Generational Curses

Tue, Nov 17, 2009

Q & A

GENERATIONAL CURSES

Dr. Lewis Gregory

Q. Can things that happened to our ancestors have a bearing on our lives today? I’ve heard people refer to such things as a “generational curse.” Is that correct? What are general curses? How do they affect us, and what can we do about it?

A. When people struggle with habitual problems similar to their parents or grandparents, it may mean that they are under a generational curse. The Bible speaks of such a generational curse in Exodus 34:7b: “visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” Iniquity is a deviation from the proper path. It’s a reference to deviant behavior descriptive of a sinful lifestyle. Iniquity is a deviation from God’s righteous standard of life to an alternate lifestyle, which God calls evil. Thus, God warns that the sinful habits of one generation will be perpetuated by subsequent generations. So, until the cycle of sin is broken, a generational curse is in effect.

Curses and blessings are described in Deuteronomy chapters 27-30. Both curses and blessings have consequences. Curses produce death in us, while blessings result in life. It is clearly a case of reaping what you sow. When you respond in faithful obedience to God you will reap life, but if not, death is the outcome.

God’s preference is that through His goodness, He might lead us to repentance. However, if we don’t repent He will bring His severity upon us (Romans 2:4; 11:22). His intention is for us to depart from that which is destroying our lives and defiling His Holy temple

(II Corinthians 6:17-7:1). We truly have a loving Heavenly Father who wants the best for His children. However, He will spare us no pain or adversity, if necessary, to bring it about. This, too, is part of God’s faithfulness. Once you really understand this, you can say with King David, Your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4).

It is important to note that God desires to invoke His blessings upon us. However, if we neglect to live according to His word, we will inevitably experience curses instead.

One result of curses might be a sinful lifestyle characterized by destructive habits. Sometimes curses become so entrenched in people’s lives that sinful habits are passed on for several generations. Such sinful habits are much more than just incorrect behavior patterns. That is why merely attempting to modify a person’s behavior cannot possibly produce a lasting solution. Furthermore, addictive/compulsive behavior is far more than just a physical addiction. That in itself is part of the problem. Until the person realizes that there is more to the problem than just a physical addiction, the problem will persist. Sinful habits have a spiritual root. People involved in sinful habits eventually reach a point where they have little, if any, real control over them. They find themselves driven, compelled and literally consumed by these sinful habits.

What is happening to them? What is driving them to engage in such undesirable behavior? When a person finds himself consumed with a sinful habit that he cannot break, then that person is in bondage. God describes such bondage as a stronghold (II Corinthians 10:4). Strongholds develop when a person repeatedly gives place to the devil (Eph. 4:27) by engaging in the same sinful practice. Each time a person repeats the same sin, the demonic hold over that area of his life gets stronger, until it finally develops into a stronghold.

As detrimental as strongholds can be to the individual, it does not always stop there. One of the long-term effects of such demonic strongholds is they are sometimes passed down to one’s ancestors. Hence the name generational curses. This becomes evident when children, and/or grandchildren develop the same or similar sinful practices. For instance, the alcoholic father whose addictive/compulsive behavior is repeated in his son. However, since the son despises alcohol he becomes a workaholic instead. Both have the same addictive/compulsive behavior problems, just in a different form. This wretched cycle must cease!

But is it really possible for the cycle to be broken? After counseling, one man gave this glorious testimony attesting that it can. “Praise God the chain is broken! I am truly free and, by the grace of God, these generational habits of sin have ended with me.” Yes, sinful habits that have developed into demonic strongholds can be broken. But only by the power of God! All things are possible with God. He’s the Almighty!

The good news is that through Christ’s death on the cross, God solved the problem of generational curses forever. When Christ died on the cross, He took our place. Since every one of us was cursed by sin and death, Christ became a curse for us. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree” (Gal. 3:13). Christ’s death broke the curse and severed Satan’s dominion over mankind.

Jesus Christ came to liberate the captives. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Christ is the only one who can make us free from our bondage to sin and its destructive consequences. Through the cross, Jesus Christ has made us free indeed!

What is necessary to experience this freedom? You can start by repenting of the specific sins that resulted from your particular generational curse. First, confess any sins that have occurred in your life which have given place to the devil. Next, reject them in Jesus’ name. Acknowledge any known sins among your ancestors. Then reject those sinful habits in the name of Jesus (Daniel 9:3-19).

As a result of your union with Christ, God has given you the keys to the Kingdom of God. These keys are symbolic of your authority in Christ. When you exercise this God-given authority wisely, then the gates of hell (the forces of evil) shall not prevail against you. You can take authority through Christ, and bind the strong man (Satan and his demons) from you and/or your children (Matthew 12:29).

How do you exercise this authority in binding the strong man? Ask the Lord to show you what the strongholds are. Then call the evil spirits by name and command them to leave you and/or your children and never return again. Pray that Satan’s blinders would be removed and that the light of the gospel would shine upon your hearts. Dedicate yourself, your home, your possessions, and your children to the Lord.

When you submit to God in such a manner, then the devil must flee from you. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Once you are completely submitted to the Lord’s authority that leaves no place for the devil. Praise God, when the Son makes you free, you are free indeed!

Also, please read my article on DEALING WITH THE DEMONIC for a further explanation of demonic influence.