But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. Joshua 7:1
Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. Joshua 7:11-13
The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the Lord; and he slew him. And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five. The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul. And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all. And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed. And the sons of Ethan; Azariah. 1 Chronicles 2:3-8
Achan took what God forbade. Achan hid the accursed thing in his tent and brought a snare not only into his life but also into his family's life. What he did affected the performance and success of the whole camp, and resulted in an ignominious defeat from what should have been an easy victory.
Sin is an accursed thing in the sight of God. Its abhorrence to God is obvious in the fact that Jesus had to die on the cross for our sins, being made a curse for us.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14 KJV
The Word of God says that we have been redeemed from the curse through Christ's sacrifice but we need to be circumspect in our walk or:
WE WILL PROVOKE THE CURSE WHEN WE ENTERTAIN THAT WHICH GOD FORBIDS
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 KJV
Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:7-10 KJV
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Ephesians 5:5 KJV
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 2 Peter 2:19-20 KJV
THE ACCURSED THING IS LIKE A MAGNET THAT ATTRACTS EVIL, AND BRINGS CALAMITY TO THE POSSESSOR, TO THE FAMILY OF ITS POSSESSOR, AND TO THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH ITS POSSESSOR.
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Hebrews 12:11-17 KJV
Just as a magnet attracts objects of a similar nature even so evil attracts evil. When we entertain sin in our thoughts it soon sends roots into our minds, creating a stronghold. From this stronghold the enemy can launch its attack on two fronts, internally in addition to its external assault.
Magnets exist in nature as naturally magnetized pieces of magnetite called lodestone which exercise magnetic influence in their neighborhood. Many time families have strongholds derived from past practices, or oaths of their ancestors and like the natural lode stone these exert an influence on the descendants. When a person commits to Christ and surrender their life to Him, the Lord will deliver that person from the curse of the stronghold
It possible to create our own magnets. An electro magnet is non operational until it is attached to a source of power. The power from the source, flowing through the wire wrapped around the core generates a magnetic field which attracts the iron.
Sometimes we can get ourselves wrapped up in our own brand of thoughts. These thoughts become empowered by the enemy which creates an attractive force for other thought and ideas
Entertaining that which God calls cursed becomes a snare which is a stronghold. You may think you control it but continuous feeding of it makes it stronger and stronger until without you realizing, it has taken control and power of its own, and it manipulates you as it pleases.
The closer you get to it the stronger it pulls!
AS BELIEVERS WE HAVE RECEIVED THE POWER AND WISDOM TO BREAK THESE CURSES IN OUR LIVES
Believers need to be aware that they have been redeemed from the curse of the law! The legal grounds for curses has been eliminated through the Redemptive power of the Blood of Jesus Christ
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14 KJV
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Colossians 1:13 KJV
WE HAVE POWER OVER THE POWER OF THE ENEMY THROUGH CHRIST'S BLOOD!
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19 KJV
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11 KJV
WE HAVE POWER THROUGH HIS NAME OVER THE ENEMY!
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 KJV
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:17-18 KJV
WE HAVE TO RESIST EVIL!
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 KJV
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9 KJV
REPENTANCE IS VITAL TO LASTING DELIVERANCE!
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38 KJV
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19 KJV
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Acts 17:30 KJV
