May 4, 2014

Ephesians 6:1-4

Raising children isn't as it used to be.  Today, this world is going mad, crazy, and relative.  Dr. Cook begins a series of messages focused on the family, and taking our families back from an ungodly world.

Teenagers today are probably some of the smartest people among population. Knowledge is at their fingertips. But we, as parents must be aware and savvy to things to protect and set boundaries for our children.

Culture is trying it very best to redefine the word family that is absolutely contrary to the Word of God. It is a battle that is waging war against the church. It is wrong! We must stand at the battle against this attack of culture. So how do you do it?

How do we raise our children in a world gone mad?

The Bible says it this way: Ephesians 6:1-“Children obey your parents.” But when the Bible says this, it seems like and easy fix. The truth of it is, this message is more about parents then it is about children. There is much to be said about moms/wives. There is much to be said about dads/husbands. And there is some to be said about kids. But if you put this all together, there is much to be said about making all this work as a family.

The truth, parents, is we have to be the kind of parents that are worth obeying. If you back up to Ephesians 5. It starts with wives to husbands and husbands to wives. Once wives and husband are in right relationship with each other, the matter of obeying is easier. As the parent, you can be clean in your instruction to your children to teach that obeying is not a bad word, but a good word.

Eph 6:1-4

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2Honor your father and your mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. 4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

Dads, that part that says do not provoke your children to anger, we got work to do. We “go-to” work and provide for our family, and we put effort in working hard and getting to work on time. We put a lot of energy into our work. We have to do that same kind of work at home. We have to put that same kind of energy into the work of raising our children and families. We need to work to understand how to raise our children and even harder at understanding our children.

Eph 5:25-29

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church[a]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church"

Husband love your wives. Dads, if we work hard to not provoke our children to anger, we are doing it by loving our wife with the same kind of passion or more passion than anything else we can put out mind and heart into in this world. Love your wife as Christ love the church. He died for the Church! That is an intense deep committed love. Would you put your life on the line for your wife? And does she know it? That is Paul’s calling for the father. We go off to work and do whatever it is we do, but when we get home, our job is not done. We must still work to build a great relationship within the family.

Moms, the Bible says be subject to your husband in everything. Eph. 5:24 “As the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands.” It is not about commands and orders, it about followership, respect, and giving to one another to build a cohesive unit that the children see: so they are united together, so they are willing to follow and obey.

Ephesians 5:22-24

"Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. "

Wives are called to follow. And men are supposed to lead, following Christ.

Ephesians 5:32

"This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church."

Church, we together have a responsibility. To be the family of one another. Challenging children to be obedient following after Christ. Challenging men to step up as the leader of God in their homes. Challenging women to respect and follow their husbands, as he follows Christ. We, church, have the responsibility to help and guide the children in the ways that are proper and right.