WEBVTT 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:03.100 Please turn in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 00:00:03.100 --> 00:00:09.619 6 verses 4 through 9. Deuteronomy chapter 6 verses 00:00:09.619 --> 00:00:14.119 4 through 9. Today we are going to consider the 00:00:14.119 --> 00:00:17.420 subject following up on the sermon last week 00:00:17.420 --> 00:00:21.800 about covenant children or holy children. Today 00:00:21.800 --> 00:00:25.179 we want to look at the subject nurturing and 00:00:25.179 --> 00:00:29.219 training children in Christian faith and practice. 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:32.960 This is going to be part one, as I'm not able 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:36.179 to get through all of the subject matter that 00:00:36.179 --> 00:00:38.539 I had, so we're going to divide this into two 00:00:38.539 --> 00:00:43.100 sermons. Today is part one. Deuteronomy chapter 00:00:43.100 --> 00:00:49.280 6. The place of Deuteronomy is where the people 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:51.700 of Israel are gathered together and they're ready 00:00:51.700 --> 00:00:54.960 to enter into the promised land. And Moses calls 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:58.689 them, and he calls them... to hear the word of 00:00:58.689 --> 00:01:01.109 God once again and to hear the law that was revealed. 00:01:01.390 --> 00:01:05.629 And in so doing, he also reminds them of many 00:01:05.629 --> 00:01:10.250 things that the Lord has done. In chapter 6, 00:01:10.489 --> 00:01:12.969 he is speaking to them about the commandments 00:01:12.969 --> 00:01:17.370 of the Lord. And he comes with this great statement, 00:01:17.450 --> 00:01:22.049 this great command in verse 4. Hear, O Israel, 00:01:22.290 --> 00:01:28.739 the Lord our God, the Lord is with you. You shall 00:01:28.739 --> 00:01:31.140 love the Lord your God with all your heart and 00:01:31.140 --> 00:01:34.560 with all your soul and with all your strength. 00:01:35.219 --> 00:01:39.079 And these words which I command you today shall 00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:42.760 be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:45.900 to your children and shall talk of them when 00:01:45.900 --> 00:01:49.540 you sit down or when you sit in your house, when 00:01:49.540 --> 00:01:53.780 you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when 00:01:53.780 --> 00:01:56.989 you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign upon 00:01:56.989 --> 00:02:00.150 your hand. They shall be as fundus between your 00:02:00.150 --> 00:02:03.709 eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of 00:02:03.709 --> 00:02:10.030 your house and on your gates. The next passage 00:02:10.030 --> 00:02:13.430 that we're going to consider is Proverbs chapter 00:02:13.430 --> 00:02:23.460 22 and verse 6. Proverbs 22 and verse 6. Here 00:02:23.460 --> 00:02:26.939 again is the word of the Lord. Train up a child 00:02:26.939 --> 00:02:30.219 in the way he should go, and when he is old, 00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:35.300 he will not depart from it. And then one more 00:02:35.300 --> 00:02:45.240 in the book of Ephesians chapter 6. Ephesians 00:02:45.240 --> 00:02:54.650 chapter 6 in verse 4. And you, fathers, do not 00:02:54.650 --> 00:02:58.750 provoke your children to wrath, but bring them 00:02:58.750 --> 00:03:03.270 up in the training and admonition of the Lord. 00:03:03.810 --> 00:03:07.069 Let's pray. Father, we have considered these 00:03:07.069 --> 00:03:10.509 various passages in your word. For Lord, you 00:03:10.509 --> 00:03:13.349 have inspired these and you have given them to 00:03:13.349 --> 00:03:16.949 us, Lord, for us to consider. So Lord, as we 00:03:16.949 --> 00:03:19.550 have read them, and now as we look at them and 00:03:19.550 --> 00:03:22.569 attempt to... Seek to understand this in a greater 00:03:22.569 --> 00:03:25.530 detail. We pray that you would grant the power 00:03:25.530 --> 00:03:27.650 of your Holy Spirit. We pray that every word 00:03:27.650 --> 00:03:30.590 that is spoken today might be pleasing in your 00:03:30.590 --> 00:03:32.990 sight, that our words and our thoughts, Lord, 00:03:33.189 --> 00:03:36.469 would glorify you. I pray, Lord, that you would 00:03:36.469 --> 00:03:38.569 illuminate our hearts today by the power of the 00:03:38.569 --> 00:03:41.409 Holy Spirit, that you would lead us and speak 00:03:41.409 --> 00:03:52.199 to us. I ask this all in Jesus' name. Amen. We 00:03:52.199 --> 00:03:55.460 are blessed to have many age groups in this congregation, 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:59.159 from newborn children and children just about 00:03:59.159 --> 00:04:04.439 to be born, to teenagers, single adults, and 00:04:04.439 --> 00:04:08.180 families, some of who are in the trenches right 00:04:08.180 --> 00:04:13.419 in those childbearing years. Others of us are 00:04:13.419 --> 00:04:15.639 navigating the middle years of childbearing, 00:04:15.819 --> 00:04:21.750 and some of us has left those years behind. and 00:04:21.750 --> 00:04:26.209 are now enjoying our grandchildren. But lest 00:04:26.209 --> 00:04:29.029 you think that this sermon is directed only to 00:04:29.029 --> 00:04:32.149 those rearing children, and that there's really 00:04:32.149 --> 00:04:36.730 not too much for you in it, I assure you that 00:04:36.730 --> 00:04:40.490 that is not the case. Because our subject today 00:04:40.490 --> 00:04:43.949 is all about discipleship, and discipleship belongs 00:04:43.949 --> 00:04:48.610 to every stage of adulthood. Whether you are 00:04:48.610 --> 00:04:51.589 in your 20s getting started with a family, Or 00:04:51.589 --> 00:04:54.310 if you are in your 80s, there is a place for 00:04:54.310 --> 00:04:58.089 you to be an example, to teach, to love, and 00:04:58.089 --> 00:05:01.889 to encourage others. Remember that every time 00:05:01.889 --> 00:05:06.990 when there is a baptism, after I ask the questions, 00:05:06.990 --> 00:05:10.050 I then turn to the congregation and I ask this 00:05:10.050 --> 00:05:14.629 question. Do you, the congregation of Grace Reformed 00:05:14.629 --> 00:05:19.050 Church of Weezer, receive these baptized as members 00:05:19.050 --> 00:05:24.639 of this church? and promise to undertake the 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:29.079 responsibility of supporting these parents as 00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:31.180 they nurture these children to the Christian 00:05:31.180 --> 00:05:34.839 faith and practice to the glory of God. And you 00:05:34.839 --> 00:05:38.800 all answer with a hearty amen. We do this. We 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:42.399 commit. And at this time, you have committed 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:45.439 yourself to bless and support parents who are 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:48.420 in the trenches, to bless them, to give words 00:05:48.420 --> 00:05:52.360 of encouragement to them, and to help in this 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:57.819 discipleship process. Because this is part of 00:05:57.819 --> 00:06:00.459 the Great Commission. Often when we think of 00:06:00.459 --> 00:06:02.480 the Great Commission, we think of foreign missions. 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:05.079 We think of going into the far off lands and 00:06:05.079 --> 00:06:08.060 bringing the gospel. Or we think of street evangelism. 00:06:08.060 --> 00:06:10.180 Or we think of other things like that. But this 00:06:10.180 --> 00:06:13.379 is just as much part of the Great Commission. 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:17.319 This follows right up on the command of Jesus 00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:21.100 to baptize the nations and to teach them to observe 00:06:21.100 --> 00:06:24.180 all things that he has commanded us. Matthew 00:06:24.180 --> 00:06:28.579 28, verse 19 and 20. God calls each of us. to 00:06:28.579 --> 00:06:31.680 use our gifts to glorify him and to be a part 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:34.860 of the edification and benefit of the body of 00:06:34.860 --> 00:06:38.060 Christ, which is the whole discipleship process. 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:42.120 So I want to take consideration of the role and 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:45.019 responsibility of parents in the discipleship 00:06:45.019 --> 00:06:48.560 of the children that God gives you. But to all 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:51.800 of the others, let us also be there as support, 00:06:51.980 --> 00:06:54.560 as encouragement, with words of wisdom, words 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:57.560 of caution, or whatever it may be, as the Lord 00:06:57.560 --> 00:07:04.199 gives us that wisdom. But to the parents, we 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:07.259 want to look more closely at the discipleship 00:07:07.259 --> 00:07:10.120 of the children that God has given you. For when 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:13.399 God gives you children, they are your nearest 00:07:13.399 --> 00:07:19.430 disciples and your first. As we saw last week, 00:07:19.529 --> 00:07:26.329 they are God's children. And he has given them 00:07:26.329 --> 00:07:29.670 to you as infants so that you can bring them. 00:07:29.730 --> 00:07:33.089 You can teach them about God. You can teach them 00:07:33.089 --> 00:07:36.329 about God's word and his law, about grace and 00:07:36.329 --> 00:07:39.149 the precepts of the Christian faith. You get 00:07:39.149 --> 00:07:43.310 to do this most wonderful thing. to be responsible 00:07:43.310 --> 00:07:47.389 for the formation and growth of these precious 00:07:47.389 --> 00:07:54.569 souls that God has entrusted to you. Now, when 00:07:54.569 --> 00:07:58.389 we talk about parenting, There's various conversations 00:07:58.389 --> 00:08:00.850 that occur in the world around us. There's a 00:08:00.850 --> 00:08:03.850 number of types of parenting styles that are 00:08:03.850 --> 00:08:07.769 described and followed. There's neglectful or 00:08:07.769 --> 00:08:10.310 uninvolved parenting. There's permissive and 00:08:10.310 --> 00:08:13.629 indulgent parenting. There's authoritarian parenting 00:08:13.629 --> 00:08:17.870 or even words like helicopter parenting or tiger 00:08:17.870 --> 00:08:22.870 parenting or gentle parenting and more. There's 00:08:22.870 --> 00:08:26.019 many different ones that are described. The style 00:08:26.019 --> 00:08:28.399 of parenting that I believe best describes the 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:31.240 biblical model is the one called authoritative 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:34.700 parenting. That is, it's often considered, even 00:08:34.700 --> 00:08:37.779 in the world, by many, by many psychologists, 00:08:38.139 --> 00:08:40.419 to be the most effective and balanced. That is, 00:08:40.440 --> 00:08:43.480 where there's high expectations, but those expectations 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:46.440 are accompanied by warm and close relationships, 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:50.419 and that parents are to set clear rules and expectations, 00:08:50.740 --> 00:08:53.679 but they also explain reasons and listen to the 00:08:53.679 --> 00:08:57.179 child and provide warmth and support. This encourages 00:08:57.179 --> 00:08:59.980 independence and growth in thinking of the child, 00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:03.299 of reasoning and self -regulation, and therefore, 00:09:04.539 --> 00:09:07.740 Children then tend to be confident or responsible 00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:11.019 and socially skilled, even academically successful 00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:13.740 and emotionally healthy. Now, that's the way 00:09:13.740 --> 00:09:16.500 the world describes authoritative parenting, 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:19.620 but it actually lines up pretty much with what 00:09:19.620 --> 00:09:25.559 God says in his word about parenting. Because 00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:28.700 God's word does speak to this. We're going to 00:09:28.700 --> 00:09:32.909 be looking. at five overarching directives given 00:09:32.909 --> 00:09:36.450 to parents regarding their children. Parents 00:09:36.450 --> 00:09:40.870 are commanded by God to love them, to nurture 00:09:40.870 --> 00:09:45.649 them, to teach them, to train them, and to correct 00:09:45.649 --> 00:09:49.070 and discipline them. Today, I'm going to be looking 00:09:49.070 --> 00:09:52.009 at the scriptural directives for the first two, 00:09:52.190 --> 00:09:57.029 love and nurture. We'll get to that in a moment, 00:09:57.070 --> 00:09:59.740 and then, Lord willing, next week, We'll finish 00:09:59.740 --> 00:10:02.320 up with the last three. That is to teach, train, 00:10:02.600 --> 00:10:06.059 and correct and discipline. But there's two other 00:10:06.059 --> 00:10:08.019 foundational points that I want to make before 00:10:08.019 --> 00:10:11.179 we get into that. And that is, actually they're 00:10:11.179 --> 00:10:13.399 kind of tied together. It's the covenantal foundation 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:17.059 and the gospel foundation. When you go back and 00:10:17.059 --> 00:10:20.850 look at what God told Abraham. In Genesis chapter 00:10:20.850 --> 00:10:23.730 18 and 19, we have something really to grasp 00:10:23.730 --> 00:10:26.490 from this. But I would remind you, first of all, 00:10:26.509 --> 00:10:29.730 that Abraham is called, by Paul in the New Testament, 00:10:29.750 --> 00:10:32.610 in Romans 4 verse 16, he is called the father 00:10:32.610 --> 00:10:36.309 of us all. Abraham, the father of us all. So 00:10:36.309 --> 00:10:39.129 we're going to look to Abraham here and see what 00:10:39.129 --> 00:10:42.370 God told him. Because it's recorded in Genesis 00:10:42.370 --> 00:10:45.549 chapter 8 and verse 19 where God speaks and he 00:10:45.549 --> 00:10:48.509 says, For I have known him, and he's speaking 00:10:48.509 --> 00:10:53.809 about Abraham, I have known him in order that 00:10:53.809 --> 00:10:58.370 he may command his children and his household 00:10:58.370 --> 00:11:03.669 after him. that they keep the way of the Lord, 00:11:03.870 --> 00:11:07.809 to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord 00:11:07.809 --> 00:11:11.870 may bring to Abraham what he has spoken to him. 00:11:12.669 --> 00:11:15.049 And this speaks of the covenant foundation that 00:11:15.049 --> 00:11:19.389 God had with Abraham regarding him and his children 00:11:19.389 --> 00:11:23.070 or his offspring. But this is also with us in 00:11:23.070 --> 00:11:25.690 the gospel. The New Testament speaks of this 00:11:25.690 --> 00:11:28.049 over and over again, that we're the children 00:11:28.049 --> 00:11:31.210 of Abraham. We are the inheritors. All who are 00:11:31.210 --> 00:11:33.490 in Christ are the inheritors of the promises 00:11:33.490 --> 00:11:39.889 given to Abraham. God has known us. He has saved 00:11:39.889 --> 00:11:43.340 us. He has done great things. And because he 00:11:43.340 --> 00:11:46.360 is in covenant with us and he has given us grace, 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:51.259 then we are able by his grace to keep the way 00:11:51.259 --> 00:11:56.759 of the Lord. And we can command our children 00:11:56.759 --> 00:12:00.460 and our household after God so that they will 00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:05.700 keep the way of the Lord. Psalm 127 brings this 00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:09.440 out further. Unless the Lord builds the house, 00:12:10.350 --> 00:12:14.830 They labor in vain who build it. Unless the Lord 00:12:14.830 --> 00:12:18.149 guards the city, the watchman stays awake in 00:12:18.149 --> 00:12:22.409 vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to 00:12:22.409 --> 00:12:25.590 sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows. For 00:12:25.590 --> 00:12:29.970 so he gives his beloved sleep. Behold, children 00:12:29.970 --> 00:12:35.139 are a heritage. Of the Lord. The fruit of the 00:12:35.139 --> 00:12:39.600 womb is his reward. You did not earn the children 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:43.379 that God gave you any more than you earned your 00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:48.899 salvation from sin. No, it is all God's infinite 00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:53.460 and amazing, wonderful, marvelous, and matchless 00:12:53.460 --> 00:12:58.059 grace that he has given to you. And he gave you 00:12:58.059 --> 00:13:04.320 children that are a heritage. From him. This 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:09.740 is the foundation. Of covenant and gospel. When 00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:12.820 you rightly emphasize actions and behavior. And 00:13:12.820 --> 00:13:15.960 didactic teaching and correction. In the discipleship 00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:19.779 of your children. It is easy. It is easy to fall 00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:23.220 into the works trap. Do this. Don't do this. 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:26.179 Or else. And the children can come to think. 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:30.059 That they live in a works based relationship 00:13:30.059 --> 00:13:33.990 with you. If they obey, they are good. And if 00:13:33.990 --> 00:13:37.629 they disobey, they are not good. Instead, you 00:13:37.629 --> 00:13:41.450 must teach and live and declare the gospel to 00:13:41.450 --> 00:13:44.570 them and before them, demonstrating that they 00:13:44.570 --> 00:13:47.330 are your children by the providence of God and 00:13:47.330 --> 00:13:50.889 that is not based on their works or your works. 00:13:52.190 --> 00:13:55.639 Live the gospel. They are your children by God's 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:58.740 providence. And so you teach them to confess 00:13:58.740 --> 00:14:02.320 their sins, to repent, to trust in Christ. And 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:04.600 you do it yourself when you sin against them 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:07.679 or others. You teach it and you demonstrate it. 00:14:08.190 --> 00:14:10.809 And as you live in the gospel, that we are not 00:14:10.809 --> 00:14:13.509 saved by our merits and actions, but that because 00:14:13.509 --> 00:14:16.070 we are the children of God and they are your 00:14:16.070 --> 00:14:18.629 children by God's grace, then you teach them 00:14:18.629 --> 00:14:21.350 the all things of Jesus. Yes, sound doctrine, 00:14:21.490 --> 00:14:24.649 right practice, good living, and above all, a 00:14:24.649 --> 00:14:28.590 love for God. But it all flows from the grace 00:14:28.590 --> 00:14:34.509 of God that he has given to you. You are raising 00:14:34.509 --> 00:14:39.720 little Christians. Treat your children not only 00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:44.240 as children, but also then as your brothers and 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:48.419 sisters in Christ. You treat them that way. You 00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:51.440 give them the word of God from the very earliest 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:54.379 times as you teach and correct and instruct and 00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:57.419 discipline them. Do unto them as you would have 00:14:57.419 --> 00:15:01.460 them do to you and continually point them to 00:15:01.460 --> 00:15:04.580 Christ. and that we are saved by grace through 00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:08.120 faith and not of works, lest any should boast. 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:12.000 If we're going to understand the precepts of 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:14.299 child rearing and training that he gives in his 00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:17.500 word, we've got to get this right. It must be 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:21.220 there that we are a gospel -centered family. 00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:26.179 We trust in Christ. We live by grace toward one 00:15:26.179 --> 00:15:30.379 another and toward God. With that foundation, 00:15:31.170 --> 00:15:33.169 Let's now look at these first two directives 00:15:33.169 --> 00:15:35.929 of God about the key parental responsibilities 00:15:35.929 --> 00:15:40.149 in the discipleship and training of God's covenant 00:15:40.149 --> 00:15:47.389 children. The first one is to love your children. 00:15:48.370 --> 00:15:50.570 Now, I'm going to say right at the outset, what 00:15:50.570 --> 00:15:52.389 do you mean love? Of course we love our children. 00:15:52.450 --> 00:15:54.909 They're ours. And yet there are many who do not 00:15:54.909 --> 00:15:57.210 love. And furthermore, there are many more that 00:15:57.210 --> 00:15:59.649 do not biblically love. So we're going to look 00:15:59.649 --> 00:16:04.570 at the word of God about biblical love or loving 00:16:04.570 --> 00:16:08.389 our children as God calls us to. Titus chapter 00:16:08.389 --> 00:16:11.850 2 verse 3 and 4. The older women are to teach 00:16:11.850 --> 00:16:15.230 the younger women to admonish the young women. 00:16:15.309 --> 00:16:18.429 They're to admonish the young women to do what? 00:16:18.529 --> 00:16:23.330 To love their husbands and to love their children. 00:16:23.889 --> 00:16:27.360 Right there. Love their children. And then we 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:31.460 see this in 1 John 3, verse 18, in God's attitude 00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:34.580 toward his children. And John, as he's speaking 00:16:34.580 --> 00:16:37.179 here, he says, My little children, let us not 00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:40.659 love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in 00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:44.100 truth. So we are called here to love those, to 00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:46.639 love these children, and whether that's children 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:49.200 as in a family or children as in a church, which 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:52.419 John was probably speaking of. He says, let us 00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:54.620 not love in word or tongue. That doesn't mean 00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:57.820 we don't say, I love you. No, but it means that 00:16:57.820 --> 00:17:01.200 it's demonstrated in our deeds and in the truth. 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:04.339 We give them the truth, and by the deeds that 00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:08.160 we do, we show and demonstrate that we love our 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:11.099 children. And then we have this wonderful verse 00:17:11.099 --> 00:17:15.460 in Psalm 103, verse 13, which shows the fatherhood 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:18.640 of God, and it applies it to us as well. He says, 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:27.380 as a father, And this is in the sense of compassion 00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:31.740 and love. As a father does toward his children, 00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:36.599 so also the Lord does toward us. Now I start 00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:42.519 with this one because love is the foundation 00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:49.740 of all action from God to his people as our foundation. 00:17:49.690 --> 00:17:52.970 I'm going to repeat that because it's very, very 00:17:52.970 --> 00:17:58.490 important. Love is the foundation of all action 00:17:58.490 --> 00:18:03.910 from God to His people as our Father. We see 00:18:03.910 --> 00:18:07.190 all that God has done for us. The many different 00:18:07.190 --> 00:18:10.089 benefits. We see His glorious attributes. But 00:18:10.089 --> 00:18:14.190 all of God's actions toward us flow from a foundation 00:18:14.190 --> 00:18:20.630 of love. Love. Is why the father sent Jesus to 00:18:20.630 --> 00:18:24.150 lower himself to be a man. And to suffer and 00:18:24.150 --> 00:18:28.369 die and rise again. This most familiar verse 00:18:28.369 --> 00:18:36.089 in John 3 .16. For God so loved the world. That 00:18:36.089 --> 00:18:39.670 he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever 00:18:39.670 --> 00:18:43.349 believes in him should not perish. But have everlasting 00:18:43.349 --> 00:18:46.190 life. What is the foundation of the action of 00:18:46.190 --> 00:18:51.819 God? Love. He so loved the world then that he 00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:55.680 gave. Why do we love God? Hear these words from 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:58.420 John the Apostle again as inspired by the triune 00:18:58.420 --> 00:19:01.660 God. And we have known and believed the love 00:19:01.660 --> 00:19:06.980 that God has for us. God is love. And he who 00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:10.359 abides in love abides in God and God in him. 00:19:10.970 --> 00:19:13.750 Love has been perfected among us in this, that 00:19:13.750 --> 00:19:16.470 we may have boldness in the day of judgment, 00:19:16.529 --> 00:19:20.369 because as he is, so are we in this world. There 00:19:20.369 --> 00:19:23.490 is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out 00:19:23.490 --> 00:19:26.730 fear, because fear involves torment. But he who 00:19:26.730 --> 00:19:29.390 fears has not been made perfect in love. And 00:19:29.390 --> 00:19:32.829 then we have this power -packed sentence. We 00:19:32.829 --> 00:19:39.930 love him because he first loved us. This is the 00:19:39.930 --> 00:19:43.869 action. Love is the foundation of all action 00:19:43.869 --> 00:19:49.009 from God to us, his people, as our father. Since 00:19:49.009 --> 00:19:53.089 that is the case, then we must learn how to model 00:19:53.089 --> 00:19:56.670 our love as parents to our children from the 00:19:56.670 --> 00:20:01.650 way God loves us. God is our example. God has 00:20:01.650 --> 00:20:04.289 loved us first, and therefore we can learn to 00:20:04.289 --> 00:20:08.599 love our children in that way. He has modeled 00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:12.140 it for us. This love ought to be a grand, overarching 00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:16.259 love, the foundation of all action. It's sacrificial 00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:19.700 and it's comprehensive. Now sometimes, this or 00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:23.039 some parts of this love comes naturally. It's 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:26.720 just... There, a child is born and you look down 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:30.059 on the baby and just your love, the love just 00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:33.640 starts to flow immediately for this baby. God 00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:36.759 speaks of this in Isaiah 49, 15. Can a woman 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:40.859 forget her nursing child and have not compassion 00:20:40.859 --> 00:20:44.619 on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, 00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:47.839 yet I will not forget you. So this is God demonstrating 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:51.079 his covenant love by the example of a mother's 00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:55.480 love for her child. So, but in other ways, we 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:59.000 must learn how to love our children by the grace 00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:03.000 of God and how he loves us, even when we are 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:06.440 unlovely. And sometimes your children will do 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:09.859 things that are unlovely. Sometimes they will 00:21:09.859 --> 00:21:12.420 do things, and sometimes it's things that might 00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:14.839 need some correction and so forth, but other 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:17.859 times it's also, it's just, there's just problems 00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:21.759 there, and they do things that we wish that they 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:24.400 wouldn't, or in ways that, things that are unlovely. 00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:27.859 But this is a reminder in how God loves us in 00:21:27.859 --> 00:21:31.119 spite of that, and so we also are to love our 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:33.920 children, even when our children sin against 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:38.069 us, and they will do that. we must love them 00:21:38.069 --> 00:21:42.829 still. And as we love our children first, they 00:21:42.829 --> 00:21:47.490 also will love us. When a father or a mother 00:21:47.490 --> 00:21:50.690 withholds love and affection from a child or 00:21:50.690 --> 00:21:56.210 abuses the child or is harsh, a taskmaster, or 00:21:56.210 --> 00:22:01.329 overbearing, or when a parent violates a child 00:22:01.329 --> 00:22:04.710 with inappropriate behavior, Or when a child 00:22:04.710 --> 00:22:09.009 is neglected or ignored. Or when a child can 00:22:09.009 --> 00:22:12.650 never please a parent. Then great hurt and harm 00:22:12.650 --> 00:22:16.250 comes that affects the child for the rest of 00:22:16.250 --> 00:22:19.710 their life. Now God gives grace in those very 00:22:19.710 --> 00:22:22.950 difficult circumstances. But it still affects 00:22:22.950 --> 00:22:28.910 the child when we have our loves wrong. And we 00:22:28.910 --> 00:22:32.519 sin against them. Even more important. The child's 00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:36.420 view of God is most times greatly distorted or 00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:39.859 marred or diminished. There are so many times 00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:43.440 when there has been a very neglectful father 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:46.579 that then the son or the daughter will get into 00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:51.500 really perverse sin in some way, crying out for 00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:53.700 love or affection, but doing all of the wrong 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:57.420 ways and seeking for it in all the wrong things 00:22:57.420 --> 00:23:01.740 to do. It affects them. And then their view of 00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:05.140 God is also greatly distorted and diminished. 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:08.400 Look at the relationship described in the Bible 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:10.579 about the relationship between God the Father 00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:13.720 and His Son, Jesus Christ. And we will learn 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:17.980 from this about love. And children, you look 00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:21.720 to Jesus also as your example on how to love 00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:27.180 and serve and obey your parents. We seek how 00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:30.099 Christ modeled obedience to the Father. And that 00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:34.680 teaches us as children to learn this as well. 00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:38.160 So we're going to look first in John 8, verse 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:42.240 29. Jesus says, And he that sent me is with me. 00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:46.700 The Father has not left me alone. But I always 00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:50.240 do those things that please him. That's the love 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:55.240 of a child to the Father. But then Jesus, In 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:57.440 the days of his flesh, when he had offered up 00:23:57.440 --> 00:24:00.440 prayers and supplications, with vehement cries 00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:03.180 and tears to him who was able to save him from 00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:06.000 death, and was heard because of his godly fear, 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:09.640 though he was a son, yet he learned obedience 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:13.420 by the things which he suffered. Hebrews 5, verse 00:24:13.420 --> 00:24:16.759 7 and 8. But then also, we see the converse here. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:19.579 The father was immensely pleased with his son, 00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:22.500 and everybody knew it. When he had been baptized, 00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:25.339 Jesus came up immediately from the water. And 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:27.740 behold, the heavens were opened to him. And he 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:30.180 saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove 00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:32.900 and alighting upon him. And suddenly a voice 00:24:32.900 --> 00:24:37.559 came from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son 00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:43.200 in whom I am well pleased. At the transfiguration. 00:24:43.869 --> 00:24:46.910 While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud 00:24:46.910 --> 00:24:50.349 overshadowed them. And suddenly a voice came 00:24:50.349 --> 00:24:53.670 out of the cloud saying, this is my beloved son 00:24:53.670 --> 00:24:58.869 in whom I am well pleased. Hear him. Parents, 00:24:58.930 --> 00:25:01.529 do you ever tell your children that you're pleased 00:25:01.529 --> 00:25:06.130 with them? That you love them in that way? God 00:25:06.130 --> 00:25:09.789 the Father was willing for the world around there, 00:25:09.829 --> 00:25:12.529 all who could hear this audible voice from heaven. 00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:17.059 to know of his stamp of approval on his son. 00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:23.259 They knew it. They heard it. Our children need 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:28.500 to bask in knowing of our love for them. Our 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:32.539 love, our blessing, our approval, our rejoicing 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:38.380 in them. We see another example of Jesus and 00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:42.680 his love. where Jesus is described as the good 00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:45.519 shepherd. He goes after the wandering sheep. 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:48.579 And he gives us a good example of how to go after 00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:50.980 children who start withdrawing from us or start 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:55.400 wandering. Love should compel us to try to find 00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:58.660 out what is going on and to minister love to 00:25:58.660 --> 00:26:02.359 the heart of our children. Perhaps someone comes 00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:05.450 to the dinner table and we see. Something's wrong. 00:26:05.630 --> 00:26:07.890 Something's just not quite right. You know, there's 00:26:07.890 --> 00:26:09.910 an attitude or maybe there's a real desire in 00:26:09.910 --> 00:26:12.410 just getting attention. Often getting attention, 00:26:12.529 --> 00:26:14.890 really seeking to get attention is indication 00:26:14.890 --> 00:26:18.829 of something else. And so it's a good time for 00:26:18.829 --> 00:26:21.170 parents to just, okay, what's going on here? 00:26:21.269 --> 00:26:23.730 Can we talk about this? You know, we love you. 00:26:23.750 --> 00:26:25.410 We care for you. Can you tell me what's going 00:26:25.410 --> 00:26:28.299 on in your heart or describe to me? There's a 00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:31.799 ways that we can do this as the example here. 00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:35.359 We give our lives. We attempt to try to find 00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:38.200 out what's going on and to minister love to the 00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:40.759 heart of the child. The good shepherd gives his 00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:43.619 life for the sheep. He goes after wolves to chase 00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:46.809 them away. And the sheep... Are given into his 00:26:46.809 --> 00:26:49.609 care. Jesus gives the parable of the lost sheep. 00:26:49.750 --> 00:26:53.009 In Matthew 18. And it is so moving and compelling. 00:26:53.549 --> 00:26:57.910 And it is in the context. Of not despising the 00:26:57.910 --> 00:27:01.369 little ones. So often we break this parable. 00:27:01.369 --> 00:27:04.230 Out of the context. But here the context. Jesus 00:27:04.230 --> 00:27:07.670 says. Take heed that you do not despise one of 00:27:07.670 --> 00:27:11.049 these little ones. For I say to you that in heaven. 00:27:11.309 --> 00:27:14.210 Their angels always see the face of my father. 00:27:14.269 --> 00:27:18.559 Who is in heaven. for the Son of Man has come 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:21.619 to save that which was lost. What do you think? 00:27:21.640 --> 00:27:24.359 If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them 00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:28.599 goes astray, does he not leave immediately? Does 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:31.400 he not leave the 99 and go to the mountains to 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:33.779 seek the one that is straying? And if he should 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:36.839 find it, assuredly I say to you, he rejoices 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:39.900 more over that sheep than over the 99 that did 00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:43.599 not go astray. Even so, it is not the will of 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:45.779 your father who is in heaven that one of these 00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:49.140 little ones should perish. The parable of the 00:27:49.140 --> 00:27:52.259 good shepherd is in the context of little children, 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:57.309 of caring for them and of seeking out. The lost. 00:27:57.329 --> 00:28:03.130 Oh parents. Let us love our children. Like God 00:28:03.130 --> 00:28:08.589 loves his son. And like God loves us. Let us 00:28:08.589 --> 00:28:11.289 express it to them in ways that they can understand 00:28:11.289 --> 00:28:15.970 it and know it. Let us rejoice over them. As 00:28:15.970 --> 00:28:20.470 God our father rejoices over us. As Zephaniah 00:28:20.470 --> 00:28:24.609 3 verse 17 says. The Lord your God in your midst. 00:28:24.690 --> 00:28:28.500 The mighty one. He will say, he will rejoice 00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:33.180 over you with gladness. He will quiet you with 00:28:33.180 --> 00:28:38.339 his love. He will rejoice over you with singing. 00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:45.819 Let us love our children. Number two, we are 00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:49.779 called to nurture our children. Ephesians chapter 00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:53.380 six, verse four. And you fathers do not provoke 00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:56.440 your children to wrath. but bring them up in 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:59.960 the training and admonition of the Lord. We see 00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:02.859 types of this also in 1 Thessalonians 2, verse 00:29:02.859 --> 00:29:09.460 7, and Colossians 3, verse 21. Fathers, it is 00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:13.240 to you that the apostle here turns, and he gives 00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:17.440 this command in this verse. For you, as fathers, 00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:20.799 are responsible for the well -being of your household 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:25.920 and for the bringing up of your children. Your 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:29.380 wife is to be by your side and she works it out 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:32.079 in the daily life of your children while you 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:35.819 are working. So value her insights and understand 00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:38.400 that she bears the household and that bears the 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:41.920 children and manages the household. For the wise 00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:45.400 woman builds her house, Proverbs 14, 1, and she 00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:47.559 watches over the ways of her household and does 00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:50.759 not eat the bread of idleness, Proverbs 31, 27. 00:29:51.619 --> 00:29:55.190 In fact, Fathers are to teach your children to 00:29:55.190 --> 00:29:58.630 obey the law of their mother. As in, my son, 00:29:58.730 --> 00:30:01.349 keep your father's command and do not forsake 00:30:01.349 --> 00:30:04.730 the law of your mother. Bind them continually 00:30:04.730 --> 00:30:07.829 upon your heart. Tie them around your neck. Proverbs 00:30:07.829 --> 00:30:12.670 6, verse 20 and 21. But this verse is addressed 00:30:12.670 --> 00:30:16.269 to fathers. You are responsible, which is why 00:30:16.269 --> 00:30:19.750 God commands the father not to provoke the children 00:30:19.750 --> 00:30:23.829 to wrath. To bring them up in the nurture, the 00:30:23.829 --> 00:30:27.750 training, and the admonition of the Lord. And 00:30:27.750 --> 00:30:30.190 so to you fathers, you are called to serve your 00:30:30.190 --> 00:30:33.410 wife and your family. And how do you serve? By 00:30:33.410 --> 00:30:36.490 leading them well. By leading your household 00:30:36.490 --> 00:30:41.750 well. But as is so often the case, this calling 00:30:41.750 --> 00:30:47.539 from God can be either neglected or abused. It 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:49.680 is that way in so many of God's command. There's 00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:51.960 two ditches on the side of the road. One is neglect, 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:58.880 one is abuse or doing it harshly. Negligent, 00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:04.240 lazy fathers or overbearing, harsh fathers. And 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:07.559 Paul speaks to both in this passage. He says, 00:31:07.660 --> 00:31:10.160 fathers do not provoke your children to wrath 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:14.220 or discouragement. So this is speaking to the 00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:16.970 one who is overbearing and harsh. Provoke to 00:31:16.970 --> 00:31:19.750 wrath is one Greek word and it means to rouse 00:31:19.750 --> 00:31:25.490 to wrath, to provoke or to exasperate. Exasperate. 00:31:25.690 --> 00:31:28.269 Now there's several ways that you can do this. 00:31:28.869 --> 00:31:31.930 You can exasperate them in several ways. You 00:31:31.930 --> 00:31:34.549 can be overbearing and harsh. We see an example 00:31:34.549 --> 00:31:36.329 how King Saul, which we're going to read in the 00:31:36.329 --> 00:31:38.809 next chapter in our Old Testament passage that 00:31:38.809 --> 00:31:41.589 we're reading through. King Saul and his rebellion 00:31:41.589 --> 00:31:45.259 against God became harsh. unreasonable, and even 00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:49.920 violent with his own beloved son, Jonathan. Jonathan, 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:52.500 who really loved and cared for his father, and 00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:56.140 yet he became overbearing and harsh. This shows 00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:59.180 it as a way of never being able to be pleased 00:31:59.180 --> 00:32:03.000 or seeing a need in a child or a temptation to 00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:06.279 a particular sin. And the father goads him with 00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:08.420 it until he becomes angry, and then the child 00:32:08.420 --> 00:32:13.140 is punished. Colossians 3 21 fathers do not provoke 00:32:13.140 --> 00:32:16.880 your children lest they become discouraged so 00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:21.480 Paul starts this verse out with this but then 00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:24.599 Paul deals with the temptation to be apathetic 00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:29.099 to be negligent to be lazy or uninvolved in a 00:32:29.099 --> 00:32:31.839 child's life and so he commands the father to 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:35.579 be proactive in the bringing up of his children 00:32:35.579 --> 00:32:40.960 this is not simply to be delegated to the mother 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:43.740 or to a nurse or a governess or anything like 00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:47.660 that. Fathers, you are responsible for the bringing 00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:54.500 up of your children. Paul's words are clear. 00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:58.480 Bring them up. This means to nourish up to maturity 00:32:58.480 --> 00:33:02.220 or to nurture them. We see examples of this in 00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:05.299 the Bible. I spoke about Abraham already in Genesis 00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:09.279 18. how he commanded his household to keep the 00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:12.180 way of the Lord. Though imperfect, his faith 00:33:12.180 --> 00:33:15.460 and obedience, even in the test with Isaac, modeled 00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:19.299 a trust in God. We see an example of this in 00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:23.220 Job. Job, who regularly offered sacrifices and 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:26.160 prayed for his children's spiritual well -being. 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:28.940 He showed proactive spiritual leadership without 00:33:28.940 --> 00:33:32.180 harshness. He loved his children and he prayed 00:33:32.180 --> 00:33:34.279 for them. Maybe they sin today, so I'm going 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:38.099 to offer a sacrifice for them. That was Job. 00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:42.240 Or Joseph. the earthly father of Jesus. We read 00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:44.559 of this in Matthew chapter 1 and 2 and also in 00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:47.599 Luke chapter 2. Joseph was a righteous man. He 00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:50.579 was protective. He was obedient to God's dreams 00:33:50.579 --> 00:33:53.220 and warnings, but he also was a steady provider 00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:57.380 and teacher. The scriptures record that Jesus 00:33:57.380 --> 00:34:03.700 grew in wisdom as he lived there in that household. 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:07.680 And then we also see the prodigal son in Luke 00:34:07.680 --> 00:34:12.039 chapter 15. where a son went his own way for 00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:16.739 a time. When he came to himself, he comes running 00:34:16.739 --> 00:34:20.579 back to the father. What do we see? Patience, 00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:25.800 forgiveness, and restoration. Patience, forgiveness, 00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:29.260 and restoration. Not provoking ongoing wrath, 00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:32.300 but rather extending grace that restored the 00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:37.429 son. We are to bring them up. We're to bring 00:34:37.429 --> 00:34:40.829 them up in the training or the paideia. And that 00:34:40.829 --> 00:34:45.429 is sometimes, some passages say training, some 00:34:45.429 --> 00:34:49.929 say nurture. These things are kind of tied together, 00:34:50.150 --> 00:34:51.849 but we're just going to look here. The word, 00:34:51.909 --> 00:34:54.469 the Greek word is paideia. It's where the father 00:34:54.469 --> 00:34:58.289 is responsible to see the whole training and 00:34:58.289 --> 00:35:01.809 education of children, which relates to the cultivation 00:35:01.809 --> 00:35:05.460 of mind and morals. which uses both commands 00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:08.519 and admonitions, reproofs and even punishment. 00:35:08.840 --> 00:35:12.579 It includes the training and the care of the 00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:18.500 body. So bring them up in the training of the 00:35:18.500 --> 00:35:21.300 Lord. Now, father, of course, can use various 00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:24.119 tools and helps. There's other teachers, there's 00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:26.599 tutors, there's even schools, there's video or 00:35:26.599 --> 00:35:29.480 audio teachings. But it's just that the father 00:35:29.480 --> 00:35:34.360 is responsible to see that it is done. He can't 00:35:34.360 --> 00:35:37.679 do all of it, obviously, but he is responsible 00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:42.719 for it. This also includes the aspect of provision. 00:35:43.460 --> 00:35:48.460 Men or fathers, we are to provide for our children. 00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:51.320 children our wife our household we're to labor 00:35:51.320 --> 00:35:53.960 working with our hands that which is good so 00:35:53.960 --> 00:35:56.079 that we can provide for our wife and children 00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:59.239 and have give have something to give to those 00:35:59.239 --> 00:36:02.400 in need and how much more is it your responsibility 00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:07.280 to provide for your own household like paul says 00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:11.059 in first timothy 5 verse 8 but if anyone does 00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:14.239 not provide for his own, and especially for those 00:36:14.239 --> 00:36:17.900 of his household, he has denied the faith and 00:36:17.900 --> 00:36:22.559 is worse than an unbeliever. Then this verse 00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:25.619 also brings out that a father is to admonish. 00:36:25.659 --> 00:36:30.099 He is to bring them up in the admonition of the 00:36:30.099 --> 00:36:33.780 Lord. This means to call attention to, and it 00:36:33.780 --> 00:36:38.150 implies giving a mild rebuke or warning. This 00:36:38.150 --> 00:36:40.829 is not referring to discipline and chastisement, 00:36:40.849 --> 00:36:42.869 which Lord willing we'll consider next week. 00:36:42.949 --> 00:36:45.670 But this is often done kind of like on the fly, 00:36:45.889 --> 00:36:49.630 just a quick word about something. Like, son, 00:36:49.849 --> 00:36:51.989 you may not disrespect your mother by speaking 00:36:51.989 --> 00:36:54.389 to her like that. You need to apologize to her 00:36:54.389 --> 00:36:58.130 right now. That kind of thing. Or, son, here 00:36:58.130 --> 00:37:01.030 is how you respect a man in authority, if you 00:37:01.030 --> 00:37:03.980 may not be worthy of that respect. Or other things 00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:06.400 like this. It's things that are done on the fly. 00:37:06.920 --> 00:37:09.179 Perhaps it might be you walk past your daughter's 00:37:09.179 --> 00:37:11.559 room and you see it's a mess and you knew that 00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:14.360 your wife had told her to clean it up. And so 00:37:14.360 --> 00:37:16.500 you say, daughter, your mother asked you to clean 00:37:16.500 --> 00:37:18.880 up the room and it is still not done. This needs 00:37:18.880 --> 00:37:21.360 to change immediately. So go clean up your room 00:37:21.360 --> 00:37:25.480 right now. That kind of thing. Or, and this. 00:37:26.110 --> 00:37:29.190 Should happen more often, I think. Daughter, 00:37:29.309 --> 00:37:31.929 you are dressed inappropriately. Here's what 00:37:31.929 --> 00:37:34.670 a man or how a man thinks when he sees you and 00:37:34.670 --> 00:37:36.630 you don't want to inspire that kind of thinking. 00:37:38.030 --> 00:37:41.750 Those kinds of things are how a father is to 00:37:41.750 --> 00:37:45.349 bring them up in the admonition of the Lord, 00:37:45.510 --> 00:37:48.489 etc., etc. There could be many other illustrations 00:37:48.489 --> 00:37:52.750 of that. Now, again, conversely, there are many 00:37:52.750 --> 00:37:57.289 examples of apathetic Passiveness of apathy, 00:37:57.289 --> 00:38:00.190 I should say, and passiveness or passivity in 00:38:00.190 --> 00:38:03.670 the scriptures and in history. We see a most 00:38:03.670 --> 00:38:08.889 notable example of this in the priest named Eli. 00:38:08.989 --> 00:38:12.150 Eli was the priest just before Samuel. And we 00:38:12.150 --> 00:38:15.309 find this written about him in 1 Samuel 2 and 00:38:15.309 --> 00:38:20.230 3, where he failed to restrain his sons. They 00:38:20.230 --> 00:38:22.650 grew up to be wicked, but they were still priests. 00:38:23.360 --> 00:38:25.579 but they would take for themselves the best out 00:38:25.579 --> 00:38:28.639 of the sacrifices, and they would lay with the 00:38:28.639 --> 00:38:32.280 women that came to offer sacrifices. And of the 00:38:32.280 --> 00:38:35.320 scripture, the scripture gives great judgment 00:38:35.320 --> 00:38:39.840 on Eli that he did not restrain his wicked sons, 00:38:40.019 --> 00:38:43.500 and it led to judgment on his house. His passive 00:38:43.500 --> 00:38:47.219 neglect provoked dishonor and ruin of his household 00:38:47.219 --> 00:38:52.679 and of his descendants. No matter what you teach 00:38:52.679 --> 00:38:56.780 verbally, if you live in that kind of a way, 00:38:56.860 --> 00:39:01.920 by your own disorderly ways or laziness or irresponsibility, 00:39:02.300 --> 00:39:05.280 you then are teaching your sons and daughters 00:39:05.280 --> 00:39:09.780 laziness, disorder, and irresponsibility. If 00:39:09.780 --> 00:39:12.420 you do not keep your word or clean up after yourself 00:39:12.420 --> 00:39:15.480 or not diligent in work or in maintaining the 00:39:15.480 --> 00:39:18.019 state of your household, then your children will 00:39:18.019 --> 00:39:21.699 most likely follow in your footsteps. He who 00:39:21.699 --> 00:39:24.860 has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of 00:39:24.860 --> 00:39:27.619 the diligent makes rich. Proverbs 10, verse 4. 00:39:27.940 --> 00:39:30.980 Or be diligent to know the state of your flocks 00:39:30.980 --> 00:39:33.599 and attend to your herds, for riches are not 00:39:33.599 --> 00:39:36.420 forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations. 00:39:36.679 --> 00:39:42.300 Proverbs 27, 23, and 24. We are called to teach 00:39:42.300 --> 00:39:47.360 and to demonstrate, to admonish and bring them 00:39:47.360 --> 00:39:51.989 up, but also by the power. Of example. The power 00:39:51.989 --> 00:39:57.269 of example. Now mothers. You are also key in 00:39:57.269 --> 00:40:00.530 this. As you manage the household. You have great 00:40:00.530 --> 00:40:02.909 opportunity to do good. And create a lasting 00:40:02.909 --> 00:40:05.530 effect on children. I know this passage is speaking 00:40:05.530 --> 00:40:07.489 to the fathers. But I also want to speak to you 00:40:07.489 --> 00:40:10.679 mothers. And we certainly pray and desire that 00:40:10.679 --> 00:40:14.320 you might be the virtuous wife who actively builds 00:40:14.320 --> 00:40:17.800 her household through diligence and foresight, 00:40:17.900 --> 00:40:21.239 through care for her family and industry and 00:40:21.239 --> 00:40:25.539 generosity and wisdom. We see excerpts from this 00:40:25.539 --> 00:40:29.659 in Proverbs 31, verse 11, the heart of her husband 00:40:29.659 --> 00:40:33.159 safely trusts her. So he will have no lack of 00:40:33.159 --> 00:40:36.480 gain. Verse 15. She also rises while it is night 00:40:36.480 --> 00:40:39.179 and provides food for her household. Verse 27. 00:40:39.519 --> 00:40:41.920 She watches over the ways of her household and 00:40:41.920 --> 00:40:44.400 does not eat the bread of idleness. Or verse 00:40:44.400 --> 00:40:47.179 28. Her children rise up and call her blessed. 00:40:47.460 --> 00:40:51.179 And her husband also and he praises her. Now 00:40:51.179 --> 00:40:53.559 mothers you also can be tempted in two different 00:40:53.559 --> 00:40:57.880 ways. First of all through laziness. or abandoning 00:40:57.880 --> 00:40:59.940 your role as the keeper of the house and the 00:40:59.940 --> 00:41:04.280 manager of the household. So there's that. It 00:41:04.280 --> 00:41:07.340 can be just simply laziness or abdication of 00:41:07.340 --> 00:41:11.880 what God has called you to. Or you can also stand 00:41:11.880 --> 00:41:14.940 against your husband in his administration, in 00:41:14.940 --> 00:41:18.159 his training and discipleship, and become contentious 00:41:18.159 --> 00:41:22.019 or quarrelsome or create a hostile environment 00:41:22.019 --> 00:41:29.489 in the home. Your house. As Proverbs 14 .1 says. 00:41:29.750 --> 00:41:32.929 The wise woman builds the house. But the foolish 00:41:32.929 --> 00:41:36.889 pulls it down. With her hands. We have this sad 00:41:36.889 --> 00:41:41.130 account. In 1 Kings chapter 21. Verse 25. Of 00:41:41.130 --> 00:41:45.030 the woman Jezebel. Scripture says. But there 00:41:45.030 --> 00:41:47.750 was no one like Ahab. Who sold himself to do 00:41:47.750 --> 00:41:51.889 wickedness. In the sight of the Lord. Because 00:41:51.889 --> 00:41:56.300 Jezebel his wife. Stirred him up to it. What 00:41:56.300 --> 00:42:01.179 an indictment that is. So, fathers, mothers, 00:42:01.340 --> 00:42:05.079 if you see yourself going into the ditches here 00:42:05.079 --> 00:42:09.559 of apathy or carelessness or irresponsibility 00:42:09.559 --> 00:42:14.519 or of being harsh or overbearing, then again, 00:42:14.659 --> 00:42:18.360 run to the mercy seat of Christ. If you see this. 00:42:18.889 --> 00:42:22.050 Then do not despair, but repent. Ask God for 00:42:22.050 --> 00:42:24.750 help and take steps to correct your ways. Go 00:42:24.750 --> 00:42:27.829 to wise men or wise women and ask for help and 00:42:27.829 --> 00:42:31.349 for grace. It is there, I promise you, because 00:42:31.349 --> 00:42:35.530 the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ 00:42:35.530 --> 00:42:38.389 Jesus. And as you are a follower of Christ, He 00:42:38.389 --> 00:42:42.289 will equip you with what you need to be a faithful 00:42:42.289 --> 00:42:45.969 father or a faithful mother. Love your children. 00:42:46.630 --> 00:42:51.510 Yes, we are called. to love our children, but 00:42:51.510 --> 00:42:56.469 that love also includes nurturing them, cherishing 00:42:56.469 --> 00:43:00.730 them, providing for them, and bringing them up 00:43:00.730 --> 00:43:05.869 in the Lord. Raising covenant children, dearly 00:43:05.869 --> 00:43:10.829 beloved, is a high and a holy calling. Love and 00:43:10.829 --> 00:43:14.820 nurture your children. but in the context of 00:43:14.820 --> 00:43:19.300 the gospel and under the lordship of Christ. 00:43:19.579 --> 00:43:24.219 By God's grace, there can be many generations 00:43:24.219 --> 00:43:28.559 raised up who hope in him, who keep his commandments, 00:43:28.780 --> 00:43:32.519 and who declare his praises to the next generation. 00:43:33.289 --> 00:43:35.730 May the Lord help us all to be faithful in this 00:43:35.730 --> 00:43:39.050 discipleship work for his glory and for the good 00:43:39.050 --> 00:43:42.090 of our children, our grandchildren, and yes, 00:43:42.250 --> 00:43:44.690 for the whole church. Let's pray.