Mother's Day
Notes
Transcript
The Relationship Slippery Slope
Psalm 127:1, 3-5
1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: And the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; So are children of the youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be ashamed, But they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
The home is the most important thing in our world today!
It is the basis of our churches, it is the basis of our nation.
Evangelist Tim St. Clair explained it this way, The home is:
The most intimate language picture of the relationship within our triune God.
One of the first areas God points to in the Scriptures in times of disobedience.
Of primary importance in qualifying for church leadership.
One of the greatest areas of conscious need in people’s lives.
The greatest testing grounds for the reality of your Christianity.
The greatest target of Satan for the destruction of the credibility of Christianity
Many problems in the home begin with something very small.
Unfulfilled promises, pride, or anger.
Each of these things lead to a sequence of a Slippery Slope
Children’s Inner Conflict - Child’s Visible Signs - Parent’s Response
1. Hurt Feelings - You see: Communication Breakdown (silent at dinner table)
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Parents Response begins by overlook symptoms as temporary
4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; But he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, Nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
2. Alienation of affection - You see: Ungratefulness
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
FBI has observed that one of the chief characteristics of a juvenile delinquent is the attitude that society owes him a living.
Parents Response: Compare teen’s benefits with their past hardships (When I was your age…)
10 Only by pride cometh contention: But with the well advised is wisdom.
Pride evidenced by refusing to ask forgiveness
What two changes would you like to see in your father? Temper/admit wrong
3. Rejection of Authority - You see: Stubbornness (doesn’t follow through on orders)
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king.
Parents Response: Nag - Try to coax teen to obey - “We have to keep after him...”
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: And their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
4. Self as Authority - You see: Signs of Rebellion - desires equal voice with parents
The basis of Satan’s rebellion and downfall was his desire to be on equal terms with his authority.
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Parents Response: Restrict Privileges
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: And the rod of his anger shall fail.
5. Sympathetic Companions - You see: Wrong Friends (birds of a feather)
Characteristics of wrong friends:
Serve fleshly appetites
Find humor in their shame
9 Fools make a mock at sin: But among the righteous there is favour.
3. Have no concern for eternity
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Parents Response: Family Bureau of Investigation
21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
6. Sins of the Flesh - You see: Defense of Sensuality (relative standard)
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Parents Response: Condemn or Condone (compare to my past)
7. Guilt - You see: Condemning Others (focusing on hypocrites)
1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Parents Response: Defend Self - justify their actions and attitudes - “We did the best we knew how”
13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
8. Thoughts of Suicide - You see: Frivolity / Depression - Don’t care attitude - Continual search for excitement/Suicidal depression
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of that mirth is heaviness.
Parents Response: Outwardly – Frustrated and Grieved
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Four types of suicide
Four types of suicide
1. Mental - Drugs, false philosophies
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
2. Moral – Surrendering to sensuality
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
3. Spiritual – Involvement in Occult
How can I get out of this?
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
4. Physical – Death
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
If you are a parent and you see the signs of rebellion, you need to find out where it has started.
Be willing to humble yourself and ask, Are there any promises that I have made that I didn’t keep?
Is there anything that I have done that has hurt you?
Tell them, I realize I hurt you by _____, will you please forgive me?
Children - If you recognize that there is something from your past that you have become bitter about, you are on a very slippery slope!
Stop now, confess your bitterness to God, and give that hurt over to Him!