WEBVTT 00:00:00.110 --> 00:00:05.190 I wish to remind you that when we think of some 00:00:05.190 --> 00:00:09.410 of the songs that we sing, we fail to realize 00:00:09.410 --> 00:00:13.070 the power and the victory in them. Earlier, after 00:00:13.070 --> 00:00:15.289 our gospel reading, we sang the glory potray, 00:00:15.310 --> 00:00:18.809 and the story of that is simply this. There were 00:00:18.809 --> 00:00:22.370 enemies of the triune God on one side of the 00:00:22.370 --> 00:00:25.370 river, and they were shouting insults to the 00:00:25.370 --> 00:00:28.429 faithful Christians, and this was their response, 00:00:28.469 --> 00:00:32.670 the glory potray. No, we're praising all of the 00:00:32.670 --> 00:00:37.090 triune God and it was this match back and forth 00:00:37.090 --> 00:00:42.490 across the river There is victory in singing 00:00:42.490 --> 00:00:47.109 to the Lord and praising him and worshiping him 00:00:47.109 --> 00:00:54.149 As you're all aware we've been in a season of 00:00:54.149 --> 00:00:58.200 Christian foundations we've spent all kinds of 00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:02.340 time discussing God's creation of man and woman 00:01:02.340 --> 00:01:06.739 and how that affects us in the world. We've spent 00:01:06.739 --> 00:01:09.500 quite a bit of time discussing what marriage 00:01:09.500 --> 00:01:11.599 is for, for the glory of God and the benefit 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:15.400 of the world. And we, of course, have looked 00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:18.060 at the different roles that husbands and wives 00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:21.519 play and what your callings are. We're going 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:24.560 to spend the next three Sundays talking about 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:27.819 Christian parenting. Today we're just getting 00:01:27.819 --> 00:01:31.700 the starting point of Christian parenting. Our 00:01:31.700 --> 00:01:34.920 text is from Deuteronomy chapter 6 beginning 00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:38.280 in verse 1, but let us now pray and ask for God's 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:42.340 blessing of it. Heavenly Father, by your mercies 00:01:42.340 --> 00:01:44.700 and the work of your Spirit, reveal your law 00:01:44.700 --> 00:01:47.819 of life to us. We beseech you to make the words 00:01:47.819 --> 00:01:50.420 of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts 00:01:50.420 --> 00:01:53.140 pleasing in your sight for the sake of Jesus 00:01:53.140 --> 00:01:58.650 Christ, our risen Redeemer. Amen. Once again 00:01:58.650 --> 00:02:01.849 our text is Deuteronomy chapter 6 beginning in 00:02:01.849 --> 00:02:04.709 verse 1. Now this is the commandment and these 00:02:04.709 --> 00:02:07.709 are the statutes and judgments which Yahweh your 00:02:07.709 --> 00:02:10.610 God has commanded to teach you that you may observe 00:02:10.610 --> 00:02:13.009 them in the land which you are crossing over 00:02:13.009 --> 00:02:16.669 to possess that you may fear Yahweh your God 00:02:16.669 --> 00:02:19.689 to keep all his statutes and his commandments 00:02:19.689 --> 00:02:23.330 which I commanded you and your son and your grandson 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:27.360 all the days of your life, that your days may 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:30.280 be prolonged. Therefore, hear, O Israel, and 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:33.300 be careful to observe it, that it may be well 00:02:33.300 --> 00:02:36.039 with you, and that you may multiply greatly, 00:02:36.259 --> 00:02:39.379 as Yahweh, God of your fathers, has promised 00:02:39.379 --> 00:02:44.259 you, a land flowing with milk and honey. Hear, 00:02:44.259 --> 00:02:48.319 O Israel, Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one. You 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:50.699 shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart 00:02:50.699 --> 00:02:53.500 and with all your soul. and with all your strength. 00:02:54.139 --> 00:02:57.159 And these words which I command you today shall 00:02:57.159 --> 00:03:00.280 be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently 00:03:00.280 --> 00:03:02.919 to your children, and shall talk of them when 00:03:02.919 --> 00:03:05.460 you sit in your house, and when you walk in the 00:03:05.460 --> 00:03:08.659 way, and when you lie down, and when you rise 00:03:08.659 --> 00:03:11.479 up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, 00:03:11.819 --> 00:03:14.900 and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:17.319 And you shall write them on the doorposts of 00:03:17.319 --> 00:03:21.110 your house and on your gates. These are the words 00:03:21.110 --> 00:03:24.050 of Almighty God. Receive them in your hearts. 00:03:27.449 --> 00:03:29.669 As parents, we're instructed to do, and this 00:03:29.669 --> 00:03:33.330 is what I want us to focus on today, three things. 00:03:33.449 --> 00:03:36.449 Three things that God is teaching us here this 00:03:36.449 --> 00:03:40.909 morning. That we are to teach God's law diligently. 00:03:41.370 --> 00:03:46.610 We are to teach God's law diligently. The context 00:03:46.610 --> 00:03:51.310 is parenting. But it does go beyond that We are 00:03:51.310 --> 00:03:56.069 to bind God's law to our hand we are to bind 00:03:56.069 --> 00:04:03.590 God's law to our hand and We are to let or allow 00:04:03.590 --> 00:04:08.289 God's law to be as frontlets to our eyes We are 00:04:08.289 --> 00:04:13.610 to let God's law be as frontlets to our eyes 00:04:14.620 --> 00:04:16.660 Now I'm going to say the first one makes a lot 00:04:16.660 --> 00:04:19.339 of clarity, right? You have some frame of reference. 00:04:19.420 --> 00:04:22.040 The other two may be a little murky. Don't worry. 00:04:22.459 --> 00:04:24.959 We're going to look at what God's word says to 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:31.160 give us understanding. My mentor Steve Wilkins 00:04:31.160 --> 00:04:34.500 makes this point on parenting. He says this, 00:04:34.819 --> 00:04:37.660 the family is one of the primary institutions 00:04:37.660 --> 00:04:42.050 of society. Long -term reformation of culture 00:04:42.050 --> 00:04:48.410 is impossible if families which make up the culture 00:04:48.410 --> 00:04:52.829 are not growing more and more in conformity to 00:04:52.829 --> 00:04:57.149 God's Word. For those of you that are presently 00:04:57.149 --> 00:05:00.170 in the midst of training children, the relevance 00:05:00.170 --> 00:05:03.810 is obvious. For those of you who do not have 00:05:03.810 --> 00:05:07.509 children yet, or have never had children, or 00:05:07.509 --> 00:05:10.930 those whose children are adults, this is still 00:05:10.930 --> 00:05:18.029 immensely relevant. Saints of God, children, 00:05:18.069 --> 00:05:21.550 are you listening? Look up this way. Listen to 00:05:21.550 --> 00:05:26.629 me. At every child's baptism in this church, 00:05:27.250 --> 00:05:30.870 your parents and you children as well, take the 00:05:30.870 --> 00:05:33.920 vow. And I'm going to read it to you. Do you, 00:05:34.019 --> 00:05:36.879 the congregation of Christ Reformed Evangelical 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:40.639 Church, promise to undertake the responsibility 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:44.339 of assisting these parents as they nurture their 00:05:44.339 --> 00:05:46.800 children in the Christian faith and practice 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:50.480 to the glory of God? And then I ask you, if you 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:53.800 agree to this, say amen. And children, I know 00:05:53.800 --> 00:06:00.540 you're saying amen too, right? Young and old 00:06:00.540 --> 00:06:04.779 alike, we must be instructed in God's word. As 00:06:04.779 --> 00:06:10.680 Psalm 109 teaches us all, that all of God's laws, 00:06:11.019 --> 00:06:14.759 testimonies, decrees, precepts, statutes, commandments, 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:17.579 ordinances, and promises, those are all the words 00:06:17.579 --> 00:06:21.360 used to describe God's law in Psalm 119. It's 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:26.879 176 verses, by the way. Right? They are to be 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:33.000 known. They are to be loved. And these laws, 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:36.040 commands, statutes, et cetera, they are to be 00:06:36.040 --> 00:06:45.759 lived. This is exhaustive. God's Word is exhaustive. 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:48.560 Not it is exhaustive to us like we're tired, 00:06:48.680 --> 00:06:52.079 but rather His Word is comprehensive. It covers 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:55.379 everything. In fact, 2 Timothy 3 .16 tells us 00:06:55.379 --> 00:07:00.180 this. of scripture is given by the inspiration 00:07:00.180 --> 00:07:04.060 of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:06.279 for correction, for instructions in righteousness 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:09.759 that the man of God may be complete, that is 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:15.579 mature, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:20.560 Sermon like these, regardless of what stage you 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:25.470 are in, makes all of us able to be conformed 00:07:25.470 --> 00:07:27.490 to Christ as the individual. So when you hear 00:07:27.490 --> 00:07:30.089 these things, the first application is to yourself. 00:07:30.170 --> 00:07:31.810 Children, are you listening to me? There's going 00:07:31.810 --> 00:07:35.990 to be a lot of interaction today. The first thing 00:07:35.990 --> 00:07:39.769 is you hear this sermon or any sermon. It's about 00:07:39.769 --> 00:07:43.509 me. And then how am I teaching it to others? 00:07:43.870 --> 00:07:46.310 I have a responsibility to my parents, for sure. 00:07:46.350 --> 00:07:49.170 You know that. But you also, children, have a 00:07:49.170 --> 00:07:52.000 responsibility to you younger brothers and sisters, 00:07:52.339 --> 00:07:57.079 and to the other children in this church. Those 00:07:57.079 --> 00:07:59.379 of you who are oldest boys out here or oldest 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:02.519 girls out here, you must know and understand 00:08:02.519 --> 00:08:05.839 that the smaller ones amongst us are looking 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:11.120 to you. So it matters if you were singing with 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:15.540 vigor. It matters if you stood low and served 00:08:15.540 --> 00:08:20.000 them. It matters. if you say things that build 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:27.839 them up and edify them. So we are to study God's 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:31.060 word so we can teach and admonish and edify others 00:08:31.060 --> 00:08:34.620 in their Christian life to the pleasure of God. 00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:38.580 All of us, we must submit ourselves to obedience 00:08:38.580 --> 00:08:40.820 of the whole of scripture or as one commentator 00:08:40.820 --> 00:08:44.299 puts it, if our children do not grow up to be 00:08:44.299 --> 00:08:46.740 faithful men and women who fear God and keep 00:08:46.740 --> 00:08:50.759 His commandments, then all we have labored for 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:58.779 is lost. Children, I want you to hear. There's 00:08:58.779 --> 00:09:03.039 a secondary reason today that I want you to pay 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:06.720 attention. Children and young people, hear me 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:12.840 now. You see, this morning as I teach on parenting, 00:09:13.320 --> 00:09:16.340 It is so that you can know the basis for what 00:09:16.340 --> 00:09:19.700 your parents are doing for you, and so that you 00:09:19.700 --> 00:09:22.379 can begin learning how to be a good father and 00:09:22.379 --> 00:09:27.480 mother. Children, young people, you know this. 00:09:28.139 --> 00:09:30.480 You are often confused about why your parents 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:33.220 are doing certain kinds of things to you and 00:09:33.220 --> 00:09:37.139 for you. Sometimes you question if it is really 00:09:37.139 --> 00:09:42.000 for you. Pay attention this morning. the Word 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:44.799 of God taught, preached to you, so that you can 00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:47.100 understand what your parents are trying to accomplish, 00:09:49.240 --> 00:09:51.960 so that you can lean into Christ Jesus yourself 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:56.019 and more joyfully submit to what they're asking 00:09:56.019 --> 00:10:00.440 of you. As all of you know, the Book of Deuteronomy 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:03.919 is largely a single sermon given by Moses to 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:09.980 the people of Israel. Its timing is this, right? 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:14.879 They have just left the 40 years of wilderness 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:18.559 wandering, of judgment, that God had purposed 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:21.860 for them to be humbled and to know what was in 00:10:21.860 --> 00:10:26.259 their hearts. Are you listening? He purposed 00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:30.940 them to go through 40 years of wandering so he 00:10:30.940 --> 00:10:33.320 could keep providing for them so he could demonstrate 00:10:33.320 --> 00:10:38.220 to them what was in their own hearts. Parenting. 00:10:38.409 --> 00:10:42.750 is the exact same way at times. Sometimes it 00:10:42.750 --> 00:10:45.490 feels like we're wandering around in the wilderness, 00:10:46.009 --> 00:10:49.529 not getting anywhere. And as we undergo being 00:10:49.529 --> 00:10:53.870 a parent, God humbles us and reveals truly what 00:10:53.870 --> 00:10:58.029 is in our own hearts, as much as he reveals what 00:10:58.029 --> 00:11:02.789 is seemingly in the hearts of our children. Parenting 00:11:02.789 --> 00:11:08.720 reveals our ability to stoop low. patiently longsuffering, 00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:14.019 so that our children may know our God. It's interesting 00:11:14.019 --> 00:11:17.039 that in Colossians chapter 3 verse 21 it says, 00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:20.539 it tells us that fathers are commanded not to 00:11:20.539 --> 00:11:24.460 provoke their children, but children are told 00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:27.539 to obey their parents in all things, for this 00:11:27.539 --> 00:11:30.200 is pleasing to God. So you have two things, father, 00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:32.460 and this applies to both parents. Don't provoke 00:11:32.460 --> 00:11:38.590 your children. Children, obey your parents. I 00:11:38.590 --> 00:11:41.429 want to give one caveat here. For those of you 00:11:41.429 --> 00:11:45.590 that are oldest children out here, right? There's 00:11:45.590 --> 00:11:47.230 a handful of you out there. You're the oldest. 00:11:48.029 --> 00:11:50.669 Guess what? This is the first time that your 00:11:50.669 --> 00:11:54.409 parent has trained up someone in following God 00:11:54.409 --> 00:11:57.480 at your age. And then if you have a family where 00:11:57.480 --> 00:11:59.519 there's boys and girls, guess what? There's a 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:02.039 difference of how they're gonna address the girls 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:03.960 and how they're gonna address the boys simply 00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:06.000 because remember how we've talked about this 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:09.240 before? God created you male and female and there's 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:12.340 design differences, origin differences, orientation 00:12:12.340 --> 00:12:16.899 differences, all of these things are true. But 00:12:16.899 --> 00:12:21.519 children, young people, be gracious to your parents. 00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:25.779 They are figuring this out trusting in God and 00:12:25.779 --> 00:12:29.460 Lord willing seeking God's word For truth and 00:12:29.460 --> 00:12:33.279 admonition and how to help you Now back to this 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:35.679 about not provoking our children too often our 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:38.960 reactions to our children are not based upon 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:43.840 their sin Let me say that again too often our 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:47.019 reactions to our children are not based on their 00:12:47.019 --> 00:12:53.389 sin But much more in our inconvenience our dislikes, 00:12:53.850 --> 00:12:57.429 our unrelated aggravations, home or marriage 00:12:57.429 --> 00:13:04.950 or work, and oftentimes because we're keeping 00:13:04.950 --> 00:13:09.809 a record of wrongs. In moments like these, parenting 00:13:09.809 --> 00:13:15.269 reveals our own hearts before God and our families. 00:13:16.070 --> 00:13:19.649 Do not fall into the trap of self -loathing and 00:13:19.649 --> 00:13:23.940 failure. but repent before God and to all those 00:13:23.940 --> 00:13:26.960 in whom you've sinned against and in front of 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:31.460 and as Jesus tells us in John 8, go and sin no 00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:37.080 more. Returning to our text Deuteronomy chapter 00:13:37.080 --> 00:13:40.120 4 and 5, in those chapters God reminds Israel 00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:43.259 that they are His covenant people. Now this morning 00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:45.019 you may have noticed particularly if you're visiting 00:13:45.019 --> 00:13:49.429 with us I said Yahweh instead of Lord. That's 00:13:49.429 --> 00:13:52.309 the covenant name God gave for himself to his 00:13:52.309 --> 00:13:55.429 people every time you see Lord capitalized I 00:13:55.429 --> 00:13:56.889 say this to you all the time, but I'm trying 00:13:56.889 --> 00:14:00.590 to remind you. Why do I do this? Because I want 00:14:00.590 --> 00:14:03.190 you to be startled into thinking wait This is 00:14:03.190 --> 00:14:06.789 my covenant God to me and to my children and 00:14:06.789 --> 00:14:08.909 as it said in the text today our grandchildren 00:14:08.909 --> 00:14:13.889 and as both in Genesis to Abraham and Peter quotes 00:14:13.889 --> 00:14:19.059 it in Acts to all of those who were far off He's 00:14:19.059 --> 00:14:22.019 a covenant God who keeps his promises. He wants 00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:24.539 us to be robust. He wants us to be joyful He 00:14:24.539 --> 00:14:27.299 wants to help us do the trials of life that come 00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:34.779 to us He gives us his law And we reject it and 00:14:34.779 --> 00:14:40.139 have so much trouble But he tells God tells his 00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:41.779 people his covenant people that he's delivered 00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:44.200 them from his enemies and part of chapter 5 We 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:46.759 have a reader a reiteration of the ten commandments 00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:52.200 through the ten words God repeats His promises 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:56.039 throughout all of Deuteronomy to be their God 00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:58.679 and the God of their children. God has named 00:14:58.679 --> 00:15:02.159 His people and He has put His covenant sign upon 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:06.600 them, circumcision. And then God lays out blessings 00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:10.480 and curses to His people. Now this is the commandment 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:12.399 and these are the statutes and judgment which 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:14.980 Yahweh your God has commanded to teach you, that 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:18.139 you may observe them. And He goes on and talks 00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:20.860 about these commandments. It talks about the 00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:25.460 blessings, right? Blessings in your life, that 00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:28.240 your days may be prolonged for you and your son 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:31.720 and your grandson, it says. And it says, therefore, 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:33.820 hero Israel, and be careful to observe it, that 00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:36.159 it may be well with you, that you may multiply 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:39.200 greatly, as Yahweh, your God of your fathers, 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:43.019 has promised you, a land flowing with milk and 00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:48.590 honey. Dearly beloved, Passages like this are 00:15:48.590 --> 00:15:51.470 sometimes a barrier for those who struggle with 00:15:51.470 --> 00:15:56.110 questions of grace alone as opposed to grace 00:15:56.110 --> 00:16:01.169 and obedience. For the church, God has made the 00:16:01.169 --> 00:16:03.710 covenant sign of baptism for us and our children. 00:16:04.409 --> 00:16:08.750 God places his triune name upon us and our children 00:16:08.750 --> 00:16:12.690 in baptism. Satan slithers in though with his 00:16:12.690 --> 00:16:20.480 fiery darts of doubts in conditions Do not fall 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:24.460 prey to this deceit. Conditions do not nullify 00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:27.919 grace. For the only way to fulfill any law of 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:31.139 God is by the grace of God in Christ Jesus by 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:35.299 the power of the Spirit. We must begin by knowing 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:39.080 for ourselves and teaching our children that 00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:51.320 their identity is a Christian. God sovereignly 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:55.460 and graciously chose who your parents are. Children, 00:16:55.480 --> 00:17:00.679 are you listening? Older adults with angst with 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:04.440 your parents? God chose that for you. You say, 00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:06.500 how can this be? Some of this is so terrible. 00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:13.819 He's working in your life to His glory, the benefit 00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:20.119 of the world. God chose whether each one of us 00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:23.500 were male or female God chose that you would 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:26.819 be baptized and have his name placed upon you 00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:31.079 and so it is true that it is mighty sovereign 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:34.799 mercy and grace that Christian children must 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:37.839 bring their children for baptism and then teach 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:43.140 them and treat their children as Christians a 00:17:43.140 --> 00:17:49.210 people who belong to God We are truly not our 00:17:49.210 --> 00:17:52.730 own, but we belong to God. Most of you in this 00:17:52.730 --> 00:17:55.490 church have the Child's Catechism book, I Belong 00:17:55.490 --> 00:17:59.410 to God. And in answering question 105, it says 00:17:59.410 --> 00:18:04.730 this, the question is this, why was I baptized 00:18:04.730 --> 00:18:09.049 as an infant? And the response is this, because 00:18:09.049 --> 00:18:11.650 God chooses to love the children of his people 00:18:11.650 --> 00:18:15.089 and includes them in his covenant. In baptism, 00:18:15.549 --> 00:18:19.990 He makes their children His own. Because I am 00:18:19.990 --> 00:18:24.089 baptized, I must be faithful to God my whole 00:18:24.089 --> 00:18:29.509 life. My baptism binds me to God and His people 00:18:29.509 --> 00:18:35.450 forever. In this, people of God, we truly know, 00:18:35.549 --> 00:18:40.190 as 1 John 4, 19 tells us, speaking of God, it 00:18:40.190 --> 00:18:44.599 declares, we love Him. because he first loved 00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:49.039 us. Returning to Deuteronomy 6 verse 3 tells 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:52.240 us that through the commands and statutes that 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:55.859 we are to learn the fear of God so that the blessings 00:18:55.859 --> 00:18:58.759 of the promised land would be experienced by 00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:03.180 parents, children, and grandchildren in a prolonged 00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:09.789 life in God's joy and providence. Again, he says 00:19:09.789 --> 00:19:12.769 in verse 4, hear O Israel, Yahweh your God is 00:19:12.769 --> 00:19:15.250 one, you shall love Yahweh your God with all 00:19:15.250 --> 00:19:16.950 your heart, with all your soul, with all your 00:19:16.950 --> 00:19:21.750 strength. So God speaks to His covenant people 00:19:21.750 --> 00:19:27.569 as their covenant God, and He is one. Children, 00:19:27.690 --> 00:19:30.190 are you listening? Adults, are you listening? 00:19:31.029 --> 00:19:34.670 There is only one God, the triune God, in three 00:19:34.670 --> 00:19:38.029 persons, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:42.000 There is no other God, there is no other path 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:48.259 to God, but in Jesus the Son, by the administrations 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:52.920 of the Spirit. All these words, in verse six 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:55.579 it says, all these words which I command you 00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:59.000 today shall be in your heart. In the scriptures, 00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:05.099 the heart is the center of thought, emotion, 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:09.049 and life. God is commanding parents to make the 00:20:09.049 --> 00:20:13.490 Word of God the center of your life centered 00:20:13.490 --> 00:20:18.750 first by God himself then in the worship of God 00:20:18.750 --> 00:20:23.950 and Then gratitude towards God and then it reflects 00:20:23.950 --> 00:20:27.230 the glory of God to others by Conformity to the 00:20:27.230 --> 00:20:31.529 words of God in every single aspect of life children 00:20:31.529 --> 00:20:34.299 adults There is nothing that you're going to 00:20:34.299 --> 00:20:36.980 come across in your life where the Word of God 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:40.960 doesn't speak. Nothing. You say, how can that 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:45.019 be? We've got all this new AI stuff. There's 00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:49.079 new technologies here and there. At the base 00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:54.079 of it, there's nothing new under the sun. There's 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:58.680 some basis. There's some truth that God has in 00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:03.930 relevance to every single thing in life. And 00:21:03.930 --> 00:21:06.769 all of this reminds us, confirms what it says 00:21:06.769 --> 00:21:09.630 in Deuteronomy 8, man does not live by bread 00:21:09.630 --> 00:21:12.589 alone, but by every word that proceeds from the 00:21:12.589 --> 00:21:16.349 mouth of God. Now God now directs his people 00:21:16.349 --> 00:21:18.670 as how to pass on this teaching of the living 00:21:18.670 --> 00:21:24.549 God. We're reminded of this in Ephesians 6 -4, 00:21:24.769 --> 00:21:27.410 and you fathers, I'm doing this again, different 00:21:27.410 --> 00:21:29.950 text. The first one was Colossians 3, now we're 00:21:29.950 --> 00:21:33.609 in Ephesians 6, and you fathers, Do not provoke 00:21:33.609 --> 00:21:36.069 your children to wrath, but bring them up in 00:21:36.069 --> 00:21:39.710 the training and admonition of the Lord. Although 00:21:39.710 --> 00:21:43.970 it applies to both parents, men, you are the 00:21:43.970 --> 00:21:48.190 thermostat of your household. If you are not 00:21:48.190 --> 00:21:53.190 joyfully obedient to God, if you are not delighting 00:21:53.190 --> 00:21:57.009 in your wife and cheerfully enjoying your children 00:21:57.009 --> 00:22:00.309 and who they are and what interests they have, 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:06.720 You will exasperate your children You will provoke 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:11.599 your children if you murmur complain are irritable 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:17.920 impatient or inconvenienced or unavailable To 00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:22.759 your children You are discouraging them and even 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:27.539 Driving them away from God God graciously gives 00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:31.259 us clear directions How we see the Word of God 00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:39.160 made true for our children There God here in 00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:44.619 this passage gives us Four actions four actions 00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:47.339 you shall teach them diligently to your children 00:22:47.339 --> 00:22:50.279 the laws And you shall talk of them when you 00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:52.519 sit in your house when you walk by the way when 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:54.440 you lie down And when you rise up all that's 00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:57.960 part of one you shall bind them as a sign on 00:22:57.960 --> 00:23:01.660 your hand They shall be as frontlets between 00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:05.059 your eyes and you shall write them on the doorposts 00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:09.400 of your house and on your gates God's law is 00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:13.119 authoritative and comprehensive You can see this 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:20.119 in Psalm 119 160 or Psalm 19 verse 7 We hear 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:24.210 it very clearly in Proverbs 30 beginning with 00:23:24.210 --> 00:23:27.069 verse five. Every word of God is pure. He is 00:23:27.069 --> 00:23:29.670 a shield to those who put their trust in Him. 00:23:30.869 --> 00:23:33.609 Children, are you listening? Adults, are you 00:23:33.609 --> 00:23:37.450 listening? Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke 00:23:37.450 --> 00:23:44.569 you and you be found a liar. People of God, your 00:23:44.569 --> 00:23:49.470 feelings and opinions are not authoritative. 00:23:50.990 --> 00:23:55.950 Trust God and do good. In contentment, parents 00:23:55.950 --> 00:23:59.630 joyfully obey and teach God's word to your children. 00:24:01.269 --> 00:24:04.470 How often and to what extent should we teach 00:24:04.470 --> 00:24:09.730 God's word? Every conversation should be foundationally 00:24:09.730 --> 00:24:12.910 set in and through scripture. And if you don't 00:24:12.910 --> 00:24:16.670 know how to do this, I understand. Come talk 00:24:16.670 --> 00:24:20.450 to your elders. But let me also tell you this. 00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:25.660 Study God's Word. Read the book of Proverbs over 00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:27.660 and over again. There are a ton. It's so deep. 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:29.339 You're never going to reach the bottom of all 00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:33.099 that just Proverbs can give you in these truths. 00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:37.880 Everything from a flower in that pot over there, 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:41.240 to the biggest tree, to the sun in the sky, to 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:44.799 science and math, and how you drive a car, and 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:48.559 how you enlist what you do in your strength in 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:56.079 your work. All those conversations are foundationally 00:24:56.079 --> 00:25:02.440 set in God's Word. Now, I've been studying God's 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:04.460 Word earnestly since about the middle of high 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:09.019 school, and I still have so much more to learn 00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:14.980 and to know, right? Get after it. You gotta be 00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:17.000 reading God's Word. You gotta be looking for 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:24.779 application. We need to be talking with our children 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:27.259 about life as understood in the light of God 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:30.400 and His holy word. We're told that we're to do 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:33.099 it when we're sitting. This word sitting means 00:25:33.099 --> 00:25:37.279 where you dwell and abide. Now I know right now 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:39.400 you're thinking it particularly like your house, 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:41.819 where you're sitting in your house. But if it's 00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:44.279 where you dwell and abide, let me explain that 00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:48.019 just as a little bit. Parents, where do you dwell? 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:54.670 Are you dwelling, that is abiding, Jesus. Do 00:25:54.670 --> 00:25:57.329 you desire to be fruitful in all of your endeavors 00:25:57.329 --> 00:26:00.990 especially your call to see your children faith 00:26:00.990 --> 00:26:03.609 as faithful Christians in every area of life? 00:26:04.730 --> 00:26:10.170 Jesus said this in John 15, abide in me and I 00:26:10.170 --> 00:26:13.710 in you as the branch cannot bear fruit itself 00:26:13.710 --> 00:26:17.130 unless it abides in the vine neither can you 00:26:17.130 --> 00:26:22.599 unless you abide in me. in our daily lives, we 00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:27.140 must ourselves as parents abide in Jesus so that 00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:29.700 we may actually take dominion and be bountiful 00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:33.519 in the fruit of the Spirit. You yourself cannot 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:35.660 be bountiful in the fruit of the Spirit unless 00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:37.859 you abide in Christ, unless that is your dwelling 00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:41.220 place. And then by extension it becomes a dwelling 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:47.210 place for your children. We're not just to teach 00:26:47.210 --> 00:26:50.470 in our homes, but also as we walk along the path 00:26:50.470 --> 00:26:54.470 of life you make observations One of my favorite 00:26:54.470 --> 00:26:57.329 one even for me. I still have to work on this 00:26:57.329 --> 00:27:01.529 driving down the road All right, can you believe 00:27:01.529 --> 00:27:06.650 how those people are driving what morons? How 00:27:06.650 --> 00:27:08.589 about this I mean if we're honest, how about 00:27:08.589 --> 00:27:11.910 this Lord Jesus have mercy on them watch over 00:27:11.910 --> 00:27:16.460 them. I don't know what's going on May they know 00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:21.319 you. May they learn how to drive in a competent 00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:23.720 way for the safety of others and themselves. 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:34.799 We are to teach our children, not just in something 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:38.160 simple like that, but do we teach our children 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:41.579 to trust in God and what seems like all the challenging 00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:46.549 paths and moments? Do we do that? When difficulties 00:27:46.549 --> 00:27:50.009 come, when real hardship hits us, look, you gotta 00:27:50.009 --> 00:27:52.970 practice on the little things like driving, how 00:27:52.970 --> 00:27:55.750 you speak to those things, so that you're prepared 00:27:55.750 --> 00:27:58.549 and you've laid the groundwork for when the real 00:27:58.549 --> 00:28:06.130 troubles of life happen. Psalm 37, remember this, 00:28:06.170 --> 00:28:09.460 we studied it the first Sunday this summer. Verse 00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:12.299 23, the steps of a good man are ordered by Yahweh, 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:15.200 and He delights in His way. Though He fall, He 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:18.420 shall not utterly be cast down, for Yahweh upholds 00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:21.700 Him with His hand. Hold on to that because we're 00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:25.220 coming to hand in just a few minutes. Do the 00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:27.859 inconveniences or true adversities of life cause 00:28:27.859 --> 00:28:31.400 us to teach our children to turn to God, to rely 00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:38.140 on God, or do these adversities cause us to despair? 00:28:38.789 --> 00:28:43.109 complain, and to be irritable. Do we center the 00:28:43.109 --> 00:28:46.049 life of our household by morning and evening 00:28:46.049 --> 00:28:50.109 prayers? Do we start and end our days in prayer 00:28:50.109 --> 00:28:56.009 and meditation and thanksgiving? We often do 00:28:56.009 --> 00:29:00.690 not live to teach that the purposes of the Christian 00:29:00.690 --> 00:29:04.910 life is to glorify God by pleasing him and pointing 00:29:04.910 --> 00:29:09.210 others to an abundant life. in Christ Jesus. 00:29:10.069 --> 00:29:15.869 God's word should be so much instructing in every 00:29:15.869 --> 00:29:18.890 set of circumstances, in every idea, in every 00:29:18.890 --> 00:29:22.410 action. We do them. Children, are you listening? 00:29:23.269 --> 00:29:25.170 God's word in all this. Your parents ask you 00:29:25.170 --> 00:29:27.710 and teach you and work on memorizing God's word. 00:29:28.009 --> 00:29:33.269 Accept it with joy. It's the way of life. The 00:29:33.269 --> 00:29:35.769 next three steps that God gives here in Deuteronomy 00:29:35.769 --> 00:29:40.269 6 gives us more clarity for the first step. God 00:29:40.269 --> 00:29:44.150 tells us to bind His commands and ways of life 00:29:44.150 --> 00:29:48.630 to our hand as a sign. I do this frequently. 00:29:48.750 --> 00:29:52.769 Children, look at me. Look at your hand right 00:29:52.769 --> 00:29:59.089 now. What is it for? It is for strength. It is 00:29:59.089 --> 00:30:03.680 for rule. It is for the glory of God. The next 00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:06.440 time you ball it up, go to pop somebody, ask 00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:12.259 yourself those questions. The people of Israel 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:15.380 mistook this instruction and attempted to fulfill 00:30:15.380 --> 00:30:17.880 this literally by taking the edges of their prayer 00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:20.819 shawl, the tallit, and having the end threads 00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:23.460 tied in knots representing the commands of God. 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:25.400 And what they would do is they would take and 00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:28.900 wrap this around their hand. Right? You know, 00:30:28.900 --> 00:30:31.319 they could almost go down like a rosary, like 00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:34.319 counting each one of the knots reminded them 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:37.140 of a law. There's some practical part of that. 00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:42.559 But they failed to take it to what God's intent 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:48.380 was. You see, God's intent was not this, but 00:30:48.380 --> 00:30:54.269 rather that the scriptures in the hand See in 00:30:54.269 --> 00:30:56.329 the scriptures the hand represents power and 00:30:56.329 --> 00:31:00.410 authority. We see this in Psalm 110, 1 Samuel 00:31:00.410 --> 00:31:04.329 5, 1 Samuel 23, and 1 Samuel 26, just to name 00:31:04.329 --> 00:31:08.069 a few. And that went out in your notes yesterday. 00:31:09.670 --> 00:31:15.170 The hand represents the delegated power of God 00:31:15.170 --> 00:31:18.609 to us in this world. We need to teach our children 00:31:18.609 --> 00:31:23.769 how God has given us life, strength, authority, 00:31:24.269 --> 00:31:26.970 and responsibility, and how they are to treat 00:31:26.970 --> 00:31:30.730 people, how they are to work, how they are to 00:31:30.730 --> 00:31:34.390 speak, and how they are to play and do recreation. 00:31:35.490 --> 00:31:38.089 Parents, you must not have rules in your house 00:31:38.089 --> 00:31:41.690 that simply exist for your convenience and ease, 00:31:42.029 --> 00:31:47.509 but rather that are based on sin or righteousness 00:31:47.509 --> 00:31:56.529 or wisdom or folly. or childlikeness or maturity. 00:31:57.369 --> 00:32:01.589 As we spoke of last week, we are given a throne 00:32:01.589 --> 00:32:04.150 in our household, and it is likened to Christ 00:32:04.150 --> 00:32:10.049 Jesus' throne. And we must remember that as Christ 00:32:10.049 --> 00:32:14.369 is to us, we desire that our children be able 00:32:14.369 --> 00:32:17.589 to come to our throne of grace, finding mercy 00:32:17.589 --> 00:32:21.690 and help in a time of need. We must be patient. 00:32:22.009 --> 00:32:26.750 long -suffering, kind, here's a big one, consistent 00:32:26.750 --> 00:32:32.329 and wise as we determine if a situation with 00:32:32.329 --> 00:32:38.250 our child is willful disobedience, ignorance, 00:32:39.329 --> 00:32:43.230 general folly or foolishness, or merely childish 00:32:43.230 --> 00:32:49.490 ways. Parents, we need to imitate Christ and 00:32:49.490 --> 00:32:53.619 stoop low. considering not our rights as authorities, 00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:58.680 but rather, or really even your inconvenience, 00:32:59.079 --> 00:33:02.039 but as Jesus who for the joy set before him endured 00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:04.960 the cross, despising the shame for our benefit. 00:33:07.859 --> 00:33:10.880 Moms, dads, stop what you are doing and give 00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:13.859 your full attention to your child to train them 00:33:13.859 --> 00:33:16.339 in the Lord as children of the Lord. Too often, 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:20.009 we're gonna be late. So we're going to be shamed, 00:33:20.049 --> 00:33:21.829 or more importantly, I'm going to be shamed. 00:33:22.970 --> 00:33:26.369 No, no, no, no. Stop and deal with it. Just like 00:33:26.369 --> 00:33:28.069 if you're having an argument on the car or the 00:33:28.069 --> 00:33:29.710 way to church, go get it right out there and 00:33:29.710 --> 00:33:32.410 then come in here. There ought to be a lot of 00:33:32.410 --> 00:33:37.509 ways to make that quick. But don't make it about 00:33:37.509 --> 00:33:41.789 the shame you're going to feel. No, no. Lovingly, 00:33:41.809 --> 00:33:44.529 righteously, turn to your kids, deal with the 00:33:44.529 --> 00:33:48.940 situation. Right? How often do we sit somewhere 00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:55.000 and we just holler at them from a distance instead 00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:57.599 of getting up and going and dealing with what 00:33:57.599 --> 00:34:01.680 we see? And do we go there thinking about where 00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:03.819 they are, how old they are, what they know, what 00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:05.279 you've already talked to them about? How do you 00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:07.160 need to remind them? Do I need to spank them? 00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:10.559 Do I need to talk to them? How do I help them 00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:17.670 with this? I promise you this. Parents, if your 00:34:17.670 --> 00:34:19.469 children are really paying attention today, guess 00:34:19.469 --> 00:34:22.710 what's gonna happen on this? They're gonna start 00:34:22.710 --> 00:34:27.429 struggling if you're not faithful to this. They're 00:34:27.429 --> 00:34:29.110 gonna look at you and they're gonna say, you're 00:34:29.110 --> 00:34:32.210 not being consistent. You're not doing what the 00:34:32.210 --> 00:34:36.809 pastor said. You better step back. Don't just 00:34:36.809 --> 00:34:40.289 say, I got the seat of authority, but say, hmm, 00:34:40.690 --> 00:34:43.280 let's talk about that. Maybe you need to go away. 00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:45.000 Maybe you need to say to your older kids. Hey, 00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:47.159 hold on a minute I need to go pray and read my 00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:52.239 Bible on this I'll come back to you Right, don't 00:34:52.239 --> 00:34:55.500 don't be prideful in your seat of authority be 00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:58.739 prepared And I'm gonna tell you something else 00:34:58.739 --> 00:35:01.039 if your parents if your children parents never 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:05.280 come to you Not one time or hardly ever to say 00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:11.400 I got questions about how you're doing this You 00:35:11.400 --> 00:35:14.320 don't have a throne of grace that they can boldly 00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:19.059 approach. We should welcome it as an opportunity 00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:22.739 to teach them, to train them. Children, be respectful. 00:35:23.800 --> 00:35:26.219 Don't be more disobedient because you think your 00:35:26.219 --> 00:35:28.900 parents are doing something wrong. Your charge 00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:33.460 by God is to be obedient to God. For God's sake, 00:35:33.820 --> 00:35:37.380 be obedient to your parents. But parents, welcome 00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:43.449 the questions. God tells then tells Israel that 00:35:43.449 --> 00:35:46.150 the laws of God shall be as frontlets and their 00:35:46.150 --> 00:35:48.730 eyes So basically all their power their strength 00:35:48.730 --> 00:35:51.030 all that has to do with they should see their 00:35:51.030 --> 00:35:53.889 hand It is governed that power that responsibility 00:35:53.889 --> 00:35:56.909 that strength is governed by God's word So then 00:35:56.909 --> 00:35:58.889 God tells Israel that the laws of God shall be 00:35:58.889 --> 00:36:02.889 as frontlets between their eyes Frontlets what 00:36:02.889 --> 00:36:08.710 in the world is a front? Right once again The 00:36:08.710 --> 00:36:11.690 people of God took his instruction, God's instruction, 00:36:12.369 --> 00:36:14.829 and they misapplied it, totally missing the great 00:36:14.829 --> 00:36:18.590 truth given to them. And in this way of totally 00:36:18.590 --> 00:36:21.929 doing it in their own fashion, they sued their 00:36:21.929 --> 00:36:24.130 conscience by fulfilling the letter of the law, 00:36:24.170 --> 00:36:27.710 but not God's intent. See, what happened was 00:36:27.710 --> 00:36:31.559 is that the men of Israel would take... The especially 00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:33.639 the spiritual leaders they would take God's Word 00:36:33.639 --> 00:36:35.699 they'd write it on a little piece of skin or 00:36:35.699 --> 00:36:38.099 a piece of papyrus and then they'd roll it up 00:36:38.099 --> 00:36:40.639 and Then they'd stick it in a little wooden box 00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:43.099 and then they strap the box to the front of their 00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:47.460 forehead near between their two eyes I Got that 00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:52.940 figured out All right, I'm ready to go right 00:36:52.940 --> 00:36:57.849 these boxes were called phylacteries Jesus in 00:36:57.849 --> 00:37:00.869 his declaration against the woe declaration of 00:37:00.869 --> 00:37:03.230 woes against the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 00:37:03.230 --> 00:37:09.409 23 says this He says for they bind heavy burdens 00:37:09.409 --> 00:37:12.349 hard to bear and lay on them men's shoulders 00:37:12.349 --> 00:37:15.610 But they themselves will not move with one of 00:37:15.610 --> 00:37:18.789 their fingers But all their works they do to 00:37:18.789 --> 00:37:21.769 be seen by men They make their phylacteries broad 00:37:21.769 --> 00:37:24.070 and enlarge the borders of their garments. That's 00:37:24.070 --> 00:37:27.570 back to the holding the law of God in their hands. 00:37:29.190 --> 00:37:31.650 They love the best places at feasts, the best 00:37:31.650 --> 00:37:36.110 seats in the synagogue. Jesus rebukes the leaders 00:37:36.110 --> 00:37:39.289 and the supposed fathers of Israel for laying 00:37:39.289 --> 00:37:44.769 heavy burdens hard to bear upon their children 00:37:44.769 --> 00:37:47.409 and the people of Israel. Are you laying heavy 00:37:47.409 --> 00:37:50.409 burdens too hard to bear? Imagine this, it says 00:37:50.409 --> 00:37:52.449 that they won't even lift a single finger to 00:37:52.449 --> 00:37:55.980 help them. So the smallest part of the hand where 00:37:55.980 --> 00:37:59.800 authority and power to deliver and help They 00:37:59.800 --> 00:38:01.599 don't do any of that. There's no grace. There's 00:38:01.599 --> 00:38:04.000 no mercy. There's no joy and restoration and 00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:11.619 making people disciples of God Instead they do 00:38:11.619 --> 00:38:15.679 things to glorify themselves Jesus here specifically 00:38:15.679 --> 00:38:17.880 points out that they had made these boxes on 00:38:17.880 --> 00:38:21.679 their heads broad I want people to see, I got 00:38:21.679 --> 00:38:25.519 God's work. Think about this. If you make that 00:38:25.519 --> 00:38:29.840 box really broad and wide that you're holding 00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:33.920 all these laws on this external thing, you're 00:38:33.920 --> 00:38:36.360 going to have to do two things. You're going 00:38:36.360 --> 00:38:40.820 to have to make it really, really tight. This 00:38:40.820 --> 00:38:47.059 constraining your head, making it heavy. Or. 00:38:47.260 --> 00:38:49.019 You're going to have to let it fall down in front 00:38:49.019 --> 00:38:51.780 of your eyes. And your way of trying to obey 00:38:51.780 --> 00:39:02.039 God blocks your vision. You know, they were shouting, 00:39:02.420 --> 00:39:04.920 declaring to everybody around them, look at all 00:39:04.920 --> 00:39:10.239 my knowledge of God's word. But they had no mercy, 00:39:11.019 --> 00:39:18.159 no kindness. Men, especially in a Reformed church, 00:39:18.199 --> 00:39:21.460 you need to listen to me now. I do not care how 00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:24.019 much you know about church history, church doctrine. 00:39:24.699 --> 00:39:28.000 Have all the scriptures of God memorized. If 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:32.059 you are not full of mercy and kindness, fall 00:39:32.059 --> 00:39:33.880 on your knees and beg for forgiveness before 00:39:33.880 --> 00:39:44.809 God. Don't go to the feasts of the church. and 00:39:44.809 --> 00:39:46.989 be boasting, I've got this seat, I've got these 00:39:46.989 --> 00:39:50.909 hearers, I'm so good, look how smart I am. Who 00:39:50.909 --> 00:39:53.110 cares about how big your phylactery is, it's 00:39:53.110 --> 00:40:01.130 strapped to your head. You see, Jesus cries out 00:40:01.130 --> 00:40:04.650 against them, declaring that they shut up the 00:40:04.650 --> 00:40:08.130 kingdom of heaven against men. and that they're 00:40:08.130 --> 00:40:10.349 not going to the Kingdom of Heaven, and more 00:40:10.349 --> 00:40:13.369 than that, that they are blocking people from 00:40:13.369 --> 00:40:16.090 getting into the Kingdom of Heaven. Lord, have 00:40:16.090 --> 00:40:24.090 mercy upon us. When we parent from pride and 00:40:24.090 --> 00:40:28.429 arrogance and anger and our judgments, we are 00:40:28.429 --> 00:40:30.949 shutting up the Kingdom of Heaven to those whom 00:40:30.949 --> 00:40:36.139 we are charged with their care. So what's the 00:40:36.139 --> 00:40:37.920 practical application? What's the right way? 00:40:38.880 --> 00:40:41.360 As you know, the eyes are the organ of judgment, 00:40:42.280 --> 00:40:44.860 right? So we are, if they're to be frontlets 00:40:44.860 --> 00:40:47.199 to our eyes, they are to be the lens with which 00:40:47.199 --> 00:40:52.440 we judge and make decisions and how we are to 00:40:52.440 --> 00:40:58.980 interpret everything that we see. You see, if 00:40:58.980 --> 00:41:02.960 we are to interpret things, Rightly, we must 00:41:02.960 --> 00:41:05.659 be tethered to God's word so that we can make 00:41:05.659 --> 00:41:08.900 right judgments and decisions and take right 00:41:08.900 --> 00:41:11.960 actions. We must study God's word so that we 00:41:11.960 --> 00:41:14.099 can tend and guard our households for the glory 00:41:14.099 --> 00:41:18.400 of God and the good of the world. Finally, God 00:41:18.400 --> 00:41:20.960 commands us to write the law of God on the doorposts 00:41:20.960 --> 00:41:25.420 of our house and on our gates. Again, we can 00:41:25.420 --> 00:41:27.659 get carried away and talk about all the ways 00:41:27.659 --> 00:41:31.159 that the people of Israel did it in principle 00:41:31.159 --> 00:41:35.179 but didn't understand what God was doing. You 00:41:35.179 --> 00:41:38.679 see this is simple that the words of God are 00:41:38.679 --> 00:41:42.340 for our lives in our homes and our lives in the 00:41:42.340 --> 00:41:45.900 world. What is true inside our homes and outside 00:41:45.900 --> 00:41:49.539 our homes are both regulated in the same manner 00:41:49.539 --> 00:41:54.019 and our comings coming in and are going out. 00:41:55.539 --> 00:41:59.639 Dearly beloved our homes are to be gardens of 00:41:59.639 --> 00:42:02.840 righteousness. It takes the grace and wisdom 00:42:02.840 --> 00:42:05.539 of our God to parent to the glory of God and 00:42:05.539 --> 00:42:10.880 the benefit of our children. You might be feeling 00:42:10.880 --> 00:42:12.579 overwhelmed. You might think, man, I've got a 00:42:12.579 --> 00:42:16.599 lot of mistakes I got to work on. Turn to Christ. 00:42:17.199 --> 00:42:19.619 Boldly approach God's throne and ask for mercy, 00:42:19.760 --> 00:42:24.190 grace, and wisdom. Ephesians chapter two says, 00:42:24.429 --> 00:42:26.710 but God who was rich in mercy because of his 00:42:26.710 --> 00:42:29.510 great love with which he loved us, even when 00:42:29.510 --> 00:42:32.530 we were dead in trespasses made us alive together 00:42:32.530 --> 00:42:37.489 with Christ. That in the ages to come, that he 00:42:37.489 --> 00:42:39.909 might show the exceeding riches of his grace 00:42:39.909 --> 00:42:42.590 and his kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. 00:42:42.650 --> 00:42:47.650 Turn to Christ, right? Make these changes, right? 00:42:47.769 --> 00:42:50.150 So in what? The ages to come and the rest of 00:42:50.150 --> 00:42:55.070 the life that you have with your children. Right? 00:42:55.369 --> 00:42:58.210 You'll show the exceeding riches of His grace 00:42:58.210 --> 00:43:01.230 and His kindness. Turn to Jesus, ask Him for 00:43:01.230 --> 00:43:06.710 help. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, You've given 00:43:06.710 --> 00:43:12.050 us all. You've given us all that we need in Christ 00:43:12.050 --> 00:43:15.550 Jesus. We humbly ask that You grant us wisdom, 00:43:15.710 --> 00:43:18.329 grace, joy, and patience to train up our children 00:43:18.329 --> 00:43:23.030 in the nurture and admonition of Your Word. We 00:43:23.030 --> 00:43:26.880 are weak. but you are strong. Please use your 00:43:26.880 --> 00:43:29.400 mighty hand to help us and deliver our children 00:43:29.400 --> 00:43:32.000 to faithfulness to your glory and the benefit 00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:34.860 of the world. We ask all this for the sake of 00:43:34.860 --> 00:43:37.099 your son Jesus who reigns with you in the Holy 00:43:37.099 --> 00:43:43.480 Spirit forever and ever. Amen. Let us continue 00:43:43.480 --> 00:43:45.820 our worship by the giving of our tithes and offerings. 00:43:53.769 --> 00:44:40.480 All hail the... Would be for your glory and for 00:44:40.480 --> 00:44:43.320 service in your kingdom blessed be God forever 00:44:43.320 --> 00:44:44.719 and ever amen