It Starts Small

³⁰ “Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Repent and turn from all your rebellious acts, so they will not become a sinful stumbling block to you. ³¹ Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house of Israel? ³² For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “So repent and live! Ezekiel 18:30-32

I think my therapist said that by the age of 10, we already know everything we need to know to live and survive. From the age of 2-5 we learn by observation. These are the greatest years in a child’s life because the pattern of behaviors are set in us. Our pattern of behavior comes from the environment around us.

We often hear the term “generational sins” but do not put much thought into it. It is even harder when it deals with being a parent and realizing that the pattern of behavior in me has been passed down to my kids. Especially when that pattern is not a healthy pattern. The problem in all families is sin.

The problems passed down come down to one root cause: disobeying God’s commandments by sinning against His laws and worshipping anything other than God. These generational sins are weaknesses or tendencies that are handed down to us through the generations from parents or members of our family. These sins can involve behavioral patterns and ways of thinking that keep us trapped in the past. Even though sin can be passed down through the generations, each person is responsible for his or her personal sins against the Lord.

My family has been plagued with the following generational sins: unforgiveness, lying, bitterness, fear, worry, judgment, resentment, pride, rejection, envy, jealousy, anger, abuse, covetousness, doubt, unbelief, rebellion, drunkenness, manipulation, greed, lust, idolatry, fornication, adultery, hatred, molestation, and revenge.

Multiplication Factor and Building Strongholds

These generational sins have patterns to them. Once a pattern is born, it continues to multiply in each generation among family members. It becomes a stumbling block and stronghold for the entire family. Generational sin is not only disobeying God’s commandments, but worshipping idols.

Generational sins have many patterns. Once a sin pattern begins in a family, it can continue and multiply among the family members. It can last for four generations and can become a stronghold and a stumbling block for the whole family. Generational sin is not only disobeying God’s commandments, but worshipping idols.

⁴ Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. ⁵ Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, ⁶ but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands. Exodus 20:4-6

God’s Word tells us straight up that my sin, your sin, will cause iniquity in our children for three or four generations. This is what I was talking about above. When we are exposed to our parents sinning, those sins are then magnified in us. They set patterns of our own behavior in us. There is a really good chance that what I struggled with, one or more of my kids are struggling with right now, and they are.

We DO NOT have to surrender to the binding power of our sins. We DO NOT have to surrender to the binding power of generational sins! When Christ died and paid our debt on the cross, God made provision for release from these sins. When the binding power of sin broken, we can receive the grace to forgive as God has forgiven us. His grace comes from His love that he fills our hearts with. Along with grace he provides us with mercy to release our past to Him.

It Stops Here!

How do we break these curses, or sins that have caused a ripple effect in our families? Maybe you are struggling with a sin passed down or a new sin has been born in you that has the potential to be passed on, no matter what it may be God has a plan for your life to break the chains of these sins! God has a plan for your freedom that will shatter that cycle forever! It will stop it in your life and stop it from passing on to your children!

18 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel:

‘The fathers eat sour grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?

³ As I live”—this is the declaration of the Lord God—“you will no longer use this proverb in Israel. ⁴ Look, every life belongs to me. The life of the father is like the life of the son—both belong to me. The person who sins is the one who will die. Ezekiel 18:1-4

The quote in this scripture is from Proverbs. God’s word tells us that as a father (or mother sins), so their children will also suffer the same sin. BUT God’s says not so. GOd says you will no longer quote this proverb because I give life to those who sin. I believe God was telling Ezekiel, yes! Yes, you will suffer the curse of your fathers, but in me, through me, through Christ I will break this curse.

³¹ Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. ³² You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ³³ “We are descendants of Abraham,” they answered him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” ³⁴ Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. ³⁵ A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. John 8:31-36

John reminds us that as we abide in Jesus Christ, we receive His freedom. Not only has Jesus set us free from our sins, He has set us free from the penalty, the moral liability, and the ongoing curse of that sin! Salvation is not just about being exempt from going to hell. Salvation, true salvation, is receiving Christ and turning away from who and what we were. It is not a licence to do our own will. It lays pride and selfishness at the feet of Jesus and says, not my will but YOUR WILL be done. Christ came to make us whole. In that wholeness we find freedom and liberty and the sins that once had a grip on us are bound on earth and heaven.

God has redeemed us! Hallelujah! He has redeemed us from the curses being passed on from one generation to the next. His redemption comes as we understand that the root of our problems is in the spiritual realm.

Enough is Enough!

There came this realization last year that enough was enough. That through Christ, he has the power to end these curses. Break these chains. Bind these sins forever here on earth and in heaven. I realized the damage of my own actions, my own sins, my own words, my own inaction had on my family. I decided enough was enough. Pastor Adrian Rodgers preaches about legacy. What legacy are we leaving behind? Who are we going to be remembered for. Are we going to be remembered for the list above, or is Christ going to be our legacy. I had determined, that Christ is my legacy. I may not have a partner in changing that legacy, but these sins, they end with me. This hate, cruelty, and the long list above, end with me! Enough is enough.

God is great and amazing! He has brought me closer to my kids over this past year. He has opened the door of forgiveness to unite us. He has worked amends between us. He has rebuilt trust between us. As we grow closer, we share our struggles. I have such a great compassion and empathy, because I truly understand their struggles. I know this is each their own journey, and I am so blessed to be alongside them, encouraging them in their walk with faith, trust and believing.

We all have a personal responsibility for our sin. We need to truly repent and turn around. Turn away from the path of pride and selfishness and turn to Christ. To say, enough is enough. It is only in Christ can we be made whole and stop the cycles that spiral from one generation to the next. My prayer for my family:

⁸ Do not hold past iniquities against us;
let your compassion come to us quickly,
for we have become very weak.
⁹ God of our salvation, help us,
for the glory of your name.
Rescue us and atone for our sins,
for your name’s sake.
Psalm 79:8-9