Deuteronomy 6:5 Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and
with all thy might. 6 And
these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 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. 8 And
thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets
between thine eyes. 9 And
thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
There are many things we do to protect our families…
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From the places we choose to live, to the places we choose to play.
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From Lawn mowers to kitchen cabinets.
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From food to friends.
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From poison control notices, insurance, clothing, toys, cribs.
The
Changing American Family | by Herbert S. Klein. "For
all the changes Americans have experienced from the colonial period until
today, there was surprisingly little change in the structure of the family
until the past quarter century. Until that point, the age of marriage changed
from time to time, but only a minority of women never married and births
outside marriage were traditionally less than 10 percent of all births.
But this fundamental social institution has changed profoundly since
1980. In fact, if one were to define the most original demographic feature in
the post-1980 period in the United States, it would be the changes that are occurring
in both families and households in all sections of the national population.
The traditional American family has been undergoing profound
transformations for all ages, all races, and all ethnic groups. Every aspect of
the American family is experiencing change."
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1 in 5 pregnancies in US end in abortion. Over
1 million abortions last year.
40.7% of all births in America are to un-wed mothers.
43% of couples live together outside of marriage.
1. DEDICATE YOURSELF TO THE LORD. Joshua 24:15 If it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD,
choose you this day whom ye will serve;... but as for me and my house, we will
serve the LORD.
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Our
children know if our relationship with the Lord is Supernatural or Superficial
because our actions speak louder than our words.
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One
of the lessons we learn from biblical history is God desires to bless his
people…
2. DEDICATE EACH CHILD TO THE LORD. Psalm
127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of
the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
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By
doing this you acknowledge the true ownership of your child is God.
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By
doing this you acknowledge your stewardship before Him.
3. GUIDE EACH CHILD TO RECEIVE CHRIST. Luke
18:16 Jesus called
them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them
not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
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Never
take the salvation of your child for granted.
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Make
sure each child personally accepts Christ as their own Saviour.
4. TEACH EACH CHILD THE FEAR OF THE LORD. Prove 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and
by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
The “Fear of the Lord” is named as
one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in Isaiah 11:2
The spirit of the LORD shall rest
upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and
might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;...
Proverbs 1:7 & 9:10, the fear of
the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
John Mallon writes,
the "fear of the Lord" is often misinterpreted...
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As "servile fear" (characteristic
of servitude)
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It should be "filial fear" (the fear of hurting someone we love).
Psalm 130:3-4 If
thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that
thou mayest be feared.
The Fear of the Lord is the continual awareness that I am in the presence of a
Holy, Righteous, and Just God; and the every thought, word, action, and deed is
open before Him and is being judged by Him.
5.
TEACH EACH CHILD TO IDENTIFY
WHAT IS EVIL. James
4:6-10 God resisteth
the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit your selves therefore to God. Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you. 8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you… 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he
shall lift you up.
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may
devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same
afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
6. TEACH EACH CHILD ABOUT UNHEALTHY UNIONS. 2
Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked
together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
You are known by the company you
keep!
7. TEACH EACH CHILD TO RESPECT AUTHORITY. 1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and
stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word
of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
8. TEACH EACH CHILD HOW TO PRAY. Psalm 107:6 They cried unto the Lord in their
trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
The normal Christian life is one in
which we experience regular, daily answer to prayer. Jesus
taught us to pray for our daily bread, for forgiveness, and for deliverance
from the attacks of those who are evil.
Matthew 6:9-13 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
We are to have a regular, daily, unhindered communion with God, so that we may ask & receive,.. seek & find,.. knock & be opened unto. Jesus said, Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:24).
9. PRAY DAILY FOR EACH CHILD. Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and
about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?
