Discovering the Generational Link (Part 2)

The Bible is clear about the connection of generations. It states that the iniquity of the fathers/mothers can be passed down for 3 or 4 generations. “… visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me …” (Deuteronomy 5: 9).

The root cause of the connection of generations is spiritual. Not genetic, medical, psychological, environmental, or hereditary. The Bible calls it “iniquity.” That means various forms of iniquity or sinful choices such as addictions, immorality, negativity, etc can be passed down from parents to children and the children’s children in succeeding generations.

Looking at my young children – Christine, Paul, and Angel – I can’t help but reflect more deeply on generational blessing/curse. What this Scriptural truth is showing me is that the actions and decisions I make today as a father don’t simply affect my self. They also affect Christine, Paul, and Angel and their future children and their children’s children in multiplied generations.

Yesterday, I received an e-mail from a 27-year-old Christian girl who said that she’s still unable to forgive her Dad who abandoned her, her mother and brother, since 7 years ago. She confessed that she’s ashamed of what she finds inside her heart. Each morning, during dawn prayer meetings in the church, she’d cry before God about her struggle.

I told her to forgive her father so she can be healed. I championed forgiveness as God’s way for her to break free from the strongholds of the past. What she didn’t know is that the one telling this to her once had a serious unforgiving spirit problem! Even when I was already a pastor, I still struggled with unforgiving spirit. Eventually, I realized it’s a spirit that keeps getting passed down in my family line from one generation to another. And I need to do something about it.

The year 2007 was a big forgiveness test for me. In the face of deep hurts, I had to take a stand against unforgiving spirit. The easy, natural road for me was to get bitter and take revenge for after all it has been there in my family for generations. But I chose the blessing and not the curse! I decided to choose to be the one to put a stop to it in my family. Daily, I bind in prayer this stronghold of unforgiving spirit in my family line and stand against the curse.

Understand, our fight is in the spiritual realm. As we do battle and pass down God’s goodness, we are leaving a legacy of blessing to our children and the generations to follow after them.