Ancestors

<<past relatives, family>>

You cannot control the way your ancestors responded to God, but you can control the way you respond to Him. The past does not have to be a prison, dictating your future. You are responsible for your life so choose wisely, then someday future generations will be thankful to God for the legacy you left. If you do not have a wholesome heritage, determine with God’s help to change things around and lay a good

Deal with the bondages in your family line

foundation in the lives you touch and influence.

The Bible is clear that all the guilt for sin falls upon the people who commit it, with everyone required to give account of themselves to God (Ezek 18:20; Rom 14:12). So while we can't repent for our ancestors sin, we are to acknowledge its influence and effect that brings suffering. Hence, we can identify with the sin and turn from this weakness or tendency so it won't be repeated down through the family – consequences last a long time (Ex 20:5, 34:7; 2 Sam 12:10,11; 2 Kgs 14:6). Specific evil bondages or curses passed down through family lines for generations need to be cut off through deliverance. Involvement in freemasonry has brought untold affliction on family members. Freedom is gained by confessing the ancestors’ sins, and breaking off the harassing spiritual forces (2 Chr 7:14; Neh 9:2; Dan 9:1-19; Mk 16:17). Adam passed on to successive generations rebellion against God – the pattern was established (Rom 5:12,17; 1 Cor 15:22). It is imperative we live upright lives so we can establish a good heritage for those who will come after us; we can help ensure they experience God’s favour on their lives by the example we set through our lifestyle.
Note: confessing is identifying or agreeing with another, while repenting involves taking ownership for our sin coupled with the determination to go the opposite direction.

Praying for the dead to effect a favourable outcome in the next life is not a biblical concept, although widely taught. Our prayers have no bearing on someone once they have died for at the point of death, their eternal destiny is unalterable (Heb 9:27). Through their choice while on earth they are either saved through faith in Christ or lost and heading to hell. Jesus used the story of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar to teach that after death the unrighteous are eternally separated from God, that they remember their rejection of the gospel, that they are in torment, and that their condition cannot be remedied (Lk 16:19-31). "Now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor 6:2). Death is final, and after that, no amount of praying for their salvation will avail for those who have rejected the offer in this life.

Sometimes people claim the presence of a departed loved one is with them. This is a coping measure of the brain, predicting what had been a common happy experience in the past before the bereavement – a comforting flashback. Realistically the deceased person is far removed from the current world – they are either in paradise awaiting entrance to heaven or Shoel prior to being doomed to a lost eternity. No interaction between the living and dead is Scriptural. Jesus said He would always be with us through the presence of the Holy Spirit within (Mt 28:20; 1 Cor 3:16, 6:19; Heb 13:5). He is of much greater comforter than any human can be.