Isaiah 1:17 says that doing well is a learned process. In order to learn to do well, we must be trained. When I was in the U.S. Army, we did what was called Train-up Training. Train-up training is training for the next level while you are still on the previous level. Likewise, training children up in the way that they should go is preparing children for a successful adult life while they are still children so that when they are old, they will walk in what they were trained to be and do. Many people will train their dogs but won't give their children the tools they need to succeed. Instead, they let their children make crucial life decisions with no clue of what they are doing. Children should be trained up in the way that they should go so, even if they go astray along the way, when they are old they will have a foundation to return to. Children must be trained up to fulfill their purpose and reach their potential.
1. Children must see an IN-sample of what they can be!
Philippians 3:17
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
The prefix EX means formerly or used to be. The Bible gives the benefit and blessing of teaching us through EX-sample of how to live such as Abraham, Moses, David, and even Jesus. However, as the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words” so we need more than just the EX-samples of the Bible. We need IN-samples of how to adapt and how to react to different situations and circumstances.
Philippians 4:9
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
There's an old saying that says, "Do as I say and not at I do!" The problem with this saying is that it creates and contradiction in the mind of the children and sermons that we live speak louder than the sermons from our lips. Someone need to make the word of God flesh and dwell among the people. Someone needs to say those things that you have learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do. Someone needs to be an In-sample so the can In-fluence nations and generations.
2. Children must be IN-spired spiritually!
Inspire means to breathe into. We must breathe into the children by speaking the word into our children if we want to give them everything they need to succeed!
Isaiah 54:13
And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
Children by taught and trained to excel and succeed. The need to know that all the promises of God are "Yes" and "Amen" unto the glory of God by them. They need to know that all things are possible to those that believe all things are possible! Someone whose children were getting into trouble once said to me, “I did everything I could and gave them everything I could except the spiritual stuff.” The children can't be good without the knowledge of God. The children don't know what to want until they are in-spired spiritually. The word of God is what we all need to succeed!
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
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.
Deuteronomy 11:18-19
18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
I once heard that we must hear something at least seven times to remember half of it. Take every opportunity to share the word of God with your children to create an hunger and thirst in them for what the word of God promises. We must inspire our children, spiritually, with the word of God. As we breathe the word of God into our children audibly, the Holy Spirit will speak to our children individually to give them a fire and desire in their heart to become the unique individuals God created them to be. It is then up to us to cultivate and train each child individually to become all they can be!
1. They must be IN-structed individually
Proverbs 22:6
Train up A child in the way HE or SHE (individually) should go: and when he or she is old, he or she will not depart from it.
I am the father of four sons and one daughter. They all have the same parents. They all lived in the same home. They ate the same food. They went to the same schools. However, each child is completely unique. Proverbs 22:6 tells us to train up each child individual. There is no cookie-cutter, assembly line method for parenting on purpose. My mother raise nine of us. Someone, who was in awe of woman having so many children, once asked "Do you treat them all the same?" To their amazement, my mother answered "No." She said, "You love them the same, but you treat them differently because you have to give each child what they need." We must instruct each child individually through stewardship and mentorship.
Psalm 127:3-5
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. (Stewardship)
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. (Mentorship)
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
Stewardship
Psalm 127:3-5 says Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. We often misquote the verse of scripture to say, "Children are an inheritance from the Lord." The second section of the verse makes it clear. The fruit of the womb are His reward. Our children are not ours by ownership. Our children are only ours by stewardship. This means God has trusted us to care for his investment in the Earth and He expects a return. Put the work in of being a good steward over God's children. Learn what each of them does well. Find out what each of them enjoy. Watch and see what each one is committed to do diligently and consistently then encourage them in each one in that and develop each one in that to multiply what God has put in them so they can give it back to Him.
The next verse compares the mentorship of the parent-child relationship to that of an archer with arrows. The archer must aim the arrows at a target (set some goals for the children to reach), pull back on the bow (put the pressure of expectation behind them to propel them), and let go (Give them responsibility and accountability then trust them to do what you trained them to do.)
Happy is the man and woman whose quiver is full of godly children because we are satisfied when God is glorified. They will make us godly proud and not ashamed as stand up for what is right and carry themselves with dignity and integrity so that even their enemies have to acknowledge "Somebody raised that kid right!" That's parenting on purpose
https://youtu.be/R7bG0sAzp5Q
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