Open Heavens Devotional May 19 2020 – CHRISTIAN PARENTING.

MEMORY VERSE:

“TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO: AND WHEN HE IS OLD, HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT.“ Proverbs 22:6

BIBLE READING: Proverbs 22:1-12

1• A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

2• The rich and poor meet together: The LORD is The Maker of them all.

3• A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

4• By humility and the fear of The LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

5• Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

6• TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO: AND WHEN HE IS OLD, HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT.

7• The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

8• He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

9• He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

10•. Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

11• He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

12• The eyes of The LORD preserve knowledge, and He overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

A. The survival of Christianity is threatened if we refuse to raise our children the godly way.

1• If that happens, we would have failed as parents.

2• “Proverbs 22:15: Says Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but THE ROD OF CORRECTION shall drive it far from him..”

3• It is important that we train children in the way of The Lord because whatever they learn early in life tends to remain with them for a very long time, if not forever.

4• This means that children will grow with knowledge, not ignorance or half-truths.

5• What do you want them to grow with?

6• To have a future generation of true Christians, we must deliberately teach our children what God requires of them because soon, leadership will rest on their shoulders.

B. WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF HIS CHILDREN?

A. REVERENCE AND OBEDIENCE:

1• Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says the duty of man is to FEAR GOD and obey Him.

2• We must teach the coming generation THE FEAR OF GOD which is the beginning of wisdom

3• Proverbs 1:7: Says “The fear of The LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

4• THEY MUST GET WISDOM.

B. WORK:

1• 2 Thessalonians 3:10: Says “

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

2• Tell them eating the food of idleness is not a mark of a Christian.

C. TRUST:

1• HUMAN EFFORTS SHALL FAIL

2• Psalms 127:1 Says “Except The LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: Except The LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”

3• Hence THEY SHOULD BE TAUGHT TO DEPEND SOLELY ON GOD.

D. HOLINESS:

1• Hebrews 12:14: Says “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see The Lord:”

2• WE MUST PREPARE THEM TO BE PURE BRIDES OF CHRIST.

E. LOVE:

1• Charity (Love) is the greatest of virtues.

2• 1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

3• TEACH THEM TO LOVE LIKE CHRIST, not just in words, but also in deed and in truth

4• 1 John 3:18 Says “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

F. GIVE:

1• If they love like Christ, they should also LEARN TO GIVE TO GOD’S WORK AND TO THE NEEDY

2• Proverbs 11:25 Says “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”

G. EVANGELISM:

1• TEACH THEM TO WIN SOULS.

2• Proverbs 11:30: Says: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and HE THAT WINNETH SOULS IS WISE.

H. If we are faithful- as Christian parents,

1• God will be pleased and

2• A future generation of genuine Christians will be guaranteed.

Parents and The Church should engage in conscious efforts to offer quality DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING for our CHILDREN, TEENAGERS and YOUTH.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 5, 38, 41-42.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN: GOD GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES.

1. God give us Christian homes!

Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,

Homes where the Master’s will is sought,

Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought;

God give us Christian homes;

God give us Christian homes!

2. God give us Christian homes!

Homes where the father is true and strong,

Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,

Homes that are joyous with love and song;

God give us Christian homes;

God give us Christian homes!

3. God give us Christian homes!

Homes where the mother, in caring quest,

Strives to show others Your way is best,

Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;

God give us Christian homes;

God give us Christian homes!

4. God give us Christian homes!

Homes where the children are led to know

Christ in His beauty who loves them so,

Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;

God give us Christian homes;

God give us Christian homes!

EMMANUEL=GOD WITH US!