Generational Sin 

          Understanding the power of generational impact:  MAIN HEALING LESSON 12

This teaching on the reality of generational sin is just one of the 24 lessons in our workbook for personal transformation, "Matters of the Heart."  All 24 lessons will be helpful to the person seeking restoration and freedom and have been posted on this web site. They are available as a complete set in our workbook which can be purchased as a download or ordered through the mail. The lessons are also available on CD and DVD as 24, 1/2 hour teachings. All scriptures are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.
 

Introduction

The first strongholds any of us encounter are not our own, though they may very well become our own. They are the strongholds of generational patterns of sin in families. Before we were conceived these strongholds were already in place. Since no one is perfect, every family line has sin patterns in it somewhere along the way. And God tells us in His Word that He visits the iniquity of the fathers upon succeeding generations. For more scriptures and a free download see Generational Sin.

Sin and its consequences are passed on
Evidently this happens, because children of alcoholics often become alcoholics, many diseases run in families, and some children are born with dreadful genetic defects. Life is hard enough, so it hardly seems fair that the sins of previous generations could be allowed by God to have any impact, let alone a devastating impact at times, on the lives of innocent newborns. And if newborns are innocent (and they are) how can it be right for them to be “punished” for the sins of their ancestors?

Watch a short video about generational sin on our YouTube channel
A Drought Broken
     A stunning answer to prayer for rain--the heavens poured!
 

Teaching summary

Why do we suffer from sins in the past?
The important thing to keep in mind about issues of generational sin is that, because God lives outside of time, un-repented sin is always a fresh stain before the eyes of the Lord.  He sees the sins of our fathers and the wrong done by them as a present sin.  This is why generational sin continues to “live on” even after the person who sinned has died—that sin was their choice and God sustains the reality of the world formed by our choosing. This is the dignity and the terrible responsibility of being given free will in a real world. It is part of God’s self revelation to Moses.

And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, …by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation."  Exodus 34:6-7

Un-repented sin doesn’t just evaporate
Un-repented sin continues to wreak havoc in the generations. The blood still cries out from the ground (Genesis 4:10). And lest we get the wrong idea, God is not the one doing the punishing—He punished Jesus for our sins fully and completely.  God does not willingly desire to see us afflicted (Lamentations 3:31-33). It is the reality of choice that He gives to “the fathers” that releases the consequences of their sins on the earth. As surely as we choose sin, we “choose” the consequences of sin to come—even to our generations.

God has “no choice” but to allow the consequences of abused free will to continue to visit the earth with the “punishing” effects of sin until someone recognizes it for what it is, takes responsibility for the sin and brings it to Him. We may rightly cherish our heritage (generational blessing is very real), but we need to also be honest about the sinful side and bring it to God. This kind of responsible repentance (Daniel 9:1-19) is what God desires—not the consequences of sin having to fall upon successive generations.

But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me… if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they accept their guilt—then I will remember My covenant... Leviticus 26:40-42 

No one has to walk in the sins of their fathers (or mothers). The reality of sin’s effects on the generations does not mean that children have no free will, but that un-repented sin creates a negative legacy within the family and the nation. For good or ill, like begets like (Genesis 1:24). In Ezekiel the Lord speaks of each individual’s responsibility for their sin and the ultimate penalty (death): the son will not die as a direct result of the father’s sins.

The soul who sins shall die… “If, however, he [the father] begets a son who sees all the sins which his father has done, and considers but does not do likewise…he shall not die for the iniquity of his father; he shall surely live! Ezekiel 18:4-17

However, the command is clear that the sins of the father are not to be entered into or the curse will come. There is grace in that the righteous avoidance of the sins of the father is a shield against the curse on those particular sins. However, only repentance can remove any sin’s effects (whether in the past or the present). Let us also keep in mind that God’s stated desire is to pass on blessings. Surely He chooses our parents to pass on the blessings of their generations—not curses.

…visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children…but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. Exodus 20:6


Consequences travel "downstream"

Three ways that the curse may be passed down the generations:

1) Genetic: this can be physiological and psychological. Any damage in the genetic code at birth does not come from God’s design or intervention, but results from the effects of the Fall upon humanity. All of God’s creative work is “good”—without defect.
2) Environmental: the “atmosphere” and patterns in the home pass into the child. Like begets like (Genesis 1:24). The good that is in us often passes into our children (we like that!), but so does the bad.
3) Spiritual: spirits drawn to families (due to habitual sins) may carry patterns of the curse down the family line (see Leviticus 19:31 for “familiar spirits”).

We were “programmed” by the enemy from birth—set up by sin in the generations. God was making us “very good” in the womb, but even as He was working to create us in His Image, the sin of Adam and the sins of our fathers were also at work, “unmaking” us into something less than God intended.

1) Adam’s sin passed down through the generations has blocked all of his children from being born as God intended—with a direct connection to The Father’s love and a conscious awareness of His abiding Presence.
2) The sins of preceding generations as they reached us through our home environment (even though the womb) began to set root issues and carnal patterns in us.

Family histories provide mountains of evidence for curses and blessings being passed down the generations. Doctors routinely take family histories for this very reason—because many diseases are known to run in families. As with prayer or anything else God does we cannot exactly describe how He works or prove spiritual realities against all doubt. But consider the following story as further uncanny evidence for the truth of generational sin.

You can’t do much about your ancestors,but you can influence your descendants enormously.
                 Source unknown (Note: this survey was probably done in the mid to late 1800’s.)

Consider the lives of two men. One of them, Max Jukes, lived in New York. He did not believe in Christ or give Christian training to his children. He refused to take his children to church even when they asked to attend. He had 1,026 descendants (at the time this study was done—possibly in the mid to late 1800’s)—300 of whom were sent to prison for an average term of thirteen years. Some 190 were public prostitutes and 680 were admitted alcoholics. His family members cost the state in excess of $420,000—thus far—and they have made no known positive contributions to society.

Jonathan Edwards lived in the same state and at the same time. He loved the Lord and saw that his children were in church every Sunday. He served the Lord to the best of his ability. Of his 929 descendants, 430 were ministers, 86 became university professors, 13 became university presidents, 75 wrote positive books, 7 were elected to the U. S. Congress, and one served as vice-president of the United States. His family never cost the state one cent but contributed immeasurably to the common good.
 

Let this be a "reality trip"

This lesson on the consequences of generational sin is not meant to put anyone on a fear trip (about what sins may lie with their ancestors) or a guilt trip (about what they may be passing on to their children). Let it be a reality trip. The fact is that our lives powerfully impact other people—especially our natural or spiritual children—whether we want them to or not. There is at least an echo of this truth in the Psalmist’s choice to make his stand for Truth be something that would powerfully affect all later generations. And do you know something? It has! God preserved the psalmist’s witness in Psalm 89 and it continues to uplift us.

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1

The knowledge of this truth can be a powerful weapon in our arsenal against the enemy. Let it spur you on to heroic efforts of hanging in there when the going gets tough, because your life really matters! Many times there may come into our lives desperate or discouraging moments when we are going to need motivations larger than ourselves to keep our feet moving in the right direction.

The truth is that living for oneself alone is not sufficient motivation for anyone. It was never meant to be. If you and I are only living for our own comfort, or success, or satisfaction then many will be the times when that gets tested! We will have to learn to reach for better, stronger and higher motives—if we want to find the inner strength to keep from quitting.

God supplies that strength whenever we realize that the lives of people we love hang in the balance. It matters to your children that you are trying to be faithful—even if they don’t know it, even if it is killing you, even if it doesn’t seem to be making any difference in your eyes. Your struggle to be faithful matters to the generations that haven’t been born yet! And in addition to natural children, God also supplies those in our lives who are a spiritual heritage. Like Paul we are all raising the next generation (1 Thessalonians 2:11; 1 Timothy 5:1). 

But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.  Joshua 24:15

Will your legacy be for good or for ill?
You decide!
 

Interested in going deeper?

Don't just give these truths a "head bob"!
For further study and for help working these truths into your heart and life, see Generational Sin part 2 (Head to Heart Guide 12) and "work out" with exercises, discussion questions, review of main points, digging deeper, more scriptures, model prayers, renunciations/affirmations and practical steps of life application.

Or better yet, let us minister to you in person
     --at one of our Savannah Seminars...