| Godly Parenting: Pastor Tim Lee |
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22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Praise Temple will be dedicating two babies to the Lord, this morning and the message is geared toward parenting. The words of Proverbs 22, are a promise from God to the parents about doing our part in training our children, and they won't depart from it. Most of a child's training in the formative years comes from the home. The schools systems have learnt that without the support of the parents teaching a child to read is a difficult task. The same applies to training a child in the ways of the Lord, parents must lead by example.
6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD: Joshua after bringing the children of Israel out of bondage, makes one thing clear that these heathen nations refused to accept that Israel's God was one. The confusion taught with all these false gods of the Egyptians and the Philistines, was pointed out to the child of those that came out of captivity.
6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Probably the greatest responsibilities, we have as parents is to teach our children that God must be first in our lives. Thou shall love the Lord, thy God with all thine heart, with all thy soul and with all thy might. God will not take second place to anything.
6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
God commands the children of Israel to keep the words of this covenant with all their hearts. There's no place for half hearted service to God. I doubt that an employer would need your services, if they felt that you was only giving them half of what they were paying you for service wise.
6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Joshua explains to the parents that teaching their children is their responsibility. Teaching starts at home, training a child to fear the Lord starts at the age the child begins to learn right from wrong. Teaching when you travel, God's as real away from your home as God is in your home. Teaching when you get up in the morning until you go to bed at night.
6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. David said, thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee. If the Word of God was a precious as it should be there won't be any need to dust it off when the ole preacher comes to pay a visit? Joshua's point was the Word of God is a valuable asset to any family. The just shall live by faith, faith in the stock market? Is that faith in a man sitting in an oval office? Faith in a church membership that you may frequent on some occassions like Easter and Christmas.
6:9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. Joshua suggest that Israel write down scriptures on the post of their homes and on their gates. The passing of the death angel when all the first born of Egypt was slain, the shed blood over the doors of the children of Israel's dwelling was a type of the blood of Jesus that covers their sins.
Conclusion: Mom's and Dad's need to be examples to their children, especially in a nation that's expelled God from schools and society. The Bible's banned from school libraries, the ten commandment have been removed from most court houses. The words, "so help me, God" are said over and over again by people knowing their lying like it's no big deal to lie under oath. |
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