Parents,
Who's Doing Your Job?
There are many in the world today who would love
to fill the minds of our children with their ungodly, filthy,
perverted, humanistic, atheistic, and anti-Christ principles.
The question is - as Parents, will we let them do it?
They are every where. You can hear them preaching their messages
every day through the TV, radio, movie and music industries, talk
shows, news media, sitcoms, public school system, etc. They are the
"unruly and vain talkers and deceivers"(Titus
1:10) to whom Paul referred in his letter to Titus.
They are empty boasters of knowledge who will not submit to
authority or good government nor will they come under any type of
wholesome discipline. They are unruly, headstrong, ambitious of
power, and untractable. They are talkative and given to fluent,
persuasive, and convincing arguments in order to deceive innocent
souls.
Believe it or not - their
main targets are our children and grandchildren.
It's time like never before that we - as parents and grandparents
-
...take a stand and stop this flood of iniquity with the Word of God
and prayer
...wipe the dust off of our Bibles and begin to read and study God's
Book to see what He has to say on this matter
...take full responsibility for the spiritual wellbeing of our young
ones - not relegating this God-given duty to the Pastor or the
Sunday School teacher.
These children are ours; we will stand
in judgment some day and give an account before God Almighty for
how WE raised them according to His Word.
Deuteronomy 6:7 instructs all parents with these words -
"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."
This teaching is to be a practice that is done over and over again.
The image presented here is that of an instrument being sharpened
through much friction or grinding. Over and over again, the
principles of God's Word are to be repeated - using all means in
order to get the youngsters to understand. As when one sharpens a
knife, this Word is to be turned over and over again - carefully and
exactly in their hearts and minds - on this side and then on the
other - until a full understanding is obtained.
God's Word should be the main discussion at home - always
accompanied with reverence and seriousness. It is to then be taken
abroad into the world with them - causing them to never be ashamed
to own God as their Father. It must be considered as a vital part of
life - the beginning and ending of each day.
How vital is the role of each parent
in the spiritual instruction of the child?
Solomon gave us three Proverbs in explanation -
Proverbs 1:8 - "My son, hear the
instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother."
Proverbs 6:20 - "My son,
keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy
mother."
Proverbs 23:22 - "Hearken
unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she
is old."
Among the Jews, "Father" was the title of the teacher
or tutor and "son" was always the disciple or scholar.
According to the Scriptures, the parents are the ones given the
principal charge of their children's instruction. They cannot
fulfill this duty efficiently and accurately, however, without the
Fear of the Lord and a godly example to back up their words.
The children are admonished in the Scriptures how to respond to the
Word that is placed in their hearts and minds by their parents - to
hear, heed, welcome, subscribe to, agree with, and take it for their
guide in all of their actions.
It cannot be emphasized enough that it
is the parent's duty and responsibility to teach the children
godly principles based on the Word. Many would dare to rise up and
challenge this authority, but their attempts must be rebuked and
cast down.
Our children must be taught the value of Prayer - committing
every decision that they face to the Lord - seeking Him for His
wisdom, instruction, and direction.
In Psalm 27:11, David taught us how to pray for divine
guidance - "Teach me Thy way, O LORD,
and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies."
Our children must be taught that they will encounter many harsh,
cruel, and oppressive foes whose sole intent is to see them fall
from their own steadfastness in the Lord. What they desperately
need is a "plain path" -
God's instruction - His "way"
- on how to act or react wisely, rightly, and surely to the
situation at hand.
What they also need - as the surest guide on their way - is the Fear
of the Lord which Proverbs 15:33 says is the
"instruction of wisdom." Those who learn early to
submit to Him in a holy and reverent manner will be well taught.
According to Colossians 3:16, the
"word of Christ" must
"dwell" in them "richly."
What this means is that it must "keep house" in their
hearts as the master, prescribing and directing all their affairs.
They must study it so as to become thoroughly acquainted with it,
allowing it to become a mighty force and influence on their lives.
A common opinion among the Jews was that wherever God's Law was
read, heard, or preached, there you would find the SHECHINAH(the
manifested presence of the Almighty) present. In other words,
wherever the Truth is preached and believed, there you will find the
constant dwelling of the Lord. May that be true of our homes where
the Word of God has precedence!
Our children must be taught to "hold
fast the form of sound words..."(2 Timothy 1:13).
This implies that they are to have some sort of outline, sketch,
plan, or pattern - that is fixed on their minds and that they
constantly adhere to - so as to successfully stand against all
opposers of their Christian beliefs.
Parents must warn their children of the times in which we live -
when men are "not
enduring sound doctrine,"
but "after their own lusts,"
"heaping to themselves teachers, having
itching ears."(2 Timothy 4:3). We are surrounded by
those who prefer speculative opinions to the solid Truth of God's
Word. Many are fickle, unsettled, superficial, and never satisfied -
seeking after instruction that will offer variety and satisfy their
endless curiosity, coincide with their whims and fancies, deal
gently with their passions and lusts, and simply excuse sin.
No parent can ever presume to be
successful - in such a difficult task of raising their children
for the Lord in such an hour as this - without the help and power
of the Holy Spirit.
John 14:26 plainly declares of this Mighty
"Comforter" that -
"...He shall teach you all things..."
In order to counteract the "spirit of
antichrist" that is already in the world in which we
live and seeking to steal our children from us - we have this
Blessed Advocate from the Father - Who is well able to remove all of
our doubts and give us perfect understanding in all things.
John 16:13 - He is the "Spirit of
Truth" Who "guides" "into
all truth." He will not only show us the way, but go
alongside us - constantly filling us with His power. No
humanistic or atheistic influence can stand in His way for He is
very God.
The
"unruly and vain talkers and deceivers"
are in our world and they are after our children.
As parents, what will we do about it?
Will we just stand by and let them
pervert their innocent minds or will we rise up in the power of
the Holy Spirit with God's Sword - His Word - in our hearts and
mouths and fight to the death for them?
Oh! Father and Mother, you are ordained for
this hour!
Your children are depending on you to do your job!
Will you do it?
May God Bless His Word.
Connie
