Breaking Free From Generational Bondages
You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments (Deuteronomy 5:8–10).
Generational Bondage and Inheritance
This was not written to debate the sovereignty of God. I will state emphatically that God does not bestow suffering on His children. We are not predestined for suffering, and the doctrine of determinism is unscriptural.
Having said that, let’s look at the scientific logic that explains why iniquity can pass down generationally. Science is remarkable because it can unknowingly confirm what we’ve believed based on scripture for more than two thousand years, and help to provide practical insight into many of our common questions, such as: How does iniquity pass down generationally? Does it happen to everyone? Can generational bloodline curses be broken? What about my children who are already born? Is it too late for them if they have already been handed down negative things through our bloodline? First, let’s understand God’s desire for us as His children.
Exhibit A
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:13–16).
You are fearfully and wonderfully made! God does not make mistakes, nor does He write suffering and pain into your book. Verse 17 makes this clear where it states, “How precious are your thoughts.”
Exhibit B
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Although this verse was addressing the nation of Israel, I believe that all who come to salvation in Jesus are adopted into God’s family, and thus are beneficiaries. Further, I believe the “plans” mentioned here refer to the “days ordained” written in your heavenly book in the first scripture above. God’s desire for His children is for us to live a life full of joy and relationship with Him. However, we are not absolved from making our own choices. It is these choices that determine what will pass down generationally. We will see that curses pass down generationally, but what about blessings?
Generational Blessings
For he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children (Psalm 103:14–17).
In Genesis 12:3, God is speaking to Abram, setting him on his journey, and He tells Abram that all generations will be blessed through his obedience: “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen. 12:3). The principle I am introducing here is that God established a spiritual pipeline for the express purpose of passing down blessings through family bloodlines, both spiritually and physically. More on that thought in a moment. The Bible contains hundreds of references to blessings and the passing on of them generationally. Sadly, as a result of the fall in the garden this pipeline was compromised, and the enemy uses it to carry bloodline curses. I am going to explain how blessings and curses travel through our generations. The good news is that we have victory over the plans of the enemy to stop the flow of curses and reset the pipeline for blessings in our lives and the lives of our families.
Epigenetic Markers
Before we continue let me address the term epigenetics. I will use this term throughout this article and you will no doubt hear it more now that you are aware of the research.
Epigenetics is a relatively new way of understanding the building blocks of DNA. Until very recently, molecular biology has held to a central dogma that you are the result of your DNA and nothing can change the cards you have been dealt in life.
Science has now adapted to a new understanding of how DNA works. Epigenetics changes what we know about DNA and genetic inheritance through the bloodline.
a. The fact is that your DNA is not your destiny.
b. With the Holy Spirit, you have the power to change your destiny!
Epigenetics is the study of how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work. Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are reversible. (1)
Epigenetics is a compound word which brings new light to how we look at our DNA.
Today, the most common definition of the word is a back-translation of “epi” (upon, above, beyond) and “genetic” (DNA sequence), referring to a layer of information that exists beyond that encoded in the DNA sequence, thereby making the genome function distinctively in different cell types. (2)
The epigenome or “epigenetic marks” sit on top of the genome (the cell and everything contained within) and influence changes to your genes, essentially telling them to turn on or turn off.
We have been led to believe that our genes determine the character of our lives, yet new research surprisingly reveals that it is the character of our lives that controls our genes. Rather than being victims of our heredity, we are actually masters of our genome. (3)
God has given us the freedom to command our own lives and bodies through His gift of free will. Scripture tells us on many occasions to “choose” for ourselves.
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).
As we saw in Psalm 139:16, each person has a book penned by God Himself, which contains His perfect will for our lives. But we can and often do choose not to open it, read what is inside, and bring our actions into agreement with what is written.
The verse above in Joshua is a beautiful example of the generational impact of our choices. God says, “Choose to follow Me or accept the generational curses in your ancestral bloodlines by worshiping false gods.”
Each one of these choices we make leaves an imprint or a mark on our DNA that is passed down the family bloodline. The implication here is that each of us must decide to reverse the curse and detach ourselves from the generational iniquity within our bloodlines.
Passed to the Third and Fourth Generation
The following quote from the University of Utah, Genetic Science Learning Center had this to say:
We used to think that a new embryo’s epigenome was completely erased and rebuilt from scratch. But this isn’t completely true. Some epigenetic tags remain in place as genetic information passes from generation to generation, a process called epigenetic inheritance. (4)
In other words, our genes are not purified and reset with each generation. Our life experiences, traumas, phobias, and even smell aversions are potentially passed down up to four generations. The National Institute of Health issued the following finding in a report on epigenetics:
Most epigenetic modification, by whatever mechanism, is believed to be erased with each new generation…. However, one of the more startling reports published in 2005 challenges this belief and suggests that epigenetic changes may endure in at least four subsequent generations of organisms. (5)
This statement is remarkable because of how it aligns with scripture.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me (Deuteronomy 5:9).
You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me (Exodus 20:4–5).
We are beginning to understand the reality of how generational curses have the power to destroy lives, and this cannot be overstated. The Bible is always accurate, and the science is a confirmation. For example, the media reported that during the attack on 9/11, roughly 1,700 pregnant women were directly affected by the attack and aftermath. Reports also show that these women were affected by PTSD symptoms and that their newborn children also demonstrated PTSD symptoms. Additionally, these children were found to have inherited their mother’s experiences from that day in the form of phobias, fears, and trauma responses. What this means is that the trauma was marked on the mother’s DNA and subsequently the child’s DNA through epigenetic mechanisms. (6)
If we do not intentionally cleanse our bloodline of generational curses, the potential for generational iniquity exists for up to four generations and possibly even more. This is stated by scripture and backed up by science as well. We don’t need science to confirm what scripture tells us, but it sure is exciting when that happens.
Let me share an example of how this has appeared in deliverance ministry. I once ministered to a man who lived a life of anxiety, fear, and depression. Our interview and preliminary counseling session revealed that his life did not bear the telltale signs consistent with depression, worry, and fear. We began to minister with him. Through discernment and partnering with the Holy Spirit, we were able to determine that not only were these strongholds and manifestations not directly his, but they were also present with his grandparents and his parents. Knowing these traits were passed down generationally, we understood them to be familiar spirits and epigenetic marks on his DNA that we needed to remove through prayer. The result is a man free from generational bondage of worry, fear, and depression that was never his to carry.
This is the power of understanding the science of DNA and how the remnants of our life’s choices can often pass down to our children. Here is the good news! We have been given the victory and power over these generational bloodline curses through our steadfast belief in God, intentional prayers, and participation in Holy Spirit-led deliverance ministry. We no longer need to live with the lie that we are the result of our genes. It’s time to be free from that lie and receive the truth. You are meant to live free from the bondage of the past. We will have a prayer at the end of the book that will begin your healing process and reset your DNA back to the way God intended it at the moment of your creation.
How to Identify Markers: Generational or Current
This subheading might be misleading, as there is no exact formula that will identify epigenetic marks or generational curses on your bloodline. However, you can take a serious inventory of your life, ancestry, and known family history, and by coupling this with discernment from the Holy Spirit, you can determine quite a lot. There is no need to be religious about this task. Don’t worry if you miss something. God can still heal unknown issues just as easily as those that are known. This simple process is meant to help you get an idea of which generational curses and epigenetic marks may be impacting your life.
Begin by taking inventory of any areas of your life where you currently or have in the past struggled with any of the following areas. Start by journaling your involvement with:
1. Fear, including phobias
2. Rejection
3. Anxiety
4. Heart problems, cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure
5. Mental health problems
6. Digestive problems
7. Respiratory problems
8. Immune system problems
9. Reproductive problems
10. High stress
11. Endocrine system dysfunction
12. Sleep disorders
13. Chronic fatigue
14. Discouragement
15. Death—physical, spiritual
16. Addictions
Next, for each issue, ask the Lord to reveal to you the moment in your life when this issue began. It might be a childhood trauma. It might be a time when you made a personal vow, and your body reacted. It may be a personal prophecy spoken over you by yourself or others. The key is to remember when each issue began and the associated memory or story. Journal these insights as well. As you journal, ask the Lord to reveal any themes or ah-ha moments that shine a light on the true source of the pain.
This next step may involve time and research. For each issue you identified in yourself, determine to what extent each problem manifested in your family lineage. Start with your immediate parents. Then work your way back as far as you can. You will discover that patterns will emerge. You will find that the issues you are facing are actually the result of two types of generational curses. First, familiar spirits assigned to your family lineage have a mission to afflict every member of the family line and inflict as much pain and suffering as they can. They do all of this to prevent God’s people from being awakened to their purpose and effectiveness in the kingdom. Second, and this piece is tied to the inherited DNA addressed earlier in this book, traumas and blessings are marked on our DNA. That DNA is passed down from generation to generation. Abraham knew the generational power of the blessing when God blessed him and all of his generations in Genesis 12:2–3:
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
Look at this statement, “All of the people of the earth will be blessed through you.” This powerful sentence establishes the portal for bloodline blessings to be passed down to all generations on the earth. It’s remarkable yet so easily missed by the body of Christ. When was the last time you truly blessed someone and meant it? When was the last time you blessed yourself? Please take this opportunity to change how we think about generational inheritance. We have the power to give life to others through the gift of our spirit-filled words.
I understand that the list you have just created is not exactly life-giving. That is precisely the intent and design of the enemy. By incapacitating God’s children and taking them out of the game, satan’s rule becomes that much more unchallenged. We all know the end of the book. God wins, those who believe in Jesus win, and we get to watch as satan is defeated. These curses on your life do not define you. They are not written in your kingdom book.
Now, having created your list of generational iniquity in your family lineage, it’s time to deal with it. You can seek the assistance of a trained deliverance ministry to help guide you through the restoration of your bloodline. Or you can partner with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to reverse the curse. Here is a method we like to use in deliverance ministry:
For each curse you identified in your journal, repent for and renounce it on behalf of yourself and your family line. Tell all related demonic spirits to leave you immediately and to go to a dry and arid place, never to return to you or your family. Then write the opposite of each curse as a statement of blessing. Use only positive language. For example, do not say “I will not have anxiety.” Not is a negative word and our bodies react to negative words even when they are said with positive intent. Instead, say, “Peace inhabits my mind, will, and emotions; I choose to have the mind of Christ that brings contentment in all areas of my life.” The key with this process is to allow the Holy Spirit to help you craft your blessings. When you have finished creating your list of blessings, discard your generational curses. Begin to intentionally bless yourself and your children from the list you made. Then continue to do it daily or on a regular basis for as long as you want or need. You may discover that you may never stop blessing yourself because of the spiritual and physical benefits you will experience.
Understanding the spiritual portal and the physical DNA portals for generational blessings is a big step toward our comprehension of what God spoke over His people in Jeremiah 29:11:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Finally, use this as an opportunity to come further into agreement with the blessing God gave Moses and Aaron when He instructed them to bless God’s people:
The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:22–26).
The generational curses passed down to you stand no chance against the blessings of God spoken of you and your family. Make a decision today to reverse the curse and declare that the sins of the fathers will not pass to you or your generations any longer. As my mentor in deliverance ministry Dr. Bill Sudduth used to say, “You have a right as a child of God to be so free!”
Demonic Strongholds
The spirit realm is waiting with eagerness for God’s people to exercise their authority over the strongholds of satan and be victorious. Until now, satan and his demons have enjoyed free access to generational bloodlines. He’s corrupted generations of family lineage through bodily systems never originally meant to pass down curses. We now have been given the knowledge of exactly how the enemy uses the mechanism of generational inheritance to keep entire generations from discovering and pursuing their kingdom purposes. A demonic stronghold is an area in our lives where the enemy has infiltrated and taken ground.
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3–5).
Scripture tells us that we have divine power to demolish strongholds. We must choose to come out of agreement with the stronghold of the enemy in our lives. Only when we genuinely hate the evil that has enslaved us do we have the power to completely demolish and eradicate the oppressing stronghold in our entire family lineage. Scripture also tells us how this process works in verse five. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.” Quite literally, this means to identify the lie of the enemy and demolish it with the truth! Start by meditating with the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to show you areas in your life where you have believed a lie. Then once the lie is revealed, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth. The lie might be something like these statements, “I am not good enough, God cannot use me, I am broken, it is all my fault, I am to blame.” Those are not life-giving statements. In fact, those beliefs become strongholds of the enemy that prevent your true identity from being revealed. Look at the second part of verse five. “We take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.” This step is important because the enemy gets in through our thoughts and beliefs. We’ve identified the lie in the first half of the verse. Now we accept and partner with the truth to reverse the curse. Begin to bless yourself with the truth, taking every lie captive and replacing it with the truth of who you are as a son or daughter of the King.
Now that you’ve demolished the enemy’s lies in your life, set your eyes on continued maintenance. It’s not a once and done deal. Continuous meditation and relationship with Jesus will ensure your identity remains intact. Practically speaking, you need to preplan your thoughts and bring them into alignment with your kingdom identity. To understand the process, let’s look in Philippians for directions on reshaping our thought life.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8).
In other words, “preplan” your thoughts, be ready for the enemy’s attack, and always think on these things:
Pure
Right and True
Excellent
Praiseworthy
Lovely
Admirable
Noble
Notes
1. CDC, “What is Epigenetics?” Centers for Disease Control, accessed July 2, 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/epigenetics.htm.
2. John M. Greally, “A user’s guide to the ambiguous word ‘epigenetics,’” Nature Reviews, Molecular Cell Biology, Vol. 19, Issue 4, April 2018, 207-208, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29339796.
3.Bruce Lipton, “The rise of the phoenix: an evolving global humanity,” LivingNow, August 28, 2009, https://livingnow.com.au/rise-phoenix-evolving-global-humanity.
4. “Epigenetics & Inheritance,” Learn.Genetics, accessed July 2, 2021, https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/epigenetics/inheritance.
5. Bob Weinhold, “Epigenetics: the science of change,” Environews: Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 114, No. 3, March 1, 2006, https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.114-a160.
6. Rachel Yehuda, et. al., “Transgenerational Effects of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Babies of Mothers Exposed to the World Trade Center Attacks during Pregnancy,” The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 90, Issue 7, July 1 2005, 4115–4118, https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2005-0550.
