WHAT S A PARENT TO DO? Ephesians 6:4 Deuteronomy 6:6-7

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1 WHAT S A PARENT TO DO? Deuteronomy 6:6-7 In God's Word, parents have every truth and every guideline necessary for raising their children in righteousness and godliness. And what a child needs to know about how he should relate and respond to his parents is there also. 4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Started with this. What are we as parents to do? Deuteronomy 6:6-7 6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. What are the, WORDS WHICH I COMMAND YOU... vv. 5-6 "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart" The first, foremost, most important, and essential truth we are to teach our children is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. "And you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up" (v. 7). Not only this, but when not teaching then they were to have scriptures and reminders around the house.

2 STUDY: Ephesians 6:1-4 Page 2 of 7 "And you shall bind them as sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead" (v. 8). Even when the parents were gone, the testimony remained, because it was to be written "on the doorposts of your house and on your gates" (v. 9). In other words, there was always to be both verbal and visible commitment to the Word of God in the home. It is God's plan for His Word to be passed on from one generation to the next. And His primary agent is the family. EASIER SAID THAN DONE! You think being a child is tough, wait until you have one. You pay for your raising, when... It is a very difficult job. 4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS? 1. The first cause of our problems is the SINFUL NATURE OF MAN which we are born with. 2. The second cause of family problems is the SATANIC WORLD SYSTEM in which we live. We know God's plan is to build, strengthen, and protect the family What is Satan's plan? is to undermine, weaken, and destroy it. Leviticus 18:3-4 "You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done is the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes. You are to perform My judgments and keep My statutes, to live in accord with them; I am the Lord your God"

3 STUDY: Ephesians 6:1-4 Page 3 of 7 3. A third major factor in the destruction of the home is the INFLUENCE of humanistic philosophy. One of the major goals socialism is to liberate children from the home and make them wards of the state. A child out of the home will not be taught any moral, religious, social, patriotic, or political standards or attitudes that are contrary to what the state wants. Among the things from which humanistic groups believe children must be liberated are: traditional morals and values, parental authority, physical punishment, religion, nationalism, patriotism, and capitalism. Among the things they believe children should be allowed to do and have are complete sexual freedom, including the right to homosexual "marriage," abortions, and free information and devices for contraception. Parents who do not fully and tirelessly commit themselves to the godly teaching and training of their children are likely to wake up one day to find their sons and daughters inextricably enmeshed in the ungodly and immoral philosophies and practices of the world. Parents stand in the gap, so to speak, between children and God while the children are too young to have a full and mature relationship with Him themselves. Children, you need to understand that parents are God's stewards, who are simply loaned to them in trust by their own heavenly Father. That is why children are commanded, Colossians 3:20-21 "Be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is wellpleasing to the Lord" The only exception to that obedience is in the matter of doing what is wrong. Every believer should refuse to do anything that is clearly against God's will as taught in Scripture

4 STUDY: Ephesians 6:1-4 Page 4 of 7 The right attitude behind the right act of obedience is honor which means to value highly, to hold in the highest regard and respect. Honor of parents encompasses providing for them when they can no longer provide for themselves. Matthew 15:3-6 "And why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, 'Honor your father and mother,' and 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.' But you say, 'Whoever shall say to his father or mother, "Anything of mine you might have been helped by has been given to God," he is not to honor his father or his mother.' And thus you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition". Jesus made it clear that honor of parents includes financial support of them when needed. Colossians 3:21 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. discouraged be spiritless, i.e. disheartened:): THE DON TS Paul's first command to parents is negative: fathers, do not provoke your children to anger. To provoke.., to anger suggests a repeated, ongoing pattern of treatment that gradually builds up a deep-seated anger and resentment that boils over in outward hostility. Practically speaking, what are some of the DON TS, the things we should not do that bring about such negative behavior? 1. Well-meaning OVERPROTECTION

5 STUDY: Ephesians 6:1-4 Page 5 of 7 2. Another common cause of provoking children to anger is FAVORITISM. EXAMPLE: Isaac favored Esau over Jacob and Rebekah preferred Jacob over Esau. COMPARING THEIR CHILDREN with each other, 3. A third way parents provoke their children is by PUSHING ACHIEVEMENT BEYOND REASONABLE BOUNDS. 4. A fourth way children are provoked is by DISCOURAGEMENT. 5. A fifth way provocation occurs is by PARENTS' FAILING TO SACRIFICE FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND MAKING THEM FEEL UNWANTED. 6. A sixth form of provocation comes from FAILING TO LET CHILDREN GROW UP AT A NORMAL PACE. 7. A seventh way of angering children is that of USING LOVE AS A TOOL OF REWARD OR PUNISHMENT granting it when a child is good and withdrawing it when he is bad. 8. An eighth way to provoke children is by PHYSICAL AND VERBAL ABUSE. Don t overreact and spank their children much harder than necessary. THE DO S 4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. training - education or training; by implication, disciplinary correction:

6 STUDY: Ephesians 6:1-4 Page 6 of 7 admonition - calling attention to, i.e. mild rebuke or warning: is literally a "putting in mind" It refers to the type of instruction found in the book of Proverbs, where the primary focus is on the training and teaching of children. It deals with right attitudes and principles of behavior. The key to right discipline and instruction of children is its being of the Lord. Everything parents do for their children is to be of Him according to the teaching of His Word, by the guidance and power of His Holy Spirit. Proverbs 13:14 14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. Proverbs 3:1-2 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Proverbs 13:1 Intelligent children listen to their parents; foolish children do their own thing. Proverbs 19:20 20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. If a man does not teach his children truth, others will teach them "error." DISCIPLESHIP TRAIN CLASSES CORAGEOUS Mark 9:41 Jesus Warns of Offenses (Matthew 18:6-9; Luke 17:1,2) 42 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.

7 STUDY: Ephesians 6:1-4 Page 7 of 7 3 John For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. FILE: HOME IMPROVEMENTS/ WHATS A PARENT TO DO/