Tag Archives: curses

Encountering Evil

Posted on October 10, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Depending upon the life experiences that you have encountered over the years, you may or may not understand evil. Unfortunately, when the public education system in America kicked God and prayer out of the classroom in the 1960’s, new levels of evil are unleashed daily upon this country. If you do not possess spiritual lenses for identifying and making sense of evil, you’ll blame the victims of evil and not the spiritual source for these unfortunate events.

For how can I go up to my father if the lad is not with me?—lest I witness the woe and the evil that will come upon my father, Genesis 44:34.

Based upon the words of Moses in Genesis 38:1-30, Judah experienced a series of curses which many individuals would call a string of bad luck. Moses points to Judah’s choice for a wife as the starting point, emphasizing good looks over godly character. Two of Judah’s sons have their lives cut struck due to evil behavior. While modern readers of Genesis 38 may wonder, what’s wrong with this, each failed to follow God’s commands and decrees.

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. 11 Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere, Ephesians 6:10-12.

Subsequently, as he realizes the wrongdoing of his past, Judah pleads with the governor of Egypt to consider the promise and vow made to his father. Judah’s emotional plea is rewarded in Genesis 45 as Jospeh reveals his true identity. This Old Testament story reminds me of the words of the apostle Paul in the passage above. Paul touches on the real source of evil. While the Devil wants you to place the blame on other human beings, encountering evil starts with invisible forces in the spiritual realm. May today’s blog open your eyes the next time you encounter evil.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

When Your Past Catches Up With You

Posted on September 30, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Moses highlights the first reaction in the Bible to sin in Genesis 3:7-13. Whenever you break one of God’s commands, a spirit of conviction will visit your soul. Adam and Eve’s initial response to disobeying God’s only rule in the Garden of Eden is shame. Meanwhile, as this region slowly turns into an arid desert, the reality of God’s curse in Genesis 3:17-19 catches up with Adam as a farmer.

You shall be proved by this test: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go away from here unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of you and let him bring your brother, and you will be kept in prison, that your words may be proved whether there is any truth in you; or else by the life of Pharaoh you certainly are spies. 17 Then he put them all in custody for three days, Genesis 42:15-17.

When Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt to buy food for Jacob’s family, none of them recognize him. Speaking through a translator, Joseph knows exactly what each of their brothers are saying as he is bilingual. As Joseph listens carefully to all ten of his half-brothers, there is a common theme shared between them. Each believe that how they previously treated Joseph is coming back to haunt them in the form of a curse.

And Joseph said to them on the third day, Do this and live! I reverence and fear God. 19 If you are true men, let one of your brothers be bound in your prison, but [the rest of] you go and carry grain for those weakened with hunger in your households. 20 But bring your youngest brother to me, so your words will be verified and you shall live. And they did so. 21 And they said one to another, We are truly guilty about our brother, for we saw the distress and anguish of his soul when he begged us [to let him go], and we would not hear. So this distress and difficulty has come upon us, Genesis 42:18-21.

From a modern perspective, some refer to this as karma. Others will point to this as you reap what you sow. Whatever you want to call this, you can’t run away from your past. Like the Boy Who Cried Wolf, when there actually is an emergency, no one will believe you. This is why the earthly brother of James called first century Christians to confess their sins to one another, James 5:16. When you do, healing will follow.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

This Passage Requires Further Examination

Posted on September 6, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Since I recently used the title “What Just Happened,” I had to come up with another way to explain this passage in the Bible. Moses wasn’t instructed by God to be brief in certain portions of the book of Genesis. Subsequently, when Moses writes the Lord slew Er, no further details are unveiled. This is where reading the Bible turns into studying the Bible as today’s passage requires further examination.

At that time Judah withdrew from his brothers and went to [lodge with] a certain Adullamite named Hirah. 2 There Judah saw and met a daughter of Shuah, a Canaanite; he took her as wife and lived with her. 3 And she became pregnant and bore a son, and he called him Er. 4 And she conceived again and bore a son and named him Onan. 5 Again she conceived and bore a son and named him Shelah. [They were living] at Chezib when she bore him, Genesis 38:1-5.

According to one statistical site, there are 250 angel encounters in the Bible. While death is mentioned in 1752 times in the Bible, only 7 of these accounts refer to angels of death. However, if God slew Er and Onan over a short period of time, their deaths might also be part of a curse. Since Moses is also the author of Deuteronomy 28, God could have simply allowed Er and Onan to die prematurely. Unfortunately, Moses just isn’t specific enough to know for sure.

Now Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn; her name was Tamar. 7 And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord slew him, Genesis 38:6-7.

After cross referencing these passages with the King James Version of the Bible, this translation also uses the phrase, “God slew him.” Upon further examination of a Bible commentary, I discovered that Moses was trying to say that Er and Onan both were cut off by God. Subsequently, each suffered an untimely death shortly after committing their wicked acts. If you want to know what really happened in the Bible. some passages require further examination.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Which Witch is Real

Posted on June 13, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Watching the Wizard of Oz as a child introduced me to the concept of witches. Lynam Frank Baum wrote the Wonderful Wizard of Oz for children which was turned in a movie years later by writer Noel Langley. The Wizard of Oz uses free will to convey that witches can be good or evil. As I grew up, shows like Bewitched made witches less evil by using comedy. Modern series like Charm took a more serious examination of black magic, curses, and spells. This leaves me to wonder, which witch is real?

When Saul inquired of the Lord, He refused to answer him, either by dreams or by Urim [a symbol worn by the priest when seeking the will of God for Israel] or by the prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, Find me a woman who is a medium [between the living and the dead], that I may go and inquire of her. His servants said, Behold, there is a woman who is a medium at Endor. 8 So Saul disguised himself, put on other raiment, and he and two men with him went and came to the woman at night. He said to her, Perceive for me by the familiar spirit and bring up for me the dead person whom I shall name to you. 9 The woman said, See here, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who are mediums and wizards out of the land. Why then do you lay a trap for my life to cause my death? 10 And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord lives, there shall no punishment come to you for this. 11 The woman said, Whom shall I bring up for you? He said, Bring up Samuel for me, 1 Samuei 28:6-11.

The prophet Samuel compares witches to someone similar to Whoopi Goldberg’s character in Ghost, Oda Mae Brown. The fortune teller in the Bible uses a seance to call upon the Spirit of Samuel. Based upon how the Witch of Endor reacted, she seemed surprised that this actually worked, suggesting she wasn’t always truthful to her clients. Yet, like the popular television show Crossing Over, some people do have the ability to call upon dead spirits. What’s their secret? Is it tapping into the spiritual realm mentioned in Ephesians 6:12 or have witches evolved over time?

And when the woman saw Samuel, she screamed and she said to Saul, Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul! 13 The king said to her, Be not afraid; what do you see? The woman said to Saul, I see a god [terrifying superhuman being] coming up out of the earth! 14 He said to her, In what form is he? And she said, An old man comes up, covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and made obeisance. 15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disturbed me to bring me up? Saul answered, I am bitterly distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I should do. 16 Samuel said, Why then do you ask me, seeing that the Lord has turned from you and has become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done to you as He said through me He would do; for [He] has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to your neighbor David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord or execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover, the Lord will also give Israel with you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me [among the dead]. The Lord also will give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 28:12-19.

Perhaps, the best example comes from my own personal experience. When I attended the University of Delaware, there was a coven just off campus. I had heard stories but couldn’t verify these until one conversation while walking to my next class. I complemented a stranger who had the boldness to openly display and carry a Bible in her hand. This young woman’s response still strikes a nerve today: “I read it every day so that I can pray against everything in this book.” To answer my original question, God gives every human being daily choices via free will. Yet, to committed, dedicated and practicing witches, there’s a good reason why Samuel banned witchcraft to prevent curious souls from dabbling into demonic and spiritual forces of evil.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

S.A.N.S. Episode 292: Tend

Posted on November 20, 2022 by expressyourself4him

The word tend refers to regularly or frequently behavior in a particular way or have a certain characteristic. Every individual has certain habits and rituals that become part of a daily routine. Unfortunately, no matter how consistent you may be, everyone breaks from these patterns. For a Christian, there are spiritual disciplines that should become part of your daily schedule. While sometimes you may skip Bible Study or prayer, hopefully this trend is few and far between.

I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. 6 If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you, John 15:5-7.

The lyrics of Emily Rose’ song Tend are based upon Jesus’ words in the passage above. Jesus uses an analogy where God is a gardener and Jesus is the vine, the source of all life on earth. God prunes areas of our lives that are dormant or death. Pruning is designed to stimulate growth. Perhaps, Tend is all about staying connected with Jesus. Any other decision will result in curses in the form of hardship and pain. Enjoy today’s song.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

The Devil or Bad Decisions?

Posted on January 16, 2021 by expressyourself4him

Behind the scenes, ungodly beliefs and self fulfilled prophecies lurk within human minds. Whispers of “you’re not good enough, you’ll never amount to anything or everybody else is doing it,” play like a commercial in your thought life. Depending upon how you deal with these distractions, you might blame the Devil for your current ordeal. However, whenever individuals lose confidence, circumstances are prime for bad decisions to be conceived. When common sense is ignored, consequences of poor choices come to the forefront.

And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why do you look sad and depressed and dejected? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it, Genesis 4:6-7.

Take the first child born on earth. Cain followed in his father’s footsteps as a farmer. However, as the curse in Genesis 3:17 commenced, the earth’s soil turned from fertile ground into an arid desert. Subsequently, as his younger brother Abel prospered as a shepherd, envy and jealousy began to consume Cain’s soul. This dire situation caused God to intervene, warning Cain of the sin crouching at the door of his heart. Unfortunately, the Lord was too late as Cain already made up him mind. It was only a matter of time before Cain’s thoughts were acted upon.

Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one. 14 But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions). 15 Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death, James 1:13-15.

The earthly brother of Jesus makes sure God is not one to blame for temptation. Rather, those who give into temptation slowly ponder their options before finally taking steps toward the dark side. Whether it’s a second glance, a season of idleness or lustful passions that you can’t hold back any further, when sin is conceived it fills your minds until you finally give into a variety of fantasies. In the end, the only way to escape temptation, 1 Corinthians 10:13, is by purging all reminders of your past sins so that you find the way out that God provides.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Overcoming the Curses that Exist on Earth

Posted on August 26, 2020 by expressyourself4him

A few weeks ago I got together with an old friend from church. After catching up on what’s going on, our conversation turned toward a common theory. While sharing strange experiences from our former church, each of us came to the conclusion that this property was cursed. Although this may seem strange to many of you, this is consistent with the words of the Old Testament. Prior to being expelled from the Garden of Eden, God places a curse upon men and women, one that includes cursing the ground.

And to Adam He said, Because you have listened and given heed to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it, the ground is under a curse because of you; in sorrow and toil shall you eat [of the fruits] of it all the days of your life. 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth for you, and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you shall return, Genesis 3:17-19.

As I drive to work each day, I pass by a portion of the debris path from a recent tornado. Spawned by the remnants of tropical storm Isaias, this particular tornado stayed on the ground for over 29 miles. My view of this destruction is a once thriving corn field. While portions of this property remain untouched, a large section of the corn is completely flattened. Four power lines across the street were also leveled before being repaired. Perhaps, this too is a casualty of the curse mentioned in the Bible.

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief [of the celestial] princes, came to help me, for I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what is to befall your people in the latter days, for the vision is for [many] days yet to come, Daniel 10:13-14.

Beside the curses placed upon Adam and Eve, there are also powers of darkness that control specific cities, countries, and regions. In the passage above, Daniel refers to a demonic presence called the prince of Persia. While studying a book on spiritual mapping in America, similar places exist in the United States today. While you probably won’t hear about this, the apostle Paul is clear about spiritual forces of evil, Ephesians 6:12. The best way to overcome curses is by arming yourself with the armor of God daily, 1 Thessalonians 5:8.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

The Origins of Friday the 13th

Posted on July 31, 2020 by expressyourself4him
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t631b8txKs

The Knights Templar was a by product of the crusades during the Middle Ages. While Christians and Moslems fought for control of the city of Jerusalem, a French knight named Hugues de Pavens established the order of the Knights Templar in 1118. During the 12th century, the Knights Templar reached their peak, serving as monks and keepers of historical church artifacts. The demise of the Knights Templar occurred on Friday the 13th, in October of 1307.

The Lord shall send you curses, confusion, and rebuke in every enterprise to which you set your hand, until you are destroyed, perishing quickly because of the evil of your doings by which you have forsaken me [Moses and God as one], Deuteronomy 28:20.

This was a culmination of the extreme measures taken by King Philip IV of France to hunt down, imprison, torture, and execute the leaders of the Knights Templar. This plan was set in motion with Pope Clement V’s backing and support. Months prior to this fateful night, secret documents had been sent by couriers throughout France. These papers included lurid details, whispers of black magic and accusations of scandalous sexual rituals. While being burned at the stake, Roger de Flor, the leader of the Knights Templar, cursed King Philip and Pope Clement.

For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer, Romans 13:4.

According to eyewitnesses of De Flor’s death, Roger claimed that both men would die within the next year. The Pope died of a severe illness a few months later. Meanwhile, King Philip suffered a stroke while riding a horse several months later, dying shortly afterward. The fulfillment of Roger de Flor’s curse on Friday the 13th is believed to be the origin for this scary night. Today, superstitious people consider Friday the 13th to be unlucky. Yet, curses are real, detailed in the Bible, so make sure you listen carefully to God’s commands, Deuteronomy 28:1-2. Those who do will find blessings; not curses.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Forming a Complete Picture of God

Posted on March 22, 2020 by expressyourself4him

It’s rare that you see kindness and severity in the same sentence. These opposing terms highlight elements of God’s nature. According to the apostle Paul, you should take note and appreciate both aspects of God’s personality. While God can demonstrate affection, concern and warmth, this is only one side of the picture. When commands, decrees and expectations aren’t met, God’s wrath is displayed through curses, loss and rebukes.

Then note and appreciate the gracious kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s gracious kindness to you—provided you continue in His grace and abide in His kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off (pruned away), Romans 11:22.

In the second half of the passage above, the apostle Paul adds a spiritual disclaimer. God’s grace and kindness is dependent upon how you exercise your free will. Those who abide in the fruits of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23, enjoy and partake in fellowship with God. However, if you indulge your sinful nature, the severity of God can be unleashed upon disobedient souls. When you consider the pros and cons, a complete picture of God comes into view.

[So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents]. 7 But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations], 1 John 1:6-7.

The disciple whom Jesus loved uses an analogy to paint his own picture of God’s true nature. Comparing a relationship with God to taking a walk, you have one of two options. According to John, each choice either represents light or darkness. Decisions inspired by the Holy Spirit result in blessings. On the other hand, poor choices influenced by your sinful nature bring spiritual darkness. The more you abide in Jesus, the clearer human minds become, able to envision a complete picture of God.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Living in a Land of Lions

Posted on February 12, 2020 by expressyourself4him

When you read the Old Testament, certain sections are clear and concise. God’s nature is often revealed by using specific commands to illustrate the importance of obedience. Those who follow the Lord are blessed and those who fail to follow God’s directions are cursed. There is no halfway, it’s either all or nothing.

Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all that the man of God had done that day in Bethel; the words which he had spoken to the king they told also to their father. 12 Their father asked them, Which way did he go? For his sons had seen which way the man of God who came from Judah had gone. 13 He said to his sons, Saddle the donkey for me. So they saddled the donkey and he rode on it, 1 King 13:11-13.

In the passage above and below, a prophet of the Lord is fooled by a lie. Apparently, this liar was paid off by King Jeroboam, persuaded to prophecize good and positive messages to enhance his reign. When news of a miracle performed by a visiting prophet from Judah reach this wayward man, he was desperate to meet him. When his own sons were unsuccessful, this discredited prophet makes up an encounter with an angel to change his mind.

He said, I may not return with you or go in with you, neither will I eat bread or drink water with you in this place. 17 For I was told by the word of the Lord, You shall not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way that you came. 18 He answered, I am a prophet also, as you are. And an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied to him. 19 So the man from Judah went back with him and ate and drank water in his house, 1 Kings 13:16-19.

Taking this man at his word, this young prophet disobeys God by staying an extra day in this corrupt land. Although a loving God would forgive modern transgressions, God’s command was to not eat or drink another meal before leaving. While this doesn’t seem fair, obedience matters to God. Thus, while bending the rules on this occasion seemed okay, a lion was sent to kill this prophet on his way back home to Judah.

And after the prophet of the house had eaten bread and drunk, he saddled the donkey for the man he had brought back. 24 And when he had gone, a lion met him by the road and slew him, and his corpse was cast in the way, and the donkey stood by it; the lion also stood by the corpse. 25 And behold, men passed by and saw the corpse thrown in the road, and the lion standing by the corpse, and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. 26 When the prophet who brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, It is the man of God who was disobedient to the word of the Lord; therefore the Lord has given him to the lion, which has torn him and slain him, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke to him, 1 Kings 13:23-26.

This story is mentioned in the Bible to serve as a remainder that obedience matters. Making up the rules as you go isn’t an option for a servant of God. While those outside the church may get away with telling a lie from time to time, you can’t fool God as Paul suggests in Galatians 6:7-8. You reap what you sow. Although you probably won’t cross paths with a lion, make sure you’re sowing seeds of encouragement rather than lies of deceit.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
→