Open Heaven Daily Devotional 16 April 2022
TOPIC: Blessings From The Victory At Calvary (II)
MEMORISE:
“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse.” – (Deuteronomy 11:26)
READ: Galatians 3:13-14 (KJV)
13 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:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Open Heaven Daily Devotional 16 April 2022 MESSAGE
Yesterday, we started to discuss the blessings from the victory at Calvary, and we identified two out of the numerous blessings that accrued to us from it. Today, we shall be asking ourselves a couple of questions to better understand the implication of these blessings. These questions are:
(1) What is a Curse? (2) What is a Blessing?
A curse is a condition in which unseen forces that hinder progress attack a fellow, with the aim of destroying him or her. Classic characteristics of a curse are found in Deuteronomy 28:15-20, the last verse of which reads:
The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.
A lot of lessons are embedded in the Scripture above. One, God does not witch-hunt anyone. He would warn before placing a curse on anyone – just as He did in the case of Adam and Eve, though they still fell for the devil’s trick, leading to the fulfilment of the predicted curses. Two, the Lord reveals the reason for a curse – disobedience to divine law, ungodliness and all wickedness associated with it.
A blessing, on the other hand, is a result of unseen forces, summoned in heaven and sent to the earth to support the beneficiary to succeed, even where others are failing. A classic example is Jacob’s blessing in Genesis 27:28-29 which reads: Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
Beloved, if you desire the blessings of Calvary in your life, come to Jesus and truly surrender your life to Him. His blessings will indeed prosper you without adding any form of sorrow (Proverbs 10:22).
KEY POINT: If you want to be blessed, come to Jesus by faith today.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Kings 18-20
HYMN 28 – WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD
1. When we walk with the Lord,
In the light of His word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
CHORUS:
Trust and obey!
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
2. Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear,
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3. Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss,
Nor a frown nor a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
4. But we never can prove
The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay,
For the favour He shows
And the joy He bestows
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5. Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way,
What He says we will do,
Where He sends we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.
