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.
3. Undercontrolling a child can exasperate a child.
• A parents indulgers and pampers- gives in to the child- in order to escape;
• To keep a child from interrupting the parent’s time of schedule or desire.
Bring them up in the discipline of the Lord. We must be available to our children throughout their lives, not to force ourselves upon them, but to love them, support them, and stand with them in the same way our Heavenly Father stands with us.
Lets take a look at foundational stones which will help us to be the parents God has called us to be to our children.
1. First, we must be present for our children. Just as a teacher has to show up for class to be able to teach the students anything, so we must be willing to spend time with our kids.
• We should saturate all our daily life with God. He should be the source and goal of all our acts. "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Cor. 10:31) The children will see it and by God’s grace will believe that the triumph of God is the greatest thing in the world.
2. Secondly, we must teach our children. A child should be brought up in knowing Christ and the facts of life. Read Proverb 22:6.
• If you or I were to plant an apple tree in our front yard we would need to learn all we could about raising apple trees. What kind of conditions are best suited for them, how much water do they need, how much heat and cold can they stand, what fertilizer works best for apple trees.
• Parents, it is so important that you and I recognize that God has placed within each of His precious children, our children, unique gifts, abilities, and aspirations.
• We need to recognize those abilities and God-given dreams which our children possess so that we can help them to become the young men and women that God created them to be.
3. The third thing we must do to raise up children who hope in the triumph of God is make the Bible the most important book in their lives.
• We must show our children that this book is the most important book in our lives and that it contains the answers to life’s greatest questions and that it is the battle plan for the triumph of God.
• In Deuteronomy 6:4-9 the Lord instructed His people to love the Lord and to pass on the teaching He had given to them.
Read Deuteronomy 31:12-13
CONCLUSION
What do our children gain from a nurturing home?
First, nurturing parents help their children know who they are. Our kids needs us to show them strengths. We can encourage our children in telling them what we see. Positive word build up confidence in child.
Secondly, nurturing parents take time to cultivate their children’s individuality. Attentive gardeners knows that each of their plants needs different care- roses need weekly deep-watering; while daisy need just little amount of water more of sunlight.
Nurturing parents will take the time to know their children’s makeup and work at helping each child’s uniqueness blossom and bloom.
Ask Christ to come into your heart and home, give you the insight, patience, and courage you need to bless your children. Bless your children as the Father seeks to bless you in all that you do
