How Does the Spirit of Death Affect Us? The A-B-C Series on Ancestral Influences
By Gena Barnhill @BarnhillGena
The spirit of death works to destroy us by causing premature death in our physical bodies. It often collaborates with other spirits, such as fear and infirmity, to bring destruction and demonic oppression. Although this spirit is often associated with physical death, it also works to kill a person’s dreams, hope, and God-given destiny.
In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
We know that the enemy’s mission is to separate us from God. But Jesus promises us life.
How Does the Spirit of Death Affect Us? The A-B-C Series on Ancestral Influences #ancestralcurses #death #healing Click To TweetHow the Spirit of Death May Gain Access
The spirit of death is sly and cunning and can gain access to our thoughts when we are feeling vulnerable, or our spiritual defenses are down. When we feel lonely, fearful, anxious, depressed, or discouraged, we can take our thoughts captive and turn to the Lord in prayer so that we do not give the enemy a foothold. Once this spirit gains access, it will remain and pass down the generations until it is renounced and broken.
Signs that a spirit of death may have gained access in your family line include:
- A history of premature deaths
- Rare and incurable diseases
- An onslaught of accidents and unusual events that can lead to death
- A history of suicides or suicide attempts
- Murders
- Abortion
- Reckless behaviors that invite death
- Death from war
Failure to Achieve Dreams and Destiny
The second time I participated in a communion service to break generational curses in my family line, the prayer minister asked us to complete a genogram listing our ancestors and the blessings and negative ancestral influences associated with them. The purpose of this exercise was to bring awareness of spirits that may need to be renounced, not to blame our ancestors.
The Lord showed me there was a spirit of death that I needed to renounce. Several women on my father’s side of the family died prematurely and under unusual and sometimes unexplainable circumstances. Before this communion service, I had not realized that this was a pattern in my family line that needed to be broken. It was not until I learned about healing prayer that I understood we have the power to fight the enemy and I could break this curse in Jesus’s name.
In Luke 10:19, Jesus said, “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.”
I do not know when the spirit of death gained access to my family, and I do not know most of my ancestors. I did renounce this spirit and forgave my ancestors who unknowingly and knowingly partnered with it, and I asked for forgiveness for any part I may have played in partnering with this spirit. I wanted any open doors to this spirit closed immediately and its demonic assignment canceled in the name of Jesus. Later, I learned that other family members believed they had experienced demonic oppression from this spirit and renounced it.
What can we do once we recognize the spirit of death?
D—Dispel the fear of early death. Expect a long life filled with purpose as Jesus promised. We sometimes heard people tell us during prayer sessions that they expected to die young because one of their parents died at an early age. Our words have power, so we need to guard our tongue and speak life over ourselves.
E— Extend forgiveness to our ancestors who partnered with the spirit of death and ask the Lord for forgiveness if we have partnered with this spirit. Jesus promises to forgive us when we repent.
A—Accept that you are a child of God, and He created you for a purpose. Psalm 139 tells us that He formed us and knew us before we were born. If you are unsure of your purpose and destiny, ask the Lord.
T—Thank the Lord for His faithfulness and protection. He is waiting for us to partner with Him. He wants a relationship with us.
H—Hand over the spirit of death to the Lord. Renounce and reject the spirit of death. Declare that the spirit of death’s demonic assignment is decommissioned, and the enemy’s legal rights are removed in Jesus’s name.
Do you recognize a recurrent pattern of premature physical death or death of dreams in your family line or in the lineage of others you care for? How will you pray against this negative ancestral influence?
Be sure to leave your thoughts on our Facebook Group Healing Prayer Discussion.
Looking forward to your input.
Blessings,
Gena
In case you missed the rest of the Ancestral Influences Series, here are the links:
How Abandonment Affects Us Spiritually
How Abuse Affects Us Spiritually
How Does Addiction Affect Us Spiritually
How Does Anger Affect Us Spiritually
How Does Anxiety Affect Us Spiritually
How Does the Spirit of Bitterness Affect Us
How Does the Spirit of Bound Emotions Affect Us
How Does the Spirit of Condemnation Affect Us
How Does the Spirit of Control Affect Us
