Over the last few decades the term “generational curses” has been used to help explain why people struggle with certain things. Various references to Old Testament passages are used to give biblical support, such as:
“I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. (Exodus 20:5, NLT)
Ministering to people with “generational curses” usually involves having people recall areas their siblings, parents, grandparents, etc. have struggling with and what similar things are in their own lives. Then some type of prayer for deliverance made over them.
Families and Familiar Spirits
All families have traits or characteristics that are passed down from generation to generation. There are physical traits, such as blonde hair and blue eyes. Some families have a history of significant musical or athletic accomplishments passed down from parents to children, to grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.
There are soul-ish traits that are passed on in families, such things as attitudes, mannerisms, likes and dislikes. This would include learned mindsets like racism, bigotry and sexism.
There are also spiritual traits that are passed down from generation to generation. There are family spirits, or “familiar” spirits, that pass down from generation to generation. It can be things like depression, divorce, alcoholism, drug addiction, anger or perversion, to name a few.
For example a spirit of perversion can manifest things like lust, adultery, fornication and molestation. Incest is certainly a generational and/or a family curse. What is actually happening is a demonic spirit comes around again and again to bring temptations. Personally, I have never been tempted to do crystal meth. To my knowledge, nobody in my family history has struggled with meth, so this isn’t the type of thing that a familiar spirit would try against me. A familiar spirit brings temptation that is familiar to you and your family line.
There is Power in the Blood!
The precious blood of Jesus not only paid for our sins, but it also paid for our healing and our deliverance. This includes the breaking of all curses, including generational curses.
“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’).”
(Galatians 3:13, NKJV)“Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
(1 Peter 1:18–19, NKJV)
But the blood must be applied to break the curse. In the original Passover the innocent little lamb was slain. Then the blood had to be applied to the doorposts and lintel, or the curse would strike the first born of the household. Applying the blood broke the curse of death. Jesus is the spotless Lamb of God, who was slain to take our curses upon Him. His blood was shed for us!
You Can Put a Stop To It
If you have a family legacy of negativity, addictions, poverty, divorce, greed or selfishness, you can be the one to put a stop to it. And the good news is that you don’t have to do this alone. God offers us the help of His Spirit to empower you to put a stop to these destructive habits and make life even more productive for your descendants.
Think generationally in your life. How you live today and the kind of power you experience in your relationship with God will pass on a spiritual legacy that will bring blessings to your descendants for generations to come.
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