When afflicted by curses

The National Weekender
FAITH

By PETER AGLUM
SO many people and even faithful Christians today live in despair and problems. Our lives do not seem to go well as they are supposed to go. We have financial problems, marriage breakdowns, accidents, sicknesses and death.
Churches seem to be stagnant and many things seemed to be wrong in our lives. All attempts to solve the problems are in vain.
There are many reasons for these but one of the common problems we have but which has been overlooked by all Christians and non-Christians and is also complicated to identify and solve is curses.

Critical unanswered questions
Most times we tend to point fingers to God. We blame God and say that it happens according to God’s will. Other times we point fingers at witchcraft and sorcerers and other people.
But why did these catastrophes fall on us as Christians when we are supposed to be protected by God? Why did things go wrong in our lives when we faithfully serve God? If God is a loving God, why did He allow curses to be in our lives? Who is responsible for these curses? Is there any solution to these problems?
There are many unanswered questions bombarding our minds but solutions to these questions and many other seems impossible. However, the Bible has the answers to these and other related questions on issues affecting our lives.
Before we look at various curses, let us define what a curse is.
A curse can be A prayer or invocation for harm or injury to come upon one; evil or misfortune that comes as if in response to imprecation or as retribution; a cause of great harm or misfortune.
The (Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines curse (verb) thus: To use profanely insolent language against, blaspheme; to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon; to execrate in fervent and often profane terms; to bring great evil upon, afflict.
When a curse is placed on someone, the purpose is to cause injury and destruction – sometimes to the point of death.
How do we know that we are living with a curse? What are the signs and symptoms of curse in our lives?

Signs and symptoms of curses Mental or emotional breakdown-
Sever headache, stress and depression, not in better positions to make critical decisions.
Repeated or chronic illness – There are some diseases which do not go away though it is treated with proper medication. It comes on and off and the cause of the disease is unsure. The doctors diagnose it for one disease and treat it but the sickness jumps from one kind to another. Sometimes it becomes chronic and you live with it.
Barrenness, a tendency to miscarry or related female problems – God blessed every womb to bear children and every couple to reproduce of their kind. Some married couples who are married for many years but they can’t bear children.
Marriage breakdown and family alienation.
There is no respect and submission in the family. Family live as aliens in their own homes. Gradually it ended up separation in the family. Children tend to drugs and sex and go into all kinds of immorality.
Continuous financial insufficiency.
People work and earn wages and salaries but all go within the same pay day or never last two or three days. Money seem to disappear even though you use it wisely.
Unnatural or untimely deaths.
The Bible sets the age of death at 70 years but if we look after out health we will live beyond the 70 years. However, some people die at the early age or untimely deaths.
Loss of business, properties and jobs.
People started off well with business and it becomes very successful but after a while the business goes down. Several attempts can be made to recover from the loss but attempts made in vain.
Unemployment – Some people who are educated to some level and worked in a Government Department or a company but for some reason they are laid off or terminated. They applied for a new job but their application but are not considered or unsuccessful. They also go for interviews and passed the tests but can’t be offered the jobs.
Young men and women who can’t find a steady lifetime partner. –
Some handsome young men and pretty girls are in the communities but they can’t get married and settle well in life.
Life can become useless especially in the lives of the young people. They cannot settle well in their marriage, complete education or concentrate well in a particular career in life.
A curse is like a huge tree casting shadows on a garden. The plants in the garden need sunlight which a process by which green plants and other organisms turn carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen, using light energy trapped by chlorophyll called Photosynthesis.
Because there is a shade blocking the sunlight, the plants will turn yellow and sometimes wilt and die.
A curse is just like that – a shade blocking one’s life and he or she can’t progress in life and the consequences are listed above.
Where do curses come from?
There are two sources of curses.
Curse from God – Curses sent by God are a result of our disobedience to His existing laws and commands.
Curse from Satan –Curses sent by Satan or is servants are always for the purpose of causing injury, destruction, loses and death.
Curses from God. These curses will come upon our lives from God if we disobey the Words and Commands of God. God spoke the curse and blessings and they are both there. Our own actions will bring curse or blessings into our lives.
De 11:26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: 28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
Here are some of the specific curses spoken by God for those disobey him.
Idol worship
De 27:15 ‘Cursed is the one who makes a carved or molded image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen!’
Disobedience and mistreating parents
16 ‘Cursed is the one who treats his father or his mother with contempt.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
Stealing neighbours’ land
17 ‘Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor’s landmark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
Misleading the blind
18 ‘Cursed is the one who makes the blind to wander off the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
Injustice towards the weak and helpless.
19 ‘Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
Bestiality
21 ‘Cursed is the one who lies with any kind of animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
Illicit or unnatural sex
22 ‘Cursed is the one who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
23 ‘Cursed is the one who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
Anti-Semitism – This kind of curse goes to people who destroy people who are ordained or appointed by God and people who are specially marked by God. That also includes Israelites, the people of God. Gen 12:1, “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed”.

2. Curse from Satan and his enemies
Hatred and jealousy – Some curses can be placed directly upon a person by speaking evil. This is often done out of hatred and jealousy. They come from family members, marriage partners, business partners, work colleagues and clansmen etc. Song 8:6 … jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
This is dangerous as it can bring misfortune.
Inheritance – Our forefathers believed in different gods and have different gods of their own. We can inherit curses from the actions of our parents and grandparents. 1Co 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Le 17:7; De 32:17; Ps 106:37;
Ps 78:58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
Involvement with unclean and unholy things
Not all objects are clean. Some of the objects are associated with demons and demonic rituals. These are accursed objects and keeping them in the homes and offices can open doors to demons to come in and attack. This is an example of an accursed object. In the Sepik area they believe in the crocodile as their god. A carving of a Sepik crocodile brought into the office or home can bring curse upon the house. The whole reason for this is found in Exodus 20: 3-5; Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 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;
Territorial rights violation
There are certain places marked for demon spirits. They have the rights to occupy this place. Violation of these places brings curse to our lives. In Simbu community it is believed that spirits live along the river banks. Disturbing their peace bring evil upon ones life. The following brings curse into the lives of people.
Touching Satan’s ground
Going into battle against Satan without being specifically commanded by God.
Living in unclean or cursed housing
If the above signs and symptoms are apparent in your life and you want to be delivered, you can contact me on my cell phone numbers: 71185033/78628350 or email me on this email address http://[email protected]. In a future article, we will discuss deliverance from curses.

  • Ps Peter Aglum is a minister of the Prophetic & Apostolic Church of God in PNG.