Obey and Encourage (Part 2)

ME:

Last week Message - Rules (Instructions) for Christian Households

Col. 3:18-19 “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.”

(Submit) - Posture (Attitude)

(Love) - decision not a feeling

This weeks message - Rules (Instructions) for a Christian Household

Col 3 20-21 “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”

We are going to look at the concept of Obeying and Encouraging.

I remember my mom telling me “Don’t do as I do, do as I say.”

My Mom commanded obedience & respect

She was also my biggest encourager.

Teens - Your mom is one of your biggest encouragers. (Nothing against dads....Just saying).

How many of you have had parents like this?

They commanded obedience and respect.

Transition Statement: Can any of you relate to this?

WE:

Many of you may have had parents who commanded Obedience and Respect

If you didn’t obey ....... there were consequences (Negative ones)

If you showed disrespect ....... there was consequences (Negative ones)

Some of you may not have had parents who commanded obedience and respect.

If I was to do a survey on he adults in the room this morning I would bet that most if not all of you would have wanted parents who commanded obedience and respect.

Many of you would say, a parent who commanded obedience and respect is a parent who was invested, cared, and a parent who loved their children.

Church .... (Parents) list when I say this ..... “Commanding obedience is LOVING!”

I loved my children enough to teach them obedience and respect.

Its Biblical, its spiritual, its how a Christian family should be operating.

Transition Statement: Let’s look into God’s Word and see what it say about all of this.

GOD:

Read Col. 3:20-21 “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”

Last week, it was revealed to us that “submitting” is a spiritual/biblical/Christian concept.

A posture a Christian is to activate in ones life.

The same is true with “obedience.” (It’s a spiritual/biblical/Christian concept.)

2 Thess. 1:7-8 “......... when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

Hebrews 5:9 “And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,”

I John 5:2 “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.”

The English word “Obey” is found 121 times in the NT.

The word we find here in Colossians and in the last three verses we read is the word....

“Hypakouo”

Children “Obey” your parents.

This word is in the .....

Present - Ongoing/continual

Active - Action done upon the person

Imperative - Command

Definition of the word - To listen, obey

When should I listen and obey (Continually)

Why should I Listen and obey (God’s word says so.)

ITS NOT A OPTION

We believe the Word of God correct?

We believe its the authoritative word for our life?

We believe its that love letter written to God’s beloved that when it encounters the living spirit of God dwelling within us (Believers) something supernatural takes place .... AMEN?

If we believe this then ....... Children/teens “OBEY” your parents. (WHY?)

“For this pleases the Lord.”

But if were to look into this thought deeper we would find something else out ....

Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

Long/Blessed/Healthy life

“Pleases” - (Euarestos)

Found with the word “Eimi” (to be)

It an indicative which means (Factual)

Its a fact that if you obey your parents it pleases the Lord but we can als say it ....

brings about blessings in your long life.

Come on Teens ..... doesn’t this sound good?

I don’t have data (stat’s) to back this up but I would be safe to say ..... Obedience is not a trend in our society today.

But I am not going to put all the blame on the children.

Parents, we have to look in the mirror.

As I have already stated, Obedience is a biblical/spiritual/christian principal ....

one where is applied to all who believe in Christ.

Parents, let me say this then .....

Obedience should be emulated more so than instructed.

Displayed in front of our kids before its asked of them.

You might be asking .... “How”

Obey God’s word!

Example: Logan and Lucas going to a basketball game.

Obedience should not be “Asked of” before it is “lived out in front of.”

This is why obedience is commanded by God.

Christ lived out obedience to the Father in front of his disciples.

..... and expected it from them.

Paul wasn’t finished there .....

Col. 3:21 “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”

Paul addresses the “spiritual leader” of the household.

Do not “Provoke” (Erethizo) to irritate

Root word - (Eretho) to stir to anger? Embitterment

The RESULT?

Discouragement

To be despondent. Disturbed in the mind

Fathers, Paul says don’t mess with your children’s minds.

The enemy will do enough of this as the grow older.

Be an encourager.!

Transition Statement: Let’s recap!

YOU:

Children “Obey” (posture yourself) You Parents!

Fathers “encourage” your children.

As Christ “obeyed” His father .... Obey!

As OUR Father is an encourager to His children (Believers) we are to be to our Children.

WE:

I want to challenge you this morning ...... “Obedience” “Encouragement”