How often have we heard Christians talking about the need to break generational curses?  Much of what has been taught on this subject borders on unbelief.  Believers that concentrate on curses do not understand the realities of the finished work of the cross.  People are not defeated in life due to being cursed as much as they are perishing due to their lack of knowledge of the Lord.

This is why Jesus said, “Go ye teaching” and did not say, “Go ye breaking curses.”  It is the Truth that sets us free, not some kind of mystical deliverance session.

Jesus has already been made a curse for us and has already blessed us (Gal. 3:13)!  And, what is more, God was in Christ, reconciling the whole world to Himself, not holding man’s trespasses against him (2 Cor. 5:19). God is not holding sins or curses against anyone!

What are commonly referred to as generational curses today are really nothing more than the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. (Gal. 5:19-21)

The manifestations of the flesh should not surprise us.  We are the product of our fallen society, culture, false religions, customs and morals taught us by our families, and tendencies we have learned from others.  If the parents were alcoholics there may be a tendency for the children to adopt the same behavior, but many children do not.  If anger and wrath were a part of the home environment, the same tendencies can be carried over to the children’s homes when they are adults, but in many cases those tendencies are rejected.

While some call these generational curses, we should see them as strongholds that must be torn down by the renewing of the mind.  It is the truth that sets us free.

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2Co 10:4-5)

As born again sons and daughters of God, we are equipped to defeat the works of the flesh by the Spirit and cleanse our minds from the patterns of the past.  It is our willful choosing of God’s ways, words, thoughts and actions that will replace the strongholds we have known.  Over time, new patterns of the Spirit are established and we are able to walk free from the bondages of the past.

The Old Testament verses that refer to generational curses were spoken to Israel while under the Law, and referred to what would happen to those who hate Him (see Deut. 5:8-10).  What we can conclude by these verses is that God had made a statement concerning the consequences of sin upon succeeding generations “of them that hate me” under the Law.  This has nothing to do with new creation believers!

“Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”  (Col. 1:13)

There are no curses in the Kingdom of God.  Only promises that are “yes” and “amen!”

Barry Bennett