Some problems will not go away.  Many people do their best but find that life is a continuous struggle. They fight a battle against things like poverty, marital strife, business failure, woman’s reproductive problems, chronic sickness or depression. 

If you have given your life to Jesus, and walk in obedience, but are still caught in an unreasonable wrestling match, something is wrong. It is likely that a generational curse has never been broken off of your life.

Jesus became a curse for us when he died on the cross. 

At that moment he took our curses and extended to us his blessings (Gal. 3: 13-14.) That is part of the great exchange. He took everything that was bad and gave us everything that was good. 

No one, however, lives with all the blessings that belong to them. Jesus died for the whole world, but all are not saved. Jesus died to bring us health, but many are still sick. He died to bring us into his family and make us rich, yet many suffer from rejection and poverty. The cross is an opportunity.  As we, by faith lay hold of what the Lord has provided, we gain more blessings.

Our walk with God is progressive. The path of the just is like a bright shining light that gets brighter until the full brightness at noon day. (Pr. 4:18) A curse is not the only reason why we struggle, but for sanctified saints, it is at the top of the list.

Some will contend that curses are not real, yet they are mentioned from one end of the Bible to the other.

Daniel prayed, “All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you.” Da. 9:11 

Some think that curses are only relevant in the Old Testament, but they are mentioned in the Ten Commandments, whom all feel are applicable for today (Ex. 20:4.) 

We are told in that verse that curses extend from generation to generation.

In the New Testament, Paul tells us that Jesus became a curse for us (Gal. 3:13.)  John, in the New Testament, tells us that there are two kinds of sin and one of them leads to death and cannot be removed by a simple prayer (1Jn. 5:16-17.) That is the kind of sin that has a curse attached to it. In fact, it is not until after the great millennium that the last vestiges of curses are finally and permanently removed (Rev. 22:3.)

Some quote Jeremiah 31: 29-30, that says the day is coming when everyone will die for their own sins and not the sins of their fathers. A deeper study reveals that this scripture applies to the time of the great millennium. Zechariah 14: 17-19 explains that curses will come on those who rebel during the new millennium. During that thousand-year period there will be curses, but no generational curses. The sins of the fathers will not cause punishment to fall on the children.

The Lord said to the people of Israel, “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” Dt. 30:19

Blessings and curses are set before us. We choose one or the other by the way we live, and the results extend to our children. Take note, God’s blessings will allow you and your children to live.

Curses do not come without reason. 

Curses come on individuals and families because of horrific sins that we or our ancestors have committed. They also come when those who have authority over us, such as our parents, speak curses or judgments over us. (Jos. 6:26, 1Kgs. 16:34, Gen. 31:30; 35:16) We may also curse ourselves.

Until these curses are removed, they become designations that cripple and hinder our progress in God.

Behind closed doors, even many pastors have come to us, asking for ministry to break generational curses off of their lives. They do not want the sins of their ancestors to affect their children. We are blessed to see thousands of people receive this ministry each year.

The breaking of generational curses is especially necessary for first-generation Christians. They must stop the bleeding caused by ancient sins. The judgments must not go any further. They face a great battle, but they can surely win, by the power of God’s Spirit.

Curses are legal judgments caused by sin. God places a generational judgment on wickedness. Then demon spirits have an open door and a right to cause trouble. They cause all kinds of problems in the lives of people, including Christians. A Christian cannot be demon-possessed, for possession is a matter of ownership and Christians belong to God. If however, there are dark sins or curses, evil spirits will come and cause sickness, poverty, infertility and many other forms of oppression.

Jesus went everywhere healing his people, the Jews, who were oppressed by the devil. (Act 10:38, Lk.4:18-19)

He gives us the power to do the same. All trouble is not caused by demons, but many problems are.

Curses are caused by many different sins. A partial list is found in Deuteronomy 27:15-26. The list of curse-causing sins includes witchcraft, sexual perversion, stealing, shedding innocent blood, being an assassin, murder, cheating in business or breaking covenants, dishonoring parents, abusing widows, orphans, the handicapped, immigrants, the poor or children, anti-Semitism, and not paying our tithes.

Many unknown generational curses hinder the lives of the saints. We do not need to know all the details to remove them. To be free from curses we must pray, confess our sins and repent of them, forgive all who have offended us, renounce witchcraft and the evil sins of our ancestors.

We then claim what belongs to us through the cross, break the power of all curses in the name of Jesus and release ourselves from the authority and consequences of our ancestors’ curses.

Then we walk out of prison, break the chains and proclaim our freedom in Christ. It may involve restitution, blessing our enemies, a prayer of faith for healing and commanding demons to leave. It may require a change of lifestyle and lots of proclamations to receive God’s blessings and favor.

Receive more of God’s power and grace in your life. If there is unfinished business, ask the Holy Spirit to help you break free so you may fulfill your destiny and calling. This verse is for you:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Lk.4:18-19