Reverse The Curse

Introduction

I have bad luck with sports teams. I want them to be my pallbearers when I do so they can all let me down one more time

Two famous baseball curses

Boston Red Sox-The Curse of the Bambino (1918-2004)

Babe Ruth sold by owner Harry Frazee to finance a broadway musical

Chicago Cubs-The Curse of the Billy Goat (1945-2016)

William Sianis curses the Cubs in 1945 because they would not let him bring his goat into the stadium

In my lifetime both of theses curses have been reversed

In our series we have noted that God cursed humanity when we sinned. This passage today will note a special curse that accompanied a special sin. We will learn why God it, how it affects us to this day, but most importantly, what God has done to overcome it.

I. The Curse

(1-4) The problem: The people disobeyed God by gathering in Shinar

Genesis 9:7 CSB

7 But you, be fruitful and multiply; spread out over the earth and multiply on it.”

Cultural phenomena, any time man has gathered in great numbers we tend to turn away from God

Send North America Strategy

(5-9) The punishment:

Confuse the languages

Scatter the people

Application

It should be clear to all of us that we live in a world of confusion. It can be hard to get alone even with those we love. We divide ourselves racially, economically, politically.

Story of Liberian student at LRS

Is there hope for unity amongst humanity?

II. The Cure

Ephesians 1:7 CSB

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace

John 19:19–20 CSB

19 Pilate also had a sign made and put on the cross. It said: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.

Application: This gospel is needed by all of us, have you believed.

III. The Correction

Revelation 7:9 CSB

9 After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands.

Zephaniah 3:9 CSB

9 For I will then restore pure speech to the peoples so that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him with a single purpose.

IV. Conclusion

Story of Johnny Lee Clary

Raised in a troubled home

Grandfather was an outspoken, hateful racist

Mother was unfaithful to his dad, his dad committed suicide

He joined the KKK, participated in hateful and even criminal acts

After being caught up in an FBI investigation he contemplated suicide

“I thought of my daddy and I thought Daddy had the right idea.   I sat down and was looking at the gun and there was a Bible sitting there. I thought that there is no possible way that the good Lord can forgive somebody like me, because I had been so full of hate. I had all the violence and lived such a bad life, but I looked at that Bible and it fell open to , the story of the prodigal son.”

Wanting to do something positive he reaches out to a black minister Wade Watts

He began a ministry of racial reconciliation

What God did in Mr Clary’s life, He will do in yours.

Through the cross God can change your heart

Through the cross God can change your mind

Through the cross God can change you actions

Through the cross God can heal your marriage

Through the cross God can reconcile you with your children

Through the cross God can remove the hurt, anger, and bitterness and replace them with love, joy and peace

This world is so messed up because of sin. It is a curse. Jesus came to reverse the curse

Invitation