Transcript
Bonus Ep 1
Transcription
Hello friends and family. Happy Thanksgiving! I hope all of you have a wonderful day enjoying it with friends and family as you enjoy a meal together. Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. There’s just something special about the cool, crisp fall weather and the wonderful smells of a Thanksgiving meal being prepared as you spend time with your loved ones.
This Thanksgiving, I am thinking about the godly legacy that I have received from my grandparents. My last living grandparent went home to be with the Lord earlier this month. My grandma was 97 years old and even though she was almost 100 years old, I used to call her young lady and she would always respond back with calling me her old man. I’ll never forget that. And I can imagine that someday, when it’s my turn to go home, that I will hear her greet me with that familiar expression. Hello, my old man.
I’ve been blessed that I was able to know my grandparents for as long as I did. My first grandparent didn’t pass away until I was 30 years old, and now I am 44 and my last one is passed from this life into the next.
But what is even more of a blessing than knowing them as long as I did. Is the godly legacy that they have left. And that is what I want to briefly talk about today. That is how we too, can leave a godly legacy for future generations.
Both sides of my family have been strong in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. On my dad’s side, grandpa was a faithful Lutheran pastor. I also have two uncles on that side who are pastors. One is retired now and the other is still pastoring in Mitchell, South Dakota.
On my mother’s side, grandpa and grandma, were farmers who were involved with the Gideons for many years. I grew up on the same farm with them, and grandpa had a Bible and a devotional on the kitchen counter. Grandma and grandpa would sit there at the counter each morning and have devotions together, and when all the family would get together for holidays, grandpa would gather everyone around and give a spiritual lesson.
These things I still remember so many years later now, and I’m sure many of my family members remember them as well. They have an impact on the children and grandchildren when they see how it is important to their parents and grandparents.
But that legacy is always in danger of being lost to future generations. Now, please understand that each individual has to come to a personal, saving faith in Christ. It is not something that can be forced upon a child. They can’t be made to believe, but they can be brought up in the Word of God and led to the Savior. But the choice to believe or not, to follow the Lord or not always rests upon the individual soul.
Some years ago, I was talking to a Hindu doctor I worked with, and I mentioned to him that even though I was a Christian, my child was not just because I was. He was taken aback by that statement for him, if you are born into a certain religion, then that is what you are. I explained to him a great spiritual truth in the Bible, that even a person growing up in a Christian home has to come to the Savior all on their own. He that hath the son hath life, and he that hath not the son hath not life. [1 John 5:12]
That being said, if a child grows up in a home where both Mom and Dad loved the Lord and follow him, that child will most of the time do the same. Do you know why? God has a prescription for us in leaving a lasting legacy.
And there are three aspects to leaving a godly legacy that I want to share with you from the Bible. The first aspect is marrying a godly spouse. Both sets of my grandparents had spouses that loved the Lord, and they in turn raise children that love the Lord. This is so crucial to not only having a godly marriage, but leaving a godly legacy.
I think all of us have observed a disastrous marriage of a believer and an unbeliever, or one who professes to know Christ, but displays no fruit whatsoever of an inward conversion of their heart. The results speak for themselves. It creates an unstable home, as the parents don’t agree on how to raise their children, and the kids get mixed signals on the importance of having God in their lives.
Second Corinthians chapter six, verses 14 and 15 warns believers, says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” [2 Corinthians 6:14-15]
Young people listening: pay attention to these verses, and heed them as if your future children’s lives depended on it, because they very well may. There is more at stake in marriage than simply your happiness.
Many have thought that they would win their lost boyfriend or girlfriend over to the Lord after they got married, but soon found out that that may never happen. You would be most wise to end such a relationship. The longer you wait, the more emotional attachment you will have and the harder it will be.
First Corinthians seven gives instructions in marriage and regarding a believing spouse and an unbelieving spouse. Verse 16 of that chapter says, “For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?” [1 Corinthians 7:16]
It is sad that I have to throw that negative side into the message, but it is a warning worth giving, and a warning definitely worth heeding.
But what about the fruits of a godly marriage between a believing woman and a believing man? In Malachi 2:15, God is speaking about marriage, says “And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed.” God seeks a godly seed from a godly marriage. Leaving a godly legacy begins with a godly marriage. It begins with a godly father and a godly mother.
Did you know that the ancient Hebrew used pictographs. Well, the pictographic script for father was written with two pictures. The first picture is that of an ox head. And is the Hebrew letter aleph, a Hebrew word meaning ox. The second picture is a diagram or floorplan of a nomadic tent or house. And is the Hebrew letter bet, which means house.
Now, in Hebrew words may have multiple meanings depending on context. The word aleph could mean ox, a strong animal or chief a strong person, or it can mean a thousand, a strong number. And bet may mean house like the actual house, or those of the house, such as in the house of David. Or it may simply mean family.
So when we combine the two pictures, we get the strong one of the family. And isn’t that what the father is? He is the strong one of the family. He is the provider, protector, and spiritual leader in the home.
TV and movies today really have put down the role of the father in the home. He is always being portrayed as being stupid or lazy. There is a very satanic attack upon the strong one of the family.
Fathers, you are so important to the family. Never underestimate your importance in a godly home to raise godly seed.
Now what about you mothers? What does your ancient Hebrew pictograph tell us about you? Yours begins as well with the picture of the ox head meaning strength. The second picture is that of water. Putting these two together, it means strong water, which is glue. Therefore, we see in the ancient Hebrew pictograph that a mother is the glue of the family, or the one who holds the family together.
What a picture that is! So when we have a godly man and a godly woman, or the strong one of the family with the glue that holds the family together, we have God’s recipe for creating a godly legacy.
Okay, the first aspect began with a marriage between a godly man and a godly woman. These next two biblical precepts have to do with the raising of children. And the first one, there is the aspect of instruction in the home.
In the book of Deuteronomy, chapter six and verses four through seven. God instructed Israel to diligently teach their children the commandments, statutes, and judgments that God had instructed them through Moses so that they would not forget them. It says “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.” [Deuteronomy 6:4-7]
The Hebrew word translated diligently means to sharpen, just as the words of God would have been cut into a stone tablet with a sharp object, so too should the words of God be impressed on our children and into every generation. Take every opportunity you have to teach your children the principles and statutes of the Bible.
How often do you say? When you sit down to rest. When you are walking with your children. When you lay them down to bed and when you wake up in the morning. Everyday, in every way, at all times teach your children.
If the Word of God is impressed on your heart, you will want to impress it upon theirs. But contrariwise, if it isn’t impressed on your heart, then you will never be able to impress it upon theirs. You fathers and mothers are responsible for the godly instruction of your children. It is not the job of your church, your school, or whatever else you might think of. It is your job.
But J.P., I feel unequipped to teach them. I don’t know the Word of God as I should. Well, quit being lazy. Get down on your knees, repent of your neglect and get into the Bible and start learning it. Stop making excuses.
God tells us if we lack wisdom, that we are to ask of him who giveth liberally, and it shall be given unto you. Stop making excuses for why you can’t be a spiritual leader in your home. God will give you everything you need if you ask him. It is a promise according to his will and one you know you will receive if you ask.
The second aspect is that of correction in the home. Ephesians 6:4 says, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
There are two words in this verse that I want you to note. First is the word nurture. It is the Greek word paideia, and it means disciplinary correction. The second word to note is admonition. This is the Greek word nouthesia, and it means any word of encouragement or rebuke which leads to correct behavior.
What is interesting here is the relationship between the two as identified by the conjunction “and”. In other words, either of them by themselves is incomplete. You can’t have the one without the other for it to be beneficial to the child. They both must be present in order to work. Instruction is only one half of the formula for raising a godly seed. You can have the best instruction a child could ever receive, but if that child does not receive correction in the home, you will simply raise an educated child of hell.
One of the best parenting decisions I ever made happened before my first child was born. I sat down one day and went through the Proverbs and wrote down every verse that dealt with the discipline and correction of a child on three by five cards. Then I put them in the side pocket of the rocking chair in the nursery. I would take those cards out as I rocked that little one and study them.
I determined in my heart to follow God’s way of discipline and correction instead of the world’s way. Perhaps it was because I was such a wild child myself growing up, and I knew where it took me, that the fear of God was in my heart for my children, that I did this. There are many different ideas of what correction and discipline looks like. Most of the time, people will just mirror what they learned in the home growing up and apply that to their own children.
But my friends, your children’s lives are too important to leave to chance that what you are doing is going to bless them in the end. And yes, proper biblical correction of children coupled with admonition is a blessing.
Did you know that the first occurrence in the Proverbs that deals with child discipline compares the correction of God to his children, to that of a father who loves his child?
In Proverbs chapter 3:11 and 12 it says, “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” [Proverbs 3:11-12]
The father and mother that ignore God’s way of correction are playing with their kids lives.
Proverbs 29:15 says, “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”
It would take a whole other message to examine and teach all the Scripture references and Proverbs of child discipline, and at some point I will do that on this podcast. But for the time being, I encourage each of you parents to go through the Proverbs and study every reference to child correction. I will put that list in the description box for your easy reference.
Thank you for listening to this special Thanksgiving message. I sure am going to miss my grandparents and I look forward to seeing them all again one day. But there is work to be done and I pray the Lord gives me time to work while it is yet day. For the night cometh when no man can work.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Enjoy the time with your family and until we meet again on the old paths. “Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” [2 Corinthians 2:14]
Scripture references in Proverbs for correction: Proverbs 3:11-12; 13:24; 19:18; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 29:15,17