Curses can be broken

• Cursing parents | Leviticus 20:9 ESV  For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him.
• Dishonouring parents | Deuteronomy 27:16 “‘Cursed be anyone who dishonours his father or his mother.’…
• Incest | Deuteronomy 27:20,22,23 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, … who lies with his sister, … who lies with his mother-in-law.’ …
• Curses from previous generations (3) | Deuteronomy 5:9-10 NLT  … I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
• Violence | Deuteronomy 27:24 “‘Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’…
• Dishonesty | Deuteronomy 27:17,19 ESV “‘Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor’s landmark.’
• Neglecting those in need | Proverbs 28:27 ESV  Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
• Perverting justice | Deuteronomy 27:19 ESV  “‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ …
• Cursing others | Psalm 109:17 ESV  He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him! 

(1) The enemy has deceived millions of people into innocently participating in forbidden practices without realising that the origins and intent are actually spiritual and demonic. Examples include fortune cookies, horoscopes, yoga, tai-chi, martial arts, tea leaf reading, carnival fortune teller booths etc.

(2) It is helpful to humbly ask the Holy Spirit to point us to objects in our possession that offend God. Also check for holiday souvenirs, good luck charms, dream catchers, images of mythical beasts and beings, symbolic tattoos etc.

(3) The saying, “like father, like son”, reflects this truth. As children, we subconsciously absorb and develop a lot of ungodly beliefs through our parents’ and our ancestors’ sins. Such ungodly family “truths” become deep-rooted sinful spiritual strongholds later in life.

Curses from sin lead to destruction

1. Biblical evidence: Sin brings curses to our bodies

The Bible has a striking story about how the greed of the prophet Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, led to devastating results on Gehazi and his descendants. Elisha had just healed the mighty commander of the Aramean army, Naaman, of leprosy and had declined Naaman’s lavish gifts.

Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, decided to secretly go after Naaman, tell him a fancy lie and take the gifts that Elisha had rejected for himself. When Elisha gave Gehazi a chance to confess what he had done, the servant lied again. As a result of his unrepentant heart, Gehazi and his descendants were cursed with Naaman’s leprosy forever.

2 Kings 5:20-21, 26-27 NLT  But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, “My master should not have let this Aramean get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after him and get something from him.” So Gehazi set off after Naaman… But Elisha asked him, “Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants? Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman’s leprosy forever.” When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow.

2. Scientific evidence: Sin brings curses to our bodies

Like Gehazi’s story, sin continues to destroy us today. The Bible warns us that the sinful vexations of our hearts (anger, resentment, discontentment, dissatisfaction etc.) can bring about destruction or curses to our bodies. Take anger for example. A report in Everyday Health explains that anger can lead to lung and heart problems, weaker immune systems and increased chances of anxiety, stroke, depression and early death.

Ecclesiastes 11:10 ESV  Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

In another report published by Science Daily, researchers at the University of Missouri Health found that a sense of separation, abandonment or punishment from God leads people to experience significantly more pain and worse physical and mental health than those with a positive outlook about their faith. It said that “…when people firmly believe God loves and forgives them despite their shortcomings, they had significantly better mental health.”

3. Practical evidence: Sin brings curses to our bodies

There have been reports of people who have been healed of the curses on their lives and bodies after turning away from worshipping idols or the occult to Jesus Christ. Here is one such story.

“I was a certified yoga instructor before I became a Christian. Doing yoga always made me feel good. Without yoga, I felt empty and struggled with a sharp pain in my shoulder, so I kept going back faithfully. I stopped doing yoga once I accepted Christ but the pain was still there. One day, I attended a church meeting where people were invited to come forward for healing. Somehow I sensed that I should go forward. As I received prayer, the pain in my shoulder was greatly reduced. I was encouraged to continue to ask for God’s goodness to come into my life. The pain continued to subside until it was completely healed over a three month period.”

Breaking off curses

1. Actively learn God’s laws

Any influence outside of the eternal Word of God is considered of “this world”. Most worldly influences will not lead us closer to God. Instead, they will lead us down a path of self-destructive curses. God calls us to store His commandments in our hearts so we may not sin and experience various forms of spiritual death (curses), but find life in Christ.

Psalm 119:11 ESV  I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Proverbs 4:20-22 ESV My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.

2. Repent and break curses in Jesus name

We must repent of obeying any fleshly desire that has led us to sin against God or other people, and turn from our sinful ways for good. Following this, we can then proceed to break any curses in our lives, whether generational or personal,  in Jesus’ name because the Son of God took on our curses on the cross.

Galatians 3:13 ESV  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

3. Invite the Holy Spirit to lead us

To ensure we do not easily fall into sin again, we need to actively follow the guidance and conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:17-18 ESV  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 

4. Praise God for our redemption

After we repent, God will not condemn us and neither should we condemn ourselves. Just as God extends His grace to us, we too need to exercise grace towards ourselves and not go on grieving our past mistakes. Once we are free from our curses, we must not be tempted by Satan to continue cursing ourselves.

Psalm 34:22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

See testimony: Jesus frees manager from family curse

Jesus frees manager from family curse