WEBVTT

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 We're going to look here this morning for a few minutes as we begin looking into God's word

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! Because when a parent makes a commitment to raise their children in the Lord, they make that

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! They make that commitment because they see the value in children.

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 You know, one of the things today that as you look at society, you'll find that the value of children is degrading.

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 And I'll make my point here in just a moment on that because as I see here, it's not that the child itself is not,

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 but the idea of children is going away within society. And you see this trend.

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 Birth rates have dropped dramatically in the last 20 years. Dramatically here in America, in Europe,

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 you know, there's only a few places around the world where the birth rate has stayed up.

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 And we find here, as it's continued to drop, matter of fact, last year, they tell us that the many states

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 within the United States had more deaths than births. The current average in a family today is 1.6.

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 Now, how you get 0.6 of a child, I don't know yet, but the average is 1.6.

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 You know, even to maintain a society takes a 2.1.

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 Just to break over and to break even in society and to have stability in that.

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 And studies have shown that the view and the priority of children directly impacts the fertility rates in a society.

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 You know, now I want you to understand, it's not that everyone sees children as negative or unwanted,

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 but they find it has to do with the priority.

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 You know, the change has not been in the value of children, it's in the priority of children.

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 And the preeminence of children.

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 You know, God's first command to Adam and Eve was to go and to be fruitful and to multiply.

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 And we see that throughout the scripture.

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 It's a God desires for us to have children.

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 But oftentimes, we view children in our culture in a way that is secondary instead of primary.

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 And we're going to see a little bit of that here today, what God has to say about that.

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 Because really, the question is, you say, what's that priority?

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 Well, the question is, do you see your children as a blessing or a burden?

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 You know, we have a society today that oftentimes they address children as a burden.

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 They think of them as nothing as an expense or an inconvenience.

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 Even though they might value children, they put a secondary position upon children as a burden instead of a blessing.

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 A child, when we have that, you say, preacher, what's the big deal about that?

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 You know, the way you enter into something, the way you think about something impacts what you do with it.

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 It impacts the priority of it.

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 It impacts how we process what we do.

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 And we see this, that we find that there's more of an emphasis is placed upon some things.

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 In the current society, you'll find that more emphasis is placed upon work and personal priorities.

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 The more that happens in society, they've done studies here in the last 10 years, the higher the priority is of work and personal priorities.

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 What's in it for me?

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 How do I enjoy myself?

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 How do I have self-fulfillment?

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 You know, how do I have experiences?

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 The higher rate that is, is a priority within society, the lower the birth rate drops.

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 The two run in contrast one to another.

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 And we see this, it's interesting, even people who don't hold to a godly worldview, they have a new word they've coined.

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 And it's called workism, where work has become a priority over everything else.

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 Now, most of you might be familiar with a magazine out there or a newspaper, whatever you want to call it.

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 It's called The Atlantic.

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 Not exactly what you call a conservative viewpoint, you might say.

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 But they had an interesting thing in an article in The Atlantic.

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 They call workism this, a kind of religion promising identity, transcendence, and community.

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 Think about that.

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 Even somebody who doesn't believe, and most of them would actually try to call themselves atheists or agnostics,

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 recognize that what they're becoming is they're worshiping something.

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 They're putting something on the forefront in their life.

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 And we see this, it's where life choices are centered around career.

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 Desiring to have a purpose outside oneself through accomplishment and connection through their work.

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 But you know, I want you to understand and to think, what does the Bible say about the focus in our priority?

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 Because we understand where the world desires.

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 But this morning, you know, as parents dedicate their children, I want you to understand the importance of it

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 is the priority that's being placed in the way that we ought to think about our children

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 and their value and their purpose in our lives.

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 So if you found Psalm 127 this morning, let's stand together and read the Word of God here,

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 these five verses here today.

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 Because think about, as we read through this, in verse 1, it says,

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 Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain, which build it.

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 Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh, but in vain.

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 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrow.

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 For so he giveth his beloved sleep.

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 Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

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 And as arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth.

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 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them, and they shall not be ashamed,

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 but they shall speak with the enemies in the gates.

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 Let's pray.

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 Heavenly Fathers, we come before you this morning.

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 Lord, we thank you for your Word.

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 Lord, we're thankful for the importance that you place upon each individual, Lord,

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 and even for your instruction.

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 And Lord, I pray just have your hand upon each heart, each life here today, Lord,

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 that we might take time to evaluate, Lord, where are we using to build our priorities,

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 especially when it comes towards family, and what people desire,

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 and what we are seeking in our life, what needs to be as the forefront of those things.

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 And Lord, we pray just have your hand upon each one today.

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 You might stir our thinking, Lord, but also our hearts.

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 And Lord, also where we stand before you.

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 Lord, I pray just work in a mighty way as we walk through this passage here this morning, Lord,

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 and we just give you all the praise and glory in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 You may be seated.

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 You know, this psalm is a psalm focused on the house, on the home.

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 When it talks about a house, it's not talking about the structure or the building.

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 It's talking here in reference to a household.

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 It's talking about that family group that is there, because unless the Lord build the house,

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 they labor in vain that build it.

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 You know, when you read through the first part of this passage,

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 you can see that you can exert a lot of energy and resources trying to build life.

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 You know, think about the dynamics that it speaks about here in this.

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 It says, you know, it is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late,

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 to eat the bread of sorrow so that giveth his beloved sleep.

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 I mean, you can put a lot of effort into the things of this life,

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 to try to build things that people see.

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 You know, you can drive around.

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 It's amazing.

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 And I never realized this for a while, but when I was younger,

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 when we lived in Southern California, it was interesting,

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 because we lived in some very affluent areas you go through.

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 And I had a friend who actually was selling insurance.

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 He says, you'd be amazed how many people have a fancy house,

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 a fancy car, and he says, in an empty home.

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 And I'm not talking just empty of family.

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 I'm talking empty of furniture.

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 Empty of, I mean, basically, they had the bare necessities within a home,

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 just because they were taking and looking at what everybody else saw.

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 They wanted to keep up perception.

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 They were laboring two jobs and putting in all sorts of efforts,

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 staying up late, getting up early,

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 trying to do all these things to maintain a perception.

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 You know what?

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 That has infiltrated our society today.

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 Unbelievers and sadly, believers alike,

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 that they put their priorities on all the things,

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 the externals that people see.

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 Now, I want you to understand, notice what it says here.

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 It says, except the Lord build the house,

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 they labor in vain that build it.

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 You know, you can do all those things.

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 You can try to deal with everything.

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 You can accomplish all that culture elevates

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 as the goals and direction of life

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 and be missing what God tells you that you ought to be looking for

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 and that you ought to be paying attention to.

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 You know, when we understand,

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 notice what it tells us here in verse 3.

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 It says,

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 Lo, children are what?

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 A heritage of the Lord,

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 and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

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 His reward.

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 You know, when you are blessed with children,

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 they are a heritage.

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 That means it's something that's to be passed down,

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 something that is lasting.

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 God entrusts the parents' children.

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 It's a heritage.

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 It's something that you've been entrusted with

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 and have a responsibility to.

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 As parents, we need to realize

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 that we're supposed to be nurturing

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 and guiding our children

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 in the truth of the things of God.

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 But you know, today, like I asked earlier,

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 do you think to your children as a blessing or a burden?

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 Do you see them as a reward or a burden?

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 Do you see them the way God sees them

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 and the way God has given?

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 Do you see them as something

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 that you're building a heritage

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 and a blessing from God?

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 Your children, I want you to understand,

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 God tells us our children are a heritage.

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 Something that is important, has value,

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 needs to be invested in,

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 something that we need to hold on to

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 because the counter-narrative in society

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 promotes a narrative that children are a burden

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 that must be managed or controlled,

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 placed in a timeline of arriving or achieving.

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 Now, I want you, I'm going to explain that a little bit

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 because what you see in society today,

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 people look at marriage and children

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 as I work towards those things to accomplish.

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 They look at it as a pinnacle or a capstone of my life,

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 how I've arranged everything.

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 They look at marriage and children and family as a capstone.

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 Well, when I get all this, now I can have this.

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 That's counter to what God says

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 because God doesn't say having a family

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 is the capstone of life.

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 Having a family is the cornerstone of life.

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 It's the foundation and it's a starting point

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 as people build lives together.

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 You know, we have a society that wants to put marriage secondary

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 as, well, I'll delay it for all these things

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 because I want this first.

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 And then when I'm stable and everything's good

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 and everything's going good,

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 then I'll get married.

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 They look at it as a capstone instead of a cornerstone.

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 Of life.

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 God tells us that it ought to be a cornerstone of life

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 and how that outlook towards children

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 drives this narrative.

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 You know, it's easy to view the responsibility of a child

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 as overwhelming instead of a heritage from the Lord,

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 a heritage that should be cherished and directed.

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 You know, go over to 1 Samuel this morning,

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 1 Samuel chapter 1,

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 and you find here a lady, a mom, a wife.

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 And when you read through,

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 you understand that Hannah here

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 couldn't have children for a long time

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 and she'd been praying to God

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 for God to give her a child.

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 And notice here in verse 27, it says this.

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 It says,

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 You know, I want you to understand what she did.

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 She directed her child back to God,

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 the one that's given her this child.

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 You know, children are a heritage of the Lord.

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 The fruit of the womb is his reward.

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 You know, when was the last time

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 you looked at your children as a reward?

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 As a blessing.

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 Because oftentimes today the society is,

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 is yeah, we're going to do all this

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 and we're going to invest in them,

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 but it's more of a burden mentality

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 than a blessing mentality.

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 When she dedicated Samuel to the Lord,

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 thankful for the gift that God had given her,

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 her perspective was not one of burden,

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 but a blessing,

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 a reward that God had given.

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 You know, your perspective will determine

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 the importance and the priority of children.

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 You know, this morning,

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 I want you to stop and consider in your life,

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 how do you see children?

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 Are they a burden or a blessing?

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 The world tells you they're a burden.

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 God says they're a blessing.

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 They're a blessing from God.

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 It's something we need to have that right perspective.

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 While the children are being a,

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 bring a great responsibility

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 as we are to nurture and to guide them

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 in the things of the Lord.

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 Now I want you to understand,

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 it doesn't mean it's going to be easy

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 because children come with needs.

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 They come with things that need to take place

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 because notice here,

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 children require nurture and guidance.

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 You know, God instructs us

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 that we have to bring them up

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 in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

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 That tells you there's going to be

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 some effort involved

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 because you're developing

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 the very blessing God's given to you

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 because God gives us these.

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 Now notice what it tells us here.

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 Look at verse four back in our text.

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 He talks about children this way.

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 He says this,

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 as arrows are in the hand of a mighty man,

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 so are children of the youth.

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 Arrows, like arrows in your hand.

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 Now I want you to understand,

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 how is the referring here is important

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 because today I think we have,

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 sometimes we get,

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 the way our culture operates,

00:15:08.839 --> 00:15:11.019
 we kind of get a wrong perception.

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 Because today if somebody wanted arrows,

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 they'd walk down here to shields,

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 they'd go in and they'd just pick one off the shelf

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 and then they'd pick the tip that they want

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 and they'd preassemble everything.

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 You know, everything's kind of put together

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 and it's very quick and easy

00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:29.579
 to go down and buy the bow and pull it.

00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:31.259
 What it's talking about here is somebody

00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:33.720
 who took the effort to create

00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:37.680
 and to guide and to mold the arrow,

00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:40.660
 to direct the fletching,

00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:42.379
 that's the feathers that go on the arrow

00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:45.000
 to help it spin and to maintain trajectory.

00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:48.120
 You have the tip, the arrowhead.

00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:52.900
 All three of those components had to be developed,

00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:54.460
 they had to be formed,

00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:57.200
 and they had to have care to do it

00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:58.759
 for them to operate correctly.

00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:01.500
 For an arrow to fly straight,

00:16:01.640 --> 00:16:04.500
 all three of those things have to be in balance

00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:07.759
 and in proper order for it to happen.

00:16:08.640 --> 00:16:10.440
 It didn't happen by accident.

00:16:11.520 --> 00:16:12.840
 You know, you remember as a little kid,

00:16:12.920 --> 00:16:14.259
 have you ever tried to make your own bow and arrow

00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:14.840
 as a little kid?

00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:16.820
 You know, I remember trying to go out

00:16:16.820 --> 00:16:17.940
 and get a stick and a string

00:16:17.940 --> 00:16:21.340
 and then you get this wiggly crooked little stick

00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:22.580
 you picked up on the ground

00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:23.820
 and you pull it back.

00:16:23.940 --> 00:16:25.360
 So you walk over there and you pull it up,

00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:26.460
 you pull it back again,

00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:29.820
 or it goes flying off someplace

00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:31.860
 or pokes your sibling in the eye,

00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:33.560
 you know, or all sorts of adventures that happen.

00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:34.340
 But you know what?

00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:35.620
 It was kind of haphazard

00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:38.340
 and wasn't very effective.

00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:41.259
 What I want you to see this morning

00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:43.779
 when it talks about arrows in your hand,

00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:47.720
 it's something your children need to be developed

00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:50.300
 and formed and directed

00:16:50.300 --> 00:16:52.000
 because they become effective

00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:55.179
 as you send them out from your home.

00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:57.480
 Just as a warrior takes that arrow

00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:59.559
 that he took time to develop.

00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:00.779
 Now here a while back,

00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:03.139
 I watched some weird things sometimes,

00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:04.559
 but I watched them make arrowheads

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:06.859
 out of stone

00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:08.619
 and just kind of watching the guy

00:17:08.619 --> 00:17:10.220
 teach how to do that

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:12.359
 and how much time it takes

00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:13.059
 in the study

00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:15.140
 as they look at the rock

00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:15.900
 and they figure out,

00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.720
 okay, this is the stress fracture.

00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:19.220
 I got to strike it right there

00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:20.559
 to form what I want

00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:21.539
 and when they get done,

00:17:21.620 --> 00:17:21.839
 it's like,

00:17:21.900 --> 00:17:22.339
 how in the world

00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:23.400
 did you beat that out of that?

00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:26.940
 But it's like a great little shape

00:17:26.940 --> 00:17:28.559
 that they've perfectly formed

00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:29.039
 and corrected

00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:30.140
 and it's balanced

00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:31.400
 and it's formed

00:17:31.400 --> 00:17:32.400
 and ready to go.

00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:35.620
 It didn't happen by accident.

00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:36.620
 It happened because

00:17:36.620 --> 00:17:37.539
 they were intentional.

00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:41.259
 They had a purpose in mind

00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:42.519
 that was guiding them

00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:43.799
 in development of it.

00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:45.620
 As a parent,

00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:47.220
 we ought to have a purpose in mind.

00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:49.019
 What are we developing our children?

00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:50.140
 to be

00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:51.960
 because we understand

00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:53.259
 that care is required

00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:53.960
 to have an arrow

00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:55.240
 that flies straight

00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.579
 toward the target.

00:17:57.039 --> 00:18:00.000
 It requires intention to detail.

00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:03.819
 It requires careful shaping

00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:04.480
 and preparation,

00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:05.460
 direction

00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:07.460
 to fulfill its purpose.

00:18:07.579 --> 00:18:08.579
 Just in your life,

00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:09.579
 as a parent,

00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:10.480
 I want you to understand

00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:11.140
 your children,

00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:12.980
 that blessing that God's given to you

00:18:12.980 --> 00:18:14.579
 is in raw form

00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:16.180
 and God instructs you

00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:17.000
 to form it

00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:18.259
 and to prepare it

00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:18.960
 and to be able

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:20.099
 to send it forth

00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:21.579
 that it might fulfill

00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:23.000
 what God's purpose

00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:24.900
 was for them.

00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:26.720
 To prepare

00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:27.539
 and equip them

00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:28.279
 to do that.

00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:29.420
 An arrowhead

00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:31.339
 is carefully groomed

00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:32.359
 to be effective

00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:33.400
 and carefully remove

00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:35.039
 everything that's not required

00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:36.000
 to the point

00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:36.799
 that it'll strike

00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:38.039
 the target effectively.

00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:40.359
 You know,

00:18:40.399 --> 00:18:42.259
 Isaiah 38 verse 19

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.019
 tells us this,

00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:44.279
 the father to the children

00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:45.700
 shall make known

00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:46.339
 thy truth.

00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:46.579
 You know,

00:18:46.599 --> 00:18:47.399
 how do we straight

00:18:47.399 --> 00:18:48.859
 and prepare our children?

00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:50.000
 Teach them the truth

00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:50.940
 of God's word.

00:18:52.159 --> 00:18:52.859
 To teach them

00:18:52.859 --> 00:18:54.119
 what God has said.

00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:54.839
 Teach them

00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:56.099
 what God expects.

00:18:57.879 --> 00:18:58.299
 You know,

00:18:58.339 --> 00:18:58.940
 one of the problems

00:18:58.940 --> 00:18:59.720
 I find today

00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:00.399
 is people treat

00:19:00.399 --> 00:19:01.099
 what God says.

00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:01.259
 Well,

00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:02.059
 that's a good option.

00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:02.920
 Let me try another one.

00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:04.019
 The reality is

00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:04.600
 God says,

00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:04.900
 hey,

00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:06.700
 this is the guidebook.

00:19:07.080 --> 00:19:08.340
 These are the parameters.

00:19:08.620 --> 00:19:09.940
 This is what you're desiring.

00:19:10.100 --> 00:19:10.500
 This is what,

00:19:10.580 --> 00:19:12.620
 this is what you're looking at

00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:13.320
 in the instructions.

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:14.720
 This is what you're aiming for.

00:19:14.800 --> 00:19:16.519
 This is what you ought to desire.

00:19:17.100 --> 00:19:17.240
 Now,

00:19:17.300 --> 00:19:17.880
 I want you to understand

00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.680
 not every child

00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:19.460
 is going to be the same

00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:20.700
 but everyone ought to understand

00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:21.600
 the same truth.

00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:24.620
 The reality of who God is,

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:25.160
 you know,

00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:26.539
 Ephesians 6 verse 4

00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.519
 says this,

00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:28.400
 but bring them up

00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:29.080
 in the nurture

00:19:29.080 --> 00:19:30.100
 and admonition

00:19:30.100 --> 00:19:30.920
 of the Lord.

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:32.519
 To bring them up

00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:34.900
 is an active thing.

00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:36.519
 It's not a one-time event.

00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:38.200
 You know,

00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:39.019
 when you're investing

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:39.900
 in your children,

00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:41.099
 it changes

00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:42.519
 over the course of time.

00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:43.539
 You know,

00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:44.279
 the requirements

00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:45.660
 of bringing up children

00:19:45.660 --> 00:19:47.579
 to become adults

00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:48.079
 because

00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:49.700
 that's another one.

00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.539
 Nobody ought to have

00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.720
 a desire to raise children.

00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:54.019
 I think today

00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:54.639
 we have a problem

00:19:54.639 --> 00:19:55.379
 because we have a bunch

00:19:55.379 --> 00:19:56.539
 of people who raise children.

00:19:56.879 --> 00:19:57.740
 Our goal is not

00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:58.539
 to raise children.

00:19:58.660 --> 00:20:00.059
 Your goal is to raise adults.

00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:01.259
 That's the objective.

00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:02.579
 That child

00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:03.619
 will only be

00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:04.519
 a child

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.420
 for a short period.

00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:07.799
 You spend most

00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.440
 of your life

00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:09.119
 as an adult.

00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.900
 You spend most

00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:12.519
 of your life

00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:12.940
 doing

00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:14.420
 out on your own

00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:15.720
 away from your parents,

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.400
 at least hopefully.

00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:18.279
 You know,

00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:19.099
 the rise of people

00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:20.460
 living at 40 plus

00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.379
 in the parents' basement

00:20:21.379 --> 00:20:22.039
 is increasing.

00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:23.200
 You see all sorts

00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:24.359
 of societal shifts

00:20:24.359 --> 00:20:26.180
 that you have people

00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:27.799
 that are raising children

00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:28.940
 that are apathetic

00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:29.620
 to life.

00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.220
 That's just it.

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.100
 They've raised children

00:20:33.100 --> 00:20:33.880
 and not adults.

00:20:35.320 --> 00:20:36.200
 God wants us

00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:37.160
 to grow up

00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:38.279
 to put away

00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:39.500
 childish things,

00:20:39.860 --> 00:20:41.880
 to do the things

00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:42.960
 that God would have,

00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:44.120
 to do those things

00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:45.000
 that we ought to

00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.279
 and to understand

00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:47.580
 how to run

00:20:47.580 --> 00:20:48.640
 our own household

00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:49.900
 to do those things.

00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:51.220
 Just as God

00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:52.400
 spoke about Abraham

00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:53.700
 in Genesis 18

00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:55.019
 in verse 19,

00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:55.700
 he says this,

00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.660
 for I know him.

00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:58.000
 He's talking about Abraham

00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:59.120
 that he will command

00:20:59.120 --> 00:20:59.900
 his children

00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:01.240
 and his household

00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:02.200
 after him.

00:21:02.840 --> 00:21:03.059
 You know,

00:21:03.100 --> 00:21:03.779
 I want you to understand

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:05.120
 it takes some responsibility

00:21:05.120 --> 00:21:06.299
 to say this is the direction

00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:07.500
 my house is going to go.

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:09.000
 Think about Joshua's statement.

00:21:09.120 --> 00:21:10.279
 As for me and my house,

00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:11.080
 we will what?

00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:13.480
 Serve the Lord.

00:21:15.340 --> 00:21:16.000
 You know what?

00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:16.900
 He looked at everybody else

00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:17.640
 and said what direction

00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:18.120
 are you going?

00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:20.539
 Who are you serving?

00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:22.840
 Are you going to serve

00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:24.199
 culture and society

00:21:24.199 --> 00:21:24.899
 and self?

00:21:26.139 --> 00:21:26.939
 Are you going to serve

00:21:26.939 --> 00:21:27.359
 the Lord?

00:21:28.959 --> 00:21:29.899
 It's a decision

00:21:29.899 --> 00:21:31.079
 that has to be made

00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:34.079
 and we've been talking

00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:34.899
 about family.

00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:37.980
 The decision is made

00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:38.599
 with the dad.

00:21:38.919 --> 00:21:39.740
 I want you to understand

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.959
 as a father,

00:21:41.159 --> 00:21:42.179
 as a husband,

00:21:43.419 --> 00:21:44.740
 God lays additional

00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.859
 responsibilities

00:21:45.859 --> 00:21:46.859
 for your household

00:21:46.859 --> 00:21:47.500
 upon you.

00:21:48.659 --> 00:21:49.500
 You're going to stand

00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:50.179
 before God

00:21:50.179 --> 00:21:50.819
 and give account

00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:51.599
 for your household.

00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:54.559
 what you did

00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.659
 and what you didn't do.

00:21:55.939 --> 00:21:56.799
 Now I want you to understand

00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:58.079
 there's no perfect parent.

00:21:58.399 --> 00:21:58.859
 I don't think there's

00:21:58.859 --> 00:21:59.899
 going to be a single dad

00:21:59.899 --> 00:22:01.000
 that stands before God

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.839
 and says God looks at him

00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:02.359
 and you did.

00:22:02.639 --> 00:22:03.039
 There's going to be

00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:03.599
 some struggles.

00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.159
 But your main movement

00:22:05.159 --> 00:22:06.179
 and direction ought to be

00:22:06.179 --> 00:22:07.159
 I want to be focused

00:22:07.159 --> 00:22:08.059
 towards God.

00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:10.259
 Because the great thing is

00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:11.359
 God forgives,

00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:12.399
 God overcomes

00:22:12.399 --> 00:22:14.059
 even our inabilities

00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:15.299
 and even our errors

00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:17.079
 in trying to bring up

00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:17.639
 our children.

00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:19.279
 You know,

00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:20.399
 sometimes it amazes me

00:22:20.399 --> 00:22:21.819
 my children are in spite of

00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:22.740
 not because of.

00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.919
 And we ought to be thankful

00:22:23.919 --> 00:22:25.519
 that God can overcome

00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.259
 those things.

00:22:26.339 --> 00:22:27.059
 But notice here

00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:27.959
 in Genesis 18

00:22:27.959 --> 00:22:28.299
 it says,

00:22:28.679 --> 00:22:29.639
 And they shall keep

00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:30.539
 the way of the Lord

00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:31.419
 to do justice

00:22:31.419 --> 00:22:32.079
 and judgment

00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:32.959
 that the Lord

00:22:32.959 --> 00:22:34.099
 may bring upon Abraham

00:22:34.099 --> 00:22:35.339
 that which he has spoken

00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:36.819
 of him.

00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:37.720
 You know,

00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.519
 when we understand

00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:39.119
 that children

00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:40.519
 are not just a gift

00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:42.319
 but arrows to shape

00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:44.959
 and arrows to send out,

00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.639
 the prevailing thought

00:22:46.639 --> 00:22:48.480
 today is different.

00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:50.799
 You know,

00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:51.579
 they look at children

00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:52.339
 as a burden

00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:53.339
 but also they look

00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:53.819
 at children,

00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:54.079
 well,

00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:55.440
 they'll figure it out

00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:56.140
 on their own.

00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:56.599
 You know,

00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:57.559
 it's really appalling

00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:58.839
 the attitude today

00:22:58.839 --> 00:23:01.099
 that parents say,

00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:01.259
 well,

00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:02.200
 I don't want to push

00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:03.400
 something on my children

00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:04.420
 of what to believe.

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.620
 When you say that,

00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:06.860
 you're deceiving yourself.

00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:10.059
 Because somebody

00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:11.039
 is instructing

00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:12.099
 and teaching your children.

00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.559
 They're getting instruction

00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:15.299
 and inputs from someplace.

00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.740
 The question is,

00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.339
 as a parent,

00:23:18.399 --> 00:23:19.259
 are you going to control

00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.460
 what those inputs are?

00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.679
 Are you going to direct

00:23:21.679 --> 00:23:22.859
 what those inputs are?

00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:23.839
 Or are you going to let

00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:24.940
 somebody else do it?

00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:25.899
 If you're going to raise

00:23:25.899 --> 00:23:26.460
 your children

00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:27.019
 in the nurture

00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:28.139
 and admonition of the Lord,

00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:29.379
 you have to be proactive,

00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.879
 not reactive.

00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:31.759
 I've talked to many parents,

00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:31.899
 well,

00:23:31.899 --> 00:23:32.619
 I don't want to push

00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:34.179
 my religion on my kids.

00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:34.740
 You know,

00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:35.679
 what I'm telling you is

00:23:35.679 --> 00:23:36.319
 that they're getting

00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:37.519
 a religion from someplace.

00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:41.639
 Because everybody

00:23:41.639 --> 00:23:42.659
 worships something.

00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:44.120
 I want you to understand

00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:44.980
 they're going to worship

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:46.519
 and prioritize something.

00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:47.580
 It's your job.

00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:48.400
 God tells you

00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:49.720
 to instruct them

00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.920
 in the things of God.

00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:54.120
 It's a proactive dynamic

00:23:54.120 --> 00:23:54.720
 is to say,

00:23:54.900 --> 00:23:56.440
 I want them to know this.

00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:57.220
 It's my job

00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:58.580
 to make sure they know this.

00:24:00.040 --> 00:24:01.540
 But in culture today,

00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:03.019
 oftentimes parents negate

00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:03.960
 that to other people.

00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:04.620
 Now,

00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:05.880
 I'm putting it to you this way,

00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:06.560
 very simply,

00:24:07.360 --> 00:24:09.580
 that as a parent,

00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:11.720
 you need to be actively engaged

00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.480
 in what your children

00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:13.000
 are learning.

00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:15.059
 You need to be actively engaged

00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:15.839
 in what your children

00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:16.360
 are learning.

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:19.700
 What that looks like

00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.539
 may be different

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.360
 from each parent

00:24:21.360 --> 00:24:22.640
 because of different dynamics

00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:23.960
 in life and situations.

00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:26.799
 But whether you have

00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:28.099
 your kids in public school

00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:29.180
 or you homeschool them

00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:29.579
 or you put them

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:30.480
 to a private school,

00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:31.400
 as a parent,

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.860
 you ought to be actively involved

00:24:32.860 --> 00:24:34.019
 in what are they being taught.

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.220
 I want you to understand

00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:35.940
 the importance

00:24:35.940 --> 00:24:36.940
 of what we're talking about

00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:38.099
 because it's your job,

00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:38.480
 your responsibility,

00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:39.160
 responsibility

00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:41.579
 because if you don't

00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:42.960
 influence and educate

00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:44.319
 and grab the opportunity

00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.200
 to shape them

00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:45.900
 in their thinking

00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:46.759
 and perspective,

00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:48.880
 somebody else will.

00:24:49.880 --> 00:24:50.620
 Because ultimately,

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.700
 it boils down to this.

00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.400
 You're either going to be

00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.059
 forming them

00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:54.559
 in a godly direction

00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.160
 in thinking

00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:56.319
 or somebody else

00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.319
 is going to be forming them

00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:58.420
 in an ungodly

00:24:58.420 --> 00:25:00.440
 thinking and perspective.

00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.039
 Today,

00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:01.839
 many people think,

00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:01.980
 well,

00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.599
 I'm in the middle.

00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:03.660
 It's like there is no middle.

00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:04.880
 There's either righteousness

00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:05.860
 or unrighteousness.

00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:06.740
 There's either godliness

00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.600
 or ungodliness.

00:25:08.120 --> 00:25:09.120
 There's not an in-between.

00:25:09.600 --> 00:25:11.300
 Think about that child's an arrow.

00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:11.860
 You know,

00:25:11.880 --> 00:25:12.860
 I've yet to see anybody

00:25:12.860 --> 00:25:14.360
 that shoots archery

00:25:14.360 --> 00:25:14.840
 that says,

00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:15.120
 well,

00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.840
 the target's down there

00:25:16.840 --> 00:25:18.020
 and I got the arrow

00:25:18.020 --> 00:25:19.540
 so let's just close my eyes

00:25:19.540 --> 00:25:20.860
 and spin around a few times

00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:22.120
 and let the arrow go

00:25:22.120 --> 00:25:23.040
 and see if it hits the target.

00:25:23.360 --> 00:25:24.020
 What's their odds

00:25:24.020 --> 00:25:24.900
 of hitting the target

00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:25.580
 if they do that?

00:25:25.780 --> 00:25:26.620
 Pretty much zero.

00:25:28.540 --> 00:25:29.780
 But many times today,

00:25:29.780 --> 00:25:30.780
 parents instead of taking

00:25:30.780 --> 00:25:31.640
 the responsibility

00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:33.140
 to form and to aim

00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:35.020
 their children in a direction,

00:25:35.780 --> 00:25:37.660
 they're instead spinning around

00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:38.940
 and hoping they get sent out

00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:39.620
 and they hit something.

00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:41.480
 God says they ought not to be

00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:43.040
 a believer.

00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:46.060
 A believer ought to take responsibility

00:25:46.060 --> 00:25:47.840
 for their household.

00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:48.860
 Think about,

00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:50.840
 turn to 1 Chronicles chapter 28.

00:25:51.280 --> 00:25:53.300
 1 Chronicles 28 and verse 20.

00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:57.080
 Here's David speaking to Solomon.

00:25:57.080 --> 00:25:58.200
 This is David,

00:25:58.340 --> 00:25:58.860
 you might say,

00:25:59.020 --> 00:26:00.440
 sending out his son

00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:01.200
 to fulfill

00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:04.360
 what God has for him to do.

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:07.340
 Look at David's statement.

00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.680
 And David said to Solomon,

00:26:08.820 --> 00:26:09.380
 his son,

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:11.480
 be strong and of good courage

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:12.299
 and do it.

00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:13.660
 Fear not,

00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:15.039
 nor be dismayed,

00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:16.039
 for the Lord thy God,

00:26:16.100 --> 00:26:16.980
 even my God,

00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:17.799
 will be with thee.

00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:19.680
 He will not fail thee,

00:26:19.840 --> 00:26:20.980
 nor forsake thee,

00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:22.860
 until thou hast finished

00:26:22.860 --> 00:26:23.980
 all the work

00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:24.680
 for the service

00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:25.740
 of the house of the Lord.

00:26:27.080 --> 00:26:28.500
 Now the context here,

00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:30.500
 David could not build

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.279
 the Lord's house

00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:32.079
 and God allowed him

00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:32.960
 to assemble everything

00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:33.720
 and he promised him

00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:34.299
 that Solomon,

00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:34.839
 his son,

00:26:34.900 --> 00:26:35.460
 would build it.

00:26:36.619 --> 00:26:37.339
 In other words,

00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:39.400
 David's saying,

00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:39.880
 hey Solomon,

00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:40.700
 I've given you

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:42.200
 everything you need

00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:42.940
 to complete

00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:44.799
 what God has for you to do.

00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:45.700
 That ought to be our goal

00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:46.279
 as parents

00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:47.819
 because you cannot control

00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.980
 everything your kids do

00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.599
 but you ought to be able

00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:50.880
 to say I did my best

00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:51.640
 to equip them

00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.619
 and give them everything

00:26:52.619 --> 00:26:53.339
 they could

00:26:53.339 --> 00:26:54.099
 to make sure

00:26:54.099 --> 00:26:54.880
 they can accomplish

00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:56.019
 what God has for them.

00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:57.160
 Because I'm most going to tell you

00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:58.240
 that your children

00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:59.240
 are going to make choices.

00:26:59.580 --> 00:27:00.740
 Some choices you're going to like,

00:27:00.820 --> 00:27:01.940
 some choices you're not going to like.

00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:03.460
 But when you pray for them

00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:05.540
 and you've put the right things

00:27:05.540 --> 00:27:06.440
 as they're growing up,

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:06.980
 you know what?

00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:08.640
 Those are things

00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:09.900
 that God can use

00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:10.680
 in their life

00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:12.320
 to help convict

00:27:12.320 --> 00:27:13.019
 and convince

00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.640
 and direct

00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:14.360
 and to guide.

00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:15.060
 Because I don't think

00:27:15.060 --> 00:27:15.880
 one of us can say

00:27:15.880 --> 00:27:17.320
 that they made their parents

00:27:17.320 --> 00:27:18.160
 perfectly happy

00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:18.840
 in every decision

00:27:18.840 --> 00:27:19.440
 that they made.

00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:19.860
 You know,

00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:20.820
 parents have a vision

00:27:20.820 --> 00:27:21.519
 of where their kids

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.220
 are going to go

00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:23.940
 or what they're going to do

00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:25.160
 and these things

00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:25.500
 but you know,

00:27:25.560 --> 00:27:26.240
 sometimes God

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.160
 has other plans

00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:28.220
 or kids make plans

00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:28.920
 of their own.

00:27:29.120 --> 00:27:29.940
 But we need to understand

00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.600
 parents,

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.519
 we ought to be shaping

00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:33.960
 and guiding our children

00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:35.019
 in godly ways,

00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:36.640
 preparing the arrow,

00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.140
 giving them

00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:39.320
 and trimming through

00:27:39.320 --> 00:27:40.019
 and preparing

00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:41.340
 everything that's needed

00:27:41.340 --> 00:27:42.100
 for them to be able

00:27:42.100 --> 00:27:42.740
 to fly

00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:44.060
 and to hit the target

00:27:44.060 --> 00:27:45.300
 that God has for them.

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.300
 But I want you to understand

00:27:46.300 --> 00:27:47.259
 I can see everybody

00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:48.040
 and that sounds like

00:27:48.040 --> 00:27:48.660
 work, preacher.

00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:50.160
 Yeah, it is.

00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:50.960
 But there's not

00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.820
 an installed work.

00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:53.799
 There's a lot

00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:54.419
 of fulfillment

00:27:54.419 --> 00:27:56.480
 in family.

00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:57.359
 While children

00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:58.539
 require investment,

00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.639
 they also are a source

00:27:59.639 --> 00:28:01.039
 of joy and blessing.

00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:03.359
 Look at the

00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:05.019
 verse 5 there.

00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:07.000
 Happy is the man

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:08.059
 that hath his quiver

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.859
 full of them.

00:28:10.419 --> 00:28:12.200
 They shall not be ashamed

00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:13.439
 but they shall speak

00:28:13.439 --> 00:28:14.159
 with the enemy

00:28:14.159 --> 00:28:15.700
 in the gate.

00:28:15.899 --> 00:28:16.139
 You know,

00:28:16.179 --> 00:28:16.859
 the tone here

00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:17.779
 in verse 5

00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.859
 is one of joy,

00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:20.139
 of fulfillment

00:28:20.139 --> 00:28:20.980
 that echoes

00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.799
 through a family

00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:23.359
 just as grandparents

00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.460
 are happy to see

00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:25.359
 this generation

00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:26.220
 follow the Lord.

00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.480
 These little ones

00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.319
 will be instructed

00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:29.019
 and guided

00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:30.240
 by the word of God.

00:28:30.639 --> 00:28:30.819
 You know,

00:28:30.879 --> 00:28:32.039
 what a joy it is.

00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:33.899
 You know,

00:28:33.919 --> 00:28:34.639
 it's exciting

00:28:34.639 --> 00:28:36.119
 to see another generation.

00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:39.220
 That ought to be our goal

00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:40.119
 is that our kids

00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:41.419
 grow up to serve the Lord.

00:28:41.619 --> 00:28:42.399
 That's the objective.

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.399
 For them to know

00:28:43.399 --> 00:28:44.339
 who God is,

00:28:44.419 --> 00:28:45.619
 to know who Jesus is,

00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:46.819
 what Jesus did for them,

00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:47.859
 that Jesus Christ

00:28:47.859 --> 00:28:48.980
 came and died

00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:49.839
 because let me tell you,

00:28:49.879 --> 00:28:50.399
 your little one

00:28:50.399 --> 00:28:51.460
 that was born to you,

00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:53.160
 or is going to be born to you,

00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:54.460
 or is currently born to you,

00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:55.440
 is not a little angel.

00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:58.420
 They're born a little sinner.

00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.640
 Just like you.

00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:04.640
 The difference

00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:05.360
 is what they've done

00:29:05.360 --> 00:29:06.059
 with Christ.

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.019
 As a parent,

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:09.700
 that's our goal

00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:10.759
 and that'll bring joy.

00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:11.600
 You know,

00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:12.259
 think about what

00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:13.759
 the Apostle John

00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:15.100
 said over in 3 John.

00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:15.319
 Now,

00:29:15.360 --> 00:29:16.180
 he's speaking here

00:29:16.180 --> 00:29:18.299
 of spiritual heritage,

00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:19.380
 but in a sense,

00:29:20.080 --> 00:29:22.340
 it applies to us

00:29:22.340 --> 00:29:23.100
 as parents too

00:29:23.100 --> 00:29:23.920
 because our goal

00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:24.620
 ought to be

00:29:24.620 --> 00:29:25.820
 that spiritually

00:29:25.820 --> 00:29:26.519
 our children

00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:27.920
 are walking with God.

00:29:29.560 --> 00:29:31.039
 Notice what he tells us here

00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:32.799
 in 3 John 1, 4.

00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:33.039
 It says,

00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:34.480
 I have no greater joy

00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:35.420
 than to hear

00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:36.320
 that my children

00:29:36.320 --> 00:29:38.860
 walk in truth.

00:29:39.060 --> 00:29:39.299
 You know,

00:29:39.340 --> 00:29:40.440
 the kids that you birth

00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:41.019
 physically,

00:29:41.600 --> 00:29:42.880
 there's no greater joy

00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:43.680
 than to see them

00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:45.860
 accept Christ

00:29:45.860 --> 00:29:46.600
 as their Savior

00:29:46.600 --> 00:29:47.640
 and serve the Lord.

00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:49.460
 To be born again

00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.460
 into God's family.

00:29:50.820 --> 00:29:51.960
 The joy of seeing

00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:53.080
 children grow up

00:29:53.080 --> 00:29:54.300
 and to walk in truth

00:29:54.300 --> 00:29:55.540
 just as parents

00:29:55.540 --> 00:29:56.140
 that prepare

00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:57.440
 and guide their children

00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.340
 will see

00:29:58.340 --> 00:29:59.540
 and reap the blessing.

00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:00.300
 These blessings

00:30:00.300 --> 00:30:01.660
 are physical

00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:03.880
 as well as

00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:04.880
 spiritual.

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:07.300
 The blessings here

00:30:07.300 --> 00:30:08.760
 as a well-equipped,

00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.600
 trained child

00:30:09.600 --> 00:30:10.320
 is going to grow up

00:30:10.320 --> 00:30:11.960
 to be a responsible adult

00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:12.840
 that will take

00:30:12.840 --> 00:30:14.019
 a strong stand

00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:14.680
 in life

00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:15.440
 and in faith.

00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.720
 The picture here

00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.740
 is a growing child

00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:19.019
 that stands alongside,

00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:21.140
 strengthening the family.

00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:22.120
 Notice the end

00:30:22.120 --> 00:30:23.079
 of verse 5 here.

00:30:23.420 --> 00:30:24.759
 Why are they happy?

00:30:25.120 --> 00:30:26.000
 Notice what it says.

00:30:26.360 --> 00:30:27.880
 They shall not be ashamed

00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:28.920
 but they shall speak

00:30:28.920 --> 00:30:29.640
 with the enemies

00:30:29.640 --> 00:30:30.279
 in the gate.

00:30:30.600 --> 00:30:30.920
 You know what?

00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:31.900
 They're on board.

00:30:32.120 --> 00:30:33.079
 They're part of the family.

00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:33.779
 They're there.

00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:35.019
 They're standing alongside.

00:30:35.600 --> 00:30:36.660
 They became not just

00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.299
 your children

00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:38.559
 but people in the battle

00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:39.240
 with you.

00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:42.319
 Looking out for one another.

00:30:42.420 --> 00:30:43.380
 That ought to be our goal.

00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:45.740
 When we understand

00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:47.019
 children are a heritage

00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:48.220
 of the Lord.

00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:49.500
 They're a reward.

00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:50.019
 You know,

00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:50.539
 this morning,

00:30:50.620 --> 00:30:51.319
 how do you see

00:30:51.319 --> 00:30:52.299
 children?

00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:56.359
 We have a culture

00:30:56.359 --> 00:30:57.200
 that tells us

00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:58.220
 children are a burden

00:30:58.220 --> 00:30:59.059
 are secondary

00:30:59.059 --> 00:31:00.359
 or there's something

00:31:00.359 --> 00:31:01.539
 that's a capstone.

00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.200
 You know,

00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:02.920
 when I get everything

00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.359
 organized

00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:04.380
 then I'll have kids.

00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:05.599
 God tells us

00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.660
 that's the wrong order.

00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:09.080
 He says family

00:31:09.080 --> 00:31:09.680
 needs to be

00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:10.700
 the cornerstone

00:31:10.700 --> 00:31:12.900
 of society.

00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:14.400
 A cornerstone

00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:15.240
 of our life.

00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:16.320
 That's the picture

00:31:16.320 --> 00:31:17.160
 that we see.

00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:17.920
 Are children

00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:18.500
 a burden

00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:19.700
 or a blessing?

00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:22.420
 How can you celebrate

00:31:22.420 --> 00:31:23.660
 the joy and purpose

00:31:23.660 --> 00:31:24.540
 that kids bring

00:31:24.540 --> 00:31:25.300
 to the family

00:31:25.300 --> 00:31:26.220
 even this week?

00:31:27.800 --> 00:31:28.019
 You know,

00:31:28.040 --> 00:31:28.759
 I want to encourage you

00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:29.540
 to stop and think

00:31:29.540 --> 00:31:30.060
 and consider

00:31:30.060 --> 00:31:31.300
 what kind of joy

00:31:31.300 --> 00:31:33.420
 do you find

00:31:33.420 --> 00:31:34.180
 in the reward

00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:34.880
 that God's given

00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:35.800
 to you and family?

00:31:35.799 --> 00:31:36.299
 You know,

00:31:36.339 --> 00:31:36.799
 that applies

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.559
 both directions

00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:39.279
 because as a growing adult

00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:40.059
 you ought to look back

00:31:40.059 --> 00:31:40.359
 and say,

00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:40.559
 you know,

00:31:40.619 --> 00:31:41.259
 I'm thankful

00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:43.319
 for what my parents did

00:31:43.319 --> 00:31:44.799
 or what my parents gave me

00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:47.279
 and how my parents equipped me.

00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:48.240
 As a parent

00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:48.839
 you ought to look

00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:49.279
 and say,

00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:49.819
 you know,

00:31:49.899 --> 00:31:50.659
 I'm thankful

00:31:50.659 --> 00:31:51.359
 for the things

00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:51.919
 that my kids

00:31:51.919 --> 00:31:52.839
 happened to catch.

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:53.440
 You know,

00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:54.119
 things you were hoping

00:31:54.119 --> 00:31:55.359
 you were guiding

00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:56.539
 and directing them

00:31:56.539 --> 00:31:57.779
 because you cherish

00:31:57.779 --> 00:31:58.779
 as you guide them

00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.639
 and send them out

00:31:59.639 --> 00:32:00.339
 as arrows

00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:02.059
 to fulfill God's plan

00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:03.919
 and God's purpose.

00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:05.700
 You know,

00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:06.140
 this morning

00:32:06.140 --> 00:32:06.840
 what a blessing

00:32:06.840 --> 00:32:07.519
 to see

00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:08.640
 these young families

00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:09.900
 dedicate their children

00:32:09.900 --> 00:32:12.019
 and commit to raise them up

00:32:12.019 --> 00:32:12.580
 in the Lord.

00:32:12.840 --> 00:32:13.000
 You know,

00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:13.620
 it's important

00:32:13.620 --> 00:32:16.800
 to pass on

00:32:16.800 --> 00:32:18.039
 to the next generation

00:32:18.039 --> 00:32:19.820
 the knowledge

00:32:19.820 --> 00:32:21.080
 of who Jesus is

00:32:21.080 --> 00:32:21.920
 and what He's done.

00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:24.060
 How to live godly,

00:32:24.140 --> 00:32:24.700
 what to do,

00:32:24.820 --> 00:32:25.759
 live by example.

00:32:27.600 --> 00:32:27.759
 You know,

00:32:27.820 --> 00:32:29.140
 2 Timothy 3.15

00:32:29.140 --> 00:32:29.759
 says this,

00:32:29.820 --> 00:32:30.700
 and that from a child

00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:31.420
 that has known

00:32:31.420 --> 00:32:32.420
 the Holy Scriptures

00:32:32.420 --> 00:32:33.519
 which are able

00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:34.519
 to make thee wise

00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:35.380
 unto salvation

00:32:35.380 --> 00:32:36.100
 through faith

00:32:36.100 --> 00:32:37.500
 which is in Christ Jesus.

00:32:37.820 --> 00:32:38.820
 Because teaching them

00:32:38.820 --> 00:32:39.720
 and raising them up

00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:40.759
 allows them to move

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:42.279
 from just a physical family

00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:44.720
 into a spiritual family.

00:32:46.060 --> 00:32:47.420
 The family of God.

00:32:48.620 --> 00:32:49.980
 That happens at a moment

00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:51.039
 when they realize

00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:53.400
 that they're a sinner

00:32:53.400 --> 00:32:54.279
 and need a Savior

00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:55.539
 and Jesus Christ

00:32:55.539 --> 00:32:56.920
 is the one.

00:32:57.660 --> 00:32:59.000
 When they trust Him

00:32:59.000 --> 00:33:00.420
 by faith.

00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:02.519
 It happens in a moment

00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:04.480
 when you acknowledge

00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:05.060
 your sin

00:33:05.060 --> 00:33:06.259
 and call upon the one

00:33:06.259 --> 00:33:07.920
 that came and died

00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:08.980
 taking your sin

00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:09.800
 upon Himself

00:33:09.800 --> 00:33:11.580
 but He defeated sin

00:33:11.580 --> 00:33:12.279
 and death

00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:13.680
 and is now alive

00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:14.960
 at the right hand

00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:15.560
 of the Father.

00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:18.620
 What a wonderful blessing

00:33:18.620 --> 00:33:19.360
 we have

00:33:19.360 --> 00:33:20.279
 in being part

00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:21.200
 of God's family.

00:33:22.820 --> 00:33:23.400
 Today,

00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:24.100
 if you're not part

00:33:24.100 --> 00:33:24.620
 of His family,

00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:25.500
 I encourage you

00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:27.860
 to make today

00:33:27.860 --> 00:33:28.420
 the day

00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:29.420
 that you call upon Him.

00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:31.920
 because it happens

00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:32.420
 at a moment.

00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:33.480
 It happens at a point

00:33:33.480 --> 00:33:34.060
 of decision

00:33:34.060 --> 00:33:36.500
 to say,

00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:37.300
 who is the Savior

00:33:37.300 --> 00:33:38.000
 and what's He done

00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:38.440
 for me?

00:33:39.720 --> 00:33:40.779
 But as a parent

00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:41.920
 or grandparent

00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:44.000
 or hope to be parent,

00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:45.080
 I want you to understand

00:33:45.080 --> 00:33:45.680
 the attitude

00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:46.820
 we're talking about today

00:33:46.820 --> 00:33:48.300
 starts beforehand.

00:33:48.680 --> 00:33:50.039
 It starts where you are today.

00:33:50.039 --> 00:33:52.759
 How do you see,

00:33:54.099 --> 00:33:54.379
 children?

00:33:55.299 --> 00:33:56.500
 Will you honor the Lord

00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:58.019
 in bringing them up

00:33:58.019 --> 00:33:58.639
 in the nurture

00:33:58.639 --> 00:33:59.899
 and admonition of the Lord

00:33:59.899 --> 00:34:00.659
 in the spirit

00:34:00.659 --> 00:34:01.180
 and attitude

00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:02.720
 as they are a blessing

00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:03.859
 and a reward

00:34:03.859 --> 00:34:06.259
 to you

00:34:06.259 --> 00:34:07.859
 from God?

00:34:08.679 --> 00:34:23.539
 in the miracle

00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:23.539


00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:24.299
 in miracle

00:34:24.299 --> 00:34:24.299


00:34:24.299 --> 00:34:24.299


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