My message to you today is on the reality of curses, and whether they can be broken.
[Nehemiah 13:1-2 KJV] “On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.“
One of the key questions I have always been asking is as to whether curses are real; and can they be overturned? The truth is simple, curses are real and they can both be prevented and/or overturned; even the wasted years can be restored.
“That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.” (Joel 1:4 KJV)
“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed”. (Joel 2:25-27 KJV)
May the Lord overturn and restore the years that the locust and caterpillar have eaten! It is important however to remember that “a curse is a solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something.”
5 Types of curses
There are types of curses
- Self inflicted curses: These usually result from breaking an oath, not redeeming a vow, speaking loosely, or offending a diety. These are curses with a cause; a cause and effects type of curse)
- God’s curses: There are times when God curses a man for his iniquities but quickly forgives when he repents. God cursed the ground because of Adam; drove Cain out of His presence; etc.
- The curse of the Law: These are standing orders. These are curses that has been pronounced before it is invoked. These are curses that come into effect because the law is trespassed or broken. This is the kind of curse that the death and resurrection of Christ has delivered us from; I’m referring to those of us who are the heirs of salvation.
- Curses invoked by another usually influenced by envy, jealousy, or anger or resentment or animosity: In 1 Samuel 16: 43, the Bible says “and Goliath cursed David by his gods…” (See also Nehemiah 13:1-2)
- Generational and environmental curses: These are curses that operate in your life because you identify with a generation or live in a location. You can only be delivered from this type of curse if you move out or save yourself from among that group. There is no way you can escape the fire of Sodom and Gomorrah, if you stay there or look back. Canaan became cursed because of his father’s evil.
Signs of a curses
- Lack of favour or help in open door; Lack of access in life could be pointing to the operation of a curse. God makes a way for everyone at some points; hence if you seem to be stagnant and nothing is working it is time to seek the face of God, there might be a curse.
- Constant trends of failure and shame.
- Unexplained premature deaths in the bloodline: An example here would be the family of Eli, the Priest.
- Negative trends and cycles, as well as unhealthy family or generational trends and patterns
- Working like giants and eating like ants
- Nightmares and bad dreams
- Chronic conditions and strange diseases
- Lack of marital bliss and stable marriages, childlessness or barrenness may be indicators of a curse operating. I don’t mean that every barren case or childless case, or singlehood is a sign of a curse. I am only suggesting that when you see this or any other sign speak to your pastor.
Dealing with curses
There specific ways of dealing with specific curses; most often than not however when the cause is removed and the demonic spirits enforcing the curse are confronted through fasting and prayer, the curse will break. In any case the three simple steps out of curses are:
- Believe and Surrender totally to the will of God: Believe that God breaks curses and your curse can be broken. Believe that God is willing to break every curse when you call upon Him. Believe that He is even willing to restore your wasted years and cause you to rise!
- Put up a fight; fast and pray: (See Matthew 17:21) Pray against every foundational, generational, and environmental curse operating in your life.
- Bind and subdue any demonic power that has capitalised on the curse to afflict you: Most often than not there is a demonic spirit that stands up to ensure that the curses declared takes effect. There is therefore the need to bind and break their hold even after breaking the curse.
I pray that every curse operating in your life shall be broken! I decree your total liberation and restoration! May you never fail because of a curse! May your wasted years be restored in the name of Jesus!
Amen!