Looking for the Promise

Didn’t See It Coming

Ken

Revivals — like earthquakes — are hard to predict. A butterfly flapping its wings causing a hurricane is more of a chaos theory perturbation ignored by most working meteorological forecast models because it makes accurate prediction unlikely. Modern Large Language Models of Artificial Intelligence, no doubt will begin to affect the discussion. But, calculating the occurrence of a revival — a moving of the Holy Spirit — was precisely what Charles G. Finney, a controversial 19th century, American evangelist and theologian attempted to do in his seminal work, Revival Lectures. “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till He come and rain righteousness upon you” (Hosea 10:12 KJV). 

Finney’s contention was a revival could be expected, when it was needed most. 

“So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19).

Finney preached in Lecture 2, which was later transcribed into Revival Lectures: 

“At such a time a Revival of Religion is indispensable to avert the judgments of God from the church. This would be strange preaching, if revivals are only miracles, and if the church has no more agency in producing them, than it has in making a thunder storm. To say to the church, that unless there is a revival you may expect judgments, would then be as ridiculous as to say, If you do not have a thunder storm, you may expect judgments. The fact is, that Christians are more to blame for not being revived, than sinners are for not being converted. And if they are not awakened, they may know assuredly that God will visit them with his judgments. How often God visited the Jewish church with judgments, because they would not repent and be revived at the call of his prophets! How often have we seen churches, and even whole denominations, cursed with a curse, because they would not wake up and seek the Lord, and pray, ‘Wilt thou not revive us again, that thy people may rejoice in thee?’ [Psalm 85:6].” 

The Church does not have the luxury of debating Finney’s underlying theology as heterodox, when the enemy is already at the gate. One question only to the Spirit of Christ: “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6).

Pushing a String

Ken

“You say, We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone. But what you have in mind will never happen” (Ezekiel 20:32 NIV). A friend of mine would often use the expression, pushing a string, when speaking of an impossibility. Ancient Israel was never intended by Yahweh to be anything but a Peculiar People and Treasure for the LORD (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 14:2; 26:18; Psalm 135:4). “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto Himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth” (Deuteronomy 14:2 KJV). Almighty God never intended Israel to be replaced by the Church (Romans 11:1); however, “the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed” (Romans 9:8). Though Israel was politically resurrected from the dead in 1948, it will be spiritually given rebirth at the Second Coming of the Messiah. “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8). LORD, hasten the day when Your Church is Raptured Home to You that the events of Daniel’s Seventieth Week (Daniel 9:24-27) may unfold and Israel will be finally saved at Your Son’s triumphant return at Armageddon (Revelation 16:16). In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Dealing With Demons (Part 2)

Ken

Demonized: Oppressed or Possessed by Demons

What is the difference between oppressed or possessed by demons? Both demon oppression and demon possession mean to be demonized. To further explain, Jesus was oppressed by the devil, while the demoniac of Gadara was possessed by a demon. Jesus was oppressed or “tempted of the devil” (Matthew 4:1 KJV), when He heard the distinct voice of the tempter. “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread” (4:3). By comparison, the demoniac of Gadara was possessed “with an unclean spirit” (Mark 5:2). Both Jesus and the demoniac of Gadara were demonized, but the obvious difference is the demon possessed are “always, night and day” (5:5) possessed, while the oppressed, like Jesus, “the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him” (Matthew 4:11). If Jesus could be tempted by the devil, then any Spirit filled disciple can be demonized, but only for a season (Luke 4:13). 

If it is possible for even the godly to be demonized, how do we distinguish between being tempted (demonized) by demons and non-demonically tempted? Non-demonic temptation is described by James. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust [Greek, epithumea, strong desire, which can be evil or good, as in the case of lusting the office of a bishop in 1Timothy 3:1], and enticed” (James 1:14). Non-demonic temptation occurs without the direct agency of the devil or demons, simply by the “lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1John 2:16), which even Adam and Eve had before they first sinned. Jesus illustrated both non-demonic temptation from His ordinary life, for He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). And, He was demonized, being “forty days tempted of the devil” (Luke 4:2). So, not every temptation endured by the godly is a demonic temptation (being demonized). “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer [allow] you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1Corinthians 10:13). 

Characteristics to Differentiate Between Demon Oppression and Demon Possession 

  1. Demon possession is always present (Mark 5:5), whereas, demon oppression comes and goes (Luke 4:13). 
  2. Demon oppression causes the entertaining of an unthinkable, evil decision (John 13:2), while demon possession makes that decision (13:27).  
  3. Demon oppression may cause thoughts of self-harm, but demon possession can result in acts of self-harm (Mark 5:5) and ultimate suicide (Matthew 27:5). 
  4. Demon oppression may be overcome by individually trusting divine promises, i.e., “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7), while demon possession requires the intervention of others to cast out the demon (Acts 16:16-18). 
  5. Demon possession may be reversed or halted by disciples, who obey the Great Commission. “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17). Demon oppression will be accomplished by disciples over their adversary the devil, i.e., “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1Peter 5:9).  

The Great Commission and Spiritual Warfare Appoint Disciples to Cast Out Demons

  • “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17).
  • “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). 

Preparation for Casting Out Demons

  • Total submission to God (James 4:7). 
  •  Honest understanding of a humble heart, “greater is He [Yahweh] that is in you, than he [the devil] that is in the world” (1John 4:4).
  • Prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21; Mark 9:29).

Casting Out Demons

  1. Commanding the demon to come out, only by the authority given to us by Christ based on the blood of Jesus. “She continued to do this for many days. But Paul became greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out of her at once” (Acts 16:18 NET).
  2. Physical proximity to the demon possessed one is assumed; however, Jesus gave special commendation to the Roman centurion for believing Jesus would command healing for a servant without being present (Matthew 8:8-9, 13).
  3. Failure to succeed at casting out demons would be further addressed “by [more] prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21; Mark 9:29). 
  4. Failure to cast out a demon resulting in bodily harm to the exorcists was due to their lack of authority because of their lack of submission to Christ (James 4:7), i.e., “Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded” (Acts 19:13-16). 
  5. Christ promised, “He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father” (John 14:12), reminding us not to glory in our ability to command demons out of the possessed. “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

Dealing With Demons (Part 1)

Ken

To Begin With

IN THE NAME OF JESUS, BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, we would say to Satan, the Fallen Angels, and the demons, who attack us and seek to control us, I AM DEAD TO YOU, AND YOU ARE DEAD TO ME! I am a new creature in Christ, old things are passed away! I AM DEAD TO YOU, AND YOU ARE DEAD TO ME! “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 KJV). “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2Corinthians 5:17). IN THE NAME OF JESUS, BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, we must steadfastly address with confidence the attack of evil thoughts directed against us from the demonic spirits: I AM DEAD TO YOU, AND YOU ARE DEAD TO ME! “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).  No longer will we entertain the evil thoughts directed against us. Amen! Hallelujah! 

Demons are burgeoning and permeating everywhere, especially in the Western World, where the Gospel had previously driven them out; but, especially in the West, Secular Humanism has divorced the Supernatural Word of God from science, government, society, education, entertainment, business, and religion, leaving the door open for the demons and gods of this world to return with a vengeance. “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Luke 11:24-26). 

Understanding Demons

Demons are not Fallen Angels, but to the best of our understanding, demons are the disembodied spirits of the deceased Nephilim.  

Nephilim are the product of cohabitating Fallen Angels with human females. “1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God [Hebrew, bene ha Elohim, only used of angels in OT, Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7] saw the daughters of men [Genesis 3:15, a Seed War to produce a physical seed, i.e., the Antichrist, which would be the antithesis of Jesus Christ], that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3 And the LORD said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years [time left before the Flood came]. 4 There were giants [Hebrew, Nephilim, giants] in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown” (Genesis 6:1-4 KJV). 

If you were to counter, Nephilim are only giants of large, physical stature — and not a hybrid of Fallen Angel and human female — then, why would the Protoevangelium specify: “And I will put enmity between thee [the Serpent] and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed [Christ]; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15)? If this divinely set forth the necessity of a physical offspring resulting in a physical Messiah by means of a supernatural union of God with humanity, then why should we resist the idea of Satan attempting the same thing in producing a hybrid Nephilim? 

To object that angels cannot reproduce physical children because of Christ’s statement, “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven” (Matthew 22:30), it only tells us of the lack of necessity for sexual procreation in Heaven. Remember, Lucifer rebelled against the Almighty’s directive to keep angels and humanity distinct and separate “after their kind” (Genesis 1:21, 25; 6:20; 7:14). But, it was prophesied in Daniel, “And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay” (Daniel 2:43), pointing to an attempt to mix the seed of Fallen Angels with humans. 

Further, the Book of Jude described the evil of the Fallen Angels in their diabolical pursuit of procreation with human flesh, when forbidden by the Almighty. “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 1:6-7). Bible scholars agree this reference is taken from the non-canonical Book of Enoch, where the context is clearly Fallen Angels cohabitating with human females. Josephus (first century AD), Jewish rabbinic tradition, and Early Church Fathers all agreed on the concept that Genesis 6 was describing Fallen Angels breeding with human females. This only changed with Augustine (354-439 AD), who advanced the Sethite View, where it was only ungodly sons of Seth, who are the “sons of God” (Genesis 6:2) who married the “daughters of men” (6:2). But, this again, neglects that the “sons of God” in the OT refers only to angels (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7). This became the more respectable, non-supernatural explanation taught and advanced in seminaries, of which I can firsthand testify. 

You’re conclusion on this discussion affects your world view, e.g., your viewpoint on the Flood of Noah (simply annihilation of evil humankind or elimination of Nephilim, as well), the Tower of Babel (disobedience to Yahweh only or attempt to create Nephilim, as well), and the overspreading of humanity over the Post-Flood Earth (ancient myths of gods and giants or actual Nephilim building civilizations inexplicable by science). The confrontation of modern science attempting an anthropological explanation of Earth’s past without the benefit of the supernatural is untenable. Science must honestly admit its complete lack of understanding of our Beginning. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).

How To Tell If You Are Being Told The Truth

Ken

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32 KJV). Everyone claims to have the truth, and even Artificial Intelligence can manufacture or “hallucinate” the truth quite convincingly. Don’t believe anything you hear or even what I say unless you can verify it for yourself. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). 

Jesus told Pontius Pilate, “Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice” (John 18:37). To which Pilate replied, “What is truth?” (18:38), then he had Jesus scourged (19:1) and crucified (19:16). 

Jesus revealed the formula for determining how to arrive at the truth. 

“If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself” (John 7:17 KJV). Or, “If anyone wants to do God’s will, he will know about My teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak from My own authority” (7:17 NET). 

If you are willing to do whatever you understand to be “God’s will” (7:17 NET), then you “will know” (7:17 NET) the truth. 

Your willingness to do the will of God is both your opportunity to understand the truth and your safeguard from receiving lies. God has established the opportunity and safeguard to guarantee Truth Will Not Perish from the Earth. 

Your willingness is the key to understanding truth, so the Almighty has made His Spirit available. 

First, God’s Spirit has been promised to inspire us to obedience under His New Covenant. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27).

Second, the Holy Spirit has been promised to those who “repent, and [are] baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). 

Third, the Spirit of God “which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

God has done all that is necessary to ensure you know the truth, so you can be accountable to obey it. 

What do you plan to do?

Forgiveness Is A Gift

Ken

If we view forgiveness of our sins as a right and not a gift, then we reduce salvation to justice owed to us by God. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV). Gratitude to God for forgiveness of our sins comes from understanding the burden of debt to God we incur, when we sin. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Since sin is giving in to our dying flesh and promoting our own glory, then we have no one to blame but ourselves for transgressing God’s law of love (1John 3:4). And, If we feel our sins are all but necessitated by our circumstances in this world, then we become desensitized to the greatness of God’s forgiveness, as if we are doing Him a favor by repenting, citing 1John 1:9 as our insurance of forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9). In truth, it is “according to His [unearned] mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). We need the Holy Spirit to reset our understanding and renew our credentials about the true greatness of His gift of forgiveness. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Father, all glory belongs to You for the greatness of Your gift of forgiveness granted us through Your Son. Truly create within us a new heart that Your Spirit may empower our lives to live boldly for You that Your Kingdom would come and Your will would be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Lord Jesus, come quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

Logical Service to God

Ken

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable [Greek, logikos, logical] service” (Romans 12:1 KJV). That is interesting. Serving God is logical, because of who He is and what He has done for us. Jesus “put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26), literally cancelling, setting aside, or disannulling our sin “once for all” (10:10) on the Cross. That is the short explanation. 

Now, here is the long explanation. 

Q: Why did humans originally sacrifice to God? 

A: Because God set the example by the shedding of animal blood to make amends for the sin of Adam and Eve. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). 

Q: Did the law of Moses require sacrifice for sin?  

A: God did require the blood of a bull or “bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement [Hebrew, kâphar, cover over] for them, and it shall be forgiven them” (Leviticus 4:20). Though the LORD did forgive Israel their sin, when they obeyed in making the sin offering, He only covered over sin, but did not remove or take away their sin. This was Israel’s chief blind spot in the days of the earthly ministry of Jesus. To this day, Isaiah 53 is a mystery and thorn for Judaism. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). 

Only Messiah Jesus could forever and totally remove sin by the sacrifice of Himself. “10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:10-12). 

Q: Was the law done away because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross? 

A: The necessity of making Mosaic sin offerings was made unnecessary because of Christ’s death on the Cross. “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect” (Hebrews 10:1). 

Q: Then, what was the point of all the sacrifices of Moses? 

A: “Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern. You make that quite clear to me! You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings” (Psalm 40:6 NET). In other words, the sacrifice was not itself the issue. 

Q: If the sacrifice was not the issue, then what is the issue? 

A: “Then I said, Here I am, I have come – it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:7-8 NIV). We now comprehend this statement to come from the Messiah. Jesus was saying, “I desire to do Your will, My God; Your law is within My heart” (40:8). In other words, the sacrifice is not the issue. Willingness to do the will of God is the issue, as far as the heart of Jesus is concerned. 

Q: Is willingness to do the will of God also the purpose of the New Covenant? 

A: Yes. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). This very verse coincides with Messiah’s stated purpose for what was the true motivation underlying all the sacrifices of Moses. Not to make us more compliant to all the animal sacrifice sin offerings; but, to finally comprehend that Yahweh wants our heart, not our traditions or the commandments of men. Messiah inspires us to obey the LORD from our heart. Sadly, the chief blind spot of the Church today is our inability to see the sacrifice of Jesus and gift of the Holy Spirit is not simply to make us happy now and give us a Home in Heaven forever, but to inspire us to obey God consistently and forevermore. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). 

Q: Did Peter and Paul understand the New Covenant to mean our logical service to God provides us with the Indwelling Holy Spirit, who inspires us to obey the LORD from our heart? 

A: Yes. Peter’s Pentecostal message was the first sermon of the New Covenant. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). Along with the forgiveness of sins, the reception of the Holy Spirit is promised those who obey the Gospel, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ” (2:38). Though the gifts of the Spirit serve the Body of Christ, the true gift of the Holy Spirit is simple, heart obedience to God. 

Paul comprehended completely the necessity of the Spirit. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25 NIV). In fact, Paul gave us the impression, possessing the Holy Spirit and walking “after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1, 4, 5) are one in the same. “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Romans 8:9 KJV).  

Father, thank You for allowing us to serve You, for it is logical and reasonable. But, more important, we desire to obey from our heart, for we love You. Thank You for the gift of Your Spirit working in us to will and to do of Your good pleasure. May all the praise and honor for all the good always be to You. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your Name, we pray. Amen and amen. 

Secret to Changing the World

Ken

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2Corinthians 5:17 KJV). I don’t like the way you dress and behave. What does that have to do with your eternal destiny? Certainly a prostitute will change their dress after coming to Christ, and a whoremonger will change their behavior after repenting. But, the inside must change before anything changes on the outside. Character is reproducing the life of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit on the inside. You are fruitlessly wasting time to achieve a new outward look, when your character is not first transformed by the Holy Spirit on the inside. We need to be looking to the Holy Spirit for that change. The Holy Spirit inspires us to obey. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). That means you expect Him to “put [His] Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in [His] statutes, and ye shall keep [His] judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). This is the promise of the New Covenant. If there is no change in us, then we are not cooperating with the Holy Spirit. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). We need to embrace it and allow God to change the world. Amen.

Secret to Obedience

Ken

Inspired to Obey 

Ezekiel 36:27

“And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27 KJV). 

Gift of the Holy Spirit 

Acts 2:38 

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38 KJV).  

Will and Do 

Philippians 2:13 

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). 

If we simply assume we obey because we choose to obey, then we are likely to assume our obedience is due to our good intentions. Yet, we have been plainly told our obedience is due to God inspiring us to obey.

Generational Blessings and Curses

Ken

Are children blessed or cursed because of the conduct of their parents? Every godly parent certainly hopes for blessing upon their children, just as we do not like to think we can inherit curses from previous generations. But, isn’t inheriting a constitutionally sinful nature consistent with the sins of the parents being visited upon the children? No, not actually, because if we can argue before God we are sinners because of our parents, then we could also plead we are righteous because of our parents. And, since neither is true, then we need another basis to evaluate Generational Blessings and Curses. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:20 KJV). 

What is a blessing but good will being pronounced upon another, which is considerable, if you are being blessed by God? “And God blessed [male and female humanity], and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:28). Happiness is the blessing of producing successive generations of promised godly children. “Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate” (Psalm 127:5). Likewise, what is a curse but ill will being pronounced upon another, of which Satan’s ill will pales in comparison to God’s wrath? “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him” (Luke 12:5). Sadness and hopelessness are only byproducts for anyone, whom God has cursed. “24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence” (16:24-26). 

The Original Blessing for Obedience to God’s command was, “And God blessed them, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion” (Genesis 1:28), which was contrasted to the Original Curse for Disobedience to the LORD’s command, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (2:16-17). Both blessing and cursing would be passed on to successive generations of obedient and disobedient ones. Remember, this is a Spiritual Passing Down, not necessarily tied to physical proximity associated with interaction between parents and children. Why? Because this is God’s promised blessing or cursing, which of interest, can be countered by a change in obedience to disobedience or the reverse. 

Viewing the genealogies of Genesis, the godly offspring of one parent became increasingly more consequential and less random, when successive generations duplicated the obedience of previous generations and strengthened the probability of godliness in future generations. Is this only chance randomness forced into a Generational Blessing in retrospect? But, the genealogy of Adam to Christ indicates a Generational Blessing, which illustrates the truth of a Spiritual Passing Down from one generation to the next. “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations” (Matthew 1:17). Unbroken sinlessness for 42 generations? No, but the Eyes of God followed a pattern of good for 42 generations, where only His opinion really matters, that this proves the truth of Generational Blessings. “4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments” (Exodus 20:4-6). And so, Generational Curses are as real as Generational Blessings.

Q: If under the New Covenant, the legal curse was removed by Christ — “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13) — then, how can a Generational Curse still exist? 

A: Because humanity’s sin occasioned the Curse, God will not remove it until He has accomplished all the good it must accomplish for humanity’s benefit, i.e., “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life” (Genesis 3:17). A Generational Curse still affects the Body of Christ, while we are in the flesh and until the Curse has been lifted at the New Heavens and New Earth as we proceed into Eternity. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4). “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him” (22:3). 

Explaining the Curse

First, a curse is passed on through personal disobedience, i.e, Moral Depravity, which is the act of sinning. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). 

Second, a curse is precipitated through the transmission of our decaying physical constitution, i.e., Physical Depravity, which is not sin itself, but the occasion for sinning. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). 

Third, Christ’s death on the Cross redeemed us from our Personal Curse of not having kept the Law of Love, cp., Galatians 3:13. “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10). 

Fourth, redemption from our Personal Curse came through repenting and believing Christ. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14). 

Fifth, deliverance from our Generational Curse comes from repenting of the Corporate Sins of our fathers (Daniel 9:5-6), which has nothing to do with our personal acceptance by God, but everything to do with clearing our Adversary’s accusations against us (Job 1:9-11; 2:4-5), which hinders our Paraklete’s ability to deliver us (Daniel 10:12-14) in the Divine Council (Psalm 82:1 ESV). “20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. 21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. 22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And He said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so” (1Kings 22:20-22 KJV). 

Sixth, why does the Almighty allow this Supernatural “Wickedness in High Places” (Ephesians 6:12), sometimes even addressing it in conjunction with His Divine Council (Psalm 82:1 ESV), or sometimes addressing it in scenes of the Courts of Heaven (Daniel 7:9-10)? It becomes apparent the Almighty’s vast scale of time, resources, and His own Son, though they are given for His Beloved Israel and His Son’s Bride the Church, His Glory and Faithfulness to Himself must take precedence over everything (Romans 11:36; 1Peter 5:11; 2Peter 3:18; Revelation 1:6). “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11).

Seventh, so long as there is a curse, then we will have our adversary the devil prowling about to devour us (1Peter 5:8), except during the Millennium where he is imprisoned in the Abyss (Revelation 20:3) after which he is released, deceives the nations, defeated, then eternally damned to the Lake of Fire (20:10) — excising the last bit of poison of rebellion against the Most High God. Then, it will be said, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27). Thus, the High and Lofty One That Inhabiteth Eternity will secure the holiness and happiness of His Dwelling Place and those that dwell with Him, forever and ever.