Are Family Curses (and Blessings) Real? (Acts 16) - The PursueGOD Truth Podcast

Welcome back to the podcast! In today's episode, we'll be talking about family curses...and blessings! Are they still a thing? Listen to find out!

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Q. Are Family Curses (and Blessings) Real?

• Super scary verse in the OT (Second Commandment):
• Exodus 20:4-5 (NLT) 4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 
• Generational curses? 
• Need to cast out demons? “Bondage Breaker” book
• No! This is more about learned behavior
• Third and fourth generations
• You may have met these people!
• Influence extends to grandkids and great grandchildren
• Principle: parenting matters!
• You will pass on more than you think
• Family idols (even today)
• Alcoholism
• Pride, selfishness
• Materialism (wealth)
• But don’t miss the next verse
• Exodus 20:6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
• God wants to bless your family!
• A thousand generations vs. 3 or 4
• But look at the recipient of this
• Those who love me and obey my commands
• The greatest generational blessing: salvation
• Households where grandparents, parents, kids are all followers
• Nothing better than this
• Very few families have it
• We’re going to see this in action in 3 families in Acts 16 today…

Acts 16: (NLT) 1 Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek.

• This is Paul’s second missionary journey 
• First time we meet Timothy. This guy becomes Paul’s protege. 
• Jewish mom
• Greek dad
• 2 Timothy 1:5 (NLT) 5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.
• Notice: no mention of father
• Dad was likely not a Gentile follower of God
• If he was, he would have had Timothy circumcised
• One more hint about Timothy’s upbringing…
• 2 Timothy 3:15 (NLT) 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.
• Taught by mother and grandmother!
• The point: if you want to pass on your faith, teach your kids the Bible early and often

Next passage:

Acts 16:13-14 (NLT) 13 On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak w