Your children not only have physical and material
needs in life, but they also have great spiritual
needs.
“Train up a child in the way he should go…”
(Proverbs 22:6) is one of several charges that God
has given to every parent. (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)
If there is one thing that can hinder or even destroy
the chances of your son or daughter having a good,
productive life, it is sin. Sin is no respector of age,
gender or nationality. How many distraught parents
have lost a child to drug or alcohol addiction?
The very least that every parent can and should do
is to know God for themselves and like Lois, Eunice
and Timothy from the bible, (2 Timothy 1:5)
endeavour to make salvation a generational legacy.
Do not ever hinder your child’s desire to know God.
This is a great crime in the sight of God. As Jesus
said it is better for you, “that a millstone were
hanged about your neck and you be cast into the
sea” (Matthew 18:6) than for you to hinder your son
or daughters faith in God.
As a pastor, I have been grieved when I have
observed many young people spiritually destroyed
because some very basic yet powerful truths from
the bible have never been lived nor encouraged by
their parents. It wasn’t the devil that destroyed
them but rather the spiritual negligence of mom
and dad.
Teach your children to put God first in all things.
(Matthew 6:33)
It is wonderful for the family to go camping, fishing,
golfing, etc. but should never be done at the
expense of missing church. This will send the
wrong message to your children.
Like Esau, too many parents try to serve God at
their own convenience, forgetting about sacrifice
and commitment. Live for God yourself and groom
your children to be spiritual conquerors and you will
not have to worry about drugs, alcohol, sexual
promiscuity, teenage pregnancies, etc. grabbing
hold of your children. (1 John 2:13)
The concept of being a “stay at home believer”
(Hebrews 10:25) is not found in the bible and only
genders to spiritual impotence and ignorance that
will leave you and your children ill equipped to
overcome in this life.
Be like Abraham, a friend of God and an intercessor
for his family. (Genesis 19:29)
Learn to weep for yourselves and for your children.
(Luke 23:28)
Visit us at LIFE CHURCH this Sunday!
“But if any provide not for his home, and specially
for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith,
and is worse than an infidel.” (1 Timothy 5:8)
One of the most important and basic duties of a man
is to provide for his household. The reason why this
is so fundamental to a believer is that it establishes
the fact that the very nature of God is exemplified in
our life to those around you.
It is the nature of Almighty God to:
Provide for those that are His (Matthew 6:30-32)
Protect those that are His (John 10:11-13)
Selflessly care for those who are His (Ephesians 5:25)
If a man truly reflects the nature of God in his life he
will be somewhat like his Heavenly Father in these
attributes. This is a must, as a man’s ministry must
begin in his own home amongst his family.
Dad,
Be “steadfast”, not stubborn (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Be unmoveable, not unreasonable
(1 Corinthians 15:58)
Be a pillar, not a pillow (Galatians 2:9)
Work harder than your wife (1 Peter 3:7)
Bring home the bacon, NOT excuses
(1 Timothy 5:8)
Pray away your “bachelor man’s” temptations
and the life of self-centeredness (
1 Corinthians 13:11)
Put your family before golf, fishing, excessive
overtime and watching the games.
If all you teach your children is the pursuit of
money, then you are failing your family miserably.
(Luke 12:15-18)
It is going to take more than promises made at a men’s
rally to be a real promise keeper. What you need is true
Bible salvation. When that transformation happens
everyone, especially your family, will see the great change
in you. Rise up and be the great dad God and your family
wants you to be.
