Power of a Parent's Influence Part 1
Making Home Work • Sermon • Submitted
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Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Ti
Overview
Overview
Voices are everywhere screaming for the attention and adoration of our children. Many are seeking to make an influence that will cause our children to stray from biblical truths. As parents, we must understand the need to be the greatest influence in our children’s impressionable lives.
Introduction
Introduction
Do you remember holding your 1st child for the 1st time?
It brought an overwhelming sense of responsibility
You wonder what they will become
You have the desire to do everything in your power to love and protect them
You wanted them to know Christ at an early age
In truth the influence we have over our children takes place over millions of moments through a period of 18-20 years.
The unexpected peering in the garage as you have just lost your temper
The unexpected door opening as you embrace your spouse - or on the couch to embarrass them
bedtime stories
family vacations & outings
How can we as parents make these moments - accidental and intentional - count?
Timothy did not have a father that was a believer but that did not stop his mother and grandmother from turning his heart to the Lord. It is in Paul’s words to Timothy that we can learn some very valuable lessons in how to influence our own children in spite of the opposition we face.
Paul’s Warning
Paul gave some sober words of warning to Timothy before he reminded him of the influence that changed his life:
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Godly people will suffer - “shall suffer persecution”
Godly people can be deceived - “seducers…deceiving and being deceived”
Illustration: No parent in their right mind would allow some stranger to come by and care for their children but far to many Christian parents are allowing the world to basically accomplish the same thing!
I. Influencing through the Scriptures
I. Influencing through the Scriptures
Children are very mold-able and can be taught from an early age what God says in his word.
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The scriptures lay out for us boundaries for the home - they give us both structure as well as standards.
A. Provide structure
A. Provide structure
Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.
We must show them what is expected
Quote - In military leadership training one thing they would always stress was “inspect what you expect”
B. Provide standards
B. Provide standards
How do we know where to place these boundaries - these standards?
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, Forsake ye not my law. For I was my father’s son, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: Keep my commandments, and live.
Adults need standards - we need to be consistent with them
Children need to understand the standard - teach them why we do what we do
The Pyramid Sequence
The Sequence
Top _____Standard
Middle ________ Principle
Bottom____________ Bible Command (this is the foundation)
A Command - spelled out in God’s Word.
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1 Pt 1:15-
A Principle - something we draw from the command - in this case the principle of holiness
“My lifestyle is to reflect the holiness of God and should be separated from ungodliness”
A Standard - this brings the command into direct contact with our daily living (and where most people stop)
“In our home we do not watch television programs that violate that principle” (cursing, nakedness....)
Our homes need to have standards (dress, alcohol, entertainment, music)
Many reject them as being a form of weakness
Warning: We cannot measure spirituality by standards
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Quote: If we fail to establish these boundaries, your influence of faith will diminish in the lives of your children. It will be as one anonymous author observed, “to our forefathers the Christian faith was an experience. To our fathers it was an inheritance. To our generation it is a convenience. And to out children it is a nuisance.”
II. Influencing through Salvation
II. Influencing through Salvation
Somewhere along the line Eunice and Lois’ faith became Timothy’s faith.
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
God has no grandchildren - we should not take the salvation of our children for granted
We must be sensative to their spiritual condition
We must present the gospel but we must not push with the gospel
A. Provides an eternal home
A. Provides an eternal home
Keep it simple
Illustration: A young boy named Brian was getting ready for his important part in the Easter program of his church. He was supposed to recite “he is not here, he is risen” Unfortunatly when it came time for him to recite his line he forgot it and instead shouted “He is not here; He’s in prision”.
Children understand deep thruths but only when explained on their level
Use words they understand
2. Emphasize the basics
For a person to be saven he must know - Who Jesus is, What sin is, that he/she has sinned, Christ died on a cross - was burried- and rose again the third day and that salvation is a gift
Teavhing these truths prepares the heart for salvation
3. Ask Questions - Not leading questions
Why do you want to be saved?
What is Sin?
Who is Jesus?
Can you be saved by being good? Why not?
4. Watch for a spiritual desire on the child’s part
We need to see the working of the Holy Spirit
5. Let them tell you when they got saved
Don’t tell them - ask them to tell you
6. Follow with believer’s baptism
7. Don’t be embarrassed of a later need for assurance
B. Provides the presence of the Holy Spirit
B. Provides the presence of the Holy Spirit
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
As effective as our disciple and training should be noting can take the place of the Holy Spirit of God
III. Influence through a Godly Spirit
III. Influence through a Godly Spirit
Have you ever been around someone who’s spirit was contagious? Perhaps they were just optimistic or seriously prayerful. On the other hand have you ever been around someone who is pessimistic and negative?
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
A. Be positive
A. Be positive
Have you ever wondered where Daniel’s excellent spirit came from?
Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
He was taken captive to Babylon at a very young age
How did he maintain this excellent spirit in spite of his circumstances?
Could it have been the positive influence of his parents?
My son, give me thine heart, And let thine eyes observe my ways.
B. Be prayerful
B. Be prayerful
We can just gloss over this point quickly because it seems so elementary but if we do not pray for our children who will?
Someone prayed for you to be saved
We have a responsibility to bring our children before God in prayer
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Illustration: Dr. Richard Halverson, former U.S. Senate chaplain, was once speaking to a group of Christians who were angry with Congress for their lack of initiative to restore prayer in the schools. Dr. Halverson asked these men to raise their hands if they had personally been praying with their children outside of church. Not one raised his hand. He pointed out that while prayer in public schools should be restored, it’s hypocritical to express such deep concern about it when parents are not taking the opportunities they do have to pray with their children.
Quote: “Bretheren, I wish it were more common, I wish it were universal, with all Christians to have family prayer. We sometimes hear of children of Christian parents who do not grow up in the fear of God, and we are asked how it is that they turn out so badly. In many cases I fear there is such a neglect of family worship that it’s not probable that the children are at all impressed by any piety (reverence for God) supposed to be possed by their parents.” - Charles Spurgeon
Conclusion
Conclusion
One of the greatest myths is that we can plan for a few “big moments” of influence and expect those times to have great significance in our child’s life while we ignore the day-to-day moments of influence.
Conclusion
Conclusion
It is the consistency of little moments that add up over time that really matter!
Reminder: If you are not influencing your child someone or something is! Out time is short lets make it count!