Prelude to the Promised Land
Often times, we need to step back, reflect and learn from the lessons of the past in order to ensure our future success. The Israelites failed on their first try. God was ready to empower them but the they were not ready to claim their promised land. They missed their golden opportunity to enjoy God’s best and they wasted thirty-eight long years of bitter living in the howling desert.
You must be ready when the opportunity comes. If you miss it, it is gone forever.
King Solomon wisely said, “Yet another thing I observed under the sun is that races aren’t won by the swift or battles by the strong, and that food doesn’t go to the wise or wealth to the intelligent or favor to the experts; rather, time and chance rule them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11, CJB)
King Solomon wisely said, “Yet another thing I observed under the sun is that races aren’t won by the swift or battles by the strong, and that food doesn’t go to the wise or wealth to the intelligent or favor to the experts; rather, time and chance rule them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11, CJB)
When time and chance happen (and they will), the person who is best prepared will succeed. There are many people with tremendous talents but miss their golden opportunity to shine. Before someone becomes an acclaimed artist, for instance, one needs to take the disciplines of study, long rehearsals, persistence, ability to learn quickly, being thorough, and to exercise the wisdom of learning from the mistakes of others.
Steve Jobs is an example. When the global market was ripe for an electronic gadget that was slick, user-friendly, seamless apps enriched and filled with glossy features, he was ready with his mac, ipod, iphone and ipad. He did his homework and his ‘apple’ empire conquered the world. Others could have done it since the technology needed to build it was available. But Steve Jobs was the one who went ahead and did it. He therefore single-handedly possessed the ‘promised land’ of electronic and information technology. Time and chance will favor those who are well-prepared.
In Deuteronomy chapter one, Moses took a great deal of trouble reviewing the bitter lessons of the past to ensure the success of this new generation of Israelites in the promised land. One step back, two leaps forward.
Like a slingshot, you need to pull back hard in order to forcefully advance and hit the mark. The "mark" referred to is all of God’s best for your life. The "mark" of the Israelites was to occupy and enjoy their promised land.
(Source: http://veronikanagy.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/slingshot_sm.jpg)
Personal application:
Take time to have regular periods of reflection, recounting of God’s blessings, and reviewing your direction. Once a week, during Saturdays or whenever you are free, is a good time to set aside an hour or up to half a day to evaluate on the week that passed, recharge for the next week and refresh your vision and direction from God. The following are questions you may want to ask, "Am I still walking in God's best for my life?" "Is this the direction the Lord wants me to take?" "Am I in the center of God's will?" "Am I still hitting the mark?"
Similarly, set aside a season of prayer and fasting devoted to seeking the Lord, worshiping Him and listening to what He has to say.
Likewise, you may set special times of waiting on the Lord, evaluating and reflecting on your life every year, three years, five years or seven years. These special times of stepping back before moving forward again becomes more significant when we consider that our lives are just too short to be wasted.
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV)
While we are on the subject of reviewing the past, I believe it is worth studying our nation's history and learning from it. This is also true of church history in local, national and global scale. We could learn what they did right. (A good example is studying worldwide revivals and how they came about.) Or we could correct the mistakes of the past. (We could then intelligently pray for our nation, humble ourselves before God, turn from our wicked ways and seek God's favor. He promised to hear from heaven and heal our land. 2 Chronicles 7:14)
As for your family's history, you may discover sins committed by your parents or ancestors. These sins may have brought a generational curse over your family. Some examples: adultery shows up again and again in the family's history, or violence, alcoholism, gambling, drug addictions, witchcraft, idolatry, etc. You may then intercede in behalf of your family, seek God's forgiveness and ask God's kingdom to come resulting to righteousness and revival in your homes.
Father in heaven, we seek your mercy and grace. Be pleased to renew your awesome works in our generation. Help us learn important lessons in our history, empower us by your Spirit to glorify you daily, and shower us with your favor that we may bring you praise in the earth, in Jesus name, amen.
As for your family's history, you may discover sins committed by your parents or ancestors. These sins may have brought a generational curse over your family. Some examples: adultery shows up again and again in the family's history, or violence, alcoholism, gambling, drug addictions, witchcraft, idolatry, etc. You may then intercede in behalf of your family, seek God's forgiveness and ask God's kingdom to come resulting to righteousness and revival in your homes.
Father in heaven, we seek your mercy and grace. Be pleased to renew your awesome works in our generation. Help us learn important lessons in our history, empower us by your Spirit to glorify you daily, and shower us with your favor that we may bring you praise in the earth, in Jesus name, amen.
(Deuteronomy chapter 1, part 1 of 5)
(re-writing Deuteronomy 003)
(re-writing Deuteronomy 003)
So do we ask forgiveness for the sins of our fathers? I thought that the sons would not be accountable for the sins for their fathers, nor the fathers for the sins of their sons? What are your thoughts on that?
ReplyDeleteYes, we are not accountable for the sins of our fathers and the fathers are not accountable for the sins of the sons. Each person bears his or her own their sins. (Ezekiel chapter 18)
ReplyDeleteHowever, a curse of sin may run in the family as a result of their ancestor's sins. (Exodus 34:6-7, Psalm 109:14-19) Consequently, fuits of these sins may run in the family as well. Examples may be inherited degenerative diseases such as heart problems, including high blood pressure (could be due to anger, resentment, unforgiveness that running in the family), liver or kidney problems or even arthritis (may be due to bitterness, unforgiveness), stomach problems (may be due to worry, anxiety).
To undo the curse, the sinner needs to seek God's forgiveness over his family so that the curse will no longer in his family line.
If the person who sinned did not ask God's mercy, the next generation may intercede and ask God's forgiveness over their family. This is not asking for forgiveness of their sins. This is asking for God's forgiveness for the sins done by this father that opened up a curse of sin in the family.
When a father does not repent of his sins, he dies in his sin and the curse of the sins of the fathers may haunt the children. Asking God's mercy and forgiveness breaks the curse upon his family line. (a believer in Jesus may represent his family and ask for God's mercy.)
Because of Adam's sin, a curse of sin came to all humankind. Everyone sins on their own accord. The curse was that people are now pre-diposed to sinning than doing righteousness. (Romans 5:12-20)
Jesus as the second Adam interceeded for our sins. He became sin for us so that his righteousness may be imputed to all who believe in Him.
We can also intercede in behalf of the sins of our fathers. I am not saying we pay for their sins. Jesus already did that on the cross. Besides, only Jesus can pay for our sins.
I believe we can ask for forgiveness for the sins of our fathers as if we were the one who committed those sins. This is intercession or identifying with our fathers' sins. When God grants mercy and forgiveness, He will heal and break the curses over our own family line.
Daniel did this.
Daniel 9:16
16 “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. (NKJV)
Daniel did not personally commit those sins but in the spirit of intercession, he identified with the sins of his ancestors as if he committed those horrible idolatries and rebellion. He was part of the sinful Jewish community and as their representative, he asked for God's mercy.
Nehemiah also interceeded.
Nehemiah 9:2
2 Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. (NKJV)
In his generation, people were still committing adultery. So, they had to renounce their adulteries themselves in addition to their intercession.
In our family, we can come before God and identify with our parents' and uncles' and unties' and grandparent's sins. If we committed those very same sins, we need to renounce them before we can effectively represent our family.
As we humble ourselves and repent for our sins and confess the sins of our fathers, He will forgive us and heal us from the curses that came with those sins. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
I did this way back when I was still single in order to break any curses over my family line. It was very humbling.