In our Bible study today, we're going to be speaking on the question, Will your children and your grandchildren be in heaven? And not just ask the question, but to follow that up
with five biblical steps every parent must do. Will your children be in heaven? Five things every parent must do. And in our study today, we're going to start in the Bible, stay in the Bible, finish in the Bible, providing five biblical steps that every parent must concentrate and focus upon to blaze a very clear path for your children, for your grandchildren, for your family members that will help them find a right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
And ultimately that they might have eternal life.
If you have your Bible, let's go to Third John chapter 2 and get right into this again.
Will your children be in heaven? Five things every parent must do.
I'm reading out of 3R John verse 2 through verse 4. Reading out of the New Living Translation Bible says, "Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth.
And how I love verse four. It's actually one of my life verses. I want to share it with you now. Verse four says, "I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth."
And that is my prayer for you today is that all of your family, all of your children, all of your grandchildren will be eternally together in heaven.
And to provide through the Bible clear steps to help you blaze that trail.
Let's pray 👐🙏🙌.
Heavenly Father, we humble our hearts in Your Holy Presence and we recognize that the Bible is more than literature and history and poetry. It is the living Word of God and it carries power to assist us as we navigate through life. I pray specifically for every person reading and listening. Uh that not only they would be ready to meet the Lord, but I pray that all of their family members would come to know You as Lord and Saviour. Just as my father was the first shuttlesworth to find Christ as Lord and Savior and how that blessing has affected all of our family and their children and our children and our grandchildren. May it go on unto the coming of Christ. I pray the same for those that are reading here that they might receive what the Bible described in the book of Acts , as household salvation. As we walk through these biblical precepts, show us how to under guard and make way for household salvation. And we pray and ask these things in Lord Jesus Christ's name. All God's people said, "Amen."
Some of you may know of, some of you perhaps hearing for the first time, a man by the name of Dr. Adrien Rogers, who led a ministry called Love Worth Finding, uh had uh great radio reach, television reach. He was the pastor of a notable church and served as a
three time president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Very notable man. I used to enjoy hearing him preach. He's gone home to be with the Lord. But one of the things that he has said through the years that I actually wrote down in the front of my Bible, he said, "Life is too short, eternity is too long, souls are too precious, and the gospel is too wonderful for us to sleep through it all."
Can I say that again because it's powerful and uh wise words, wise admonition.
6:286 minutes, 28 secondsLife is short, eternity is too long, souls are too precious, the gospel is
6:366 minutes, 36 secondstoo wonderful for us to sleep through it all. And sadly uh there are many people
6:436 minutes, 43 secondsand many families through the buzz of life that are asleep at the wheel and are not giving consideration to what
6:516 minutes, 51 secondsreally weighs most. There is no greater cause. As you've heard me say a thousand
6:586 minutes, 58 secondstimes, there is no greater cause than winning the lost. And I want to be sensitive in my presentation today
7:087 minutes, 8 secondsbecause I have dear friends and dear partners of this ministry and fellow ministers that I've had relationships
7:167 minutes, 16 secondswith for years and decades that their children are not serving the Lord.
7:227 minutes, 22 secondsI have dear friends and partners in the ministry. They themselves did not get saved until later in life and their
7:317 minutes, 31 secondschildren were already raised. Some raised and gone before they had ever come to faith. And so, uh, I I pray that the Lord helps me to wrap this in grace.
7:427 minutes, 42 secondsI am in no way condemning anyone, but I am here to say, uh, that it's not too late. And I want to offer even those of
7:517 minutes, 51 secondsyou who your children are raised and gone, you still have influence and impact upon their lives, their families,
7:587 minutes, 58 secondstheir children. And uh that is what I want to do today. So please understand that I recognize the audience that I
8:068 minutes, 6 secondsspeak to and I'm endeavoring in this study uh to be gracious. But I am going to say right up front that the work of God can never be passive.
8:188 minutes, 18 secondsIt must always be intentional.
8:228 minutes, 22 secondsEvery spiritually responsible parent carries a sobering question in their heart. Will my children be in heaven?
8:348 minutes, 34 secondsJudy and I have a son uh he's in his 40s, married, has a daughter uh and her name is Camila. And uh that's their only
8:438 minutes, 43 secondschild. That's our only grandchild through son and daughter-in-law. I have a daughter Jessica, her husband, Steve.
8:528 minutes, 52 secondsTwo grandchildren through uh their union uh Stella and Simeon. Uh Judy and I pray
8:598 minutes, 59 secondsnot just for our children. We pray for their spouses. We pray for their families, our grandchildren. We want to
9:069 minutes, 6 secondsbe intentional in what we do. And too many parents uh because our uh world is
9:149 minutes, 14 secondsso rapid fire and social media paced are distracted and disengaged in the cares
9:229 minutes, 22 secondsof this life and they've left the souls of their children and their grandchildren to chance and to culture.
9:309 minutes, 30 secondsGod has given parents a sacred stewardship to shape the souls of their
9:369 minutes, 36 secondschildren. And what must be careful that we don't become so busy that we are
9:439 minutes, 43 secondsneglecting that process of shaping not just the schedules. Some parents do a very uh diligent job of guarding the
9:539 minutes, 53 secondsschedules of their children but more important than shaping the schedules of your children is shaping their souls.
10:0010 minutesAnd I'm wanting to provide some biblical help today uh with that.
10:0510 minutes, 5 secondsSo, five essential things every parent must do. Let's get started with number one. And I hope you have a way of taking
10:1310 minutes, 13 secondsnotes. If you're one of our new listeners or students or viewers, I always ask people bring a Bible to our
10:2010 minutes, 20 secondstime together, a way of taking notes and a highlighter to go through some of the key scriptures in our teachings. And so
10:2910 minutes, 29 secondsif you're taking notes, number one, model a genuine Christ centered faith.
10:3810 minutes, 38 secondsModel a genuine Christ centered faith.
10:4310 minutes, 43 secondsWhat you teach your children in life must be reinforced
10:5110 minutes, 51 secondsby the example that they see in your life. If they hear you teach one thing,
10:5810 minutes, 58 secondsbut they witness you doing something else, then you're creating confusion in your children that most often their
11:0811 minutes, 8 secondsmaturity level cannot process that type of confusion and hypocrisy. If you teach
11:1511 minutes, 15 secondsthe importance of building your life upon the foundations of the Bible, but they never see you reading the Bible and
11:2411 minutes, 24 secondson your knees in the scriptures and searching the content of God's wisdom and counsel, you're setting your
11:3111 minutes, 31 secondschildren up for failure. If you teach your children to acknowledge the Lord in all their ways and you stress to them
11:3911 minutes, 39 secondsthe power of prayer and how important it is to talk to God about everything in life, but they never see you pray. They
11:4711 minutes, 47 secondsnever see your spouse pray. They've never come home and found you on your knees before the Lord. You're setting
11:5411 minutes, 54 secondsyour children up for failure. If you teach your children the importance of honoring the church,
12:0212 minutes, 2 secondsbut you only go to church when it doesn't interfere with other plans you may have for the weekend, or worse yet,
12:0912 minutes, 9 secondsyour kids are involved in sports and activities and practices and you prioritize your children's social life
12:1812 minutes, 18 secondsand sports life over the house of God, then you are creating a confusion and
12:2512 minutes, 25 secondsyou're setting your children up for failure. If your house is filled at times with anger and outbursts between
12:3412 minutes, 34 secondshusband and wife or wife and husband or parents with children and there's yelling and there's the screaming of profanities at one another, you're
12:4312 minutes, 43 secondssetting your children up for catastrophic failure. I remember years ago as a young evangelist being in a
12:5112 minutes, 51 secondsChristian home. I was holding meetings in Long Island, New York, and I had been invited over to one of
12:5812 minutes, 58 secondsthe deacons houses uh for a meal and they were Italian and I mean the food uh I mean I used to visit this home uh
13:0713 minutes, 7 secondsthrough the years uh just to have a meal with them. We became friends over the table so to speak and I love that family. I would never mention their name
13:1513 minutes, 15 secondsor or demean them. But I remember uh one of the sons coming home and he was angry and I I watched the the deacon and his
13:2513 minutes, 25 secondswife go from this godly persona uh with me and it got heated with the sun and before I knew it fbombs were were flying
13:3413 minutes, 34 secondsand they were screaming. It was it was almost like somebody flipped a switch.
13:3813 minutes, 38 secondsAnd uh I just remember thinking, you're setting your children up for catastrophic spiritual failure. And sure
13:4713 minutes, 47 secondsenough, I've lived long enough that I don't know that any child in that home, the mother and the father have gone home
13:5513 minutes, 55 secondsto be with the Lord. Uh their children are grown. They're adults. They've actually communicated with me online on
14:0114 minutes, 1 secondan occasion, but I don't think any child in that home is serving the Lord. And there's been really problematic history
14:1114 minutes, 11 secondsthat I'll not cover. So listen very carefully and I'm saying this firmly, but I'm saying it biblically and in
14:1814 minutes, 18 secondslove. If you as a father or a mother or a Christian claim to be a follower of
14:2414 minutes, 24 secondsChrist, you have to commit yourself and commit your spouse to living out an
14:3214 minutes, 32 secondsexample of consistent Christian consecration and spiritual disciplines.
14:3814 minutes, 38 secondsAnd with that consecration, you must know that you are going to have to lay worldly sacrifices on the altar of that
14:4714 minutes, 47 secondsconsecration where things in the world, secular things, sporting events, and on down the line, you have to draw a line
14:5514 minutes, 55 secondsin the sand and make sure your children know that in your house, Jesus Christ is
15:0215 minutes, 2 secondsLord and the Bible is the book above all books. that guides and shapes our futures.
15:1115 minutes, 11 secondsYour Christian testimony must match your tongue.
15:1715 minutes, 17 secondsYour Christian testimony with your children must match your tongue or you risk sewing seeds of hypocrisy in your
15:2615 minutes, 26 secondschildren's spirit. And let's be honest, children have less tolerance for injustice and hypocrisy and confusion
15:3515 minutes, 35 secondsthan many mature adults. The Bible says in second Timothy, uh let's go there if you don't have that highlighted in your Bible as a parent.
15:4515 minutes, 45 secondsIt it should be there to help you.
15:4815 minutes, 48 secondsSecond Timothy chapter 1 uh verse 5, the Bible said, "I remember your genuine faith for you share the
15:5715 minutes, 57 secondsfaith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother Ununas. And I know that
16:0516 minutes, 5 secondssame faith continues in you." The Christian character and example of
16:1316 minutes, 13 secondsthe grandmother shaped the mother, shaped the children, and continued strong in faith. Genuine strong faith is
16:2316 minutes, 23 secondsbuilt upon the foundations. Don't miss this.
16:2816 minutes, 28 secondsGenuine strong faith is better built upon the foundations of impartation more than instruction.
16:4016 minutes, 40 secondsWhat you're imparting to your children and to your grandchildren will often carry more weight than your
16:4816 minutes, 48 secondswords of instruction. Parents and grandparents, your life is the greatest
16:5516 minutes, 55 secondstheology lesson your family will ever learn. Number two, saturate your home
17:0317 minutes, 3 secondswith the word and prayer. Uh let's go to Psalm 78 in the uh Old Testament.
17:1317 minutes, 13 secondsUh Psalm 78
17:2217 minutes, 22 secondsand go down to verse four. Psalm 78:es 4-8. The Bible said, "We will not hide these truths from our children. We will
17:3117 minutes, 31 secondstell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. For he
17:3917 minutes, 39 secondsissued his laws to Jacob. He gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our
17:4617 minutes, 46 secondsancestors to teach them to their children so the next generation
17:5317 minutes, 53 secondsmight know them, even the children not yet born. and they in turn will teach
18:0218 minutes, 2 secondstheir own children. So each generation should set its hope a new on God, not
18:1018 minutes, 10 secondsforgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. Then they will not
18:1718 minutes, 17 secondsbe like their ancestors, stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.
18:2718 minutes, 27 secondsFamily life is meant to be the primary classroom of faith. Let me say that
18:3418 minutes, 34 secondsagain. It carries weight. The family life is meant to be the primary classroom of
18:4218 minutes, 42 secondsfaith where the scripture is read, where the scripture is explained, where the scripture is applied, and where children
18:5118 minutes, 51 secondslearn to pray and see answered prayers and testimonies that affect your own household. That is how it should be
19:0019 minutesmodeled. Every Christian home should have daily time where you shut off all your media, your TV, all your
19:0919 minutes, 9 secondselectronics, and the family should be gathered together to read the Bible together, to talk together, and to pray
19:1819 minutes, 18 secondstogether. I would highly suggest in this overly busy world, if at all possible,
19:2419 minutes, 24 secondsnot always possible, but if at all possible, make sure that you at least share supper together. And it's a good
19:3419 minutes, 34 secondstime after supper to get the Bible out and to read, to pray, to talk. Families
19:4019 minutes, 40 secondsneed this interaction. And sadly, that was common when I grew up in the household of faith. I am finding in my
19:4919 minutes, 49 secondsconversations with many including many pastors and leaders that they've lost that time of stopping the world to
19:5819 minutes, 58 secondsgather the family together to open the scriptures to communicate. Uh and sometimes you need to talk about
20:0420 minutes, 4 secondsdifficult things but that family time together that should be in a perfect world. Not all of our worlds are by any
20:1320 minutes, 13 secondsmeans perfect, but that should be led by a spiritual father. But sadly, many homes, the father's not a Christian or
20:2220 minutes, 22 secondshe's not a spiritual man. For all of you single mothers where there's no father in the home, my heart goes out to you.
20:3020 minutes, 30 secondsBut I can promise you if you're a single mother that if you'll take that time and make God the father of your home that he'll reinforce everything that you do.
20:4220 minutes, 42 secondsAnd even if you're going it alone or you've been through a divorce or a death or something that has brought a broken
20:4920 minutes, 49 secondshome into process, your God is bigger than any hurdle the enemy would try to
20:5620 minutes, 56 secondsthrow at your home and place demonic attack upon your sons and your daughters. You can do it. Number three,
21:0521 minutes, 5 secondsprovide fair and firm discipline. Too many parents, it seems like, are trying
21:1221 minutes, 12 secondsto make their children their friends and their colleagues. What a terrible mistake. The scripture
21:2121 minutes, 21 secondsadmonishes godly parents to raise their children in the discipline and
21:2821 minutes, 28 secondsinstruction of the Lord. And with that, the scripture teaches us that we've got
21:3421 minutes, 34 secondsto avoid harshness that can discourage a child or provoke them uh to anger. Uh
21:4221 minutes, 42 secondslet's go into Ephesians chapter 6 in the New Testament.
21:5121 minutes, 51 secondsEphesians chapter 6 and go down to verse 4. The Bible said, "Fathers, do not
21:5821 minutes, 58 secondsprovoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction
22:0722 minutes, 7 secondsthat comes from the Lord." The home is where children must learn the divine
22:1522 minutes, 15 secondschain of command. And if no one has ever in your spiritual life identified the biblical chain of command, here it is.
22:2622 minutes, 26 secondsIt begins with God. It proceeds to the father.
22:3122 minutes, 31 secondsThe father and the mother are not co-equal. God holds the man of the house at a higher level of responsibility.
22:4122 minutes, 41 secondsNow that should not be lorded over the wife. the [snorts] wife should be supportive in return of the husband. But
22:4922 minutes, 49 secondswhen you read the Old Testament and God was giving direction, he went to the father. He didn't speak for example to
22:5722 minutes, 57 secondsSarah and give her details. He didn't pull Abraham and Sarah together and have
23:0323 minutes, 3 secondssome type of collaboration. God went to the patriarch. He went to the head of the home, Abraham, and he gave
23:1323 minutes, 13 secondsinstruction and counsel to Abraham and held Abraham responsible for carrying it
23:1923 minutes, 19 secondsout with Sarah and the family. And so the biblical chain of command is God is
23:2623 minutes, 26 secondsour ultimate heavenly father, perfect in example, wisdom, and counsel. The father
23:3323 minutes, 33 secondsis underneath God as the patriarch of his home. The mother is under the father as the matriarch of the home. Both
23:4223 minutes, 42 secondsfather and mother bring unique and different gifts to the family and the children are not colleagues and
23:5023 minutes, 50 secondsco-equals. They are submissive to the father and the mother. I hope you'll
23:5723 minutes, 57 secondsunderstand that the Bible says that uh the discipline is not to be so severe uh
24:0524 minutes, 5 secondsor brutal or abusive that it discourages and breaks the child uh in in a in an unhealthy manner. But the discipline
24:1424 minutes, 14 secondsmust be severe and consistent enough that it breaks the spirit of rebellion
24:2124 minutes, 21 secondsand foolishness that the scripture says is in the heart of every child. Uh I had a mother one time come to me and say,
24:3024 minutes, 30 seconds"Would you pray, you know, uh for for my son here at the altar? you know, I I have two other children and and they're
24:3724 minutes, 37 secondsjust like angels, but for some reason I'm having just a hard time with little Tommy or whatever. Let me tell you
24:4424 minutes, 44 secondssomething. You don't have uh two angels and one little devil. You've if you've got three children, you've got three
24:5124 minutes, 51 secondslittle devils. The Bible said rebellion and foolishness is in the heart of every child. Now, the other children may hide
25:0025 minutesit better. They might be smarter than little Tommy and they know where they can push and where they can't. Well, let
25:0825 minutes, 8 secondsme just take you to the Bible if you've never seen it. Proverbs chapter 22.
25:2325 minutes, 23 secondsProverbs chapter 22, go down to verse 15. A New Living Translation says, "A youngster's heart is filled with
25:3225 minutes, 32 secondsfoolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.
25:4125 minutes, 41 secondsEvery child, their heart, because of the sin nature, they were born with a sin nature just like we were. But as
25:5125 minutes, 51 secondschildren, the primary failure is rebellion against authority. And your
25:5825 minutes, 58 secondsdiscipline has to be severe and consistent and just enough to break that
26:0626 minutes, 6 secondsspirit of rebellion without breaking the character of the child. You you have to
26:1326 minutes, 13 secondsdeal fairly with your children. You can't, you may have a child that you have to discipline more, but I've been in homes where the behavior was as bad
26:2226 minutes, 22 secondswith one of the children, but there was an obvious favoritism in the home where they were carrying out harshness uh on a
26:3026 minutes, 30 secondsson and being light with a daughter or being harsh with a daughter and light with a son. Your discipline must be
26:3826 minutes, 38 secondsgodly. It must be consistent. It m must be just and it must be equal in the eyes of the children because if your children
26:4726 minutes, 47 secondsbegin to see that you're inconsistent or you're showing favoritism or you're severe with them and light with the
26:5426 minutes, 54 secondsother, you're setting that child up for spiritual failure.
27:0127 minutes, 1 secondthe consequences of not doing that. I think many parents I I actually weighed as to whether I would teach on this, but
27:0927 minutes, 9 secondsI I felt led to do. So, pay careful attention to what I'm about to say because this is uh this is weighty and
27:1727 minutes, 17 secondsnot easy to hear. But if you don't teach that child authority in the home, that's
27:2527 minutes, 25 secondshow God intended for a child to come into submission to his parents to submission to higher authority. They
27:3427 minutes, 34 secondscan't come into submission and higher authority with God if you fail to teach them how to come into submission to mom
27:4327 minutes, 43 secondsand to dad. And uh you know I I hear parents sometimes saying you know uh
27:5027 minutes, 50 secondswell I made such and such for supper. I don't like that. Oh I'm sorry. What can
27:5727 minutes, 57 secondsI what can I make you? I want this. Oh well that's got too I want Okay. Well you know and I see parents I grew up in
28:0628 minutes, 6 secondsa home my mother we had four boys in our family. My mother made the same two
28:1228 minutes, 12 secondsmeals my entire life and they were take it or leave it. There was never any discussion. Now, there were times when
28:2128 minutes, 21 secondsshe would say, "Hey, boys, are you hungry for something?" or "I'm thinking about making spaghetti this weekend." And you know, it wasn't
28:2828 minutes, 28 secondsthat my mother was harsh, but I don't ever remember a time when we were consulted about the menu. My mother uh
28:3728 minutes, 37 secondsdid the best that she could and we never had a thought of sitting at a table and saying I'm only going to eat rolls or
28:4428 minutes, 44 secondsI'm only going to have you know popsicles. You know those things I'm in homes many times and I watch I watch
28:5228 minutes, 52 secondsparents having dialogue with their children and the child has more control and more authority than the parents.
28:5928 minutes, 59 secondsYou've got to make sure that is never tolerated. And the reason but why is because if you don't teach your children
29:0729 minutes, 7 secondsrespect and obedience and quick obedience to your authority, you put the risk of them ever submitting to the
29:1529 minutes, 15 secondsauthority of God at high risk. And we see this, let's let's just be honest, we
29:2229 minutes, 22 secondssee this every day in the news. We watch these lawless young mobs running uh the
29:3029 minutes, 30 secondsstreets of America and our cities and raiding our communities and burning down buildings and overturning police cars.
29:3829 minutes, 38 secondsviolent protests, obstructing justice, throwing out harm and to injure law enforcement,
29:5329 minutes, 53 secondsthey were brutal or they were harsh and and uh this isn't fair and so on on so on. Every parent, pay attention to what
30:0130 minutes, 1 secondI'm about to say, and you may not like this, but I love you enough to tell you the truth. Every parent has
30:0830 minutes, 8 secondsapproximately 18 years to correct the rebellion and the foolishness and the
30:1530 minutes, 15 secondsstupidity and the hatred that your child may have for authority in the privacy of
30:2130 minutes, 21 secondsthe home. But if you didn't do that in 18 years, how dare you point a finger at
30:3030 minutes, 30 secondslaw enforcement and ICE agents and judges and prison officials and local sheriffs and so on. The legal system
30:3830 minutes, 38 secondsdidn't fail your child. You failed your child.
30:4530 minutes, 45 secondsI'll take that one step further. Many of you know that I serve as president of North Point Bible College and Seminary.
30:5230 minutes, 52 secondsUh there was something going on in Boston some time ago and I'm not naming any names but uh it came to my attention
30:5930 minutes, 59 secondsthat one of our professors uh was making a sign and had asked some of the students would you like to go with me
31:0731 minutes, 7 secondsand let's just stand uh in in the protest and it's important as a Christian college that we show love and
31:1431 minutes, 14 secondssupport uh to these people even if we don't agree. And it came to my attention. I didn't pray. I didn't get
31:2131 minutes, 21 secondson my knees and say, "God, what should I do?" I picked up my phone. I called the professor. I first of all confirmed,
31:2831 minutes, 28 seconds"Professor soandso, is it true uh that you've made posters?" And uh in your own authority, you've recruited students to go with you to participate in a protest.
31:4131 minutes, 41 secondsAnd uh he he you know, he stuttered.
31:4531 minutes, 45 secondsYeah. Is there a problem? I said, "Oh yeah, there's a problem. Do you not want me to do that?" I said, "No, this is
31:5231 minutes, 52 secondsAmerica. We believe in free speech. You can do anything that you want to do. But before you go, prepare your letter of
32:0132 minutes, 1 secondresignation and lay it on my desk because you'll be unemployed in the immediate future. And don't you dare
32:0832 minutes, 8 secondstake our students." And then, of course, I have to come as president, address these matters. This is the prevailing
32:1532 minutes, 15 secondsproblem in our society today. Nobody wants to submit to godly authority, let
32:2232 minutes, 22 secondsalone secular authority or legal authority. And our prisons are filled with children that were failed because
32:3032 minutes, 30 secondsnobody opened up this book and sought the counsel of God. Let me know in the comments if if uh I'm too harsh on that.
32:4032 minutes, 40 secondsI just feel like if you love people, you ought to love them enough to open the Bible, look them in the eyes, and tell them the truth. And that is the truth.
32:4832 minutes, 48 secondsBecause I can promise you that the consequences that those lawless children uh face with the courts and with the
32:5732 minutes, 57 secondsjudges and with the prisons will be far worse than the consequences you feel that I'm going to lose my daughter as my friend.
33:0733 minutes, 7 secondsI'm going to lose my son as your friend. They're not supposed to be your friends.
33:1033 minutes, 10 secondsThey can be. I I love my son. He's one of my dearest friends in life. I love my daughter. She's one of my dearest
33:1633 minutes, 16 secondsfriends in life. But Judy and I did our best to do what I'm showing you to do
33:2333 minutes, 23 secondsfrom the scriptures. And that's the reason why that text, our greatest joy, is knowing that our children are serving
33:3033 minutes, 30 secondsthe Lord. Number four, set aside time to pray and fast for your children.
33:3833 minutes, 38 secondsuh set aside time to pray and to fast for your children. I say that. But perhaps the most important outcome of
33:4633 minutes, 46 secondsprayer and at times fasting with your prayer uh for your children is that God
33:5433 minutes, 54 secondswill change you as a parent to help bring change to your children. Did you
34:0234 minutes, 2 secondshear that? Might be good to write that in your notes.
34:0634 minutes, 6 secondsPrayer fortified by fasting. Oftentimes God changes us and makes us better parents
34:1534 minutes, 15 secondsor shows us a different way of handling problems or gives us divine counsel in dealing with delicate matters that arise
34:2234 minutes, 22 secondsin our homes or in our children or our sons or our daughters. Many times the power of prayer changes us first so that
34:3334 minutes, 33 secondsGod can better affect change in our children. The scripture provides multiple examples of parents uh
34:4034 minutes, 40 secondsinterceding for their children, asking God for protection, seeking God for blessing, spiritual formation and so
34:4734 minutes, 47 secondsforth. The Bible is replete with examples of parents looking to God for help and for counsel. Uh when parents
34:5634 minutes, 56 secondsbrought their children to Jesus in the New Testament, we read that he welcomed them. Jesus laid his hands on the
35:0335 minutes, 3 secondschildren. He blessed them. He taught them. He demonstrated that he genuinely cares for the sons and the daughters of our families. Create prayer points.
35:1735 minutes, 17 secondsHere's something very practical. When you're praying for your children, you'll know the details of what you should be praying about. I can't give something
35:2635 minutes, 26 secondsthat fits everybody because children are different. Sons are different than daughters. Daughter are different than sons and sons are not the same across
35:3435 minutes, 34 secondsthe board. Daughters are not the same across the board. But as a parent, discern and create prayer points for
35:4135 minutes, 41 secondsyour children. Back those prayer points by Bible verses. And when you pray for
35:4735 minutes, 47 secondsyour children specifically, pray backing the power of prayer with the integrity
35:5435 minutes, 54 secondsand the authority of God's holy word. Uh let me give you an example.
36:0036 minutesUh hundreds of times if not thousands of times in almost 50 years of ministry, people have come to me at altars and ask
36:0736 minutes, 7 secondsme to pray for an unsaved son or unsaved daughters etc. and uh you know is it possible that that you know it's not uh
36:1636 minutes, 16 secondsin God's plan? Is it possible my my child has uh you know crossed the line or that God's anger with them? Listen,
36:2436 minutes, 24 secondswhen you're praying for an unsaved child, here's a clear example. Write their name down and a prayer point.
36:3036 minutes, 30 secondsWrite down second Peter 3:9 [snorts] and pray second Peter 3:9 over that child.
36:3836 minutes, 38 secondsUh specifically, Father, I thank you that it is your will. The Bible said
36:4536 minutes, 45 secondsyou're willing that none should perish, but all should come to repentance.
36:5136 minutes, 51 secondsFather, I thank you that I don't ever have to have one doubt that you want my son to be saved or you want my daughter
36:5836 minutes, 58 secondsto be saved or you want my grandchildren to be saved. And so, Father, because that's in the Bible, I know it to be
37:0537 minutes, 5 secondsyour will. I come against every work of the enemy that tries to violate this promise of God. And you pray the Bible.
37:1537 minutes, 15 secondsThe Bible calls it the sword of the spirit. It's the only aggressive weapon in the armor of God that's been given to
37:2237 minutes, 22 secondsus to fight spiritual battles. The Bible is the sword of the spirit. Learn to wield it properly. Acts 16:31.
37:3337 minutes, 33 secondsThey replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved along with
37:4137 minutes, 41 secondseveryone in your household." That's a great scripture to say, "Father, I'm
37:4737 minutes, 47 secondsbelieving you for household salvation." Father, you said in Acts 16:31,
37:5437 minutes, 54 secondsyou mentioned household salvation. And what you do for one, you'll do for all.
38:0038 minutesI pray that the power of household salvation would come upon all of my
38:0738 minutes, 7 secondschildren. And then set aside times as you feel led for fasting for your family, for your children. Fasting
38:1538 minutes, 15 secondsstrengthens prayer. Fasting reinforces your prayer. Fasting breaks demonic
38:2238 minutes, 22 secondsstrongholds. Uh Jesus said in Matthew's gospel, one translation reads, "There are certain things in your life that
38:3038 minutes, 30 secondswill never happen without fasting and prayer." Fast and pray for your children. Lastly,
38:3938 minutes, 39 secondsbe sure that your children understand what salvation is. Have you ever sat them down maybe privately at some age?
38:5138 minutes, 51 secondsAnd you have to use discretion as to when they're able to discern that even with adult children that are away from the Lord. But at some point as a parent,
39:0139 minutes, 1 secondyou need to have a meal together or a private time together. And you need to be sure that they clearly understand
39:1039 minutes, 10 secondswhat salvation is. Uh your children and your grandchildren must personally
39:1739 minutes, 17 secondsrepent to receive Christ. They're not saved by your faith. They're not saved by your prayers, but saved only through their response to the Lord Jesus Christ.
39:2839 minutes, 28 secondsAnd you need to explain that to them.
39:3139 minutes, 31 secondsParents should explain the gospel simply, biblically, and then be willing to field questions and and ask them,
39:3839 minutes, 38 seconds"What do you understand? What don't you understand? What questions may you have?" And when I say explain to them
39:4539 minutes, 45 secondssimply and biblically what salvation is, that would include uh let me just give as an example.
39:5239 minutes, 52 secondsUh son, I just want to be clear. Should the Lord carry and one day I'm gone, I don't ever want you to have to stand in
40:0140 minutes, 1 secondthe presence of a holy God and feel like I never properly instructed you on how to have peace with God. And so let me
40:1040 minutes, 10 secondsjust take the time to make it as simple as I can. Number one, God is holy.
40:1640 minutes, 16 secondsNumber two, we are sinful. And because by nature we are sinful, we are separated from God. He sent his only son
40:2540 minutes, 25 secondsJesus. And on the cross when Jesus hands were nailed to the cross, it was almost as if he took one hand and held my hand
40:3440 minutes, 34 secondsand took one hand and held the hand of the father and he became the bridge between the holiness of God and me and
40:4340 minutes, 43 secondsyou. And the Bible says that there is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ. To be
40:5040 minutes, 50 secondsin right relationship with God, how many times have you heard me say something like this? Receiving Christ is as simple as ABC. A, you have to admit your sin.
41:0241 minutes, 2 secondsYou have to believe in Jesus Christ. And C, you have to commit your heart to him by faith. And then, you know, discerning
41:1041 minutes, 10 secondsconviction or tenderness of heart, be bold enough to say, would it be all right if we prayed that
41:1841 minutes, 18 secondsprayer together? and ask them. Don't be afraid to invite your family, your children, your grandchildren, regardless
41:2741 minutes, 27 secondsof age. Don't hesitate to ask them to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ when they
41:3441 minutes, 34 secondsshow genuine conviction and some any uh air of of readiness, take advantage of
41:4341 minutes, 43 secondsthat. I can think of no greater joy than a parent being able to lead their son or their daughter to Jesus Christ.
41:5441 minutes, 54 secondsWell, there uh I've given you five biblical steps every Christian parent
42:0142 minutes, 1 secondmust take to reinforce household salvation. But as we pray in closing, as
42:0842 minutes, 8 secondswe always do, maybe as someone has been watching, uh maybe you're an unsafe parent. Maybe you're an unsafe son or
42:1642 minutes, 16 secondsdaughter. Maybe you're a grown fully adult away from God's son or daughter.
42:2242 minutes, 22 secondsAnd if the Lord were to come today, you don't have peace with God that you'd be ready to go. Maybe you'd be honest
42:2942 minutes, 29 secondsenough to tell God you've wandered far away from him. But in your heart today as you've been listening, you know it's
42:3642 minutes, 36 secondstime to come home. Uh imagine your parents in heaven. And in eternity's morning, you're not present.
42:4642 minutes, 46 secondsYou know, there's a verse in the Bible that says that in heaven, in eternity, God will wipe every tear from our eye.
42:5442 minutes, 54 secondsI've often wondered in the infancy of heaven if parents have a brief window of
43:0143 minutes, 1 secondunderstanding, "My son never made it. My daughter never made it."
43:0843 minutes, 8 secondsCome home to Christ. The smartest thing you can do, regardless of what's going in your going on in your life,
43:1543 minutes, 15 secondsregardless of the battles you're facing, regardless if you're going through hell sideways, the smartest thing you can do
43:2243 minutes, 22 secondsis to humble your heart. Turn your back on sin by faith and turn your heart to Christ today. And I'd like to pray with you. Can I pray that prayer with you?
43:3343 minutes, 33 secondsMaybe after this broadcast, get on the phone and call your mother, call your father, and say, "Hey, I just wanted you
43:4143 minutes, 41 secondsto know today I gave my heart to Jesus Christ, and I'm praying our whole family will be present, and I'm praying for
43:5043 minutes, 50 secondshousehold salvation." And when you pray with me, will you just let me know in the comments? Uh, you can say something as simple as, "Tiff, I prayed that
43:5943 minutes, 59 secondsprayer with you when I was sincere." go to our YouTube channel and click on new beginnings after you pray the
44:0744 minutes, 7 secondsprayer. There's a series of teachings there that are just like me and you going out for coffee and teaching you some of the fundamental things that you
44:1644 minutes, 16 secondsneed to understand to begin your walk with Christ. Always remember, I'm not here to judge you or to condemn you. The
44:2344 minutes, 23 secondsMinistry of Lost Lamb Association exists to help men and women and boys and girls find their way to right relationship
44:3244 minutes, 32 secondswith God. Some of you need to do that right now. Let's pray together.
44:3744 minutes, 37 secondsJust say, "Heavenly Father, today as I was listening to the Bible, I heard your divine counsel
44:4644 minutes, 46 secondsand deep in my heart, I want to be a real Christian.
44:5244 minutes, 52 secondsI want all of my family to have the joy of eternal household salvation.
45:0045 minutesI confess my own sin and I ask you with the blood of Jesus Christ,
45:0745 minutes, 7 secondswash me and make me clean. Cleanse my mind by body and spirit. Come into my
45:1445 minutes, 14 secondsheart today and be my Lord and my Savior. You said in the Bible in the
45:2145 minutes, 21 secondsbook of Romans, all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
45:2945 minutes, 29 secondsToday I've called upon your name in sincere faith. And so according to the promises of God, I am no longer the
45 minutes, 38 seconds property of sin. I belong to you and you belong to me. May this day be a day of new beginnings. In Jesus name I pray.
45 minutes, 52 secondsAmen. And amen.
Sync to video time
