pronounced a death Jacob pronounced a death sentence on his wife Rachel sentence on his wife Rachel and she died, he did it and she died, he did it accidentally, but she died:accidentally, but she died:

““With whomsoever thou With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not findest thy gods, let him not live … Jacob knew not that live … Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.”Rachel had stolen them.”

The Canaanite God Baal

She died giving birth to She died giving birth to BenjaminBenjamin

Jericho’s Walls Come Jericho’s Walls Come DownDown

Curse on the city of Jericho – Curse on the city of Jericho – JOSHUA JOSHUA 6:266:26

And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.

In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun. Joshua the son of Nun.

The Curse on City of The Curse on City of JerichoJericho

1 Kings 16:341 Kings 16:34

Fulfilled 500 years laterFulfilled 500 years later

The Kennedy Curse: Is It Real?The Kennedy Curse: Is It Real?

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;generation of them that hate me; Exodus 20:5Exodus 20:5

John, Bobby & Teddy

JFK Jr.

Joseph Kennedy

How does this all affect How does this all affect me?me?

What to do if you see What to do if you see evidence of a curse evidence of a curse affecting your lifeaffecting your life

Where does the Where does the Christian stand in Christian stand in regards to The Curse regards to The Curse of the Lawof the Law

What does a Christian What does a Christian do when someone do when someone speaks evil of you speaks evil of you

Jesus guides you Jesus guides you through the stormthrough the storm

Breaking the Power of a Breaking the Power of a Curse in Your LifeCurse in Your Life

Examine your life – Curses come Examine your life – Curses come because ofbecause of DISOBEDIENCEDISOBEDIENCE

• Turn away from sinTurn away from sin

• Renounce ungodly associations Renounce ungodly associations

• Ancestral curses – Ancestral curses – Take authority in the Name Take authority in the Name ofof

Jesus and break the power of the curseJesus and break the power of the curse

Redeemed from The Redeemed from The CurseCurse

Galatians 3Galatians 3

13   Christ hath redeemed us 13   Christ hath redeemed us from the from the cursecurse of the law, of the law, being made a curse for us: for being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:one that hangeth on a tree:

14   That the 14   That the blessingblessing of of Abraham might come on the Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through promise of the Spirit through faith.faith.

What to do when What to do when people speak evil of people speak evil of

youyou

Matthew 5:44-48 Matthew 5:44-48

Romans 12:14, 17, Romans 12:14, 17, 21 21

BLESS BLESS them that them that

CURSE CURSE youyouBe not overcome of Be not overcome of

evil, but overcome evil, but overcome evil with good.evil with good.

Our Words are Our Words are Important!Important!

What you say has the power to BLESS or What you say has the power to BLESS or CURSECURSE

You receive BLESSING for OBEDIENCEYou receive BLESSING for OBEDIENCE

You receive a CURSE for DISOBEDIENCEYou receive a CURSE for DISOBEDIENCE

For every curse, there is a For every curse, there is a causecause and a and a curecure

Curses can be broken through the Name of Curses can be broken through the Name of JesusJesus

The Christian is redeemed from the curse and The Christian is redeemed from the curse and has received the blessing of Abrahamhas received the blessing of Abraham

Bless them that curse youBless them that curse you