Feature Photo of Dead Sea Israel By Dave Herring Upsplash.com
Walking in Godly Principles is a bi-weekly scripture of encouragement, subscribed by “…time with the master…”. Previously published on the front page of the site, it will now appear additionally, as a post.
If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others. Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers. Often, sharing them results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.
Feature Photo of Dead Sea Israel By Dave Herring Upsplash.com
Walking in Godly Principles is a bi-weekly scripture of encouragement, subscribed by “…time with the master…”. Previously published on the front page of the site, it will now appear additionally, as a post.
If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others. Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers. Often, sharing them results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.
Feature Photo of Dead Sea Israel By Dave Herring Upsplash.com
Walking in Godly Principles is a bi-weekly scripture of encouragement, subscribed by “…time with the master…”. Previously published on the front page of the site, it will now appear additionally, as a post.
If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others. Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers. Often, sharing them results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.
Feature Photo of Dead Sea Israel By Dave Herring Upsplash.com
Walking in Godly Principles is a bi-weekly scripture of encouragement, subscribed by “…time with the master…”. Previously published on the front page of the site, it will now appear additionally, as a post.
If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others. Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers. Often, sharing them results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.
If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others. Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers. Often, sharing them results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.
Welcome to PART 5 of the King and His Kingdom which we’ve entitled the Role of the Parents.
Having completed the roles of both the husband and wife, this session, we are going to take a closer look at the Godly responsibilities of Parents. Many of the principles applying to the role of the husband and wife, mentioned in the previous sessions, will apply to parents as well.
God’s Promise
God has made and will continue to make a great nation of His people, because He has a covenant with them, promising this very thing. They are a redeemed people from every nation, who have been made into kings and priests for the sole sake of God – to reign with Him … even on earth. (Rev5: 9-10).
Mankind was created to give glory, honor, and power to God. This being their main purpose. As a result of the fall in the Garden of Eden, mankind did not give glory to God, nor did they subsequently realize their real purpose, because of their fallen state. Jesus came to restore this circumstance and we can see in 2 Cor., mankind has been redeemed to live for God’s good pleasure (2 Cor.5:14-15).
This objective of living for God is so singularly important, that both Jesus and Paul advised against marriage in the scriptures of Matt.19 and 1Cor., as it could distract the focus of establishing God’s purposes on earth. (Matt.19: 10-12; 1 Cor.7: 8, 32-33). Jesus says in fact, that there ought not to be a single relationship or possession that should take precedence over our love of Him (Luke14: 26,33).
We must bear in mind here that it was God who instituted marriage (not mankind), and that separate principles apply to married disciples. This, so that the Gospel can continue to be shared through the testimony of marriage.
Through correct training of our offspring, God’s plan of making His children into a great nation will continue to come to pass.
Godly Seed
Husbands and wives are a team effort for God’s objectives being carried out on this earth, and ultimately in the Kingdom of Heaven, as they are co-heirs of His Kingdom. (1 Pet.3: 7; Col.3:19). But also, by virtue of their acceptance of marriage, they will be accountable to God because of their status as parents and also teachers. (James 3:1).
They will have the unique role of bringing children into the world and then raising them as Godly seed, whilst their marriage and family life will both encourage other believers and give hope (salvation) to the lost; thereby producing Godly seed in others (Mal2:15 NLT). This will ensure that God’s authority will flow through the family and be passed onto the next generation.
Family Unit
From the viewpoint of the Church, it is reliant on strong functional family units, to make it, as a body, effective for the Gospel. The strength of the local church is directly related to the strength of its family units.
The strength of the family unit will see God’s authority flowing out into the community, into workplaces, and eventually into the nation.
Next, we must clearly see that outside the Christian marriage and family unit, the world does NOT HAVE A GODLY MODEL, and therefore has reduced hope of finding salvation.
Role Models
Today we see the result of marriages not working according to Godly principles – crime, drugs, and all types of debauchery. Parents operating outside of God’s principles will project the wrong role models for their children. Children will not experience God’s authority through their parents and therefore will not know how to pass this authority onto future generations.
To successfully raise Godly seed in our children, parents need to first have both the role of the husband and the role of the wife working according to God’s government, or their words of instruction will have no life-giving qualities. Effective communication for Jesus comes from an authoritative communicator, not an articulate one (Matt.7:29). Both parents need to be effective, authoritative communicators, with testimony in their own lives, to earn the respect of their children (Matt.7:29).
EM Bounds wrote this: – “No man can preach beyond the level of his own testimony”.
How does God see Children?
We need to see children in the important light that God sees them and as Jesus describes in Matt 18 and 19:
In our relationship with the Lord, we need to become like little children. They are the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. When we respect little children and serve them, it is as good as doing it to Jesus (Matt.18:1-5; Matt.19: 13-15). If we reject and ill-treat them, we may as well be put to death! (Matt.18:6;10). Perfect praise comes from children (Matt.21:15-16).
Obedience produces Fruit
In Gen.18, we see God’s covenant with Abraham was put into play because he was obedient regarding the bringing up of his child, Isaac (Gen.18:18-19). Further, Abraham was an effective communicator. On the way to the sacrificial alter, Isaac hears his Father prophesying … “God will provide a lamb…”. Then he witnessed the dagger over his body. However, Isaac remained obedient because of the way he had been brought up. He heard his father prophesy life and trusted him (Gen.22: 8-11).
Communication
Positive communication follows the form of speaking words of life. Prov.18:21 warns us that either death or life flows from the tongue. The only way we can communicate life is by abiding in Jesus, so that He abides in us (Jn.15:5), in other words, our relationship with God should be real and well-grounded. When we are led by His Spirit, out of the abundance of our hearts, our mouths will speak (Jn.7:38).
Communication also involves listening. James 1 tells us we need to be better listeners than speakers (James 1:19). If Jesus was willing to minister to the need of children, so it is that as parents abide in Him, they will seek ministry opportunities when their children approach them, wanting to speak.
A child who is accustomed to communicating with a receptive parent will never struggle to communicate with his parents in later years. Just as our communication habit with God needs to be cultivated, so does our communication with our children.
Lastly, communication involves lifestyle. Whilst talking and listening is important, it is a scientific fact that the human brain only retains 7% of all that it hears, but on the other hand, retains 38% of all that it sees and hears – and that is Lifestyle.
Parental Examples
Someone once said, ‘Zip the lip and walk the talk’. Children will be most affected by what they see in their parents’ lifestyles. Particularly up until they are able to have their own relationship with God, they see and communicate with God through their parents. Any child who has had a poor relationship with his parents will struggle to have a relationship with God. Their trust in God is founded on trusting their parents.
It must be always remembered that with regard to training children, we have strong competition from satan. He works through the very effective media of television, magazines, worldly friends, education, and worldly entertainment.
The scriptures speak much of correctly disciplining children. Discipline is never an easy thing to effect, but without it, children may not inherit the Kingdom of God (Prov.23:13-14). The reason for this is because the sinful nature inherited from Adam, causes a child to have a sinful heart (Ps.51:5). The habits of the sinful nature need to be trained to re-new the thinking. Proverbs 22 says that discipline is the way to train children (Prov.22:15). Parents need to discipline with diligence (Prov.13:24). Discipline should be effective, but not damaging (Prov. 20:30).
Discipline
Society today has a negative outlook on the use of Biblical discipline, largely because, over years, the biblical methods have not been correctly adhered to, resulting in cases of abuse of children. Discipline may take many forms. Parents should seek the Lord diligently over this issue to find the correct and preferred method for each family.
Whichever method is sought, here are some points to remember:
Some ‘Do’s and ‘Don’ts’
Don’t keep threatening verbally.
Don’t discipline hastily or in anger.
Don’t discipline in front of friends or in public.
Do act after speaking twice.
Do discipline promptly.
Do follow through with, and complete the corrective action.
Discipline should be considered ONLY after:
a. A child has broken the rules that have been set for them—ensuring they fully understood the instruction.
b. Parents have gone the second mile with them.
If parents do not discipline their children when they break the rules they have been set, then parents undo valuable work (Matt.5:19 and 37).
In a Nutshell….
The role of the parents is to disciple their children to a place where they will hunger and thirst for God.
In a practical vein, Prov.22 says we are to ‘train up a child ..’ (Prov. 22:6). We do this first of all by communication, and secondly by discipline.
Children simply need to understand their boundaries socially and within the family unit. They will often explore for themselves how far they can go, before transgressing rules.
We should disciple children according to Godly principles – ‘permit’ what has already been ‘permitted’ in heaven and ‘forbid’ what has already been ‘forbidden’ in Heaven (Matt.18:18).
And last – but definitely not least – remember, “a family that prays together… stays together”. Parents should never stop praying for their children – ever!
OK… time to recap what we’ve shared this week:
God’s Promise – God is making a great nation of His people, because He has made a covenant with them promising this very thing. Through correct disciplining of our offspring, God’s plan of making His children into a great nation will come to pass.
Godly Seed – Husbands and wives are a team effort for God’s objectives being carried out on this earth. They are co-heirs of His Kingdom. Parents will be accountable to God because of their status as parents and also teachers. They will have the unique role of bringing children into the world and then raising them as Godly seed.
Family Unit – The strength of the local church is directly related to the strength of its family units.
We must clearly see that outside the Christian marriage and family unit, the world does NOT HAVE A GODLY MODEL.
Role Models – Parents operating outside of God’s principles will project the wrong role models for their children. Both parents need be effective, authoritative communicators, with testimony in their own lives, to earn the respect of their children (Matt.7:29).
How does God see Children? – When we respect little children and serve them, it is as good as doing it to Jesus. If we reject and ill treat them, we may as well be put to death! Perfect praise comes from children.
Obedience produces Fruit – God’s covenant with Abraham was fulfilled because he was obedient regarding the bringing up of his child Isaac. Further, he was an effective communicator.
Communication – Communication follows the form of speaking words of life. The only way we can communicate life is by abiding in Jesus, so that He abides in us (Jn.15:5). Communication also involves listening. Out of their relationship with the Lord, parents will seek ministry opportunities when their children approach them wanting to speak. Communication involves lifestyle.
Parental Examples – Children will be most affected by what they see in their parents’ lifestyle. Any child who has had a poor relationship with his parents will struggle to have a relationship with God. Remember that parents face competition from Satan through the very effective media of television, magazines, worldly friends, education and worldly entertainment.
Discipline – Discipline may take many forms. Parents should seek the Lord diligently over this issue to find the correct and preferred method for each family. Remember the list of ‘Do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ mentioned earlier.
In a Nutshell…. The role of the parents is to disciple their children to a place where they will hunger and thirst for God, done firstly by communication, and secondly by discipline. Children simply need to understand their boundaries socially and within the family unit.
Please join me soon for PART 6, where we will explore some principles of the Kingdom of God for working believers in the business world. Be blessed during this coming week – I look forward to being with you soon.
If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others. Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers. Often, sharing them results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.
If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others. Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers. Often, sharing them results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.
If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others. Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers. Often, sharing them results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.
Some people think they will only enter the Kingdom of God when they pass from this earth. For the purpose of these sessions, we would like to say there is a difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of God is not bound by physical boundaries but is that area where God does things according to His ways (in other words, His principles or His Government). We can enter His Kingdom here and now.
The Kingdom of Heaven, on the other hand, is that place we will see when we pass from this earth – provided we have followed the Lord in this life. Essentially though, they are the same place.
Please join me over the next few sessions where we’ll have a closer look at the Lord’s Kingdom and see some of the principles God would like us to adhere to – and then, understand what happens to us if we don’t.
The Kingdom Prophesied
The Word of God predicted the arrival of a kingdom belonging to Jesus, which would last forever once established here on earth. In Matthew’s book, we see that John the Baptist came proclaiming the arrival of this kingdom and warned all at hand to repent.
In Matt 4, He said the same thing and promised that some would not die before they see Him arriving in this kingdom. Three of His disciples saw Jesus transfigured before them (which was the fulfillment of Matt 16:28). They were able to see with “Kingdom eyes” the resurrection body of Jesus spoken of in Matt.17.
The coming of the kingdom was no more than the time when Jesus, by His death and resurrection, would permit as many as were willing, to receive sight of this invisible system. (Known as the Government of God – and which has been in operation since the beginning of time).
This circumstance is portrayed when Jesus, speaking to Pilate, explained that His kingdom was not OF THIS WORLD. In other words, His kingdom did not run by the world’s system, but rather by His principles – a system called the Government of God.
The promise of the Old Testament was that “…the government will rest on His shoulders…. This promise was fulfilled by the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. His birth was accomplished as predicted and the events of His life were recorded in the Gospels. In these records, are the sayings of Jesus, making reference to the kingdom – more than one hundred times.
Where is the Kingdom of God?
The Kingdom of God is here and now. Jesus said it is within us and therefore among us. He explained that the kingdom has suffered violence, since its proclamation by John the Baptist, and further, that entrance to this kingdom will be attained by one who is driven with a ‘violence of devotion’.
How do we get into His Kingdom?
We can enter the Kingdom of God today! Jesus said that firstly, we need to be ‘born again’ because this is the way that we catch sight (become aware of) of His kingdom. Next, we need to be ‘…born of water and born of the Spirit…’ to enter the kingdom.
Sight of this kingdom is the place that we are released to come to the understanding of what is really happening in this world—or simply put, we become more aware of God, more aware of our sinful nature (not only our sin but the engine that drives us to sin). Also, the activities of the devil are exposed to us.
Entry is the place where we begin to fully understand what we see with the human eye is very far from the real picture of what God is doing — again more simply put, our lifestyles reflect Godly behavior. This happens as we understand that our sinful nature has been crucified with Christ (please refer to the sessions in ‘The Gospel Explained’ for a deeper explanation of entering the Kingdom of God).
How do we walk in the Kingdom?
Do those with Kingdom eyes see physically into another dimension? – NO. Those with kingdom eyes see with the sight of faith. Paul tells us in 2 Cor that FAITH must replace human sight. The reason for this is simple. The system of God’s kingdom is opposed to the system of the world. Yet God has allowed, ever since the fall of Adam, the worldly system to function, opposite, yet in parallel, to the system of His Government – for the time being. Let’s find time this coming week to have a look at and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to us.
Not only should we live daily with eyes of faith and walk according to the Spirit, but Paul reminds us that we are to live for Christ. He said, “It is no longer I that live…. “. He goes on to say, for us to live this way, is our “reasonable service…”
Obedience in the Kingdom
In any Kingdom, the King owns everything. In God’s kingdom, God is the owner of everything. In this sense, you and I own nothing in this world but are stewards of God’s things. We are accountable to Him for our stewardship.
Romans 13 tells us that there is no authority on earth, which has not been put in place by God. We are all accountable to someone in our lives, whether it is the government of the country, the management of a company, or parents in our family. ALL have been elected by God to have authority over us.
Therefore, if we choose to disobey the worldly authority above us (in other words, God’s appointed), we are indirectly disobeying God Himself (Rom.13:2).
When we rebel against God’s appointed authority, we bring condemnation on ourselves (Rom.13: 2).
God’s appointed authorities are accountable to God, and when they disobey God and treat those in their care badly, God will judge them.
As children of the Lord, we are called to obey all worldly authority. However, we cannot obey authorities who instruct us to do things that are not within God’s Government.
A kingdom’s most important asset is its people. We can judge how Godly a king is by the condition of the people in that kingdom. A quick comparison with worldly kingdoms will show us how wonderfully God blesses His children.
Right… let’s recap what we’ve shared this week:
We can enter the Kingdom of God here and now.
The Kingdom Prophesied – The promise of the Old Testament was that “…the government will rest on His shoulders….” This promise was fulfilled by the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus would permit as many as were willing, to receive sight of this invisible system.
Where is the Kingdom of God? – Jesus said His Kingdom is within us and therefore among us. It is not bound by physical boundaries but is that area where God does things according to His ways (in other words His principles or His Government).
How do we get into His Kingdom? – Jesus said that firstly, we need to be ‘born again’, for this is the way that we catch sight (or become aware of) His kingdom (Jn 3: 3). Next, we need to be ‘…born of water and born of the Spirit…’ in order to enter His kingdom (Jn3: 5).
How do we walk in the Kingdom? – Paul tells us in 2 Cor that FAITH must replace human sight as we live daily in God’s Kingdom, because here on earth, the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world run in parallel.
Obedience in the Kingdom – Romans 13 says that all authority on earth has been put in place by God. We are all accountable to someone in our lives. ALL have been elected by God to have authority over us. Therefore, if we choose to disobey the worldly authority above us (which are God’s appointed), we are indirectly disobeying God.
A kingdom’s most important asset, are its people. We can judge how Godly a king is by the condition of the people in that kingdom. A quick comparison with worldly kingdoms will show us how wonderfully God blesses His children.
Please join me next week, In PART 2, where we will explore some more things about the Kingdom of God. Be blessed during this coming week – I look forward to being with you soon.
If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others. Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers. Often, sharing them results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.
How many times, were you told these words, when you were a young person growing up and discovering all the wonderful things in life?
Words from parents, family, friends, teachers, perhaps, some suggesting that these were the words of Jesus and at the very least – from the bible.
But, this of course, is not the case; the expression is simply a case of ancient Greek folklore and is not specifically stated in the scriptures
Ad Crucem Christi - The Cross of Christ 