What’s the Difference Between Habitual Sin and Generational Curses? Part 1

This article first appeared on Curt Landry Ministries.

*Note: This is the first in a two-part series.

Have you asked, “What’s the difference between habitual sin and [a] generational curse? Rabbi Curt Landry continues his series of spiritual warfare and dives into the nature of habitual sin and generational curses.

Many people have heard of these terms, but there is still confusion surrounding them.

Habitual Sin

Habitual sin is continuing to sin, even after you have had a nudge from the Holy Spirit to stop. And coming into agreement with a repeating act of the sin creates a habit that seems impossible to break. That’s a habitual sin.

There’s a need to be changed to receive freedom and transformation, yet habitual sin feels as though you can’t make the change. Change can feel like an impossibility. This indicates a habitual sin.

Is Freedom from Habitual Sin Possible?

Do we have the ability to receive freedom from habitual sin? And the answer is absolutely yes! I will try to give you some instructions on how to apply spiritual warfare principles to help break those habits and patterns.

For a non-Believer…

• Satan will use deception to stay hidden, to hide the sin so that they will not come to the truth that it really is sin. And so, you’ll see people with really bad behavior who are not saved and become callous to it. There’s absolutely no conviction.

For a Believer…

• And the same thing can happen to Believers, but Satan knows the truth is in them. Therefore, his tactic is to distract them from using the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, to cut down his lies.

The Lies Satan Tells Us…

• And one of his lies is, “You’re never going to beat this habitual sin. Your parents had it, your sister had it, your uncle had it,” whatever it may be. “And they didn’t break through, and they were Christians, and you won’t break through either.”

Well, that’s a lie because the Lord says you can overcome all things through Christ’s strength. So you’re now in a spiritual battle because you have been grafted into the winning side. The key to overcoming habitual sin is to know how to change your mindset.

Move from a fixed mindset, being consumed with doubt, fear and unbelief, into a faith mindset. So that’s a choice. And so, let’s choose today to say, “Listen, I am going to study and investigate more.” And I’ve done quite a bit of teaching on having that faith mindset, where you know Jesus died for your freedom and that you are more than a conqueror through Him. And it’s about moving from a victim mentality to a victor mentality.

Battling from a Place of True Identity

In the first podcast on spiritual warfare in “Ancient Principles, Kingdom Authority,” I had you look at your identity as a child of God and a co-heir in Yeshua. And this is the belt of truth you put on when battling against habitual sin. Your identity is in the forgiven and the victor and not the victim. I want you to go back and review that first podcast because you must understand we can overcome through identity.

God Sets You Up for Victory

First Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

And so, this is a way you can go into the courts, “Lord, we put on the full armor of God. We come into your mercy courts, and you say, ‘Father God, over my life, let it be recorded today in the Courts of Heaven with my habitual sin. Let it be recorded that I decree 1 Corinthians 10:13, that in my life,’ and put your name in there and say, ‘no temptation has overtaken me except such as common to man. Father God, but God is faithful.’ Say, ‘Lord, You’re faithful. You will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able to bear. But with the temptation also, Lord, You make a way to escape that I may be able to bear.’ And that way of escape is bringing that habitual sin into the Courts of Heaven on a daily basis and coming out of agreement with it.”

It says in Hebrews 10:12-14, “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”

Speak out loud in the mercy court… “So Father God, I receive the perfection and the sanctification of the blood of Jesus. Your Word says there is therefore no condemnation. I choose not to be condemned. Lord, I choose not to receive condemnation. Convictions are from the Holy Spirit, condemnations are from the devil, and it’s in my soul. And Your Word says there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh.”

Walk in the Spirit

But here’s the key, you must walk according to the Spirit. You must understand that the warfare you’re in is spiritual warfare, not flesh warfare. And the last scripture I want to give you is John 8:31-32: “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'” {eoa}

Curt Landry, founder of Curt Landry Ministries, and his wife, Christie, travel extensively, preaching and teaching about the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. Together, their passion is to empower families to live and leave Kingdom legacies and understand their own personal heritage.