Protection In The Home
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What God's Word Teaches
But when the Bible repeatedly warns that the effects of sin can be felt for generations in a family, we need to understand what God is telling us. So as you consider how your family can resist Satan's attacks, you must be alert to potential ancestral problems. Let's consider the teaching of the Scriptures on this important point.
The Old Testament
The first occurrence of this concept is in Exodus 20:5
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
in the giving of the Ten Commandments. After forbidding Israel to make or bow down to any graven or "carved image," God tells Moses, "I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me."
If this were the only time God said this, it would be no less important. But the same warning occurs at least four more times in the books of Moses: Exodus 34:7
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
39 And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.
40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;
18 The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
and Deuteronomy 5:9
9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,
In addition, the prophets refer to the concept of iniquity's, or sin's consequences upon children in Isaiah 14:21 and Jeremiah 14:20.
The reference in Leviticus 26 is fascinating. God is warning the people of Israel that if they are unfaithful to Him, He will punish them and drive them from the land. But if the people confess their iniquities and the iniquities of their fathers (v. 40), He will remember His covenant promises to previous generations and restore them (v. 42).
In other words, the blessings of righteousness and faithfulness to God pass on through generations. Why should it seem strange that the consequences of sin and rebellion against Him would do the same in modern times?
The New Testament
In the New Testament, two primary words are translated as "iniquity," and they are used equally. One word focuses on the aspect of iniquity which is unrighteousness or wickedness, and a different word expresses iniquity as lawlessness.
Interestingly, these two words are used interchangeably in Matthew 7:23
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
which are parallel passages.
They're actually compound words, but to form the compound Matthew uses the former word and Luke the latter. Both are translated "iniquity" in the KJV.
Since sin is an expression of our self-will, it helps me to think of iniquity as the expression of sinful self-will in a particular area. The fact that God speaks of a father's iniquities passing on to his descendants doesn’t negate the mother's influence. It does underscore the tremendous influence and responsibility God gives to fathers.
21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
I believe strongly that God has assigned the father’s primary authority in the home. It has to do with the protection I talked about earlier. Just as the church offers spiritual protection to believers, so the father gives spiritual protection to the home. If he is out of it spiritually, the protection is removed and the family is vulnerable.
Freedom from Family Iniquity
A father who is bound in iniquity can pass along a spirit of iniquity and open up his wife and children to the temptation and attacks of the enemy. And the results will worsen with each succeeding generation until the enemy's strongholds are torn down. I know one missionary to Iran told how in his village children come out of the womb demon-possessed.?
Along with the steps to freedom I've already outlined, I take my counselees who are dealing with this issue through four simple steps to break the cycle of family iniquity:
Acknowledge the iniquity.
We have an obvious biblical precedent for this act of confession. Nehemiah confessed the sins of his "father's house" in Nehemiah 1:6, and in 9:2 "those of Israelite lineage" confessed "the iniquities of their fathers." Daniel made the same confession in Daniel
9:16. In fact, I urge you to read all of his marvelous prayer (wv. 3-19).
Ask God to cleanse the iniquity in the blood of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
The blood of Christ is the cleansing agent of every sin (1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
it is the blood that can set you free from family iniquity.
Ask God to reclaim any ground given to Satan and tear down every stronghold.
I encourage those I counsel to declare: "In the name of Christ, I declare every legal hold and every legal ground of the enemy broken and destroyed. Satan has no legal right to harass my family. Thank you Lord for setting my family free.
Blessings and Cursing
The issue of curses being part of spiritual warfare may cause you to struggle as I once did. It's difficult to accept the idea that a curse can have any impact for the same reasons you and I have a hard time accepting the idea of demonic transfer or ancestral spirits. It's so non-Western. It doesn't fit our conservative theology. I said to myself more than once about ancestral curses: This was something that only happened in Bible times, and today it only happens "over there" in
"heathen" lands.
But after some of my travels and encounters with people, I decided I needed to thoroughly study what God's Word says about curses.
So I studied every passage in the Bible that dealt with curses. The first thing I saw was that the Bible usually links curses with blessings.
What do we typically do, however? We separate chem. We say, "TIl take the blessings, but I don't want to hear about the curses."
What God's Word Says
But the Bible isn't a cafeteria line. We can't just choose the items we want to believe. The children of Israel enjoyed God's blessings for obedience. But if they disobeyed, they came under His curse. When Joshua read the law to the people, he read every word, including "the blessings and the cursings" Joshua 8:34
34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.
Another fact I soon learned about curses is how powerful they are.
I read of a husband who told his father-in-law that if anyone had his household idols in their possession, he should let that person die (Genesis 31:32
32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
Jacob pronounced that curse not knowing that his wife Rachel had stolen the idols, and she died in childbirth.
King Saul cursed anyone who ate food on a certain day (1 Samuel 14:24 Who ate food, not knowing about the curse?
Saul's own son, Jonathan, who later died in battle.
24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
But to me, the most amazing account is that of King David after his adultery with Bathsheba. When the prophet Nathan came to David and told him the story about the rich man who stole the poor man's pet lamb, David became enraged and decreed that the one who had done this should pay back the debt "fourfold" (2 Samuel 12:5-6
5 And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
This was a curse on the guilty party.
Nathan then revealed that David was the guilty man, and we see how his own curse of fourfold payment fell upon his family. David himself did not die, but over time, he lost four sons:
the baby conceived in the adultery (2 Samuel 12:19
19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
Amnon (IISam 13:29
29 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
Absalom (IISam 18:14
14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
and Adonijah (1 Kings 2:24-25
24 Now therefore, as the Lord liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.
25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.
Let me tell you, when you see this in Scripture, you can't escape the fact that curses are legitimate—no wonder God says we are not to curse people, but to bless. If you want a good study in Scripture, check out the places where a family put its special blessing on a member.
We wanted to make the occasion very special. I began reading the Scriptures and asking God what our family could do to send my daughter into her marriage with something special to cherish.
I remembered the story of Rebekah, when Abraham's servant came to her home in search of a bride for Isaac (Genesis 24). Rebekah's family sent her on her way to Isaac with a blessing (v. 60). As soon as I read that, I knew what we could do. S
Family Curses
Families can put curses on their children. In the case of parents or other family members who are practicing occultists or Satan worshipers, the curse may be some form of ritual that prescribes harsh punishment for anyone who leaves the group or reveals its secrets. We're told that members of organized crime take an oath of loyalty and secrecy on pain of death for any violations.
But many other families who have never been involved in any of this still curse their children.
Fathers can curse their children by withholding their blessing or by crippling the children emotionally through abuse or constant criticism. Tell a child often enough that he's worthless and will never amount to anything; it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. He will live up to those expectations, or should I say down.
How many fathers do you know who have blessed their sons?
How many sons would give anything for their father's blessing? Many nights when I was growing up, I wept for just a little bit of a blessing from my father. I didn't know anything about the Bible. All I wanted was some word of approval from my dad.
If a curse opens a person up to the enemy’s influence, then I believe these kinds of things are curses in the truest sense of the word. The reason is they have the same effect as a curse. If the person believes the lie contained in the curse-"you're no good," for example-the enemy has gained a foothold in his life from which he can build strongholds built on more lies.
I've mentioned how the deep sense of worthlessness and inferior ity I inherited from my upbringing had tremendous repercussions in my life long after I became a Christian. Not only was I terrified almost to the point of paralysis by a fear of rejection and what people would think of me, I also remember other effects. I thought, for instance, that I had to have perfect kids or people would reject me and not like us. Imagine the pressure that put on my kids. The children would say,
"Who cares what people think?" Their dad cared, because I was afraid.
I had to have a new car to feel better about myself. But long after the new-car smell went away, the payments didn't. This stronghold touched every area of my life. But when the truth came, it crumbled like the walls of Jericho.
Breaking the Curse
If there is evidence that a person in counseling suffers from the effects of a curse, I try to deal with that as a separate issue. Since many of the people who come to me have a history of occultic or satanic involvement, it's possible that they may have taken some oath or even pledged themselves to Satan and put themselves under a curse.
As in our counseling and praying, there is nothing magic about the words. The power is in the person and name of Christ.
Though the thought of curses is sobering and at times frightening, God gives us great encouragement in the Scriptures. We end this chapter with a great spiritual truth about our deliverer, Jesus Christ.
As the apostle Paul noted in Galatians 3:10-14
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Christ broke the greatest curse of all, "the curse of the law" that the entire human race was under because of our sin and failure to live up to God's perfect law. We can rejoice today that Jesus became a curse for us so that we could enjoy the blessings of salvation!
Family Iniquities and Curses
Family iniquities, or self-will in a particular area of life, can be passed from generation to generation. How do we stop the cycle and find freedom in Christ? Here are four basic action steps, which are discussed in greater detail later in the chapter.
1. Acknowledge the specific iniquity. For help in how to pray, read Daniel's prayer in Daniel 9:3-19
3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
4 And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
14 Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.
18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
2. Ask God to cleanse the iniquity in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Ask God to reclaim any ground given to Satan and tear down every stronghold.
4. Claim Psalm 103:17
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children’s children;
that from now on, the righteousness of your family will be your heritage for your children and for future generations. Also, commit this great verse to memory.
For the breaking of a curse, here is a suggested prayer you may find helpful:
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I come to You desiring to be free from all curses and their results. I thank You for saving me and cleansing me of my sin. I confess that I belong to You.
I now confess and repent of all my sins, known and unknown. I now confess the sins of my forefathers. In the name of the blood of Jesus Christ I break and renounce the power of every demonic curse that was passed down to me by the sins and actions of others. I now renounce, break, and loose myself and my family from all demonic subjection to any human being who has in the past or is now controlling me or my family in any way contrary to the Word and the will of God. In the name of Jesus Christ. I break the power and hold of every curse that has come to me through disobedience - mine or my forefathers. I claim release to live in freedom through the Blood of The Lord Jesus Christ. Amen