The Stronghold of Iniquity

Monday, April 19th,2010

Today's Passage: Ezekiel 18
Memory Verses: Ezekiel 18: 30-31

When we moved into our home 12 years ago, there was a giant tree in our yard that was a plus for us. It provided shade from the Florida sun, and our kids played under it when the weather was warm. Little did we know that beneath the ground, the tree's equally giant roots were growing by leaps and bounds, doing so much damage to our yard that the septic system didn't work properly, and eventually all the grass on that side of the yard stopped growing. Finally, we had no choice but to pay someone to completely cut down the tree and grind its stump so those roots would have no more life going to them. After that, we had to get a completely new drain field put in and remove all the roots.

Iniquity is very much like those roots. The word itself means "that which is twisted", or anything that turns away from God's straight and perfect path. It originates from the twisted thoughts of Lucifer, who deviated from the divine and righteous essence of God. Iniquity is the enemy's attempt to contaminate the righteous seed placed in us when we give our hearts to God. It is transferred from one generation to another, causing even believers who love God with all their hearts to still engage in sins that their ancestors committed (see the book Iniquity by Ana Mendez for more). David, a man after God's own heart, is an example of this (Psalm 51:5).

If you ever wondered why a saved man can watch his mother suffer from abuse by his father, know of the damage it causes, and still struggle with beating his wife and/or children, iniquity is the reason. If you've seen entire families bear the name of drunks, or thieves, or trouble-makers, iniquity is the reason why. It is imprinted upon our DNA in the form of whatever sin our forefathers committed, and is compounded when we engage in those and greater sins. When we become saved, we enter into the realm of grace where God has made provision for forgiveness from iniquity. But how can we get what's imprinted on our DNA to just disappear if we don't even know it's there?

So we spend years asking for forgiveness for the sins we continually commit, not understanding why we haven't yet been set free from that temper mama had, or that spirit of gluttony. Because iniquity is buried deep into the ground of our souls, all we've been doing is cutting back the tree which bears the fruit of the sin everyone can see. Now, everyone knows that if you cut back a tree, you're simply pruning it. Although you may not see the fruit for a while, it's coming back in full force in the near future.

When you consider the damage roots can cause, you may ask if there's any hope of deliverance. Yes, our God has already provided a way out! But it involves some deep soul-searching on your part. You must first ask God to reveal to you the sins that your family has passed on to you --not just the ones you were guilty of, but the ones your ancestors committed before you ever came on the scene. Then, you must ask God (preferably after some fasting)to forgive you and your ancestors for the iniquity.

Finally, use your authority to command that every root be uprooted from your life so that it never shows up again in the lives of you and your children. It is a spiritual process that many don't preach about, because it takes a lot of courage to go back in the past and trace the "root" of things you and your family may have done. You see, as long as those roots remain in the ground, the curses associated with them are free to plague your life. But when you fall out of agreement with all those things, satan has no choice but to loose his hold. I don't have to tell you how awesome it is that, after 12 years, my family and I are finally able to shower and flush our toilet (things we were never able to do freely until we removed those roots).

Brothers and sisters,I pray that you are willing to go through the process to get rid of the iniquity in your lives. God has already done his part. The rest is up to you.

Prayer: Father, thank You for making a way of escape from my past sins and the iniquity of my ancestors. Please give your people the courage they need to search for the truth of what those sins are, repent of them, and command that they be uprooted. I give you praise for giving us all the victory in Jesus' Name. Amen.