 The  Fourth  Commandment om/2007/07/10-commandments-of- supporting-your-family.jpg

 I found eleven examples of disobedient children in the Old Testament.  1 Kings 15:3. (about a king’s son named Abijam):  He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been.  No wonder they lost their land.

 God put our parents over us, to take care of us.  Honoring parents shows we are honoring God.

 Children, obey your parents in the Lord.  Ephesians 6:1  “In the Lord” means we obey our parents because we belong to the Lord.

 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.  Colossians 3:20  Our “new life” wants to please the Lord  Our impulse to obey our parents comes from our new life. Our “new life” wants to obey God. God says “obey parents” and it is our “new life” that says, “Yes, of course.”

 God gave our parents authority over us,  but our old nature (also called “old life” does not like to obey authority.  When God says “don’t do something” it is our old nature that says “I want to do it anyway.”

 Disobeying parents shows our sinful nature  So we need to ask God to forgive us,  not just ask our parents to forgive.

 If we catch our old nature in the act, we are keeping Satan from getting a foothold in our lives.  When we see the old nature in action, we stomp it down by saying, “God, please forgive me, please change me.”

 Our old nature doesn’t like to obey God, or parents, or in fact any authority.  Therefore Martin Luther included more than just parents when he explained the 4 th commandment.  Let’s take a look:

 This commandments means that  We would not look down on our parents and masters, and not do things to make them angry, but would give them honor, would serve them, obey them, love them, and admire them.

 Your boss. Colossians 3:22 says:  Obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye- service, as people pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

 The police. Romans 13:1-2 says:  Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed.

 Pastors. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give account.  Can you think of more?

 Our attitude toward authorities shows our attitude toward God. Obeying authorities gives honor to God.

 If they ask you to disobey God, you should put God first, but …  accept the fact that you may have to suffer for it.  In Acts 5, the disciples said “We must obey God rather than men.” (verse 29)  As a result (verse 40): they beat them and told them not to speak about Jesus”

 Most things our authorities say to us are not against God’s will;  It is just that we don’t like their decision.  Can you think of examples?  But we can make an “appeal” to our authority, asking them to change their minds.

 Check your attitude. Make sure they know you respect them.  Find out their basic goal for you.  Show them another way you can help them meet their goal.

 obey them because of your faith in God.  Jesus said to His father: “Let this cup of suffering pass from me. But nevertheless not my will but your will be done.”

 What good ways have you found to handle disagreements with your parents?  How is our government set up to handle disagreements with their laws?  What ways have you found to make your parents feel good?  How will you handle your kids when you become a parent?

 For by works of the law no human will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20.

 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. First John 5:3

 Told us not to put other things ahead of God. Consider the three men who were thrown into the fiery furnace. They said:

 Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. (Daniel 3:17-18)

 Told us not to misuse God’s name, but to pray, praise, and thank him. Consider this verse:

 At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father. (Philippians 2:2:10-11)

 Told us to hear and learn from God’s Word.  Consider what Jesus said:

 Jesus said, “If you continue in my Word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32.

 Told us to love and obey our parents and other authorities.  This verse shows that how we treat others show what our attitude toward God is:

 He who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. First John 4:20.

 The first group of commands  Was about how we treat God  The next group of commands  Is about how we treat others

 Words by Jim Found  Design by Lizzy O  Copyright notice: pictures from Microsoft Word Clip Art files.