Family Ties… That Bind Us

By Pastor Marc Longoria

When we think of family and the ties that bind us, we like to think of a close upbringing.  We like to reflect on those special birthdays and Christmas gatherings with the entire family.  We would all like to think that our family is a close family full of love and acceptance.  But in many cases we are just kidding ourselves.  Imagine if people really knew what goes on secretly in our lives.   Imagine if we would answer truthfully when asked, “How are you doing today?”  Are we really willing to go beyond the automatic reply, “Fine, thank you”?

There have been many counseling sessions where my wife and I listened to someone pour out their heart. As they begin to share with us their problems, we begin to tap into the Spiritual realm asking the Holy Spirit to help us identify the root of the problem(s).  Although there are clearly issues that need to be dealt with, there are even greater hidden issues that sometimes go all the way back to that person’s childhood.  Those things must be brought out to light.  It’s not enough to simply take a spiritual aspirin that temporarily numbs the pain.  We must go down deep to the conception of this problem, identify the root that is now causing the pain and destroy the yoke.  We call this “Deliverance Ministry.”

We can all agree that bad people have issues; but what about good people?  Is it possible that good people also have to fight their own demons?  Moreover, do Christians also battle their own demons?  This is the million dollar question.  And the answer is a resounding YES.

Though there are many reasons why we would need to go through some type of deliverance session, today we want to focus on hereditary or generational curses.  Unfortunately, the ties that bind us together as a family aren’t always good.  Here are just a few examples:  Addictions to Alcohol and Drugs, Physical and Sexual Abuse, Anger, Rage, Lust, Rape and Rejection.  If you have experienced any of these problems within your family, chances are that they will continue in your bloodline until you break the curse.

The Bible declares in Exodus 20:5 that our sins will be visited upon our children for up to 4 generations.  God is a jealous God and he will not share his glory with any other thing that we put before him.  He must be first in our lives.  So this begins to shed some light on this whole issue of things that bind us.  In most cases, whatever a person is having trouble with, you can find that same problem several more times within the family tree. 

Let’s take for example the spirit of Lust.  For the sake of simplicity, allow me to create a hypothetical scenario.  John Doe quietly battles with the sin of lust.  His habitual practices of being drawn to women other than his wife are true signs to him, but not clearly visible to others.  As John begins to give-in to the temptations of his flesh, he suddenly finds himself in an adulteress relationship.  Now he battles not only with Lust but Infidelity and Adultery as well.  As his secret relationship continues, he is now forced to lie about his whereabouts.  Now he has added the Spirit of Lies to the already present Spirit of Lust, Infidelity and Adultery.  As he continues to feed the desires of his flesh, his uncontrollable downward spiral causes him fall further and further into sin.  Still feeling unsatisfied, he begins to purchase pornography and with that, he opens the door to the spirit of Perversion.  Can you see how a little spark can put an entire forest to blaze?

As John begins to recognize that his issues are becoming harder to contend with, he finally seeks some type of counseling.  He knows that what he is doing is not right, but he cannot stop it.  It has gotten out of control.  He is now spiritually bound by sin and can no longer control his fleshly desires.  And if we really want to make this scenario interesting, John is a 35 year veteran of the Christian faith.  Although this scenario is hypothetical, it is not uncommon to see it on a daily basis in real life. 

 So what does this have to do with family ties?  …Everything.  John’s mother brought him up in a good Christian environment.  Little Johnny was a straight “A” student and never missed a Sunday school class.  But Johnny had no idea that his father had a problem.  His father, much like his grand daddy, would often come home in a drunken stupor.  Many times with lip stick on his shirt collar from his one-night flings.  Johnny’s mother did everything possible to keep little Johnny from ever knowing his father’s shameful acts.  She did this so Johnny wouldn’t lose his respect for his daddy. 

 Now that John had grown up to be an adult and his father has since past away, his mother is comfortable enough to tell him about his dad’s shameful behavior.  But in order for John’s mother not to lose respect for her little boy, John is forced to keep his generational curse (his hidden sin) a secret.

 This is only one of many spiritual diseases that are running ramped in our family lineage today.  What do you contend with?  Sit back and ask yourself, “Are there more people in my family that deal with the same issues I’m battling?”  Consider your uncles, aunts, cousins, brothers and sisters.

 There is only one way to stop the generational curse that binds us.  We must seek deliverance from its grasp.  I encourage you to seek Spiritual counseling.  If your Spiritual counselor doesn’t know how to deal with these types of Spirits, ask them for permission to seek counseling elsewhere with someone who knows how to put an end to this curse.  If you don’t stop it now, you can expect to see it again in your children and your grand children, for up to 4 generations.

 Marc and Lisa Longoria are Pastors at My Father’s House Church in northeast San Antonio .  For more information about their ministry or to schedule a counseling session, log on to www.MyFathersHouse-SanAntonio.com or call (210) 626-8993.