Have you ever witnessed a family where the father has several wives, his son appears to have been “handed it,” and the grandfather also faces the same issue? Or have you observed that your mother and her father also experienced mental health issues, such as depression or recurring irrational worries, in addition to yourself? Due to the sins of their ancestors, a large number of individuals are currently living in bondage.
Exodus 34:7, “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting (punishing) the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”
Lamentations 5:7, “Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne (been punished for) their iniquities.”
Beyond learnt behaviour, a lot of kids pick up dirty habits from their messy parents. From one generation to the next, this is a form of spiritual servitude. A persistently bad trend of something being passed down from generation to generation is one sign of a generational curse. Adopted individuals frequently end up having traits similar to those of their birth parents, not because they were raised with them and learned their behaviour, but rather because they acquired their spiritual bondage.
Family illnesses that seem to pass from one person to the next (cancer is a common physical manifestation of a spiritual bondage), ongoing financial difficulties (they keep running into financial roadblocks), mental health issues, persistent irrational fears, and depression are some common signs of generational curses. A generational curse could be anything that appears to be a recurring issue or challenge that has been passed down from one generation to the next.
The Purpose Of A Generational Curse
I think that because God detests sin so much, he would punish future generations with the misdeeds of their forefathers. He would demand that anyone found guilty of practicing witchcraft be executed (Exodus 22:18). He is aware that your children are among your most valued assets, thus it is much more difficult to commit sin when you know that not only are you being punished for your actions, but also that your own children will suffer as a result of your stupidity. That, I think, is the cause of generational curses. For that regard, Adam’s transgression caused the fall of the entire human species.
The Price For Generational Curses Has Been Paid!
Fortunately, the transferring of bondage from your ancestors through generational curses ends if you accept Jesus. After you accept Jesus, you can no longer be subjected to spiritual sins of your parents! Gal 3:13 says, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”). Through Jesus, we are no longer under a curse when we become part of the family of God. The sins of our forefathers are nullified and no longer have an impact on us.
Jeremiah 31:29-30, “In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But everyone shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.” Why, therefore, do so many Christians appear to have generational curses? I was also perplexed by this till I realised how it operates.
Let’s say a thirty-year-old man is born again. He will be affected by every curse that has been passed down from his generation. Another illustration would be if an alcoholic were to be born again at the age of thirty, the repercussions of that life would still be present. His body and soul remain unaltered, but his spirit is reborn. The same individual can be a great tool for God through Christ and mental renewal. After meeting Christ, some people don’t want to return to their previous lives, while others need some time to notice a change.
My point is, we are all born condemned to hell or rejected by God. After salvation, curses are broken. However, the effects of those curses that you inherited do not disappear suddenly. You will need spiritual support to break away those effects of your past life off you. You will need to cast them out in the name of Jesus.
Non-Believers Are Still Affected
Even after Jeremiah 31:29-30 makes it clear that believers are redeemed from generational curses, the next chapter in Jeremiah (32:18NLT) clearly says, You show unfailing love to thousands, but you also bring the consequences of one generation’s sin upon the next. You are the great and powerful God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Apparently, generational curses are still in effect, but for who is the big question.
Ezekiel 18:2-3 (NLT) tells us, “Why do you quote this proverb concerning the land of Israel: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste’? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel. (Note the keywords “in Israel”… this is referring to those who are in covenant with God, which are us believers, not the rest of the world.) It is evident that generational curses still exist in the lives of non-believers, who are not part of God’s new covenant.
Initiating the Impact of A Generational Curse.
Before a child accepts Jesus, demons may enter his or her life and then lay dormant or concealed until later in life, when they manifest (or make themselves known). In some cases, a fear runs in the family but doesn’t show up in a person’s life until they engage in something frightening, like viewing a scary movie. The spirits in that person’s life suddenly “come alive,” so to speak, and reveal themselves.
It’s crucial to clean up any legal grounds (or strongholds) that you give the enemy in your own life related to bondage if you have committed any sins or opened any doors while “awaking” or igniting the spirits. For instance, it’s necessary to confess your sins before attempting to drive out any spirits if you watched a demonic film and it appeared to have summoned spirits of fear that were passed down to you. It’s also possible that you added to spirits that were already present or that you picked up the spirits from the movie without their ever being there. Even if you are filled with the Holy Spirit and a Christian, a spirit might still enter your body. You allowed them to enter, so even though it will be dormant, it is still there. “Most certainly, I tell you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs up some other way is a thief and a robber,” according to John 10:1. Who is the sheepfold? Are they not Christians? If a believer dabbles in the occultic, a spirit may enter. For this reason, the Old Testament often cautions us against becoming involved with the occults.
I would also be on the alert for any bitterness or unforgiveness in your heart, since I think that this is a major method to “trigger” generational spirits. A spirit of cancer going down the family tree is a typical sight, and I think that bitterness is a terrific method to call forth those spirits. Unforgiveness is a grave sin that prevents your own sins from being forgiven (Matt 6:15), giving the enemy plenty of legal justification to operate in your life. We are at the mercy of the enemy when we are unforgiving (Matt 18:23-35).
The Curse May Be Canceled, But The Demons May Remain
Demons inherited from your ancestors do not simply go from you, just as other demons do not disappear when you are saved. Giving your life to Jesus does not drive out demons. Deliverance is needed after salvation. Suppose you become born again at 20. You were still living under the curses that were placed upon you became saved or came under God’s covenant. Those curses are automatically lifted if you gave your life to Jesus, but you still need to expel the demons that were there before you did.
Also, after giving your life to Jesus, you may have involved yourself in other things like watching a horror movie, reading ungodly books, premarital sex, with different partners, pornography, ungodly lifestyle etc. Things done after salvation also open doors to the demonic. These are not generational curses but curses that we subject ourselves willingly.
Casting demons out is the solution to get rid of them because they don’t go away on their own. In a story found in Mark 9:17–27, Jesus addresses what is most likely a generational curse (verse 21). Jesus expelled the demons that had entered through the curse, but he did not ask the youngster to confess the transgressions or sins of his ancestors. If a person is a child, there is no need for them to confess the sins of their ancestors. We can still set them free. If they are adults, it’s better to encourage and guide them to confess the sins of their ancestors.
Confess what is rightfully yours!
Our generational curses have been broken in Jesus’ name, but I still like to verbally confess what is happening and what is rightfully ours because it has power, helps us realise that we are free, and alerts the enemy that he is in trouble! To do that, try this example confession prayer:
In the name of Jesus, I confess the sins and iniquities of my parents (name specific sins if known), grandparents (name specific sins if known), and all other ancestors. I declare that by the blood of Jesus, these sins have been forgiven and Satan and his demons can no longer use these sins as legal grounds in my life!
In the name of Jesus, and by the power of His blood, I now declare that all generational curses have been renounced, broken and severed, and that I am no longer under their bondage!
In the name of Jesus, I declare myself and my future generations loosed from any bondages passed down to me from my ancestors. AMEN!
Another factor to consider
There are other things that can ‘seem’ like generational curses, but aren’t. Perhaps the most common is if there is an ungodly soul tie formed between you and one of your ancestors, that can also allow for the transferring of spirits. We will look at soul ties another day.
Conclusion
In summary, I do not think that Christians can live under generational curses, but I do think that spirits that entered through those curses prior to their acceptance of Jesus can have an impact on them. Similar to how many people’s previous deeds prior to coming to Christ put them in demonic servitude and led to the acquisition of demons. These demons frequently need to be driven out; they are not instantly cast out at the time of salvation.
It’s relatively easy to deal with a spirit that has come through a generational curse: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils,” states Mark 16:17. Discover that you have the Spiritual Authority that Jesus has given you over demonic spirits, and that you may tell them to depart from you in Jesus’ name if you have faith! Try prayer and fasting if you can’t seem to get rid of them. Jesus made it very clear that some demons won’t come out unless you have a higher level of faith, which can only be attained through prayer and fasting (Matt 17:19–21).
It is advised that you seek deliverance via a knowledgeable man or woman of God who works in the ministry of deliverance if you are subjected to more severe bondage.
Another type of generational curse
As long as we don’t keep our ancestors’ sins hidden in our hearts (it’s never a good thing to store sin in our hearts, whether it’s our own or our ancestors’ sins), the kinds of curses that are passed down as a result of an ancestor’s sin are instantly atoned for on the cross. However, there is another type of generational curse that is passed down, and it is a spoken curse that also affects subsequent generations. Genesis 9:24–25, So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. Then he said: “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants. He shall be to his brethren.” This curse affected the entire lineage of Canaan; it affected an entire generation! One of our ancestors and their generation may have been cursed by someone for something done to them. For instance, suppose a woman was sexually assaulted by one of our great uncles and she cursed his entire generation. Even though we weren’t living at the time, these curses can nonetheless have an impact on us. I advise breaking a curse even if you are not sure, just to be certain. Breaking a curse that has already been broken doesn’t hurt.
This is an example of a prayer you might use to release oneself from a spoken generational curse:
In the name of Jesus, and by the power of His blood, I now renounce, break and sever all curses that have been handed down to me from my ancestors. In the name of Jesus, I now loose myself and my future generations from any bondages passed down to me from my ancestors!
For anyone experiencing severe demonic attacks, I will suggest a deliverance session. In certain situations, we have prayed a variety of prayers, yet nothing seems to work. Numerous prophesies and instructions have been given to us, yet nothing has changed. Keep in mind that all of our ancestors were idolaters and therefore things they did in the past has consequences on us. Our ancestors disobeyed God and worshipped demons. They were cursed and the effects of those curses still affects us. Even though we are now Christians, we still need to address our past in order to prevent it from affecting our future.
Years ago, I was in prayer group. We prayed almost every night at a school park. Sometimes, during prayers, the leader would call me out for prayers. They would pray for me against demonic attacks and witchcraft activities in my family. Though I nodded and said an “Amen” to the prayers, I was sceptical. I didn’t think there were demons in my family. I assumed we are all Christians which meant I was free from demons. I felt those who needed deliverance were people who didn’t go to church or worshipped idols.
Few family members have now come to know Christ, but some people have served idols for their entire generation. Demons will undoubtedly battle the Christians in the household. They will cause chaos within the household. I will advise that person or people to seek deliverance if there is a significant presence of demonic activity that has persisted for many years. You are not a bad person if you choose to be delivered. After salvation, it is advised that we all undergo deliverance in order to drive out any remaining evil spirits.
Once more, just because a curse has fallen upon you and been broken does not guarantee that the spirits that came via it will no longer be able to harm you. To get rid of the demons that exploited the curses you were given, you might still want additional deliverance from a qualified pastor or a deliverance minister.
