[Aquila]

Esaias posted some great stuff along with plenty of Scripture. I'm not going to repost the scriptures Esaias posted so as not to be redundant. Esaias makes good points from his vantage point on the issue.

I'll share what I believe about this generational sin or curses.

I believe we repent of generational/ancestral sin by repenting of any sins that appear to run in the family through the influence of parents, grandparents, etc. If alcoholism or gambling runs in a family, a born again believer should repent and refuses to allow themselves to fall prey to alcoholism or gambling addiction. If one repents of the perpetuated sins that run in their family, they have broken the family curse, so to speak.

I believe that some sins my welcome evil spirits into the lives of individuals. These spirits might determine to oppress their children, and their children's children, and so on. These spirits can be cast out.

I believe that it is possible that a family be supernaturally cursed by God over a specific sin, or even by an ungodly source (such as a witch). How can one know if this kind of curse is in play? Well, if there is an uncanny string of similar events, trials, afflictions, etc. that are entirely coincidental in every generation, and not under the control of the individuals involved, it might be this kind of curse. One might see a pattern in a family such as persistent "bad luck", failure to achieve success due to random/coincidental calamities that bring lack, defeat, and failure to attain abundance. Repentance of personal sin and a cry for mercy (if from God) through the blood can bring God to lift His curse. If from the enemy, one can take authority over all the power of the enemy, and breaking the curse through faith by the power and blood of Jesus.

Some curses passed down are more physical in nature, bring physical sickness, disease, and anxieties. This can be due to lifestyle in the family or perhaps inherited traumas (see epigenetics). There is healing power available to heal and restore a family line from such.