Identifying and Breaking Curses

Chapter Two 2 Identifying Curses

s has already been stated, the cause of curses is iniquity (perversion). Discernment and detection are the two primary ways to determine the type of curse a person may be under. Supernatural discernment through the Holy Spirit, including discerning of spirits and word of knowledge, has proven invaluable in difficult cases. (See 1 Corinthians 12:8, 10.) A The gift of discerning of spirits will help deliverance workers discern what spirit is operating in a person's life, and the gift of the word of knowledge can reveal the name of the curse and how far back it needs to be broken. Detection is simply seeing the problems and knowing something of the family history of the person or whom you are praying. Some people have a limited knowledge of what sins may have been practiced by their ancestors. Of course, no one knows everything that has taken place in his or her family history, for our knowledge is limited at best, and God judges secret sins. The manifestation of the Spirit is needed in many of these cases. Having a knowledge of curses and breaking them with a general prayer is good for everyone seeking deliverance. Since our knowledge of curses is limited, we must trust the Holy Spirit to give us the name of a specific curse, if necessary. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will pressure demons to tell a deliverance worker the name of the curse they are operating through. Some curses need to be identified and broken by name because some demons will attempt to use those unidentified curses as a legal right to stay. Some demons are very stubborn and will not give up their ground simply because the worker says, "In Jesus' name, I break all curses." Even though these demonic spirits have no legal right to stay based on Galatians 3:13, they will still attempt to stay if the curse has not been specifically identified and broken. We need to be as thorough as possible and leave no stone unturned in the ministry of deliverance.

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