Series: Strong Families in a Broken World

Sermon: Live Free (Breaking Generational Curses and Dealing with Extended Families)

Live Free from the Curse of Sin and Death

When Adam sinned, he brought about death in the world not just physically but also spiritually as well.  Every person was affected by his sin.  As part of Adam’s punishment God pronounces a curse upon him and all the earth.  All created things were affected by the curse of sin and death. 

Genesis 3:17-18

¹⁷ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
¹⁸ thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; The ground became hardened and difficult to cultivate.

In the book of Romans 7:15-20, the Apostle Paul talks about this sinful nature that has been passed on from generation to generation.  We understand when we consider the actions of a young child.  You can tell that child do not climb on the furniture.  Guess what they will do whenever you are not looking.

Hence, we were born with this sinful nature which cannot please God.

Romans 8:6-8

⁶ For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

It was because of Adam’s disobedience that God pronounced the curse of sin and death over all mankind.  So therefore, we will all experience death because of that curse.  However, those who deny Christ, who do not receive by faith His work of redemption, will not only experience a physical death but a spiritual death as well.  Meaning they will be eternally separated from God and from anything that is good.  Instead, they will experience eternal damnation in the lake of fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels.

So that is the curse of sin and death.  The only way to avert the penalty for our sins is through faith in Jesus Christ.

What are generational curses? 

They are more than just sinful behaviors, unhealthy habits, or mindsets that we have picked up over time from our parents and grandparents which tend to rob us of fulfilling our full potential.   

We mimic what we see growing up.

• Take the alcoholic for an example. If you had a father/mother who drank themself to oblivion everyday, then the way that you have learned to cope with things is to drink your problems away. 
• Perhaps your parents took it up a notch and were drug users, then that is how you have learned to cope with things.
• If your parents constantly portrayed anger, even rage, then that too has affected you.
• If your parents were racists, then that is how you have learned to treat people.

Genesis 20:2 Abraham calls Sarah his sister, Genesis 26:7 Isaac calls Rebekah his sister.

            1 Kings 15:25-26

²⁵ Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. ²⁶ He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin which he made Israel to sin.

1 Kings 22:51-52

⁵¹ Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel. ⁵² He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. 

2 Kings 15:8-9

⁸ In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. ⁹ And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done. 

There are many more examples in the bible in which we see the same thing.  A king does evil in the sight of the Lord and his son follows in his footsteps doing just as evil or even more evil to provoke the Lord to anger.  But let’s look at just one more example as this one gives a hopeful twist at the end.

2 Kings 21:19-24

¹⁹ Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. ²⁰ And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done. ²¹ He walked in all the way in which his father walked and served the idols that his father served and worshiped them. 

So far, the same story, Amon follows in the ways of his father and grandfather, worshipping idols and provoking the Lord.  But keep reading.

²² He abandoned the Lord, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the Lord. ²³ And the servants of Amon conspired against him and put the king to death in his house. ²⁴ But the people of the land struck down all those who had conspired against King Amon, and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place. 

But thankfully, there is an example in the bible in which a king of Israel finally gets it right. Josiah steps into the scene.  With his coming to the throne there is hope that it does not have to be what it has always been.  Look at what was said about Josiah. 

2 Kings 22:1-2

¹ Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. ² And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

Finally, after many generations of wicked and evil kings ruling in Israel, God raises up Josiah as King who then leads in a way which honored the Lord.

I would encourage you to continue reading the story into chapter 23 which describes the intense reform that King Josiah brought about. He began to undue everything that his predecessors had done to provoke the Lord to anger.  

He repairs the temple and removes all the idols along with their priest throughout Israel.  He reinstates the good things that had been lost like keeping the Passover.  Though his father Amon was wicked, Josiah determined in his heart that “It stops here.”

You cannot change what has happened to you thus far.  You cannot change how your parents/guardian raised you.  But hopefully you will rise up like Josiah and say “It stops here.”

• The addiction stops here
• The anger/rage stops here
• The womanizing stops here
• The abuse stops here (verbal, physical, sexual)
• Racism stops here
• The cycle of poverty stops here
• Feelings of inadequacy stops here
• Bondage to sin and shame stops here

For you are not in the flesh anymore.  Your old self has been crucified with Christ and it is no longer you who lives but Christ.

Romans 8:9-11

⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

The curse of sin and death has been broken by our resurrected king.  You are no longer under the curse but under the blessing of God.  Life lives within you; Jesus lives within you; You’re blessed not cursed.

• You are His child walking in His favor,
• You have His protection over your life,
• You have His power living within you. Therefore, you can say with confidence “It stops here.”

Live Free from Speaking Death

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Generational curses are also brought upon us and our children by the words that we speak.  We say things like: such and such happened to other family members then it will happen to me.

• Your daddy was an alcoholic, and his daddy was an alcoholic so you will be one as well.
• My mother, grandmother, great-grandmother had diabetes/high blood pressure so I guess I will get it as well; it runs in the blood. (Let me tell you what runs in the blood; healing because God is my father)
• This is how it has always been, this is how it will continue to be.

There is Power in the tongue.

Proverbs 6:2

         you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth,

Snared means to be trapped. Your words. can trip you, what you say can cause you to stumble, and it can keep you from your potential.

James 3:4-5

⁴ Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

James compares the tongue to a rudder of a large ship.  The tongue is a small member, much like a rudder, which can alter the direction of your life. Much like a rudder can alter the direction of a large ship. (If you curse out a boss, then you will be fired; life alteration)

We must be cautious about what we speak with our words.  Be careful that you are not bringing damnationto yourself or your children through your words.

By God’s grace, we can choose a different legacy than the broken one given to us.

Live Free from Toxic People

If you’re looking to break generational curses, then perhaps it also means cutting ties with the people who keep you bound. There are some people who are just toxic for you to be around.  The moment you are around them, then you begin to compromise your values. 

Sometimes those toxic people just so happen to be close family members. If that is the case, you may not be able to avoid family get togethers and such.  But it does not mean that they must be your best friends.  Especially if they are living for themselves, indulging in the lust of their flesh. 

Reminder that you are in this world but not of it. (Romans 12:2)

Ephesians 5:5-11

⁵ For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not become partners with them;⁸ for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), ¹⁰ and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 

You once were in darkness, but you are now in the light. 

Building a strong family in a broken world requires diligence to integrity. It requires dying daily to our fleshly desires.  Learn to say no, even if it isn’t the popular thing to do.  You may not want your kids sleeping over at certain friend’s or family’s house for what is allowed in their households.  Stick to your morals learn when it is time to say no.

Don’t put your children in situations where they will hear or see or experience something that you are not wanting them to hear or see or experience.  It may affect them for their life.

Don’t put yourselves at risk by being around toxic people.  For it is easier for them to pull you down than it is for you to pull them up.

When friends and family condemn you for going to church on Sunday, stick to your morals and get yourself and your children in the House of God.

Live Free from the Curse of Sin and Death

Live Free from Speaking Death

Live Free from Toxic People