The Authority and Power of Jesus Over Demons

by Albert Kang

As Jesus began his public ministry, the Gospels recorded a remarkable encounter that revealed his sovereign authority over the demonic realm. In the synagogue, Jesus confronted a man possessed by an unclean spirit (Luke 4:33-36). When the demon sensed the presence of its mortal enemy, it cried out in protest, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” (Luke 4:34). But rather than engaging the demon in debate, Jesus responded with unwavering command, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” (Luke 4:35).

This incident is deeply instructive, for it demonstrates a fundamental truth about spiritual warfare. Demons may hate God and defiantly resist His will, but they are ultimately powerless against the sovereign authority of the Son of God. As the text states, “the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm” (Luke 4:35). The onlookers were left “amazed” at the sheer power of Jesus’ words (Luke 4:36).

What accounts for this remarkable display of dominance over the demonic? The key lies in the distinction between God’s moral will and His sovereign will. The moral will of God is revealed in commandments like the Ten Commandments. These instructions are the ethical precepts that demons will brazenly defy. But there is another aspect of God’s will, His sovereign will, which demons are totally powerless to resist.

When God exercised His sovereign will and said, “Let there be light,” light came into being. When Jesus commanded, “Lazarus, come out,” the dead man could not resist the command of life into his dead body and got up to walk out of the tomb. And when Jesus declared to the unclean spirit, “Be silent and come out of him,” the demon had no choice but to obey. This is the authority and power that left the people in the synagogue utterly astonished.

The implications of this truth are profound. As followers of Christ, we need not cower in fear before the forces of darkness. For we serve a Savior who has been given “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). When we stand firm in our faith and invoke the name of Jesus, even the mightiest demons must submit to His sovereign command.

In Luke 9:1-2, we read, “He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and heal.” This is a staggering commission. Jesus was not merely sending them out as passive messengers but directly empowering them with His divine authority.

The text specifies that He gave them “power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases.”  This was no small matter. Demons were understood to be powerful spiritual forces that could torment and possess human beings. Yet Jesus was entrusting His followers with the ability to cast out these unclean spirits and bring healing to the afflicted.

But the disciples’ mission was more than just casting out demons and miraculous healings. Jesus also sent them “to proclaim the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:2). In other words, they were to be authoritative heralds of the new reality that Jesus had inaugurated – the breaking in of God’s reign on earth. This is the “two-hand punch” that every believer must apply in their ministry – applying power and authority to minister healing miracles, casting out demons, and sharing the Gospel.

This theme was further developed in Luke 10, where Jesus commissioned 70 or 72 additional disciples and sent them out in pairs. Once again, the emphasis is on the authority and power they have been given. As Jesus instructed them, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you” (Luke 10:19).

The implication is clear – those who faithfully represent Jesus as His authorized messengers will be supernaturally empowered to overcome the forces of darkness. They will have the authority to pronounce judgment on demonic powers and declare the triumph of God’s kingdom.

This is a remarkable trust that Jesus placed in His followers. He was not sending them out as mere cheerleaders or bystanders but as authorized agents of His own divine rule. And this authority and power were not for their own aggrandizement but for the advancement of the Gospel and the liberation of the captives.

The same commission stands for Jesus’ disciples today. We too have been entrusted with the authority of the kingdom, empowered by the Holy Spirit to confront the powers of evil, proclaim the good news, and see God’s reign established in the lives of those we reach. What an awesome privilege and responsibility this is!

May we, like the original disciples, faithfully steward this authority and power for the glory of Christ and the expansion of his kingdom. For the battle is the Lord’s, and the victory is assured.

This truth should fill our hearts with boldness and confidence. No matter how daunting the spiritual battle may seem, we can take courage knowing that Jesus has already secured the ultimate victory. With His authority and power behind us, we can advance the kingdom of God and set the captives free, to the glory of his name.

Note: If you are interested in learning how to exercise your faith to do Power Evangelism, here is a free video course for you on YouTube by Rev Albert Kang.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe-frSJlCn8oowZ6SSLlH831OZdz-twV7&si=fI_xc-5u3v0J1Otf

The Distinction Between Commanding Healing and Praying for the Sick: Why We Do Not Say “Amen”

In our healing ministry, Grace and I used to encounter people who were curious why we did not say “Amen” after we commanded healing for the infirm. In the ministry of healing, there are two types of ministers, and thus exists a distinction between commanding healing and praying for the sick. We who were trained by Pastor William Lau of The Elijah Challenge, practice the “healing command” approach. The other approach practiced by other churches is by praying for the sick. While both practices aim to alleviate suffering and restore health, the approach and intention behind each differ significantly. This article explores why we do not say “Amen” after commanding healing, as opposed to concluding prayers with this customary word.

Understanding the Difference:
In the New Testament, Jesus and His disciples commanded healing for the infirm, they were not engaging in prayer but rather rebuking infirmities or demons. This practice is more biblical because we are engaging in spiritual warfare and through the power and authority of Jesus, we can directly address and cast out ailments or spiritual entities that are causing the illness.

On the other hand, praying for the sick involves seeking God’s intervention and guidance in restoring health, often accompanied by supplication, intercession, and surrendering to His will. It is not wrong to pray for the sick but in our experience, we find it to be less effective. For example, in the previous twenty years of my ministry, I prayed for the sick and only about ten people were healed. However, since 2005, after Grace and I had learned the “healing command” method advocated by The Elijah Challenge, we have more than 10,000 people healed.

The Act of Commanding Healing:
When commanding healing, as recorded in Luke 9:1-2 and also Luke 10:9, we assert our God-given power and authority as believers in Jesus Christ to rebuke diseases or pain. By invoking the mighty name of Jesus, we confront and drive out these afflictions. This act of rebuking is not a form of prayer but rather an authoritative divine power against the infirmities or spiritual forces at work.

Rebuking Infirmities or Demons:
In commanding healing, sometimes, we have to address infirmities or demons associated with sickness. The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual discernment that certain illnesses may have spiritual origins or be influenced by evil forces. By rebuking these infirmities or demons, we aim to release the person from their grip and restore them to health. This practice aligns with biblical teachings that emphasize the power of Jesus’ name in overcoming all evil forces.

The Absence of “Amen”:
The word “Amen” holds significant meaning in the kingdom of God, often used to conclude prayers as a way of expressing agreement, affirmation, or acceptance. However, when commanding healing, the absence of “Amen” is intentional. This omission reflects the distinction between prayer and rebuking. Commanding healing is not a supplication to God but an authoritative act against the infirmities or demons causing illness.

Praying to God:
In contrast to commanding healing, when we pray to God for healing, we always conclude our prayers with “Amen.” This ecclesiastical practice signifies the end of the prayer and expresses trust in God’s will and power. By saying “Amen,” we express our submission to God’s authority and accept His plans for our lives.

Summary: The Distinction Between Commanding And Praying
The distinction between commanding healing and praying for the sick lies in the approach and intention behind each practice. When commanding healing, we rebuke infirmities or demons in the name of Jesus, addressing them directly without engaging in prayer. As a result, the customary word “Amen” is not used. Conversely, when praying to God for any request, we conclude our prayers with “Amen” as an expression of trust and submission to His will.

Empowered Witnesses For Christ

There is a story about a believer who prayed to God for the courage to witness for Jesus. He said, “Father in heaven, if you really want me to witness to someone about Jesus, please show me a sign as to who this person is.”

Later that day, he took a bus and realized he was the only passenger. Then, the bus stopped for another passenger. The timid Christian was shocked to see this tall tattooed man boarding the bus. And his fear became more intense as the man sat right beside him.

The timid believer was praying for the bus to stop quickly so that he could get away from this scary man. However, before he could do anything, the man turned and talked to him. He was surprised because he could see tears in that man’s eyes.

The man said quietly, “I had a terrible dream and found myself in hell. You looked like an intelligent man. Can you tell me how not to go to hell?” The timid believer said, “Wait, let me pray about this!” He immediately bowed his head and asked the Lord, “Is this the sign for me to witness now?”

POWERFUL WITNESSES
You may laugh at the reaction of this believer because the Lord had made it so obvious. Sadly, this story represents the fact that many Christians do not see the need or have the knowledge of witnessing for Jesus. They consider witnessing or evangelism as a secondary requirement, in spite of the fact that they are specially called to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.

In Acts 1:8, Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” You are not just going to be a witness but you will be a powerful one. This power that Jesus promised is not just for the disciples in the Bible but for every believer today.

We have been given the power of the Holy Spirit to boldly witness and share the gospel with confidence and speak the truth in love. We can command healing for the sick and see them healed, and we can cast out demons in the name of Jesus. As we apply the “two-hand” punch – applying the power and authority to heal the sick and cast out demons plus sharing the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, the power of the Holy Spirit will help us to overcome fear and doubt. We can trust in God’s strength and not our own abilities. People will be miraculously healed and they would want to know what supernatural power heals them. And that is when we can share the Gospel with confidence. When we step out by faith, the Holy Spirit will always empower us to do what we cannot do on our own.

LIFE WITH AGAPE LOVE
Power Evangelism is effective when it is enhanced by our life testimony. We have to live a life that reflects this Agape love and grace of God. We witness for Jesus is by being the love of Jesus extended. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and this includes everyone we come into contact with. When we show kindness, compassion, and forgiveness to others, it can be a powerful witness to the love of Jesus. Oftentimes, the seed of salvation is planted.

AUTHENTIC FAITH
By being authentic and true to ourselves, God will use our unique testimony to touch others for Christ. While this can seem intimidating at times, however, it is important to remember that we do not have to be perfect or have all the answers. Instead, we can simply share our own personal experiences with Jesus and how He has transformed our lives. As unique individuals, God has indeed given each of us a unique story to share. We can share our testimony, how we came to know Jesus, and the ways in which He has worked in our lives. When we are open and honest about our struggles and how Jesus has helped us through them, we can be powerful witnesses to others.

In conclusion, witnessing for Jesus can seem intimidating, but it is important to remember that we do not have to be perfect or have all the answers. By being authentic and true to ourselves, loving others, and living out our faith in our daily lives, we can be powerful witnesses for Jesus Christ.

Here is a video on how God can empower you to change the world
https://youtu.be/sO1i-zj2FF8

Here is another message by Rev Dr. Wilson Ng that will bless you too.
https://youtu.be/jVhT0yx2uHc

What Does It Mean To Be Seated In Heavenly Realms?

The question is often asked, “how can we be seated with Christ in the heavenly realms if we are still here upon this earth?” Let’s look at what Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:4-7

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

The Theory of the Spiritual Position
Some teachers of the Bible believe that this is a spiritual position. The idea is that though we are living in the physical realm and experiencing natural realities, our spirit “in Christ” is seated in the exalted spiritual realm known also as “heavenly places”. This is supposedly the spiritual realm of Christ’s victories and therefore, you are expected to live in His favor and victory on earth.

Does your spirit need to leave your body to enter into the heavenly realms? Some teachers have the idea that is very similar to Plato’s dualism (but not in its entirety). If my understanding of what they believe is correct, then they are saying that the body and spirit are two separate entities and can exist in different spheres. So, the spirit is “seated” in the heavenly realms with Christ while the body on earth is being directed by that human spirit that is seated above. I do not subscribe to this mystical idea and I will explain why later.

The Theory of the Legal Position
Other teachers suggest that this “seated in heavenly realms” is an expression of our legal position. We are still here on earth and the “heavenly places” expression has to do with our legal rights being restored by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. To them, our new legal position has placed us not so much as being physically there in the heavenly realms with Christ but having the legal rights and authority of Christ who is in the heavenly realms. Our real-life condition remains staunchly here on earth but we function with heavenly authority. This theory sounds plausible but is it really what the Bible is teaching?

The Prophetic Perfect
Having discussed the two commonly preached positions, let’s venture into the biblical understanding of this exciting portion in Ephesians 2:4-7. For this purpose, I like to introduce you to a particular style of writing of the Bible known as the Prophetic Perfect. Bible scholars recognize the Hebraic and Aramaic idiom of using past tense to express the certainty of something in the future. This is known as the “perfective of confidence” – something that God is so confident that in His mind, even though the event is still in the future, He declares it as accomplished or has already happened.

The Promise To Abraham
For example, in Genesis 15:18, in the original Hebrew text, it is “To your descendants, I have given this land.” At that time, all those descendants had not existed and how could God give them the land? You would not be asking this question if you understood that God was using prophetic perfect in his promise. He was so confident in giving this land to Abraham’s descendants and so He used the prophetic perfect to emphasize the certainty of the event one thousand years before it actually happened.
There are just too many occasions that the prophetic perfect has been used in the Bible for me to list all of them here. Let me give you a few more examples:

Victory In A Battle
A quick reference to Numbers 21:34 (NIV) –  The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you, along with all his people and his land. Do the same to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon.” 
The context of this portion was God assuring Moses that Israel would win the battle against Og, the king of Bashan. Here most of the English translators kept the original prophetic perfect meaning. Reading the NIV translation, you may think that the battle was already over because God said, “I have handed him over to you, along with all his people and his land.” The truth is that the battle had not been fought yet but in the mind of God, it was already a done deal.

The Coming Of The Messiah
Let’s check a prophecy about the coming of Jesus, given by Balaam. We read Numbers 24:17 (NIV) – “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” Did you realize that in most English translations this portion is in the future tense except in the Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)? The reason is that Robert Young the translator followed rigidly what he read in both the Textus Receptus (TR) and the Masoretic Text (MT). Young’s translation has accurately expressed the Hebrew text of the prophetic perfect tense – “A star hath proceeded from Jacob, And a scepter hath risen from Israel.”
This was to be fulfilled by Christ 1,400 years after the prophecy but in the sight of God, it was already a done deal.

Let’s look at another popular scripture about the coming of Jesus – Isaiah 9:6. God was so certain of the coming of His Son that He made Isaiah write in the prophetic perfect tense- “To us, a child has been born, to us a son has been given, and the government has been on his shoulders, and he has been called Wonderful, Counselor….” Can you now recognize the force of the prophetic perfect tense? Isaiah was writing as though this birth of Jesus was a past event, even though he knew that it would be something far in the future – actually 700 years into the future.

Prophetic Perfect Tense In The New Testament
What about the prophetic perfect tense in the New Testament? We have to remember that the New Testament was written in Greek but by people who were mostly Jews or living in the Jewish culture. It is like me – I am Chinese and raised in Chinese culture but I speak and write in English. Many of my Chinese cultural influences are reflected in my English messages and writing.

The Prophetic Perfect Tense In Jude
In Jude 1:14, we see the force of the prophetic perfect tense at work – “It was about these people that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, when he said, “Look, the Lord came with myriads of His holy ones.” (Amplified version). The International Standard Version states: “Look! The Lord has come with countless thousands of his holy ones.“
Most English translators used the future tense to translate this portion because they did not want to confuse the readers. Imagine those who only read the “prophetic perfect” translations, they may not understand the purpose of God in emphasizing His certainty of a future event, and so they may be puzzled and ask, “When did the Lord come back with thousands of His holy angels?” Once again, the purpose of the prophetic perfect tense is to indicate the certainty of the second coming of the Lord with His angels.

The Prophetic Perfect Tense of Ephesians 2:6
Paul apparently used the prophetic perfect tense when he wrote: “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus“. Surprisingly, the majority of the English translations followed the past tense in the Greek text and did not use the future tense. And that is why many believers who have no idea about the idiom of the prophetic perfect struggle with this idea of “seated in the heavenly realms” while they are still here, very much alive. on earth. If only they knew that God is so confident of them sitting with Christ forever in heaven in their future that He inspired Paul to express it in the past tense with the prophetic perfect sense.

Most scholars will tell you that the concept that God has “already seated His people with Christ in the heavenly realm” as a past or present experience is not found in all the other epistles of Paul the Apostle. The more accurate explanation will have to be that this is a statement of God’s absolute confidence that His people will one day be seated eternally with Christ.

Now, you may have some doubts about this explanation. Let’s look at the fact – you are here on earth and not in the heavenly realms. You can only look up to what Colossians 3:1 has stated – “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.“

Which Scripture Is Literal?
Now, you have to figure out which scripture is literal and which is prophetic perfect. If you accept Ephesians 2:6 as a literal “sitting in the heavenly realms now” then you will have to reject Colossians 3:1 which places you on earth, looking above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. However, since the Bible does not contradict itself, I would definitely accept Colossians 3:1 as literal and Ephesians 2:6 as an expression of the prophetic perfect tense.

Therefore, based upon Colossians 3:1, we are now living on earth, serving the kingdom of God and we are looking and seeking “above” where “Christ is seated right now in the heavenly realms”. Then, with our understanding of the prophetic perfect tense in Ephesians 2:6, we are confident that one day, in the future, we will definitely be seated with Christ in the heavenly realms.

Blood Covenant Part 1 – Do You Need To Apply The Blood Every Day?

Have you ever heard of declarations such as, “I apply the blood of Jesus over my family,” or “I apply the blood of Jesus over my marriage,” or “I apply the blood of Jesus over my business”? One popular preacher says that you must “apply the blood of Jesus” by speaking it aloud so that others can audibly hear you. The reason is that your voice would “activate the blood”. Then he says that believers should “plead the blood of Jesus” in every area of his life, and he recommends to do so, especially in the financial area. In this way, the believer will have a breakthrough in his life and never need to live in poverty. Is this understanding of the blood of Jesus biblically correct? Is there really such a thing as applying the blood?

Where Did This Idea Come From?
The original idea came from Exodus 12:7 – “Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.” The context was during the time of slavery in Egypt when God sent Moses to set the Israelites free. God was about to send the last plague which was the death angel against the Egyptians. All the children of Israel in Goshen were to stay indoors with their doors being applied with the blood of the Passover lamb:

But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.
Exodus 12:13

The blood was applied with hyssop (a herbal plant from the mint family that apparently has cleansing, medicinal, and flavoring properties) on the lintel that was across the top of the door and the two side posts. There was to be no blood on the threshold because no one was allowed to trample on the blood of the Passover lamb. So, the three spots, where the blood was, formed a shape like a covering. When the death angel passed over the land, only those families in the houses with the covering of the blood of the Passover lamb will be protected. Thus this idea of applying the blood and activating a protective shield is adopted and taught by some preachers some thirty years ago. Since then, many believers of the Charismatic persuasion have been taught to “apply the blood of the Lamb and activate the power of the blood” upon their lives.

Do You Need To Activate The Blood?
One notable preacher says that the blood in the basin is of no use. It has to be applied to the doorframes for the blood to be “activated”. Thus, he claims that even though Jesus shed His blood on the cross, it is of no use unless you “activate” it. As the hyssop is used to apply the blood on the door frame, it is, therefore, an activating agent. Today, you are no longer using real hyssop and the real blood of the lamb. So, you have to find your “spiritual hyssop” to activate the “blood of the Lamb of God”.

Then promptly, the preacher refers to Revelation 12:11 – “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony….” How convenient this verse seems to fit into the preacher’s idea of the missing “spiritual hyssop”. He points out that in this verse, the believers are using the blood of the Lamb to “conquer” the devil with the “applicator” or “spiritual hyssop” which is the “word of their testimony”. A new idea has emerged and that is you need to “apply the blood and activate it by your own confession”. Another common slogan that evolved from this idea is to “plead the blood” (To be discussed in another blog post).

What Is The Actual Meaning?
First and foremost, the blood of the Lamb is the GROUND or BASIS for the believers to triumph over the devil. It is the REASON why they are victorious and not because they use the blood like a weapon or an instrument of warfare.

We know that the word “blood” is a short form for the “covenant of blood”. It has never been referred merely to the biological blood that includes hemoglobin in the red blood cells. No, it is never about the red fluid that flows in our bodies unless it is related to a covenant. A covenant is strictly not a weapon but a relational agreement. The Old Testament has the same idea that covenant is only for relational purposes – the blood sacrifice was always made in connection with God’s covenant and no blood alone was ever used as a weapon to fight the enemies.

How Do You Apply A Blood Covenant?
You don’t have to apply a blood covenant because it is already a “done deal”. The day that you surrendered your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, and simultaneously, you recognized that Jesus had shed His blood and died on the cross for your sins, He washed away your sins. The covenant between God and you had been established and you are under His protection and blessings. From then on, you live in obedience as a faithful child of God within the blood covenant.

It is like a marriage covenant. How do you practically “apply” it? By being faithful to your spouse after you have signed the wedding certificate and wedding ceremony. Do you wake up every morning, and declare that you are applying the marriage covenant in the mighty name of Jesus? No, of course not. If you were to keep doing that every day, your spouse might suspect that you are crazy.

Why are some believers still doing this daily ritual of applying the blood to themselves? They do not have to do that anymore. The blood covenant of Jesus Christ is sealed confirmed by God with the giving of the Holy Spirit.

“When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

What Does It Mean To Be Sealed With The Holy Spirit?
In antiquity, letters were sent out with a seal of the writer upon the wax. This method is used, even today, in some countries for their contracts, certificates, and important documents. In farming communities. the flocks are often sealed or branded so as to show to which farmers the animals belonged.

The Bible says that Abraham “received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.” (Romans 4:11).

A seal is a mark of ownership and God used it quite often to indicate who were his chosen ones. In Ezekiel 9:4-6, God asked His angel to put a seal upon the people whom he approved and kept them protected from the judgment of His anger.

The Holy Spirit is the seal that God has given to the believers in this New Covenant. If you have been born again, the Holy Spirit has already indwelled or taken up residence in your heart. You are forever sealed in this covenant with God and identified as His children. He has prepared an inheritance for you because you are the heir of God. Read what Paul says in Romans 8:15-17

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, “Abba, Father.” For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ, we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

Since The Holy Spirit is given to confirm that you belong to God, you now have the fullest assurance that on that basis, you can move from victory to victory. You have no need to go through the ritual of “applying the blood” anymore. You are already under the “blood” and that is to say, you are already protected by the blood covenant that Jesus has established on the cross. You may go through trials and difficulties, but the promised Holy Spirit is there to help you. One day, you will see God face to face and enjoy your inheritance as an heir of your Father in heaven.

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 5 (Individual Judgement vs. Generational Judgement)

Recently, a reader who read my blog posts – “Understanding Generational Curses” – said that her family, because of the high divorce rate among her siblings, is still under the generational curses of their ancestors. Her predicament is that no matter how she confessed on behalf of her ancestors for their sins, she has no way of knowing whether this curse of divorce would continue to her children and grandchildren. She keeps asking God to reveal the hidden sins of her ancestors and that process almost drives her crazy. She has so many nightmares about all the unrepented and unrenounced ancestral sins that might still harm her and her family. It is very sad because she thought that she would gain total freedom in Christ through a course about “Generational Curses” and now, she finds herself trapped in fear and bondage.

Getting Rid Of The Inherited Futile Way Of Life?
The proponents of the “Generational Curses” encourage you to ask God to reveal the sins of your ancestors to get rid of “… your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers.” (1 Peter 1:18). This is the verse that they referred to in their instruction manual. (Neil Anderson, The Steps To Freedom In Christ – Step Seven, Curses Versus Blessings).

To be fair to your understanding of this portion, let’s check 1 Peter 1:18 and also verse19.

“…knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NASB)

Do you read any mention of generational curses or the need to repent or renounce the “futile way of life that you inherited from your forefathers”? Let’s see if we can decipher these verses by reading another translation:

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NLT)

Now, the meaning is very clear – God has already paid the price to save you from the “futile life that you have inherited from your forefathers” and He did it through the “precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”

Do you need a secondary ritual to repent and renounce this “futile life that you have inherited from your forefathers” even after you have been Born Again? Absolutely not!

If Not Guilty Then Why Repent And Renounce?
The proponents of “Generational Curses” often quote Exodus 20:4-6 about the “iniquities of one generation can be visited on to the third and fourth generations of those who hate God” to mean “the iniquities of one generation can adversely affect future ones unless those sins are renounced, and your new spiritual heritage in Christ is claimed. This cycle of abuse and all negative influences can be stopped by genuine repentance.” Then almost immediately, they say that “you are not guilty of your ancestor’s sins, but because of their sins you have been affected by their influence.“ (Neil Anderson, The Steps To Freedom In Christ – Step Seven, Curses Versus Blessings).

Now, the question is if you are not guilty of your ancestor’s sins, then why do you need to stop the curse by”genuine repentance”. What is the biblical idea of repentance?

Both the Old and New Testament has a similar meaning to the word, “repentance”. The two Hebrew words, “nacham’ and “sub”, found in the Old Testament, depict a “turning around”; “a change of mind”; and “a restoration or return to the relationship with God”. The Greek word, “metanoia” in the New Testament literally means “to change the mind.” So, whose mind would you be changing in your repentance? Yours or those of your ancestors’ minds?

The Principle of Individual Judgment
You can only repent for your personal sins. Ezekiel echoes this truth in Ezekiel 18:20 – “The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.”

This is based on the principle of individual judgment as stated in Deuteronomy 24:16 – “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.”

The Principle of Generational Judgment
What about the generational judgment that seems to prevail in the Old Testament? How are we to understand it?

The verse in Jeremiah 32:18 is similar in meaning to that of Exodus 34:7: “Keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation” (see also Exodus 20:5–6).

Jeremiah recognized that the exile was a generational judgment – “Our fathers sinned, and are gone; It is we who have been burdened with the punishment for their wrongdoings.” (Lamentations 5:7).

The Old Testament has quite a few examples of the descendants paying for the sins of their forefathers – for example, the great flood that drowned everybody (children included) except Noah’s family (Gen. 7:21). God rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah killing everybody there (Genesis 19:24–25). How about Achan? The Bible recorded that: “And all the Israelites stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies.” (Joshua 7:25).

Another gruesome act of generational judgment is found in 2 Samuel 21 where David handed over seven of Saul’s descendants (two sons and five grandsons) to the Gibeonites, who executed them. King Saul had violated the covenant made between Joshua and the Gibeonites (Joshua 9) when he massacred them in order to get rid of them from Israel. Reading 2 Samuel 21:1 – you will notice that King Saul’s children and grandchildren were also not innocent of this violation – “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.” The “blood-stained house” refers to his sons and grandsons who may be guilty of approval or involvement.

Jeroboam was also judged by having his descendants totally destroyed. Reading from 1 Kings 14:9-11,
“You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made other gods for yourself and have made me furious with your gold calves. And since you have turned your back on me, I will bring disaster on your dynasty and will destroy every one of your male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel. I will burn up your royal dynasty as one burns up trash until it is all gone. The members of Jeroboam’s family who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the field will be eaten by vultures. I, the Lord, have spoken.’”

Generational Judgments in the New Testament?
There are other narratives about generational judgments in the Old Testament but what about in the New Testament? To answer this question up-front – there are no generational judgments but only individual judgments in the New Testament.

For example, the proclamation of judgment upon people such as Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5), Simon Magus (Acts 8), and Bar-Jesus (Acts 13).

If you searched the New Testament carefully, you will discover that Jesus never taught “Generational Curses” at all. In fact, there was an occasion as recorded in John 9:1-3, that Jesus could have taught this so-called “Generational Curses” but HE DID NOT!

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”
“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him”. (John 9:1-3).

This is the common indiscretion of the proponents of the “Generational Curses”. They constantly try to find the connection between infirmities and acts of sin.

For example, one such person asked whether I was under a generational curse because of the genetic disorder which was an autoimmune disease that I inherited from my father. Thank God that since 2007, I have been totally healed of ankylosing spondylitis by the application of the “kingly authority” without having to repent on behalf of my ancestors or renounce any of their sins. Like that man who was born blind in John 9, my condition was an occasion for the healing miracle of God to happen and the power of God is now being seen through my healed body and life.

What can we learn from John 9:1-3? The answer of our Lord teaches us not to immediately trace the misfortunes and handicaps of our fellow men to individual sin or consider them to be signs of God’s punishment. Whenever we meet someone who is afflicted with certain deformities or handicaps, we are to be full of compassion and understanding instead of judgment and despise.

Are You Under Any Generational Curses?
As far as the New Testament is concerned, we cannot find any instances where someone was cursed by the sins or deeds of any ancestors. The day you gave your life to Jesus, you should have repented of your sins and cut your ties with anything that contradict the will of God. You should have renounced all these past influences in your life and be truly Born Again.

Jesus said being Born Again means that you have experienced a spiritual rebirth (John 3:5-8). You have moved from the cursed bloodline of the First Adam to the blessed bloodline of the Lord Jesus Christ who is known as the Second Adam or Last Man. The Apostle Paul declares, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Jesus is very powerful – and He has not only taken away all your curses – He even broke the toxic Adamic curse that brought death to the whole world -“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Jesus came to bear “our sins in his body on the tree that we might live to righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24).

“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Yes, you are really free because there is not a single instruction in the New Testament for you to go back to repent and renounce each sin of your ancestors… “So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Please read the previous articles about Generational Curses and be set free:

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 1 (Adamic Curse Versus Generational Curse)

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 2 (Does God Punish Sons for the Sins of Their Fathers?)

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 3 (The Danger of Witch Hunt)

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 4 (The Basis Of This New Teaching)

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 4 (The Basis Of This New Teaching)

Today, the topic of generational curses or generational sins is prevalent if you get involved in the healing and deliverance ministry. (This is not taught in the Elijah Challenge or Healing Encounter Ministry). In the marketplace, there are literally hundreds of books teaching that your present problems are the results of what your ancestors did in the past. Coming from the Pentecostal and Charismatic traditions, I am naturally exposed to such teaching promoted by many popular leaders of our movements. The truth of the matter is that I have never heard of this teaching until the early 1990s. It might have been there earlier but it did not catch on that fast. Now, fast forward to 2022, this teaching is not only popular but has become almost like a “fundamental truth” in the belief system of most Pentecostal and Charismatic believers who have been saved during those last 30 years.

Does The Bible Really Teach This?
Would there be some truths in this new teaching? Do I go along with the teaching even if I discovered discrepancies in its exegesis and hermeneutics? How am I to reconcile with the fact that top Pentecostal / Charismatic leaders are preaching and teaching this topic? Entire series of books has been devoted to teaching you how to repent and renounce all the sins of your ancestors. What about the proper interpretation of Scripture that I have learned from Professor Gordon Fee during my seminary days? I remember one statement that he made very succinctly in class and that was “the Bible will never say what it never did say!” Can I ignore this fact, and embrace this teaching because it is popular? My conscience does not allow me to do so because the Christian faith can only remain true to the teaching of Jesus Christ if we “believe” (faith), and “practice” (faith in action) by the correct interpretation and understanding of Scripture.

During my forty years of ministry, I have observed what Professor Fee has pointed out in his book about people who attempt to outsmart others by coming out with all kinds of unique interpretations, claiming them to be from the Holy Spirit, angels, or even some departed saints. Professor Fee wrote that… “Interpretation that aims at, or thrives on, uniqueness can usually be attributed to pride (an attempt to “outclever” the rest of the world), a false understanding of spirituality (wherein the Bible is full of deeply buried truths waiting to be mined by the spiritually sensitive person with special insight), or vested interests (the need to support a theological bias, especially in dealing with texts that seem to go against that bias).”
Gordon D. Fee, How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth.

The Basis For This New Generational Curses Teaching
There is not a trace of such teaching in Church history until about 30 years ago. What is the basis for such teaching? We can easily trace to the misinterpretation of God’s Word. The most common scripture verses used by the proponents of the generational curses are from Exodus 20:5-6; 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18; and Deuteronomy 5:9-10. The reason is because of a warning placed by the Lord to the Children of Israel against disobedience and unfaithfulness with words such as “visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children . . . to the third and the fourth generations” (KJV).

The meaning of these verses has been changed from God’s warning of the repercussion for disobedience to become generational curses. From the correct meaning of bad generational influence to another totally foreign meaning and that is the descendants will acquire the accumulated sins and also punishments on behalf of all their ancestors. If that is true then what about this scripture that “the son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffers for the iniquity of the son.” (Ezekiel 18:20, cf. Jeremiah 31:30). Why is this clarifying verse not taken into consideration?
What about the promise of Jesus in John 8:36 – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” How about what Paul wrote in Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.” Paul was especially concerned not of any ancestral sins or generational curses but our personal sins that will put us back to the “yoke of slavery”.

Satan Added Into The Teaching
The next thing that the proponents of this teaching do is to add Satan into the picture. They say that since God sees you as being guilty, not just for your own sins, but also the sins of your ancestors, then if you did not repent and renounce on their behalf, you would have given the devil the legal rights to attack you. You and your family will suffer misfortune, failed marriages, violence, sicknesses, addictions, impotence, failures, poverty, and all kinds of unimaginable disasters and crises, etc.

Aren’t all these frightening? What about the blood of Jesus that was shed for your sins? Well, the proponents say that the blood is there but you must take an ADDITIONAL STEP to appropriate the blood by removing the curses that you have inherited from your sinful ancestors. Accepting Jesus as your personal Savior by confessing, repenting, and renouncing your sins is not enough. Being born-again is not enough. Even though you are now in a different bloodline is not enough. They say that you still have to break all these generational curses. And so, you run to a so-called expert or minister to help you in a ritual of repenting and renouncing all the sins of your ancestors.

The Rise of A New Breed of Experts
These self-proclaimed experts will see visions for you, listen to God’s advice for you, and reveal all the generational curses that are inundating you. They will lead you in an elaborate ritual of listing the sins of your ancestors all the way back to four generations. You will need to confess the sins of those sinful ancestors, even they are not your own sins. You will be led to renounce all these sins and some ministers will even ask you to cut the shackles of generational curses by using your hands to strike the air with a cutting movement. You are to declare and decree that all these curses have been cut and broken in the name of Jesus. Finally, you are to repeat the prayer led by the minister or recite a recommended prayer. Are all these really biblical? Do we see Jesus or the Apostles doing and teaching these?

Personally, I do not know where all the “experts” get all these from. However, they actually reminded me of the time when my grandmother visited a Chinese temple medium to do certain rituals to get rid of all the calamities in our family. The medium went into a trance and declared the reasons for our misfortune. According to the interpreter for the medium, one of our ancestors had done a very cruel deed in the past and so our family was paying the penalty for it. Then a specific instruction was given about what type of peace-offering we have to give to that offended soul, which corner of the house we have placed certain sacred objects, and what talismans we have to paste on the doorposts, where we should have an extra altar, how many joss-sticks to burn, and what chant to utter when doing so. Very elaborate and very convincing because subsequently peace returned to the family and calamities were circumvented.

The danger that I see is that these so-called experts in handling generational curses would become “personal priests or mediums” to many who are gullible enough to seek their help. This happened before and will happen again. This is the End Times and many people would be deceived into this type of fruitless pursuit.

More New Methods And Rituals
Then as though this type of ritual is not enough, popular “teachers” keep coming out with new methods of breaking the generational curses. The latest approach is to go to the “Courts of Heaven” and get rid of your ancestral sins and generational curses. The proponents of this latest method claim that at the “Courts of Heaven”, you get to assert your “legal rights” in order to get rid of all these curses. When you get a favorable verdict from God then you are free from further harassment of such ancient curses and the attacks of the devil. Once again, we question whether this is a biblical approach and where in the New Testament we have been advised to go to the “Courts of Heaven”?

Talking about new rituals, that reminded me of the 1980s when I was pastoring in Singapore. A couple of self-styled ministers there developed a deliverance ritual such as getting people to stand in positions to form a cross. Then the officiating minister stood in the center of the cross. He apparently had these special eyes to see demons attacking. And so he shouted that he had spotted demons from a particular direction flying at them. He wanted all to be alert and ready to fight the demons. Then he commanded for all to draw out their invisible swords which were earlier placed on their backs. Then they had to say “siang” to mimic the sound of the invisible swords being drawn out. There was actually nothing in their hands but these participants had to cut the air above them with their invisible swords to kill the demons. This method of destroying the demons is not only unbiblical but hilarious. This is the result of an over fertile imagination stimulated by some Hong Kong kungfu movies. If I am not wrong, this method is still being used by some today.

The Tedious Rituals To Get Rid Of The Generational Curses
Let’s assume that the teaching of generational curses is accurate and biblical because there are many testimonies from practitioners to convince you that such a method works. You would read that this person or his family has been set free from generational curses and how happy they are now. However, when you probe deeper, you will discover a DILEMMA – with the lineages from both your parents and then from both sets of grandparents who in turn, inherited generational curses from both their parents (your great-parents) who inherited from both sets of great-great-grandparents, etc, you would have a long list of ancestors with their long lists of sins. Like one of the teachers of generational curses states that you have a “long shadow from the past” like a “long evil arm of curses” that grab hold of you so that you are not blessed but cursed. That is the reason why this generational curses teaching creates more bondages than setting people free. There will always be a doubt that maybe you have not dealt with some missing or hidden ancestral sins.

Why Some Still Believe In Generational Curses?
This is one puzzle that I have been trying to solve. Since believers are now in the spiritual bloodline of the second or last Adam (Jesus) then why are so many still living in the cursed bloodline of the first Adam? Then it dawned on me that people are thinking that their weaknesses are all results of the generational curses instead of the original sin nature given to us by Adam.

For example, I used to have an anger management problem even after accepting Christ. That’s the result of my “Sin” nature and not so much a curse. I had to go through the sanctifying process of the Holy Spirit and learn how to exercise my self-control. My legal rights as a child of God have been acquired at the cross and therefore, I am now free to become the person whom God wants me to be. However, that sanctification is a long process. The earlier I die to myself, the earlier I would become alive to Christ, and the earlier the Holy Spirit can transform me to be like Christ. When I learn to fully surrender to the Lord, the uncontrollable rage no longer exists. No curse was broken except that I have matured in Christ.

What About Past Demons?
For Christians who are still under the influence of those demons that have crept in before they accepted Jesus, the only option is to cast them out with the kingly authority and in the mighty name of Jesus. There is no question that these believers are fully saved because they are justified by the death of Christ on the cross. They have the fullest legal rights as children of God and so these demons cannot harass them anymore. The believers who have been affected, do not need to go through the tedious ritualistic process of repenting for their ancestors and renouncing their sins. All they need to do is to shut the door by repenting of their own sins and not going back to them again. By living a repented life, all believers should never need to be victims of the devil. They, instead, can become kingdom warriors to attack the enemy by applying their kingly authority.

You Are Not Under Any Curse
As long as you do not choose rebellion against God, nothing of your ancestors is going to cling to you and make you pay. Listen to what Jeremiah says in Jeremiah 31:29-30
In those days people will no longer say, “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” Instead, everyone will die for their own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.”
Jesus has taken all the curses away from you at Calvary cross. When you accepted Him as your Savior, you are born again into His bloodline. You do not need to repent and renounce the sins of your ancestors to be a part of this bloodline. Jesus did it for you and His Blood is powerful enough to redeem you from any curse. The Bible is clear that everyone is to be responsible for his own sins and you are not responsible for the sins of your ancestors. You are definitely not under any curse.

If you have missed out on the previous articles about Generational Curses, please check out the following:
Understanding Generational Curses – Part 1 (Adamic Curse Versus Generational Curse)

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 1 (Adamic Curse Versus Generational Curse)

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 2 (Does God Punish Sons for the Sins of Their Fathers?)

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 2 (Does God Punish Sons for the Sins of Their Fathers?)

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 3 (The Danger of Witch Hunt)

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 3 (The Danger of Witch Hunt)

Understanding Generational Curses – Part 2 (Does God Punish Sons for the Sins of Their Fathers?)

Does God visit the sins of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations? (Exodus 20:5-6). As part of the Ten Commandments, God seems to say that He would do exactly that. In Exodus 34:7, God revealed Himself to Moses, and gave the same warning that He would visit “the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation”. When one cross-examines Leviticus 26:39, the sins of the fathers would definitely affect future generations – “Because of their iniquity, and also because of the iniquities of their fathers they shall rot away like them.”

Then we read other prophets who recorded that “the son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son.” (Ezekiel 18:20, cf. Jeremiah 31:30). How are we to reconcile these two opposing ideas? The coherence of these biblical texts would help us in our understanding of the character of God – Is God really a loving Father or just a tyrannical despot? This information will also help us to counsel people who are loaded with guilt not only from their own sins but the sins of their ancestors.

DO WE REALLY HAVE TO PAY FOR OUR ANCESTORS’ SINS?
The proponents of “generational curses” argue that verses such as Exodus 20:5-6; 34:7; and Leviticus 26:39 are clear pieces of evidence of the generational curses, being placed by God upon a family, up to the third and the fourth generation. So, according to these proponents, if you were born into a family with such generational curses, then it’s just as what the world would say, “tough luck!”

You will be responsible for the sins of your ancestors whether you like it or not. You may scream that it is unfair and unjustified for you to bear the consequences of your ancestors’ sins but you still have to pay the price. The only way that you can stop the “generational curses’ is by “going back” to identify every sin of your ancestors and renounce each sin. If you have no idea what those sins might be, then you have to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal them to you.

Can this be true? Do we really have to do that? Does God require us to renounce the sins of our ancestors? Nowhere else in the New Testament requires us to seek out every sin of the ancestors. Jesus never taught that and neither did the Apostles. Where did this idea come from?

THOSE WHO HATE THE LORD
Let’s see if the Lord requires all believers to do the ritual of renouncing the individual sins of their forefathers? Returning to those scriptures again – “I the Lord…visit the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:5; cf. Numbers 14:18) and compare with the verse in Ezekiel 18:20 – “the son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son.”

With careful evaluation, we can safely conclude that the descendants who are being judged are those who have been influenced by the sins of their forefathers. As the Bible is clear that temptation alone is not sin, therefore the descendants would be judged solely for their sinful actions. These descendants would be like their forefathers, they hate God and so they are rightfully being judged or cursed.

In short, those who hate God will be judged and they will pay the price. Thus the sins of the forefathers would have indeed visited the descendants – sinful generation after sinful generation because those sins are being expressed and manifested in the lives of the descendants. Ultimately, the ungodly children will be judged according to their own sins and not the sins of their forefathers as mentioned by Prophet Jeremiah – “Instead, everyone will die for their own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.” (Jeremiah 31:30).

THOSE WHO LOVE THE LORD
How about those who love the Lord? Since the descendants are being judged for their own sins, that means that we would be judged based upon our own sins or faith. If the price of sins has been paid by Jesus at Calvary cross, then we should be living in the zone of victory and blessings.

In Exodus 20:5, God said in the second half of the verse that He would show “steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Wow. Isn’t that wonderful!

In Deuteronomy 7:9, we read the confirmation of God’s promise to those who love God and walk in His way – “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.” So, even in the Old Testament, people did get the promise of a thousand generations, if they were to honor God and keep His commandments. What about the believers in the New Testament?

A THOUSAND GENERATIONS
King David says that God will always stand by his covenant – “the commitment He made to a thousand generations”. (Psalm 105:8). For the true followers of Christ, this promise or covenant of love (Exodus 20:5) for a thousand generations has been given to us in the form of a New Covenant because of the obedience of Christ.

Paul declares. “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8). In Romans 5:18, we read, “Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.” (NLT). Our blessings will not just be a thousand generations of God-fearing descendants but a life of worship in eternity.

ARE BORN-AGAIN BELIEVERS STILL UNDER THE CURSE?
Therefore, how can we who have been Born Again still be under the judgement or curses similar to those who are living in godless disobedience?

Shouldn’t we be exempted since we are not “those who hate the Lord”? Why is there teaching about believers still being chained to the sins of their past and sinful forefathers? Why must we be asked to dig up all our past sins and those of our forefathers and renounce them one by one when Jesus has already paid for all our sins? Why is the Blood of Jesus not able to break all these yokes and we need a “second grace” of special prayer to break them?

Do we really need to renounce every specific sin of our past and also that of our ancestors? What happens if we were to miss one or two? Wouldn’t that make this whole exercise a failure and we would still be in bondage? Wouldn’t this approach undermine the cleansing of sin through the blood of Jesus in the general repentance of sin during salvation? Having to have another set of rituals to target specific sins in the past and also those of the ancestors only points to the fact that the blood of Christ alone is not powerful enough to free the believer from the power of Satan. That is of course a ridiculous notion.

ARE WE STILL IN THE ADAMIC BLOODLINE?
Most of the teachings about believers still under some kinds of generational curses comes from the idea that we are still stuck with the bloodline of first Adam. This Adamic bloodline of Original Sin is more of a corporate problem than an individual one. We have to understand that the Original Sin is not primarily about the sinful actions of individuals but rather the nature or condition of sin in every one of us.

That is to say, everyone is born with a fallen nature or sin nature. David acknowledges his frailty, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5). Paul exclaims in Romans 3:23 “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and explains further in Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned….”

A DIFFERENT BLOODLINE
In John chapter 1, we read, “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

To be born of God is to be Born Again. Jesus explained to Nicodemus in John 3 – “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again’. (John 3:5-7).

That is the good news: As the citizens of the kingdom of God, we now have a different bloodline and are a part of the eternal family of God, through the bloodline of the second or last Adam – Jesus Christ.

YOU ARE NOT UNDER ANY GENERATIONAL CURSE
Many people got stuck here when they were told that they need to renounce all the sins of their ancestors so as to be set free from their generational curses. However, most of them have no idea what their ancestors had done. And that put that false guilt and condemnation upon them. Maybe they are still under the generational curses. Those who have been adopted have been told that they are at a disadvantage. Why? Because many do not even know who their ancestors were. All these add guilt trip and fear into the life of the believer. Instead of being free in Christ, they experience additional bondage.
Today, we want to affirm that all these are absolutely false. We are now of a different bloodline – the blood of Jesus. We are all free from any generational curses. Remember – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36).

Is Unforgiveness Blocking Your Healing?

Since 2005, I have ministered healing successfully to more than 10,000 people and I praise God that they have been gloriously healed. However, I notice another large group of people, even though they have great faith to be healed but still do not receive their healing miracles.

There may be various reasons why they are not healed but after having counseled and checked many cases, I traced the discrepancy to one huge, ugly obstacle and that it is unforgiveness. This confirmed what I have learned from the Bible and also from my mentor, Pastor William Lau, the founder of The Elijah Challenge. The unconfessed sins of bitterness, hatred, and unresolved anger are actually hindering God’s blessings and healing miracles.

In a few of the deliverance encounters, demons left upon my command but returned quickly to the victims. I call this the “Swinging-Door Syndrome“. Unforgiveness somehow gives the demons the legal ground to enter the victim again. (Matthew 12:43-45).

Our Lord Jesus knew the danger of unforgiveness and how it would hurt us – and so He gave this admonition, “if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done.” (Matthews 6:15).

In Matthew 9, we read the narrative of a paralyzed man lowered from the roof so that Jesus could heal him. Before Jesus healed him, He first forgave the sins of the paralyzed man. The paralysis was obviously caused by the man’s sins and therefore that needed to be dealt with.

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us.” (Matthews 6:12)

Peter was trying to place a limit to forgiveness when he asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?” ‘No, not seven times,’ answered Jesus, ‘but seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22). In short, Jesus was teaching that in the kingdom of God, we should always forgive each other. There is no limit to forgiveness.

Paul emphasized, “You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you.” (Colossians 3:13).

A forgiven person should be the first to recognize the need to forgive others. The chances why it is difficult for most believers to forgive is because they have forgotten that they are forgiven people. When believers fail to accept the truth of their own forgiveness, they continue to live with a sense of guilt and self-condemnation. The hurts caused by the offenses that have been taken away by the Lord at the cross, continue to be upon them. This perpetually generates unlimited guilt and shame upon their lives.

There is no freedom of Christ for those who have allowed themselves to be shackled and imprisoned by their own harsh judgmental attitude. People who are under judgment will always judge others. When you shackle yourself to the notion of “justice” and that you must get even with those people who hurt you or despitefully use you, you lose your freedom within your spirit. You no longer can be gracious or operate from the zone of grace.

The truth of the kingdom is that the people who recognize themselves to be under grace, find the source of strength to always be gracious to others. Once you realize that you are no longer under judgment but have been fully forgiven by the grace of God, you are liberated and become free. Suddenly, you’ll notice that the door of your self-imposed prison of judgment has never been locked. The grace of God has smashed every lock of judgement and condemnation. You do not need to remain in this dreadful dungeon anymore but step out into the sunshine of grace and forgiveness. Now you will have the grace and freedom to forgive others seventy times seven times.

Here are some declarations that you present before the Lord and be set free from the shackle of unforgiveness:

In the mighty name of Jesus, I nullify the power of these past offenses that have been keeping me in mental anguish, emotional shackles and spiritual bondage.

I surrender to the Lord any right to judge so-and-so for saying bad things about me or doing harm to me.

I write off any responsibility, debt, liability, or obligation that the person owes me because of past offenses.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, I forgive all who have offended me and release them unto the Lord.

I humbly submit to the Lord and ask Him for courage, grace and strength to relate with the person without regard to past offenses.

I am asking and will continue to ask God’s blessings to be upon their well-beings.

Here is a video on Radical Forgiveness! Trust that it will help you. God bless!

Part 5 – Why Some Are Healed And Others Are Not? [The Belief That Miracles Have Ceased]

A Lutheran missionary to Cambodia visited me in Phnom Penh to ask for some advice about casting out demons. He did not know what to do with a demon-possessed person in his congregation at Siem Reap. He said he was never taught how to cast out demons during his missionary training. After showing him how to use his God-given authority and power to cast out evil spirits, he went back to do so by faith. After a week or so, he returned and happily informed me that he had successfully cast out the evil spirits from the afflicted person. My question to this missionary was why did his organization send him to Cambodia without teaching him how to engage the enemy. Did they really think that there would be no demonic activities in the mission field? No wonder, we read about “defeated” missionaries returning home totally discouraged and disillusioned.

Do we really have a correct understanding of what ministry and mission is all about? Have we been hoodwinked into thinking that we can just hide in a little corner and do our little ministry peacefully while the whole world is powerless in the face of an evil onslaught? So, can we can cast out demons or not? Can we heal the sick in the mighty name of Jesus or not? Can we do what Jesus did or not? Is the Church empowered to confront the enemy or not?

CAN WE HEAL THE SICK?
A pastor from the Philippines warned me not to say that we, the disciples of Christ, can heal the sick in the name of Jesus. His belief was that only Jesus can heal and that we are all powerless except by praying to Jesus to do the work. Now, this pastor has changed his approach and is healing the infirm in the mighty name of Jesus. Why? Because right at the airport, I ministered healing to his injured legs and he walked without pain. Then I showed him Luke 9:1-2.

 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, ² and He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

That was the convincing factor for him – the Lord had given power and authority to His disciples so that they could do what He did. And that applies to all modern disciples too. The Filipino pastor believed and applied the kingly authority accordingly. Now his ministry is not only with powerful preaching of God’s Word but is confirmed with signs and wonders. This is in accordance with what Jesus said in John 14:12

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. 

By simply believing what Jesus has promised, my life and ministry have been thoroughly transformed too. From the early years of my ministry as a Pastor, I prayed to Jesus and asked Him to heal the sick, if I remember correctly only 10 people were healed. Since, learning from Pastor William Lau of The Elijah Challenge in 2005, of not asking Jesus to be the servant and do the work of healing, instead, I became the servant and dId the healing in the mighty name of Jesus, more than 10,000 people have been healed.

HAVE MIRACLES CEASED?
Today, some churches believe that miracles have ceased in spite of much evidence and testimonies of unexplained instant healing cases reported not only from the churches but in news portals and various social media channels. The anti-miracles Christians explain all these away as false miracles and call them “lying wonders.” They based their understanding on 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. This portion says that Satan will deceive people who do not love the truth by using signs and lying wonders. They also refer to Revelation 13:13 that describes the false prophet as having the ability to cause supernatural fire to come down from heaven.

Then they invoke the serious warning from Jesus found in Matthew 7:21-22, misquoting this portion to mean the Lord is against all so-called prophets. However, a closer examination of the scriptural context reveals that the Lord had already identified the false prophets in Matthew 7:15-20. And He had indicated that the way to recognize true or false prophets is by identifying their fruits. So, this portion can hardly be used as biblical proof that miracles have ceased and that anyone ministering in signs and wonders is a false prophet.

DID MIRACLES CEASE AFTER THE WRITING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT?
Another reason that some churches give as to why God performed healing miracles only in the past is that those incidents were primarily for the purpose of writing the New Testament. Since that task has already been completed, miracles should cease by now. For the same reason, not only miracles have ceased but the spiritual gifts, particularly speaking in tongues and prophesying, have also ceased. Their favorite supporting verses are found in 1 Corinthians 13:8-10.

Let us read verse 10: “But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” (NKJV) or in the NIV translation: “But when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.”

They have taken the Greek word, “tevleio” which means “completion” to refer to the “Completion of the Bible” as written words of God rather than the “Completion of the Age.” Did Paul actually write about the completion of the Bible or was he referring to something else?

The context of this scriptural portion has no indication that Paul even had the “Completion of the Bible” in mind when he wrote to the Corinthian Christians. In fact, Paul did not even realize that God would use his epistles to become an integral part of the New Testament. How could he write something that he had no idea at all? How could he add an idea that was outside the context of his explanation?

WHAT IS THE CORRECT BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION?
A good basic rule that governs biblical interpretation is that the Bible should never be interpreted to say what it never did say. Why then is this traditional argument that depicts the “Completion of the Bible” as the reason for the cessation of healing miracles accepted by most Evangelical believers? Could it be due to the lack of miracles in their churches that have forced them to find an excuse?

It seems that once a certain theory is repeated long enough, it is then believed to become synonymous with Biblical Truth.

Today, most believers are aware of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The time for obedience is even more critical because there is still much work to be done. Jesus is very concerned about our obedience: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).

Doing what Jesus instructed is crucial not only to our spiritual growth but to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. We cannot choose to obey only portions of His instruction and be effective. There must be a reason why the Commander-in-chief has instructed us in such a way and also given us the Kingly Authority to encounter the evil one. Soldiers must submit to the Commander-in-chief and do what He desires. To obey only when it is convenient is not the correct attitude of a faithful kingdom warrior. Let’s respond to the Commander-in-chief and march according to the order of the heavenly herald. To victory in the mighty name of Jesus.

Here is my recent video message on YouTube of why some people are healed and some are not: