WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:03.680 Let us go before the Lord in prayer this morning 00:00:03.680 --> 00:00:08.939 Oh Lord our God bless us in your service and 00:00:08.939 --> 00:00:11.779 make us strong in our family life Especially 00:00:11.779 --> 00:00:14.640 with the gift of children which you have graciously 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:18.100 bestow upon us Strengthen us that we might serve 00:00:18.100 --> 00:00:20.920 you acceptably and then we might do your will 00:00:20.920 --> 00:00:24.379 here upon earth Grant us by your spirit that 00:00:24.379 --> 00:00:26.660 the words of my mouth and the meditations of 00:00:26.660 --> 00:00:30.309 all our hearts be pleasing and your sight, O 00:00:30.309 --> 00:00:36.090 God, for the sake of your son, Jesus. Amen. Before 00:00:36.090 --> 00:00:38.509 we read the text this morning, I want to say 00:00:38.509 --> 00:00:43.049 a couple of things. You know, one of the struggles 00:00:43.049 --> 00:00:46.729 for every pastor is this. You know, we study, 00:00:46.890 --> 00:00:49.350 we study, we do all these, put together all these 00:00:49.350 --> 00:00:53.350 notes, and you just can't fit everything in, 00:00:53.350 --> 00:00:55.030 and you're glad for that. You don't want me to 00:00:55.030 --> 00:01:00.789 try to fit everything in. And this is concluding 00:01:00.789 --> 00:01:06.430 a third sermon on child rearing. And again, I 00:01:06.430 --> 00:01:08.890 feel like there's so much I have left out. I 00:01:08.890 --> 00:01:12.790 will say to you, if you want to just remind you, 00:01:12.950 --> 00:01:15.469 a couple of years ago, we did a whole Sunday 00:01:15.469 --> 00:01:19.310 School series, 22 Sunday School lessons on child 00:01:19.310 --> 00:01:22.549 rearing called Tending the Vine from Infancy 00:01:22.549 --> 00:01:25.290 Through Adulthood. So if you're interested in 00:01:25.290 --> 00:01:28.000 that, reach out. I've got it all collected. on 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:31.799 a Spotify playlist, I could send it to you. But 00:01:31.799 --> 00:01:36.819 this is not comprehensive in every way. But I 00:01:36.819 --> 00:01:41.200 want you here today to hear God's word and be 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:44.219 strengthened in it and understand your duties. 00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:47.760 Young people, if you are 10 years old and older, 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:52.280 you really need to be paying attention. If you're 00:01:52.280 --> 00:01:55.109 seven and eight, Pay attention pretty good all 00:01:55.109 --> 00:01:56.730 of you should pay attention, but I'm telling 00:01:56.730 --> 00:02:02.569 you we're talking today about What God's plan 00:02:02.569 --> 00:02:04.909 is for you, and how your parents are to get you 00:02:04.909 --> 00:02:08.990 there? All right, so let us hear God's word from 00:02:08.990 --> 00:02:14.330 Psalm 92 beginning in verse 12 The righteous 00:02:14.330 --> 00:02:18.050 shall flourish like a palm tree those who are 00:02:18.050 --> 00:02:21.830 planted in the house of Yahweh shall flourish 00:02:21.830 --> 00:02:25.389 in the courts of our God. They shall still bear 00:02:25.389 --> 00:02:29.349 fruit in old age, and they shall be fresh and 00:02:29.349 --> 00:02:35.129 flourishing to declare that Yahweh is upright." 00:02:35.129 --> 00:02:38.110 These are the words of Almighty God. Receive 00:02:38.110 --> 00:02:43.090 them in your hearts. There's three things that 00:02:43.090 --> 00:02:48.389 I want you to kind of take as a lens as we consider 00:02:49.330 --> 00:02:53.270 Today's teaching from God's Word Some of this 00:02:53.270 --> 00:02:55.509 is a little bit of a reminder, but it's all been 00:02:55.509 --> 00:02:58.150 building That's the point and you'll see that 00:02:58.150 --> 00:03:00.909 as we go through this but one children must know 00:03:00.909 --> 00:03:05.050 their identity Children must know young people 00:03:05.050 --> 00:03:08.389 you must know your identity parents you need 00:03:08.389 --> 00:03:13.270 to teach it children you need to know it Children 00:03:13.270 --> 00:03:18.919 must know why power is given to them If you're 00:03:18.919 --> 00:03:20.979 a young man right now, if you're a young lady 00:03:20.979 --> 00:03:23.139 right now, stop what you're doing for a second 00:03:23.139 --> 00:03:28.340 and set your hands like this in your lap. This 00:03:28.340 --> 00:03:30.500 is power. This is strength that God has given 00:03:30.500 --> 00:03:32.879 you. You need to know why God has given it to 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:37.360 you. And finally, children must be provided both 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:42.680 teaching and opportunities to rule. Children 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:46.759 and young people must be provided both teaching 00:03:47.859 --> 00:03:54.780 opportunities to rule. This summer we've had 00:03:54.780 --> 00:03:58.659 a whole foundation series and we've learned that 00:03:58.659 --> 00:04:02.080 we are to trust God and do good. We got a lot 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:04.639 of visitors today so we talked about some foundational 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:07.400 things about how God's made us. We've talked 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:12.020 about how that is given to us by God. We've talked 00:04:12.020 --> 00:04:16.399 about marriage and we've had three And this is 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:20.339 the third concluding sermon on parenting. So 00:04:20.339 --> 00:04:25.000 Psalm 37 reminded us three times not to fret. 00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:30.300 We're to trust God and do good, forsaking wrath 00:04:30.300 --> 00:04:35.360 and anger. Instead, we are to delight in the 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:38.579 Lord, committing our way to the Lord, and he 00:04:38.579 --> 00:04:44.199 shall give us the desires of our heart. I pray 00:04:44.199 --> 00:04:48.779 that as you heard that first description there 00:04:48.779 --> 00:04:52.420 in our passage, that you desire for your children 00:04:52.420 --> 00:04:57.879 and grandchildren to flourish in the courts of 00:04:57.879 --> 00:05:03.139 God, producing fruit. I'd say that's probably 00:05:03.139 --> 00:05:10.600 true. Parents, do not fret, wondering how... 00:05:10.879 --> 00:05:14.980 You will turn your children into the righteous 00:05:14.980 --> 00:05:19.819 flourishing palm tree As Hannah brought Samuel 00:05:19.819 --> 00:05:23.079 to serve in the house of God you as Christian 00:05:23.079 --> 00:05:27.220 parents Have humbly brought your children into 00:05:27.220 --> 00:05:31.259 the courts of God into the house of God for baptism 00:05:31.259 --> 00:05:35.860 They are planted in the courts of God then by 00:05:35.860 --> 00:05:38.980 baptism What a blessing to know that the work 00:05:38.980 --> 00:05:42.720 of God in Christ Jesus by the power of the Spirit 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:48.480 shall uphold our children and cause them to flourish 00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:53.579 abundantly in the fruit of the Spirit. So parents, 00:05:55.519 --> 00:06:03.279 no fretting, no worrying, no anxiety. You've 00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:10.230 given them to God. It is God's work. As one commentator 00:06:10.230 --> 00:06:15.610 puts it, there is a common misconception of parenting 00:06:15.610 --> 00:06:24.189 teens. And that is that the teenage years are 00:06:24.189 --> 00:06:31.389 an unavoidable rebellion. Now, it certainly could 00:06:31.389 --> 00:06:34.350 be that and is that for unbelieving households. 00:06:35.110 --> 00:06:41.660 But part of the reason for that is because we've 00:06:41.660 --> 00:06:44.639 been catechized that that's in movies, in television, 00:06:44.740 --> 00:06:46.680 in the world. That's what we hear. That's what 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:49.279 we see. The rub is always the teenagers know 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:51.339 better. Parents don't know anything. So there's 00:06:51.339 --> 00:06:57.920 this constant tension. OK? The scriptures tell 00:06:57.920 --> 00:07:02.180 us nothing of the sort. And we should not expect 00:07:02.180 --> 00:07:05.699 such a thing from our children, much less plan 00:07:05.699 --> 00:07:11.790 for it. The false ideas of misunderstandings, 00:07:12.009 --> 00:07:16.410 intention, and animosity do not have to be the 00:07:16.410 --> 00:07:22.649 norm. In fact, if we've done well in the early 00:07:22.649 --> 00:07:27.689 years of parenting, our children's lives, and 00:07:27.689 --> 00:07:31.790 our children's lives, this will not be so. Do 00:07:31.790 --> 00:07:36.079 not fall into the trap. of either passivity or 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:38.879 tyranny and parenting. Don't think, well then, 00:07:39.079 --> 00:07:42.459 if it's all God's work, then all I have to do 00:07:42.459 --> 00:07:45.480 is stand on the sidelines. Maybe get him to church 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:48.019 sometimes and read the Bible at the house every 00:07:48.019 --> 00:07:50.480 once in a while. No, we've talked about this 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:53.339 over and over, and you hear this line every time 00:07:53.339 --> 00:07:58.639 we come to the baptismal font, and that is that 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:01.720 God gives us both blessings and curses for his 00:08:01.720 --> 00:08:04.660 people. He gives us, his people, this. And these 00:08:04.660 --> 00:08:08.339 are conditions. But conditions do not nullify 00:08:08.339 --> 00:08:12.439 grace. Grace enables us to fulfill those conditions 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:21.560 that God has given us. I want to warn you, don't 00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:26.680 fall into passivity or tyranny. Our holy God 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:30.680 is a relational God, teaching, disciplining. 00:08:30.829 --> 00:08:34.649 forgiving and restoring us to fellowship. For 00:08:34.649 --> 00:08:37.149 what purpose does he do all those things? Certainly 00:08:37.149 --> 00:08:42.350 his glory, but also that his glory may be greater, 00:08:42.889 --> 00:08:46.909 that we may fulfill our mandate to take dominion 00:08:46.909 --> 00:08:50.169 over the world and be fruitful to the glory of 00:08:50.169 --> 00:08:52.830 God and the benefit of the world. You're gonna 00:08:52.830 --> 00:08:54.690 hear that line again and again. You've heard 00:08:54.690 --> 00:08:57.580 me talk about it as for your marriages. What 00:08:57.580 --> 00:09:00.019 is your marriage for? What is every marriage 00:09:00.019 --> 00:09:03.559 designed for? For Christians, it is for the glory 00:09:03.559 --> 00:09:06.759 of God and the benefit of the world. Again, framework. 00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:11.759 Christ and his bride. What are they for? The 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:19.080 glory of God and the benefit of the world. So 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:21.440 Christian children must know their identity. 00:09:22.100 --> 00:09:24.399 Christian children have been given their identity 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:27.700 from the sovereign God. Whether they're male 00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:30.960 or female young people. Are you listening? You 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:34.779 didn't choose that God chose it for you God also 00:09:34.779 --> 00:09:39.299 chose your family and by virtue of the authority 00:09:39.299 --> 00:09:43.120 bestowed upon your parents They chose your name 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:46.980 all that was not your choice And all that was 00:09:46.980 --> 00:09:50.299 done by the merciful God through his sovereign 00:09:50.299 --> 00:09:56.269 providence God even caused you to be born into 00:09:56.269 --> 00:09:59.769 a Christian household where your parents would 00:09:59.769 --> 00:10:03.730 bring you to the baptismal font and have you 00:10:03.730 --> 00:10:06.590 baptized. And now every one of you young people, 00:10:06.610 --> 00:10:11.710 are you looking up here? You carry the name of 00:10:11.710 --> 00:10:16.289 the triune God on you. God placed His name on 00:10:16.289 --> 00:10:23.929 you. You must know that. So everything that you 00:10:23.929 --> 00:10:28.379 do and everything that you are, are to be understood 00:10:28.379 --> 00:10:33.899 and lived in light of this reality. As all of 00:10:33.899 --> 00:10:36.600 you know, Deuteronomy 6 tells us to diligently 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:42.179 teach our children God's law. That is, loving 00:10:42.179 --> 00:10:45.659 God above all and loving our neighbors as ourselves. 00:10:46.820 --> 00:10:50.220 We are to teach the things of God as we sit, 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:55.799 as we... Walk down the road, when we lie down, 00:10:55.820 --> 00:10:59.179 when we rise up, right? This kind of presents 00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:01.759 all of life. We're to talk about God's word with 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:07.639 our kids in this fashion. This talking is to 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:10.720 put the law applied in every context of life. 00:11:10.899 --> 00:11:13.759 Mom and dad, you're not just there to tell them 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:16.340 God's law, but never talk about how it applies. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:21.549 And I want to make this very clear. Moms and 00:11:21.549 --> 00:11:23.509 dads in this room, are you listening right now? 00:11:23.529 --> 00:11:29.389 Because this is important. You need to live God's 00:11:29.389 --> 00:11:33.049 word out in front of them. And I know you know 00:11:33.049 --> 00:11:36.809 that. But here's the thing. When you sin against 00:11:36.809 --> 00:11:39.230 your wife, fathers, when you sin against your 00:11:39.230 --> 00:11:42.429 husband, mothers, when you sin against your children, 00:11:43.149 --> 00:11:45.769 confess before God and to all those you sinned 00:11:45.769 --> 00:11:50.029 in front of. and talk with your kids about what 00:11:50.029 --> 00:11:54.049 God's law says about these things. That is genuine 00:11:54.049 --> 00:11:56.750 parenting and showing you're under the authority 00:11:56.750 --> 00:12:03.490 of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Deuteronomy 6 00:12:03.490 --> 00:12:08.409 goes on to teach us that the word of God is to 00:12:08.409 --> 00:12:12.289 restrain our authority and power as if it was 00:12:12.289 --> 00:12:14.529 bound to our hand we talked about that kids remember 00:12:14.529 --> 00:12:16.029 in a few minutes ago I told you look at your 00:12:16.029 --> 00:12:17.909 hands in front of you in the Bible we talked 00:12:17.909 --> 00:12:21.190 about this last week in the Bible the hand is 00:12:21.190 --> 00:12:26.049 the sign of power and authority Jesus sits where 00:12:26.049 --> 00:12:29.539 at the right hand of God But every time you look 00:12:29.539 --> 00:12:32.159 through scripture, the hand is described. It's 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:34.759 a symbol of power and authority. We were told 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:37.500 to bind up God's word upon our hand that it may 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:40.539 guide us so that we use our power, our strength, 00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:46.960 our authority to God's glory. And in doing this, 00:12:47.100 --> 00:12:50.820 we're loving God and applying God's law, we're 00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:55.639 told, should also be the lens to understand and 00:12:55.639 --> 00:12:59.840 to make judgments. and then to take action in 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:03.799 all areas of our lives. Finally, Deuteronomy 00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:06.240 6 tells us that the laws of God should be written 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:09.460 on the doorposts of our houses and gates. And 00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:13.639 this, of course, reminds us that our God and 00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:17.179 his law is for all of our life. We talked about 00:13:17.179 --> 00:13:19.840 that, our coming in and our going out. That's 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:23.299 what that reminds us. And how does that apply? 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:30.110 There is no different set of ethics or regulative 00:13:30.110 --> 00:13:35.590 principles or standards in or out of our Christian 00:13:35.590 --> 00:13:41.830 homes. It's the same. Now, of course, this is 00:13:41.830 --> 00:13:45.230 a lesson for you young people, but it's a lesson 00:13:45.230 --> 00:13:49.450 for you as parents, too. You grasping this? Your 00:13:49.450 --> 00:13:53.029 ethics need to be the same in your home as out. 00:13:56.490 --> 00:13:59.570 And for you, too, as children, you need to know 00:13:59.570 --> 00:14:03.730 this. For our children, part of knowing who they 00:14:03.730 --> 00:14:09.490 are is to know what their end goals are. We've 00:14:09.490 --> 00:14:11.490 talked about this in your planning, what you 00:14:11.490 --> 00:14:13.389 say to yourself, where do I want my kids to be? 00:14:13.950 --> 00:14:18.129 Well, Psalm 92 is telling us about them flourishing 00:14:18.129 --> 00:14:23.149 as a fruit -producing palm that produces their 00:14:23.149 --> 00:14:27.899 whole lives. in the house of God, right? That's 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:31.159 the end goal. That's sort of mysterious. God's 00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:34.559 got some clarity to what this means and how to 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:40.500 get it done. So last week I spoke on the destination 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:44.519 of parenting, right? That is children and grandchildren 00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:47.620 who joyfully worship God in all areas of life, 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:50.679 taking dominion, being fruitful, and multiplying 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:54.279 in all things in their life to the glory of God. 00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:59.740 and the benefit of the world. We also discussed 00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:02.899 that God's model to get there is the priest -king 00:15:02.899 --> 00:15:06.139 -prophet model. We talked about that the case 00:15:06.139 --> 00:15:10.399 study for this is God's example of His parenting 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:13.299 and His relationship with the people of Israel. 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:17.600 So priestly staged, it's full of detailed instructions 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:21.320 about everything, repeated again and again. And 00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:24.080 you know, as parents, this is a big part of your 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:27.559 life, am I right? It's almost to the point of 00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:31.840 making you nauseous in your stomach. But this 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:36.580 is how God the Father works in your life. Parents 00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:41.720 must act. Oh, one other thing here. The calendar 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:44.059 of the life, and we actually read about this 00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:51.440 today, right, in our reading. We saw that God 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:56.100 was talking to them and telling them that here's 00:15:56.100 --> 00:15:58.559 a place to feast and here's a memorial, here's 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:03.519 a marker and you should celebrate this. So their 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:06.639 calendar of life was centered on the annual repetitions 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:11.720 of God's law, his mercy, his justice, his grace, 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:16.440 and feasting to the glory of God and the benefit 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:19.879 of the world. Over and over again, God says this. 00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:21.980 He says, and when your children ask you about 00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:24.139 these things that you're doing, you explain that 00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:27.059 to them. You tell them what God has done and 00:16:27.059 --> 00:16:30.259 what this is for. Do you think that was just 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:32.419 for their own children or do you think it was 00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:36.940 also for the nations around them? If you lived 00:16:36.940 --> 00:16:39.019 on the border and the nation was here and you 00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:42.279 were doing, I can't work tomorrow because it's 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:46.759 the Sabbath. Oh, I've got this special feast 00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:49.399 that we have to go do. What are you talking about? 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:53.379 Tell me about that. It's for your children. But 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:56.059 all of it is outward -facing from God's sanctuary. 00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:04.380 Parents must act knowing their children's Christian 00:17:04.380 --> 00:17:08.579 identity, frame in their understanding, and the 00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:12.299 status of remaining sin in their lives, right? 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:15.779 God has forgiven us. We are justified by the 00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:18.880 work of Christ. We are no longer in bondage to 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:21.559 sin, but there is remaining sin in each one of 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:24.339 us in this room, and you need to know where your 00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:26.740 kids are, and children, you need to take an assessment 00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:33.640 of yourself on these things. You see, this requires 00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:38.720 repetitions of rules and consequences. After 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:42.299 Sinai, the people of Israel were constantly told 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:47.720 where they were going, and when they grew up, 00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:51.059 what they were going to be doing, how they were 00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:53.579 going to live. And God told them how they were 00:17:53.579 --> 00:17:56.400 going to get there. So this has to be part of 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:59.000 what you're doing with your kids. All right, 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:01.339 we're working on this because this is the end 00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:04.839 goal we're going for. Don't just keep your kids 00:18:04.839 --> 00:18:08.420 stuck in the priestly role. of just lecturing 00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:10.599 to them again and again and again. When they're 00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:12.660 small, that's the goal. You're putting that frame 00:18:12.660 --> 00:18:14.059 in there. You're building it. You're laying all 00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:16.380 these construction materials so that they can 00:18:16.380 --> 00:18:23.279 go from that priest to the kingly role. You see, 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:26.680 they were reminded again and again by what it 00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:31.380 means. That is how God's grace and redemption 00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:35.710 was at work in their forefathers. and how the 00:18:35.710 --> 00:18:38.009 work of their forefathers had gotten them to 00:18:38.009 --> 00:18:41.690 where they are presently. Parents, you have to 00:18:41.690 --> 00:18:43.690 be somewhat transparent, particularly as your 00:18:43.690 --> 00:18:46.329 kids get older. You know, I made these mistakes. 00:18:46.410 --> 00:18:49.650 I sinned like this. I've repented. I don't want 00:18:49.650 --> 00:18:51.829 you to make these same mistakes. Kids, look up 00:18:51.829 --> 00:18:53.849 here. Have your parents ever said to you, I don't 00:18:53.849 --> 00:18:56.890 want you to make these same mistakes I did? Have 00:18:56.890 --> 00:19:02.089 they? That's good parenting. Sometimes, I remember 00:19:02.089 --> 00:19:06.559 one time, My kids came to me and said, dad, just 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:08.319 because you struggle with this doesn't mean I'm 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:10.599 going to struggle with this. We've been brought 00:19:10.599 --> 00:19:12.599 up in the church our whole lives, and we've had 00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:15.700 this better teaching our whole lives, and we've 00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:18.980 been in better churches our whole lives. Very 00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:22.740 distinctly, my two sons were trying to get me 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:24.740 to lay off, trying to teach them a principle. 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:31.750 When they got to be about 24 and 26, They came 00:19:31.750 --> 00:19:35.069 back to me and said, you know what, Dad? I really 00:19:35.069 --> 00:19:36.769 understand what you were doing now. And to be 00:19:36.769 --> 00:19:38.529 honest, we kind of knew at the time, but we were 00:19:38.529 --> 00:19:42.829 pushing back. By the way, dads, don't think about 00:19:42.829 --> 00:19:47.829 every pushback conversation as rebellion. It 00:19:47.829 --> 00:19:53.849 is not. The scriptures tell us. And I've said 00:19:53.849 --> 00:19:56.809 this. incorrectly so much of my life and part 00:19:56.809 --> 00:19:59.329 of it is because it's it's not translated quite 00:19:59.329 --> 00:20:01.710 right in some translations but as iron sharpens 00:20:01.710 --> 00:20:04.509 iron so one man another what it actually says 00:20:04.509 --> 00:20:11.009 is as iron sharpens iron so one man another's 00:20:11.009 --> 00:20:16.450 countenance right so what you're doing is you're 00:20:16.450 --> 00:20:18.150 sharpening that iron but you're trying to lift 00:20:18.150 --> 00:20:20.029 up their countenance and and really you want 00:20:20.029 --> 00:20:22.650 that countenance to be reflective of God himself 00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:29.359 And that's what we're trying to do. Guys, listen 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:32.200 to me. Your sons press back at you. They're striving 00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:36.619 for kingship. You have to help mold them and 00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:40.720 grow them in it. Ladies, as these girls push 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:44.440 back, again, you are training them and teaching 00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:47.079 them. They want to have their own household one 00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:50.359 day. Don't teach them to be passive by beating 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:58.960 them down, but raise them up. God also, besides 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:02.519 all this teaching and reflecting backwards, God 00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:04.680 showed them evil people in the world and told 00:21:04.680 --> 00:21:08.000 them not to be like them. God said to Israel, 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:10.920 don't chase after the idols of other nations, 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:16.140 lest you are gonna wind up like them. God was 00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:19.579 building maturity in the people of Israel in 00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:22.660 the wilderness and then also in the crossing 00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:26.119 over of the Jordan. God revealed to Israel what 00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:27.980 was in their hearts. That's what the Bible tells 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:31.160 us Why did God put them in the in into the wilderness? 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:35.119 We simply say it was a judgment. It was a chastisement. 00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:38.779 So they had to suffer But all the while God tells 00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:41.839 us later in Deuteronomy that he did this to show 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:45.460 them what was in their hearts Young people look 00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:50.170 up here what your parents are trying to do Whether 00:21:50.170 --> 00:21:52.450 they're still working through it or not like 00:21:52.450 --> 00:21:54.269 they don't have it perfected I didn't really 00:21:54.269 --> 00:21:55.970 start figuring I have eight children for the 00:21:55.970 --> 00:21:58.609 all those visitors out here It was by number 00:21:58.609 --> 00:22:01.450 five that we started really figuring it out pretty 00:22:01.450 --> 00:22:07.150 good Okay, and for you oldest ones in here I 00:22:07.150 --> 00:22:09.230 Said this last week be patient with your parents 00:22:09.230 --> 00:22:11.150 because it's the first time they've ever parented 00:22:11.150 --> 00:22:15.890 a child your age Okay, special grace from God 00:22:15.890 --> 00:22:19.240 on that but they're trying to reveal to you what's 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:22.799 in your own heart. Not because it's easy, not 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:24.880 because they want to keep meeting you, it's because 00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:26.539 they want you to see what's in your heart so 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:29.339 you can live a repentant life before the Lord. 00:22:31.619 --> 00:22:34.440 You see, all this time though in the wilderness, 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:38.799 what did God do? He cared for them. Their shoes 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:43.869 never wore out. He provided for them. He was 00:22:43.869 --> 00:22:46.329 long suffering with them. He kept reminding them, 00:22:46.369 --> 00:22:50.009 but he chastised them as their sin was presented. 00:22:52.309 --> 00:22:57.990 We must remember this. And God led the people 00:22:57.990 --> 00:23:02.170 of Israel through very specific and repetitive 00:23:02.170 --> 00:23:05.750 ways so they could cross the Jordan and begin 00:23:05.750 --> 00:23:09.589 taking dominion, abounding in fruitfulness in 00:23:09.589 --> 00:23:15.400 body and in spirit. As you may remember, we learned 00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:18.119 of two other stages of life and therefore parenting. 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:22.500 That is the kingly stage and the stage of the 00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:25.960 prophet. I'll just mention this real briefly. 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:30.660 As far as the prophet stage, as your kids become 00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:34.779 young adults, that's where you have to be in 00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:36.940 the prophet stage. You're a friend of God and 00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:39.000 you're advising them as they do their kingly 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:42.019 duties. For most of you, most of you younger 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:44.359 families in here, that's a long way off yet, 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:47.940 right? You're acting as kings yourself right 00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:50.539 now, but at some point you've got to get out 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:57.819 of the way. So the kingly stage is that transition 00:23:57.819 --> 00:24:00.980 from simply being told what they are to do at 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:05.039 every point to self -rule and more responsibility 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:08.119 that leads to dominion and fruitfulness that 00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:13.059 glorifies God and benefits others. And of course, 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:15.359 the pinnacle of life is the stage of the prophet. 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:18.180 And this is where men and women no longer are 00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:24.220 ruling as kings or simply as kings, but they 00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:30.039 are also transferring wisdom and knowledge and 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:34.799 grace and mercy in the fear of the Lord. And 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:37.299 all of this so that they are lifting others up 00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:41.420 as they themselves diminish. Right? John the 00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:44.740 Baptizer, what did he do? He went before them, 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:48.920 before Jesus. And he said, he got to this great 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:51.700 pinnacle. He was dealing with demons. He was 00:24:51.700 --> 00:24:53.380 baptizing people. He was preaching repentance. 00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:55.779 He's really going after it. And he said, I've 00:24:55.779 --> 00:25:00.039 got to diminish that Jesus may elevate. This 00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:07.420 too is something that we are aiming for. We need 00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:09.880 to speak to our children, both boys and girls, 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:13.480 of what God's chosen path is for them. That is, 00:25:13.619 --> 00:25:17.259 they are to be joyfully told of their duties 00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:21.160 to God and their assignments for God's glory 00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:24.279 and the benefit of the world. They're being trained 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:27.420 in different roles as co -regents in God's kingdom 00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:31.839 under King Jesus. And this is done incrementally, 00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:36.029 right? In zeal, Every boy wants to be a warrior 00:25:36.029 --> 00:25:40.150 king, and every girl wants to be a princess who 00:25:40.150 --> 00:25:43.849 glorifies things. As parents, we want to guide 00:25:43.849 --> 00:25:48.190 this zeal with knowledge and experience, telling 00:25:48.190 --> 00:25:53.049 our children both of the end goals and what God's 00:25:53.049 --> 00:25:56.750 preparations are for this. Remember Luke 19 verse 00:25:56.750 --> 00:26:00.240 17 tells us this, Jesus is speaking. And he's 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:02.980 telling this parable, and he says, well done, 00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:05.140 good servant. Because you were faithful with 00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:07.880 very little, you will have authorities over 10 00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:11.799 cities. Young people, look up here. As your parents 00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:14.539 teach you and instruct you, they're going to 00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:17.660 work on it beginning first with what you have 00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:20.059 rule over. The first thing you have rule over 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:25.400 is yourself. And then it expands from just yourself. 00:26:25.690 --> 00:26:28.589 to those things that you are given and given 00:26:28.589 --> 00:26:32.630 authority over. Like, for example, your things, 00:26:32.789 --> 00:26:37.329 your laundry, your space, that backpack you always 00:26:37.329 --> 00:26:41.210 drop in the incorrect spot in the house, right? 00:26:41.789 --> 00:26:44.950 Those are your things. You have responsibility 00:26:44.950 --> 00:26:50.490 and rule over them. Parents, train them, be repetitive, 00:26:50.569 --> 00:26:54.619 be kind. Children, step it up. Don't be afraid 00:26:54.619 --> 00:26:56.940 parents chastise them over some of these small 00:26:56.940 --> 00:27:02.940 things Be faithful in little things For every 00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:05.579 man woman and child in this room right now We 00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:09.400 know that we are be are to be more and more conformed 00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:13.400 to Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior Now this 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:15.339 is important if we're gonna be conformed to this 00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:18.740 the gospel of Mark one of of course the the narratives 00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:25.319 of Christ's life You know has the overarching 00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:29.099 theme of Jesus, the greater David, or the greater 00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:31.900 King. So if we are to be conformed to Christ, 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:35.319 part of it is we are being conformed to be like 00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:39.000 the greater King, to rule and take dominion, 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:44.539 to be fruitful for the glory of God and the benefit 00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:48.299 of the world. As a matter of fact, in the Gospel 00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:52.539 of Mark, the word immediately in regards to Jesus 00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:57.119 appears over 40 times. And this speaks to the 00:27:57.119 --> 00:28:02.019 intentionality and the on mission of Jesus. He's 00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:04.140 on mission. He is immediately going doing this. 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:05.960 Young people look up here. When your parents 00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:08.940 are telling you or commanding you or giving you 00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:15.740 directions, respond immediately. Parents, when 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:21.030 your elders speak to you and teach you, respond 00:28:21.030 --> 00:28:28.069 immediately We need to respond immediately be 00:28:28.069 --> 00:28:31.630 on mission like Christ was on mission and He 00:28:31.630 --> 00:28:35.009 was on this mission to confront Satan not only 00:28:35.009 --> 00:28:40.190 in the wilderness but That the dragons demons 00:28:40.190 --> 00:28:43.309 that were all over the land would be driven out 00:28:43.309 --> 00:28:46.130 and the people would be set free and lifted up 00:28:46.130 --> 00:28:49.450 and able to flourish once again Jesus kingdom 00:28:49.690 --> 00:28:53.029 is one, not just of fruitfulness in life, but 00:28:53.029 --> 00:28:56.369 of driving out the dragon and all his demons 00:28:56.369 --> 00:29:00.769 in the land. But you don't get there instantaneously. 00:29:00.829 --> 00:29:03.930 We don't put a little kid out there and say, 00:29:03.990 --> 00:29:06.569 fight the big demon. You got to practice with 00:29:06.569 --> 00:29:08.230 all the little things that they say over and 00:29:08.230 --> 00:29:12.710 over again. Trust in God. There'll be a place 00:29:12.710 --> 00:29:14.750 where you're going to fight these things in the 00:29:14.750 --> 00:29:17.769 world and the place that you're in. Are we working 00:29:17.769 --> 00:29:22.819 towards those ends? Jesus is as important as 00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:26.900 a king. Jesus is the greater suffering king. 00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:31.660 David suffered to get kingship under authority 00:29:31.660 --> 00:29:35.680 he didn't care for, but he trusted God to see 00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:40.380 it through. Jesus was born in a land under a 00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:44.319 different king, a wicked king, and a wicked high 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:49.980 priest. And what did he do? He came with true 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:53.819 strength and humility. Why? For the restoration 00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:59.359 of all things. And this requires suffering. We 00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:02.740 have responsibility to be suffering kings for 00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:04.799 the glory of God and the benefit of the world. 00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:09.460 We need to strive as parents not to hamper, obstruct, 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:13.099 or constrain the preparations for our children 00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:15.779 to rise to kings and queens in their respective 00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:19.740 kingdoms. When our children were in the priestly 00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:24.900 stage, their work as priest was inward to the 00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:27.519 sanctuary, but the work of the king is outward 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:30.440 from the sanctuary. So what I mean is, sins in 00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:32.839 the priestly stage are sacrilege. It's breaking 00:30:32.839 --> 00:30:38.819 the rules of the house. But the sins of the kingly 00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:43.059 stage are outward facing and they generally are 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:47.500 about actions outward -facing in the world and 00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:49.339 all these relationships they have in the world, 00:30:49.420 --> 00:30:52.799 all the responsibilities they have in the world. 00:30:57.619 --> 00:31:03.759 We need to understand that they need to, our 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:06.160 children need to be focused to the glory of God 00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:09.019 and the benefit of others outside of themselves. 00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:12.160 It's interesting to note that in the narrative 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:14.900 that we are given by God as his father to the 00:31:14.900 --> 00:31:17.759 people of Israel that in Preparation and the 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:21.279 maturation from priestly rule to the future kingly 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:26.559 rule was 400 years So if you think you're you're 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:29.259 long suffering as a parent and tearing with your 00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:33.579 children Not so to the way that God himself has 00:31:33.579 --> 00:31:40.759 done it But he also God told them as he was coming 00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:43.460 out of their time in the wilderness, and they 00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:47.640 still have 360 more years to go to the kingly 00:31:47.640 --> 00:31:51.460 stage, right? God told them that you're gonna 00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:53.180 get there. This is part of what you have to say. 00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:55.059 This is where you're at right now. I'm working 00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:57.039 with you, but this is where we're going. We're 00:31:57.039 --> 00:32:00.380 trying to get you here. And so we find in Deuteronomy 00:32:00.380 --> 00:32:05.259 chapter 17, through Moses' great sermon to the 00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:07.730 people as they prepare to go in and take... Begin 00:32:07.730 --> 00:32:10.470 taking dominion, but they're still keeping. They're 00:32:10.470 --> 00:32:14.990 kind of in this transition stage, right? They're 00:32:14.990 --> 00:32:17.369 still keeping all of these priestly things again 00:32:17.369 --> 00:32:21.150 and again and again, being reminded. It says 00:32:21.150 --> 00:32:24.150 this in Deuteronomy 17, beginning of verse 14, 00:32:24.430 --> 00:32:26.369 when you come into the land which Yahweh your 00:32:26.369 --> 00:32:28.769 God is giving you and possess it and dwell in 00:32:28.769 --> 00:32:31.769 it and say, I will set a king over me like all 00:32:31.769 --> 00:32:34.109 the other nations that are around me, you shall 00:32:34.109 --> 00:32:36.930 surely set a king over you whom Yahweh your God 00:32:36.930 --> 00:32:40.210 chooses. One from among your brethren you shall 00:32:40.210 --> 00:32:43.150 set as king over you. You may not set a foreigner 00:32:43.150 --> 00:32:46.430 over you who is not your brother. But he shall 00:32:46.430 --> 00:32:50.079 not. And watch these three things, multiply horses 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:53.140 for himself, nor cause the people to return to 00:32:53.140 --> 00:32:56.420 Egypt to multiply horses. For Yahweh has said 00:32:56.420 --> 00:32:59.799 to you, you shall not return to that way again. 00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:03.079 Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, 00:33:03.380 --> 00:33:07.759 lest his heart turn away. Nor shall he greatly 00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:13.720 multiply silver or gold for himself. Verse 18 00:33:13.720 --> 00:33:16.900 also it shall be when he sits on the throne of 00:33:16.900 --> 00:33:18.980 his kingdom that he shall write for himself a 00:33:18.980 --> 00:33:21.779 copy of the law in a book from the one before 00:33:21.779 --> 00:33:25.640 the priests and the Levites and It shall be with 00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:27.640 him and he shall read it all the days of his 00:33:27.640 --> 00:33:31.460 life that he may learn to fear Yahweh His God 00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:35.359 and be careful To observe all the words of this 00:33:35.359 --> 00:33:38.400 law and all these statues that his heart may 00:33:38.400 --> 00:33:41.450 not be lifted above his brethren that he may 00:33:41.450 --> 00:33:44.390 not turn aside from the commandment to the right 00:33:44.390 --> 00:33:47.009 hand or to the left, that he may prolong his 00:33:47.009 --> 00:33:49.829 days in the kingdom, and that he and his children 00:33:49.829 --> 00:33:52.809 in the midst of Israel." Now this passage tells 00:33:52.809 --> 00:33:55.950 us of three prohibitions for kings and one positive 00:33:55.950 --> 00:33:59.009 command. So we're going to talk about these just 00:33:59.009 --> 00:34:03.630 briefly here. The king is prohibited from multiplying 00:34:03.630 --> 00:34:09.010 horses for himself. nor to cause the people, 00:34:09.070 --> 00:34:12.710 those that are under his charge, to return to 00:34:12.710 --> 00:34:16.429 Egypt for horses. Our children must be taught 00:34:16.429 --> 00:34:21.090 that the power that God has given them is for 00:34:21.090 --> 00:34:24.030 them to protect and provide for those they are 00:34:24.030 --> 00:34:27.230 responsible for. In the language of the Garden 00:34:27.230 --> 00:34:31.690 of Eden, to tend and to guard the guarded. Christian 00:34:31.690 --> 00:34:34.429 children must be taught that God gives us little 00:34:34.429 --> 00:34:39.780 kingdoms. Vassal fiefdoms. If you've grown up 00:34:39.780 --> 00:34:42.599 with a study in medieval history, you know what 00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:45.739 vassal kingdoms are or fiefdoms. You have the 00:34:45.739 --> 00:34:49.920 grand lord, the king, King Jesus. All of creation 00:34:49.920 --> 00:34:53.300 is under him. And remember, he tells us that 00:34:53.300 --> 00:34:55.000 all authority has been given to him. And we are 00:34:55.000 --> 00:35:00.039 given our portion, our little area of his kingdom 00:35:00.039 --> 00:35:03.539 to rule over. You've got to be talking to your 00:35:03.539 --> 00:35:06.000 kids about this. And then they need to understand 00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:10.420 that in their kingdom, they are to take that 00:35:10.420 --> 00:35:13.500 power and authority and protect and provide for 00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:18.260 those they're responsible for. We're to trust 00:35:18.260 --> 00:35:22.739 God. They need to be taught to trust God. Right? 00:35:22.920 --> 00:35:26.420 How do we do this? How do we teach them? By making 00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:28.360 sure they're in Lord's Day worship, and that 00:35:28.360 --> 00:35:31.820 is the center of life. And then as they worship 00:35:31.820 --> 00:35:36.889 God from that, That they trust God and do good 00:35:36.889 --> 00:35:39.550 One of the things about Lord's Day worship is 00:35:39.550 --> 00:35:41.170 we've set aside this time. We're saying we're 00:35:41.170 --> 00:35:43.670 not gonna work We're gonna go before the Lord 00:35:43.670 --> 00:35:47.250 and even though the enemies of God and the enemies 00:35:47.250 --> 00:35:52.849 of the church are raging today We're trusting 00:35:52.849 --> 00:35:54.750 God we're gonna worship him. We're gonna rest 00:35:54.750 --> 00:35:57.849 we're gonna fellowship and we're trusting God 00:35:57.849 --> 00:36:01.489 to deliver us and It sets our hearts and minds 00:36:01.489 --> 00:36:03.980 for right thinking for the whole rest of the 00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:10.519 week. There's no fretting for you or for how 00:36:10.519 --> 00:36:12.960 you teach your children about the enemies of 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:18.139 God. But in joyful contentment, they need to 00:36:18.139 --> 00:36:20.980 learn to stand in their post knowing that God 00:36:20.980 --> 00:36:26.559 is fighting our battles. So what do you do? Young 00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:30.219 people, parents, old folks in here, everybody. 00:36:31.139 --> 00:36:37.139 What do you do? Right? You need that you have 00:36:37.139 --> 00:36:41.000 to stand your post and be fruitful in cultivating 00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:44.920 the fruit of the Spirit. Our children must be 00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:46.940 taught that when they fail to stand in their 00:36:46.940 --> 00:36:51.260 post and therefore trust God that those that 00:36:51.260 --> 00:36:55.059 we are responsible for may in their insecurities 00:36:55.059 --> 00:36:59.619 return to the gods of Egypt for help. You see 00:36:59.619 --> 00:37:03.800 that sin happen over and over again. Right. Oh 00:37:03.800 --> 00:37:05.280 man, we're getting in trouble. Once they become 00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:07.880 a nation, they start getting themselves cross 00:37:07.880 --> 00:37:10.739 ways with other nations. They're like, I'm worried. 00:37:11.539 --> 00:37:14.519 Let's go down and make a pact with Pharaoh. Get 00:37:14.519 --> 00:37:19.480 some of his army and his horses up here. That's 00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:26.239 a mistake. God says don't do this. There are 00:37:26.239 --> 00:37:28.619 children. Are you listening adults? Are you listening 00:37:28.619 --> 00:37:32.079 there are real? Consequences to our blasphemous 00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:35.579 fretting as if we could even deliver ourselves 00:37:35.579 --> 00:37:41.179 from our own sin No, it is Christ Jesus So trust 00:37:41.179 --> 00:37:45.079 God and do good stand in your post even when 00:37:45.079 --> 00:37:48.159 it's hard Even when somebody comes along and 00:37:48.159 --> 00:37:52.139 says they need help over here What's your post? 00:37:53.019 --> 00:37:58.550 What's your responsibility don't? Leave it a 00:37:58.550 --> 00:38:02.750 King is not to multiply wives Right, let's his 00:38:02.750 --> 00:38:04.949 heart be turned away. We see King Solomon is 00:38:04.949 --> 00:38:10.309 one Example of this But you know, this is not 00:38:10.309 --> 00:38:13.550 just about women but about all kinds of passions 00:38:13.550 --> 00:38:18.590 Right your passions. What do you desire to do? 00:38:19.150 --> 00:38:22.070 How are you gonna do it? Does it rule you or 00:38:22.070 --> 00:38:26.059 do you rule it to rule? Your sexual passions 00:38:26.059 --> 00:38:29.039 is to keep yourself for marriage, get married, 00:38:29.179 --> 00:38:31.059 and stay faithful to your husband and faithful 00:38:31.059 --> 00:38:36.019 to your wife. But what about the passions about 00:38:36.019 --> 00:38:43.900 other enjoyments? Food, alcohol, tobacco, entertainment, 00:38:45.099 --> 00:38:49.440 video games, debating with other people, whatever 00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:53.880 these things are. Are we ruling them? Are they 00:38:53.880 --> 00:38:57.599 wild passions that get beyond us, waste our time, 00:38:57.699 --> 00:39:04.880 consume our resources? Proverbs 25 -28 says this, 00:39:05.380 --> 00:39:09.179 whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like 00:39:09.179 --> 00:39:13.840 a city broken down without walls. Young people, 00:39:13.920 --> 00:39:15.579 when your parents are trying to teach you the 00:39:15.579 --> 00:39:18.699 things of God, they are saying, you gotta say 00:39:18.699 --> 00:39:23.190 no to this. Right or you have to say not yet 00:39:23.190 --> 00:39:26.210 for this. There's a day coming where you're gonna 00:39:26.210 --> 00:39:30.789 have the opportunity to choose But when you just 00:39:30.789 --> 00:39:34.289 let your your passions and your desires and your 00:39:34.289 --> 00:39:40.989 pleasures guide you You're exposed to what the 00:39:40.989 --> 00:39:45.110 fiery serpents of Satan to get in your life and 00:39:45.110 --> 00:39:50.920 wreck it Put the walls up by wisdom and understanding. 00:39:51.380 --> 00:39:53.059 And parents, you have to teach them how to do 00:39:53.059 --> 00:39:56.019 this and how to think it through. Don't be embarrassed 00:39:56.019 --> 00:39:57.599 to talk about some of your failures. You don't 00:39:57.599 --> 00:40:02.659 have to tell them everything. But be honest and 00:40:02.659 --> 00:40:05.860 walk them through. And when they see the nation 00:40:05.860 --> 00:40:09.219 sinning, be honest. Have conversations. Talk 00:40:09.219 --> 00:40:14.000 about it. Not just as we condemn that, but the 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:19.969 outworking of that sin causes this. and it's 00:40:19.969 --> 00:40:24.650 destructive, doesn't please God, and it's bad 00:40:24.650 --> 00:40:28.010 for you and all those in your life that you're 00:40:28.010 --> 00:40:32.170 responsible for. Our children must be taught 00:40:32.170 --> 00:40:35.369 that a king's passions are set to his subjects 00:40:35.369 --> 00:40:41.789 and not set upon his own selfish endeavors. Every 00:40:41.789 --> 00:40:45.369 man in here who has his family and his kingdom 00:40:45.869 --> 00:40:49.110 Think about this. Are your passions set towards 00:40:49.110 --> 00:40:53.110 your subjects or are they set upon your own selfish 00:40:53.110 --> 00:40:58.989 endeavors? Authority is not given for rulers 00:40:58.989 --> 00:41:05.050 to consume their subjects. The king exists for 00:41:05.050 --> 00:41:08.250 the glory of God and the benefit of their subjects. 00:41:09.030 --> 00:41:11.170 They need to be taught that and you need to model 00:41:11.170 --> 00:41:14.219 it for them. This is how it always is by the 00:41:14.219 --> 00:41:16.599 way when we when we're talking about how to parent 00:41:16.599 --> 00:41:19.900 we go Yeah, I've got to get all these good ideas 00:41:19.900 --> 00:41:24.139 to take care of my kids Man, it's a it's cutting. 00:41:24.780 --> 00:41:31.659 It's cutting to every one of us as parents Jesus 00:41:31.659 --> 00:41:35.179 the King is on the way to glory through suffering 00:41:35.179 --> 00:41:39.650 our children must be trained and allowed Responsibility 00:41:39.650 --> 00:41:42.489 over others that they may learn how to lead under 00:41:42.489 --> 00:41:46.030 authority for the benefit of others Jesus came 00:41:46.030 --> 00:41:48.610 down we're told in Philippians and he Subjected 00:41:48.610 --> 00:41:51.030 himself to the authority structure of the father 00:41:51.030 --> 00:41:54.110 and he came down he served and he died So that 00:41:54.110 --> 00:41:56.530 others could be reconciled to God so that you 00:41:56.530 --> 00:41:59.309 and I could be reconciled to God through his 00:41:59.309 --> 00:42:06.289 work That's powerful that is how we are to be 00:42:06.289 --> 00:42:12.579 as husbands as mothers. Young people, that's 00:42:12.579 --> 00:42:20.960 your goal, your aim. We must teach them of their 00:42:20.960 --> 00:42:23.539 responsibility for others. There's all kinds 00:42:23.539 --> 00:42:25.460 of tactics. We don't have time for all this today. 00:42:25.480 --> 00:42:27.500 If you want to talk about that, my wife and I 00:42:27.500 --> 00:42:31.320 have lots of ideas and things to share. But here's 00:42:31.320 --> 00:42:33.929 a few verses to think about. on this subject 00:42:33.929 --> 00:42:37.590 Proverbs 11 30 says that the fruit of righteousness 00:42:37.590 --> 00:42:42.289 is a tree of life and he who wins souls is wise 00:42:42.289 --> 00:42:45.309 So you're trying to teach your children that 00:42:45.309 --> 00:42:47.329 the fruit of their righteousness is a tree of 00:42:47.329 --> 00:42:50.389 life Not just for yourself. That's just the starting 00:42:50.389 --> 00:42:53.730 point It is for the winning of souls. It is for 00:42:53.730 --> 00:42:57.150 the converting and blessings of others That's 00:42:57.150 --> 00:43:00.650 what fruitfulness in the Lord is for That's Jesus 00:43:00.650 --> 00:43:04.570 how Jesus does it Micah 6 -8 tells us this, He 00:43:04.570 --> 00:43:07.389 has shown you, O man, what is good, and what 00:43:07.389 --> 00:43:11.250 does the Lord require of you but to do justly, 00:43:11.650 --> 00:43:14.869 to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. 00:43:16.789 --> 00:43:21.570 Those directions right there are not inward -facing. 00:43:22.110 --> 00:43:25.570 Can you imagine this? Right? It's self -serving. 00:43:25.750 --> 00:43:30.210 Oh, I love Jesus. I'm so thankful that God is 00:43:30.210 --> 00:43:34.639 just and good. He's full of mercy. Oh, so good 00:43:34.639 --> 00:43:39.119 for me. Yeah, be thankful. Have lots of gratitude 00:43:39.119 --> 00:43:41.960 towards God. That is the starting point of the 00:43:41.960 --> 00:43:45.420 fountain of God's blood through you, this river 00:43:45.420 --> 00:43:47.320 of life by the power of his spirit going out 00:43:47.320 --> 00:43:50.880 in the world for the benefit of others. We are 00:43:50.880 --> 00:43:54.780 told the culmination of the church ages. The 00:43:54.780 --> 00:43:57.139 spirit flowing, proceeding from the throne, and 00:43:57.139 --> 00:43:59.820 there's these trees that are out there bearing 00:43:59.820 --> 00:44:02.760 fruit, the fruit of the spirit, 12 months a year. 00:44:04.179 --> 00:44:05.800 Their leaves are for the healing of the nations. 00:44:05.880 --> 00:44:08.440 It's always outward -facing, just like Jesus 00:44:08.440 --> 00:44:14.300 Christ. Ephesians 4 .29 says this. Young people, 00:44:14.300 --> 00:44:18.699 are you listening? Let no corrupt word proceed 00:44:18.699 --> 00:44:23.820 out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary 00:44:24.509 --> 00:44:29.449 edification, that it may impart grace to the 00:44:29.449 --> 00:44:32.769 hearers. I think there are two things here. One 00:44:32.769 --> 00:44:35.690 of this is about parents, but I also think we 00:44:35.690 --> 00:44:38.449 need to teach them that they are required to 00:44:38.449 --> 00:44:42.289 impart grace. Look at me. Are you listening, 00:44:42.469 --> 00:44:46.309 young people? Think about how God is giving you 00:44:46.309 --> 00:44:49.610 younger brothers and sisters. Do you need to 00:44:49.610 --> 00:44:51.829 say every word that you want to say to them? 00:44:51.929 --> 00:44:55.730 Do you have to point everything out? Or what 00:44:55.730 --> 00:44:58.329 does God require of you? He requires of you to 00:44:58.329 --> 00:45:03.989 impart grace to them. So only give them the words 00:45:03.989 --> 00:45:08.670 that are necessary for edification. Otherwise, 00:45:09.449 --> 00:45:12.630 we embarrass them and we beat them down and we 00:45:12.630 --> 00:45:16.760 mock them. And perhaps, As an older brother or 00:45:16.760 --> 00:45:19.119 sister, we are leading them in the paths of sin 00:45:19.119 --> 00:45:22.139 and discontentment and anger, provoking them 00:45:22.139 --> 00:45:31.300 to anger. There's a way to act like a king. I 00:45:31.300 --> 00:45:33.239 know a bunch of guys have read The Horse and 00:45:33.239 --> 00:45:35.559 His Boy. We talked about it at our last men's 00:45:35.559 --> 00:45:38.619 meeting. One of my favorite sections of that 00:45:38.619 --> 00:45:41.719 is towards the very end, where King Lun is instructing 00:45:41.719 --> 00:45:45.079 the newly crowned Prince Khor. He didn't know 00:45:45.079 --> 00:45:47.840 he was a prince. And all of a sudden, he's got 00:45:47.840 --> 00:45:50.119 to be taught how to be one. He's crowned as one. 00:45:50.699 --> 00:45:53.599 And he says this, for this is what it means to 00:45:53.599 --> 00:45:57.380 be a king, the first in every desperate attack. 00:45:58.039 --> 00:46:01.340 And we're all like, yeah. Wait, wait. There's 00:46:01.340 --> 00:46:06.539 more. And the last in every desperate retreat. 00:46:07.400 --> 00:46:10.440 And when there's hunger in the land, as must 00:46:10.440 --> 00:46:14.780 be now and then in bad years, Trials will come 00:46:14.780 --> 00:46:19.119 to wear finer clothes and to laugh louder over 00:46:19.119 --> 00:46:24.219 a scantier meal than any man in your land. We 00:46:24.219 --> 00:46:27.780 need to teach our children. As kings, they must 00:46:27.780 --> 00:46:32.519 lead in joy, contentment, and love that sees 00:46:32.519 --> 00:46:38.079 their people guarded and provided for as they 00:46:38.079 --> 00:46:42.849 rule pointing others to Jesus. Remember what's 00:46:42.849 --> 00:46:45.710 the continuation of the dominion mandate Matthew 00:46:45.710 --> 00:46:50.389 28 we are told Jesus King Jesus has all power 00:46:50.389 --> 00:46:53.349 and authority and We're told to make disciples 00:46:53.349 --> 00:46:55.829 and teaching them to obey all that I've commanded 00:46:55.829 --> 00:47:00.989 We need to understand this and teach this to 00:47:00.989 --> 00:47:04.570 them The final prohibition for Kings in Deuteronomy 00:47:04.570 --> 00:47:09.940 17 is not to multiply wealth for himself Our 00:47:09.940 --> 00:47:12.840 children must be taught to work hard, not to 00:47:12.840 --> 00:47:15.440 steal or to use deceptive weights or measures. 00:47:16.239 --> 00:47:19.460 They must be taught that God blesses good, honest, 00:47:19.579 --> 00:47:23.920 hard work, and that that brings God glory. Wealth 00:47:23.920 --> 00:47:28.639 is not to be stored up or hoarded for their own 00:47:28.639 --> 00:47:33.159 pleasures, but wealth is given by God that in 00:47:33.159 --> 00:47:38.400 wisdom we can use our wealth to enrich and bless 00:47:38.400 --> 00:47:44.369 others. Proverbs 11, 24 and 25 says this, there 00:47:44.369 --> 00:47:47.289 is one who scatters and yet increases more. In 00:47:47.289 --> 00:47:50.030 other words, he's doing what he can to help others. 00:47:51.210 --> 00:47:54.349 And there is one who withholds more than is right, 00:47:54.849 --> 00:47:59.610 but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will 00:47:59.610 --> 00:48:02.610 be made rich and he who waters will also be watered 00:48:02.610 --> 00:48:06.190 himself. All the wealth, all the blessings are 00:48:06.190 --> 00:48:08.710 so that you as kings and queens in your households 00:48:08.710 --> 00:48:15.650 in your dominion can bless others. A godly king, 00:48:16.050 --> 00:48:19.170 we're told finally that God sets out one positive 00:48:19.170 --> 00:48:20.949 command. It's a requirement that a king should 00:48:20.949 --> 00:48:24.090 write down his own copy of God's law. A godly 00:48:24.090 --> 00:48:26.750 king keeps it with him and he reads it all the 00:48:26.750 --> 00:48:29.230 days of his life that he may fear the Lord and 00:48:29.230 --> 00:48:33.690 carefully live. all live according to God's law 00:48:33.690 --> 00:48:37.130 in every area of his life. And knowing the law 00:48:37.130 --> 00:48:39.789 keeps the Christian king humble in the fear of 00:48:39.789 --> 00:48:43.110 God for all that the king does. Everybody in 00:48:43.110 --> 00:48:45.789 the room needs to know this. We are responsible 00:48:45.789 --> 00:48:50.289 before God. Dearly beloved, you must study God's 00:48:50.289 --> 00:48:53.610 word and teach the application of it from your 00:48:53.610 --> 00:48:57.929 life and your family's experiences. Study the 00:48:57.929 --> 00:49:01.199 Psalms. You've heard me say many times. The Psalms 00:49:01.199 --> 00:49:04.559 are the book of emotional maturity. Proverbs, 00:49:04.579 --> 00:49:08.219 as you know, is the book of wisdom. And Ecclesiastes 00:49:08.219 --> 00:49:12.440 is a perspective of understanding repentance 00:49:12.440 --> 00:49:16.880 and still being a king. You can mess it up. Turn 00:49:16.880 --> 00:49:20.480 to Jesus. Repent right now and go and do right, 00:49:20.780 --> 00:49:25.530 as Jesus would say. Parents. As you move through 00:49:25.530 --> 00:49:27.909 the tender priestly years into training for the 00:49:27.909 --> 00:49:34.230 kingly stage, do not fret. Right? God promises 00:49:34.230 --> 00:49:37.309 to be the God of His people and their children 00:49:37.309 --> 00:49:40.889 and all who are afar off because King Jesus died 00:49:40.889 --> 00:49:44.190 for you and has called you and declared you His. 00:49:46.889 --> 00:49:50.369 You might be thinking, I'm already having a hard 00:49:50.369 --> 00:49:55.550 time. How can I do all this? How do I get good 00:49:55.550 --> 00:49:58.690 fruit for my children? Just a couple of quick 00:49:58.690 --> 00:50:02.150 things here You need to pray earnestly that the 00:50:02.150 --> 00:50:04.929 Lord would grant your children new hearts and 00:50:04.929 --> 00:50:08.869 covenant faithfulness Pray earnestly that the 00:50:08.869 --> 00:50:11.530 Lord would grant your children new hearts and 00:50:11.530 --> 00:50:17.349 covenant faithfulness second as Hebrews 12 tells 00:50:17.349 --> 00:50:21.469 us we must be faithful to give appropriate chastisement 00:50:21.679 --> 00:50:29.519 Appropriate chastisement. Thirdly, you need to 00:50:29.519 --> 00:50:32.360 establish an environment which encourages holiness. 00:50:33.539 --> 00:50:37.480 Moms and dads in this room, are you establishing 00:50:37.480 --> 00:50:40.719 an environment which encourages holiness? Not 00:50:40.719 --> 00:50:43.639 just the beat down, but holiness for the glory 00:50:43.639 --> 00:50:46.599 of God. Not to say we are the best family, we're 00:50:46.599 --> 00:50:49.179 the sharpest family, we have the most together. 00:50:49.599 --> 00:50:52.000 or we're the smartest, we know the most about 00:50:52.000 --> 00:50:58.840 the Bible, but rather, are we encouraging holiness 00:50:58.840 --> 00:51:02.659 that brings glory to God and causes others to 00:51:02.659 --> 00:51:06.880 give glory to God? You can think of Philippians 00:51:06.880 --> 00:51:12.579 4, 8, or 1 Corinthians 15, 33 for more information. 00:51:14.639 --> 00:51:18.099 And then finally, and I cannot emphasize this 00:51:18.099 --> 00:51:25.900 enough, Relationship goes both ways in communication. 00:51:27.280 --> 00:51:30.059 Relationships go both ways in communication. 00:51:31.599 --> 00:51:34.440 The priestly stage, you're telling them again 00:51:34.440 --> 00:51:37.219 and again and they're parroting it back to you. 00:51:38.460 --> 00:51:41.059 And they build trust and they see your love and 00:51:41.059 --> 00:51:44.199 nurture, that's true. But as your kids get older, 00:51:44.320 --> 00:51:47.780 if you continue... Trying to just lecture them 00:51:47.780 --> 00:51:50.460 all the time where you are the conduit of truth 00:51:50.460 --> 00:51:55.800 here it is here it is here it is And you don't 00:51:55.800 --> 00:51:58.219 encourage relationship with them you're gonna 00:51:58.219 --> 00:52:05.340 lose your kids They're gonna say Dad is deaf 00:52:05.340 --> 00:52:08.539 to me. He doesn't hear me. He doesn't hear my 00:52:08.539 --> 00:52:15.769 concerns God is interested in his people Jesus 00:52:15.769 --> 00:52:21.170 is interested in his people. As parents we must 00:52:21.170 --> 00:52:28.989 listen and then talk. We talked about this before 00:52:28.989 --> 00:52:32.690 out of Hebrews chapter 4 verse 16. Is your God 00:52:32.690 --> 00:52:36.610 given throne Christ -like? Is it a throne of 00:52:36.610 --> 00:52:38.690 grace that can be boldly approached that your 00:52:38.690 --> 00:52:40.969 children may obtain mercy and help in a time 00:52:40.969 --> 00:52:49.400 of need? Is it that? Or are you rough and irritated, 00:52:49.840 --> 00:52:53.480 and you're not going to listen to them? Man, 00:52:53.480 --> 00:52:55.760 we think we know it all. We think we know our 00:52:55.760 --> 00:52:58.659 children's hearts. We need to ask some questions 00:52:58.659 --> 00:53:02.059 and help them. And then we need to help apply 00:53:02.059 --> 00:53:04.380 it. And then we need to be ready to say, no, 00:53:04.380 --> 00:53:06.460 no, Dad, after you spent five minutes trying 00:53:06.460 --> 00:53:07.760 to explain something, after you got a little 00:53:07.760 --> 00:53:10.199 information. No, no, no. That's not what I mean. 00:53:11.519 --> 00:53:17.989 So OK, help me understand better. You have a 00:53:17.989 --> 00:53:19.590 throne of authority. It needs to be a throne 00:53:19.590 --> 00:53:22.010 of grace for your wife or your children, men, 00:53:22.809 --> 00:53:26.789 to boldly approach for mercy and help in time 00:53:26.789 --> 00:53:31.989 of need, right? Your kids have needs. They want 00:53:31.989 --> 00:53:34.409 help. They want mercy. They want to figure it 00:53:34.409 --> 00:53:36.690 out. Most of our children, I'd say all of our 00:53:36.690 --> 00:53:38.510 children, want to please us in some fashion, 00:53:39.309 --> 00:53:42.530 especially when they're small. But also, as they 00:53:42.530 --> 00:53:45.849 get older, You've got to be willing to engage 00:53:45.849 --> 00:53:50.050 and willing to figure out and be humble and say, 00:53:50.150 --> 00:53:53.650 you know what? I totally misread that situation. 00:53:54.389 --> 00:53:59.269 I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Get their forgiveness. 00:53:59.809 --> 00:54:03.550 Have that relationship restored. This is how 00:54:03.550 --> 00:54:06.429 we build strength in the relationship with our 00:54:06.429 --> 00:54:11.869 children. As your children become older, They 00:54:11.869 --> 00:54:14.769 are often not as lovable as when they were younger 00:54:14.769 --> 00:54:18.110 Can you believe that the older kids hear me out? 00:54:18.550 --> 00:54:22.570 They are smelly in both body odor and attitude 00:54:22.570 --> 00:54:30.389 Parents be faithful trust God and do good Parents 00:54:30.389 --> 00:54:35.289 Stand your post as fathers and mothers and remember 00:54:35.289 --> 00:54:40.480 God's grace that is to you all As Romans 5 -15 00:54:40.480 --> 00:54:44.559 reminds us, the grace of God and the gift of 00:54:44.559 --> 00:54:47.780 the grace of God by the one man Jesus Christ 00:54:47.780 --> 00:54:52.900 abounded to many. Dearly beloved, you are among 00:54:52.900 --> 00:54:57.960 the many. Look to Jesus and rest in King Jesus. 00:54:58.480 --> 00:55:02.519 Let us pray. Heavenly Father, help us we pray 00:55:02.519 --> 00:55:05.300 to love you with all of our hearts, minds, and 00:55:05.300 --> 00:55:08.289 souls. Grant us the desires of our hearts that 00:55:08.289 --> 00:55:11.349 our children and all who are far off in our families 00:55:11.349 --> 00:55:15.289 would grow to fear you, joyfully obeying you, 00:55:15.530 --> 00:55:18.190 and grow more and more in faithfulness as priests, 00:55:18.510 --> 00:55:21.949 kings, and one -day prophets. We ask all these 00:55:21.949 --> 00:55:25.050 things for the sake of Jesus our King, Lord and 00:55:25.050 --> 00:55:27.769 Savior, who reigns with you in the Holy Spirit 00:55:27.769 --> 00:55:29.710 forever and ever. Amen.