Breaking Curses

Originally posted on Facebook by my friend Trent Kitchen:

Biblical Facts About Breaking Curses

1.There is not a single example anywhere in the Bible of someone breaking a curse in any way. There are no examples of someone attempting to break a curse either.

2. The Bible does not contain the phrase breaking a curse or any similar phrase either that would indicate that curses can be broken .

3. Christ does not teach or demonstrate the need of breaking curses anywhere in the Gospels . Christ simply ministers healing and cast out demons without this kind of preparation. This is what the disciples knew that perhaps we don’t know.

4. The 12 apostles , the apostle Paul or any other writer of the New Testament does not teach or demonstrate the need to break curses. They simply minister healing and deliverance to people without this kind of preparation.

5. The New Testament consistently teaches that believers are blessed and does not even hint that they are cursed in any way.

6. When we survey every verse in the New Testament that uses a form of the word curse not a single one even hints that Christians might have a problem with curses .

7. Galatians 3:13-14 is the one passage that connects Christ’s sacrifice with curses. It says nothing about breaking curses and is speaking specifically about the curse of the Law of Moses that was spoken by God. There is nothing in this passage or any other about breaking the so-called curses that people might speak

The Street Healing Movement

If you would have typed “Street Healing” into YouTube around Fall of 2009, you likely would have seen videos posted from the same four people: Todd White, Pete Cabrera Jr, Tom Fischer, and the Revival or Riots crew. I remember, because that’s around the time I started to get into Street Healing.

I had the desire to move in power, but I just couldn’t figure out how. I had very inconsistant results with any of the spiritual gifts. When I watched these people on YouTube, however, I was shocked. Their results were very, very consistant. This only served to increase my hunger. As I dug around the internet for answers, I stumbled across Curry Blake’s Divine Healing Technician Training sessions. I listened to the entire 19 part series at least twice. During this time, I regularly had dreams of praying for people and seeing them healed.

In May of 2010, I saw my first leg grow out in the name of Jesus. It was amazing! I was stoked. By September of 2010, I had seen Jesus perform over 200 miracles through my hands.

In those days, the movement was still small. Very few people had actually identified themselves or even had a presence on the internet. Now, however, there are hundreds. In less than two years this movement has exploded! It’s touched hundreds of countries. Just take a look at this map from powerequip.org:


View Two by Two – Power Evangelism Equipping in a larger map

This map by no means represents every person actively moving in healing. These are only those people that have come forward and volunteered to train others to step out and advance the Kingdom in this way!

These are very exciting times to be alive, my friends. Jesus is on the move! If you have any desire to move in healing, I encourage you to listen to Curry Blake’s Diving Healing Technician Training, and contact a mentor near you.

There are many people all around us that have never heard the gospel. Let’s rise to the call, and fully obey Jesus in His radical pursuit of people.

With love,
Michael

Go, send, or disobey

Jesus, the Leader

I’m currently reading a book titled The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell. In the book, Maxwell details traits, qualities, and values that nearly all leaders possess at varying degrees. He calls these the “laws” of leadership.

I just finished Chapter 6, The Law of Respect, in which Maxwell details six traits that earn people respect. Now, I knew that Jesus is a good leader prior to reading this book. However, this book has really shed some light on why Jesus is a good leader. Look at the following six traits:

1. Natural Leadership Ability

In attributing this ability to Jesus, it’s important to remember that while He was God, He became man. Jesus became like you and I – not throwing off His Godhood, but choosing not to wield it – to show what man in full obedience to God could be. Jesus is what every Christian can be. He’s the prototype.

Now, how did Jesus demonstrate a natural leadership ability? It’s just obvious that some people are born better leaders than others. Was Jesus? I’m not sure. I do know this: Jesus seemed to be decisive, and disciplined, even prior to starting His ministry. I’m gathering most of this information from His childhood and His forty days in the desert. We have small glimpses of Jesus studying, fasting, and choosing to do good. People who are self-controlled and can wield their lives like a weapon for full effect will naturally be better leaders.

Take heart, however, because even if you lack a natural leadership ability, you can still grow and become a leader. But let’s also be careful not to make an idol out of leadership. It’s a valuable skill to possess as it will increase your overall effectiveness in impact and discipling others (among other things). But intimacy with God, full obedience, and love and service to others are to be much more highly valued.

2. Respect For Others

Jesus continually respected those around him. He took the time to speak with the lowly, the poorest of the poor, and the outcasts of society (lepers, for example). He accepted their invitations to to have dinner and hang out. He answered their questions. He gave others His time, just think of blind Bartimaeus. Jesus was leaving Jericho when ol’Bart cried out. Jesus stopped what He was doing and gave him the time of day. Jesus fed people, healed them, blessed them, and taught them. He placed their needs and interests in first priority. This is respect.

3. Courage

Jesus stood up to the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Not only did he stand up to them, but He did it on their territory. I’m sure that people around Him thought he was out of His mind. Jesus was apparently fearless, even to the point of death. This earned Him great respect among the people (including the Pharisees and teachers of the law – you don’t have to like someone to respect them).

What do you do with someone who has no fear and won’t give in or give up? His followers desired to follow Him in a revolution to overthrow Roman governance. His disciples wanted to die with Him. And the Pharisees sought to kill Jesus from a distance.

4. Success Record

“And looking up to heaven, He sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, …And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well.” (Mark 7:34-37)

You can’t argue with a good track record, and, well, Jesus had one. Everyone He touched got healed. At the mere sight of Jesus, demons freaked out, begging Jesus not to slaughter them before the appointed time. Jesus continually answered challenges with wisdom, love, and wit. He outsmarted the Pharisees and those who desired to trap Him. Jesus was the smartest man to ever live – an often overlooked quality. All of the people saw Him and how successful He was in everything He did. The common folk rallied around Him. The religious elite crucified Him. Then Jesus rose from the dead for the win.

5. Loyalty

This is an interesting quality to think about as it relates to Jesus, however, He possessed tremendous loyalty. Think about it: He dedicated the entire three years He was in ministry to the training and discipleship of 12 men. Yes, there were others, but He primarily focused on these twelve. He poured into them, answered their questions, settled their disputes, and trained them to love and move in power and proclaim the Kingdom of God.

Now, if we’re not careful we can get a little too idealistic with this. You also have to imagine that Jesus put up with all their idiosyncrasies: Peter may have snored at night; perhaps Thomas snorted when he laughed; Matthew could have been a tattle-tail; and Judas may have been overly-flatulent (ie. he farted a lot).

Come on, we’re Americans. We’re belong to one of the least relationally-centric cultures on the planet. You know as well as I do that people just generally get annoying over time. Jesus, however, persevered through these difficulties and loved anyways. In the same way, we’re to take up our cross, die to ourselves, and follow His loyalty.

And last, but not least, let’s not forget that this perfect loyalty Jesus gives to us as well. He’s dedicated to your discipleship and progress as well as mine. Be blessed.

6. Value Added to Others

How many times in the gospel do you read, “And Jesus taught them, as was His custom”? Teaching isn’t the only way to add value to others lives, but it’s definitely one of them. Jesus taught everywhere He went. Crowds followed Him to hear His words. In addition, He healed them, physically touched them, blessed them, fed them… you name it. He was the guy you wanted to be around. He was the guy you wanted to share your problems with and ask for advice. Why? Because He added value to people’s lives.

Do you?

Jesus is not just a good leader, He’s a perfect leader. He embodied each of these qualities to a tee. May we all submit to His excellent Lordship, and follow Him wherever He may lead us.

With love,
Michael

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