A GENERATIONAL OPPOSITION IS NOT NECESSARILY A GENERATION CURSE

God had promised Israelites through a prophetic word from Isaiah that He would raise a Cyrus who would decree the freedom of the exiles and the rebuilding of God’s temple in Jerusalem. This happened several hundred years before King Cyrus was born.

"This is what the LORD says—I your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please;he will say of Jerusalem, "Let it be rebuilt,"and of the temple, "Let its foundations be laid."' Isaiah 44:24, 28 (NIV)

I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness:I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward, says the LORD Almighty." (Isaiah 45:13 NIV)

Satan heard this promise and immediately went to work to see that it does not come to pass. He began a generational opposition against Israel. Despite Satan’s opposition, at the fullness of time, Cyrus was born became King and issued the decree just as God said it would happen. The Israelites were released to return to Jerusalem to rebuild God’s temple.

When God gave Isaiah that prophetic word, I’m sure he had no idea it was going to take a couple of generations for the manifestation to begin. It is possible Satan also thought God had forgotten about that promise having taken so long to be fulfilled until it came to pass, a Cyrus was born who became king. I bet the day Cyrus was crowned king, Satan became very worried. What was his issue? He surely did not want the temple rebuilt. He did not want the people of God to have a place of worship, where the glory of God may descend again like it did in the days of Moses and Solomon. Satan cannot stand the glory of God, so whatever reminds him of that glory or anything that could attract the glory of God to descend is something is opposed with all his might.

Satan could neither stop the Israelites from being released nor could he stop the laying of the foundation for rebuilding God’s temple. That is not to stay he stopped working behind the scenes, for as soon as the foundation was laid, hell was let loosed, he launched an opposition to the completion of that building which lasted several generations (Ezra 3, 4:1-5) Eventually the temple was rebuilt just as God had purposed, but I’m sure no one in the days of Isaiah or Cyrus imagined it was going to take several generations to fulfill that purpose.

What challenge are you going through? Is it a sickness that runs in your family that no one has been able to beat though God has promised to deliver your family from it? That condition may have taken out your grandparent, and parent, you don’t have to give up or give in to it. Hold on to God’s promise, you may be the generation God chooses to bring an end to that plague, because the purpose and promise of God will always stand. He promised Israel deliverance, it did not happen in the generation that heard the promise, not even the next generation saw the fulfillment of that promise. Though it took several generations, but God’s promise still came to pass. Who is to say, you are not the turning point for your family? If you give up, you may never know. You must continue in faith.


I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. (Isaiah 46:10 NIV)

Could it be there is a God given call on your family to do something great for the kingdom, something that will bring glory to His name but it seems nobody ever seems to breakthrough? Could your family be facing a generational opposition as a result of a promise God made several generations ago? Could it be that what you perceive as a generational curse is not at all a curse but a generational opposition from hell because of what God decreed concerning you and your family several generations before you were born?

If that be the case, do not give in to despair, what Isaiah prophesied, Cyrus decreed, Ezra started however, the fullness of that prophecy did not manifest till the time of Nehemiah. All through these, the Israelites never gave up. Do not give up. If God promised anything to your family you can be sure His promises will come to pass. When you pray, remind God of His promises. Don’t stop asking, never give up seeking, don’t stop knocking. They who ask and keep asking receive. Those who seek without ceasing finds. Those who knock and keep knocking, have the door open unto them (Luke 18:1-8)

God’s word always outlives Satan’s opposition.


Keep standing on the promises of God, He has a reputation of being faithful to His word.


With Warmth,

Angela

WHAT IS IT WITH DOGS?

I have nothing against dogs. God made dogs and they do have a purpose on this earth. In Genesis 1:26-28, God commanded us to have dominion over the earth. One area where we as mankind have been very successful exercising our dominion is the taming and training of dogs.

Dogs have been very useful in the military, hunting and with helping the blind move around. They make good pets too.

The question is have we taken our affection for dogs too far? We live in a society where it’s OK to murder innocent babies in the womb, but will be jailed for “cruelty” to dogs.

Dogs seem to have more rights than a lot of humans.

Have we idolized dogs?

The bible says a righteous man takes care of the needs of his animals (Proverbs 12:10). So it is commendable to take care of our animals. The question is - where do we draw the line between taking care of our animals and having inordinate affection for them?

What is this about some Christians sharing their beds with dogs and kissing them on the mouth or allowing them to run their tongues over their lips? Would Jesus do that?

Read your bible – from Genesis to revelation, apart from once, every other time dogs were mentioned in the bible, it was always in a negative sense. They were always associated with detestable or immoral things. God calls them unclean animals. Below are a few examples:

Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God (Deut 23:18 KJV)

As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly (Prov 26:11 (KJV)


For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire (2 Peter 2:21-22 KJV)


Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces (Matt 7:6 NKJV)

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! (Phil 3:2 NKJV)

But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores (Luke 16:20-21 NKJV)

But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." (Mark 7:27 NKJV)

For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; (Psalms 22:16 NKJV)


Anything God says is unclean should not be sleeping with you on the same bed – it does not matter how many times you give it a bath, God created it and called it unclean, you can’t make clean what God has designated unclean.

Did you know that when Jesus talked about the people who will not make it into heaven, dogs were the only animals mentioned alongside certain kinds of people!


Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie (Rev 22:14-15 NKJV)

You may say that in the bible passages above, ‘dogs’ was used figuratively. Hey, whether is figurative or not, it tells you that God does not place dogs where we have placed them in our society today. The choice is yours whether you want to see things from God’s perspective or men.

Are dogs to blame for the ‘worship’ they receive? Absolutely not! Just as you cannot blame the gold from which the children of Israel made the golden calf. All through history, the world has always elevated the wrong things. Believers ought to be careful not to be caught in the snares of the enemy.

Moreover, it is not hygienic to kiss any animal. Basic hygiene teaches that you wash your hands after contact with animals how much more kiss them.

Conclusively, be careful of your relationship with anything God designate as unclean for man. You are not wiser than God.

Shalom!

With Warmth

Angela