Breakthrough - Breaking Generational Curses

Exodus 20:5

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Exodus 34:6–7 (KJV 1900)

6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

Generational Curses

It sounds unfair for God to punish children for the sins of their fathers. However, there is more to it than that.

The effects of sin are naturally passed down from one generation to the next.

When a father has a sinful lifestyle, his children are likely to practice the same sinful lifestyle. Implied in the warning of Exodus 20:5

Exodus 20:5

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

is the fact that the children will choose to repeat the sins of their fathers.

An ancient Jewish paraphrase of this scriptures specifies that this passage refers to “ungodly fathers” and “rebellious children.”

So, it is not unjust for God to punish sin to the third or fourth generation – those generations are committing the same sins their ancestors did.

God Thinks Generationally

What if you could see into the future?

What if you could see the impact simple daily decisions could make to your destiny?

Would it shape your decisions or actions?

Ironically we all can see into the future somewhat and it’s not by looking forward, but by looking back.

If we track our past we can often see our future; the patterns laid out by others before us, often repeat themselves in our lives until we make a change.

God thinks Generationally.

27 Books of the bible in over 934 verses speak about generations

The Gospel of Matthew begins with the Genealogy of Jesus and The Gospel of Luke quickly moves into speaking of the genealogy of Jesus. God thinks generationally.

We see this throughout scripture through every genealogy, every reference to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Every time you read through the books of Kings or Samuel what you quickly see is that our decisions have a generational impact.

Mark 10:17–27

17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Consider the story about this Rich young ruler.

The gravity of the generational decision he made.

Surely this man would have been known by name in the history books?

Surely if he had been obedient to the call to lay down his life he would have been named among the heroes of the faith such as Matthew the tax collector who changed his direction, Luke the doctor or Peter the fisherman.

Surely there was great calling over his life that would have impacted his family and generation. But he choose to say no instead of yes to change.

Many of us have had authority figures in our lives that have made decisions that had a generational impact on us.

Many of us have fallen into generational patterns that have led us to live lives that reflect the patterns of those who have gone before us.

And the great tragedy is that for many of us we are teaching the generations coming after us to live with the same unhelpful and unhealthy attitudes, decisions and behaviors because we are yet to make a change.

The effects of sin our naturally passed down from one generation to the next

We’re all a Product of Someone

Galatians 6:7–9

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

If I placed an apple in front you and argued that it appeared out of thin air you’d think I was crazy.

Often times when you ask, ‘Where does this struggle (fear, addiction, insecurity etc…) come from?’,

people can rarely connect to the concept of their challenges being rooted in something.

You see apples don’t come out of thin air, apples grow on trees. Trees don’t magically appear, they take years to mature because they started as seeds.

Seeds don’t miraculously make their own way into soil. Seeds are sown. Seeds take root.

Every part of your life; the way you think, react, feel, relate is the result of two things:

The seeds or root issues in your life. 

The consequential belief system, habits and behavior you’ve adopted or embraced as a result of them.

Paul speaks to the idea of sowing and reaping in the letter to the Galatians. What is sowed into us by others, we will reap, whether good or bad. But we are assured, that when we sow good seed into our lives we will reap a harvest of righteousness.

Ultimately our upbringing and family environment is one of the most influential places seeds are sown and grown

Whats if your Family Tree?

Everyone human alive is affected by a family tree. I have come to realize that no matter how much we want to deny or accept it, all of our family trees have bearded some level of fruit in out lives, and not all of those fruits where pleasant.

If not dealt with, we are still dealing some of those negative fruits in the family tree, truth be told, some might still be dealing with some negative inherited patterns from, Mom, Dad, Grandparents, Aunts, and Uncles.

A generational curse is simply any ailment of the mind, body, and spirit resulting from negative behavioral patterns that are passed down throughout several generations.

Some examples of generational curses are: addictions (i.e. drug/alcohol, sex), mental illnesses (depression, schizophrenia, bipolar depression), physical illnesses (hypertension, heart disease, cancer)

Generational curses are applied and maintained on three levels.

genetic,

environmental,

and supernatural levels.

Because these strongholds are three dimensional, it may be difficult to overcome them. The first is the genetic or biological level.

It is important to understand that generational curses began with the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, and because of that, "we were born into sin and shaped in iniquity."

Although we are made in the image of God and are genetically predisposed to behave as He would, we adapted a sinful nature because of the sin of Adam and Eve

Genetics:

An example of a generational curse on the genetic level is a physical illness or disease that plagues families for generations.

Medical studies continue to indicate a genetic component for many diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.

That is the very reason medical professionals request information about one's family history and life style when seeking treatment.

Medical professionals understand that life styles or behaviors that result in illnesses will be passed down throughout several generations.

Environment:

The second level on which a generational curse is maintained is through our environment.

It must be understood that we acquire many of our behaviors, good and bad, from our families of origin.

Most of our destructive habits or lifestyles result from learned behavioral patterns passed down from one generation to the next.

We absorb a lot of information about our world from our families of origin, and we relate to others in our world based on that information.

Some examples of generational curses on the environmental level are poverty, broken relationships, and divorces.

Sociological studies have proven repeatedly that families of low socioeconomic classes have tendencies to remain in poverty for several generations.

This is because of a consistent lack of exposure to environments that foster educational and financial advancement.

Research on marriage and family suggests that destructive behaviors taught within each spouse's family of origin contribute to the dissolution of marriages.

More importantly, research indicates that simply becoming educated about relationships and how to maintain them increases one's chances of experiencing a successful marriage.

It is because of the lack of knowledge that the people perish.

Supernatural

The third level on which a generational curse is maintained is on the supernatural level.

In Exodus 20:5 (Amplified), the scripture states, "You shall not bow down yourself to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hale Me."

Then Ezekiel 18: 2 (Amplified) also states, "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?"

In the Old Testament, Israel rebelled against God repeatedly, which resulted in curses for many generations.

When we rebel against the will of God, it is as though we hate Him.

As a result. we become cursed and are left open to attacks by satan, our adversary. Just as there are consequences for disobeying or breaking natural laws, the same is true when we disobey the commandments of our God.

The Blood of Jesus

Here are two basic principles you need to know:

A generational curse comes through the blood line.

A generational curse can only be cancelled by blood.

Hebrews 9:22

22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

And almost all things - in Levitical law, we see that purification and forgiveness was extended under a variety of circumstances, from blood, to the washing with water (Lev 15:16-17; 17:15), anointing with oil (Lev 14:29), burning flour (Lev 5:11-13), giving money (Exod 30:11-16), or releasing an animal into the wild (Lev 16:10).

But there could be no remission, removal with the shedding of the Blood of Jesus Christ.

Thus Christ died, not only to obtain the blessings of salvation for us, but to give power to the disposal of them. All, by sin, were become guilty before God, had forfeited every thing that is good; but God, willing to show the greatness of his mercy, proclaimed a covenant of grace.

Nothing could be clean to a sinner, not even his religious duties; except as his guilt was done away by the death of a sacrifice, of value sufficient for that end, and unless he continually depended upon it.

May we ascribe all real good works to the same all-procuring cause, and offer our spiritual sacrifices as sprinkled with Christ's blood, and so purified from their defilement.

There is power in the Blood of Jesus:

Romans 3:23–25

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

To define “justified” in simple terms, you could say, “I’ve been made just as if I’d never done it.” This is possible only because God presented Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement, or as Young’s Literal Translation puts it, God set Him forth as a “mercy seat.”

If you remember, the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant was where, once a year on the Day of Atonement, the priest would sprinkle the blood of animals. The blood was a barrier between the curse of the law and the people of the covenant.

The ninth chapter of Hebrews tells us that Jesus placed His blood on the mercy seat in heaven, not once a year, but one time for all of eternity to obtain eternal salvation for all who put their faith and trust in Him. Today, Jesus is to us a mercy seat.

It is extremely important to note that we must appropriate Jesus’ sacrifice through faith. Yes, His death on the cross paid the penalty and broke the power of sin for everyone from Adam to the last person standing at the end of the age. However, salvation is not effective in our lives until we personally accept Jesus’ sacrifice by faith and appropriate it for ourselves.

The same is true of deliverance from generational iniquities and curses. These are the “sins committed beforehand” mentioned in Romans 3:25, and just as salvation must be appropriated through faith, so must deliverance from generational iniquities and curses. Until you personally appropriate Jesus’ sacrifice through faith, it is not effective in your life, and the curse can remain.

Breaking the Curse - Tetelestai

Jesus’s blood shed on the cross broke the curse!

Galatians 3:9–13

9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

The breaking of the curse was due to the Romans preferred method of execution – crucifixion.

In Jewish society, people who committed particularly hideous crimes were not only executed, but their dead bodies were hung on trees:

22 “If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 21:22, 23 NASV)

This resulted in a further vilification and humiliation of the person as vultures and other carrion eaters disfigured the body. Because they were being savaged in such a vile way by unclean birds, such people were declared accursed.

When the Romans crucified Christ, they chose a method of execution that brought with it the curse associated with being hung on the tree. Consequently, Christ’s death was not only punishment for our sins, but the method of execution broke the curses associated with the law as Christ became accursed us. This included generational curses.

Does this mean that generational curses are impotent — unable to affect the believer? The answer to this question is both yes and no.

Let me explain what I mean.

Salvation is available to the world, but this does not mean that everyone is automatically saved. Despite Christ’s work on the cross, people can still go to hell.

Only those who choose to believe Christ will receive salvation.

Healing is also in the atonement (Isaiah 53:5) — Christ’s death on the cross — but is everyone automatically healed? No we have to believe and in some ways contend for healing.

In the same way, generational curses are legally broken, but they still have the potential to influence families. We are required to appropriate this victory in the same way we receive salvation, by faith.

One vital part of this battle is perspective — we must fight from the higher ground.

We do not ask God to break the generational curse — it is already broken — we must believe this fact and enforce it. This enforcement is accomplished through faith.

If you don’t believe your generational curse is broken, then guess what — it isn’t. Satan will challenge your position in Christ and test how much you really believe it. If the father of all lies can cause you to doubt your victory, then you are prodding down the road to defeat.

Generational curses can appear as thick chains swinging from our necks, but in fact they are only dangling by a thread.

John 19:28-30 (KJV 1900)

John 19:28–30

28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

John says that before Jesus gave up the ghost He said “it is finished…” The word used in the Greek is "tetelestai." "tetelestai" is the word the Greek Olympians would use when they finished a competition in victory. Meaning, it’s finished, I won! Jesus lasts words before giving up the ghost where "tetelestai", it’s finished, I won! The devil has already been defeated!!!!!!!

Jesus broke the curse’s on mankind!

Every generational curse is broken by a generational choice.

Be the one to make a change.

Choose Life and Blessing We saw previously in Exodus 20:5-6 how God visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth of generations, but did you notice the rest of that verse? It says that the blessing goes, not only three or four generations, but up to a thousand generations – and the blessing is much stronger than the curse!

God, in Deuteronomy 30:15,19 says, “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil…I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”

This is a spiritual battle today

2 Corinthians 10:3–6

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Breaking the Curse If you are living under a generational curse, it will be cancelled when you, through faith, appropriate the blood of Jesus for your deliverance.

When you break generational curses you position yourself for the blessing and favor of God.

Just as generational curses are passed down from generation to generation, there are also generational blessings that you can obtain.

God blessed Abraham. Abraham was so blessed that he became a blessing to his generation; the Blessing landed upon Abraham, upon Isaac and then on Jacob (Gen. 24":1,"35, Gen. 25":5,"Gen. 27": 21-29). Abraham,"Isaac and Jacob did not end empty-handed in life.

God is not only interested in breaking generational curses today, but he is positioning you all to walk into generational blessing!

Alter Call

Thank you, God, that generational curses are broken through faith in the blood of Jesus.

I put my faith in the blood. I believe Jesus is my mercy seat and that His blood cancels the curse and breaks generational iniquities.

I believe, by the blood of Jesus, that the generational curse from the law is cancelled and broken off my family now, in Jesus’ name.

Thank you that sins, bondage's and iniquities are cancelled and the curse is stopped by the blood of Jesus.

Thank you, God, that the blood of Jesus on the mercy seat is a barrier and that a curse cannot pass the blood.  Amen.