This is the last article in my series on Generational Curses. We have been studying a passage out of Exodus 20:4-5, where God says he will pass the parents’ iniquity on to the children for up to four generations.

In this closing article, I will look at the demonic strongholds often connected with generational curses. Iniquity and sin attract demons, like rotting flesh attracts flies.

We can see this association in the life of Judas, the man who betrayed Jesus to the High Priest. In Acts 1:18, the apostle Peter declared that the 30 pieces of silver — which Judas received from the High Priest to show Jesus location — was the “reward of iniquity.”

But an earlier account provides a clearer depiction of money’s hold on Judas. In this incident, we read the story of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet with a valuable measure of perfume.

We know that Judas was the treasurer of Christ’s band of disciples and the disciples were well aware that Judas embezzled money from this fund (John 12:4-6).

Judas openly complained that they could have sold the oil for 300 denarii and given to the poor (John 12). In verse 6, John wryly states the only poor Judas was thinking about was himself.

Obviously the “love of money” was part of Judas’ problem and suggests his iniquity was rooted in covetousness.

It was shortly after this incident, that Satan convinced Judas to betray Jesus (John 13:2) and gained the right to enter Judas (John 13:27). This culminated in Judas betraying Christ’s location to the chief priests for a small bag full of coins.

Through this we see a link between iniquity and the demonic. It appears at the very least Judas’ iniquity not only attracted the satanic but may have provided an open door for Satan to manipulate this disciple.

In the Old Testament, we also find two terms that show the bond between Generational curses and the demonic.

In Deuteronomy, Moses refers to two types of occultist practitioners common at that time in Canaan — ‘ob’ (translated spiritist in the NASV) and a yiddeoni (translated medium in the NASV).

¹¹ or one who casts a spell, or a medium [yiddeoni], or a spiritist [ob], or one who calls up the dead. (Deuteronomy 18:11 NASV)

Both of these activities were absolutely forbidden in Israel due to their satanic overtones.

The Hebrew word “ob”, which the King James translated ‘familiar Spirit,’ referred to a conjurer common in the day who consulted spirits. A pit was dug in the ground, which gave these practitioners access to the spirits who spoke from the hole (Isaiah 29:4).

The King James used the adjective familiar (lit. family) to describe these spirits because the Canaanites believed these spirits were associated with the family and could be consulted on demand.

The second Hebrew word, yiddeoni, refers to a “knowing spirit” and specifically described evil spirits who had an intimate knowledge of the family — to the point of being able to impersonate family members (Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27).

Both these words imply that certain demons are attached to specific families, passing down from one generation to the next. They play a role in ensuring that the parent’s iniquity is transferred to the children.

At the end of this verse in Deuteronomy is a reference to necromancers who consulted with the ghosts or spirits of the dead family members — the familiar evil spirits and the spirits of the family members were all part of the package offered by occultist practitioners in Canaan.

Consequently, a vital part of the process in breaking generation curses is to take authority over any demonic strongholds associated with your family.

For this to happen, we need to understand that we are engaging in this battle from the higher ground.

The Apostle Paul writes:

¹⁵ When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. (Colossians 2:15 NASV)

By Christ’s death and resurrection, Satan has been completely disarmed.  The Greek word “apekduomai” also means undressed. Satan has been completely stripped naked.

So not only were his weapons taken, but his defensive armor is gone as well. This is the reality when addressing the spiritual realm and we need to believe it.

The second step is to understand Jesus has given us authority: When Jesus dispatched His disciples, He gave them these orders:

¹⁹ Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. (Luke 10:19 NASV)

Jesus has also given us authority over the demonic realm.

These are the facts when it comes to dealing with the spiritual realm. This is our standing.  We have already won. We are not battling to win, we are simply enforcing our victory — “in Jesus’ name.”

More in this series:

• Generational Curses: Part 1 — Inheriting sin?
• Generational curses: Part 2 — For four generations
• Generational Curses: Part 3 — Did King David’s family have a generational curse?
• Generational Curses: Part 4 — Jesus breaks the curse
• Generational Curses: Part 5 — Exposing the secret sins
• Generational Curses: Part 6 — the one condition, forgiving our parents

• Generational Curses: Part 7 — Breaking the Demonic stronghold