ARE WE PASSING OUR CHILDREN THROUGH THE FIRE

ARE WE PASSING OUR CHILDREN THROUGH THE FIRE?

“And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger. ” 2 Kings 17: 17

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE OUR ENEMY • Satan is a master at making things look like one thing when they are really quite another – 2 Corinthians 11: 12 -15 • He has been doing this since the beginning with great success – Genesis 3 • Satan often relies on our self-deception – He does not need us to claim or even recognize our allegiance to him to have hold of our soul – Who fights against chains they do not realize they are wearing?

ARE OUR CHILDREN BEING SACRIFICED TO THE IDOL OF… • Covetousness? – Colossians 3: 5 -7 – Matthew 6: 19 -21, 24 – 1 Timothy 6: 6 -10

ARE OUR CHILDREN BEING SACRIFICED TO THE IDOL OF… • Covetousness? Do you… Emphasize what you have over who you serve? Prioritize making money over service to God, His church, and the family He has blessed you with? Focus on your children’s financial future instead of their spiritual future?

ARE OUR CHILDREN BEING SACRIFICED TO THE IDOL OF… • Worldliness? – 1 John 2: 15 -17 – Romans 12: 1 -2 – 1 Peter 4: 1 -4

ARE OUR CHILDREN BEING SACRIFICED TO THE IDOL OF… • Worldliness? Do you… Allow your children to miss services for other activities? Fail to teach and uphold God’s standards for morality, including dress and conduct? Fail to monitor and manage their exposure to worldly values?

ARE OUR CHILDREN BEING SACRIFICED TO THE IDOL OF… • Convenience? – Luke 9: 23 -26, 57 -62 – Luke 14: 16 -24 – Esther 4: 16

ARE OUR CHILDREN BEING SACRIFICED TO THE IDOL OF… • Convenience? Do you… Complain about the “inconvenience” of attending services/Bible studies, helping brethren, etc. ? Complain about, or mock, brethren who may require more of us than others? Fail to prioritize home Bible study, including preparing for Bible classes?

ARE OUR CHILDREN BEING SACRIFICED TO THE IDOL OF… • Apathy? – Revelation 3: 14 -16 – James 4: 17 – Zephaniah 1: 12 -13

ARE OUR CHILDREN BEING SACRIFICED TO THE IDOL OF… • Apathy? Do you… Fail to actively engage yourself in the work and worship of the church? Fail to make God and His word the center of your everyday life? Fail to encourage your children’s individual spiritual growth through conversation, questions, study, etc. ?

ARE OUR CHILDREN BEING SACRIFICED TO THE IDOL OF… • Relativism or Humanism? – Colossians 2: 6 -10 – Proverbs 14: 12 – Psalm 73

ARE OUR CHILDREN BEING SACRIFICED TO THE IDOL OF… • Relativism or Humanism? Do you… Fail to monitor and address the things your children are being taught? Employ any kind of situational ethics in your own life? Fail to refer to God’s wisdom for making decisions in ALL areas of your life?

ARE OUR CHILDREN BEING SACRIFICED TO THE IDOL OF… • Self-Righteousness? – Luke 18: 9 -14 – Romans 10: 1 -3 – Matthew 7: 1 -5

ARE OUR CHILDREN BEING SACRIFICED TO THE IDOL OF… • Self-Righteousness? Do you… Look down on brethren whose struggles are different (“greater”) than your own? Approach those in sin with a haughty, rather than a loving, attitude? Ignore or downplay your own sins rather than address and repent of them?

ARE OUR CHILDREN BEING SACRIFICED TO THE IDOL OF… • “Unity” at All Costs? – 1 Corinthians 1: 10 – 1 Corinthians 5 – 2 Corinthians 6: 14 -7: 1

ARE OUR CHILDREN BEING SACRIFICED TO THE IDOL OF… • “Unity” at All Costs? Do you… Continue in fellowship with those who are sinning and unrepentant? Refuse to say anything that might “stir the pot, ” even when sin is involved? Fail to stand with those who are speaking out for the truth?

COVETOUSNESS WORLDLINESS CONVENIENCE ARE WE PASSING OUR CHILDREN THROUGH THE FIRE? APATHY RELATIVISM SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS HUMANISM “UNITY” AT ALL COSTS