SF424 - The Rules Have Not Changed, Rule 5-It Is A Matter of Honor (Exodus 20 12)
SF424
THE RULES HAVE NOT CHANGED<R>Rule#5: It Is A Matter Of Honor
Exodus 20:12
INTRODUCTION
Series Background
The purpose of the law
Ø To reveal man's sinfulness
Ø To expose the awfulness of sin
Ø To reveal the holiness of God
Ø To restrain the sinner and bring him to Christ
Ø To regulate society
Overview
Ø 1‑4 are God‑ward
Ø 5‑10 are man‑ward
Jesus Summary
Matthew 22:37,39 "Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'"... "And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Sermon Background
The first others you meet are your parents.
Single Moms are more and more prevalent today.
If you can't get along at home, you will have problems everywhere else.
Three Facts about patenting
1A. THE ROLE OF THE PARENT
Being a parent is...
1B. A Physical Matter
We do not choose ‑ God gives...
Psalms 139:14‑16 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
Provide for our children
Ø Physical care
Illustration
I heard about a boy at school who was talking to a friend. He said, "I'm really worried."
His friend asked, "What are you worried about?"
He said, " My dad just works so hard, works overtime to provide for the needs of our home. Mom washes the clothes, prepares the meals, and keeps the house clean."
His friend said, "What in the world are you worried about?"
The boy replied, "I'm afraid they might escape!"
Guide our children
The Gift of Experience
It's as if your parents are traveling to L.A. with you not far behind. Along the way they stop to give you advice about the trip just ahead of you.
2B. A Psychological Matter
Carving a Diamond
Whatever you write on that diamond will be there for eternity.
1C. Love our children
2C. Lead our children
3C. Let loose our children
3B. A Spiritual Matter
We must help them see God
Ø They will form their opinion about God based on YOU.
"Parents are like a skylight or a prism through which a child sees his first view of God"
We must help them know God
Deuteronomy 6:6‑7 "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
Ø Family Altar
University of Chicago
Most students surveyed said they picked up their concepts of religion and morality from the mealtime conversations of their families.
We must help them trust God
Noah
Preached 120 years ‑ was mocked by the world. But he won his family.
2A. THE REQUIREMENTS OF OBEDIENCE
Ephesians 6:1‑3
honor = to give weight to, to hold in high esteem
1B. Children Are To Respond To Their Parents
obey = to hear under
It is commanded
It is constructive
Ø Establishes authority of the parents in the home
Ø Teaches respect for all authority.
It is clarified
"in the Lord"
Colossians 3:21 "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."
discourage = to lose heart, to give up
Illustration
If you teach your children criticism, they learn to condemn. If you teach them hostility, they learn to fight. If you teach them shame, they learn to feel guilt. If you teach them tolerance, they learn patience. If you teach them patience, they learn to be understanding. If you teach them praise, they learn to be appreciative. If you teach them security they learn to trust.
Ø Parents you have great deal to do with whether or not you children obey you.
2B. Children Are To Respect Their Parents
Permanent respect
Ø No age limit
Positional respect
Illustration
Judge call "your honor" because of his position not his performance.
The Changing Relationship
Children pass through four stages...
Ø Idolize their parents
Ø Demonize their parents
Ø Utilize their parents
Ø Humanize their parents
"It is not important what your parents did to you, what is important is how you responded."
Personal respect
Ø The roles will change
Ø You will need to care
1 Timothy 5:4 "But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God."
3A. THE REWARD OF OBEDIENCE
1B. The Primary Application
National
Serious
Romans 1:30 "slanderers, God‑haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;"
2 Timothy 3:2 "People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,"
2B. The Present Application
The rule
Ø Obedient lifestyle = longer life
The exception
Ø What about an obedient child that dies...?
Ø Answer: Jesus Christ
Ø The Father had a work for him to do in His death that could not be done otherwise.
The Prize Rose
Gardener raise a prize rose for his master. Missed it. Found it in a vase on the Master's desk. The master said "I thought you were tending it for me. I had a need, a use for that rose on my desk."
APPLICATION
I Steered By Mother's Light
A man took his wife and son to the lake for vacation. He and the son went fishing. A storm blew up. It became very dark.
They saw the Mother put a light in the window. The father said, "Son, I'm going to row. You keep your eyes on the light. Help me go in the direction of the light." They did and made it home safely. The mother was there to greet them. The son said, " Mom, we came home safely because we steered by your light."
Mom will your children make it to the heavenly home if they steer by YOUR light?