The Bloodline: Part I

Recognizing generational patterns in our bloodlines is a key component of experiencing the unstuck life. We must see ways Satan has tried to keep many generations in our family bound.

Have you ever been to the doctor, and when asked to fill out medical paperwork, they ask about family medical history? Have you seen how they ask about heart problems and a history of cancer, and other diseases? Why do you think that is? It is because the medical profession and scientists recognize something that the body of Christ rarely discusses. Sin patterns run in our bloodlines. Today's Scripture tells us that our sin could visit our children to the third or fourth generation! Do you see patterns running in your bloodline, such as divorce, alcoholism, unwed pregnancy, poverty, mental health issues, and others? Does every male in the family have challenges with their temper?

Now, just so you know, there is much debate in the body of Christ about whether these "patterns" should be called generational curses, consequences, etc., and whether or not they exist at all. May I just tell you clearly that it doesn't matter what you call it! When you begin looking at a family history of sin and consequences, you are going to begin to see things running in your bloodline, e.g., suicide attempts, drug addiction, and the list goes on.

When studying Scripture, you'll find many verses in the Old Testament that illustrate the precedence of curses on a bloodline due to sin, dating back to the Mosaic Law. You'll also see Scripture detailing that we cannot be under a curse for our Father's sin, such as in Ezekiel 18:20. So, which is it? Can we or can't we have problems in our family that were passed down through sin? The short answer to this complex theological question is "yes." (Note: I've written a great deal about this in the book, Unstuck: For the Believer Who Desires Healing, Freedom, and Something More.)

Curses are all throughout Scripture, both in the Old and New Testament, highlighting God's ways and Kingdom principles. There are more than 200 references to curses throughout the Bible, including many ways to be cursed in both the Old and New Testaments. Jesus absolutely broke the curse of death – eternal separation from the Father – and became sin, who knew no sin, for our iniquities. We see that His obedience paid for our righteousness, according to Romans 5:18-19. He broke the power of the curse, but He did not eliminate the presence of generational consequences throughout our bloodlines. Failure to address bloodline patterns in our family will cause them to be repeated in new generations.

Once educated through Holy Spirit revelation, I began identifying the bloodline curses in my family and breaking them, one by one, as the Holy Spirit led. This led to a huge unsticking in my life. Tomorrow, we'll discuss specific ways you can identify and break bloodline curses (or generational patterns) in your family. It is powerful.

Points to Ponder:

• Begin listing common sin you are seeing and revisit multiple generations in your family. Have you ever considered that these patterns existed?
• How might the enemy wage this strategy against families to keep many generations bound in a stuck life?