15 THE FUTURE CHURCH. Dut. 6. 6-7.

Our Children. “These Commandments teach them to your children.” When things seem to be falling apart in our churches and, traditions and morals which we’ve held on to all our lives are not given any credence, we pray, “give us men and women of God to guide us”--- God gives us children. He gives us the material and says “Here are the building blocks, you do it” We are expected with God’s Grace, to help them develop into men and women of God. God told the Jews “These Commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.” If we don’t practice Biblical principles, Our children wont either. If we don’t live what we preach, our children wont either and our words will fall on deaf ears which create rebellious hearts. We don’t have to be perfect, but we do have to be genuine. Secondly, God told them, “impress them on your children,” How?-- We must emphasize, prompt, stress, Drum it in and make it clear. Now there’s nothing passive about that, it is to be deliberate, a thorough, active process until they know what God expectS of them. Thirdly, We have to talk about the Principals,Values, and Ethics we hold because children wont pick up the truth by osmosis, we have to talk not in “Religious” sounding terms which they don’t even understand, but in natural language, in natural ways in natural times. Talk about them when we are sitting in the comfortable surroundings of home, or when we are walking or driving to school in an easy give and take environment, watching for opportunities, because teachable moments come and go unannounced. A parent who seizes the day God will equip to mould their children into men and women of God. We have to let them know that standing up for what is right is very pleasing to God and consequently to us as their parents. Even though they naturally gravitate to whatever pleases the important people in their lives whether it’s right or wrong. Their need to be accepted by their peers is a very powerful influence on them. Use Scripture. Solomon is a good example Ch1.vs10-15 When counselling his son he said “If sinners entice you, do not go with them etc.” We have to explain to our children, they will become like the company they keep. Ask them if they really would like to be like the person or child in question, carefully pointing out their bad as well as their good points. To this end our children need instruction in several areas if they are to stand up for God against destructive influences. We need to tell them that true friends will want the best for them and anyone who wants to lead them into danger or sin is not a friend, tell them that the thrill of the moment only lasts a moment, but the consequence could last a lifetime. A man only reaps what he sows, if one sows to please his sinful nature, he will reap destruction. That is as natural a law as gravity. Galat. 6.7-8 says The one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life. One of the hardest things we (my husband John and myself) had to do was not to give our children a way out of reaping the consequences of their sin. Yes we went with them and stood beside them but face the music they did, In that way they learned our love for them hadn’t diminished. And that the Saviour too would always be there for them to pick them up and take them back. Our children need the right kind of heroes, instead of Rock Stars and Sport celebrities of questionable character, we should try to introduce them to Biblical heroes who modelled Godliness, Righteousness and Courage under pressure. Children need to know how to respond to God’s direction and correction, to know the difference and not to think of correction as rejection. Prov 3.11-12 tells us not to reject God’s disciplines and that God disciplines those He loves, interesting to note here, Solomon was talking to his Son in this passage. FIRST;--One of the first things children learn from a very young age is how to respond to the discipline of the home and parents. The rules we don’t enforce now will be enforced by others later, at a higher cost. Our discipline needs to be fair, consistent and not excessive. I am convinced that children are born with a real sense of fairness, it is very confusing for them when they can’t relate to your fairness, it is the first sign of letting them know that you cannot always be trusted to do what is just and fair. We cannot permit today what we punished yesterday, “How many time have I told you...” or “If you do that again your grounded...” All that means to a child is you are not serious and they will get several warnings before you act. Enforce it. Don’t threaten unless you mean to follow through. SECONDLY, children need to know how to respond correctly to Authority figures. Romans 13.1 says That All Authority comes from God and we must submit to it. We should never belittle Police, Teachers Pastors the elderly etc. If we do, it will come back to bite us and our children. THIRDLY. We ought to share our own experiences of personal growth through correction, this lets them know that we are not perfect ands gives them hope and helps them to relate to our humanity as parents. Well chosen times of personal sharing are much more effective than nagging and sermonising! We have to teach our children about temptation, what it is, to expect it and also how often they have to face up to it but not to be overwhelmed by it. James 1-14 says “Every man is tempted and enticed when he’s drawn away by his own lust. ” Children need to know how to handle two powerful sources of temptation, First the temptation of sexual sin, TV and the internet make everything from normal to perverse as available as oxygen, enticing them to experiment with behaviours that destroy health, relationships and life., they need more than an embarrassed “birds and bees” talk. They need early, regular and clear instruction Go back to Solomon and read God’s take on it. Prov5.1-11 “The lips of an adulteress drip honey, but in the end she is as bitter as gall ... Her steps lead straight to the grave...Keep far from her, at the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.” Solomon spelled it out loud and clear for his children, we should do likewise. The second big temptation for our children is Addiction. Again Solomon is right on the ball Prov.23.29-30. “Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine” The addicts life is not fun, in the end it bites like a snake. In Prov32vs 33 we read “Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind will imagine confusing things.” Don’t let the enemy deceive your children, pray faithfully ,speak Our Lord’s life-changing word into their hearts, believe God and watch Him work. Children need to be taught to handle money responsibly, make your home a classroom for money management, By putting God first they will see how He honours them. Prov. 3.9 says “Honour The Lord with your first fruits... Then your barns (bank account) will be filled. To avoid the Prodigal syndrome in Luke 15.11-32. The Prodigal Sons attitude towards money and his misuse of it cost him dearly. Give children Biblical financial wisdom in four areas Earning, Giving, Spending and Saving, and you will position them for God’s blessings. Teach them what God says about borrowing, lending and Credit. In a culture driven by slick advertising and easily obtained high interest credit cards, youngsters need to understand the consequences of their financial decisions. In Proverbs 22-6 Train up a child in the way it should go etc. is not an isolated one, the next verse is worth taking note of-- “The rich rule over the poor and the borrower is subject to the lender” What looks like the fast lane to plenty can become the sure road to poverty. Working and waiting for what one wants is much more rewarding, satisfying and long lasting than immediate gratification. To this end we should not guarantee loans. The Bible says ”You could very easily loose your bed.” and that would tough when you are getting old. As many of you know, My husband John was a Bricklayer. From a very young age he took the children to work with him. (I realise this wouldn’t work these days) but they loved taking their own little lunch box and bottle of drink with them. He would give them a hammer, some pieces of wood and a few nails and let them play in the sand, they were going to work with Dad, and that was very important. As they grew older they learned the names of the tools and were given little jobs like shifting barrows, blocks and buckets for which they were paid, they felt they were a real part of the family’s growing business, one of them has even taken up his dads trade and has contributed to the Christchurch rebuild after the devastating earthquakes in that city. I understand in New Zealand one eighth of our working population are jobless. I believe at least part of the reason for this problem is, There are a number of parents today who don’t give their children a work ethic, I am so pleased we did, and as a result The Lord has provided all seven of our children with good employment. Parents who think that allowing their children to avoid hard work is doing them a favour, are deluded. Such children become irresponsible, dependent, underdeveloped and end up resenting your overindulgence. Prov.10.4-5 says Lazy hands make a man poor...He who gathers crops in the Summer is a wise Son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a disgraceful Son. Don’t cripple your child’s creativity or development, by doing for them what they should be doing for themselves. Honest work is God’s provision for Personal, Social and Spiritual growth and consequently human happiness. One day your child will thank you for requiring them to participate in family life and do their fair share, and so will their future husband or wife. Quite often it’s us Mums that think their youngsters are too young and we make excuses for them saying things like “But they’ve got homework” there’s no point in them knowing the three Rs and failing to become mature and responsible citizens. Lam 3.27 says “It is good for a man that he should bear the yoke in his youth” What they learn in their youth they will enjoy the rest of their lives as they become balanced men and women of God with the ability to lead the future church for God. Thank you for reading what I believe the future church will need, to face the coming onslaught that we seem to be heading for in the not too distant future. I believe we will need Christian Men and Women who will stand up for Our God and His Word, who are prepared to follow Him and His Bible based truths to the very end. Please God send us such people. May Almighty God Protect, Preserve and Provide for His future church. Phaline. ---------------------