By Alice Smith
From one physical trait of an ancestor, an entire family line can be born with the same trait, like a dimple in the chin, or almond shaped eyes, or receding hairlines. This is true in the physical realm, and in the spiritual. Just as we receive the physical DNA of our family, we can experience the spiritual DNA of our family. Both righteousness and iniquity pass from generation to generation.
Generational iniquity can be defined as an unholy spiritual influence, an open door or tendency in a family’s lineage to accept as normal something that controls the behavior of many in the family. The Scripture is full of instances.
- "Our fathers sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment" (Lam. 5:7).
- "You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments" (Exodus 20: 5-6).
- "The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation" (Numbers 14:18).
In Scripture there are two basic root words for "iniquity." One of the Hebrew words describing iniquity is "avon" which describes the crooked and perverse attitudes that emanate from the father to the children. The idea is expressed in the old adage, "As the twig is bent, so grows the tree." We each have a propensity to sin in specific areas where our forefathers had given ample room to the devil.
The question you may be asking is, what about Jesus coming to save us from our sin? Christ saved us from the curse of the law. Jesus removed the curse of having to fulfill the law by his death and resurrection. Gal. 3:13 says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us." The curse of not measuring up to the perfect mirror of the law has been removed from us, but not the consequences of our sin. Even Paul reminded us, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty, wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Gal. 5:1).
The iniquity of our forefathers may still be at work in us unless we take personal responsibility to stop it. Paul exhorts us, "I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness" (Romans 6:19 KJV). We are given the choice to walk in righteousness or to yield to the bent of our forefather’s tendencies to sin.
In John 9, Jesus and his disciples passed a blind man. The disciples asked Jesus, "who has sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind." Jesus didn’t reply, "What a foolish question." No. He said, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life" (v.3). In this case the iniquity of the man’s father was not the reason for his blindness. The implication is that some situations are a result of the generational iniquity. The umbilical cord of iniquity must be cut. You have the right of sonship to cut the line of generational iniquity from you and your family.
Not too long ago we were watching a news program where a 27-year-old young lady interviewed had breast cancer. The tearful young woman explained that her grandmother, mother and older sister had died from breast cancer.
The devil never plays fair. The cancer that began with a grandmother or even further back is now taking its victims younger and younger. So many of our maladies today were unheard of 20 years ago. Turrets Syndrome, cancer in babies, AIDS, multiple-personality disorders. Sins of the past are tumbling down on our heads and the Lord is looking for someone in our family lines to announce "enough!" and to break these contracts with darkness. Will you be that person for your family?
Breaking generational contracts need not be mystical, but we should not begin this process without a deep burden and urgency on behalf of family and ourselves. To do otherwise is nothing more than superstitious activity. Wait for the Lord to give you his burden, and then proceed. When you are ready, this is what you do.
1. ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO COME AND HELP YOU. Spend time in personal repentance, and then sit still to allow the Spirit of God to reveal issues that need to be dealt with. (1 John 1:6-10)
2. IDENTIFY THE GENERATIONAL INIQUITY AND DETERMINE ITS SOURCE. If you don’t know its source, continue anyway. The Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth. (John 14:16-17)
3. REPENT TO THE LORD FOR YOUR PART IN THIS FAMILY SIN, AND THE SINS OF YOUR FATHER (OR MOTHER). (See Nehemiah 1:4-11; Ps. 106:6-12)
4. DETERMINE IN YOUR HEART TO MAKE RESTITUTION IF THERE IS A REASON. Unless the Lord says to stop now and go do this, then continue the process, promising yourself that later you will follow through obedience. (Matt. 5:21-26; Matt. 7:1-5)
5. RENOUNCE ALOUD THE CONTRACTS MADE THROUGH THE FAMILY LINE. Open your eyes to address your adversary. (James 4:6-8)
Example: Powers of darkness, in the name of Jesus, I bind the strongman and spoil his house now regarding ____________ that has tormented my family and me. I break any and all contracts, covenants, alliances or curses between me and my father, and his father and mother all the way back to Adam. I renounce your work in my life, and by the authority of Jesus Christ I evict you from me (and any other direct family members you might include) and command you to loose me. (Do the same from the mother’s side of the family) Continue renouncing until you sense a breakthrough in your heart.
6. ASK THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO COME AND FILL YOU. Also ask God to let you see some manifestation of your warfare. Be careful to observe closely, because many of the breakthroughs are small at the beginning and can be overlooked while expecting something much different. At the smallest of changes in you, your children or family, take the opportunity to thank the Lord and ask him to do more. Give God all the glory for everything you experience.