UNTO THE 3RD & 4TH GENERATION… (Moses 4)
The first books of the Bible have a lot to say about spiritual warfare. The battle started in Eden and continued throughout the centuries. Moses had many conflicts with Satan’s forces in Egypt and traveling to the Promised Land. On the way God gave the people the Ten Commandments to instruct them in how to live a victorious life for God. Let’s look at some lessons we can learn from them. Read them in Exodus 20.
God’s first commandment is that there are no Gods but Him. Then He forbids them to make any idols to worship (Exodus 20:4-5). After the commandment to not make any idols God gives the reason: He is a jealous God “punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me” (Exodus 20:4-5). God does not hold us accountable for the sins of our ancestors (Deuteronomy 24:16) but the consequences of their sins does pass on from generation to generation (Ezekiel 18:2). There is a big difference between ‘sins’ (individual acts of sin) and ‘sin’ (general term for the culmination of all sin together).
One of the main ways sin passes from generation to generation is through demonic control. When a person opens themselves to demonizing, that demon claims them and all they have. When they have children the demon then claims the child as well (Exodus 34:6-7; Deuteronomy 5:8-9). There are many examples of this in Scripture (Nehemiah 1:4-9; Jeremiah 14:20; Daniel 1:1-19). This goes on from generation to generation until broken by prayer in Jesus’ name. As believers we have authority to break this in Jesus’ name (1 Corinthians 7:14).
LESSON FOR TODAY 1: When one person opens themselves up to demonic influence, that person’s descendants are also at risk of demonizing. When a demon has access to a person, he also claims right to all that person has, including their children. The Bible says these sins pass on down to the third or fourth generation (Exodus 20:4-5; Deuteronomy 5:8-9; Exodus 34:6-7). Ancestral, or generational access is one of the most common openings for demonized.
This is especially true of first born males, but certainly not limited to them. Satan seeks to claim them because God says they belong to Him (Exodus 34:20). This is by no means limited to firstborn males, or even to males. Any child is open to this. If you notice some of the same problems in your life as in your siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, or grandparents it could very well be ancestral demonizing. The same demons have access to those in the family and do the same work in various members (not all members, that would be too obvious). They claim the blood line or family name and use that as access. If you see some patterns in the symptoms or characteristics of demonizing that were covered previously in others in your family that could show ancestral access. That is why so often a boy who hates his father for beating his mother grows up to beat his own wife, or a child of an alcoholic becomes an alcoholic themself. It is not uncommon to observe generations of abuse, addiction, hatred, superstition and fear, pride, control and manipulation, rejection, sexual sins and perversions, aberrant religious beliefs, witchcraft, and rebellion etc.
Generational bondage can be broken by personally repenting of and confessing the sins of past generations. Claim the blood of Christ as stronger than your blood line and put that access under the blood of Jesus (Romans 5:15). Claim that you are a “new creation, old things have passed away, all things have become new” (II Corinthians 5:17). State that you are “born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:13). Then ask God to turn that curse into a blessing (Deuteronomy 23:5).
LESSON FOR TODAY 2: When counseling someone who you feel may be demonized be sure to start by asking questions about similar sins and problems in other members of the family. This is especially true if the person struggled with the issue since they were quite young. Generational bondage can be broken by putting the sins of past generations under the blood of Jesus and forbid any of Satan’s forces to make any claim against you through them. Claim the blood of Christ as stronger than your blood line and put any demonic access under the blood of Jesus (Romans 5:15). Claim that you are a “new creation, old things have passed away, all things have become new” (II Corinthians 5:17). The person must not allow himself to participate in that sin any more or the access will again be open. “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11).
Do you see a connection between a sin you really struggle with and a similar sin pattern in a close relative? If so, pray and ask God to break any connection and remove any access any demons may claim to work in you because of an ancestor’s sin. If you need help write me at Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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