WE AS BELIEVERS DO NOT LIvE UNDER A CURSE
To assume that some BELIEVERS who happen to be sick or hungry are under a CURSE – while other believers (who are healthy and full) are not CURSED – is wrong. Not only is this unkind and judgmental -- it’s a misuse of scripture.
Those who fully trust the Gospel of Salvation know that we are not Old Covenant people. Jesus (our deliverer, mediator, savior) proclaimed a new covenant – a replacement for the “schoolmaster." Hebrews makes it plain (8:13), “By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear” NIV.
Jesus gave us the guarantee of our inheritance NOW (Rom. 11:26, 27, Eph. 1:12-14). We are MADE ALIVE in Him (1 Cor. 15:22). The iniquities of previous generations can have no LEGAL jurisdiction in the lives of the NEW CREATION. We are not affected by our old nature any longer; neither do we partake of the sins of our past -- nor the sins of others.
THE DEVIL CAN’T DO IT:
Our freedom doesn’t come through repeating specific phrases to the devil about our rights. Scriptures everywhere teach that it’s NOT the devil who holds our destiny in his hands. God is absolutely in control. James 4:7 tells us, "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. DRAW NEAR TO GOD..." James didn’t say anything about repeating expressions, or formulas that could supposedly take away satan’s “legal rights.”
John gives us great assurance when he says: “He who has been born of God keeps Himself and the wicked one DOES NOT TOUCH (harm) HIM” (1 John 5:18). This word for touch in Greek is “hapto” and means to fasten onto or to lay hold. Essentially, John says that if we’re born of God, the devil can’t affect our lives anymore. (See also Gal. 3:23-28.)
And what could ever separate us from the love of Christ? Not trouble or hardship, not persecution or famine, not nakedness or danger. (NOTHING. Not our past mistakes. Not words or curses that others have said.) Not death nor life, not angels nor demons, not the present nor the future, nor any powers…not anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:38).
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31 NIV). (Who can be against us? The answer is NO ONE -- NOTHING!) The devil is eternally defeated, and we are delivered from the power of darkness into the kingdom of light. Christ’s work is totally FINISHED in us! We now sit in heavenly places (Eph. 2:5-6).
WHAT WE KNOW:
If after becoming a Christian, we continue to act with ungodly behavior similar to that of previous generations, then we just don’t understand the reality of the fullness of our salvation. Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (“soteria,” to be delivered from the bondage of sin, to be whole, rescued, salvaged, be in health). NIV Col 1:12-14, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” NIV.
There must be a transition for all of us … a full transformation into the REDEMPTIVE TRUTH that CHRIST lives IN US and we live IN HIM. We need our understanding baptized with TRUTH. We need to apprehend what the cross has already provided.
If we believe that our failures and disappointments are due to our past failures -- or those of our ancestors, then we forfeit the need for our own accountability. Galatians 2:19-21 says, “I HAVE BEEN crucified (past tense) with Christ and I NO LONGER LIVE, but Christ lives in me. (The sins of my old life – and my fallen nature no longer exist for me.) The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” NIV. (Rom 5:1-5, Rom. 8:1-8).
For those who live In Christ Jesus, THERE ARE NO GENERATIONAL CURSES. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law.(Gal 3:13) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Ironically, Paul CURSED those who presented a false gospel – these are the ones that required Christians to keep Old Testament laws and concepts: "As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:9, 4:21). The stronghold that really needs to be pulled down is the one of lack of knowledge!
CONCLUSION:
Perhaps we need to change our “terminology” – because we’re not under a “CURSE!” However, as believers, we do need to repent. We need to become transformed by the renewing of our minds… and become whole. We all do have “environmental tendencies” that need to be recognized and changed. All inclinations, predispositions, propensities toward wrong behavior need to be modified and adjusted; we all have wrong habits that need to be addressed. But those are not CURSES. They are pivotal CHARACTER issues that we need to deal with.
2 Cor 5:18-21, All this is from God, who RECONCILED us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, NOT COUNTING MEN’S SIN’S against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”
**Gal 4:8-10, “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God -- or rather are known by God -- HOW IS IT THAT YOU ARE TURNING BACK TO THOSE WEAK AND MISERABLE PRINCIPLES? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? NIV
**Titus 2:13-15 also makes it very clear “…. Jesus Christ … gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. THESE THEN ARE THE THINGS YOU SHOULD TEACH. ENCOURAGE AND REBUKE with all authority.” NIV
Out of our own ashes, we emerge as the mature company of believers. We’ve freed ourselves from wrong behavior by incorporating the truth that Christ has redeemed us from every curse. We’ve taken our own accountability for wrong-doing. We’ve changed our responses. Now, with undeserved vindication, we glimpse into the nowness of the eternal resurrection life and we manifest the Image of the overcoming Son.
The Blessing is More Powerful!
We are blessed to be a blessing! We are to proclaim the blessing of the Lord over our families, churches, cities and nations. Proclaim His goodness and invoke His blessing over every sphere of delegated rule He has put in your life!
I was given a dream revealing to me the power of declaring His blessings. Light was being released over people and cities as they proclaimed the blessing of God's Word. People began to be healed without anyone touching them as darkness was displaced by light. I had this dream repeatedly and I knew it dealt with the power of proclaiming God's blessing. Yes, the power of the blessing is more powerful than the power of the curse!
Defining Our Terms
From Webster's Dictionary:
To Bless: To invoke divine favor on, to bestow happiness, prosperity or good things of all kinds; to make a pronouncement holy; to consecrate, to glorify for the benefits received, to extol for Excellencies.
A Blessing: A prayer or solemn wish imploring happiness upon another; a benediction or blessing; the act of pronouncing a benediction or blessing; that which promotes prosperity and welfare . . .
From the Hebrew Language:
To Bless: Barak – To kneel by implication to bless God as an act of adoration, to praise, salute, thanks . . . a posture of reverence . . .
A Blessing: Berakah – Benediction (an act of invoking a blessing).
The Nature of the Blessing
1. Pronounced audibly (can be written as well)
2. Continue on in time – generation to generation
3. Usually are not just individual, but family oriented
The following definition is true concerning the nature of both curses and blessings:
A word spoken with some particular form of spiritual power and authority for good or evil that sets in motion something that will probably go on from generation to generation. (By Derek Prince)
Examples of Generational Blessings from Scripture
1. From God Directly to Abraham:
Read Genesis 12:2, 3
2. From Melchizedek in Behalf of God:
Read Genesis 14:18 – 20
3. Transfer of the Generational Blessing:
Read Genesis 25: 9 – 11
4. Stolen Birthright by Jacob from Esau:
Read Genesis 27:27 – 29
5. Patriarchal Blessing from Israel to the 12 Tribes:
Read Genesis 49:28
Five Steps to Invoke the Blessing
According to Gary Smalley and John Trent as stated in their excellent book The Blessing – there are five clear steps to invoking a Blessing!
1. Meaningful Touch
Touch imparts and releases life, warmth, compassion and blessing.
2. A Spoken Word
After meaningful touch comes a word of loving affirmation.
3. Attaching High Value to the One Being Blessed
Esteem, give honor, and value to another. Declare Life!
4. Picturing a Special Future
Envision God's destiny for individuals, churches and cities. Impart hope!
5. An Active Commitment
Empower others with a practical commitment. Get behind them!
Proclaim His Word Over Your Life!
From Numbers 6:24 – 27
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.
From Psalms 103:1 – 5
Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit; who crowns you with loving-kindness and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like an eagle.
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