Nurturing A Home Under God's Authority

NURTURING A HOME UNDER GOD’S AUTHORITY

Ephesians 6:1-4

by Cesar Delgado

November 27, 2005

Good News Christian Fellowship

BUCAS, Daraga, Albay

INTRODUCTION

Various groups or institutions play a significant role in socialization of an individual and in shaping that person’s personality. Foremost among them is the family.

Filipino family is known throughout the world of its strong family ties. However, because of outside influence: western culture, peers pressure, modernizations and industrialization; norms are changing. Teenagers are conforming to the pattern of this modern world. Peer groups becoming more influential. Parental guidance, affection, and attention are lacking.

Illustration: Violence in the family.

INSTRUCTIONS TO CHILDREN (vv. 1-3)

Among teen-agers, the peer group becomes an important reference group. Though it is not wrong to have friends from outside, teenagers should realize that such groups aren’t a replacement for parental guidance.

Obey your parents. In essence, Paul was telling children that obedience to their parents is part of how they serve Christ.

God has placed your parents in authority over you for: wisdom, guidance, protection. Children should be subject and obedient in all things,

1. lawful, just, and good;

2. in everything that is not sinful and unlawful, by the word of God;

3. this obedience should be hearty and sincere, and not merely verbal, and in show and appearance.

Is the child to obey a parent when the parent is so devilishly wrong? No!

1. To obey means to obey in the Lord. The phrase “in the Lord” means two things.

a. There is limit to the child’s obedience.

• when parent is not acting in the Lord (Mark 9:42-43-48)

1. beating a child

2. sexually abusing a child

3. sending child to force labor.

b. In the Lord tells us why the child obeys his parents.

• Obeying your parents is right

• It is of the Lord

• It pleases the Lord

2. The point is simply this: the law of obedience is the very nature of things, at the very core of the universe and of man’s life and behavior upon earth. Children are to obey- obey because it pleases the Lord and it is the right things to do.

Honor your father and mothers. This is the fifth commandments God gave Moses in His Law (Exod. 20:12; Deut. 516). “honor’ means to

1. “esteem and value as precious”

2. to show respect, reverence, kindness, courtesy, and obedience.

Children, have you ever obeyed on the outside but on the inside called your “mama” and “papa” ugly names? Tragically, child’ response to his parents is that of…

1. talking back

2. ignoring the parents

3. grumbling

4. disregarding the instructions

5. speaking disrespectfully; and the list could go on and on.

Tragically, to these, there are reports, and you too know it, of children killed their parents. It’s sad, and tragic that this happens in the family.

Honoring your parents means doing what you are told- even if you don’t agree- with respect and love.

However, it doesn’t mean obeying your parents to something that would disobey God. But if they love the Lord and are trying to follow His will, then it’s right- and even honors Christ- to obey and respect them.

Read Proverbs 20:20; 30:17:; Leviticus 19:32

Obeying and honoring Him will give you a bountiful harvest of Christlike character traits, such as self-discipline, humility, and integrity, that can give you a stable happy, and long life.

INSTRUCTIONS TO PARENTS (v4)

Read verse four.

A teacher has to be prepared to give the lessons which are important for the students to learn, by first knowing the lesson himself or herself. A teacher also has to have credibility in the eyes of the students or they will never listen to the valuable instruction. A teacher has to have order and discipline in the classroom or the lesson will not be able to be heard over the roar of chaos.

The teaching that we are looking at today is relevant for both fathers and mothers. We all know that raising a child is too big of a job for just one parent, a mother or a father, but for that matter, raising a child is too big a job for a mother and father working together. It takes an entire family of faith to raise our children.

Do not provoke your children. Parents are bound to upset and irritate their children sometimes. What are those that parents may use to prod their children to resentment and rebellion?

1. Harsh discipline that doesn’t match the degree of the offense.

• Disciplining and restricting a child too much will either stifle the growth of a child or sir him to react and rebel, causing the child to flee from parents.

2. Cruel remarks that scratch and bruise a child’s self-image.

• Unwholesome remarks will just insult and add more injuries to our children.