Do Not Provoke to Anger

I love the book of Ephesians! It is a great book with a ton of instruction and application for today’s church.

The ESV Study Bible (Theme)

There are two main themes of Ephesians:

(1) Christ has reconciled all creation to himself and to God, and

(2) Christ has united people from all nations to himself and to one another in his church.

These great deeds were accomplished through the powerful, sovereign, and free working of the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and are recognized and received by faith alone through his grace. In light of these great truths, Christians are to lead lives that are a fitting tribute of gratitude to their great Lord.

In fact, our “Who is First Baptist Church?” series will be coming from Chapter 4-5 pf Ephesians, in case you want to read ahead.

But today, we will be centering ourselves on

Ephesians 6:4 ESV

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

Our Picture of God - “Our Father In Heaven”

Fathers play such a significant role in the way a child views the Lord.

If we had a godly and loving father, the picture is painted in a correct manner and our imagined visual of God is of an even better Father in Heaven.

However, if we have had a different experience with our earthly father, our picture of God will very different.

We say “Our Father in heaven” without giving much thought to how hard that is for a young man who is scared to death of his dad.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 88.177 παροργίζω

to cause someone to become provoked or quite angry—‘to cause to be provoked, to make angry

This greek word “Parorgizo” (Par ohr geezo)

Stir up, Arouse, Torment

Colossians 3:21 ESV

21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

One of the favorite phrases of my father was to say “it is like I have two daughters”

When my dad would walk into the room, my fear and anxiety were almost impossible to contain.

I could not imagine how having another father to worry about would ever be beneficial to me.

My earthly father, He thought me too stupid, too slow, too weak and too worthless.

He made a lifestyle of provocation.

Imagine my surprise when I found a Father in heaven who was nothing like my earthly father.

Kids, I want you to know that your father in Heaven more than you could ever imagine.

I pray that your fathers help you to see God.

I pray you do not find Him in spite of them but because of them.

When I surrendered my life to Christ, I promised I would do better.

I want you to know brothers, fellow fathers,

We, as fathers, can help our kids find Christ.

How?

maybe by refusing to,

Opening Up Ephesians (Parents (v. 4))

By being an angry, harsh person him- or herself•

By choosing favorites within the family•

By disciplining inconsistently—letting a child get away with something ten times, and then erupting over it the eleventh time•

By not practicing what he or she preaches—asking the children to follow biblical principles the parent is unwilling to follow•

By being unfair or unloving toward the other parent

By not refusing to admit we are wrong and asking for forgiveness.

Ephesians 6:4 (ESV)

but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

(Pah day ah) παιδεύωb; παιδείαb, ας f:

to train someone in accordance with proper rules of conduct and behavior—‘to discipline, to train, discipline, training.’

Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 466.

(New Thess See ya)νουθετέωa; νουθεσίαa, ας f:

to provide instruction as to correct behavior and belief—‘to instruct, to teach, instruction, teaching.’

some of us fail to practice the two parts of these words.

We can forget discipline and only practice instruction.

We say it over and over with no consequences

Or, we only discipline without any real instruction.

I do not know of a single child who does not want to make their parents proud or happy.

However, if they feel they never can, they will in rebellion begin to make themselves happy and their choices may be far from what you desired, or what God desires for them.

So, he tells us not to provoke them to anger.

The best method of helping them to understand the discipline and instruction of the Lord however, is for you, yourself to understand it.

Practice what you preach, because they do what you practice.

do as I say and not as I do.

Precious moments.

Do Not Provoke to Anger

Do Bring them up in the Discipline and Instruction of the the Lord

Which picture of God do they see in you?