Christian Living
I just want to start out by saying Thanks to my Sunday School teacher, Laura, who inspired me to dig a little deeper into the subject of generational curses.
What is a generational curse? The world might define it by saying, "Like Father, Like Son". I like the definition I found on ehow.com. It says, "A generational curse is a negative pattern of behavior that is thought to hold a family in spiritual bondage. I believe that many of the struggles and sicknesses we face today are a result of generational curses.
There is actually good news for us: generational curses can be broken. While there are some behaviors that are actually "learned" behaviors, the effects of sin are passed down from generation to generation. "...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..." Exodus 20:4-5
"Our fathers sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment." Lamentations 5:7
Some examples of generational curses are:
-idolatry: this can be money, possessions, even people. Anything we value or love more than God is an idol.
-sexual sins: pornography, fornication, promiscuity, adultery, lust, abuse, homosexuality, pedophilia.
-addiction: drugs, alcohol, substance abuse.
The definition of addiction is - Compulsive physiological and psychological need for a habit-forming substance; or the condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or or involved in something. -from Yahoo! Education (http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/addiction)
So any compulsion or habit that occupies all of our time, or takes over our lives can be an addiction, whether it be drugs and alcohol, tobacco, sex or eating.
-believing Satan's lies: about God, about ourselves, and about others.
-fear, anxiety, worry, despair, hopelessness.
-pride
-anger, rage, physical abuse, negativity.
-rebellion: against God, parents, lawmakers.
-mental/emotional problems: depression, etc.
-physical illness: heredity illnesses like cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
-even financial difficulties can be caused by generational curses.
While I believe much of the sin and illness in our lives is a result of generational curses, I don't believe all of it is. We are all born into sin. It is our nature to sin. Romans 5:12-14 says, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned¡ª for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come."
James 1:13-15 says, "When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
Satan spends all of his time trying to get us to sin. I Peter 5:8 says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
God allows temptations, trials and illnesses for many reasons:
-to test us, teach us patience, and help us grow into more mature Christians.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" James 1:2-4
-to show His glory.
John 9:1-3 says, "As He (Jesus) went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."
-and, to refine us.
"But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." Job 23:10
If you feel like there is one or more areas of your life that might be the result of a generational curse, then take heart. Galatians 3:13 tells us "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree'."
God has broken the curse of sin, we just need to know what steps to take to break those curses in our lives so that we don't pass them on the our next generation. We will pick up on that subject next time.
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