Series: The Blessed Life

Title: Breaking Generational Curses

Generational curses - are the belief that negative patterns, traits, or misfortunes can be passed downthrough families, rooted in sin, rebellion, or ancient trauma. This concept suggests that behaviors and outcomes from past generations can continue to affect individuals and families in the present, impacting their lives and choices. 

We are going to look at 3 generations of kings of Judah. We will start with a man named Manasseh, then briefly look at his son Amon, and then finally his grandson Josiah. 

Our goal in doing so is to see how the sins of one man affect future generations. 

In the book of 1 Chronicles 3 we can find the lineage of Manasseh traced back 14 generations leading to King David.  Manasseh reigned in Judah 686 to 642 BC.  Manasseh came from a long line of kings who reined in the southern kingdom of Judah. 

Even though Manasseh was the offspring of a God-fearing man (Hezekiah) Manasseh’s sins would bring about Judah’s downfall.

2 Kings 21:1-9

¹ Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah. ² And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. 

When Joshua began his conquest into the promised land, around 1405 BC he began to drive out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan (the promised land). The Lord had raised up Joshua to do this because of the grotesque sins that had been done in that land. 

Yet nearly 720 years later we find that Manasseh had reintroduced to Judah (God’s chosen people) to these vile pagan practices. His acts were so wicked that in the writings of the prophet Jeremiah God tells Jeremiah that He is about to destroy Judah because of Manasseh’s sins.

Manasseh had died in 643 BC, Jeremiah’s ministry began around 627 BC so that’s at least 15 years after Manasseh had died that God declares this judgement over Judah.

         Jeremiah 15:3-4

³ I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, declares the Lord: the sword to kill, the dogs to tear, and the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. ⁴ And I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem.

You may be wanting to know the extent of Manasseh’s sins that warrants such consequences.

• ³ For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed,
• and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 
• ⁴ And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem will I put my name.” 
• ⁵ And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. 
• ⁶ And he burned his son as an offering 
• and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 
• ⁷ And the carved image of Asherah that he had made he set in the house of which the Lord said to David and to Solomon his son,

“In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever. ⁸ And I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander anymore out of the land that I gave to their fathers, if only they will be careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the Law that my servant Moses commanded them.” 

⁹ But they did not listen, and Manasseh led them astray to do more evil than the nations had done whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.

Thus, the Lord fulfilled His word on March 16, 597 BC (Babylonian Exile)

The aftereffects of what Manasseh had done could be felt for generations to come.

2 Kings 21

¹⁸ And Manasseh slept with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his house, in the garden of Uzza, and Amon his son reigned in his place. 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. ²² He abandoned the Lord, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the Lord. 

So, the cycle continues.  More idolatry, more evil, more provoking the Lord to anger, Amon had abandonedGod.  Amon had only repeated that which he had seen modeled in his father’s life.  This is the problem with generational curses.  The vicious cycle continues.

The vicious cycle would continue unless someone stops it. Then steps onto the scene Josiah. 

2 Kings 21:26

²⁶ And he (Amon) was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza, and Josiah his son reigned in his place.

We go to chapter 22

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.

Josiah - yō'šîyâ “whom Jehovah heals”

The Lord seen fit to raise up a young man such as Josiah who would not be influenced by the sins of his fathers.  Jehovah had intervened or had healed Josiah.

It is quite amazing to me that an eight-year-old boy can walk contrary to the ways of his father and grandfather to live a life that is pleasing unto the Lord, when that has not been the case in previous generations. Thankfully, he had a mother of faith.

It is believed that Josiah’s mother Jedidah was the one who taught him about God’s word early on in his life.  Thank God for women of faith.  His faith became even more solidified when they had found the law of God written on a scroll that had been uncovered during the temple renovations.

It was at this point that Josiah, guided by the prophet Huldah and prompted by his own conviction, led a major religious reform, dismantling idolatry and restoring worship to the Lord. 

What has been, must not continue to be. (We must get to this point)

It really is quite amazing the things that Josiah had done to bring about reformation.

• He begins to eliminate idolatry from Judah
• He removes all the pagan objects from the temple
• He removes all the pagan priests and reinstalls the Lord’s priest in the temple
• He destroys the pagan shrines and altars
• He burns the bones of some dead pagan prophets (as previously foretold)
• Calls the people to celebrate the Passover once again

He not only got rid of the cursed things but reinstated that which is good and blessed.

In this case the generational curses came because of disobedience to God and because of the sins of past generations. Sinful patterns in an individual will often replicate themselves into the next generation.  Your kids will more than likely become what they see modeled rather than what they are told to be.  

Therefore, with great urgency we must repent from our sin and renounce any and all sins that we know of which has had a stronghold in the lives of our family. 

Drunkenness, addiction, Chronic Lying, laziness, abuse, unfaithfulness, sexual immorality, racism

We must renounce these sinful things; they must be removed from our lives and God’s character must be put in its place.

In other cases, the generational curse could be brought about by a traumatic event such as experiencing abuse, violence, natural disasters, accidents, or witnessing other traumatic events.  These have the potential to affect future generations as well. (Personal example)

            Perhaps past hurt is the reason why you have a hard time loving and trusting others.

            It could be why you struggle with intimacy with your spouse.

            Fearful to do certain things.  Fearful to do anything (paralyzed by fear)

            Hurtful words have crippled you

These are a just a few indicators that let you know if you’re living under a generational curse. This is How to break them off your life:

1. Identify Repetitive life patterns

You’re facing the same relational difficulties as so and so

You’re experiencing the same financial mess 

The same anxiety, depression, or other mental illness that runs in the family

The same patterns of unhealthy even abusive relationships

Same unhealthy lifestyle

Stuck in the same rut as those who came before you.

2. Repent and Forgive (It Is the Blood of Jesus That Breaks Generational Curses)

Revelation 1:5…To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.

Romans 6:5-11        

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.⁷ For one who has died has been set free from sin. ⁸ Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. ¹⁰ For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. ¹¹ So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

If You are a believer, then you are dead to sin and are no longer a slave to sin. Meaning sin is no longer your master.  It no longer has you in its grip.

Galatians 3:13

¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 

Galatians 5:1

¹ For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

2 Corinthians 5

¹⁶ From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 

The power of Christ does not only save you but has the ability to transform you so that you’re no longer the person you used to be.

If your life is plagued with generational sin, then repent.  Take ownership for your sin in realizing that your sin offends a perfect and Holy God. If their sin has become your sin then you are liable.  Ask God to forgive you from your unrighteousness.  Ask Him to change your Heart. 

Renounce the curse.  Declare that you are not under the curse and choose to walk in the freedomthat Christ provides.  Apply the blood of Jesus to your life and your circumstance.

Speak God’s word as a weapon against the enemy’s claims and curses. Use God’s word to cancel the enemy’s accusations and claims

However, if your life has been altered by the sins of others, then you must forgive them just as Christ has forgiven you. You must release any and all anger and resentment towards past generations. 

This may not do anything for the offender, but it will cause you to be healed so that you can grow in your spiritual walk. We break generational curses through repentance and forgiveness.

3. Walk by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 

Actively choose to walk in obedience to God and learn to trust in His promises.

You must take Personal Responsibility for your walk with the Lord and stop blaming others.  When you blame others for you not being where you want to be it is as if you have given them power over your life rather than trusting in the power of Christ to set you free. 

Break away from unhealthy patterns by making deliberate choices that align with biblical values and your personal goals. Everyone is ultimately responsible for their own choices and actions.

Galatians teaches us to walk by the spirit and in doing so we will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Josiah refused to allow the sins of his fathers to dictate the course of his life.  He cleaned up house.  It is time for you to clean house as well.  What has been, must not continue to be

         Renounce Generational Sins that have been passed on to you

Drunkenness, addiction, Chronic Lying, laziness, abuse, unfaithfulness, sexual immorality, racism.

Renounce those Sins produced in you by the sins of others

            Bitterness, resentment, anger, unforgiveness, hatred