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Chapter 4
Instruction in the Word of God Equips Children for Right Living!
Both speaking and teaching the written Word of God is very important to our children.
Deut 6:6-9 says, “And ‘these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on
your heart; and ‘you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when
you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when
you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as
frontals on your forehead. And you shall write them on the door posts of your house
and on your gates.”
Much energy is spent discussing the Word of God in the home. We love God, so tell
the children all about Him and His Word. Instead of choosing books to entertain them
and bedtime stories that are secular, choose little Christian Bible stories that teach them
about the things of God. There are some wonderful books for every age that will do
this and it is fun as well. Constant training can be creative, joyful, filled with delight and
not drudgery. It can be a time when you are giving them your undivided attention, either
at breakfast, or before a nap time, or at bedtime talking about God and having
devotions. 2 Tim 3:14-15 tells us that Timothy learned from his mother and
grandmother about the Lord and this led to his salvation. WOW! Wouldn’t we like to be
the ones who lead our children to their salvation experience?
Tim 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for
reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be
adequate, equipped for every good work.” This wonderful Scripture portion is so useful
in child raising for us. Scripture is profitable for teaching our children (so that they are
not led astray and later go into foolishness). It is profitable for reproof, correction and
instruction in righteousness (so) “that the man (child) of God may be perfect (entire,
complete) thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
In Proverbs 4:1-13 Solomon is telling his son to listen to his teachings. Because the
Words of the Scriptures would preserve him, keep him, promote him, brings him honor,
and gives him an ornament of grace or a crown of glory. What a wonderful gift you can
pass down to your child.
If our children heed our teaching, they will not limp when they walk (be hampered), they
will not stumble when they run (this race of life).
But if we fail to give them instruction in Truth, it says in Prov 5:23, “he will die for lack
of, and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.” We have such an awesome
responsibility as mothers, because we have been given the responsibility to turn these
children’s hearts unto the Lord and teach them His ways, so that they might end up men
of righteousness. Without this training, it will be harder for them to end up this way.
We are told in the Word that those who HEAR and DO belong to the family of God. Let
the Word dwell in your hearts richly (in us), so it can be given to them (our children) to
both teach them and admonish them.
We may not be able to all be missionaries on a foreign field, but we have just as
important a ministry right here in our own home. It is just as important as love and
discipline are. If we become EXAMPLES of the Word being lived out, then it won’t be
dead letter to them either. They will SEE it for themselves and follow your example.
We have TWO tools. One is reading the Word so that we can teach right principles.
And the other is prayer. We can ask God to give His promises to our children, as His
children, and pray blessings upon them and their lives. We can see God break
bondages of sins that we see coming out in our children. And all of these things can be
accomplished through prayer.
Now let’s look at the results!
“They will teach their children” (Deut 4:8-13).
“His Spirit and His Words shall not depart from their children or their grandchildren”
(Isaiah 59:21).
“thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee” I Tim 4:16
Prov 22:6 says, “train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will
not depart from it.” We are to train up a child. This includes, teaching them the Word
and its’ principles, directing them and teaching them how to pray, inspiring them
towards righteous decisions over fleshly decisions, guiding them towards things of the
Lord.
Children minister too!
To God (Psalm 8:2), “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.”
We can teach them to praise their Heavenly Father and be thankful to Him for
everything.
The CHILDREN shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David” when Jesus rode the donkey
into Jerusalem. Their little spirits recognized who He was. (Matt 21:12-16).
“Young men and maidens, old men and CHILDREN let them praise the name of the
Lord” (Psalm 148:12-13).
They can minister to us also by example. Their persistence, their shamefacedness,
hanging their heads when they are repentant and sorry for what they have done. Jesus
used children as an example to us. He told us that we cannot enter the kingdom of
heaven unless we become as a little child. One who openly, unquestionable, believes
what he is told. They are NOT prejudiced and don’t put stock in social standings.
They are more giving then we are at times. I remember our son John on one of his
birthdays, just up and gave his brother Jedidiah one of his gifts that were on the table,
without even opening it first, so that his brother would have a gift to open up too. He
gave his toy away without question or thought of how good that present might be inside
that unwrapped box. Children often have a fair sense of justice. Children don’t hold
grudges against people. Children are tender towards animals and the hurts of others.
They love without condition. God has chosen the foolish things to confound the wide.
He chose the weak to confound the mighty, the base things (those of low social position
or humble birth) and the things which are despised. Children are simple concerning evil
and are without malice.
Children according to Psalms 127:3-5 are to the faithful, our reward, and our heritage,
At times they even are used by the Holy Spirit to speak to us a word that builds our faith
when we are under attack and causes us to remain strong.
Be sensitive to what they say, watch and learn from them, and find creative ways to
instruct, pray and teach. Stay on their own level, don’t try to bring them up to yours.
Their minds can only handle things at their level right now.
When my boys were in junior high and high school, I use to require that my sons, when
they got home from school do twenty minutes of chores each day, and then go and read
1 chapter in either the Living Bible or the series called “Bible Stories for Children” by
the 7th Day Adventist. One son could read the Living New Testament just fine and
understand it. The other son was younger, and could read the Bible Stories for
Children series just fine. But they each had to read a chapter each day, before they
were allowed to go out and play. When they read each day, on a daily consistent
basis, the Holy Spirit can take the Word and cause it to go from their head into their
heart, and the Word of God will not return void in the end. The Holy Spirit then takes
the LIVING Word of God and stores it inside their hearts and minds and brings it to their
remembrance when it is needed at a future date. It is our job to put it there for the Holy
Spirit to use. By reading the Word daily, our children, by the Holy Spirit of course, can
grown spiritually into fine young people for the Lord.
So, you see we need to teach them to pray daily, read, learn to praise, give
thanksgiving, and make their requests known unto God. Some people even make a
prayer list or have their children make a list of people and situations to pray for. For
example: our nation, other nations, missionaries, pastors, teachers, family members,
school, church, friends and so forth. Also it is important to teach them to confess their
sins that they might have committed that day to the Lord and ask for His forgiveness.
Teach them that prayer is a part of their daily lives and that prayer is our way of
communicating with our Father on a daily basis. If we do this, He becomes very REAL
in their hearts, He becomes a Personal God to them and they learn that He answers
their prayers and watches over them and loves them. Thus, they love Him in return and
develop into strong spiritual beings and children for the Lord!
Of course we must make these things a part of our own life each day as well. So that
we can get free from the old man, walk in newness of life, have different attitudes
created in us, and begins to function with the mind of Christ instead of our own minds.
Oh what a privilege we parents have, and oh how sad it is for children who do not have
the opportunity to be raised by Christian parents who can show them the way.
Instruction in the Word of God Equips Children for Right Living!
Both speaking and teaching the written Word of God is very important to our children.
Deut 6:6-9 says, “And ‘these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on
your heart; and ‘you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when
you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when
you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as
frontals on your forehead. And you shall write them on the door posts of your house
and on your gates.”
Much energy is spent discussing the Word of God in the home. We love God, so tell
the children all about Him and His Word. Instead of choosing books to entertain them
and bedtime stories that are secular, choose little Christian Bible stories that teach them
about the things of God. There are some wonderful books for every age that will do
this and it is fun as well. Constant training can be creative, joyful, filled with delight and
not drudgery. It can be a time when you are giving them your undivided attention, either
at breakfast, or before a nap time, or at bedtime talking about God and having
devotions. 2 Tim 3:14-15 tells us that Timothy learned from his mother and
grandmother about the Lord and this led to his salvation. WOW! Wouldn’t we like to be
the ones who lead our children to their salvation experience?
Tim 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for
reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be
adequate, equipped for every good work.” This wonderful Scripture portion is so useful
in child raising for us. Scripture is profitable for teaching our children (so that they are
not led astray and later go into foolishness). It is profitable for reproof, correction and
instruction in righteousness (so) “that the man (child) of God may be perfect (entire,
complete) thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
In Proverbs 4:1-13 Solomon is telling his son to listen to his teachings. Because the
Words of the Scriptures would preserve him, keep him, promote him, brings him honor,
and gives him an ornament of grace or a crown of glory. What a wonderful gift you can
pass down to your child.
If our children heed our teaching, they will not limp when they walk (be hampered), they
will not stumble when they run (this race of life).
But if we fail to give them instruction in Truth, it says in Prov 5:23, “he will die for lack
of, and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.” We have such an awesome
responsibility as mothers, because we have been given the responsibility to turn these
children’s hearts unto the Lord and teach them His ways, so that they might end up men
of righteousness. Without this training, it will be harder for them to end up this way.
We are told in the Word that those who HEAR and DO belong to the family of God. Let
the Word dwell in your hearts richly (in us), so it can be given to them (our children) to
both teach them and admonish them.
We may not be able to all be missionaries on a foreign field, but we have just as
important a ministry right here in our own home. It is just as important as love and
discipline are. If we become EXAMPLES of the Word being lived out, then it won’t be
dead letter to them either. They will SEE it for themselves and follow your example.
We have TWO tools. One is reading the Word so that we can teach right principles.
And the other is prayer. We can ask God to give His promises to our children, as His
children, and pray blessings upon them and their lives. We can see God break
bondages of sins that we see coming out in our children. And all of these things can be
accomplished through prayer.
Now let’s look at the results!
“They will teach their children” (Deut 4:8-13).
“His Spirit and His Words shall not depart from their children or their grandchildren”
(Isaiah 59:21).
“thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee” I Tim 4:16
Prov 22:6 says, “train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will
not depart from it.” We are to train up a child. This includes, teaching them the Word
and its’ principles, directing them and teaching them how to pray, inspiring them
towards righteous decisions over fleshly decisions, guiding them towards things of the
Lord.
Children minister too!
To God (Psalm 8:2), “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.”
We can teach them to praise their Heavenly Father and be thankful to Him for
everything.
The CHILDREN shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David” when Jesus rode the donkey
into Jerusalem. Their little spirits recognized who He was. (Matt 21:12-16).
“Young men and maidens, old men and CHILDREN let them praise the name of the
Lord” (Psalm 148:12-13).
They can minister to us also by example. Their persistence, their shamefacedness,
hanging their heads when they are repentant and sorry for what they have done. Jesus
used children as an example to us. He told us that we cannot enter the kingdom of
heaven unless we become as a little child. One who openly, unquestionable, believes
what he is told. They are NOT prejudiced and don’t put stock in social standings.
They are more giving then we are at times. I remember our son John on one of his
birthdays, just up and gave his brother Jedidiah one of his gifts that were on the table,
without even opening it first, so that his brother would have a gift to open up too. He
gave his toy away without question or thought of how good that present might be inside
that unwrapped box. Children often have a fair sense of justice. Children don’t hold
grudges against people. Children are tender towards animals and the hurts of others.
They love without condition. God has chosen the foolish things to confound the wide.
He chose the weak to confound the mighty, the base things (those of low social position
or humble birth) and the things which are despised. Children are simple concerning evil
and are without malice.
Children according to Psalms 127:3-5 are to the faithful, our reward, and our heritage,
At times they even are used by the Holy Spirit to speak to us a word that builds our faith
when we are under attack and causes us to remain strong.
Be sensitive to what they say, watch and learn from them, and find creative ways to
instruct, pray and teach. Stay on their own level, don’t try to bring them up to yours.
Their minds can only handle things at their level right now.
When my boys were in junior high and high school, I use to require that my sons, when
they got home from school do twenty minutes of chores each day, and then go and read
1 chapter in either the Living Bible or the series called “Bible Stories for Children” by
the 7th Day Adventist. One son could read the Living New Testament just fine and
understand it. The other son was younger, and could read the Bible Stories for
Children series just fine. But they each had to read a chapter each day, before they
were allowed to go out and play. When they read each day, on a daily consistent
basis, the Holy Spirit can take the Word and cause it to go from their head into their
heart, and the Word of God will not return void in the end. The Holy Spirit then takes
the LIVING Word of God and stores it inside their hearts and minds and brings it to their
remembrance when it is needed at a future date. It is our job to put it there for the Holy
Spirit to use. By reading the Word daily, our children, by the Holy Spirit of course, can
grown spiritually into fine young people for the Lord.
So, you see we need to teach them to pray daily, read, learn to praise, give
thanksgiving, and make their requests known unto God. Some people even make a
prayer list or have their children make a list of people and situations to pray for. For
example: our nation, other nations, missionaries, pastors, teachers, family members,
school, church, friends and so forth. Also it is important to teach them to confess their
sins that they might have committed that day to the Lord and ask for His forgiveness.
Teach them that prayer is a part of their daily lives and that prayer is our way of
communicating with our Father on a daily basis. If we do this, He becomes very REAL
in their hearts, He becomes a Personal God to them and they learn that He answers
their prayers and watches over them and loves them. Thus, they love Him in return and
develop into strong spiritual beings and children for the Lord!
Of course we must make these things a part of our own life each day as well. So that
we can get free from the old man, walk in newness of life, have different attitudes
created in us, and begins to function with the mind of Christ instead of our own minds.
Oh what a privilege we parents have, and oh how sad it is for children who do not have
the opportunity to be raised by Christian parents who can show them the way.
