2022-6-19 AM, Set Your Kids Up for Success: David Prepares Solomon for God's Plan, 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 Father's Day Message,
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We had a great week at CrossTimbers this week. God moved in the hearts of several of the children who went and one was led to call on Christ, are still learning what it means to follow Jesus, and others understand that to follow Christ means to obey Christ, and therefore, they are seeking baptized.
Children’s ministry is necessary ministry. This week I learned that:
there are 75 million kids in America
60 million of these rarely attend a church.
What children believe spiritually at age 13 is usually what they will believe at the end of their lives.
Consider that 3% of Millennial have a biblical worldview. They are are today’s parents and the cast majority will not pass on a biblical worldview to their kids.
How do you feel about these statements? Nothing in my experience would cause me to doubt them.
These statements cause my heart trouble. I know the Lord is good, and that He is the truth. He is at the middle of a happy life on earth and eternal life in heaven, so the idea of lost children growing into lost adults really bothers me.
How did we get here? I’m going to guess that the combination of the erosion of Bible belief and the erosion of the family in our country has contributed to this generation of lostness.
What’s the solution? Several things are needed. Christians need to walk the talk, repent of their sins, and be faithful to obey in making disciples.
One solution fits nicely with our celebration today: We need fathers and father-figures to invest in the spiritual lives of children.
There are too many kids in our country who miss out on having fathers, let alone fathers who are Christian mentors for them.
This week I also learned that
of the 75 million children in America, 18.5 million of them grow up in homes without fathers. This is 1 in 4.
there is sound research that children with fathers in the home excel economically, academically, and socially. It is a key indicator of success regardless of race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status.
fathers are key in children growing up to be whole-hearted followers of Jesus as well.
I’m not saying this to make anyone feel bad. These are simply the facts of the matter. My hope is that this message will stir men to action, so we reverse the trend of lostness among children (who will grow up to be influencers politics, law, medicine, and business.
Think what would happen if most of these children became godly men and women.
What if men invested in them and were godly fathers and father figures. You could change a nation.
Children need fathers to spur them on to know and fulfill God’s plan for their lives.
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This morning I want to show you a picture of a father setting up his son for spiritual success. I want to tell you a story about David and his son, Solomon.
1. The first things David did for Solomon is to help him discover God’s plan for his life. This is how it happened...
David is the greatest king that Israel ever had. God used him to do great things. One day, David decided he wanted to build an incredible temple for the Lord. He was not pleased that the ark of the covenant remained in a tabernacle (tent) while he lived in a house.
1 Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.” 2 And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”
3 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in.
David had the freedom to pursue many things, but the Lord stepped in to say that building a temple was outside of God’s plan for him.
God had given David an amazing plan. He brought him from shepherding sheep in the pasture to become the king of Israel. God led David to unify the kingdom, put down Israel’s enemies, and devote Israel to the Lord in faith. For his faithfulness, God promised him that the Messiah would come from his line.
Nevertheless, building a temple for the Lord was beyond God’s plan for David.
11 When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 14 but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’ ”
That son was Solomon (28:5). God’s will was for Solomon was to build the temple.
We need to understand this morning that God has plans for us, but He has different plans for our sons and daughters. These plans are His purview according to His good pleasure.
What does God want for our children?
He wants them to be saved through faith in Christ.
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
When they are saved, He wants them to be faithful and to obey.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
We know God’s plan for our lives from the Word. We know generally from the Word of God that all of us are to live for God’s glory.
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
This means to be godly
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
and to declare His amazing deeds
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
God has a plan for them that is specific. How do they find out whether God wants them to be a mechanic or doctor or teacher or wife or father?
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
God tells us that as we live for the Lord faithfully, there is a process by which the Holy Spirit makes known His will for us.
So God has a plan for our kids. As spiritual leaders in our families, God’s given us a role to help our children discover His plan for them.
We need to help our kids discover God’s plan for their lives.
God’s will for Solomon was made known as David told him what Nathan the Prophet said. It would be nice if we could find out God’s will for us because a prophet makes it known.
While we don’t have prophets anymore, we do have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit and prayer. God has made a way that we can know God’s will for ourselves and our children.
First, we learn to pray for our children to know God’s plan for them.
Second, we point our children to the Word of God.
Engage your kids in Bible conversations that connect Bible instruction to real-life.
Act like a coach and ask great open-ended questions that will get your kids thinking about how God wants them to live.
“How in this situation does God get glory from your life?”
“Would people describe you as ‘godly’ if you chose to do that?”
“How can you make Jesus known through that challenge with your friends?”
In this we help them to discover what God wants for them.
2. David really encouraged Solomon to take hold of God’s call for him...
2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
and...
20 Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.
David tells Solomon to be strong in the Lord.
He tells him to play the man- this is an idiom which means to show himself to be a man of God, worthy to the Lord.
He tells Him to take hold of the Lord and experience the blessings of the Lord
David says that the Lord is faithful to see His plan for you brought to completion
These are encouragements to take hold of the calling God has put on his life.
We need to charge our kids to take hold of God’s plan and encourage them in it. We need to set before them a vision of being a faithful man or woman of God. We need to paint a picture of a life well-lived for the Lord, why this should be aspired to before all else.
3. David clarifies boundaries and consequences for Solomon.
9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. 10 Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”
David is loud and clear to Solomon that the Lord will bless him if he holds to the law of the Lord. With this comes a clear warning that if Solomon strays from the Lord, then he will lose the Lord’s strength and help.
In this David sets up guardrails for Solomon. He names the boundaries and consequences that delineate God’s blessings and help from foolishness and loss.
Fathers, As we help our children to discern God’s will, we have to name boundaries for our kids. We have a responsibility to encourage our kids to take hold of the blessings that come with staying in bounds according to God’s righteousness and to warn them about what consequences lay waiting outside the fence.
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4. David set Solomon up for success in fulfilling God’s plan for his life.
He recognized that parents need to help their kids get established on the right track.
5 For David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.
and
17 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
Fathers,
We need to provide our kids with the basics of the faith so they can be equipped to pursue God’s will.
Discipleship starts in the home. This isn’t something you can outsource. This is best done as you lead by example. This means that you need to learn the basics of the faith and model them, talk about them.
Put good godly things in front of your kids and take away those influences which will shipwreck their faith. Most of this is pretty intuitive, but the biggest hurdle we have to overcome is apathy.
5. David also prayed for Solomon to succeed
18 O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. 19 Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.”
We need to pray for our children to stay focused on the Lord
Pray for your children and tell them that you pray for them.
Pray for them to have hearts that are good soil for the gospel and that they will become men and women who love the Lord with all their hearts. Pray for their future spouses. Pray for them to know how they will serve the Lord (in which profession). Pray for their present struggles. Pray prayers that are specific and that you will know they are answered. Pray with their mother for them. “E.M. Bounds It is a good thing to talk to people about God. It is a better thing to talk to God about people.”
Desire for your kids to surpass you in faith in Jesus Christ and start by giving them a good model.
Talk about your relationship with Christ often at home. Let them see you studying your Bible
Pray with your kids often.
Make choices that match your Christian convictions
State when you are wrong, apologize, and repent.
Love the Lord’s church and model. Celebrate when they do things that you’ve never done yourself.
Children need fathers to spur them on to know and fulfill God’s plan for their lives.
What does this matter in your life? You might think, I don’t have kids in the home, so I guess this isn’t for me.
Well, there are some 18.5 million kids in our country who do not have a father in the home, do you think you could find one of these to be a father-figure?
There are 60 million kids running around this country who are missing a father-figure that is a spiritual leader. Do you think you might be able to overcome apathy for one of these?
Even for those who have children in the home, could you make room at your table for one more? Are there any in your neighborhood whom you could influence.
Willingness and ability to influence.
Be worth imitating, repent and engage.
What can you do?
Pray for the Lord to open doors of access at the right speed.
We could sure use some more men to help with our Sunday morning and Wednesday night children’s programs. This provide a context for influence. Programs plus personal investment will lead children to thrive in the Lord.
Put your yes on the table and plug in- (Witney can get you started).