Fathers, Bring Up Your Children 2

Instruct your children in the Worship of the Lord.

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7)

“Fear” hear carries with it the connotation of reverential fear.

It means to stand in awe of, to set on high.

This is why I chose to use the word “worship” here.

The genuine worship of the Lord is the foundation of all knowledge.

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10)

The same is true with wisdom. The beginning of all wisdom is the worship of Yahweh.

If you want your children to be full of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, the foundation of that is the fear of the Lord.

The fear of the Lord comes by way of believing the Gospel.

Christian parents cannot be neutral when it comes to the worship of God.

You must teach your children to be worshipers of God.

I think it’s a lack of biblical teaching on hell that is to blame for this way of thinking that parents should be neutral regarding the religious instruction of their children.

Do you understand that if your child does not put their faith in Christ God will justly cast them off into eternal damnation, where they will face the wrath of God for all of eternity?

What loving parent, who knows that to be the case, would not use all whatever resourcess they have at their disposal to lead their child to Christ, and then raise him or her to worship Christ?

This is no small thing beloved. The eternal destiny of your children weighs in the balance.

Teach them Gospel, and pray day and night for their redemption.

Instruct your Children in the WORD of the Lord Psalm 19:7-11

Psalm 19:7–11 (NASB95)

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 (NASB95) “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Fathers, you have to see to it that your children are instructed in the word of the Lord. The word of God should central in the Christian home. Read it together, discuss it, bring it up as you are working through problems together, explain it. If is your job to make sure that the word of God is central in your home. All the time.

Instruct your children in the Way of the Lord. Proverbs 22:6

Proverbs 22:6 NASB95

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Some Practical Insight

Public Worship

Family Worship

Catechism

Bible Reading

Prayer

Private Worship

Instruct your Children by Walking with the Lord

Our Children are far more likely to do what we do, than they are to do what we say.

I can’t tell you how many times I get irritated with one of my old kids and ask the question “WHY DOES HE DO THAT!” Just to turn and see my wife sitting there with a “I know exactly where he learned to do that” look on her face.

Our children do what we do!

“If we want to raise godly children, the best way to achieve this is to be godly parents.” Ray Comfort

"Train up a child in the way he should go -- but be sure you go that way yourself." Charles Spurgeon

Bring your children to the cross of Christ, because you are already living there yourself. Teach your children to assemble with the saints, by being excited to assemble with the saints yourself. Touch your children to commune with God, by showing them that pattern in your own life. Let them see you in prayer, let me see you in the word. Let them see you walking in repentance of your own sin, and finding joy and strength in Christ.