Walk in Harmony in the Home

Introduction

Funny Story of me growing up -

Kids have you ever done something that when you did it you knew you were going to be in big trouble when your dad finds Out?

Tell the story of super soaker - flame thrower-

-I was 13 years old

I had a very creative imagination

- I liked to watch the A-team - episode with a flame thrower.

- I decided that I wanted to make one-

So I took my super soaker 50 Squirt gun-which could shoot a laser stream of water 50 ft away. and began to make some modifications to the squirt gun.

first I thought- Well plastic will burn if it gets hat so i- took some thin sheet metal and wrapped the barrel of the gun with it.

2nd- I knew I needed fuel for the gun to work and I was smart enough to know that gasoline is always a bad idea because it can explode- so I found a different source of fuel.

The I thought- safety first - So i went and got my ski goggles from the closet to protect my eyes

then I took an old metal trash can lid and cut a hole in it for the barrel of the gun to go through just incase i needed a shield from the flame.

and finally I took an old grill igniter button and and duct taped it to the side of the gun and ran a wire 8” in front of the barrel to light the fuel on fire as it came out of the gun.

I had built the coolest flame thrower in the neighborhood- it was the only one .

and now it came time to test out my invention.

I put my goggles on- I went and got the water hose ready to go ( just in case) I pumped up the gun, pushed the igniter ands the trigger at the same time and i’m telling You I had a huge problem.

You see I decided to make this gun in the middle of august and during a summer drought. everything was extremely dry.

The flame shot across our back yard and the grass and tree caught fire.

Do you know what my first thought was when this happened?

I am in big trouble when my dad get’s home.

I quickly dropped the gun and picked up the water hose and began to put the fire out. but the evidence of my mischievousness was pretty clear-

there was a giant burnt grass spot shooting 50 ft across the yard.

Disclaimer: Don’t do this at home- Levi

The problem was this

my dad had told me not to be in his shop without him there.

HE ALSO told me that I wasn’t allowed to play with fire.

I disobeyed my dad and that meant there was going to be consequences, but even worse then being punished by my dad-

I had broken the harmony in our family because I did not fulfill the role that God gave me as the child.

Transition: this morning we are going to address a fundamental problem we have in the American home.

and that is fulfilling the roles that God has given each of us to fulfill.

God has called us to have harmony in our homes and the Bible gives us the only model that works when it it comes to having harmony in your family.

The problem we face is that culture has shifted the roles in a family outside of what God’s word says is right.

Dad’s no longer take care of their own families and work for their good. Mom’s no longer let dads be the leader and the decision maker, and kids are no longer are held responsible for their disobedience.

As we continue through the book of Ephesians We now come to the 6th and final chapter of the book.

Paul is continuing His teaching on How a Christin is to walk.

2 weeks ago we looked at Walking with Harmony in our marriages.

and to day we want to look at what it looks like to walk in harmony in our hames.

Our text this morning in Ephesians 6 gives us the prescription for a family to live in Harmony with one another.

TEXT: Eph. 6:1-4 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely, “that it may go well with you and that you will live a long time on the earth.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

NOTE: moms even though you were not mentioned in our passage I believe that this is for you as well, so stay tuned in.

Our BIG IDEA: Christians are called to walk in harmony in our homes.

WHY; Because when Harmony is in our homes Christ is glorified

Paul begins with addressing the children in the home.

Children

Eph. 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.

2 commands for kids

1st Command = Obey your parents

Ask kids- So what do you think it means to obey your parents?

First Let’s look at what God says about disobedience to parents and then we will look at what it means to obey our parents.

Disobedenince is the opposite of obeying your moms and dads and God says that he does not like disobedeience. In fact it makes him very sad.

In Matt. Jesus was talking about disobedient children and what the Old testament said about it.

Matt 15:4 “For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death.’

Romans 1:28-31 Paul lists many of the actions of people who don’t love God- and listen to what is included right in the middle of it....

“And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done. They are filled with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice. They are rife with envy, murder, strife, deceit, hostility. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, contrivers of all sorts of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, covenant-breakers, heartless, ruthless.”

When God Describes the disobedience of a child to his parents He does not take it lightly.

God hates disobedience and He calls it sin.

kids when you disobey your moms and dads God calls that sin.

CONSEQUENCES OF SIN

When we disobey our parents there is a punishment that we will recieve.

Story about padding my pants

When I was a kid there were rules and consequences

if we said a bad word- we got soap put into our mouths.

If we touched something we were told not to touch we got our hand slapped.

If we stayed outside too late- we had to come in early the next night

If watched tv before our homework was done we got grounded from the tv

and if we deliberately disobeyed our dad we got spankings

One week I was having a little trouble obeying and seemed to be getting a lot of the spankings-

and So I came up with another ingenious plan- instead of worrying about obeying- I thought If I just wear extra underwear than the spanking wouldn't hurt so bad.

So the next time I knew I was gonna get spanked I put on an extra pair of Undies. but it still hurt

So the next I knew a spanking was coming I put on every pair I could find. thinking that I had a way around the consequences.

But my dad, being the wise man that he was- Realized that my mid section had tripled in size. So do you know what he made me do before I got spanks- He made me take off every single layer-

when I tried to escape the consequences of my disobedience- not only was I wrong but the consequences were a whole lot worse.

Kids when we disobey our parents these consequences are not the greatest we will face.

the punishment our parents give us is not the worst punishment we deserve for our sin.

The Bible tells us when we disobey our parents we are disobeying God.

and the consequences that we will receive for disobeying God is a whole lot greater than getting a spanking from our dads.

Romans 6:23 “For the Consequences of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

When we disobey God we deserve the punishment and the Bible tells us that the punishment for sin is death- that means we are serrated from God forever in a place called Hell.

- a place meant for the punishment of sin. Its an eternal time out

Kids- if you have ever disobeyed your moms and dads You have broken God’s law for your life, and this means that you are guilty of sin, and because of your sin you deserve to be separated from God forever in a place called hell.

We need to Understand how much God hates sin. He is so perfect that He can not let sin into heaven even if you are a pretty good kid. All sin still needs to be paid for.

your sin still disqualifies you from entering into heaven.

The point is this - When we disobey our parents it is sin. and sin is what separates us from God.

and its because of this penalty of eternal death that we are in desperate need of Jesus in our lives.

I’ve shared this story before but I believe it is a wonderful example of what Jesus Can do for you with your sin.

Story of My dad taking my place for my sin

we have talked about me getting into trouble- Disobeying my parents....

I was having a very bad week- I mean I was getting into so much trouble at home, at school everywhere I went it was just an aweful week

I was naughty-

my dad wanted me to understand the magnatude of my sin and what Jesus Did for me - He made me spank his back.

Our disobedience results in penalty.

My sin required me to get a spanking - I had a debt that must be paid in order for my slate to be clean.- But my dad - because of His love for me chose to take my place and pay my debt I owed.

Jesus - wants to take your place and pay your debt in full.

ROmans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Our disobedience Requires an eternal death penalty- But because of Gods great love for you He said II want to take your place and pay your debt in Full.

and He did this through jesus’ death on the cross.

When We are in Christ and we want to follow Jesus - We no longer try to disobey our parents but we want to obey them.

Kids- If you love Jesus than the result would be obedience to your parents.

Paul in our passage this morning is talking about what a family who has Jesus Christ as their center looks like.

“Children obey your parents - IN THE LORD- ( if you love Jesus then you will obey your parents Wh???) FOR THIS IS RIGHT.

TRANSITION; Paul goes on to say Kids not only do you obey your moms and dadss but He says “ Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise)”

HONOR YOUR PARENTS 2nd command

Kids we not just commanded to obey our parents but we need to honor our parents too’

To honor your parents means that you give them respect-

you don’t talk bad about them

you don’t talk back to them

You love them

When your older - you take care of them as much as they need.

and you life a life that honors them.

When we obey and honor our parents we bring glory to God.

and God says this is right-

A child’s submission to His parents is the first step to Harmony in the home.

Remember how Paul introduced the command to live in harmony with one another in chapter 5 verse 18-21

Eph 5:18-21 “And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit......submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

A child’s submission to His parents is the evidence of a spirit filled life.

Transition: Paul goes on and tells us that when christian children obey their parents there are blessings in their life.

Obedience Brings Blessings

Illustration: Kids do you ever get rewarded when you obey your parents?

My dad would often give us kids chores to do before he got home from work.

He would say -

Mow the Lawn,

clean your room

vaccum the carpet

do the dishes....

QUESTION FOR KIDS “Does your dad ever ask you to do jobs when he’s gone?”

But do you know what would happen when we obeyed our dad?

Some times He just said thank you and i Love you.

Sometimes it meant that we could stay out side later or watch an extra episode of Dukes of Hazard

But sometime he wold say get in the car we are going to Baskin Robins Ice Cream.- The mecca of all ice cream shops in the 1980’s

31 flavors and free samples.

This place was amazing- I usually would walk up and down the line just looking at all the different colors and flavors of ice-cream.

I would usually choose 1 or 2 flavors to sample

but I always ended up with the same kind.

QUEST: Kids “ do you know what kind of ice-cream I always chose?

peanut butter and chocolate in a sugar cone!!!!!

It was amazing.

My dad gave us a blessing - a reward when we obeyed.

Ephesians 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely, “that it may go well with you and that you will live a long time on the earth.””

The Bible tells us that just like when I obeyed my dad He gave me a reward for obeying, God also gives us a reward.

When we obey our parents and Honor them it results in Blessings from God

vs. 3 that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land”

God tells us that when we obey our parents it goes well for us- this means that we can enjoy our life.

Not only do we have an enjoyable life But the bible says that we have a long life.

Through out the Bible it is very clear that God blesses those who obey and He disciplines those who disobey.

Kids if you want to have God’s reward in your life than you must obey your parents- because is right.

Transition: Not only does it take obedient children to have harmony in the home but it also takes parents who follow God. and raise their children up in the Lord.

TEXT: 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Paul addresses the dads in this passage-

Why because it is the dads responsibility as the head of the house to lead his family spiritually and to als disipline his family when they are in sin.

Paul gives us dad’s the Don’t and the Do’s of godly fatherhood

Father’s

Don’t provoke your children to anger

Dad’s We are not suppose to discipline out of anger (PERIOD)

Why - because our kids learn how to act from us.

When we get angry we are teaching our children that anger is ok.

Personal testimony - In my life as a young dad I failed at times with controlling my anger , and the result was that my son became angry-

But guess what happened when I got right with God as a father- My sons anger also went away.

You see I was provoking my child to wrath- my actions caused my son to get angry that was wrong.

God says DON’T PROVOKE YOUR CHILDREN TO WRATH But instead

DO Bring them up in discipline and instruction in the Lord

To know what God means by disciplining and instructing your children there is no greater manual to read than the book of Proverbs Dads.

Prov. 22:6 “Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Prov. 19:18 “Discipline your child, for there is hope, but do not set your heart on causing his death.”

meaning that your discipline as a parent will teach him how to live as an adult

Prov. 23:13-14 “Do not withhold discipline from a child; even if you strike him with the rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will deliver him from death.”

When we discipline our children we are teaching them about sin and its consequences in their life

Prov. 3:12 “For the Lord disciplines those he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.” .

Dad’s -accepting your children’s sins is not love, true fatherly love disciplines your children so that they can be right with God.

Dad’s Do not be an example of sin in your kids lives.

But instead stand up for what is right. and in love- discipline what is sinful in your homes.

BRING IT HOME

TRANSITION: Lets bring this passage home this morning

Harmony in the Home can only come when parents Build up their children in the Lord and when Kids obey and honor their Parents in the Lord.

As the church- we are called to represent Jesus in this world.

When I think about our culture today- the harmony of the family is under attack.

2 Timothy 3:1-3 - Paul is describing what our world will look like in the last days- the time right before Jesus will return.

Listen to what he says..

“But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good,”

Have you looked at our culture in America lately?

when it comes to the family -Harmony seems to be no where to be found.

Our culture is making fathers out to look like fools on TV, they are putting the mother in the leadership roll of the family, and children are allowed to disrespect, disobey, and even disown their own parents and grand parents because they don’t want to live under their authority.

We live in the last days- but understand this as the church- God has called us out of the world to live differently then the world.”

Phil. 2:14-15 “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world”

Our christian homes should be a shining star in the darkness of our culture -as an example of the harmony that we have as the church in Christ.

When we as Christians have harmony in our homes- Christ name is magnified in our culture.

Dad’s when you lead your home in godliness Christ is glorified

Mom’s -when you submit to your husbands and raise your children up in the Lord. - Christ is glorified

Kids- when you obey and honor our parent - Christ is glorified.

When everyone in a family is fulfilling the rolls God has given them- then they will be walking in harmony- and Christ will be gloried

Parents there is no greater place for you to make and equip followers of Jesus than in your home.

Don’t waste an opportunity to teach your children how to live righteously in this world.