Treasure in Earthen Vessels

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Genesis 3:17

The curse entered the world because of the rebellion that Adam and Eve initiated against the life process that Jehovah-God had established in Eden.

Although in the text of Genesis 3:17 it appears as a divine action, that is, God cursing the earth, the curse is actually the consequence of the agitation in Creation caused by the rupture of divine instruction.

Adam and Eve’s opposition to continuing the instruction that God had established as the order of life caused the earth not to be able to properly execute the power of the Word, And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good, a word with which Creation had been certified as the place of well-being for man.

The curse is enhanced by the spoken word, and is presented as a formulation of evil, which stops the original working process of Creation.

In the words of the apostle Paul, the curse is a condition of subjection to vanity,

For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Romans 8:20

The curse is a state of physical and spiritual degradation into which a person or region enters, by virtue of the declaration of curse that has fallen upon it. The curse upsets the welfare of man.

The curse is based on the power of the word, as James himself confirms,

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. James 3:6

The curse is also acquired by participating in the same conditions that led a person or region to be under a curse.

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: ¹¹For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 2^nd. John 1:10, 11

The words used in the Bible to define the curse are two, the first, אֲרוּרָה (arurah), whose root, ארר (arar), means the action of cursing, is the term that appears in Genesis 3:17.

In this context the meaning is, the earth becomes cursed because of the executions of those who inhabit it; the curse you sowed on the land you inhabit will be returned to you in everything you develop in it.

The second word, קְלָלָה (kelalah), refers to the text of the curse itself. This is the term that appears in the texts of Deuteronomy to refer to the curse that will fall upon those who do not follow the commandments of the Lord.

The curse never comes without a real cause to allow it. This principle is highlighted in the story of Balaam being hired by Balaach to curse Israel:

How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? Numbers 23:8

The best explanation of this principle is found in The Book of Proverbs,

As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. Proverbs 26:2

In the text of the description of Balaam’s participation it is emphasized that the curse comes from idolatry and pagan practices,

Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! Numbers 23:23

In short, although the curse has access to man and can disrupt his well-being wherever he lives, the curse is subject to and conditioned by the actions of the recipient.

My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. Genesis 27:12

It is not only people who can receive a curse; villages can also receive a curse and are thus constituted as cursed cities and regions.

Villages, cities, regions are considered as an extension of the life of their inhabitants. The actions of the inhabitants enable the regions to be exposed to a curse.

The following examples clearly show this. The first case is the case of Cain around the city he built on his generation,

And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; ¹²When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. ¹³And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. ¹⁴Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that everyone that findeth me shall slay me. ¹⁵And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. Genesis 4:11-15

It can be observed that both the region of Nod, and the city of Henoch that Cain founded, were constituted in an area under curse, in which violence predominated.

The curse established by Cain created a propitious environment for its inhabitants to forge accursed personalities, as in the case of Lamech, Cain’s fifth direct line descendant.

And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. ²⁴If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. Genesis 4:23,24

The curse generates styles and behaviors of social life that are cursed styles, which cause generations born in these styles to turn away from God. We see in Lamech an increase in evil and violence, more than Cain showed to his brother, because Lamech manifests an intentional behavior. Sexual rituals are built upon this lifestyle, closely linked to idolatrous activity and religious forms.

The case of the curse of the region of Canaan is another example. The curse entered the area because of Cam, the son of Noah, who became the initiator of the Hamitic race,

And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. Genesis 9:25

In the case of the city of Jericho, the curse entered because of the idolatry and apostasy that was developed there. It was Joshua who brought a curse to prevent its reconstruction.

And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it. Joshua 6:26

All these examples illustrate how towns, cities and regions are exposed to the curse because of their founders or inhabitants.

The weight of curse on a region is maintained even when the precursors and/or founders of them have disappeared. The revocation of the curse on a region cannot be removed by a declaration contrary to the established curse, it is necessary to act according to the protocol of liberation that God has established.

To deactivate the curse of a region and reconcile the region with God, the first point of the protocol is to discover who were the founders of the region, and who are its current inhabitants.

The curse of the place is the sum of the pagan executions of those who have inhabited it.

A profile of their top representatives helps us understand the cause, or causes, that caused the curse to germinate and grow in the area.

The book of Proverbs presents some causes of curse that are useful for us to understand about the subject,

¹¹ There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. ¹² There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. ¹³ There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. ¹⁴ There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. Proverbs 30:11-14

Other examples of curse-causing causes: Innocent blood spilled is a cause of curse,

¹⁰ that innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee… ¹³ Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee. Deuteronomy 19:10-13

This situation is illustrated in the case of the reign of King Manasseh,

¹⁶ Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. 2 Kings 21:16

Idolatrous activity is a cause of curse,

²⁴ Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah: ²⁵ because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched. 2 Chronicles 34:24-25

Chapter 27 of the book of Deuteronomy presents several causes of curse,

1. verse 15: Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.
2. verse 16: Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
3. verse 17: Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour’s landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.
4. verse 18: Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.
5. verse 19: Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.
6. verse 20: Cursed be he that lieth with his father’s wife; because he uncovereth his father’s skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen
7. verse 21: Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.
8. verse 22: Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
9. verse 23: Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.
10. verse 24: Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.
11. verse 25: Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.
12. verse 26: Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.

The second item in the protocol: we need one that stands up with sufficient willingness to even suffer for the sake of the inhabitants of the region,

This is the difficult point, the point that very few see as necessary. It is a person who can understand that that region is important to God, and as such can act as an advocate for it, as demonstrated in the Words of Jehovah-God to Jonah,

and should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than six score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? Jonah 4:11

It is a person who, through that understanding, is capable of sowing over that region the necessary courage to fight for it, and for its inhabitants.

The apostle Paul described this “devotion” as an commendeth of love toward the region, which is much more sublime than simply loving. It is to give him the courage, the merit that the region has for God.

⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. ⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8

This commendeth his love means that the person is able to place himself between God and the region, as its reconciler, in order to convince God not to destroy it.

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Ezekiel 22:30

It is about a “mediator” between God and men, one who understands the value of reconciliation,

¹¹ And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. ¹² Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 5:11-12

It is about one who presents himself before God as a reconciler for the city,

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 2^nd. Corinthians 5:18—19

It’s about one who’s still willing to suffer because of her,

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:10

In other words, as the apostle Paul defines it, it is about one who is willing to suffer the same anguish as Jesus for the people to whom we are called,

who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Colossians 1:24

It is not about interceding in prayer, it goes beyond that, it is about an intercession based on physical presence, on the action of faith carried out for the benefit of the region; it is the intercession based on the intention of demonstrating what that land and/or that people mean, as something valuable in the eyes of God. It is an intercession of commitment, as the apostle Paul described it around his apostolic call,

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. Romans 1:14

It is an intercession based on an understanding of what it means to serve God through people, as expressed to the faith community at Philippi,

²² But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. ²³ For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: ²⁴ nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. ²⁵ And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; Philippians 1:22-25

For this reason, and understanding that what is done for that region is more important than the prayers we may present, we need to stand up as intercessors-reconcilers, seeking with our presence and action the benefit of the region and its inhabitants,

Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth. 1^st. Corinthians 10:24

The third item in the protocol: the intercessor-reconciler must perform acts of faith in the region that contravene the pagan acts of the persons for whom the curse came to the region.

This point of the protocol is based entirely on chapter 5 of the Apostle Paul’s Epistle to the Community of Faith in Rome.

In this chapter, the apostle establishes several doctrinal points that are extremely important and valuable for the topic we are working on.

• The first point that the apostle makes is that Jesus, when we were yet without strength (ασθενων), in due time Christ died for the ungodly ( verse 6)

This first point arises from the apostle’s comparison between one who is strong and one who is considered weak. The term the apostle uses to refer to non-strengthened is ασθενων (asthenon). This same term is translated in John 5:7, and 11:1, as, sick; a weak in the wording of the apostle is actually a hospital patient.

This comparative view that the apostle presents in verse 6, of Jesus dying for sinners, presented as non-strengthened in the apostle’s writing, leads us to understand that Jesus’ willingness to suffer for sinners was of his own choosing, and not because “sinners” represented a benefit to him. This is the basis of understanding that empowers us to operate as a reconciler of a region, or of a person. Without a proper understanding of this provision, there is no act of faith.

• This first point leads the apostle to establish that God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (verse 8)

This means that since the sinner does not represent “benefit” for Him, because he is powerless and ungodly, the value that the sinner acquires by this “act” in favor of him, is one assigned by God himself, or rather, a value given by God in reward of the one who was willing to work for him, is what the apostle calls “commendeth love” (αγαπην/ agapin).

This second point of the apostle establishes, for the purposes of our subject, that in order to reconcile a cursed region with God, it is basic that the person gives value to the region.

We have an example in Abraham. God calls him from distant lands to give him a land in inheritance.[1] However, although heir and owner, he paid a high sum of money for it.

¹⁴ And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him, ¹⁵ My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead. ¹⁶ And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant. ¹⁷ And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure Genesis 23:14-17

This act of paying for a land that was already his constitutes Abraham’s commendeth love for that land, all for the purpose of deactivating the curse of Ham, and reconciling it with God.

One who reconciles must commendeth the value of the land through investments through acts of faith. He cannot collect or accept offerings when invited to preach, but he can pay his own expenses out of his own personal resources.

• The third point which the Apostle states is that sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (verse 12)

The pagan and idolatrous actions of a person are those that empower the curse to occupy government over a region. For the pagan actions and satanic pacts of a person a whole region becomes a cursed and depraved region.

From there, as we mentioned in item one of the reconciliation protocol, the need to identify the founders of the populations and their most significant residents, because in their actions lies the curse of the city.

• The fourth doctrinal point of the apostle is the point that properly establishes how the reconciliation of the regions is carried out.

The apostle states that as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (verse 19). In other words, disobedience introduces curse, obedience introduces blessing and reconciliation. The process is simple, it is about one who establishes obedience to God through his acts; this is the process of reconciliation of cursed regions.

¹⁵ But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. ¹⁶ And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. ¹⁷ For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) ¹⁸ Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. ¹⁹ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Romans 5:15-19

Reconciliation is established when by obedience a Word is opposed to the word or act that brought a curse upon the region.

This means that whoever operates as a reconciler must submit to the obedience of a Word that opposes the acts that established the curse on the region.

A strong biblical case is the case of Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus lived in Jericho, a cursed city; sometimes we lose sight of this fact. Jesus knows this, so he looks for one who will stand in the gap to remove the curse from the city and reconcile it to God.

Jericho received a curse because of the idolatry that operated in it, making it anathema and abominable before God.

The disobedience that prevailed in the city from its foundation until the arrival of the people of Israel was the one that determined that God decided its destruction, that same disobedience was the one that defiled Achân when he took and hid a Babylonian mantle; notice how the defilement of one man brought defeat and destruction to an entire people. Achân’s action of disobedience would find an echo in those who rebuilt the city, this action of disobedience had to be opposed by someone who was willing to obey, and thus defuse this curse.

When Zacchaeus said: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold,^[2] referring to the provision of the Law to make good the damage with an additional 20% to the defrauded value, Zacchaeus established obedience, and by the obedience of one (Zacchaeus), the many were constituted righteous.

Zacchaeus’ obedience established the righteousness by which the reconciliation of the region came. The Words, This day is salvation come to this house, establish the liberation and reconciliation of the house of Zacchaeus, but the liberation and reconciliation of the whole region.

Zacchaeus’ obedience surpassed the demand of the Law’s commandment, since Zacchaeus’ commitment led him to compensate with 25% for the damage.

Whoever operates as the reconciler of a region must be willing to submit to obedience to the Word. Reconciliation does not come by simple decree, as many claim to do. It requires obedience to a Word that contravenes the pagan acts that opened the door to the curse.

If the curse of a region came because of greed, the reconciler must submit to content himself with what he has, as established by the instruction of the apostle Paul,

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11

If the curse of a region arrived because of lust and degenerate sexual practices, the reconciler must submit himself to sexual purity,

Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Hebrews 13:4

The reconciler of the region must learn to flee from fornication and sexual depravity,

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 1^st. Corinthians 6:18

If the curse of a region came because of idolatrous worship and occult science, the reconciler must tear down every kind of altar,

And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. ² Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: ³ and let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. ⁴ And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. Genesis 35:1-4

The reconciler must learn to flee from every tendency to erect an altar and from every action to the exaltation of achievements,

Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 1^st. Corinthians 10:14

In short, the reconciliation of cursed cities is achieved by the act of faith performed in obedience to the Word, obtained when by the direction of the Holy Spirit, the reconciler establishes the Word that contradicts the action developed by those by whom the curse was introduced.

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16

In the case of Adam and Eve, the curse entered because of their disobedience to the Word of God, it was necessary for Jesus to demolish that foundation of curse by submitting to obedience, so when He established the purpose of His presence on earth, He said,

And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. John 8:29

Obedience even to death,

and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8

Why was it necessary for Jesus to be obedient even to the point of death? Because death was the result of disobedience,

but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2:17

And as we have seen, the reconciler must put a Word, or an action, contrary to that which brought the curse to the region, Jesus being obedient unto death, overcame the one who had the empire of death, and introduced liberation and reconciliation,

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; Hebrews 2:14

When we say that it is an act of faith in obedience to the Word, we are not referring to a single act; according to the impregnation of the curse in the place several acts of faith will be necessary, even a whole life,

But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. 2^nd. Thessalonians 3:13

There are several cases that we would like to discuss, at least here briefly to point out. The case of Haiti, is a cursed land and the curse entered because of voodoo practices, and hidden practices of witchcraft.

Whoever tries to work in that country to reconcile that land with God must consider living in obedience under the divine resource, without resorting to anything or anyone but God, for it is the Word that opposes voodoo as a life resource for personal gain,

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. Isaiah 42:1

He/she should establish the Word of David,

My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. Psalm 63:8

The case of Venezuela. Venezuela is a land that has received a curse because of the words and actions of a man, Hugo Chávez, who wanted to introduce a model of human justice, that of Simón Bolívar, rejecting the one established in the Word; the worst part of this situation is that many pastors accepted it and followed him, not discerning the curse they were attracting. Satan has acquired legal rights to that land.

Hugo Chavez dared to curse Israel, and that curse fell on the whole nation. Scarcity and poverty are the predominant curse in the area.

Whoever works as a reconciler in Venezuela must submit to the Word that brings righteousness, it is not enough just to preach; it is necessary to establish the Word of righteousness, and obedience to that Word.

learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Isaiah 1:17

And so on, El Salvador, Bolivia, Argentina, whose social conditions are not the product of socio-economic and political causes, but of a curse that has fallen on the area because of pagan, idolatrous acts and the establishment of witches whose actions have even permeated the customs of communities of faith.

The curses of the regions will not be removed until one, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it.

Whoever operates as a reconciler of a region must be willing to submit to obedience to the Word.

Are we ready?

Would you like to collaborate with this ministry by helping us translate it into other languages?

Pastor Pedro Montoya

Tel Cel. (407) 764-2699

Twitter: @pastormontoya

http://www.ministerioscristorey.com

All biblical quotations are taken from the King James Version.

Pastor Pedro Montoya

Twitter: @pastormontoya

https://earthenwarevessels.com

[1] Genesis 12:1,7

^[2] Luke 19:8. Read Leviticus 6:5; 27:13