Scripture

Peter swore, “A curse on me if I am lying – I don’t know the man.” Immediately, the rooster crowed.

Observation

While Jesus is undergoing a show trial, Peter is in the courtyard outside. A servant girl says to him, “You were with Jesus the Galilean.” Peter denies this.

Later, another servant girl tells the people standing around that Peter was with Jesus. Again Peter denies it.

Later still, a group of people together accuse Peter of being a disciple of Jesus. He denies this with a curse. Then the rooster crows, and Peter goes away weeping bitterly .

Application

Peter calls down a curse on himself to emphasise the fact that he is not lying – even though he is, in fact, lying.

A curse is a kind of negative prayer that invites and and empowers demons to bring misfortune, illness, and other forms of suffering into a person’s life.

It can be simple words, like a mother saying to a child, “You will never amount to anything.” It can be more elaborate, as in Peter’s self curse.

Sometimes curses spoken by our ancestors can flow down through the family tree to influence us.

The good news is that Jesus is greater than any curse. His blessings overcome the curses and the malevolence of satan.

All we need to do is break every curse in the name of Jesus. Hallelujah!

Prayer

Father, thank you that Jesus has broken every curse in my life. I just claim that blessing now. I break every curse in my life in the precious name of Jesus. Amen