Many individuals and families are under the effect of some generational curses. The amazing thing is that this can happen not just to unbelievers, but also to believers in Christ Jesus. Many believers in Jesus assume that they may not be under any generational curse once they come to Christ. However, it is not so, as generational curses can affect even believers. This article focusses only on the aspect of generational curses and how to be delivered from them.
Generational curse is any curse that has been passed on from one generation to the next. In Exod. 20:3-5, the Lord warns of the evil consequences when people become involved in idolatry or false religion:
“You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor 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 generations of those who hate Me.”
God solemnly warns against all forms of idolatry or any involvement with false “gods.” The serious thing is that the evil consequences of these particular sins can extend to four generations. Lam. 5:7 clearly says, “Our fathers sinned and are no more, but we bear their iniquities.” Counting backwards for four generations gives us four levels of ancestors:
Parents: 2
Grandparents: 4
Great-grandparents: 8
Great-great-grandparents: 16
Total: 30
Any or all of these thirty persons could be a channel through whom we may have been exposed to satanic influence. None of us can guarantee that none of our thirty immediate ancestors was ever involved in any form of the occult or false religion.
The most shocking thing is that this occult influence can begin while a baby is still in the womb. That baby is entirely dependent on its parents for protection. Righteous, God-fearing parents provide that protection, but parents with an occult background expose their babies to the same spiritual influences that are at work in their own lives. Such babies unknowingly carry a generational curse upon them and are often demonized before they emerge from the womb. Not only is the uncleanness handed down, but demons move in and take advantage of this situation from childhood. The person then goes through life struggling with the same bondages that their ancestors suffered from. This is most seen in people with backgrounds in Eastern religions such as Hinduism or Buddhism, or other false religions such as Freemasonry or Mormonism. This curse can also be upon nominal Christians whose any of the four levels of ancestors had any contact with any ungodly medium, diviner, or any Christian who has any idolatrous object (even statues and pictures of saints which eventually become idols) in their home.
The good news is that the blood of Jesus Christ is more powerful than any curse that may have been passed on to anyone. You can be set free and completely released from the effects of any generational curses that have been passed down to you.
Some Examples of Generational Curses
In Deut. 28:15, Moses states the primary cause of all curses: “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.” Again, Deut. 28:46 says, “And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your descendants forever.” Here are some of the examples of generational curses. The presence of only one or two of these problems would not necessarily be sufficient to establish the working of a curse. However, when several of the problems are present, or any of them occurs repeatedly, then the probability of a curse increases proportionately. However, the Holy Spirit alone can provide a completely accurate guidance and direction in any situation.
- Mental / Emotional Breakdown
The corresponding phrases from Deut. 28 are: madness, driven mad (v.28, 34); confusion of heart (v.20, 28); a trembling heart (v.65); anguish of soul (v.65).
In other words, evil forces attack the inner being of human personality and the person comes under the curse. Such people no longer have full control over their thoughts and emotions. They may be always under the negative feeling of “You are losing control… There is no hope for you… Your parents’ marriage was not good, and yours also won’t be good…”
Many Christians go through these inner struggles. Often they hesitate to acknowledge their problem to others, or even to themselves for fear that this would be a denial of their faith.
- Repeated Sicknesses (Especially if Hereditary)
The corresponding phrases from Deut. 28 are: plague (v.21); consumption (v.22); severe burning fever (v.22); inflammation (v.22); severe boils (v.27, 35); tumours (v.27); scab and itch (v.27); blindness (v.28); extraordinary plagues, great and prolonged plagues, and serious and prolonged sicknesses (v.59); every sickness and every plague(v.61). This does not mean that every form of sickness or disease is the result of a curse. However, when the sicknesses are prolonged, incurable, lingering, and especially if the sickness is hereditary, then there is a strong possibility that a generational curse is at work. Nevertheless, we need to be dependent on the Holy Spirit to have the correct discernment regarding the actual cause behind any of the sicknesses.
- Barrenness, Tendency to Miscarry, Procreation Related Problems
The corresponding verse is Deut. 28:18, which says, “Cursed shall be the fruit of your body.” This curse may affect any of the various organs or functions involved in procreation. This can affect males and females. These include repeated miscarriages, inability to conceive, menstruation problems, cysts, or tumours affecting the various organs connected with the reproductive systems, male impotence, etc.
- Divorce and Family Alienation
The related verse is Deut. 28:30, which says, “You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall lie with her; you shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it; you shall plant a vineyard, but shall not gather its grapes.” Deut. 28:41 says, “You shall beget sons and daughters, but they shall not be yours; for they shall go into captivity.” Many parents in this generation have experienced this curse. They have suffered the agony and pain in divorce, and they have seen their sons and daughters taken captive by a lifestyle addicted to drugs, sex, satanic music, and other forms of the occult. Children bear the iniquities of their ancestors. This curse has resulted in strife-torn homes, broken marriages, and disintegrated families. Alienation has come between husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters, and all others who should be united by the bonds of family.
However, for those who are willing to accept God’s counsel, there is hope. First, we must realise that there is a curse at work. Then we must take the steps shown by Scripture to revoke the curse and be released from the curse.
- Continuing Debt and Financial Insufficiency
The related verses are “Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl” (Deut. 28:17), and “You shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways; you shall be only oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save you” (Deut. 28:29). The full description of this curse is in Deut. 28:47-48, which says, “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything.” This is a curse on finances. Under this curse, a person’s ability to get wealth is affected, and he will not progress financially and will get further in debt and bondage.
- Bondage and Slavery
The related verses are “The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail” (Deut. 28:43-44). This curse causes a person to lose his liberty and freedom. Such people lose their freedoms, they are unable to have control over their lives, and must get permission from their masters. Other people control their lives and they live their lives always in need and seeking help from others.
The Basis for Release from the Curse
Paul the apostle says in Gal. 3:13-14, “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”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Paul is referring to Deut. 21:23 which says, “… he who is hanged is accursed of God.” Then he points to the opposite: the blessing. This clearly establishes that on the cross, Jesus became a curse that we might receive the blessing. The curse that came upon Jesus is defined as “the curse of the Law,” which includes every one of the curses in Deut. 28. Therefore, Jesus has opened the way for us to obtain a full release from the curse and to enter into the corresponding blessings.
On the cross, Jesus had taken upon Himself every evil consequence due to humanity’s rebellion. In fact, he had exhausted every curse of God’s broken Law, so that we in turn might receive every blessing due to His obedience. Can you accept with faith this account of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and of what He has obtained for you? If you are living under a curse, can you see that Jesus, by sacrificing Himself, has made full provision for your release?
Steps to Release
- Confess Your Faith in Christ and in His Sacrifice on Your Behalf
There are two important conditions for receiving the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross: to believe in the heart that God raised Him from the dead, and to confess with the mouth that Jesus is Lord (Rom. 10:9, 10). Faith in the heart cannot become fully effective unless it has been completed by the confession with the mouth. The word “confess” means, “to say the same as.” It is saying with our mouth what God has already said in His Word. In Heb. 3:1, Jesus is seen as the “High Priest of our confession.” When we make the correct Biblical confession concerning Him, it discharges His priestly ministry on our behalf.
- Repent
Although there may have been many factors going back to the previous generations, which have contributed to the curse over your life, still you must accept responsibility. Before you can receive God’s mercy, He requires that you repent. Lay down your rebellion and submit yourself without any reservation to everything that God requires of you. A person who genuinely repents will not argue with God.
The first word in the message of John the Baptist was “Repent…” (Matt. 3:2). When Jesus started His public ministry, He said, “Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Without true repentance, faith is not possible. Many Christians never receive the full benefits of Christ’s sacrifice because they have never fulfilled the preceding condition of repentance. Repentance should be heartfelt and not just words.
- Receive Forgiveness of all Sins
God has made the provision for our sins to be forgiven, but He will do this only when we confess them. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God is faithful because He has promised us, and He always keeps His promises. He is just because Jesus has already paid the full penalty for our sins.
A curse may have come upon you because of sins committed by your ancestors (idolatry or occult). You do not bear the guilt of your ancestors’ sins, but you may be affected in many ways because of the consequences of their sins. Ask God for His forgiveness of all your sins and ask Him to release you from the consequences of your ancestors’ sins.
- Rebuke
We ought to stand in the legal strength of Jesus’ victory on the cross for us. Once this is done, the enemy has no hold over our life. We should exercise authority and live in the freedom that Christ has given us. John 8:36 says, “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” In rebuking, we command the devil to leave us and that he no longer has any claim or influence in our life, and we do this in Jesus’ name. Gal. 5:1 exhorts us, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”
- Renounce all Contact with the Occult
If you or your ancestors have brought any occult object into your home or family, Satan has a legal claim on you. You cannot enjoy the full rights and benefits of a citizen in God’s kingdom until you have fully and forever cut all connection with Satan and totally cancelled any claim that he may have against you. Paul the apostle says in 2 Cor. 6:14-15, “What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial?” He stresses on the complete break with Satan’s kingdom. He continues, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you” (2 Cor. 6:17).
Any occult object in your home including idols, Chinese dragons, lucky charms, laughing Buddha, wind chimes connected with Feng Shui, crystals, etc. should be destroyed or thrown out of your home. Ask God to show you anything that is offensive to Him.
- Receive the Release
Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” The word ‘receive’ is in the past tense, and the word ‘have’ is in the future tense. Receiving takes place when we pray. Having follows in a way determined by God’s sovereignty. It is a simple act of faith in God and He responds to us based on what Jesus has done on our behalf. Ask God to release you from any curse and thank Him for it.
- Continue in God’s Blessing
Use the Word of God against the devil when he tries to cause doubt and confusion in your mind after you are released from the curse. In Eph. 6:17, Paul the apostle instructs us: “Take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” It is our responsibility to take the Word of God against the evil one. If we take it, the Holy Spirit will wield it. The Greek word for ‘word’ used here to describe God’s Word is rhema, a spoken word. It becomes effective only when it is spoken in faith. Our example is Jesus using the Word of God to defeat Satan when Satan tempted Him (Matt. 4:1-11).
Open yourself, without reservation, to receive God’s blessing in every way He wants to impart to you. Eph. 3:20 says, God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.”
Praise God for His deliverance!!!
