11-04-09 Raising Children Message 5: An Appetite for God

Develop An Appetite for God

Introduction

• Our children Being Right with God is Directly Related to our Being Right with God/
• Ties in with Missions/Predestination etc…

Rom. 10:13-14 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ¹⁴How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

• We want our children to have an appetite for God.  They will develop this appetite from their parents.
• Even Cain had an appetite for God -

Gen. 4:3-5 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. ⁴And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: ⁵But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

• When we do not do all we can to develop this Godly Appetite, we make it less likely that they will ever have it.  This will make them less equipped to deal with the very things that can hurt them the most

I.         Spiritual is negative - Having negative or combative attitude about Spiritual things.  Giving, going to Church, witnessing, Bible Reading, Pastor, Workers, Choir, etc…

Boy who gave his lunch got home and his mom started running down Peter

II.        Spiritual is ‘zero’. - Leaving Spiritual Activities out of their Lives

            Don’t read Bible, Go to Church like going to grocery store, don’t pray, Don’t have family devotions.

            Paragraph 3 Church Covenant

            Deut. 6:6-7 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: ⁷And 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.

III.       Spiritual is positive but not as positive as other things - Having Spiritual elements in our lives but emphasizing secular over Spiritual –

            Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

What are we passionate about?

            What if your children were to fill out this survey

a.        What does your Dad/Mom like to do?

b.        Who is your Dad/Mom’s hero?

c.         What is your Mom/Dad usually doing when you get up in the morning?

d.        What is your Dad/Mom doing when you go to bed at night?

e.        Generally or specifically, what does your Dad/Mom want you to do as a career?

f.         Is it OK with your Dad/Mom if you don’t go to School?

g.        Is it OK with your Dad/Mom if you miss Sunday School?

h.        What’s the last thing you saw your Dad/Mom read?

I.         Have you ever seen your Dad/Mom praying, going to pray or coming back from praying alone?

J.         What does your Dad/Mom do on their days off?

K.        What makes your Dad/Mom really mad?

L.         What makes your Dad/Mom really happy?

IV.      The Correct Requirement.  There cannot be two. 

Teaching our Children that there is a secular life and a Spiritual life.

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

V.        The Change must be in your heart not your actions.  We must repent!