30/06/11

Cursing and Swearing

Mark 14:71 - But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.


In the New Testament the Greek word 'curse' is a compound word which means 'to speak evil of'. The Hebrew language gives a different understanding of the word, in most places it is translated as 'bless' other than book of Job where the same word is translated as 'curse'. It does not mean the meaning of these words got changed through the languages but due to the limitation of vocabulary the English language we use the same word for the two different situations of the process.

We need to understand man has no power to create or destroy any thing in the spiritual rim. His words can be a petition to accelerate the good or bad in this rim. Good by invoking the promises of God and bad by doing the opposite - cancelling the promises of God. That is the reason a prayer of faith works because they are based on the Word of God and a righteous person who walks in the Word does not only speak faith but also acts in faith and therefore his or her prayers are immediately answered.

God has created all things and His Word is light. We can accept His Word and bring in light into our lives or petition it into other people's lives. We can also hinder His light and create darkness. It is not possible to create darkness into the lives of people where Light exist thus a person in the Lord if cursed does not affect them but if people are already in darkness, more darkness can be created by negative words or evil words by invoking evil to work further in that person's life.

The Hebrew word 'bless' or 'curse' means to accelerate the good or bad into that person's life or situation. In Greek the contents was distinguished and bless meant accelerate good by speaking good and curse to accelerate evil by speaking evil.

I always tell people to be more specific when they say the word 'bless' as to what good things they are invoking into that person's life or situation for bless in reality means just to accelerate whatever we feel towards that person.

Swearing is taking the cursing or blessing to the next level by making an oath and putting oneself or the object by which we swear as witness or guarantor, thus when swearing we can get ourselves into deep trouble similar to a guarantor gets if the loan or promise is not fulfilled. When we swear by things of God of which we have no right we anger God. This is the reason the Lord warns us never to swear or take unneeded oaths but say things as they are and not put ourselves into risk.

But when we are taking an oath or swearing based on the Word of God after having good understanding of that matter then it is similar to prophesying with assurance. Prophesying in general means to speak the Word of God into a person's life or a situation.

Cursing, swearing or blessings, prophesying comes according what is there in our heart towards a person or situation and if we are in light or darkness. We promote the kingdom of Satan when we curse and swear and we promote the Kingdom of God when we bless and prophesy, depending in which kingdom we stand we promote. Simon Peter at that moment had already denied Jesus twice and therefore the third time did not just deny but cursed and swore.

The Lord is telling us today if we too are cursing and swearing, we need to look into our lives are we in the position of Simon Peter who denied Jesus and was in darkness. If we have Jesus Christ (His Spirit) in us and if His light shines in us, we will not curse and swear but bless and prophesy.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You have given us one of the greatest weapon in creation our mouths. When we speak we accelerate your Kingdom of Light or the kingdom of darkness. When we speak according to your Word we speak light and when we speak contrary to your Word we speak darkness. Lord, help us realize our words do not go just in vain but can change people's life and situations, they do also affect our lives and our situations. Help us repent and renew our lives like Simon Peter did when he realized his mistake. Help us recommit our love and commitment towards You and your Kingdom...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripturesr ]
Mark 14:66-72
66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

Job 2:9
9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse [bless] God, and die.

Luke 6:27-28
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Matthew 23:16-22
16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

Matthew 5:34-37
34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)