Farewell

I recently read a news article stating Bernie Madoff’s grandchildren were now being targeted in lawsuits. This at the heels of a multi-billion dollar scandal Bernie headed for many years which was uncovered a few years ago. Now grandchildren who had no idea of the business nor every participated in the business were being held responsible for their grandfather’s actions.

You can’t even understand the magnitude of our actions. Choices we make affect our grandchildren and further generations. This includes prosperity and mistakes. The good news is our lineage doesn't have to pay for our mistakes. Jesus is the mistake mender. This is important as we work through our lives so we can say farewell to our past and farewell to open doors of spiritual bondage. Whether we like it or not, things we do are relayed down generations. Many families pass depression, violence, bad habits and more from one generation to the next.

In Exodus 32:7-19, Moses had a conversation with God. God was angry with the Israelites for making a golden calf and quickly changing their worship practices to a false God. He had every intention to wipe them out. Moses pleads with God on their behalf so they could be spared and have a testimony to share about God. Of course Moses had not seen nor did he know the magnitude of what God was talking about until he returned from the people on the mountain. God still extended grace in this situation.

A further testimony of God’s forgiving grace in spite of our sins in mentioned in Nehemiah 9:17 where God is noted to be gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. He is ready to pardon your mistake and redeem you. He wants to lift your burden and the burdens on your family. He does forgive, but as mentioned in Exodus 34:4-7 he also punishes to the third generation.

Ezekiel 18:20 (AMPC) states, The soul that sins, it [is the one that] shall die. The son shall not bear and be punished for the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear and be punished for the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him only, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon the wicked only. This means that punishment is destined for the person who made the mistake. However, often the lineage of that person is affected. That is why it is important for a person to accept the forgiveness of Christ and through the cross halt unnecessary punishment.

Deuteronomy 24:16 (AMPC) states, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers; only for his own sin shall anyone be put to death. This is another example that it is not Gods will for you to be punished for the mistakes of your ancestors. However, you need to recognize your ancestors leave open doors of influence in your life which you need to take dominion over or you will be paying for their sin.

The Israelites did not have the union with the Holy Spirit. This gift was given after Jesus ascended into heaven on the day of Pentecost. They didn’t get to have constant communication with God and Moses was their connection. They quickly had despair and they did not have the gift of redemption like we have today. The pivotal moment in time when everything changed was the day of Calvary when Jesus gave his life as the last blood sacrifice. This set the eternal stage for more than just salvation.

Christ’s redemption sets the stage for a multitude of blessings. The passion or crucifixion is essential in all of our lives. This ultimate gift has no measure. Just because it is available doesn’t mean everyone will receive it. Salvation, generational curses, sin, healing and more have all be handled at the cross.

1 Peter 3:18 (AMPC) sums up the blood sacrifice, the gift of life for us all. For Christ [the Messiah Himself] died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous (the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty), that He might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the spirit. John 3:16 reiterates God’s love for us giving Jesus for salvation but it wasn’t the only event coming at the cross.

Hebrews 8:12 (AMPC) states, for I will be merciful and gracious toward their sins and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more. He forgives all sin. This is an ongoing blessing. Repentance and communion are essential in receiving this grace.

Lamentations 5:1-9 (AMPC) states, O Lord, [earnestly] remember what has come upon us! Look down and see our reproach (our national disgrace)! Our inheritance has fallen over to strangers, our houses to foreigners. We have become orphans and fatherless; our mothers are like widows. We have had to pay money to drink the water that belongs to us; our [own] wood is sold to us. Our pursuers are upon our necks [like a yoke]; we are weary and are allowed no rest. We have given the hand [as a pledge of fidelity and submission] to the Egyptians and to the Assyrians [merely] to get food to satisfy [our hunger]. Our fathers sinned and are no more, and we have borne their iniquities. Servants and slaves rule over us; there is none to deliver us out of their hands. We get our bread at the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness [the wild Arabs, who may attack if we venture into the fields to reap our harvests].

We receive several inheritances from our ancestors. Scientific articles prove how many genetic tendencies we inherit from our ancestors. There are also behavioral tendencies, financial inheritance and more. The relief from negative consequence is found at the cross.

Christ gives us so much hope. Acts 1:3-9 (AMPC) states, to them also He showed Himself alive after His passion (His suffering in the garden and on the cross) by [a series of] many convincing demonstrations [unquestionable evidences and infallible proofs], appearing to them during forty days and talking [to them] about the things of the kingdom of God. And while being in their company and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised, Of which [He said] you have heard Me speak. For John baptized with water, but not many days from now you shall be baptized with (placed in, introduced into) the Holy Spirit. So when they were assembled, they asked Him, Lord, is this the time when You will reestablish the kingdom and restore it to Israel? He said to them, It is not for you to become acquainted with and know what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or fixed years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority and personal power. But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth. And when He had said this, even as they were looking [at Him], He was caught up, and a cloud received and carried Him away out of their sight.

Christ has given us his power and the supernatural strength to say farewell to our sins, farewell to generational sin, and accept a gift of salvation. Say farewell to depression, alcoholism, strife, violence, anger, financial hindrance, a life of struggle, and rest in his loving arms with the ultimate comforter. The bottom line is, you have to ask for it. It’s your choice. These gifts are always available when you ask but will never be forced upon you. He stands at the door knocking. Letting him in is up to you.
I liken the gifts God gives us to a child with a sucker. The sucker is there, it tastes good, but will never magically end up in your mouth. You have to decide to partake of the sucker. If you throw the sucker away, it’s up to you. His gift to you is loving kindness, righteousness, peace, and joy. He has given you this power, this gift, please don’t mock or squander it. You have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb. That cross isn’t just a symbol for heaven. That cross sanctified you, placed your sins in infinity, gave you the power to overcome your past, killed mistakes of your ancestors, and gave you a daily communication with God never before experienced.

Just like Jesus told Peter and the rest of us in Matthew 16:18, upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not stand against it. The devil doesn’t have a chance when you exercise your God given gift. Just ask Him. Nothing can separate us from the power which is in Christ Jesus. That power came from the cross.