Father's Day 2020

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Introduction

Every child is made in the image of God

Every child is special

Every child is unique

Every child is a child that God loves

Every child has potential to do something great

How are we going to see our children reach their potential?

I see three important areas that we need to focus on as parents, if we want to see our children reach their potential.

Outline:

Educate

Elevate

Imitate

Pray

I. Educate

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

This verse tells us about the need for Instruction

Children need instruction

Children are like a blank book

You write the book by what you teach them

OR, by what you allow them to be exposed to

Some children are not being taught valuable lessons

Some children are being exposed to wickedness

Parents Need a Biblical Mindset

It is not the states Job to educate my children

If the state is educating my child, the state is only babysitting, I am still ultimately responsible

If we are going to be successful parents, it is going to be that we have accepted the full responsibility for being a parent

Parents Need a Biblical Mindset to educate their children God’s way

Nurture

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Nurture - “Physical” Instruction or Correction (CONTRAST WITH ADMONITION - “verbal” Instruction)

Nurturing is needed more when a child is younger and more dependent, as a child grows in to an adolescent (a teenager to a young adult) they need more admonishment.

New & Social Media: Did you see the jzinni Mom whooping on her young adult son for protesting and throwing rocks at the police?

Correction

Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Children need structure and guidance

Example: Children will stay up till 2/3 in the morning playing video games if you let them. They don’t have enough sense to realize that there is church in the morning.

Turn that off, brush your teeth, and go to bed. Sometimes I will pray with them, and sometimes I will have David pray with his sisters.

No protesting is allowed - whining, making a scene, making sounds of disapproval

They should say, “yes sir”, or, “yes ma’am” and immediately do what you have told them to do.

You should not have to raise your voice

You should not have to tell them 15 times

You should not have to beg your children

You should not have to bribe your children

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Nurture - “Physical” Instruction or Correction

Hands on Training

Please teach your sons and daughters things that will help them to be successful adults

Start simple when they are young, but teach them more advanced things as they get older.

Clean their room

Take out the trash

Laundry

Do the dishes

Chop firewood

Water the garden

…the list can go on…

Note: You are not doing your children any favors by doing “everything” for them. We need to be training them today to be responsible adults tomorrow.

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Admonition

Admonition - “Verbal” Instruction & Correction

To admonish is to warn them

Some parents are afraid to warn their children

Build good relationships with your children, so that when you warn them, they know that you are doing it in love.

God gives us admonishment in the Word, and through preaching, it is for our own good, because he loves us.

1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Review: Educate

Elevate

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

We need to inspire our children

The problem that fathers have sometime is that we are too critical

If we are constantly finding fault with our children, it will discourage them

Take notice of when your child does the right thing, and compliment them on it. Positive reinforcement is very important

Many children are verbally abused, and that can leave scars that last for years.

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Don’t have the attitude: real men are rough, real men talk like that!

Jesus was a REAL man, act like JESUS!

Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

The Importance of Honesty

To elevate our children we have to take them from where they are to a higher level.

To elevate you have to be honest about where you are...

Some parents have the attitude my little princess can do no wrong.

She never lies

She never does anything wrong

If your child is already perfect (in your mind) they don’t need to improve - Every single child need to improve, and grow, and learn

Review: Educate, Elevate

Imitate

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Thankfully we have the great example of our God.

Perhaps you didn’t have the best parents growing up…but you have God as the perfect Father.

Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

What are some things we can do to imitate God?

Be Provider

John 3:16

Romans 8:32

Be a Protector

Proverbs 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

3. Be a Forgiver

Psalm 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Conclusion

Have you experienced the forgiveness of God? Would you like to?

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Parent you have the great responsibility to raise up those children for the Lord, but God has given you all the answers in the book. Search it out, and do it, and God will bless you along the way.

Let’s pray