Introduction:
Remembering back to when I was taking Driver Education at the Baltimore City College, I can’t help but remember what the instructor would always tell us. When you are driving you should always stay in your lane.
Whenever you are ready to change lanes, always put on your signal light to let the other drivers know that you want to make a left or a right turn. Look out of your mirrors to make sure it’s clear, and then change lanes. Little did I realize at 17 years old that staying in your lane was a rule for life.
If people would just stay in their lanes everything would be alright. Students in elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and even college would just stay in their lanes, schools would be so much better.
Well preacher I hear this all the time but what can we do as parents, teachers, and administrators about this problem? What can we say to these children and young adults? I’m glad that you asked because that brings me to my first point.
Development:
Point Number 1: Respecting Your Elders
Looking at the scriptures it begins with Elisha who is the successor to Elijah. He was on his way to a town called Bethel. In this town was a school for prophets.
However the people of this town were not too pleased in having this school for prophets. They wished that the school for the prophets would move to some other town or even not to be in existence.
As Elisha was coming near the town a group of boys around 42; some commentaries even went to call them a group of hoodlums, approached Elisha. And as they approached him they began to tease him and calling him names. They said to him Go on up you baldhead, go on up you baldhead.
Little did they realize just who this man truly was. Little did they realize the relationship that Elisha had with God. Elisha was God’s man.
You better be careful messing around with God’s men and women whom He has set aside for His purpose, because the bible says in 1 Chronicles 16:22, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
They teased Elisha by calling him an old bald head and asking him the question of why did he not go up in the chariot of fire into heaven like his successor did who was Elijah.
Elisha, the prophet of God turned and faced the young boys. He immediately called down a curse form the Lord on these boys. Two she-bears, which are female bears that have cubs which are baby bears,came from out of no where from the woods and killed all 42 boys.
Now I was taught as a child that whenever you are approached by an adult whether you knew them or not, you said good morning, good afternoon, or good evening.
Now in today’s world it’s sometimes best if they don’t have anything to say because the names that they may call you may not be what you want to hear.
Now children I know you don’t want to hear this but I have to keep this thing real. I ‘m going to keep this thing simple and to the point. I’m going to be just like those BCR’s that you have to write on the MSA test each year. in school.
The Bible says in Exodus 20:12, Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. Disobedience will shorten your days to live.
Now let me break this thing down for you so that you will have a very clear understanding of what GOD says and not what Rev McNeill says but what GOD says.
Honor in Hebrew is kabed which means that you as children are to respect, esteem which means to value somebody or something highly, or to highly regard your parents.
Now honor in the Greek language is timao which clearly paints the picture that I want.
It means that you value your parents as something that is very precious. You are to show them respect, kindness, and obedience.
Tragically, this is a rarity today. Too often a child’s response to his parent is that of talking back, speaking disrespectfully, cursing the parent, not listening, ignoring the parent, grumbling, acting like a know it all, disregarding instructions, and calling the parent a cute but disrespectful name. I know you don’t want to hear this but I know I’m right.
You as children are to respect your parents, obey your parents, listen to your parent’s advice, and to submit to the instructions and corrections of your parents.
Now Reverend, I’m hearing you talk about honoring and obeying my parents, but is that what the Bible really says? I’m glad your little minds are asking that question.
The Scripture tells us to honor, which means to obey and respect our parents.
Mark 7:10 says, For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
Ephesians 6:1-3 says, Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Colossians 3:20 says, Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
Exodus 20:12 says, Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Deuteronomy 5:16 says, Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Matthew 15:4 says, For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
Honor also means to listen to the instructions of your parents and to obey those instructions and never to forget them.
Proverbs 1:8 says, My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.
Proverbs 4:1, 10-13 says, Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.... Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened -hampered, NIV-, and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
Proverbs 6:20 says, My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother.
To honor your parents also means that you as children should respect your parents so much that it carries over to other adults. What I’m saying is that when you are in school, you should be honoring and respecting all the adults in the building just as though they were your parents.
Well preacher where does the Bible tell us that we should respect other adults as our parents? I’m glad you asked.
1 Timothy 5:1 says, Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren.
Now that word rebuke simply means not to talk back to your elders, not to tell them off or to reprimand them in any way. My parents use to say that there are times a child is to be seen and not heard. I can’t help it I’m from the old school.
The adults in the school are not your natural parents, but they are temporary parents, temporarily taking the place of your parents until you return back home to them.
Your parents are entrusting the administrators of the building, the teachers of the building, and all other staff members of the building to make sure that their children are safe, fed, taught, and nurtured.
We as employees of the Baltimore City Public School System are one of the main catalysts of the physical, mental, and social development of the children that we encounter each and every day. We are your parents until you get home.
That’s why every child I come in contact with I refer to that child as my child. I look at them as my children. I look at them as my sons and daughters. I treat them like they are my own.
I talk to them like they are my own. They all belong to me until 3:50 P.M. each day. I can’t afford to feed and clothe them all.
Point Number 2: Parents Train Your Children Right or You’re Going to Pay Now or Pay Later
Parents, God makes it perfectly clear that we have the responsibility to our children of training them properly and an obligation to God himself to train our children properly.
Proverbs 22:6 says, Train up a child in the way that he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Deuteronomy 6:7 says, 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.
We as parents must provide a conducive environment for our children and set the tone, or better yet, set the example for our children. If we as parents are living like a cat or a dog, then our children are going to be just as we are.
If we are using all types of language before our children, then our children are going to do the same. Our children emulate us. They copy our behaviors.
If our kids are hearing us curse, then they will soon follow suit. If they are sent home for cursing and you curse them out when you get home, then I see why they curse. Cursing is the norm in the home. We must lead by example.
As my father and mother use to say, The apples don’t fall far from the tree.”
Conclusion:
I know that I have laid down some harsh things that have come directly to me from God. But before I take my seat, I just want the children that are up here in this house to hear this. Children, no matter how poorly your behavior is in school, at home, or in the street, I have some GOOD NEWS.
Parents, I know this sermon was tight, but it was right. I know that some of you in this house have tried all that you can and nothing seems to work out with you and your children.
I know it has been rough trying to do your very best for your children and it seems as though your best isn’t good enough being a single parent.
You may have even made some mistakes in trying to raise your children, but that’s alright. I have some GOOD NEWS.
I know someone that:
God will forgive you no matter what.
God does allow u-turns in your life.
God will give you double for your trouble.
God will give peace in the midst of a storm.
God will listen to your every humble cry.
God will answer prayer.
Godwill make a way out of no way.
God will show up and show out.
God will take away all of your sins.
God will open doors no man can shut.
God will close doors no man can open.
God is your bridge over troubled water.
God will pick you up turn your around and plant you feet on solid ground.
I know all of this is true because of a man. Thsi man’s name is Jesus the Christ. He went to place to die for our sins known as the Hill of the Skull.
He hung on that old rugged cross for me and for you. He hung His head and died on that dark Friday. Everyone was in a state of mourning.
But early Sunday morning, He got up with all power in His hands. That’s why we call that great getting up morning Resurrection Sunday.
PRAISE GOD.. PRAISE GOD..
GO TO CALVALRY
