SUnday PM 2.12.12
jmicha...@juno.com
HOW TO PRAY FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN
Psalm 127:3-4
Introduction: In the previous two messages, we saw several principles that helps when it comes to praying for our children and grandchildren. The first one is the most important. If your child or grandchild do not get saved, the other principles will not help. Salvation is the first step for everyone. 2nd Peter 3:9
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
The second principle is that they will caught if they are guilty. If they come to the point that they realize that the Lord sees everything that we see do, this will help them to stay straight and do what is right. We should reinforce this phrase. Make the right thing the normal thing until the right thing becomes the normal thing. We should remind them daily to do right. Children and grandchildren can spot phonies and frauds and they can see this in us the truth of our lives. No one else should more influence over our children than parents and grandchildren.
Sin is always wrong. It does not matter how small or seemingly insignificant. It is always sin. Sin must be dealt with surgical precision by applying scriptural principles to us. Sin must be confessed as sin. 1st John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Psalm 32:5
“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”
The third principle is that we pray that our children and grandchildren will make sound decisions in their lives. In fact, we should pray that they will make better decisions than we did.
Today we will look at a fourth principle that will help us in our prayers for our children and grandchildren.
IV. PRAY FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN THAT THEY WILL DEVELOP A HEART FOR THE LORD.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:” “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:” “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” “And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.” “And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”
I don't have all of the answers but these will be a help for us.
How do we love God with our heart, soul and mind? Our heart is the decision making center and emotional center of our lives. Our soul is the sum of our person. It is the part that goes to heaven when we died. Our mind is our thoughts, imagination, knowledge and understanding. In both Old and New Testaments, heart, soul and mind are interchangeable and represent the unity of our person, not three distinct parts.
1. Children must develop a right relationship with the Lord. As I said earlier, they must get saved first. I want to remind you that you should never and I repeat that you never force them to make a profession of faith. Every one gets saved at different times of life. John 1:12
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”
2. Children must learn to have a love for God deepens when we realize our purpose is to worship Him. John 4:23-24
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
For years I have loved and used this definition of worship. Let me give it again. “For to worship is to quicken the conscience by the Holiness of God; to feed the mind with the truth of God; to purge the imagination by the beauty of God; to open the heart to the love of God; to devote the will to the purpose of God.”
Worship is the setting our mind’s attention and our heart’s affection on God. We were created to love and worship God. Real worship is about falling in love with Jesus.
People fall in love when they spend time together, get to know each other and share ideas and feelings and thoughts. That is how we fell in love with our mates.
3. Children must learn to have a personal Bible study daily. We must teach our children to search the scriptures for themselves. “Once a week feedings” are not enough to develop a heart for God. We should encourage our children to read through the Psalms and Proverbs regularly. They can read through both books each month. They read five chapters each day except the nineteen day. Psalm one hundred and nineteen is read on the thirty-first of the month. They read one chapter of Proverbs each month.
They should learn to hear it, read it, study and meditate up it. But I have said before that they will not read their Bibles if they never see you doing so.
Conclusion: As I said in the beginning, this is not all of the answers but these will help you as you pray for them.
Pastor Mike Walls
Freedom Baptist Church Smithfield, NC
jmicha...@juno.com
Isaiah 41:10
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