10-21-09 Raising Children Series 3: Gods children entrusted to us
Children Entrusted to Us
Intro: Many mess this up, not trying to hurt you for past mistakes, but this must be told to the next generation
I. These are God’s Children
Ezek. 16:20-21 Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter, 21That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them?
II. God has entrusted His children to us
1 Tim. 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Matt. 18:1-6 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Offend – to cause to stumble
III. Our instructions are to raise them up –
Dad - Eph. 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
And Mom - Titus 2:4-5 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
IV. God has Entrusted Us with the Lives of our Children, who are we to give them to someone else.
Prov. 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Train Up – Somebody is going to train them up
Matt. 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Despise: To reject as unworthy of attention or notice or concern; to slight;
V. Why would anyone give their child to someone else to raise when God choose Mom and Dad?
a. Dad who gets a divorce
b. Mom who farms them out to daycare. “They can love my baby just as much as I can.” – really? What are you trading your baby’s need for love for? So who is really paying for your child’s child-care.
c. Missionary who sends them to boarding school (Your choice to leave them for God’s work can only be made before you have them.)
