Rearing Children in an Ungodly Land Embry Hills

Rearing Children in an Ungodly Land Embry Hills – July 2016 1

Lessons from First Book of Moses • Children are in God’s image (Gen 1: 26 -27; 4: 1). • They are ‘produced’ and nurtured by a father and mother (Gen 1: 28). • Children (would have) needed moral protection even before the Fall (Gen 2: 15 -17). • The consequences of the first sin cascaded into the second generation and beyond (Gen 4). • The conflict between good and evil continues (I Pet 5: 8 -9; Eph 6: 1 -0 -13; II Cor 10: 3 -6; I John 5: 19…) 2

Deuteronomy 5: 7 -10 7 ‘You shall have no other gods before Me. 8 ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image— any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 9 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 10 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. 3

The 2 nd Giving of the Law (Dt 5) • A new generation (5: 3), about to enter the Land • Under threat in the Land (7: 4) • “Father/children…” in the 2 nd Commandment – 1 st: No other gods before Me (5: 7) – 2 nd: No graven images (5: 8 -10) • Faithfulness (& blessings) dependent on parents 4

Advice to Parents (Dt 6: 1 -9) • Begin with your own consuming love for God (6: 5) – Not the “traditional family religion” – Not (“choose your own”) religiosity (see v 4) – Not just moral behavior – Not just an intellectual knowledge You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 5

Advice to Parents (Dt 6: 1 -9) • Begin with your own consuming love for God (6: 5) • (Love unselfishly – see Matt 22: 35 -40 & Lev 19: 18) – Especially applies to families (see Matt 5: 47) – Not love for self, but sacrificial faithfulness to wives & family… …You shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. 6

Advice to Parents (Dt 6: 1 -9) • Begin with your own consuming love for God (6: 5) • (Love unselfishly – see Matt 22: 35 -40 & Lev 19: 18) • Teach children about God (Dt 6: 6 -7) – Rules & laws (Dt 6: 2, & see 4: 2)… – ‘for our good’ (Dt 6: 20, 24 -25) – Praise for what He has done (Dt 6: 21 -23; Ps 145: 4) – Provide for congregational learning (Dt 31: 9 -13) That you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments… 7

Advice to Parents (Dt 6: 1 -9) • • Begin with your own consuming love for God (6: 5) (Love unselfishly – see Matt 22: 35 -40 & Lev 19: 18) Teach children about God (Dt 6: 6 -7) Make learning & worship habits (Dt 6: 7 -9) – Teach the ‘Words’ of God – post them, repeat them… – Build habits & teach priorities by simple choices You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house… 8

Advice to Parents (Dt 6: 1 -9) • • • Begin with your own consuming love for God (6: 5) (Love unselfishly – see Matt 22: 35 -40 & Lev 19: 18) Teach children about God (Dt 6: 6 -7) Make learning & worship habits (Dt 6: 7 -9) Prepare them to be different & separate (Dt 7: 1 -6) – Assume the world is dangerous (I Pet 5: 8 -9) – Manage your own “covenants” (see II Cor 6: 14 -16) – Select & reject companions for spiritual purposes You shall make no covenant with them… 9

Advice to Parents (Dt 6: 1 -9) • • • Begin with your own consuming love for God (6: 5) (Love unselfishly – see Matt 22: 35 -40 & Lev 19: 18) Teach children about God (Dt 6: 6 -7) Make learning & worship habits (Dt 6: 7 -9) Prepare them to be different & separate (Dt 7: 1 -6) Do not be afraid (Dt 7: 17 -21) – Remember God’s mighty works and His promises You shall not be terrified of them; for the LORD your God, the great and awesome God, is among you. 10

II Cor 6: 16 -18 For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people. ” 17 Therefore: “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. ” 18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty. ” 11