 You've tried everything you can to be free. In your generations, there may be problems with alcoholism, drug addiction, adultery, mental illness, depression, and so forth. You've prayed the curse-breaking prayers. You've done the ancestral research. You've gone from deliverance session to deliverance session. Maybe you've even named the demon or two, but here you are still struggling and wondering how to be free. Wondering, what am I doing wrong? Let me encourage you. Today is a day of freedom. You can and will go free. Now, I wanna challenge you to listen to this message from start to finish because we're going to thoroughly and biblically go over this topic of generational curses. And as we do, your beliefs will be challenged, but the truth will set you free. Here's what I want you to do. I want you to write in the comment section right now. God calls me blessed. I want you to declare that. I know you may not always feel that way. I know it may not always seem that way. Sometimes the enemy lies to us, deceives us, causes us to think a different way than God wants us to think. But I want you to write that in the comment section right now. Make that your public declaration of faith and write those simple words. God calls me blessed. I wanna begin this by asking the question and then biblically answering it. What is a curse? And again, we're gonna go through this thoroughly and I want you to fight the flesh on this because this is information that you need. If you're getting stuck in these cycles, you're frustrated and you want to finally be free. You've tried all those other methods. Now try it God's way. I'm gonna show you this from Scripture and this will take some time to dissect, especially because again, a lot of your beliefs are gonna be challenged. But in the end, I know that the truth will absolutely liberate you. So let's begin here. What is a curse? Now, biblically speaking, as we look at the various different examples, it's quite apparent that to curse is simply to speak ill of or to speak against. If you curse God, that's called blasphemy. If you curse someone else, that's called insult or slander or ill will. This is to slander and to gossip. That's another form of cursing. When you wish evil upon someone, that's cursing. In fact, to reject or to disown verbally, that's another form of cursing. So at its very base form, a curse is simply speaking evil against someone or wishing harm on someone. Now we look at the first curse found in Genesis chapter three. We'll read verse number 14. Then the Lord said to the serpent, because you have done this, you are cursed more than all wild animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. So here we see the Lord himself pronouncing a curse against the serpent. Now, interestingly, we see that the first curse was pronounced by God himself. God spoke ill intention toward that serpent. And of course, we know the results of that. Next we see Cain's curse. This is found in Genesis chapter four, verses 10 through 12. But the Lord said, what have you done? Listen to your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother's blood. No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work. From now on, you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth. So this is the Lord pronouncing a curse over Cain. He's speaking a punishment. He's speaking ill will. And of course, because the Lord spoke it, it actually manifested in reality. Then there's the curse against Abraham's enemies. Genesis chapter 12, verse three. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you. So here we see God is pronouncing a curse. He's verbalizing problems. He's verbalizing ill intention toward those who would wish harm upon Abraham. And of course, blessing on those who would bless him. We see that in the scripture found in Exodus, there's a punishment for cursing your parents. Exodus chapter 21, verse 17. And he that cursed his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. Now, here in the scripture, the definition of curse, as in to curse your father or mother, is to be slight or literally to insult or to trifle. This is an important note. Many times, especially in the Old Testament, when you see the word curse, the definition here is simply insult or blasphemy or to speak ill intention against. And that in its basis form is what a curse is. It's to speak against somebody. So this begs the question now, how much power does a curse have? Well, we see there are some results, namely in Genesis chapter 27, verse 37. Isaac said to Esau, I have made Jacob your master and have declared that all his brothers will be his servants. I have guaranteed him an abundance of grain and wine. What is left for me to give you my son? So here we see that by default, by blessing one, there was a rejection of the other. And let me give you some context here for Genesis chapter 27. There was something in the Old Testament known as the birthright. So usually the birthright would go to the firstborn son. And the birthright came with somewhat of a leadership position in the family, a position as the patriarch, someone who inherited the greater share of the wealth, the greater share of the land, the greater share of the influence and so forth. And so the firstborn son would be given this. Now, again, by default, to bless the firstborn son would be to reject the other sons for that blessing. So in a way, it was a form of cursing but an indirect form of cursing. So that's what the birthright was. And of course, the patriarchs had the authority to do this, to give or to withhold. And not only would those birthrights come with material blessing, but God would honor that birthright in that he would speak directly to that patriarch in some instances. So there was some spiritual significance to this, of course, but basically what's happening here is somewhat of a legal transfer, a positioning of one, if you will. Now again, it's important to note that the curse being spoken here was simply something that was declared in the natural realm. And I want you to also note that curses only have creative power when they're spoken by God. Think of all the curses we just went over here. The ones that had the instant manifestation were the ones that were spoken by God himself. But again, we see that at its base form, a curse is simply to speak ill intention against or harm against or to insult someone or to slander someone. So basically to harm them through verbalization, to upset them through words that you speak against them. And that really is what a curse is. By the way, if this lesson is blessing you so far, make sure to leave a like so others can see it. So again, this begs the question, what is the power of a curse? Here's a key thought for you. I want you to write this down. A curse only holds as much power as the one who speaks it. Say that again. A curse only holds as much power as the one who speaks it. This is gonna be a main theme for us here as we challenge our beliefs around this subject because there's a lot of misapplication of scripture around the idea of generational curses. There's a lot of confusion and there's a lot of suffering around this subject precisely because there's a lot of misapplication of scripture around this particular topic. And that confusion arises when we reach for explanations that are man-made rather than explanations that are founded upon scripture. So again, remember this, a curse only holds as much power as the one who speaks it. So for instance, in God's case, when he speaks a curse that has immediate material results, why? Because God himself has creative power. Think about how he spoke all things into existence in the beginning. Now, you and I have creative power only when we speak according to God's will. So we cannot by ourselves decide that we will speak something into material existence. If that were possible, there would be highway lanes that would open up randomly during the rush hour to work. There would be bank accounts that would be filled with extra zeros resulting in inflation and with tank economies if Christians had creative power by their own will. So yes, when we speak, there can be creative power in our words but only when we're speaking what God says to say, that is according to his will and word and only when God backs it with his authority. So if we're not speaking according to God's authority, we're not speaking in alignment with his word, then the words that we speak don't have the same creative power. If you wanna try to argue against that, just speak something into existence. Right now, speak extra zeros into your bank account or speak something to appear materially in your driveway, maybe a vehicle, maybe a bicycle. Now I'm not mocking this idea because there is some truth to it but I wanna at least get you thinking, challenging your thinking in this area. If we had creative power by our own sheer will, on our own, aside from God with none of his authority, then there would be nothing but chaos in this world. Thankfully, you and I do not have creative power outside of speaking according to God's will and word. I'll show it to you. John 14, 13 through 14 says this, you can ask for anything in my name and I will do it so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name and I will do it. What does it mean to speak in his name? Well, to speak in his name is to speak in his authority by his will according to his power and in his stead. And he only gives us that authority again when we are aligned with his word. What about this particular verse that often gets misapplied, Proverbs 18, 21? Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Well, of course, there is power in the tongue. Of course, there is power in our words. What I'm saying is that there is not creative power that exists within our words outside of God's will and authority. So there are many different powers that you have when you speak. You can encourage or discourage. That's a very powerful way to use your speech. You can speak things that bring deception or truth. You can speak accurately or inaccurately. You can speak out of wisdom or out of foolishness. You can speak comfort to someone or affliction to someone. But again, this is not the same thing as creative power. And within charismatic Christianity, by the way, I'm a charismatic Christian. I'm a tongue-talking spirit-filled believer who loves to pray for the sick, cast out devils, prophesy. You name it, I love it. I love the power of the Holy Ghost. But I say this as a charismatic believer, we often develop our own little superstitions. And because those get handed down through tradition, like old wives' tales, we just begin to adopt certain forms of thinking based upon nothing but hearsay. Based upon nothing but repetition. So how many times have you heard someone stop you when you say something like, you know, I think I'm getting a cold. They'll go, they'll gasp, stop. You're speaking that into existence. Well, that's not what the scripture's talking about in Proverbs 18, 21. Again, Proverbs 18, 21 is simply talking about the consequences of your speech, namely the practical ones, encourage or discourage, deception or truth, accurate or inaccurate, wise or unwise, comfort or affliction, but not creative power. So you as a believer, again, yes, you have power in your words, but you do not have creative power in your words outside of the power and the authority of God only when we speak in his name. Now, by contrast, look here in Deuteronomy chapter 20, verse 20, the Lord himself will send on you curses, confusion and frustration in everything you do until at last you are completely destroyed and doing evil or fordoing evil and abandoning me. So there we see that the curse that he speaks has an immediate and powerful materialization because of the fact that when God speaks, he has creative power in his words. So again, a key thought, a curse only holds as much power as the one who speaks it. Here's another example of what happens when God speaks a curse, Matthew chapter 11, verses 12 to 14. The next morning, as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry, he noticed a fig tree and full leaf with a little way off. So he went over to see if he could find any figs, but there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, may no one ever eat your fruit again and the disciples heard him say it. The next morning as they passed by the fig tree, he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. Peter remembered that Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, look Rabbi, the fig tree you cursed has withered and died. So there we see that the Lord spoke a curse, the Lord himself and because of the creative power within his words, that tree withered. That's the authority that he had. Now, of course, as you continue to read, you'll see that the scripture very much describes the fact that we could do similar things, but only in his power by his name. Again, not by our own will. We cannot wield that kind of power outside of the leading of the Holy Spirit. So it's not accurate to say that we in and of ourselves have creative power in our speech. And again, I know that's a popular idea, but as you begin to compare that thought with scripture, you find that there's a contradiction. And whenever there's a contradiction between what you believe and what the scripture clearly teaches, you have to reject what you've been taught and instead embrace what the scripture says. And this is part of the struggle of throwing off overbearing religious mindsets because overbearing religious mindsets are based in fear, whereas the scripture gives us truth that fuels our faith. So again, what is the power of a curse? Well, the curse's power is just as powerful as the individual who speaks it. So let's recap where we are so far. What is a curse? Simply put, in its most basic form, a curse is to speak against someone, to speak evil of someone, to slander someone, to gossip about someone, to wish harm upon someone. What is the power of that curse? Well, the power only goes so far as that individual has. So if God speaks a curse, as you read throughout scripture, there's this immediate materialization of that curse. When you and I speak a curse outside of God's will, we may hurt somebody emotionally or we may manipulate them into being afraid because of what they heard us say, but ultimately that's not gonna have the same materialization. In fact, it's not gonna have any materialization at all unless God himself backs it. So again, a curse in its basic form is to speak against. That curse only has as much power as the individual who's speaking it. And we're showing this all through scripture. I'm contrasting for you. When someone else speaks a curse, and I showed you, for example, the patriarchs, I showed you, for example, the children who speak against the parents. And in those particular portions of scripture, we saw that there was a very practical element to the words that they spoke. Whereas by contrast, when you see God speaking a curse, there is that supernatural power that comes because he has, by his own will, the supernatural power of creativity. Now, notice that the curses that had creative power were always the ones that were spoken by God. So the power of a curse, again, key thought, a curse only holds as much power as the one who speaks it. Conclusion, watch this now. The power of a curse is only as strong as the authority in which one speaks it. I'm gonna say that again. The power of a curse is only as strong as the authority in which one speaks it. So from where do we get this idea? Now that we've talked about curse in its basic form, let's get a little more specific and now delve into this idea of generational curse where a spirit maybe has a legal right through the generations, or somebody speaks something over a family and now that family suddenly experiences generations of alcoholism or drug addiction and so forth. Let's begin to delve into this topic, but just a quick recap again to curses to speak against and that curse has as much power as the individual who speaks it and there's only as much authority as they speak it in. Now, from where does this idea come? Where do we get this idea that believers can have hexes placed on them through generations and unless they do the ancestral research, identify the demon, renounce their ancestor's sins that they're not going to be free. Well, first of all, God does not hide our freedom behind demonic mysteries. You don't need a membership to ancestry.com in order to be free and this notion that you have to go back generations to find some demonic hidden mystery before God can free you is insulting to the power of the Holy Spirit. I mean, can you imagine the Holy Spirit coming with the force of his being in his might and then looking at you and saying, I'm sorry, I'm powerless to do anything unless you uncover that secret that was hidden in your family's generations and until you do that, my hands are tied. I'm sorry, I have to leave you in bondage. Where is that in the Bible? Guys, where do we get this stuff? I tell you, it's not from the scripture. We reverse engineer the teachings from the occult and then we apply them as supposed deliverance doctrines and this is where we have to get our deliverance doctrines right. Look, you all know I love the deliverance ministry. You all know I practice deliverance. You all know I love the drive out demons and you see it in the services. Of course, we're all on the same page there but if we're going to see the Holy Spirit's deliverance ministry continue to take ground, we have to make sure we're calibrating our teachings with accuracy that is biblical so that we might see that potency of power begin to increase. So where do we get this idea of generational curses? I mean, really, if you're gonna go back generations, you're gonna have to go all the way back to Adam and Eve because if it's true that five generations ago or seven generations ago, there can be some holdup for your life in the spirit, then it's also true that you're gonna have to go all the way back to Adam and Eve, which again adds this religious burden, this fear-based, tedious approach to spirituality that ultimately brings more bondage and keeps people running in circles because then they go try that, it doesn't work and they wonder why it isn't working in instead of saying, hey, maybe there was nothing to that in the first place, they continue to try that again and again. So again, why do curses sometimes seem to work? We're gonna go over that in a moment. Maybe you even have a possibly have a story or two. Well, the fact of the matter is this. Definitely we know that demons do strategize against families generationally. I'm gonna go over that in a moment. I'm not dismissing that idea. Many of you know my great-great grandfather was a warlock from Zacatecas, Mexico and that caused a lot of warfare in our family for generations, so don't hear what I'm not saying. I'm not saying that demons don't affect people from generation to generation, but what I am specifically talking about is the solution that we think we need to apply to that, namely rituals, specialized prayer, research. Guys, it's not like in the movies where we have to solve the demonic riddle before we can go free. And if you get obsessed with that, then you're gonna create your own form of bondage and then again, it's gonna be a cycle from which you'll never be free. And this is why many believers try it again and again and again, years and years and years and never break the bondage. So here's where the idea comes from in essence and particular portions of scripture like this. It's a misapplication of scriptures like we're about to read. Now for context, God is speaking to the nation of Israel and every time they would go wayward and begin to worship the idols of surrounding nations, God would give them over to those surrounding nations and that was part of his curse against them. Their punishment, if you will, for rejecting the God of the Bible and choosing to follow after their own passions and lust and being enticed, seduced by the surrounding nations idols. And so whenever the nation of Israel would fall into idolatry, they would come under slavery from the surrounding nations. Whenever they would repent and come back to God, God would liberate them from the surrounding nations and they would know a season of peace. With that context in mind, let's read Deuteronomy chapter five verses nine and 10. You must not bow down to them or worship them for I the Lord your God, I'm a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. Now watch this, 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. So again, if you look at this particular portion of scripture, what you are seeing is God punishing the people as a nation. First of all, he's not punishing them as individuals. Second of all, he's not giving some demonic entity power. This is specifically talking about nations that were surrounding them, being able to capture them in the material sense, in the physical world, in the natural realm, they went into captivity. So what's being described here is not God taking demonic entities and attaching it to people and then attaching it to their children and grandchildren. No, what's actually happening here is that because the nation of Israel falls into the waywardness of idolatry, they're being punished by slavery. And that slavery, of course, will affect the next few generations. So this is a very practical effect as a result of a curse that comes from God. This is not a demonic curse. This is not a curse from a witch or a warlock. Neither is this a punishment for individuals. This is the nation as a whole. So to equate this with what is now known as a generational curse would be to misapply this portion of Scripture. And now that we've known the context here, we can do away with that idea that this particular portion of Scripture supports anything close to what it's been used to support. More importantly, we can follow that up with Ezekiel chapter 18, verse 20, where it's very pointed here. If you're looking for something that's very clear on this topic, look at Ezekiel 18, 20, where the Scripture very clearly tells us this. The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent's sins. And the parent will not be punished for the child's sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior. And wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness. Notice the difference here. So is this a contradiction by no means? What we ought to do is take the clear teachings of Scripture and use those to interpret these somewhat obscure portions of Scripture with seemingly ambiguous meaning. So Deuteronomy chapter five verses nine through 10, we know the context he's talking specifically to a nation that's coming under, let's say, Babylonian captivity. As opposed to this particular portion of Scripture, Ezekiel 18, 20, where the Bible very clearly tells us that it is not God's intention to punish the child or the grandchild for the parent or grandparent's sinful mistake. In fact, he says that's not what I do at all. So we don't have a contradiction. We have a clear Scripture through which we can interpret the other Scripture. And with the context considered from Deuteronomy chapter five, we can do away with this idea that God attaches demons or allows a legal right to some demonic entity to attach to families because of the sins of the grandparents. Now, having said that, I don't want you to hear what I'm not saying. There is a difference between a demon having a legal right in the life of a believer because of some sin their grandparents committed a hundred years ago or great grandparents committed a hundred years ago versus a demon strategizing against family members and using similar attacks on the children that they did on the parents. Now, this may seem like a subtle distinction or picking the details, but it's important that we make this distinction because if we don't, we're left with that overbearing religious burden of trying to solve something of this magnitude by our own efforts and through, again, doing things like research or renouncing this or renouncing that. Nothing wrong with renouncing things in and of itself, but to teach it, that is what's required before God's power can move. Well, that's just not biblical. So it's a misinterpretation and a misapplication of Deuteronomy chapter five. So after one grants the unbiblical premise that seemingly is supported by Deuteronomy five, they imagine that the concept is validated every time they use or see the word curse. So once you have this framework in your mind based on Deuteronomy five and scriptures like it, once that framework is in your head, every time you see the word curse in the Bible, you're gonna automatically go back to what that interpretation gave you and it becomes the lens to which you see that word curse when what we know is that the word curse, remember, at its basis form is simply to speak evil against, to wish harm upon. And that curse only holds as much power as the one who speaks it. So let's go a little deeper now. So we know this so far. The word curse simply means to speak against. We know that the power of that curse is only as powerful or as strong or as effective as the one who speaks that curse. And then we know that this idea of generational curses is not supported in Deuteronomy chapter five versus nine through 10. Okay, so how do we explain the curses on people then? So this is probably a glaring question just right there staring us down in the face because that might be what you're thinking at this point. Wait a minute, wait a minute. But I know families where alcoholism goes from generation to generation, generation, generation. Guys, my family, I'm telling you, me, David, my family had generations of witchcraft because of the great, great grandfather's decision to be a warlock and open that door. And so we must understand that, yes, demonic entities do strategize against generations. Why? Because the strategies that worked on the father will likely prove effective on the son. The attacks that prove effective on the mother will very likely prove effective on the daughters. Why? Because of tendencies, genetics, upbringing, culture, inclinations. These things are handed down through genetics. These things are handed down through behaviors that were witnessed in the home. And because of that, you have children who are like their parents. And because the children are like their parents, those devils are gonna go, well, they're very similar to one another in nature. So of course they'll be tempted with alcohol if their parents were. And so you see a cycle repeat. So we can go on for stories for days, but let me break this down for you very simply. Really, there are three kinds of what we would call curses or consequences that begin to develop in our lives. And we can point at these things and say, see, there's that devil at work. Because what many people imagine is that there's like a demon waiting in the delivery room. And as that child comes into the world, the demon dives into their body and I have access, I have legal right because of what their grandparents did. Now, this of course is debatable if you're talking about the unbeliever. Maybe yes, maybe no, I don't know. There's nothing in scripture that specifically supports that, but I would be willing to be convinced either way when it comes to the unbeliever. However, if we're talking about the born again believer, who is struggling, who is being attacked, who is dealing with something that their past generations dealt with, we have to make sure that we're being clear on that. Because that born again believer needs to know that freedom is available to them and they don't have to solve a riddle. They don't have to name a demon. They don't have to go back and do research on their family and find it. And by the way, that devil has no legal right. There is no legal right that the demonic entity has just because of what their parents did. That is not biblical. Guys, that is witchcraft. That teaching is witchcraft. We need to stop compromising with teachings that come from the occult, taking them into the church. And if we're talking about purity, we're talking about getting this right, we wanna make sure we're being stabilized on the word of God. We have to stop reverse engineering the teachings of the occult and then applying them to scripture. That is not biblical. Again, we're talking about the unbeliever. I'm willing to be convinced either way on that. But if you're talking about the born again, spirit-filled believer, someone who's received Christ as Lord, no devil has a legal right. I don't care what their grandparents did. That's just not true. So then how do you explain people's experiences, curses? How do you explain this generational because let's just acknowledge it, there are generational attacks. Well, there's a difference between a generational curse and a generational attack. A demon may strategize against family members. Again, the father, the son, or the grandfather, the father, the son, and the demon may attack. But depending upon how that person responds to those attacks and temptations is gonna determine whether or not they get the same results that their grandparents did. My main point here is not that demons don't attack us generationally, they do. The main point here is that you are not powerless. You are not at the mercy of solving some riddle. You are not at the mercy of your grandparents' decisions. I can't tell you how many times I've heard a Christian say, you know, I've just been praying that God would break it. I know one day he's gonna break that generational curse over my family. He's like, what are you talking about one day? Do you not believe in the power of the Holy Ghost? Well, then why is my uncle suffering with alcoholism? Because of the decisions that they make. And we'll show that to you here. So, here are three thoughts around the experience of curses that people may experience. How do you explain the experience of curses that come on people? Let's do number one first. Number one, we're gonna look at repeat generational trouble. And then we're gonna look at repeat bad and oppressive feelings. And then we're gonna look at repeat bad situations, okay? So, repeat generational trouble. That's what I'm gonna explain first. Alcoholism, generation to generation, drug addiction, generation to generation, adultery generation to generation. And then we're gonna look at repeat bad and oppressive feelings. That is, you have like this cloud, this weight on you. And every generation has that and you have that. And it's just like this fog in the spirit that you can't quite see through. That is a demonic attack. We're gonna look at that in a moment. And then we're gonna look at bad, repeat bad situations where you feel like you can't catch a break. The marriage failed, the business failed, the car failed, everything, nothing seems to go right ever. And that's just the way it's been in your family for years. So let's take a look at each one of these individually. First, let's take a look at repeat generational trouble. Write this in the comment, comment section. There is a difference between a consequence and a curse. There is a difference between a consequence and a curse. Now, getting back to what I was saying just a moment ago. Demons do strategize generationally. Is this the equivalent of them having a legal right to your life? Absolutely not. That's not biblical. Rather, what's happening is that, again, these demonic entities are saying, this is what worked for the grandparent. This is what worked for the father. I'm gonna try it on the son. Now, depending upon how the son responds to those temptations, depending upon how the son responds to those attacks, that's going to determine what the results are from that demonic attack. So you as a born-again spirit-filled believer, you're not under some bondage because of a sin your dad committed or a sin your grandfather committed. No, if you're in bondage, it's because of decisions that you made. Now, you may not like hearing that. That may sound blunt and to the point, but I'm not here to preach to itching ears. I'm here to see you set free. And until you begin to take responsibility for the decisions that you're making that are contributing to your spiritual defeat, you will always live in spiritual defeat. And I say that because I love you. I say that because I want you to go free. I say that because you're probably not gonna hear at most other places. The reason you're walking in spiritual defeat is because of the decisions that you're making or the things that you're deciding not to do. It is a choice to walk in a spiritual bondage. And I know that's gonna sound insensitive. I know people are gonna say, that's not what I've experienced. What do you mean it's a choice? I don't want this. I understand, so let me explain so that we don't go too far on that point without bringing some clarity. I'm not saying you want the bondage. I'm not saying you're welcoming the bondage. I'm saying that there are some things that the enemy has deceived you into not doing or into doing that's causing it to become worse. So again, demon strategize generationally. What is your prayer life like? How's your devotion to the word? Are you living clean? Are you obeying God's word? Are you just hearing it only? How's your thought life? Are you choosing the Philippians filter as I call it? Whatsoever is true? Whatsoever is pure? Whatsoever is lovely? Are you choosing that for your thought life? Or are you choosing to allow the thoughts and the lies that the enemy gives you to permeate your mind? Are you dwelling on the lies? Are you believing the lies? Are you repeating the lies to yourself? Yes, you do have control of your thoughts. The scripture tells us to think on these things. The Bible wouldn't tell us to think on these things if it wasn't possible to control our thoughts. So again, you have the enemy attacking you. How are you responding to those attacks? You have the enemy tempting you. How are you responding to those temptations? It's one thing to fill an attack. It's one thing to experience an attack. It's something else entirely to give in to those attacks of the enemy by the way we choose to live. So this is the difference between a curse and a consequence. How do you explain generations of alcoholism? Generations of poor choices. How do you explain generations of drug addiction? Generations of poor choices. You are not the victim of your parents' decisions. You are not the victim of your grandparents' decisions. You are victorious. You have authority. God has given you the power to live right and you can choose to pick that up again. That's not a message of condemnation. That's a message of encouragement. You do not have to settle for it. So how do you experience different consequences? You make different choices. Demons contempt you, but they don't do the drinking for you. Demons contempt you, but they don't run the internet search for you. Demons contempt you, but they don't take the drugs for you. Demons contempt you, but they don't do the cheating for you. You choose to give in to those temptations. Granted, it's not easy to fight these battles because they're perfectly crafted to tempt you. Perfectly crafted to torment you. And you have to be one to say, I'm gonna put on the armor of God, I'm gonna come against the attacks of the enemy and I'm not going to choose to make the same decisions that my parents made. Now let's talk practical consequences here. For example, maybe your grandparents made poor financial decisions. Well, poverty can be inherited, but that doesn't mean you're bound by that. You see, here's why I like to use the word consequence instead of curse. The word curse implies that you're powerless to do anything about it. The word curse implies that you need to find a special prayer to be free of it. The word curse implies that you have to go uncover some demonic riddles, some demonic mystery, some ancestral entry point that maybe you know nothing about and until then you're not gonna be free. Well, that's just not true. For whom the sun sets free is free indeed. Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. So we have to learn the difference between a consequence and a curse. You say, I hear so much talk guys about family bloodlines. Well, you know, in my family bloodline this or in my family bloodline that, my friend, whatever is in your family bloodline, there's nothing more powerful than the blood of Jesus. When you are born again, you are washed in the blood of Jesus. When you are born again, you are adopted, grafted in, translated into a new family with a new bloodline, with a new inheritance, with a new heritage, you become new. Behold, all things become new. Your past is gone. You've been taken out of that generation. You've been taken out of that bloodline. And now you've established a new heavenly one. So yes, it's true that our family bloodline can affect us in practical ways and of course can invite demonic attack and those enemies strategize against us, yes. But ultimately, when you're born again, you're washed in the blood of Jesus and the blood of Jesus is more powerful than your family bloodline, I promise you. So again, we have to learn the difference between a consequence and a curse. Oh, I'm under a curse of alcoholism. Okay, who did the drinking? Oh, I'm under a curse of adultery. Okay, but who did the cheating? Oh, I'm under the curse of a generational porn addiction. Okay, but who chose to run the internet search? I'm not saying that those demons aren't strategizing against you. They absolutely are. I'm saying the only power they have is the power you give them. So let's stop calling it generational curse and let's call it generational consequence based on generational choice. Demons strategize generationally, but those attacks only have as much power as you choose to give them. So that's number one, learn the difference between a consequence and a curse and by learning the difference between a consequence and a curse, you can defeat this attack of repeat generational trouble. Next, we see repeat bad and oppressive feelings. So you kind of have like this issue over you. Like, I can't tell you this, I'll tell you this. I've spoken to so many pastors who've come to me and say, David, somebody put a curse on me. David, somebody cast a spell. These are pastors. And I say, are you walking in the spirit? They say, yes. I said, how did they do it then? Well, I don't know. My family legal right. And you see the torment it creates. So to combat this idea, you have to learn the difference between correlation and causation. Just because something correlates doesn't mean it is the cause. I'll tell you what I mean. When I was a kid, I used to play this game with my brother at every intersection, well, not every intersection, but many intersections. We would sit in the car and the light would be red and I would say it's gonna turn green now. it's gonna turn green now. It's gonna turn green now. Like we would try to guess when the light would turn green and we would try to be the one that was right and get it right when it turned green. And so we could say, you know, 15, 20 times it's gonna turn green now. It's gonna turn green now. It's gonna turn green. And then it would turn green and go, there, I knew it. That's how curses work in the mind of the believer. There have been pastors I know, ministers I know, who come under attack even from other preachers. And those preachers will speak evil against them. All their ministry's gonna fail. All everyone's turning on them. All they're this, they slander them. Usually it's out of jealousy or competition. And so they're slandering them. And then here's what happens. People begin to jump on the bandwagon and they'll say things like, you know, something didn't sit right in my spirit with them either. And there are many believers who will dislike a man or woman of God because of some personal issue or an opinion they disagree with or their methodology or the terminology they use, whatever you may have. And the moment they find other believers who share in their disapproval of that minister, now suddenly they feel validated in what they would call their discernment. I know this is a little deep, but hear me out here. So these preachers who come under attack from other preachers, from other Christians, they become inundated with witchcraft. That's witchcraft to slander a man or woman of God, to try to turn people on them. That's witchcraft. That's how the devil operates. And it's always some type of justification that goes along with it. They try to make it seem justified like they're doing it for the sake of righteousness, but usually it's the sake for the sake of jealousy. And so here's what begins to happen. Watch this now. People begin to pile on, oh yeah, something didn't sit right. Oh yeah, I didn't like them either. Oh, I have a story too. And now you have all these people getting together, sharing in their disapproval of that man or woman of God. And because they share in their disapproval of that man or woman of God, somehow they think that they all heard from God. But sharing in your disapproval of someone doesn't mean that the Holy Spirit validated you. It just means you found other people who don't like that person too. But here's what happens. That pile on begins to come. And now that preacher starts to let that get to their head. They let the slander get to their head. They let their curses of the other people get to their head. Your ministry's gonna fail. Things are gonna take a turn. Your finances are gonna take a hit. Everyone's gonna turn on you. And this is so subtle. Watch this guys. So what begins to happen now is that individual who's being attacked will now begin to see through the lens, through the belief that they're cursed, that it's working. Oh yeah, people are turning on me. So what do they do? They maybe lash out, maybe say some things they shouldn't. And that turns more people. And so it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. When if they just realized those people don't have the power to cancel me or curse me, you can't cancel or curse who God is blessed. It's not possible. And most people overestimate their influence anyway to think that they can do that to someone else. And it just usually isn't the case. And so what ends up happening, and I've seen this happen, guys, I've seen this happen over and over and over and over again. Past of local churches, someone will leave their church and then they'll curse that pastor. And then others will begin to gossip and slander. And now what begins to happen, watch this, is that pastor begins to develop this complex. I know we're going deep, but I wanna dissect this for you because this is gonna expose how the enemy works. Now that pastor begins to develop this complex. They begin to lose their confidence. Their confidence is shaken now because now they're seeing people turn on them. Others are gossiping. It's affecting their heart. It's affecting their preaching. It's affecting their prayer life. And now they're wearing this lens, like a pair of glasses through which they're seeing everything. So if there's a small dip in the offering, they're gonna go, it's the curse. If they get a flat tire, they're gonna go, it's the curse. If another member leaves the church, they're gonna go, it's the curse. My ministry's failing. It's going downhill. And I can't tell you how many pastures I've spoken to where I tell them, you know, those issues you're facing, you've faced those before. Were you cursed then? I say no. So why now all of a sudden are you attributing that to some bitter ex-church member or some jealous minister who wants to come against you? Why are you even attributing that to a curse? Well, because it's the lens to which they're seeing it. And humans, by their own nature, are pattern seeking. Maybe you left the church. Let's use another analogy to examine this point. Maybe you left the church and the pastor told you that if you leave their church, you're cursed. First of all, if a pastor ever tells you that, that if you leave their church, you'll lose the anointing or you leave their church, you're not gonna fulfill the call. Or if you leave their church, you're basically leaving Jesus. That's a cult, guys. You can just walk away, run away. But here's what happens. The people of God will hear this from abusive manipulative leaders and they'll say, if you leave my church, you're cursed. You leave my church, you're not gonna fulfill the call. And so then they leave the church and now everything that happens to them that's bad, they attribute to that supposed curse. If they get sick, they go, oh, it's because I left the church. If their child gets injured, it's because I left the church. If they lose their job, it's because I left the church. Not realizing that's correlation, not causation. So that produces in them these feelings. And now they develop this complex, this fear. They lose their confidence in their relationship with God. They lose their confidence in who they are in Christ. And it brings this heaviness and that heaviness that they feel, they don't realize is coming because they're believing in the curse in the first place. In other words, the only power that thing has over you is your belief in it. But now you're seeing everything through this lens. You're seeing everything through that perspective and no matter what happens, you're gonna attribute to that so that it produces these bad feelings in you. So it's belief in the curse that gives it its power. That's correlation versus causation. So far we reviewed how to explain these generations of trouble. So alcoholism, drug addiction. Yes, it's a demonic attack. I wanna say that over and over again so nobody misunderstands me. Yes, demons do attack generationally. But that can only affect you if you disobey God or you choose to sin. And in that case, that wouldn't be a curse that would be a consequence of a choice that you made. So you're not a victim of your parents and grandparents decision. So that's number one, consequence versus curse. Next, we looked at correlation versus causation. Are these bad things coming because someone spoke something over me or are these bad things coming? Because that's just life and it happens to correlate at a time where I thought I was under this and that can produce that feeling. I remember I was talking to a couple, they were an evangelistic couple and I told them, you know, your belief in that is what's causing all these feelings of angst. And the moment they accepted that truth, oh, wouldn't you know it, the burdens lifted, the joy came back, the peace came back and all of a sudden they had their confidence back again and guess what, their ministry began to thrive again. Why? Because they just realized this is nonsense, that you can't curse who God has blessed. And finally, number three and guys, this is so important, this is so important. This is so important. Chaos versus curse. So we looked at consequence versus curse, correlation versus causation and now we're looking at chaos versus curse. You may find and this has to do with repeat bad situation. So the first one was like an ancestral problem. The second one was that feeling, that oppressiveness. How do you explain that? I just told you how we explain that. The third is you may feel like one thing after another. You lost the house, then you lost the car, then you lost the job, then you lost your insurance and somebody got sick, then somebody died, then you got sick and then you got injured and then somebody left you and then somebody slandered you and then it happened again and then just when you thought there was peace, it all happened again. These are trials of life and some might attribute that to a curse. In fact, I've seen many comments from believers and my heart breaks for them when they write things like, God just ignores me or I've been praying for years for God to break this curse and he's just ignoring me. I'm thinking that's not even biblical. The fact that you think you could get stuck under some curse for decades because you don't find the right cure. It's just guys, that is the very essence of legalism. And that's why many are tormented under that belief system. I know people who've wanted to end their lives because they've adopted this type of thinking and it's just not biblical. It's not truthful thinking. And so one thing after another happens and this is what I wanna say to you and I don't wanna come across as insensitive. A lot of this can come across as insensitive because we're dissecting the thought process behind these struggles that we have. But let me say this. Don't you realize that terrible things happen to believers on a regular basis? So look at what the Bible says. John 16 33, I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. Take heart because I have overcome the world. Here Jesus is saying you will have many trials and sorrows. Well, did the early church think that they were cursed because they faced the trials of persecution? Look at this, Psalm 3419. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. Romans chapter eight verses 35 to 37. Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Please hear this now. Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity or are persecuted or hungry or destitute or in danger or threatened with death? As the scriptures say, for your sake we are killed every day. We are being slaughtered like sheep. No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us. So when we face these trials, we can either throw up our hands and say, I'm cursed, God's abandoned me, this has to have something to do with some ancestral problem or we can say, even in this trial, I'm more than a conqueror. Maybe, and this isn't for everyone, maybe you're repeating the trial because you haven't passed the test of that trial and instead of developing the character that God wants you to develop, instead of learning to trust God even in the midst of the storm, you're trying to get yourself out of the test. You're trying to escape. Well, let God process you. Even in the midst of the trials, we are overwhelmingly victorious. Why? Because he loves us. Does it mean we're cursed if we go through issues? Does it mean we're cursed if we face one bad thing after another? Look at Paul the apostle. 2 Corinthians 11, 23 to 30. Look at what Paul went through. Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman but I have served him far more. I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me 39 lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and the day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts and on the seas. I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long and during many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold without enough clothing to keep me warm. And besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who has led astray and I do not burn with anger? If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. Paul was shipwrecked three times. I know some believers who will think they're cursed if they get in one car accident. If they face one trial, one issue, maybe instead of throwing up our hands and saying, I'm cursed, God's abandoned me, we begin to stand on the word and say, Lord, even in the trials I am blessed, in fact, write that in the comment section. Even in the trials I am blessed, the devil is a liar. No, your trials are not proof that you're cursed. No, your trials are not proof that God has abandoned you. Your trials are opportunities for growth. James 1, 2, through 4, dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow. For when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete needing nothing. So be truly glad, 1 Peter 1-6. There is wonderful joy ahead even though we must endure many trials for a little while. This isn't a message of defeat. This is a message of victory, even in the midst of the storm. One more point I wanna make, and I think it'll really just drive this home, and then I wanna give you a three simple keys to breaking the power of your belief in these curses. Let's just recap. What is a curse? A curse is simply to speak evil against. What power does that curse have? That curse only has as much power as the one who is speaking that curse. From where does this idea of curses come? Namely this idea that we have to break something our parents did in order to be free. That comes from Deuteronomy chapter five and verses like it, but upon closer examination, we see that doesn't have to do with what we would traditionally call a generational curse. How do you explain people who experience curses as born again believers? Well, for repeat generational trouble like alcoholism, drug abuse, that has to do with the consequences of choices that are made by generations. Next we see repeat bad and oppressive feelings like those preachers who developed that complex, oh, I'm cursed, my ministry is failing because someone's coming against them, or that church member who leaves a church out from under an abusive leader who now feels that oppression, feels that curse because some pastor told them their curse for leaving them. Well, that has to do with correlation versus causation. If you're just gonna see every single thing that you go through as proof that what they said came to pass, and you're gonna be very oppressed, and you're gonna have that feeling of heaviness. Next we see chaos versus curse. This is where we have to realize that trials, tragedies, all of these challenges that we face are not proof that God has abandoned you, they're not proof that you're cursed, but rather you are blessed even in the trials that is absolute Bible. Now I wanna drive this point home and then I wanna share with you how to break this attack. I want you to remember, you cannot curse the one that God has blessed. So can we be cursed today? What about this concept of legal right? Well, let's take a look at your legal standing according to scripture. Romans chapter three, verse 22, we are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes no matter who we are. So the righteousness of Christ has been imputed on you because of your faith in him. So what is your legal standing? Legally, you are standing in righteousness, okay? Let's read Romans 4-3. For the scriptures tell us, Abraham believed God and God counted him as righteous because of his faith. So Abraham believes now he's been given righteousness. That's the gift of righteousness given to us. How do we get that? We believe on Jesus, he says, okay, now your legal standing is righteous. Romans 3-24, yet God in his grace freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins. Guys, that's very pointed there. Let me read that again. He has God in his grace, freely made us right in his sight. In other words, according to God's opinion, your legal standing is righteousness. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins. Okay, so is the scripture saying that there's no consequence for wrongdoing? By no means. I just went over in my last point how the choices that you make will bear consequences, but instead of calling those consequences curses, just get your life right, repent, walk in the power of the Holy Ghost and if any trials come your way, rejoice in those and say, I'm blessed even in the trial. I'm not cursed in a trial. So no, I'm not saying that you can go on sinning and that there are no consequences, but the scripture makes it clear that you've been redeemed from the curse of the law. Watch this, Galatians 3.13. But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law when he was hung on the cross. He took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. Guys, it's right here in the Bible. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing for it is written in the scriptures. Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. So what is that curse? What is the curse of the law? Very plainly told to us in Romans 9.3. Romans 9.3 very plainly tells us what the curse of the law is. Watch this, for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters, I would be willing to be forever cursed, cut off from Christ if that would save them. So biblically speaking, to be cursed is to be cut off from Christ. That's God's curse. So as a born-again believer, God does not curse you because of the gift of righteousness given to you. Now this is not to say that you won't experience material and practical consequences for foolish and sinful decisions. Indeed in this world, you will bear the consequences of the choices that you make, but this does not mean that you're cut off from Christ because that curse was placed on the one who hung on a tree. So let me ask you this. What curses remain if some witch doctor should speak a curse over you? Well, a curse only has so much power as the one who speaks it. Does that witch doctor have any power over the believer? Some might interject, well, maybe there's a legal right. Some were in their generations. We just saw that's not biblically true. Well, maybe if the believer sins, they're gonna bear consequence for that sin. And now they're even gonna have the mental struggle of believing in the power of that curse because of that sin. Because of course it's believable that if you sin, they're gonna have some power over you. But can that witch, can that warlock speak some curse? Oh, brother David, I knew a pastor and the warlocks were cursing, cursing, cursing him. And six months later, he committed adultery. The light's gonna turn green now. The light's gonna turn green now. The light's gonna turn green now. The light's gonna turn green now. Ah, there it is. I'm gonna curse that pastor. I'm gonna curse that pastor. I'm gonna curse that pastor. Oh, he commits adultery. There's proof of my curse. Guys, correlation is not causation. And in fact, I would say that that was the pastor's decision to fall into adultery, not some witch doctor's decision. So again, you may have these stories, but that's the difference between correlation and causation. Now, if God speaks a curse, who can undo it? So can a witch doctor curse a born again believer? No, is there some legal right? No, why? Because we're standing in the righteousness of Christ. So can some demon pronounce a curse? Well, if God calls you blessed, how can they curse you? Okay, well, will God speak a curse? Because if God spoke a curse over you, there's no freedom. And by the way, when we talk about those Old Testament generational curses, that's a curse from God. That's not a curse from some demon. That's a curse from God. And who among us is powerful enough to undo that curse, only Christ Jesus? Which is why when we are born again, we are redeemed from the curse of that law, okay? So additionally, others who curse you don't have the power to undo what God has spoken. Here's an example of a curse, Galatians 1, 8 through 9. Let God's curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of good news than the one we preach to you. I say again, what we have said before, if anyone preaches any other good news than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed. But that's God's curse. What is that curse? To be cut off from Christ for preaching a false gospel. You can't bless who God has cursed. You can't curse who God has blessed. Nobody's words are that powerful. Nobody's words are that powerful. I mean, imagine a witch doctor coming against you, a spirit-filled believer walking with the Lord, loving Jesus, doing as you should, and God goes, sorry, my hands are tied. Your great, great, great, great, great, great grandmother was involved in something very wicked, and now I have no power to set you free until you, A, find that discovery in your family lineage, B, enact a bunch of rituals to undo that, and then, C, specifically speak out against that particular thing. Guys, this is why we gotta get back to scripture. This is why so many believers are tormented. This is why so many people are not free. Look, any believer I've seen who comes out from that type of thinking walks in freedom. Any believer I've seen who rejects the truth here of what's being said and goes back to that continues to walk in that bondage. So, you can't curse who God has blessed. You can't bless who God has cursed. Here's a perfect example of when someone tried to curse God's people without God's backing. Numbers 2241, the next morning, Baeluk took Baelum up to B'moth Bael. From there, he could see some of the people of Israel spread out below him. Chapter 23, verses one through 12. Then Baelum, the prophet, said to King Baeluk, build me seven altars here and prepare seven young bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice. Verse two, Baeluk followed his instructions and the two of them sacrificed the young bull in a ram on each altar. Then Baelum said to Baeluk, stand here by your burnt offerings and I will go to see if the Lord will respond to me. Then I will tell you whatever he reveals to me. So Baelum went alone to the top of a bare hill and God met him there. Baelum said to him, this is the prophet speaking now to the Lord, I have prepared seven altars and have sacrificed a young bull and a ram on each altar. The Lord gave Baelum a message for King Baeluk King Baeluk is trying to curse God's people. Then he said, go back to Baeluk and give him my message. So Baelum returned and found the king standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab. So he's waiting, okay, what did God say? Verse seven, this was the message Baelum delivered. Baeluk summoned me to come from a ram. The king of Moab brought me from the eastern hills. Come, he said, curse Jacob for me. Come and announce Israel's doom. But how can I curse those whom God has not cursed? See, not even a prophet. Guys, are Christian superstitions, are charismatic superstitions? Again, I'm charismatic. I love the prophetic. I love deliverance. I love speaking in tongues. I love all of that. But we have these charismatic superstitions like this old wives tale. You know as a prophet, you gotta be very careful what you say because you can do things in the spirit realm. And that's true to some degree because prophets have credibility and authority. And again, they can encourage or discourage, speak deception or truth. They can speak something that drives someone closer to God or pulls them away. They can speak something that causes someone to be bold or fearful, right? So we know that that has some power but this creative power, guys, Baelum couldn't do it. Baelum was a prophet and he couldn't do it. So this is what the Bible says. How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? In other words, it's not in the prophet's power. How can I condemn those whom the Lord has not condemned? I see them from the cliff tops. I watch them from the hills. I see a people who live by themselves set apart from other nations. Who can count Jacob's descendants as numerous as dust? Who can count even a fourth of Israel's people? Let me die like the righteous, let my life end like theirs. Then King Baelum demanded of Baelum, what have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies. Instead, you have blessed them. But Baelum replied, I will speak only the message that the Lord puts in my mouth. Some of you are afraid of these prophets of God who've manipulated you, who've tried to intimidate you, saying that they're gonna speak something over you because they're a prophet and they have it. Listen, if God didn't give them the authority to pronounce that curse, there's no curse that will work against you. I rebuke that in Jesus' mighty name. That is witchcraft. That manipulation, fear and intimidation, trying to get you to believe in their so-called power when they have no power to do it. So this idea that, oh, well, if you're a prophet, you can do it. Guys, Baelum couldn't do it. And that prophet who tried to intimidate you, those prophets who are trying to manipulate you, guys, you don't have to be afraid of that. You don't have to be afraid of that because if God didn't give them that word, then they don't have the power to do it. And so as long as you're walking with the Lord, my goodness, what do you have to fear? So if a prophet couldn't do it, oh, please hear me, saints of God. If a prophet of the most high God filled with the Spirit who had power and authority from heaven could not by their own will bring a curse on God's people, what on earth makes you think a witch doctor can? Let me say that again. Type amen in the comments if you're receiving this. If a prophet of God who walks with the Lord, who's filled with the Holy Spirit, cannot by his or her own will pronounce a curse on God's people, what on earth do you think a witch doctor can do who's operating in a way lower level of power? But the stories, guys, we've already went over it. Consequence versus curse, correlation versus causation, chaos versus curse. Once you learn those, you begin to see it very clearly. No, they have no power, not over the children of the most high. Deuteronomy 23, four and five puts it very plainly. These nations did not welcome you with food and water when you came out of Egypt. Instead, they hired Balaam, son of Bior, from Pethor, to curse you. Verse five, I love this. But the Lord your God refused to listen to Balaam. He turned the intended curse into a blessing because the Lord your God loves you. In other words, Balaam couldn't do it without God's, not even a prophet can curse you without God's approval. And so this begs the question, well, what if God gives the approval? We just read your redeem from the curse of the law. Well, what if God gives a legal right because of something your parents did? We just read in scripture. He does not visit the sins of the father on the son. We read it in Ezekiel, very clearly. Ezekiel 1820, for those of you who want to go back in reference. Remember, a curse is to speak against insult to wish evil upon. When God speaks the curse, it happens. When we speak a curse, the effects can only go so far. And you know, for the most part, the damage I've seen done by people who speak curses, that damage comes from the psychological torment that comes upon the individual because they believe in their power. I'm serious. The damage comes because of the psychological torment. They're afraid, oh my goodness, they cursed me. And now they're walking in that fear. So how do you break the power of this specific attack? Number one, believe the truth. Stop believing things that are not founded in scripture, especially about the spiritual realm. Especially things that contradict the word. Believe the truth and allow yourself to humble yourself before the word and say, man's religious traditional teachings present this fear-based reality, but God's truth by the Holy Spirit present this reality and then choose to believe the word. Guys, I'm telling you right now, many of you are beginning to sense peace. Many of you are having aha moments. Others are going, I don't know, this sounds different and different is good because if different worked, if you're different worked, you would have been free by now. So try something now that's biblical. Try something now that's balanced. Try something now that's spirit led. That truth is setting you free. If only you let it, some of you are arguing against your deliverance right now. Not all of you, very small minority, but still I care about you too where you're listening to it going, no, this is different than what I've taught, so I'm rejecting it. So you're going to embrace the ideology that keeps you bound. You're going to embrace the ideology that puts the payment for your freedom on you. People of God, be free. That's number one, believe the truth. So choose to believe the truth. Number two, live right, stop messing around. Get in the word, get in the prayer, worship the Lord, live clean. You do that and the consequences that you call a curse will vanish. You'll still face trials, but again, that's chaos versus curse. We all face trials just because you go through a trial doesn't mean your curse. You're blessed even in the trials. And number three, draw near to God. Draw near to God. That is so key. Just walk with him. Demons cannot swim in the depths of God. You walk in the Holy Spirit and you're going to experience levels of freedom you've never known. We're so focused on darkness, aren't we? Darkness, darkness, darkness, darkness, darkness, darkness this, darkness that. Darkness is coming through our music. Darkness is coming through the TV. Darkness is coming for your children. Darkness is coming in your dreams. What about the light? Why don't we talk about the light of the spirit? Because even as you're hearing this now, I know there may be layers of you that are hesitating but deep within you in your spirit, man, there's a connection here because your burdens are being lifted. There's a freedom, a sense of hope that's now beginning to develop. That's the presence of the precious Holy Spirit. That's what happens when you stand on the word. Truth is setting you free. Holy Spirit, help them do it. Help them to embrace this truth. Remind them of who they are in you, precious Lord. Remind them that they are blessed. They are favored. They are victorious. That they are loved. I come against every generational attack of the enemy that would seek to do them harm. We rebuke those attacks now in Jesus' name. And I pray you would give them wisdom and courage and revelation that they might continue to walk in freedom. Lord, break the power of those cravings of that addiction. Break the power of the cravings of that alcoholism. Break the power of the cravings of that pornography addiction. Break the power of that lust over them in Jesus. And Lord, by your delivering hand, break that bondage. And help them to walk in freedom by believing the truth. That's the power of God flowing right now. That is the power of God flowing right now. Receive it now. In Jesus' name we pray. I want you to say it because you believe it. Say amen and type in the comment section, I am free. If you enjoyed this message and you think others need to hear it, share it. Don't forget to leave a like just by leaving a like, you're helping to spread the teaching. And if you haven't done so already, subscribe to my channel for more teachings and ministry on the Holy Spirit prayer and spiritual warfare. And now I'd like to encourage you, challenge you even to participate in what God is doing through this ministry. We have been for the past couple of years in a tremendous season of growth in favor and expansion. And just when I think we're reaching the peak of it or it's leveling off, God does something and the ministry just has another growth spurt. One has been growth spurt after growth spurt, each one bigger than the last and it is God's doing. And so I want to invite you to be a part of what the Holy Spirit is doing in the earth today. Help our ministry continue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit all around the world through events and media. Our live streams are free. Our videos are free. Our events are free. All of that is donor supported. And the more people we reach, the larger the events get. We were just in California, thousands showed up to the California event. Beautiful time in the presence of the Holy Spirit, but the venues are getting bigger. So we need more resources to hold larger events, reach more people through media. We help us do it. If you've been blessed by this ministry, will you consider today right now becoming a monthly ministry supporter? You can go right now to DavidHernandezMinistries.com slash partner to sign up to be a monthly giver. Your giving is so appreciated. I know, I know, I know that our partnership will yield much fruit. If you'd like to give a single donation, you can go to DavidHernandezMinistries.com slash donate. I'm asking you to be generous, to be sacrificial, that we might continue to go and grow strong. So whether you're giving something large or small, a single gift or a monthly gift, all of it counts, but will you do it right now? One more time, DavidHernandezMinistries.com slash partner to become a monthly supporter slash donate to give a single gift. If you're giving internationally, try to give to the website. If you can't give to the website, then of course you can use YouTube and Facebook, but use the website first. We also use cryptocurrency within that donation form. So for those of you who've been asking about donating cryptocurrency, you can do so at that website that you were given, DavidHernandezMinistries.com slash donate. DavidHernandezMinistries.com slash partner. Just ask the Holy Spirit, what would you like me to do for your ministry? And then so I know the Lord will bless you for it. Well, that's it for this message and this stream. Until next time, remember, nothing is impossible with God.