Deuteronomy 1: 1 – 6
Text: 1 Samuel 1: 28 “ So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over
to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there".
Introduction:
Of a fact children are heritage from the Lord (Ps. 127:3)
But then to train them to became great leaders tomorrow, the scripture should still be fulfilled
( Ps. 127:1) Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
For them to become arrows in the hand of a warrior, a lot goes into it (v.4) Like arrows in the hands of
a warrior are sons born in one's youth.
Raising tomorrow leaders among these children today is a serious and crucial assignment on our part today. Why?
There is the challenge of Parenthood
There is the challenge of the society
There’s the challenge of direct assault from the kingdom of darkness, on daily basis
Yet in all these, we have a lesson to learn form Mother Hannah in our text (I Sam.1:27-28)
The best we are to do now is to hand them over to God who gave them to us
Today we can count millions of people who are influencing their world and generation in different fields, just because they knew Christ when they were just children.
Hence we conclude:
Like Moses, of old, were he dead in the hand of Pharaoh, the story we read in the Bible will be different.
Like Joseph, were he to fall in the laps of Portiphar’s wife (as a young man) the story will be totally different
Were baby Jesus killed in the days of Herod, our salvation would have been sabotaged
Hence, everybody- the home, the Church, the society, the government must play his/their role well today in order to produce (out of these children) great leaders of international repute for the glory of God and the betterment of mankind.
I. From History
W.E. Hockin told a story one time that a teacher of ten and eleven year old boys in Germany would take off his top hat and bow before the boys in deference to them. Someone asked him “why do you do that?” He answered “Who Knows what one of these boys may become?” One of such boys was Martin Luther (the Great Reformer)
Yes, children will tend to adopt the beliefs of those whom they instinctively recognize as their role models, and of no others
Isaac Watts was saved at about the age of nine. His hymns have lifted the hearts of millions. Jonathan Edwards, whose clear testimony and dynamic preaching stirred all of New England for God, was converted when he was only seven. Mather Henry was brought to Church at the age of eleven, and through his many years of study of God’s Word, he produced his well-known commentaries on the Holy Scriptures.
II. Our Assignment Today
Charles H. Spurgeon once said, “If you do not teach your child the ways of the Lord, the devil will teach them the way of sin”
How true today!
Hence the serious assignment on us today, especially as parents and the Christian Church
Hence the following commands for us as parents need to be strictly adhered to (see your bulletin) –
TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR GOOD PARENTS (For the Sake of Children)
1. Teach them, using God’s Word (Deut. 6: 4 – 9)
2. Tell them what’s right and wrong ( 1 Kings. 1:6)
3. See them as gifts from God ( Ps. 127:3)
4. Guide them in godly ways ( Prov. 22:6)
5. Discipline them (Prov. 29: 17)
6. Love them unconditionally (Luke 15: 11 – 32)
7. Do not provoke them to wrath (Eph. 6:4)
8. Earn their respect by example( 1 Tim. 3:4)
9. Provide for their physical needs ( 1 Tim. 5:8)
10. Pass your faith along to them ( 2 Tim. 1:5)
Any child that grows under these conditions will have gotten seed sown in him/her. Even when peer, generational, societal, circumstantial pressures and thorns want to choke them, the life and the power of God in the seed will not allow them to die.
Having done our part successfully well, all other avenues will only compliment.
Conclusion:
Every child in the House:
Obey your parents
Give your life to Christ
Obey the teachings of God’s Word
Run away for deception ( Prov., 1:10)
Learn good behaviours
Shun bad behaviours
Every Parent in the House
Cooperate in the rearing and training of Children
Be good and godly examples
Teach right values
Be modest and moderate
Do not over indulge
Be honest and sincere
Do your very best
The Church:
Godly and enabling environment
Dedicated workers
Conscious leaders
Growth opportunities and materials
Sacrificial giving to fulfil visions.