Blessings & Curses

[Kabowd]

Tess, personally, I was referring to things like self-inflicted STD's, AIDS and things like that. There's no doubt in my mind that things of that nature are curses sent by God to punish sinners. When AIDS started, there was no other way to catch it but by sin. Of course, now it has infected blood supplies and can reach out to touch babies born with it by the infected mothers, and that is tragic.

I feel human kind had a moment in time to totally eradicate AIDS. Simply, a sin had to stop and it didn't, and now we have millions infected.

t.

I can agree with that. I was referring to the original post which could be interpreted to mean that all illness, financial struggle, infertility, disease, etc..could all be directly linked to a "curse" or disobedience. That's what I was referring to.

Good post Mr. shiloh!

[ted]

I apologize for not being more specific.

For some reason, I have a bad habit with that!

t.

[Guest pip]

Am I understanding this topic and the responses correctly? Are you (those who have posted) saying that infertility, diseases of the body, diseases of the mind, loss of jobs, loss of homes, loss of family members due to illness or due to vehicle accidents, etc, is all the result of disobedience to God? Does that mean that those who have huge homes, high-salary jobs, lots of kids, and are healthy are the only ones "chosen" who have been obeying God? what makes the difference?

[ted]

Hello pip, and welcome to Worthy!

I wasn't saying that in totality. I was simply pointing out that some diseases (aids, std's, etc), ills (hangovers, heart disease, liver damage, etc), and tragedies (car wrecks, murders, etc) can be directly attributed to sin and are the result of some that do not turn from sin.

Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes,etc, are more subjective to me. These things are less obvious to me that they are the direct result of God's punishment, although He certainly has used these disasters in the past and will in the future, according to the Bible.

Hope this clears some of it for you.

I'm sorry, but I can't speak for the rest of the posters here.

Toss a rock towards their heads and they will talk!

Thanks,

t.

[His son]

God's foreknowledge of every choice we will all make all the time when coupled with the blessings, and cursings, is what comprises predestination. God having made us in His likeness, and image, has made it possible for us to predetermine where we will spend eternity. It's very important for us to understand this. It is the basis for our pilgrimage here. We do live by God's Word, all of us, saint, and sinner alike. If we totally surrender our wills to His will we will walk in the blessings otherwise it will be in the cursings. It is our choice.

[larryt]

God's foreknowledge of every choice we will all make all the time when coupled with the blessings, and cursings, is what comprises predestination. God having made us in His likeness, and image, has made it possible for us to predetermine where we will spend eternity. It's very important for us to understand this. It is the basis for our pilgrimage here. We do live by God's Word, all of us, saint, and sinner alike. If we totally surrender our wills to His will we will walk in the blessings otherwise it will be in the cursings. It is our choice.

His son,

That was one of the best and most concise definitions of predestination I have ever heard.

LT

[larryt]

Am I understanding this topic and the responses correctly? Are you (those who have posted) saying that infertility, diseases of the body, diseases of the mind, loss of jobs, loss of homes, loss of family members due to illness or due to vehicle accidents, etc, is all the result of disobedience to God?  Does that mean that those who have huge homes, high-salary jobs, lots of kids, and are healthy are the only ones "chosen" who have been obeying God?  what makes the difference?

Greetings pip,

That was a good question. I cannot speak for the rest but as I am the OP the answer to the first part of you question is yes but not ALL.

Are you (those who have posted) saying that infertility, diseases of the body, diseases of the mind, loss of jobs, loss of homes, loss of family members due to illness or due to vehicle accidents, etc, is all the result of disobedience to God?

Let me make this clear. Terms like all, never, always, every, usually start "gross generalizatons." The purpose of this thread is not to condemn people but to help them out of bondage to circumstances beyond their control. The better we understand how the kingdom operates, the more enjoyable the stay.

Does that mean that those who have huge homes, high-salary jobs, lots of kids, and are healthy are the only ones "chosen" who have been obeying God?  what makes the difference?

A basic course in logic. If A implies B, does B imply A? NO, the converse is not necessarily true.

Let me ask you this question: Did Jesus die for the sins of everybody? I believe He did. Q: Does everyone get saved? No. Relatively few get saved.(Matt. 7:14) Q: Who gets saved? A: Those that appropriate the blessings. They that believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is the same with curses. Blessings are another matter. If we are living a life pleasing to God(as He describes, not me or anyone else) the blessings will overtake us.(De 28:2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.)

The reason to talk about curses is to help those that are struggling and give them a possible reason that can be corrected that they would start receiving the blessings. By bending our knee to the Lord Jesus Christ, we receive eternal life. While we are still on this earth, to live in the kingdom there are requirements.

Please try not to jump to too many conclusions about what I am saying.

LT

[apothanein kerdos]

Job's friends tried to tell Job that all these bad things were happening because of sin in his life..........and God chastized them for saying that..........

[tsth]

I am finding that many (myself included) will have undergone great afflictions, to reveal to them the need to repent, and first and foremost, the need of the Savior.

Affliction is a major part of the Scriptures, and is a common thread in those who would believe and obey. Take a look at the word "affliction" in the Scriptures, there's a very deep well just in the study of that word alone.

I know from experience.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Guest antitox]

When the blessings were pronounced and the cursings were pronounced, each were done on a different mountain. They were separate, one from the other. I believe that curses are demons. After all, that is the case with witches, satanists, and the like. One can find himself under the effects of that which is satanic or fallen in nature or that which is godly in nature. That's why I believe God gave us that choice as He has stated to "choose life" or "choose this day whom you will serve..." As Isaiah 24:6 states, "Therefore a curse devours the earth and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt.." Satan said in Job that he runs to and fro on the earth. So the earth is under a curse; we have demons running around on it inciting many things in people. The good news is Bible tells us that Jesus became a curse for us. Therefore we are not under a curse any longer, but we still have to fight for righteousness because the curse (demons) are still around us and we must contend with the old fleshly nature which doesn't choose good decisions.

In another vein, there are things that we reap that we would not have consciously chosen if we had known the actual result, yet we still reaped it anyway or possibly stumbled onto it. Some are not easily explainable, but I know that we often make a series of choices (not just one single choice, but many choices) that takes us ultimately to a destination whether good, bad, or questionable in nature. The only safeguard I know of is being sensitive to God's leading and seeking His wisdom daily because we don't always know what lies in the next few steps we take.

Edited October 24, 2004 by antitox