AVOID CURSES AND OFFENSES

Do we underestimate the impact on our lives of curses and offenses?

The Lord has for several years now been highlighting to me the impact of curses and offenses impacting my life.

This is an area that carries a lot more impact in the Spirit than we can imagine and when we don’t deal or handle it right it impacts our ability to walk in freedom and power.

How many negative things have been going on your family and in your life that just don’t seem to go away or continue to repeat themselves?

We are shown in the bible example after example the impact of curses and offenses. A few good examples are as follows:
Deuteronomy 23 3-4
“An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever, 4 because they did not meet you with bread and water on the road when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.

In this example we see that because of the actions carried out an offense arises and a curse is created that goes on for generations.  This carries weight in the Spirit.
Our actions cause curses to occur.

Deuteronomy 27:14-26

14 “And the Levites shall speak with a loud voice and say to all the men of Israel: 15 ‘Cursed is the one who makes a carved or moulded image, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’

“And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen!’

16 ‘Cursed is the one who treats his father or his mother with contempt.’

“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

17 ‘Cursed is the one who moves his neighbour’s landmark.’

“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

…

And the curses continue in this vein throughout this chapter. Actions can create offenses.

In the new testament we are shown

Matthew 18:7-9
Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

8 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.

This is such a strong set of verses. Why? It is because we are being warned about the impact of offenses and to avoid creating them.

Woe to those who cause offences

Luke 17 1-4
Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

We are given so many examples through the bible because the Lord wants us to understand this area. Offences create curses and both have power in the Spirit.

 

What has the Lord shown me practically in this area

One of the key points the Lord has made to me is that when someone does something that gives me every right to take offense that I am better to bless that person and walk away. I am better to not give that person an opportunity to curse me. Even though I am in the right the curse that is raised by someone against me still has power. The enemy just loves it when he can create a fight and distract me from the Kingdom tasks I am here for.  He can use the curse spoken against me to do this. So the Lord teaches me to walk away, repent for any fault I might have in the situation, bless my enemy and move on. This is practical and not a weakness and there are occasions when I do need to stand up and be strong but only when I know I have no sin, weakness or offenses in the case at hand.

I have recently in business been in the position where I had every legal right to pursue somebody as they had caused a lot of damage to me.  I had blessed this person over many years but they still did a lot of damage. In the flesh I wanted to do some damage but the Lord reminded me that he loved that person and I was to bless them as he would redeem me in other ways. He didn’t want the enemy using an offence or curse to distract me or to do damage to me. So I have a heart of forgiveness in this situation and I do the opposite of what the world might do.
2 Chronicles 25 7-12
7 But a man of God came to him, saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel—not with any of the children of Ephraim. 8 But if you go, be gone! Be strong in battle! Even so, God shall make you fall before the enemy; for God has power to help and to overthrow.”

9 Then Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?”

And the man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.” 10 So Amaziah discharged the troops that had come to him from Ephraim, to go back home. Therefore their anger was greatly aroused against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.
This situation could have been a lot worse if Amaziah had got the 100 talents back. The troops were still angry but the Lord knew if that Amaziah had insisted on the money coming back the curses and offenses resulting would have carried a lot more weight in the Spirit so He told him not to go there. The Lord would give Him much more.
God knows when we could cause offence so He tells us to walk away, loose your money or tunic, because He can replace that. But give no reason for offence as that is much worse.
God loves all saved or not.  I have had examples from Him where He has said not to cause offense or curse a non Christian.  He has said I love that person and He is walking right in a number of areas. So be careful and don’t judge as judgements can quickly lead to offence and curses.

Matthew 17:25

He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”

26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.

27 “Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

 

You may be legally in the right and have done things correctly but you still do the extra things just so you don’t cause offence and the curse this brings.

This is what Jesus was showing here in Matthew.

This may mean paying someone even though you have a right to argue.  Jesus can replace it.

This may mean forgiving and bringing someone back into your life. Jesus may want an offence healed so that you can move on. Pray about it.

This may mean letting someone get away with something that they shouldn’t. It may mean that you move on and focus on what the Lord has for you. Don’t let that person’s curses against you impact you. Repent for anything you may have done to create offence in a situation and then pray.

Proverbs 26:2

Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,

So a curse without cause shall not alight

 

Repent be clean, move on and give no reason for a curse to have a cause.

 

2 Corinthians 6:3

We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.

We are told again and again not to give offense.  The Lord doesn’t want us wasting time in this area or giving a reason for a curse to alight on us or our house. Don’t give the enemy anything to hold onto.  Even if it is costing you remember the Lord can replace what is lost with more than you started.  He loves it when we take this position as he can bless us.  I am seeing this more and more in my life.  I am walking in the Kingdom and not the actions and judgements of this world.  He owns everything and He will bless His righteous children.

 

Romans 16:17

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.

Avoid them why?  Because He doesn’t want us distracted and bringing damage on ourselves.  Just move on from the situation.  Don’t hold a grudge as it does more damage in the Spirit than we can imagine. The Lord wants to bless you and if you allow the darkness of offences and curses in your life then it restricts the release of His blessings.

 

Philippians 1:9

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ

 

No offense!

If you have caused offense then repent and do what you can to repair the situation.  Clean up the mess or if you cant pray about it, repent and asked for it to be cut off.

 

Colossians 3:23

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

That is why He warns us not to cause offense. It has to be recognised in the Spirit when you have created offence.

 

Offenses and curses are a big area.

God wants to bless us.  This is the season of blessings so I encourage you to really understand this area and action what repentance, healing or repair is necessary so that He can pour the blessings upon you.

 

“My children need to understand that I am delivering amazing blessings now because it is the time. I will do this for all my children who walk in righteousness and without offence. Live in the house of repentance and give no opportunity for the enemy to rob and steal from you. “

I see a vision of us walking with our hands out to receive and the Lord is pouring

down into them. Some hands can hold what is there and for others it is like trying to

grasp oil.  He wants us to be as One. Who can receive?