Be the Blessing not the curse

Genesis 18:18 NKJV

since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

You may or may not know the story of Abraham the FaTHER OF OUR FAITH, iT WAS THROUGH a promise given to him by God that in his old age he and his wife would bear a son and He should be called Issac and that through Him a great nation would be born one that would have as many decendants as the stars in the sky, One that through the relationship with God would bless other nations

A Curse or a Blessing? Much food for thought

There was an old man who lived in a tiny village. Although poor, he was envied by all for the beautiful white horse he owned. Even the king coveted his treasure. People offered fabulous prices for the steed, but the old man always refused. "This horse is not a horse to me," he would tell them. "It is a person. How could you sell a person? He is a friend, not a possession. How could you sell a friend?" The man was poor and the temptation was great, but he never sold the horse.

One morning, the horse was missing from the stable. All the village came to see the old man. "You old fool" they scoffed. "We told you that someone would steal your horse. You are so poor, how could you ever hope to protect such a valuable animal? It would have been better to have sold him. You could have gotten whatever price you wanted. Now the horse is gone, and you've been cursed with misfortune."

The old man responded, "Don't speak so quickly. Say only that the horse is not in the stable. That is all we know, the rest is judgment. How can you know if I've been cursed or not? How can you judge?

The people contested. "Don't make us out to be fools! We may not be philosophers, but great philosophy is not needed to know what's happened here. The fact that your horse is gone is a curse."

The old man spoke again, "All that I know is that the stable is empty and the horse is gone. The rest I don't know. Whether it be a curse or a blessing, I can't say. All we can see is a fragment. Who can say what will come next?

The people of the village laughed. They had always thought the man to be a fool; if he wasn't he would have sold the horse and lived off the money. Instead he was a poor woodcutter, living hand to mouth in the misery of poverty. Now he had proven that he was, indeed, a fool.

After 15 days the horse returned. He hadn't been stolen, he had run away into the forest. Not only had he returned, he had brought a dozen wild horses with him. Once again the village people gathered round the woodcutter and spoke, "Old man you were right and we were wrong. What we thought was a curse was really a blessing. Please forgive us."

The man responded "Again you go too far. Say only that the horse is back. State only that a dozen horses returned with him, but don't judge. How do you know if this is a blessing or not? You see only a fragment. Unless you know the whole story, how can you judge. If you read only one page, how can you judge the whole book? All you have is a fragment! Don't say that this is a blessing. No one knows. I am content with what I know, I am not perturbed by what I don't know.

"Maybe the old man is right." they said.. But deep down they believed he was wrong. They knew it was a blessing. Twelve wild horses had returned with the horse. With a little bit of work the animals could be broken and trained and sold for much money.

The old man had a son, an only son. The young man began to break the wild horses. After a few days, he fell from one of the horses and broke both legs. Once again the villagers gathered around the old man and cast their judgments.

"You were right." they said The dozen horses were not a blessing. They were a curse. Your only son has broken his legs, and now in your old age you have no one to help you. Now you are poorer than ever."

The old man spoke again, "Don't go so far in your judgments. Say only that my son broke his legs. Who knows if it is a blessing or a curse? No one knows. We only have a fragment of the whole".

A few weeks later the country engaged in a war against a neighboring country. All the young men of the village were required to join the army. Only the son of the old man was excluded because he was injured. The enemy was strong and people feared they would never see their sons again. Once again, they gathered around the old man crying and screaming because their sons had been taken. "You were right, old man," they wept. "God knows you were right. This proves it. Your son's accident was a blessing. His legs may be broken, but at least he is with you. Our sons are gone forever."

The old man spoke again, "Why do you always draw conclusions? No one knows. Say only this: Your sons went to war, and mine did not. No one is wise enough to know if it is a blessing or a curse. Only God knows."

The old woodcutter was content with what he knew and not disturbed by what he couldn't understand. Epictetus said, "I am always content with that which happens, for I think that which God chooses is better than what I choose."

Lets take a look at this cup is it empty because it is without it is spent if you will like a spent rifle cartarafe is it empty because its ready to be filled or is it useless because its empty

Now lets fill it

Is it half empty Why did i stop without filling it or is it half full?

Now lets look to this other cup it appears to be full one would say this is better right?

expecially if you are in the moab dessart

Now look it is full of water now lets say this water represents the wisdom of our every day life one is empty one is half full one is full

Now let me ask you which is better

Now lets look at something take the Lords blood lets pour it into the empty vessel

now the half full

now the full

Now I say to you which is better?

Luke 5:33–39 NKJV

Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.” Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’ ”

So where am I going with all of this PERCEPTION

when we percieve things to be bad they are as bad as we percieve them when we percieve them to be Good they are as good as we percieve them

This truth caries over into our trials our friendships our relationships even with that of God

this is why Paul said

Philippians 4:11–13 NKJV

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

for what ever you are going through it is going to be a blessing or a curse

2. Now lets talk about being a blessing or a curse

Remember abrham from our opening text

That because of His faith He would be a great nation and all of the earth all the nations would be blessed by him

Look around we know this to be true By his seed he has carried the promise of our father throughout the jewish People and ultimitly through Christ. And by Christ all nations are blessed if they would only surrender to Him and gain life

So what was the purpose of isreal

Not to just recieve favor from God

It was to bless the nations they were to be the example of a people called by God

They were to be the priest to all nations to declare the one true God

now this is too the call of the Christian

It is not to just go through life waiting and hoping for the favor the blessings of God

No it is to be the blessing to all you know

concider

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

that they may see and glorify your father in heaven

The ability to speak is one of the most amazing gifts God has given to humankind. At the same time, it involves great responsibilities for those who enjoy the privilege. The Bible warns of the damage it will cause if it is misused. James wrote that “the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."

“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be” (James 3:5–10).

Words

How does a small muscle wield so much power? It’s because of what we do with it. Words can heal, but they can also hurt. Words can bless, but they can also curse. They can start wars, but they can also promote peace.

The wise man Solomon said that “a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

I remember a very special passage in the Bible, where Jesus’ disciples told a lame beggar about the greatest wealth that a human being can have. “Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ walk’ ” (Acts 3:6).

And what was that great treasure he was offering? It’s Jesus.

Consider This

If God has given you the awesome gift of speech, I would like you to consider the following questions:

What is it that your children are listening to at home?

What is your spouse hearing from you every day?

What do your neighbours hear from you?

Are co-workers blessed when they talk with you?

Do you destroy with your talk or do you edify with it?

Are you taking into consideration Colossians 4:6 when talking to others? “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Lets retur to our old winskins shall we

Look at these cups honestly before God admid which one you are

If you are a full vessel ask that God would pour you out that you may be filled by His Holy Spirit withus today