To Be Set Free


First deal with the sin involved in our life struggle, then we can address some of the potential “complicating factors” that could inhibit our walk to freedom. Not everyone will have problems in these areas, but it is helpful to at least be aware of them.

Generational Sin

A person’s sin can incur consequences, sometimes called “generational curses” which affect his or her descendants down to the 4th generation. The basis for this is found in Exodus 34:6-7 and other scriptures. These consequences can manifest in several ways, including sickness, tendencies toward certain sins, emotional disorders, familiar spirits and demonic oppression.

To evaluate the possibility of generational sin that are affecting you, construct a family tree diagram, noting any patterns of sin that run down the family line. Certain types of sin, such as occult sin, sexual sin, false religion and idolatry are often the causes of generational curses.

Once we’ve identified generational sin, we can take our place in Christ for our family and confess the sin of our ancestors. This is basically a legal transaction where we are transferring the payment of our ancestors’ sin to Christ’s account. By doing so, we cancel out the effects of any generational effects that may have been caused by their sin (Galatians 3:13-14).

Here Is A Prayer You Can Pray To Address Generational Sin:

“Heavenly Father, Thank you for the precious blood of Jesus that brings forgiveness and cleansing from sin. Thank you for redeeming me from the curse of the law and giving me new life. I take my place in Christ for my family and confess all the sins committed by my ancestors that I know of. Specifically I confess: __________________(list). Father, I ask for your forgiveness and cleansing of my family and me. Please cut us free from all curses or ill effects caused by these sins. If any evil spirits have gained entry into my life on account of my ancestors’ sin, I bind them in the name of Jesus Christ and command them to leave me and go to Jesus right now! Thank you Father for the freedom that is mine through Jesus. I praise you now and forever, Amen.”

Soul Ties

A soul tie is a spiritual connection between our soul and that of another person. Soul ties are most commonly formed through sexual activity, though they can also be formed through strong emotional bonds and even idolatry. Beneficial soul ties are commonly created in marriage and healthy friendships (Malachi 2:15; Genesis 2:24, 1 Chronicles 12:17, Colossians 2:2). God intended these to strengthen our marriages, family relationships and friendships.

Harmful soul ties are created through sexual sin and abusive or unhealthy relationships. They can affect us in a variety of ways, including:

  • Limit our ability to move forward with Jesus
  • Cause footholds for current sin habits
  • Contribute to sexual problems (e.g. frigidity, promiscuity)

Take a moment to ask God in prayer to show you if you have soul ties that need to be severed. As you consider the relationships you had over the years, look at the “fruit” that they have produced in your life. Using the rule Jesus explained in Matthew 7:16-18, good soul ties will bear good fruit (e.g. love, blessing, fidelity, peace, joy, freedom, strengthened walk with God, etc.). Bad soul ties will bear bad fruit (e.g. hatred, resentment, bondage, manipulation, anger, strife, jealousy, bitterness, fear, lust).

If the Lord brings people to mind or you think there is a possibility of a soul tie with someone, write their names down in your journal and proceed to pray to cut the soul tie.

Pray to cut soul ties: We can ask God in prayer to cut the unhealthy soul ties in our lives. First we should identify the source and confess the sin we committed related to it. We can then ask the Lord to cut the soul ties, remove all negative effects and restore us to wholeness. If you are cutting soul ties related to an object (e.g. favorite porn picture, former lover’s clothing), be sure to destroy the object and remove it from your home. Here’s a sample prayer:

“Father God, Thank you for saving me from destruction. I praise you for sending Jesus to die for my sins. Specifically, I confess that I have sinned in the following ways: ______________(details of the sin & names). I repent from those sins and renounce them now. Please forgive me and cleanse my conscience with the blood of Jesus. Lord, please cut the unhealthy soul ties between me and _______ (list name (s)). Please restore me to wholeness in spirit, soul and body and reintegrate any part of me that was involved with those soul ties. I also ask for the salvation and restoration of those people that I was involved with. I commit him/her/them to your care. I rebuke any evil spirits that may have gained a foothold in me from that sin. I command you to leave me and go to Jesus Christ now! Thank you, Lord, for setting me free to live as the new person in Christ you made me to be! I praise you now and forever, Amen!”

Cherishing Sin

One of the problems with sexual sin is that it creates lasting memories. Those memories can then become stumbling blocks for us to continue to sin by lust and idolatry (i.e. cherishing the memories). When we cherish these sinful memories, we are creating obstacles in our path to freedom that could block our prayers and ultimate healing (Psalm 66:18). If we want to gain complete victory, we will have to stop cherishing the memories of the past.

Thankfully, God has given us the Holy Spirit to help us put the sinful desires of our flesh to death (Romans 8:11,13). This includes dying to the pleasure of cherishing sin memories. The first step toward healing is to identify the memories we’ve been cherishing. Please take a moment to ask God to bring to mind the sin memories that you’ve been cherishing. As they come to mind, please write them down in your journal.

Then, we can take our list before God in prayer to accomplish the following:

  • Confess & repent for cherishing the sin memories
  • Ask for help in dying to the pleasure of cherishing the memories
  • Apply the blood of Jesus Christ to the memories in order to cleanse our conscience (Hebrews 9:14)
  • Ask for help in seeing our sin the way he sees it —- to hate it and the memories of it.

Here is a sample prayer that addresses those points:

“Father God, thank you that I can be forgiven and cleansed from my sin. I confess my sin of cherishing the memories of past sin. Specifically, I confess these memories: _______________ (list). I turn away from these memories and renounce them in Jesus’ name. Please forgive me and cleanse my conscience from the dead works of sin with the blood of Jesus. Lord, I commit my thoughts to You. Please strengthen me to never dwell on these memories again. By faith I have the mind of Christ and I am a new creation. I direct my thoughts to pure and wholesome things. Help me to have your view of sin, Lord. Help me to hate it and the memories of it. I invite the Holy Spirit to fill me afresh and continue the renewal process of my body, mind and spirit. Thank You, Father! I praise you in Jesus name, Amen.”

After having prayed that prayer, you can tear or burn up the list of the memories. This can be an act of faith, symbolizing the cleansing of your conscience through the blood of Christ.

Moving forward, we now must exercise control over our thoughts and redirect them to pure topics whenever we’re tempted to let them stray back into the areas we just prayed about.

Also pray with: