Blessings Instead of Cursing

Wow, heard a great sermon today by Ed McGlasson about the Father's blessing.

One of the things he brought up was how many churches, like the Vineyard, have focused on breaking the curses of fathers which are rooted in what we find in Exodus 20: 4-6 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

What we sometimes do when quoting scripture is to stop before we share the entire scripture. For example in the above verses God says He will curse those who make for themselves idols but we fail to read down to verse 6 where He says He will love for a thousand generation those who love Him and keep His commands.

I am sure someone reading this will say but wait I am not guilty of having idols or making an image I bow down to but see if any of these fit:

Do you put more energy into any of these than you do knowing God? Pornography, greed, money, jealousy, material possessions, love of self over others, drinking, drugs, smoking, gambling, and the list goes on and on. These can be all idols that you have placed before God and result in cursing instead of blessing.

The hope we have is that when we accept Jesus God will exchange the cursing He has placed on us for having those idols in our lives and replace it with blessings found in Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (New American Standard Bible) 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Today's sermon was about the receiving and granting the Father's blessing and this was just a small part of the sermon. Over the next few days I will try to share other points Ed made. I hope that if any of you experienced having a lousy father that you will come back to read the other posts.

I believe God wants to give you a blessing that you can pass on to your children, to others and even to your father if he is still living. He wants you to have this blessing because you are a new creation in Christ and you are one of His adopted children.

He wants only the best for His children.

Your Checkbook, Your Calendar and Your WebSite Visits

Several years ago I heard a speaker say the following, "I can tell what your priorities are by looking at your checkbook and calendar.  I want to make a similar statement, "I can tell what and who you worship by your checkbook, your calendar and the websites you visit.

Think about that for a moment.  

I remember a time in my life when I spent most of my income and my time partying or in recreation.  I remember a time in my life when I would be embarrassed and ashamed to have you look at the sites I visited.

Now go review your checkbook, your calendar and the website you have visited.  What picture do you get of who or what you worship?   

Here is the good news: Jesus is able to cover every sin you and I have ever and will ever commit. Nothing can separate us from Christ. Romans 8:  31-39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: 

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

If what you found in your checkbook, your calendar and your internet surfing causes you distress I encourage you to lay each down before Jesus and surrender them to Him.  I promise you He will not focus on your sins but on your potential. 

Why Do You Worship?

Sunday we had a special guest speaker, Daniel Rric Groves.

He and his band played several worship songs and then Eric asked us a question that he has been asking at the various places he has been this year: "Why do you worship?"  I have to say that this service was one of the best worship experiences I have ever had.

I want to invite you to help me finish this post.  Click the comment button and share why you worship.  Over the past year I have had over 4,982 page views.  I want to celebrate by having my readers help me write the best post I have placed on this blog.  Right now as you listen to these worship songs pray about leaving a comment sharing why you worship.  By doing so I believe you will contribute to blessing someone who needs to read your comment.

I believe that worship is more than the songs we sing. I believe it involves our whole life and is expressed through our actions as well as through the songs we sing.

Thank you for your comment.  I look forward to being encouraged by what you share.

Take a few moments and Worship

Father, thank you for all of the blessings we have. Thank you for providing us a way out of death. Thank you for giving us every good thing we need. In the power, authority and name of Jesus Christ. amen