This is what the Lord says:

“I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells” (Micah 5:12)

DEFINITIONS:

WITCHCRAFT is the skill to use demonic power to control other people or events; to achieve selfish results, completely outside the leading of the Holy Spirit and in opposition to the plan and purpose of God for mankind.

Witchcraft is the same as sorcery. It manifests in different ways but the following are the most common of all:

MANIPULATION means to control and cheat another by using skillful, deceptive, hidden means to achieve his selfish purpose. It produces frustration, guilt and a feeling of being cheated.

For example, King Balak is a political manipulator. He tries to hire a famous false prophet called Balaam to curse the children of Israel who came out of Egypt. His intent was to use demonic power to weaken them in such a way that it will be easy to defeat them in war and drive them away. He is promised money and honor if he can curse them successfully (Nu 22-24).

An example of religious manipulation is when a man goes to see a prophet for counsel and prayer. But he has a hidden idol in his heart. He wants prayer and blessings but he refuses to openly confess his sins. The demon of witchcraft may blind the prophet to bless such a man. God overrules the prayer and the blessings and judges the sin of manipulation. The prophet and the man who came for prayer shall be punished together (Ezekiel 14).

Personally, I take this warning very seriously. I always pray that the Holy Spirit takes control of any discussion, counsel or prayer session I am involved in. I often pray for the manifestation of the gift of discerning the spirits, to be able to see in the Spirit and not to be deceived by the visible. Carelessness in life is dangerous, but in ministry is even more so. The devil will send his agents with the primary purpose to make the pastor or the believer backslide.

INTIMIDATION means to make another afraid and to force him into submission. It means to push back another, to stop his progress in life.  The victim becomes timid and full of inferiority complex. It is done by constant demands or threats. The victim’s spirit is broken and all courage lost. It means to bully thru aggression and insults. The fear of God is replaced by the fear of man or the fear of death in the victim.

This is an example of intimidation: Jezebel was an agent of the devil sent to pollute the religious atmosphere in Israel. She sponsors all the false prophets and kills all the true servants of God. God sends Elijah to confront the Prophets of Baal. In a dramatic display of power, they are defeated publicly and killed on the slopes of Mount Carmel. When Ahab tell his wife about the defeat she becomes mad with anger. She invokes the power of her gods and threatened Elijah with death. This is a clear curse of witchcraft using intimidation. Elijah runs away (1Kg 19:1-3). The great prophet needs a fresh encounter with Jehovah to be delivered from the effect of fear before he can return to ministry.

This is another example of intimidation: Goliath cursed David by his gods that he will die. But God’s promise to Abraham has to be fulfilled. God promised that He ‘will curse them that curse’ the descendants of Abraham. By cursing David, the fate of Goliath was sealed. With all his strength, stature and experience as a soldier, he died (1Sam 17:43)

There was a wizard called ‘Elymas the Sorcerer’ who opposed the ministry of Paul. AS with Goliath, he had to be punished for that. Paul declared that he will be blind for a season and it was so (Acts 13:1-12)

OPPRESSION means to crush the spirit of another by adding false burdens. It is done by misusing the power or the authority of a leader. The victim becomes silent, weak, foolish, hopeless and unable to mature spiritually (witchcraft stops the spiritual and mental growth of its victims). Under continual oppression the general attitude will be that of a slave.

For example, the children of Israel became slaves under the Egyptians who oppressed them with heavy burdens and much work (Ex 1). A boss in the office, a husband, a father or a pastor may oppress others and force them to submit to them. The evil spirit of witchcraft is doing much damage to families, churches. It is very active in the work force, in the offices and government officials all over the world. God is on the side of the victim whose responsibility is to pray always for help to come from above. A silent victim is ignorantly co-operating with the oppressor. Spiritual passivity is always a mark of witchcraft.

In Christ I declare:

I destroy any spell of witchcraft over my life, my marriage, my family, my ministry and my church!

I am free from an influence of the demons of manipulation, intimidation or oppression! I reject any form of sickness, weakness, confusion, fear, deception or evil attacks! I am healed! I am free! I am happy! I belong to God! Jesus Christ has died of the Cross for my sins! I am free from any condemnation! My accuser is defeated! I shall live and not die and declare the works of the Lord! God’s plan and purpose for me and my family shall be fulfilled! Any human agent, who is actively engaged in witchcraft, to curse me and my family, shall be exposed and disgraced as a fool! No weapon fashioned against me and my family shall prosper! This is our heritage as servants of God! The victory is ours! To the glory of God! In Jesus name, Amen!

“Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” (Ex 4:10-12)

Today I simply want to give all the glory to God for my ministry as a preacher of the Word of God and a pastor. This is my story: In 1980, I came to Nigeria as a young wife with two little children. I did not know where Nigeria was on the map. All I heard about Africa was tragedy and terror. I did not know a soul. But I loved my husband and I was ready to follow him ‘to the ends of the earth’. I could not speak English and nobody here understood Romanian. I was an unbeliever. God had mercy on me and changed my heart. I became saved here in 1986. Nigeria became my second home. Like Ruth, my husband’s people became my people….My husband DR. Richmond Leigh and I, we worked as medical doctors until 2000 when God said that we should sell our clinic (Lily Clinic, Warri) and change the building into a church. This is how Father’s House Bible Church was ‘born’. We started with less than 20 people, mostly family friends and former patients. Now we are thousands…

The transition was not easy for me. As a doctor, I did not need my tongue so much. Actions were more important than words. But in the ministry, I cannot hide behind a stethoscope. I cried to God like Moses. I did not mind to just work ‘behind the scenes’ helping my husband and others. But God decided something else. He called me to be a preacher, a teacher of the Word of God, a pastor and a worshipper. That was not my plan for my life. That was God’s plan!

Humanly speaking I was at a serious disadvantage…I prayed and I cried to God, asking for the miracle of anointing, spiritual utterance, open prophetic eyes to see Jesus, open ears to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, creativity in writing, spiritual fruitfulness and favor with people in a foreign land… And especially I asked for the confidence of a preacher of the Gospel God answered me even more that I could have imagined…I needed a tongue of fire. God gave that to me…. I needed the boldness of a lion…God gave that to me…I needed the gentleness of a Lamb…God gave that to me…I needed the anointing of the Holy Spirit that breaks all yokes…God gave that to me!!! God even gave me peace concerning our children and grandchildren who live far away from us!

So what can I say? God is good! All the time! God answers prayers! To God be all the glory for the things He has done! Thank You Father, for it has been Your good pleasure to send me to Nigeria, as Your ambassador! You sent me here to take care of Your sheep and lambs. Thank You for everything… for the peace, the joy, the success, the fruitfulness, the prosperity, the wisdom, the energy and the miracles! All my crowns are laid at Your feet! You are worthy of all the praise, now and forever!

‘My people please join me to praise God…’

(This is how we say in Nigeria…)

In Christ I declare:

I am blessed!

My marriage is blessed!

My children and grandchildren are blessed!

My spiritual children are blessed!

God made my mouth!

God teaches me what to say!

God is with me wherever I go!

To God be all the glory!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“The person who gets money dishonestly

is like a bird that hatches eggs it didn’t lay.

In the prime of life he will lose his riches,

and in the end he is nothing but a fool” (Jer 17:11)

This is the story of a fool!

Charles Deville Wells (1841–1922), was a famous gambler and confidence trickster, a con artist. Such a man sets out to defraud or deceive people by persuading them to believe a lie and making them give money away.

In July 1891 Wells went to Monte Carlo with £4,000 that he had defrauded from investors in a bogus invention, called a musical jump rope. He used this money to stay in an expensive hotel and gamble daily.  He won millions of francs at the roulette. Despite hiring private detectives the Casino never discovered Wells’s system of wining.

He soon became a celebrity. He bought cars and houses. Women followed him. He lied that his success was because he was a brilliant engineer, who had also invented a fuel-saving device for steam-ships. He persuaded many wealthy people to invest in his invention. He made another trip to Monte Carlo in a large yacht in the winter of 1892 with his mistress. Wells explained that the yacht was to test his device. Wells invested his money and that of others in gambling again. This time he lost millions.

Wells was arrested and extradited to England. He was found guilty of fraud and given eight years. Later, he immigrated to France, where a financial scam earned him another five-year sentence in prison.

In 1922, Wells died as a poor beggar in Paris.

The Word of God is true!

Someone needs this encouragement today. Don’t give up!

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds…” (Ps 147:3)
A young sister came to my office looking very sad. A young man proposed marriage to her. She has known him for more than ten years, but there was no romance all this time. They were close family friends. But in her heart, she had a secret crush for him. When he proposed marriage to her, it seems that her dream came true. Not long after that, she came to my office and she looked so happy. She was telling me about their plans for the future as a married couple. I rejoiced with her too. That was some moths ago…

Recently she came to see me again. This time she was broken hearted. The young man of her dreams simply informed her that he has changed his mind…that he fell in love with another…that he will marry another lady….soon… He then told her that he hopes she understands…she said that she understands…’what else can I say’ she told me…she said that she did not want to break down before him… she even prayed for him, that his marriage will be happy… She told me that since this pain broke her heart, her daily prayer is this: “Lord Jesus, make me better and not bitter…” She also told me that a lady from the church passed by and mocked her saying: “Some people get married and some people are losers…” Again she prayed to be better and not bitter…
But in my office, far from the stares of the selfish and wicked, free to be herself, she broke down, weeping like a child. She said that her mistake was to trust him too much…I told her that she is not the first and not the last… many have passed this road of painful betrayal and unexpected disappointment…Yes, the tears must flow, but not forever, I told her…

How can I help such a soul? I knew that there is no need to even try to use my power…”I need Thee, Lord, I need Thee…” was my prayer…”Holy Spirit please come and heal a broken heart child of God…” The rest prayer was only in tongues…Suddenly, the mighty rushing wind came from heaven…the sister stopped weeping and started praying with a grateful heart, worshipping God like never before…then she started laughing and laughing…supernatural joy, a gift from God…she could not stop rejoicing…the tears of pain became tears of joy…I was witnessing a miracle of healing and deliverance, God’s style…She said it on and on: “Jesus loves me…Jesus loves me…that is enough for me…that is enough for me…” What treasure of grace opened to her…what wonderful healing manifested to a lonely broken soul, rejected by men, but accepted by her God…I am still in awe from what my eyes have seen and what my hands have touched…
I was once a doctor, maybe I could have prescribed anti-depressants, at least for a while…but it took God just a touch and all the pain was gone…Oh, may genuine miracles be my portion as I do ministry among the hopeless, the sick and the poor… May my eyes remain fixed on Jesus Christ, who alone can heal a broken heart and make it new…
I worship You Lord this evening…There is no one like You…I will never fear what the devil will do, to me and to my children…for the Hope of Glory has spoken and His Word is AMEN!

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord…Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You. Let such as love Your salvation say continually: “The Lord be magnified!” (Ps 40)

PATIENCE PRODUCES AN OPEN PRAYER LINE; DELIVERANCE; SECURITY; WORSHIP; SUCCESSFUL MINISTRY AND TESTIMONIES!!!

King David describes how he suffered when he was at his lowest. He also shares how God helped him and restored his testimony as a man of God. In Psalm 40 are great lessons, how to patiently wait for God to act on your behalf.

For many years, King Saul was his personal enemy. He was jealous on David. He chased him in the desert, trying to kill him ‘like a dog’. David’s method of choice to deal with his many trials was to ‘wait patiently for the Lord’.

This is a great lesson: patient waiting on God is a choice!!! Patience is not our natural response. No unbeliever can wait on God. They are too restless and too proud to do that. To an unbeliever, the process of waiting seems useless, for all is quiet outwardly. Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit growing only in the heart of the believer in Christ. David had faith in God! He trusted that God will come to his rescue and vindicate him at last. True waiting on God is an active living fruitful spiritual work that gives glory to God!

Questions:

What did David do all those long lonely years in the desert, as he was waiting on God?

What are we to do as we wait on God?

*David remembers God’s past wonderful works and miracles that he had witnessed

David meditates on God’s loving thoughts towards him personally. He remembers that faith in God never fails. When I fast and pray waiting on God, I remember His mercy towards me and my family in the past. I remember how we prayed and how God answered. This always revives my spirit and I am able to praise God again!

* David prays that God ‘opens’ his ears

He takes advantage of the season of pain and he re-surrenders himself to God. In Hebrew ‘to open’ means to dig in the dry ground, to bore a hole in a hard place. “Dear Lord, open my ears to hear Your Word…” This is a good prayer to rise from any pit of difficult circumstances. The sound of freedom may come as a song, as a gentle touch…The ‘still small voice’ can be drowned by the waves of noisy activities, too many friends and cares. In the lowest times of my life, more than any other time before, I need to hear the whispers of God. I need God’s voice to speak life, peace, comfort and strength to my heart. Once I hear His voice, I am satisfied!

*David does spiritual warfare.

David knows that this persecution is the result of his standing for God. He preaches the truth to them who are in bondage. The devil attacks him thru proud and deceitful men. He prays that his enemies will be ashamed, confused and disappointed. God shall oppose them until they retreat and backslide. Others shall hurt and wound them.

*David strengthens himself in the Lord and starts to rejoice, praising God

The pit of trouble becomes an altar to offer sacrifices of praise. Fresh inspiration and anointing is poured down below. David praises the Lord with a new song. This peculiar joy coming out of pain is the signal that God is close by. Suddenly, God draws him up out of the miry clay. God Himself gives him a fresh reason to praise Him and a new testimony of deliverance and victory. This testimony shall produce fruit amongst men. Many shall become saved and delivered too. Ministry shall be established.

No one likes to suffer pain. But the lessons I had to learn thru the fire of afflictions have remained with me; they are sealed in my spirit. No man wants to wait on God if he has any other option to solve his problems. But when all things crumble and my friends and dearest go away, I know where to go to… I run to God…to the Cross! Jesus said that He will never forsake me! This promise applies not only when things are good, when I am in the midst of friends, successful and rich…but the Word is mine especially when I am alone, feeling sick and old…

This is my testimony: God is faithful to His promises! God is with me as I write these lines. I may not know great secrets or wonderful revelations, but one thing I know for sure: God is good to me and to my family! I have tested God in the fire of furnace…My God is always the same: faithful, kind, all knowing and all powerful!

“Dear Father, I remember the past…You have saved me many times, from sickness and troubles…Thank You for opening my ears and my eyes…I reject all covenant I made with the devil or his agents, knowingly or not…I rejoice Lord for you are on my side…You can never lose any battle…The victory is sure…This praise is rising in my soul…

I praise You Father! I praise You Son! I praise You Holy Ghost! Jesus Christ, my Savior, my Lord and my best Friend! Thank You for the Comfort in my heart! Thank You for the new song I just found in my mouth! You are fearful in praises! You shall vindicate me! You shall establish me! You are my strength when I am weak! You are always doing wonders for me! Be magnified in my life! I vow to give You all the glory! Forever! It is well with my soul… Alleluia!”

If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold,
And you have to get along with meager fare,
Just remember, in His Word, how He feeds the little bird—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Refrain:
Leave it there, leave it there,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there;
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

If your body suffers pain and your health you can’t regain,
And your soul is almost sinking in despair,
Jesus knows the pain you feel, He can save and He can heal—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail,
Don’t forget that God in Heaven answers prayer;
He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on,
And your body bends beneath the weight of care;
He will never leave you then, He’ll go with you to the end—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Charles A. Tindley, 1916

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations” (Ps 100:4, 5)

Lead by the Holy Spirit, we declared today as a thanksgiving day! We praised God with singing, dances and grateful hearts!
Thanksgiving must be the life style of the believer. We thank God especially for His goodness, love and faithfulness, to us and to our children. Just like the mother teaches her child how to say ‘thank you’ for every gift received, no matter how small, so we have to practice thanksgiving when relating to God. A sinner is an ungrateful and proud person. In these last days, men shall become more wicked, ‘ungrateful and unholy…Have nothing to do with them’ (2Tim 3:2, 5).
As a man, Jesus was the most grateful Son. Jesus thanked the Father for the gift of prayer. “Father, I thank You that You always hear Me…” (Jn 11:41). Not all people have the privilege of an open line of prayer to God. Be grateful that God listens to you! When He had to feed the thousands with just few loaves of bread He did not really pray. He just gave thanks to the Father for the bread in His hands. Then, as He divided the loaves, they miraculously multiplied to feed the multitudes (Jn 6:11). These are great lessons: the grateful heart is positioned to receive miracles. Also, thank God for the little things and they shall multiply according to the need of the moment.
The opposite of thanksgiving is to be bitter, to complain. You say that you need millions and all you have is too little to start a business. Thank God for the little you have in your hand. You say that your marriage is not happy. But at least you are married. Many are still praying to receive what you already have. You say that you are sick, but you are still breathing. Thank God for your breath….
God does not owe man anything. All we have is a product of His grace, the unmerited favor of God. In Greek, Spanish and Italian, the word ‘thank you’ is the same as the word ‘grace’. To a humble and grateful man, the favor of God shall increase! “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1Thess 5:18)

THE CURE FOR THE CURSES

The cure is found in Christ alone. He became a curse that we may be free. In Christ we have power over the devil:

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Gal 3:13)

The curses came thru the mouth. So the mouth will destroy it! Pray and trust God!

“Like a fluttering sparrow… an undeserved curse does not come to rest (will not land on its intended victim)” (PV 26:2)

‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.’

How can I curse those whom God has not cursed?

How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced?” (Nu 23:7, 8)

The word ‘denounce’ means to accuse, to condemn and publicly proclaim as evil; it also means to publicly announce the separation from another, the termination of a contract or divorce. Jesus denounced them who received the blessings of miracles but remained proud and refused to repent (Mt 11:20-24)

“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.  He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mk 3:13-15)

“Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you” (Lk 10:18, 19)

“These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mk 16:17, 18)

“I shall not die, but live and declare the works of the Lord” (PS 118:17)

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation” (Ps 91:14-16)

THE CAUSES OF CURSES

1. Idolatry (Ex 20:1-4; Deut 27:15)

2. Witches, native doctors, false prophets, secret societies and cults (Balak and Balaam Nu 22: 24)

3-Dihonoring your parents (natural and spiritual) (Gen 9:25; Deut 27:16; PV 30:17)

4-Betrayal (PV 17:13)

5-Opressing, exploiting the weak and the poor (shedding innocent blood, abortions) (PV 28:27)

6-Unnatural sex (any other form of sex that is different from the normal one practiced by a married man and his wife) (Lev 20)

7- Anti Semitism, hating the children of God (Gen 12:3; 27:29)

8-Trusting men and backsliding from God (Jer 17:5, 6)

9-Stealing, perjury (false swearing under oath), false prophets, taking God’s name in vain (Zech 5:1-4)

10- Stealing from God, not paying tithes or being stingy in the church (Mal 3:8-10)

WHO CAN BLESS OR CURSE?

God has total authority to bless or to curse! Secondly, your father or your pastor can do the same (Gen 9; 27; 49). A witch or an occult person can curse an unbeliever (Nu 22:6). There is also a self-inflicted curse (Gen 27:23). A child of God cannot be totally cursed. But the curse can affect some part of his life. Identify the curse! Pray and deliver yourself from its influence!

HOW DOES A CURSE MANIFEST?

A curse manifests as a feeling of dying! The man is unhappy with your life! Imagining suicide, thinking of death, fear of untimely death, chronic depression, anxiety and bitterness…these are signs of a possible curse in the family.

“Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.” (Gen 27:46, NIV)

The word ‘disgusted’ means to be anxious, angry, grieved or to lose interest in life. There is nothing good or interesting in this life. There is no joy, no satisfaction and nor hope. Chronic depression is a sign of a curse. Generally, curses manifest as prolonged troubles. A curse man is always in need, sick, poor or in trouble. He has the tendency to fall down easily, no matter how much he succeeds for a time. He is always unhappy with his life bitter and complaining. Even if he takes a loan, even if other people help, he is always in need. There are terrible things happening in his life and his family: they are not able to marry, unhappy marriages, bareness, divorce, untimely or mysterious deaths in the family. These people are always a liability to others. They depend on others for their daily bread. Their old age is filled with bitterness and regrets.

To be continued…

This prayer meeting was one of the best we had for a long time. This week I prepared my message for today. But last night I was restless. God was saying something and I could not hear well. Eventually I got it. He changed my message. I remembered the time I became a Christian. I remember the reaction I had as I read Deuteronomy 28 for the first in my life. At the same time I got a book on deliverance by Derek Prince. He immediately became one of my mentors. I studied the scriptures on deliverance and prayed the prayers. I became Spirit filled and free. I broke the generational and familiar curses. My life changed. The fire that started burning then has not quenched until today.

So, last night the Holy Spirit said I should prepare a message concerning the blessings and curses in the Bible. I did as I was told. Today, just before we started the prayer meeting, the electric power went off. We have two generators. Both worked well but the electric current did not come out. So the house and the sanctuary were in darkness until 5:30. But the brethren prayed faithfully, light or no light. We prayed against the forces of darkness. The devil knew he is in trouble.

Finally, the power was restored. We wasted no time. We help hands and prayed like never before. When I announced that today we shall pray and break generational curses, everybody jumped and shouted for joy like we all won the lottery. The foundation was laid. The unity of the Spirit was strong. The expectation to see miracles was very high. It is a pleasure to preach to prepared willing hearts. May the anointing overflow to you and may you be delivered, healed and set free! Nothing is impossible with God! The following was the message:

BLESSINGS AND CURSES

“The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil” (Ps 125:3)

“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.  He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mk 3:13-15)

OBEDIENCE- DEFINITION:

Obedience means to actively follow the commands, restrictions, guidance and wishes of another who I trust.  The commander’s word becomes my action. True obedience is a sign of life, of living faith. It is done joyfully and totally. Faith without obedience and works is dead (Jam 2:14-26). This is a spiritual law: God blesses obedience!

God blessed obedience and curses (punishes) disobedience.

Obedience is better than sacrifice. Disobedience, rebellion is like witchcraft (1Sam 15:22, 23)

God gives the Holy Spirit o those who obey Him! If you are not yet filled with the Holy Spirit, it means there is hidden rebellion against God in your heart (Ac 5:29-32; Ac 10:38)

We shall study the blessings and the curses found in Deuteronomy 28. These are opposed to one another.

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God” (Deut 28:1, 2; NKJ)

HOW DO BLESSINGS OR CURSES COME TO MAN?

Our reaction to the voice of the Holy Spirit and the written Word of God!

By hearing and obeying the voice and the Word of God- we are blessed!

By refusing to hear and disobedience to the Word of God, we are cursed!

The word ‘obey’ means to hear intelligently, to pay attention, to understand the command and to witness to it by action.

The word ‘observe’ means to protect, to surround like with thorns, so that no enemy will destroy the commandments.

The first blessing is to ‘be set high above all’. In Hebrew the word is ‘Elyon’. It means to become like the Most High God. No enemy can bring you down all the days of your life!

The blessings come and overtake. The words mean that the blessings will surely locate you, enter your life and become rooted in you. There is no risk of missing the mark.   The blessings will surely catch up with you and come suddenly.

BLESSINGS CONTRASTED WITH CURSES

*Promotion—–………………………………………………..Demotion

*Fruitful life……………………………………………………..Barren life

*Health……………………………………………………………Chronic sickness

*Prosperity (success)………………………………………Poverty (failure)

*Victory against enemies………………………………..Defeat

*Authority (head: leader, making decisions)….Slave (tail, follower of men)

In Hebrew the word ‘Blessing’ is Barak. It means becoming ‘a great happy man’; a store or a pool of successful, happy life, abundance, overflow of joy that brings praise and thanksgiving. A blessed man makes impact on his generation and the ones to come.

The word ‘Curses’ is ‘qelala’. It means becoming a nobody; small, insignificant, despised, unhappy, hated, suffering and transitory with no remembrance of you

FAMILIAR CURSES

Both blessings and curses come thru the words spoken or imagined. Every swearing or promises done to invisible personalities become binding on that person.

The curses come from the individual who, knowingly or ignorantly, has used his mouth to connect with the occult. Curses also come from the previous generations. All occult involvement, making friends with a witch, having sex with a witch, going to shrines or native doctors, all these are the foundations of curses. These are familiar evil spirits who have built strongholds affecting up to 3-4 generations.

To be continued…

He’s all I need when I just need someone to talk to,
He’s always there to hear my prayer each time I call him;
All my needs He supplies, my thirsty soul He satisfies,
He’s the Lord of Lords, He’s all I need.

He’s all I need, I need not turn to any other,
For He’s a friend I can depend closer than a brother;
On this friend I can rely to be my strength as life goes by,
He’s the Lord of all, He’s all I need.

He comforts me when I’m weary and eases every pain,
Fills my deepest longing time and time again;
He’s my soul’s inspiration, my heart’s consolation,
He’s my everything, He’s all I need.

He’s all I need,
He’s all I need,
He’s my everything,
He’s all I need.

(Genelle Tennant)

“Come and see what the Lord has done.
See what amazing things He has done on earth.
He stops wars all over the world;
He breaks bows, destroys spears,
and sets shields on fire.
“Stop fighting,” He says, “and know that I am God,
supreme among the nations,
supreme over the world” (Ps 46:8-10)

“And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth…The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but He is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (Ex 34:6; 2Pet 3:9)

Some of the sisters in our midst are battling with different problems. Some have chronic sicknesses: malaria, typhoid fever, diabetes, high blood pressure, rheumatism, depression….Many single sisters are above thirty but still no married.  Some are married but struggle with the unity of the Spirit in their homes. Others are married but have no children. Some are jobless or very poor. Some are widows. As you see, the problems are too many and too diverse to be solved by any man’s counsel. Only God can help them all. I have faith that God will answer prayers and grant us miracles. For nothing is impossible for God to do!

One of the most effective keys of spiritual success is to be patient as you wait on God. Patience is hard to practice but it never fails. The words bellow may look similar but please read and meditate upon their meaning. Prayerfully apply the Word of God in your life! You shall never regret it!

God is patient! Be like God! Patience is not a waste of time! It is the blessed way to enter your promised joy! Selah!

DEFINITIONS:

PATIENCE

The quality of bearing provocation, trouble or pain, without complaint, restlessness or loss of temper in the presence of delay or difficult circumstances; the skill to successfully wait on God, trusting Him to do what is right, no matter the circumstances

TO WAIT

To remain unmoved or to rest in expectation, ready for action when necessary; to tarry, to hold on until a weaker one catches up; to remain temporarily neglected postponing the satisfaction of your needs

FORBEARANCE

It is the godly quality to refrain from action, to delay in enforcing my rights or privileges

To remain calm in the presence of other men’s failures or faults

LONG-SUFFERING

To remain calm (slow to speak, slow to be angry, not bitterness) in the face of human opposition coming from trouble-makers who intentionally desire to hurt you; the reason for long suffering is to promote love, peace and to heal damaged relationships

ENDURANCE

To remain calm (slow to speak, slow to be angry, not bitterness) in the midst of negative circumstances, trials and temptations

PERSEVERANCE

It means the ability to make progress in the midst of negative circumstances, trials and temptations

IMPATIENCE

It means to be restless, quarrelsome, anxious or easily angry in the midst of negative circumstances or delay

The inability to wait on God to perform His will

Are you patient? If not, repent and come to God! Be filled with the Holy Spirit! May God grant the grace of patience to you until you receive your miracle! In Jesus name, Amen!

“if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2Cor 5:17)

A lady came to my office not too long ago. She is a married woman with children. She has been attending our church for some times. Previously, she was very active in another church.  I observed that each time she talks to me it was always about her business. She was in her words ‘a workaholic’. The last time I saw her I confronted her with the truth. I told her that I am not a business consultant but a pastor. I told her that I am more interested in her soul than in her bank account. She was surprised at my words. She said that in the previous church she had attended the pastor talks the opposite. I then told her that her destiny is to be a mature Christian, a woman of God. I also told her that her lack of interest in the spiritual things may be because she is not truly born again. I also told her that she needs to be filled with the Holy Spirit. These blessings are not available in any market. She cannot buy them with money. But if she humbles herself and if she has faith God will grant her salvation and power for service. She laughs a lot but suddenly she became sober. Then we held hands and prayed…

At the beginning she was shy, praying some routine prayers memorized from her childhood. I was quietly praying in tongues. Then suddenly she became bolder. Her voice became louder and more confident. She rejected all interference with the powers of darkness. I could see faith rising in her soul. It was almost visible. I knew that from this moment on, anything can happen for the Holy Spirit is now in full control. This is the holy moment I’m always waiting for. The face changes…the very atmosphere changes…then she started praying in tongues and prophesying over her life, to partake from the blessings of Christ…after some time, she started laughing and laughing like a prisoner who suddenly is set free…If you have not experienced this miracle, there is no way you can understand what I am saying… The free people have their own language, their own songs and their own dances. A soul was set free that afternoon. Religious spirits bowed at the name of Jesus! She became truly born again. Much later she went home. I was very happy in my spirit, reminding myself that revival is coming…

A week later she came back. She was rejoicing and but she had some questions. She said that her life has totally changed. She made up her mind to dedicate some time every morning to the study the Bible and prayer. Previously, she was praying only ‘in her mind’, with her eyes closed, still lying down on the bed in the morning. Now she gets up, reads her Bible and prays with her voice. She said that she also made the decision not to worry about her business. She also said that she is not anxious anymore when she goes late to open her shop. She will trust God for her financial gain. Just looking at her I saw the peace of God on her face. She told me that even her husband is happy with her new commitment to become a serious Christian.

The she had some questions…she said that since that day, her neighbor in the market suddenly changed her attitude towards her. This was for no good reason. She knew that the other lady is not a serious Christian but she thought that for the sake of business and peace, they can be friends. They trusted each other with heart secrets and their businesses. If one goes for break the other will sell for her. Suddenly, after the experience in my office, the other lady just hated her. She started quarreling, abusing her, her marriage and even her pastor. One day, a strange wind came and the other woman’s umbrella fell on the sister’s things. All her products fell down. Things got broken or damaged. She had great loss that day. The other woman did not even apologize. Then she knew that this is a spiritual battle and not something that can be ‘settled’ with common sense. She cried saying that she did not know that being filled with the Holy Spirit means she will lose her friends and business partners.

I encouraged her as a believer.… I asked her if she regrets being filled with the Holy Spirit and she clearly said ‘No’. I told her that God will give her a new supernatural wisdom to deal with situations as a child of God and not just as a business woman. I also told her that, from now on, all her friends must pass the ‘test of fire’. God has to approve them, if not they will not be able to come to close to her. This is the royal road of the Cross. This is the beginning of the process called sanctification. The world goes away and the Kingdom of God becomes more real than ever. With time, the faith will become stronger and these temptations will not seem so strange anymore.

Lastly…I encourage you dear child of God to hold on to your faith, which is more expensive than gold. There is nothing in this world greater than your God! There is nobody who can compare with the Excellency of knowing Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Do not look back! Look ahead and upwards. You shall see Jesus! You shall hear the cheering from the cloud of witnesses, the saints of old who have suffered like you do now, but remained faithful unto the end. God will not give you more than you can bear, but He will allow you to see the way of escape, so that you may be a champion for Christ! The truth is this: you can never be the same again! Your life has changed forever! May the peace of God surround your soul even right now! Continue to praise God, for the future is more wonderful than the present sufferings! Jesus is worthy of your service and sacrifice! He will reward you and bless you more than you can ever imagine or think! I am sure 100%!  Be filled with the Holy Spirit! In Jesus name, Amen!

“The Lord is my Shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul…” (Ps 23:1-3)

A sheep that has rolled over on its back is called a “cast sheep’. It can’t get up because its center of gravity is off, sometimes because it’s pregnant or simply because it has a full fleece. Once fallen, a cast sheep tries to restore itself back on its feet. But it is not easy. The sheep then panics, cries and waste more energy.  The gasses start to build up in the abdomen and it can die in a matter of hours. A wild animal can come and kill the defenseless sheep. Most of the times, the sheep is not be able to get up without assistance. That is why the shepherd has to be very observant to know when a sheep is missing. It is the shepherd or his trained dogs that can turn a cast sheep back on its feet. The process seems rough but it saves its life. Once the sheep stands, there is still need to be supported for few minutes. The shepherd holds it between his legs until it stops shaking, until the fear is gone and it is balanced again. After that, the sheep is fine.

David was a shepherd. He knew the danger of staying upside down for too long, just like a cast sheep…

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Ps 43:5).

The word ‘downcast’ describes a cast sheep. His soul is upside down, helpless, depressed, anxious, sinking down in despair.  The danger for a sheep to lose its balance and to overturn is especially when it is pregnant or the fleece is too heavy. Spiritually speaking, our soul is in danger of backsliding when we become fruitful or too comfortable in our blessings. The devil attacks in both situations especially with an evil spirit of pride.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (PV 16:18)

Pride is extremely difficult to detect. God allows us to fall a little, to expose the hidden pride. We need to repent and become humble servants. Pride leads to backsliding. Once I become proud, I start falling spiritually. Suddenly, my life becomes upside down. Just like a cast sheep, I panic, trying to save myself. My soul becomes ‘disturbed within’. This word means trouble, war, noisy voices and arguments inside my soul. I lose my peace and spiritual balance. I feel hopeless and my world is upside down. The more I struggle to restore myself back on my feet, the worse things become, inside and outside. That is when I have to exercise self-control. I have to stop this crazy, frantic, lonely struggle…I have to remind myself that I am not alone. I belong to Somebody! I have a Shepherd! Elohim, the Creator of the Heavens and the earth is my God! Jesus is my Shepherd!  I shall not want…There is hope!!I i shall praise God again in the sanctuary…I cannot die as a backslider…This is His promise: God will “restore my soul”…I shall humble myself and wait on God…He knows all things…He knows that I am missing from the fold…He said that He will leave 99 sheep to look for me alone…He shall find me and bring me back to His flock where I belong…

“I need You Lord Jesus…I trust in You, Savior…I humble myself…Forgive me for my foolish pride…Please come to help me…I cannot live alone…Nothing else can satisfy but You…No one else  can restore my soul, except You…I love You more than any human on earth, more than my own life…I promise never to go astray…Holy Spirit fill me afresh…Thank You Jesus… Thank You my Lord…All the glory goes to You alone!”

In Christ I declare:

The Lord is my Shepherd!

I shall not want!

My soul is restored!

My health is restored!

My marriage is restored!

My ministry if restored!

My finances are restored!

My peace and joy are restored!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

David Brainerd (1718–1747) was an American missionary to the Native Americans. At that time, the Europeans settlers wanted to evangelize the native people. But very few Christians answered the call to go to them. The native people were known for crude pagan occult practices and wild behavior. Many who tried to go close to them were rejected or killed.

David went to Yale University but he was sent home after one year because he had tuberculosis and was spitting blood. Disappointed that he could not fulfill his academic dreams he joined a missionary agency that was looking for evangelists to go the Native Americans. God gave him supernatural favor with them. He could not speak their language. He used an interpreter who soon became born again. He rode on a horse back for many miles, in the forest, in places where no white man has ever entered. He often felt lonely and depressed. He never married. He kept a personal diary. He continued to do ministry among the Natives until he was too weak to walk.

A famous man of God Jonathan Edwards heard of him and took him to his house. There was no cure at that time for TB. He told his young daughter to take care of him. It was then that he discovered David’s diaries. Edwards was a pastor and was preaching revival. But he was discouraged that most of the people who called themselves Christians were only religious and not truly born again. Edwards was so touched by the words of David, his commitment to God, his pure faith and worship that he decided to use his own money to publish the dying man’s diaries. These became ‘best sellers immediately. David died at 29. Edward’s daughter contacted the TB and died few months after. They are both buried side by side.

During his short life he endured many difficulties but he never gave up on God. As a result, his biography becomes a source of great inspiration and encouragement to many Christians, especially the missionaries.

These are some lines from his diaries. Do you feel the anointing of the Holy Spirit working thru him?

“April 21 …and God again enabled me to wrestle for numbers of souls, and had much fervency in the sweet duty of intercession…

April 25. This morning I spent about two hours in secret duties and was enabled more than ordinarily to agonize for immortal souls. Though it was early in the morning and the sun scarcely shined at all, yet my body was quite wet with sweat…

December 15. Spent much time in prayer in the woods and seemed raised above the things of this world…

August 4. Was enabled to pray much, through the whole day…

November 3. Spent this day in secret fasting, and prayer, from morning till night…”

This is a great encouragement to me too. It is not only what we do that God uses and rewards. It is our words left behind in the hearts of men and on the pages of a diary. I encourage you all to start writing your thoughts on paper. You do not have to be a great poet to write down things about your life, as you see them. You never know what God will use your dairy to bless many souls unto eternity!

In Christ I declare:

“My heart us stirred by a noble theme…my tongue is the pen of a skilful writer…” (Ps 45:1)

I shall write books!

I shall compose songs!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“But Jesus said, “Someone touched Me; I know that power has gone out from Me.” Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at His feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched Him and how she had been instantly healed. Then He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” (Lk 8:46-48)

I have just left my office, still angry in my spirit. A Christian sister in need of prayer and counsel came to see me. She is married with three children. Since I know her, she has never been sickly. But now she said that she is sick with a ‘mysterious’ disease. She bleeds internally and she is pale. But she has no pains at all. She went to many hospitals and did many tests. She is not rich but she had to spend a lot of money. The medical results are all conflicting. The doctors could not agree on a particular diagnoses or what treatment she should take. They just gave her some ‘tablets’ and told her to go home, to wait and see…

She was seated in front of me quoting scriptures. But the sound of her voice and the body language spoke only of doubt, fear and defeat. Then I got angry at the devil that was tormenting her. I confronted her: are you born again? She said yes. I asked her: Do you believe that Jesus can heal you? She said yes. Then I commanded the evil spirit of religion to be silent! With the authority of Christ given to me I reminded her of the power in the Blood and in the Name of Jesus!  I told her to go back in time and remember that holy day when she became a child of God. The power that took her sins away is the same power that will take the sickness away. She was struggling to call the names of the microbes the doctor isolated in her fluids. I told her she does not need to know all these foreign bodies. She cannot heal herself! Their names are not important…why? For at the name of Jesus they all must bow! She said the doctors are confused about her sickness.  I told her that Jesus is never confused about His creation! Jesus does not need to ask the doctors for permission before healing her. I reminded her that her body belongs to God and it is declared to be the Temple of the Holy Spirit. I told her that I am also a medical doctor but I was not trained in building or repairing of temples. The medical doctors can treat the unbelievers but they know nothing about the habitation of the Holy Spirit in God’s temples. I told her not to worship doctors, medicine or men!

I told her to remove her eyes from her circumstances! To look only unto Jesus Christ! I told her to believe in miracles! What if God wants to intervene and heal her for His glory alone? The evil spirit of religion has complicated her mind too much. She needs to go back to Jehovah Rapha, to the simplicity of trusting Christ Crucified! She is a child of God! She is the Bride of Christ! God is jealous over her. God does not want to share His glory with doctors, nurses, pharmacists or medicines. I told her to let go of the good to make space in her heart, for faith in the best! I told her to take the medicines prescribed to avoid a conflict with her unbelieving husband who has paid the medical bills. But in her heart she should cry to God who is able and willing to save and to heal! God will not reject any desperate believing soul! I know for I was there too! Thank God that I can practice what I preach! I am not a hypocrite! I am not selling the Word of God! Out of the abundance of my heart, words supplied and sealed with the fire of the Holy Spirit, I have spoken!  God is able! God is faithful! To God be all the glory!

As for you dear reader, Be healed, In Jesus name, Amen!

In Christ I declare:

By the stripes of Jesus I am instantly healed!

I am happy!

I have peace!

I go forth to testify of God’s goodness to me!

In Jesus name

Amen!

There is love that came for us
Humbled to a sinner’s Cross
You broke my shame and sinfulness
You rose again victorious

Faithfulness none can deny
Through the storm and through the fire
There is truth that sets me free
Jesus Christ who lives in me

No beginning and no end
You’re my hope and my defense
You came to seek and save the lost
You paid it all upon the Cross

So let Your name be lifted higher
Be lifted higher, be lifted higher
So let Your name be lifted higher
Be lifted higher, be lifted higher

You are stronger, You are stronger
Sin is broken, You have saved me
It is written, Christ is risen!
Jesus You are Lord of all!!!

(By Hillsong)