I LOVE the truths of our identity in Christ.  Our spirit determines our identity and nothing can change that fact.  If you have accepted Christ, HIS Spirit has joined together with your spirit and you are ONE!  We have authority over the enemy and the enemy has no authority over you.  Period.

However, as I work with people week after week I am surprised to see so many people who have things in their past or their family line that needs to be renounced.   At some time they or a family member has aligned (sided with, supported, allied) with things that may seem good but are not good.  Their allegiance (loyalty or commitment) was innocently given to something that was not of God.   What does the word renounce mean and why should we renounce bad choices?  (Renounce: Reject, Forsake, Leave, Disown)  Because it is now our nature to renounce these sins.  And we renounce these things in the name of Jesus. 

I am so glad that I can choose to reject and disown anything from my past that I chose to previously embrace that was not of God.  I feel like I am just “setting the record straight” that there can be no influence of this choice in my life or my ongoing family line.  I’m stating and standing on the truth that my Heavenly Father gave me.

Jesus said, “All authority has been given to me from my Father”(Matt. 28:18)  and John 17 tells us that we are IN Christ and all that the Father gave HIM, HE has given to us.  In Ephesians 2 we see that the enemy is under the feet of Jesus.  In Ephesians 1 we see that we are IN CHRIST in the heavenlies; so that means that the enemy is ALSO under our feet!  So the bible is clear; WE HAVE AUTHORITY IN CHRIST OVER THE EVIL ONE!  Do we use our authority?

I love Neil Anderson’s Steps to Freedom found in his book, “The Bondage Breaker.”  They are simple prayers with powerful truths that I have seen help people break free of negative strongholds in their lives.  As I teach and share grace with people; I use to wonder why I find it necessary to take people through these Steps to Freedom.  After all, if Grace means that God did it all then how could something I do or a counselee do make a difference?  I believe God loves His unity and partnership WITH us!  He loves the fact that we have a mind and a will and we can choose to follow HIS lead in taking up our authority IN HIM and standing on it.  I believe HE is proud that we listen to His word, follow HIS word and believe HIS word.  I see it as a privilege that we have as a child of the King of Kings!

Step One in the Steps to Freedom gives us a prayer to recite.  This prayer ask Jesus to reveal to your mind anything you have knowingly OR unknowingly done to allow the enemy a foothold in your life.  It then gives you a list of things that may seem innocent to you.  Quiji boards, Blood pacts we may have made as kids, fortune tellers, tarot cards, ghost,  false religions etc.  Even though I came from a home that had me in a bible believing church three times a week, the slumber parties I attended were having séances.  The enemies number one tool is to convince us that these things are NO BIG DEAL or just silly playing around!  If you come from that opinion, ask your Heavenly Father what the truth is about them and sit and listen to HIM.  He’s the only one that can convince you.  Renouncing these things can and will make a difference in your life.

The seventh Step to Freedom renounces generational sins that have influenced us from our ancestors.  We are  not guilty of the sins of our ancestors but we most likely HAVE been influenced by them.  In recent years we have discovered a close tie with Mason’s in our family background.  If you research the Mason’s you will discover that their origin and roots are unmistakably founded in demonic strongholds.  I REFUSE to have any influence from the enemy passed down to my children or grandchildren.  HE is a thief, a liar and he steals, kills and destroys.  I believe it is important to renounce any tie whatsoever with anything that we know of in our past family line.  I have seen struggles with fear, anxiety and other emotions leave a person as they took their authority IN CHRIST and told these influences to leave.  WE CAN BREAK THE BOND TO ANYTHING WE NO LONGER WANT IN OUR LIVES. 

Am I taking this too far?  I don’t think so.  I really don’t.  Years ago you rarely heard about practicing witches being in a family line.  Today it is becoming much too common as we take a family history.   Christ has ALREADY set us free but if we are struggling in walking in our freedom, ask God if there is anything that HE would lead you to renounce.

(Leviticus 19:31, Isaiah 8:19, II Kings 21:6, Isaiah 19:3, Phil. 4:13,  John 14:12, 16-20)