PROVOKING AND REVOKING THE CURSE OF SIN!

But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. Joshua 7:1

Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. Joshua 7:11-13

The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the Lord; and he slew him. And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five. The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul. And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all. And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed. And the sons of Ethan; Azariah. 1 Chronicles 2:3-8

Achan took what God forbade. Achan hid the accursed thing in his tent and brought a snare not only into his life but also into his family's life. What he did affected the performance and success of the whole camp, and resulted in an ignominious defeat from  what should have been an easy victory.

Sin is an accursed thing in the sight of God. Its abhorrence to God is obvious in the fact that  Jesus had to die on the cross for our sins, being made a curse for us.

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: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14 KJV

The Word of God says that we have been redeemed from the curse through Christ's sacrifice  but we need to be circumspect in our walk or:

WE WILL PROVOKE THE CURSE WHEN WE ENTERTAIN THAT WHICH GOD FORBIDS

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 KJV

Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:7-10 KJV

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Ephesians 5:5 KJV

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 2 Peter 2:19-20 KJV

THE ACCURSED THING IS LIKE A MAGNET THAT ATTRACTS EVIL, AND BRINGS CALAMITY TO THE POSSESSOR, TO THE FAMILY OF ITS POSSESSOR, AND TO THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH ITS POSSESSOR.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Hebrews 12:11-17 KJV

Just as a magnet attracts objects of a similar nature even so evil attracts evil. When we entertain sin in our thoughts it soon sends roots into our minds, creating a stronghold. From this stronghold the enemy can launch its attack on two fronts, internally in addition to its external assault.

Magnets exist in nature as naturally magnetized pieces of magnetite called lodestone which exercise magnetic influence in their neighborhood. Many time families have strongholds derived from past practices, or oaths of their ancestors and like the natural lode stone these exert an influence on the descendants. When a person commits to Christ and surrender their life to Him, the Lord will deliver that person from the curse of the stronghold

It possible to create our own magnets. An electro magnet is non operational until it is attached to a source of power. The power from the source, flowing through the wire wrapped around the core generates a magnetic field which attracts the iron.

Sometimes we can get ourselves wrapped up in our own brand of thoughts. These thoughts become empowered by the enemy which creates an attractive force for other thought and ideas

Entertaining that which God calls cursed becomes a snare which is a stronghold. You may think you control it but continuous feeding of it makes it stronger and stronger until without you realizing, it has taken control and power of its own, and it manipulates you as it pleases.

The closer you get to it the stronger it pulls!

AS BELIEVERS WE HAVE RECEIVED THE POWER AND WISDOM TO BREAK THESE CURSES IN OUR LIVES

Believers need to be aware that they have been redeemed from the curse of the law! The legal grounds for curses has been eliminated through the Redemptive power of the Blood of Jesus 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: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14 KJV

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  Colossians 1:13 KJV

WE HAVE POWER OVER THE POWER OF THE ENEMY THROUGH CHRIST'S BLOOD!

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Luke 10:19 KJV

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.  Revelation 12:11 KJV

WE HAVE POWER THROUGH HIS NAME OVER THE ENEMY!

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 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 2:9-11 KJV

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:17-18 KJV

WE HAVE TO RESIST EVIL!

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  James 4:7 KJV

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9 KJV

REPENTANCE IS VITAL TO LASTING DELIVERANCE!

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

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;  Acts 3:19 KJV

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  Acts 17:30 KJV

NO PARKING! KEEP MOVING!

All drivers at some time or other experienced the lovely frustration of driving around trying to find a parking spot. Sometimes you need to park in order to transact whatever business or appointment is pending. Sometimes you just park!

Our life as believers and disciples of Christ is viewed as a constant journey with one goal. Paul's life was a constant forward motion for Christ. His whole life's purpose and goal is revealed in the words he wrote:

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Philippians 3:7-21 KJV

Paul's life was a constant reaching forth, ever forward to that goal. From the moment of that unforgettable Damascus road encounter when he asked "Lord, What wilt thou have me to do?", Paul never looked back! As mentioned before this Christian life is a constant journey. The way is obstacle ridden and tribulation filled, so that it appears difficult at times, especially when observed through the natural eyes. We will be tempted constantly to slow down, and come to a complete stop. We may end up parking with no desire to move on. Reaching forth (extending oneself)  and pressing forward (pursuit), takes effort of will, and determination of faith!  

You get nowhere by quickly by continuous parking!

Where have you parked your life? Illegal parking brings with it certain penalties such as tickets, towing, charges and fines. As disciples of Christ we need to be aware of where we have a tendency to park!

You are defined, not by the circumstances in which you find yourself, but by your reaction and response to those circumstances! 

1. SOME OF US ARE PARKED BY OUR PAST EXPERIENCES

If we constantly dwell in the past we'll never fit into the future!

Sometimes we can become so attached to our old ways of doing things, and traditions become so dear, that we either fail to see or fear to see what God is doing, or wants to do with His people. We therefore dig our heels in, and bend our heads in stubbornness, resisting the tug of the Holy Ghost, and in process losing all that God has planned for us!

All the time we appear to be active. We are actually busy moving here and there in the physical world getting things done, with every appearance of success, but spiritually we have been parked at the same spot most of our lives. It's like we are on a spiritual treadmill…much activity yet stationary…going nowhere!

Remember the Israelites were busy for forty years but got nowhere? Do you know why? They refused to forget the things left behind. They refused to reach for the things ahead that were promised by a God. They had no desire to press forward to the destination intended for them by God.

And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. Numbers 11:4-6 KJV

The result? A journey of a few months became a forty year circular trek going nowhere but death. A constant motion in a circle deepens our circular track into a rut, which becomes deeper and deeper with each circuit, making it that much more easier to go on, and that more difficult to get out. We can end walking ourselves into a literal grave, where our heads go below the level of the light filling our world with darkness..

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Hebrews 3:7-11 KJV

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; Hebrews 3:14 KJV

The apostle Paul who had an abundance of reasons to dwell on past achievements refused to consider them but reached forth and pressed forward constantly…ever forward!

So I say to you DO NOT PARK BY YOUR PAST EXPERIENCES! KEEP MOVING!

2. SOME OF US ARE PARKED BY OUR FAILURES

If we remain parked by our failures we'll never get to success!

Don't let failure force you to park! Pick yourself up and move on to the next city! Prolonged parking produces rust in the joints and gradual paralysis.

God has not changed! Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever! He still says to those at His feet, Go and sin no more! Move away from that sin! Do not park there! Live! Live free! Live unburdened! Live without condemnation! 

Judas like the other eleven disciples, was chosen by Jesus. He had obtained part of the ministry. He chose to park in the wrong place! He allowed himself to be distracted by money and power and then he fell because of greed. He never recovered, never repented, never begged for forgiveness but went out and hang himself.  

Unconfessed sin keeps us parked in defeat and guilt, which prevents us from fulfilling our highest purpose in Christ!

Peter on the other hand denied Christ not once, not twice but three times! He must have felt such shame, guilt and humiliation enough to destroy him. But instead what do we see? About fifty days later he is standing up before a massive crowd accusing them of killing Messiah and urging them to repent. How? He did not remain parked by his failure but kept moving on in victory!

Remember this…backsliding never suddenly happens! Backsliding results from an ever so gradual covering, and diminishing of the light in us until that light becomes darkness! We have by then become so accustomed to this way of life, that the appearance of light actually dazzles and hurts our vision, pushing us to seek the "comfort" of darkness!

No sensible, sane and self-respecting person enjoys the thought that he has been manipulated into a decision or deed. Indeed he will flare up and explode against the person who dared to try that!

Yet sin has a way of deceptively luring you into believing what you think say and do are right, even though it's condemned by God. In a way we have become so full of our own self, and self esteem, that we even try to rebuke the Holy Spirit when He presents the Light to us. We are not ourselves, yet at the same time believe that we are absolutely so our selves. That's how the enemy is able to blind, bind and get us into a hopeless grind. We think we know the truth...sincerely so, but nothing else is so far from the truth! We are not ourselves.

So I say to you DO NOT PARK BY YOUR FAILURES! KEEP MOVING!

3. SOME OF US ARE PARKED BY ILLNESSES

Resigning ourselves to sickness deprives us of an opportunity for a miracle of healing!

Many park by their illnesses and make excuses...giving all the, (to them), "right reasons" why they are still in that state. The more we rationalize our present condition, the more we give ourselves reasons (excuses) for remaining in that condition. If we remain parked there we are moving nowhere!

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. John 5:5-9 KJV

The man parked by that pool had an infirmity for 38 years…a very long time indeed! Jesus had to ask him if he wanted to be made whole!

"You see, some Christians have been sick so long that sick is all they ever expect to be, so they've made a ceremony out of their religion. Religion doesn't mean a thing to them anymore. They've been persuaded into thinking that someday they can be healed. But it's never going to happen until they have a change of heart, until they make up their own beds and stop parking in their sickness and disease, until they strike a blow for their deliverance by turning their faith loose and declaring, "God, I will be delivered! I WILL BE HEALED!"" Oral Roberts

"...there's a terrible price to pay when we park in failure and defeat" Oral Roberts

To surrender to your circumstances is to park by them, and let them control you for the duration of the time you park there! You must decide and determine to switch gears, and move out of that illegal parking zone!

Sickness is NOT your friend...EVER! Do not make it comfortable in your life!!

So I say to you DO NOT PARK BY YOUR SICKNESSES! KEEP MOVING!

4. SOME OF US ARE PARKED BY WORLDLY AMBITION

Worldly ambition can extinguish our spiritual ignition, leaving us with a mere handful of dirt!

Sometimes we can get so caught up with our plans, purposes, careers, businesses and other ventures that we slow down, albeit gradually in our service and involvement with God and His Plans for us. We always consoled ourselves with the escape phrase "God understands". Then our gradual slowing down grinds to a halt as we find ourselves parked by our success. 

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. Mark 10:17-22 KJV

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 KJV

Ambition drives men and women to achieve, acquire and accumulate worldly wealth, wisdom and worth, many times at the expense of a spiritual inheritance. They have eyes only for the physical and natural at the expense of the kingdom of God!

So I say to you DO NOT PARK BY WORLDLY AMBITION! KEEP MOVING!

5. SOME OF US ARE PARKED BY TOO MUCH KNOWLEDGE

Be careful that your excessive knowledge do not prevent you from God's best!

Familiarity breeds contempt. Sometimes we can know too much for our own good. Our excess knowledge usually gets in the way of a miracle from God! This knowledge is totally different from that whose absence cause God's people to be destroyed. The people of Nazareth knew Jesus alright! But they knew Him in the wrong way!

There's saving knowledge and defeating knowledge. Saving knowledge comes from listening to the Word of God by the Spirit. Defeating knowledge comes from the world, self and the devil. Believing the Word brings it alive with its promises in the heart

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? Luke 4:16-22 KJV

And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. Mark 6:1-6 KJV

The people of Nazareth were parked in their unbelieving knowledge of Jesus! Jesus the miracle working Son of God could do no mighty works there because of their unbelief! Contempt created critical chasms between them and a miracle!

So I say to you DO NOT PARK BY TOO MUCH KNOWLEDGE! KEEP MOVING!

6. SOME OF US ARE PARKED BY MEDIOCRITY AND COMPLACENCY

We're satisfied with the status quo.

Lucifer was a musician with an attitude. he became complacent with his position! He tries to pass that attitude on to all musicians. Beware the luciferian lapse!

Do not rest on your laurels! Don't park in that wonderful job thinking you have finally arrived! See what else God has for you! Some people park during the week and then try to resume driving for a few minutes on Sundays.

Many of us have been consoling ourselves that we have done our part and contributed our share. We tell ourselves that it's time to sit back and give others a chance. I am just a bit puzzled here. Did you hear the voice of God telling you it's time to sit back? or was it another voice? Were you listening or the voice of reason or the voice of the Spirit? There is only one person who has the right to tell you enough and He does that when He is ready to take you higher up. Don't disappoint Him

When you find yourself parking where you should not, you should shift gears and get back on the route God has mapped out for you. Parking takes us out of the regular flow of traffic, away from the movement. Everything passes us by as we remain at a standstill.

Evaluate yourself today! Examine where you find yourself parking on a daily basis. Make up prominent signs that remind you not to park there. Review them over and over until they become a part of your person. Learn a new language and become a spiritual body in motion!

Keep reminding yourself and tell the enemy! NO PARKING!