Today’s Open Heavens devotional (4 March 2026) is SIN IS A REPROACH II
The daily devotion guide is written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVENS 4 MARCH 2026 DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: SIN IS A REPROACH II
MEMORISE
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exodus 20:5
READ: 2 Kings 5:20-27
20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.
23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 4 MARCH 2026 MESSAGE TODAY
Yesterday, I discussed how a fellow’s sin can bring reproach to the fellow and keep him or her in darkness. Today, I will discuss how the sins of parents can hinder their children and many generations after them from enjoying God’s blessings.
People’s sins can create problems that will flow down their bloodlines. This means that some people are in terrible situations today because of certain sins their parents committed.
In today’s Bible reading, Gehazi was the one who allowed greed to lead him to sin, but the man of God pronounced a curse on him and his seed, saying, “The leprosy of Naaman will cleave unto you and your seed forever.”
In the olden days, especially in Africa, parents thoroughly investigated the families of people who intended to marry their children before allowing them to get married. For example, they would check if there was a history of diseases and conditions such as epilepsy, leprosy, or madness in those families because they knew that if such conditions existed within the bloodlines, they were likely to show up again.
Sometimes, a fellow’s sin can affect his or her children while the fellow is still alive. Achan is a good example of this in Joshua 7:1-26. His greed made him disobey God, but his entire family was stoned to death as a result – his children suffered the consequences of a sin they did not commit.
Eli is another man whose carelessness and parental neglect affected his lineage (1 Samuel 2:27-36). Years after his death, the curse God placed on his family came to pass in Abiathar’s life; he was thrust out from being a priest, not because of what he had done particularly, but because of God’s word against Eli, one of his ancestors (1 Kings 2:27).
Apart from negative patterns that can be inherited from a person’s parents or ancestors, every human who has not accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour is under the curse inherited from Adam and Eve, humanity’s first parents.
Beloved, I want to let you know that Jesus came to set captives free, and this includes blotting out the handwriting of negative family patterns and curses.
If you are contending with generational curses or negative patterns in your bloodline, He will deliver you today, in Jesus’ name. Cry out to Him, and His light will destroy any problems created by the sins of your parents or ancestors.
KEY POINT
When you turn to Jesus wholeheartedly, He will welcome you into His family, a curse-free lineage.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Deuteronomy 33-34
Open Heavens HYMN 14: O What A Wonderful, Wonderful Day
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 4 MARCH 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Exodus 20:5
“Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;”
This scripture reveals the sobering principle of generational consequence. It is not a declaration of arbitrary punishment, but a revelation of how entrenched sin and spiritual covenant—specifically idolatry and hatred of God—creates a destructive pattern or “iniquity” that flows down family lines, affecting those who continue in the same rebellious posture.
BIBLE READING: 2 Kings 5:20-27
This passage is a stark case study of a generational curse being enacted:
v. 20: Gehazi’s heart is ruled by greed, rejecting his master’s integrity.
v. 25-26: He compounds theft with deception, believing he could hide his sin from God’s prophet.
v. 27: Elisha’s pronouncement is precise: the leprosy (a visible, isolating, and degrading affliction) of Naaman would now cleave to Gehazi and his descendants forever. The sin of one man legally transferred a curse to his unborn bloodline.
The Burden of Inherited Iniquity
Building on yesterday’s message about personal sin, Pastor E.A. Adeboye now addresses the often-overlooked reality of generational curses. He explains that the sins of parents and ancestors can establish negative patterns, open doors to affliction, and create burdens that descendants inherit, often without understanding the source.
1. The Mechanism of Generational Curses
How Sin Establishes a Pattern:
- Iniquity vs. Sin: “Iniquity” (from the Hebrew avon) implies a crookedness, a perverse tendency, or a bent passed down. A parent’s repeated, unrepentant sin (like greed in Gehazi, disobedience in Achan, neglect in Eli) can create a spiritual “legal ground” and a behavioral pattern that influences descendants.
- The “Visitation” Explained: God “visits” this iniquity on subsequent generations when they choose to continue in the same sinful patterns (“of them that hate me”). It is a consequence of perpetuating the family’s spiritual rebellion.
Biblical Examples of Immediate Consequence:
- Achan (Joshua 7): His hidden greed and theft led to Israel’s defeat. The judgment—stoning of his entire family—showed how one person’s sin could legally and corporately destroy his lineage in a moment.
- Eli (1 Samuel 2:27-36): His parental passivity towards his sons’ blasphemy invoked a curse that removed his family from the priesthood, fulfilled generations later in Abiathar (1 Kings 2:27).
2. The Universal Curse: The Adamic Lineage
The Root of All Generational Issues:
- Beyond specific family patterns, every human born naturally is under the original generational curse inherited from Adam—spiritual death, a sin nature, and separation from God (Romans 5:12). This is the foundational “negative pattern” of all humanity.
3. The Breaker of Every Chain: Jesus Christ
The Turning Point in Redemptive History:
- The Good News, as Pastor Adeboye declares, is that Jesus Christ came as the ultimate Breaker(Micah 2:13). His mission was to “set captives free,” which includes breaking the power of inherited curses and blotting out the “handwriting of ordinances” that stood against us (Colossians 2:14).
- The Transfer of Lineage: Salvation in Christ is a legal transfer from the cursed lineage of Adam into the blessed lineage of Jesus (Galatians 3:13-14). The curse of the law was placed on Him so the blessing of Abraham could come on us.
How Deliverance is Activated:
- Cry Out to Him: Acknowledge the pattern and its source. Like the Israelites in Egyptian bondage, your cry must be directed to the Deliverer.
- His Light Destroys: The penetrating light of Christ exposes the hidden roots of generational iniquity, severs its legal claim through His blood, and destroys its operational power in your life.
4. Gehazi’s Testimony (2 Kings 5:27)
A Living Warning:
- Gehazi walked out of Elisha’s presence with his future and his family’s future visibly marked by judgment. His story stands as a permanent scriptural warning of how personal sin can curse a bloodline.
- The Contrast to Grace: In the New Covenant, we see the opposite: a believer’s faith can bring blessing to their household (Acts 16:31).
How to Be Free from Generational Burdens
Identify the Pattern:
- With prayer and wisdom, examine your family line for recurring issues (chronic illnesses, financial ruin, marital failures, addiction, premature death). These may be symptoms of an underlying iniquity.
Renounce and Repent:
- In the name of Jesus, specifically renounce the sins and covenants of your ancestors that opened these doors. Repent for any way you have personally participated in those patterns.
Plead the Blood of Jesus:
- Apply the cross of Christ directly to that bloodline. Declare that Jesus became a curse for you, therefore every generational curse is now broken, nullified, and has no legal right to operate in your life (Galatians 3:13).
Establish a New Covenant Lineage:
- Consciously walk in the opposite spirit. If the pattern was greed, become radically generous. If it was anger, cultivate peace. You are now establishing a new legacy of blessing for your descendants.
Warning: Ignorance is Not Protection
Assuming Immunity is Dangerous:
- The cultural wisdom of our ancestors (like the pre-marital investigations Pastor Adeboye mentions) recognized these patterns. Dismissing them as “old-fashioned” without applying spiritual wisdom can leave one vulnerable.
Blame Without Breakthrough is Futile:
- While identifying the source is crucial, the goal is not to blame parents but to break the chain. Your focus must be on Christ the Deliverer, not on the details of the curse.
Conclusion: Your Emancipation Proclamation
Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, Breaker of every chain, I stand before You today. I acknowledge the generational iniquities and curses at work in my bloodline, known and unknown, from both sides of my family. I specifically renounce and repent for [name any known patterns/sins]. By faith, I plead Your precious blood over my life and lineage. I declare that on the cross, You became a curse for me, therefore every generational curse of [name them: sickness, poverty, failure, etc.] is now broken, canceled, and nullified in Your name! I transfer my life from the lineage of Adam into the lineage of Christ. From this day forward, I and my household walk under the blessing of Abraham. Thank You for my total deliverance. Amen.”
Action Steps:
- The Family History Audit: In a journal, document recurring negative patterns in your immediate and extended family over 3-4 generations.
- Fast and Pray: Set aside a day to fast and pray, using the prayer above as a guide to formally break every identified curse in Jesus’ name.
- Plant a Seed of Blessing: As an act of faith, perform a specific, generous act of giving or blessing to someone. This establishes the new pattern of your redeemed lineage.
Remember: In Christ, you are not a prisoner of your past or your pedigree. You are the start of a new, redeemed family line.
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ…” (Galatians 3:13-14). Walk in your redeemed inheritance.
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