When a person is intent of living the Christian life, working to obey and serve God in all they do, sometimes, when in a tough spot, they may be tempted to ‘claim a promise’ or ‘proclaim an answer’ in the name of The Lord.
There is a common misconception that an answer to prayer or a miracle should occur quickly, even instantly or ‘on demand’. That thankfully may occur, but it is usually on a rare occasion; and ‘demanding’ anything of God can be a risky endeavor, even if it is disguised as ‘claiming a promise’. However, tread carefully. Matthew 4:7 warns not to “put the Lord your God to the test.’”
It is true, however, that God answers prayer – all the time. Although, God usually performs His Word over time – over a long period of time. That is usually how it is when God pronounces His blessings or curses.
God has defined the curses and the blessings, which all brought about in one’s life by a person’s or a nation’s obedience or disobedience to God’s Word – and, again, it is important to remember they occur over time; usually a long period of time. Sometimes, it takes so long to occur that we may think God may have forgotten to bless us or that we may have escaped the penalties of our sins. Whichever is fitting, do not lose hope – or beware – it all will come to pass.
To Wit:
Psalm 103:8 “The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
Numbers 14:18, “The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
(Please note: You can read extensively about these prophetic promises and warnings in the book of Deuteronomy. It is important to read what follows in its entirety in order to lay the groundwork which leads to, both freedom from The Law and Sanctuary in Christ, that is by returning to His standards of Holiness and Righteousness – without which, you cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven. “Not by our works but by faith in Christ, knowing that faith without works is dead”.)
Deuteronomy 27:9 tells us, “Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10 You shall therefore obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.”
11 That day Moses charged the people, saying, 12 “When you have crossed over the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel in a loud voice:
15“‘ Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the Lord, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’
16 “‘Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
17 “‘Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor’s landmark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
18 “‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
19 “‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
20 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s nakedness.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
21 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with any kind of animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
22 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
23 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
24 “‘Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
25 “‘Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
26 “‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
(There are those who would tell you that this was written just for Israel and just for that time. That is a lie. These are the prophetic Words of God, breathed out for all people who are called by His Name, for all time!)
15. “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you.
16. Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field.
17. Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
18. Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock.
19. Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out.
20. “The Lord will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and perish quickly on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken me.
21. The Lord will make the pestilence stick to you until he has consumed you off the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
22. The Lord will strike you with wasting disease and with fever, inflammation and fiery heat, and with drought and with blight and with mildew. They shall pursue you until you perish.
23. And the heavens over your head shall be bronze, and the earth under you shall be iron.
24. The Lord will make the rain of your land powder. From heaven dust shall come down on you until you are destroyed.
25. “The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them. And you shall be a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. (You can read the rest of this prophetic warning in its entirety here).
(Does this remind you of anything anywhere at any time? Here are some clues.)
Now, The Remedy
(Please note: I am in no way suggesting that anyone can be saved by ‘good works’ or Godly ethical mindset or ethical behavior. To clarify this matter, please carefully read Deuteronomy 28, verses one and two, in particular.)
Deuteronomy 28:1, “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.
2. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.
3. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.
4. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock.
5. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
6. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
7. “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.
8. The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
9. The Lord will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways.
10. And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you.
11. And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.
12. The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
13. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them, 14. And if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
(Being a Christian (or calling yourself a Christian) and living otherwise does not entitle you. Hearing and serving, (doing) the Word of God with a willing, humble and contrite heart, desiring to please and to serve God from your innermost being, shows your true intentions, and it takes both – inside and outside.)
So, there it is. We are not saved by our good works – our Christian Ethical behavior – but we are blessed by God as a result of them.
Choose Life, That You and Your Offspring May Live.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
One last reminder. God’s Word is balanced. Sometimes in spite of our best efforts and sometimes for what seems to be ‘no good reason’, instead of blessings we encounter troubles, trials and tribulation. DO NOT MISTAKE THIS FOR A CURSE. It is not a curse. God has told us that,
“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
Psalms 34:15-19
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