PARENTS, HOLD FAST! Eph. 6:1-4 [By Ron Halbrook]

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! Introduction: 1. Eph. 6:1-4 Parents’ duty: teach children to love & obey God

1. Eph. 6:1-4 Parents’ duty: teach children to love & obey God 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! 2. These Truths Help Us to Hold Fast: Introduction: 2. These Truths Help Us to Hold Fast: God Ordained Parental Duty & Authority as a Blessing. God Ordained the Duty of Discipline. Parents Must Lead in Practical Ways. Parents Must Hold Fast Whether or Not Children Cooperate.

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! I. God Ordained Parental Duty & Authority as a Blessing. A. God Ordained the Husband-Wife Relationship & Authority of Parents Over Children. Based on Unselfish Love Blesses All of Us

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! I. God Ordained Parental Duty & Authority as a Blessing. B. Eph. 6:1-4 Addresses Our Duties: Vs. 1 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” Vs. 2 “Honour thy father and mother;” Outward conformity, inward submission

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! I. God Ordained Parental Duty & Authority as a Blessing. B. Eph. 6:1-4 Addresses Our Duties: Vs. 2 “(which is the first commandment with promise;)” First, foremost, foundational

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! I. God Ordained Parental Duty & Authority as a Blessing. B. Eph. 6:1-4 Addresses Our Duties: Vs. 3 “That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” Promotes well-being, protects

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! I. God Ordained Parental Duty & Authority as a Blessing. B. Eph. 6:1-4 Addresses Our Duties: Vs. 4 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Fathers bear first & greatest responsibility

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! I. God Ordained Parental Duty & Authority as a Blessing. B. Eph. 6:1-4 Addresses Our Duties: Vs. 4 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Anger, rebellion provoked by sin & abuse

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! I. God Ordained Parental Duty & Authority as a Blessing. B. Eph. 6:1-4 Addresses Our Duties: Vs. 4 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Instruct by correction & by affectionate rebuke

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! I. God Ordained Parental Duty & Authority as a Blessing. C. Col. 3:18-21 Addresses Our Duties: Vs. 18 “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” Submit to please God first

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! I. God Ordained Parental Duty & Authority as a Blessing. C. Col. 3:18-21 Addresses Our Duties: Vs. 19 “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.” Lead by unselfish love VS bitterness

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! I. God Ordained Parental Duty & Authority as a Blessing. C. Col. 3:18-21 Addresses Our Duties: Vs. 20 “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” Obey to please God first

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! I. God Ordained Parental Duty & Authority as a Blessing. C. Col. 3:18-21 Addresses Our Duties: Vs. 21 “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” Addresses man 2nd time! Sin & abuse provoke rebellion Bitterness toward wife provokes anger in child

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! I. God Ordained Parental Duty & Authority as a Blessing. D. The Divine Order Blesses Our Lives. Order of Physical Universe: Position of Sun, Moon, & Stars.”

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! I. God Ordained Parental Duty & Authority as a Blessing. D. The Divine Order Blesses Our Lives. Order in Family Life Husband love, lead, not provoke Wife submit, cooperate Child obey, honor

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! II. God Ordained the Duty of Discipline. A. Parents Must Assert God-Given Authority. Eph. 6:1, 4 God gave authority to parents. 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. ++++++++++ +++++++++ ++++++++++ 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! II. God Ordained the Duty of Discipline. "[Physical punishment] certainly plays a role in our acceptance of violence. If we are ever to turn toward a kindlier society and a safer world, a revulsion against the physical punishment of children would be a good place to start." (Baby & Child Care, p. 173) II. God Ordained the Duty of Discipline. B. Liberal Psychologists Are Wrong, God Is Right. Dr. Benjamin Spock in 1950s-60s Liberal 1960s-70s Generation Despised Authority In 1980s Dr. Spock Admitted He Was Wrong!

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! II. God Ordained the Duty of Discipline. C. The Bible Was Right All Along About Discipline! The Book of Proverbs: God’s Handbook for Raising Children Prov. 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! II. God Ordained the Duty of Discipline. C. The Bible Was Right All Along About Discipline! The Book of Proverbs: God’s Handbook for Raising Children Prov. 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

The Book of Proverbs: God’s Handbook for Raising Children 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

The Book of Proverbs: God’s Handbook for Raising Children 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. 29:17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! II. God Ordained the Duty of Discipline. C. The Bible Was Right All Along About Discipline! When Child Defies a Parent, a Parent Must Hold Fast by Meting Out Consequences— Child Will Make It Unpleasant, a Parent Must Make It More So!

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! II. God Ordained the Duty of Discipline. D. When Child Defies Parent, He Will Encroach More Unless Stopped. Eccl. 8:11 Prompt discipline is effective. 11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! II. God Ordained the Duty of Discipline. D. When Child Defies Parent, He Will Encroach More Unless Stopped. Parents Suffer Agony of Ungrateful Child. Church Suffers in Every Way. Society Suffers Failed Homes, Rebels, Destruction.

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! II. God Ordained the Duty of Discipline. D. When Child Defies Parent, He Will Encroach More Unless Stopped. Prov. 30:17 “The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.”

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! III. Parents Must Lead in Practical Ways. A. Duty of Eph. 6:4 Outlined in Deut. 6:4-9.

A. Duty of Eph. 6:4 Outlined in Deut. 6:4-9. 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. A. Duty of Eph. 6:4 Outlined in Deut. 6:4-9. Deut. 6:4-9

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! III. Parents Must Lead in Practical Ways. B. Young People Yearn for Leadership! C. Some Ways Parents Can Lead: Personal Commitment: Obey Gospel, Read Bible & Pray, Be Faithful (2 Tim. 3:15) 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures…

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! III. Parents Must Lead in Practical Ways. C. Some Ways Parents Can Lead: “Bring Them Up:” Spend Time with Them (Eph.6:4) 4 …bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! III. Parents Must Lead in Practical Ways. C. Some Ways Parents Can Lead: Insist They Prepare School Lessons & Bible Class Lessons (2 Tim. 3:16; Matt. 6:33) 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God… 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God…

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! III. Parents Must Lead in Practical Ways. C. Some Ways Parents Can Lead: Open Home to Children & Friends (1 Cor. 11:34) 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home…

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! III. Parents Must Lead in Practical Ways. C. Some Ways Parents Can Lead: Set High Moral Standards (Rom. 12:2) 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! III. Parents Must Lead in Practical Ways. C. Some Ways Parents Can Lead: Parents Have Final Say in Decisions (1 Tim. 3:4): electronic media, music, modesty, curfew, etc. 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! III. Parents Must Lead in Practical Ways. C. Some Ways Parents Can Lead: Consider Child’s Input, No Compromise in Principle Help Distinguish Harmless & Harmful Fads 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

But the answer is still no. PARENTS, HOLD FAST! III. Parents Must Lead in Practical Ways. D. Miniskirt Battle: Parents Lead or Follow? I do. But the answer is still no. I thought you loved me!

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! IV. We Must Hold Fast Whether or Not Children Cooperate. A. Our Duty Does Not Change with Whims of a Child. Prov. 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go…” Eph. 6:4 “…bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! IV. We Must Hold Fast Whether or Not Children Cooperate. B. Our Reaction to This Duty Reveals Our Character. Gen. 18:19 God knew Abraham’s character 19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! IV. We Must Hold Fast Whether or Not Children Cooperate. C. Eli Failed His Duty When His Children Rebelled. 1 Sam. 3:11-13 God saw Eli’s character.

1 Sam. 3:11-13 God saw Eli’s character. 11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! IV. We Must Hold Fast Whether or Not Children Cooperate. D. Parents May Fulfill Their Duty, Yet Children Rebel. Deut. 21:18-21 Training & discipline failed.

Deut. 21:18-21 Training & discipline failed. 18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear. Deut. 21:18-21 Training & discipline failed. Deut. 21:18-21

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! IV. We Must Hold Fast Whether or Not Children Cooperate. E. God Is Looking for Leaders! Josh. 24:15 Joshua had faith & courage.

Josh. 24:15 Joshua had faith & courage. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! Invitation: 1. Eph. 6:1-4 Parents’ duty: teach children to love & obey God

1. Eph. 6:1-4 Parents’ duty: teach children to love & obey God 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! 2. These Truths Help Us to Hold Fast: Invitation: 2. These Truths Help Us to Hold Fast: God Ordained Parental Duty & Authority as a Blessing. God Ordained the Duty of Discipline. Parents Must Lead in Practical Ways. Parents Must Hold Fast Whether or Not Children Cooperate.

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! Invitation: 3. Make changes in life & home: Now while there is hope! Ja. 5:16 Erring brother: Now is the time to repent, confess, & pray! 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

PARENTS, HOLD FAST! 16 And now why tarriest thou? Invitation: 3. Make changes in life & home: Now while there is hope! Acts 22:16 Alien sinner: Now is the time to believe, repent, confess Christ, & be baptized! 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.