A Fathers Duty

Key Scriptures: Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21

Intro

How Parents Provoke Their Children

The Effects of Provoking Children

How Fathers Can Nurture Their Children

Why Children Need Admonition In The Lord Ep 6:4b

Reflection

Call to Discipleship

REF:  Mathew Henry Commentary, Woman's Study Bible, Precept Austin Commentary, copilot edit.

#Christianity

#Faith - Based

#Spiritual growth

#Yahweh's  Word

#Bread of Life

#Spiritual nourishment

#Food for the Soul

Thanks for listening.

 Please hit the follow button on my website, Buzzsprout.com, Spotify, and iHeart.

Email: Breakfastwithjesus.live@gmail.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:19

Welcome, welcome, welcome to Breakfast with Jesus. This is Evangelist Linda Teresa Benjamin. The title of the devotion this morning is A Father's Duty. The key scripture passages is Ephesians chapter 6 verses 4 and Colossians chapter 3 verses 21. Ephesians chapter 6 verse states, and ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Colossians 3.21 states, Father, provoke not your children to anger, these they be discouraged. Brethren in Christ, the word from Yahweh calls fathers not to provoke their children, but to raise them with loving nurture and godly instruction. This is a sacred responsibility. Are you prepared for the divine task of training your children in the way they should go, so that when they are old they will not depart from it? Heavenly Father, bless each and every one that is under the song of my voice. Let the your presence be unknown, abide in us, let them see you, let them hear you, while you touch their hearts, their minds, and their soul. In Jesus' almighty name. Amen. To provoke means to irritate, stir up our anger. These are not the attitudes our Heavenly Father wants us to produce in our children. Instead, he welcomes them, saying, Suffer the little children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. This message explores four key areas for fathers, parents, or anyone who is taking care of children. How parents provoke their children, the effect of provoking your children, how parents can nurture their children, and why children need admonition in the Lord. First, how parents provoke their children. Ephesians chapter 6, verse 4. Instruct fathers not to provoke their children. Colossians chapter 321 also instruct fathers not to provoke their children. Children are required to respect and obey their parents. But parents are to set an example of respect and dignity in their household. They must be the shining light for their children to follow. They must lead by example and not only by words. Parents may provoke their children without realizing it. Incistent behavior can leave children confused and unsure of what is expected of them. Constant criticism without encouragement. Neglect caused by overcommitment to work, hobbies, friendship, or other pursuits. If you neglect your children because you claim you have to work, because you want to go and play with golf or sports with your friends, that's provoking your children. Overprotecting that limits healthy growth, expression, and learning. If you overprotect your children and not let them express themselves, you are provoking your children. Favoritism or unrealistic expectations without rewarding them is provoking the children. Withholding affections and failing to make children feel deeply loved and secure is another form of provocation. Insensitive to their feelings, not balancing correction with reward and praises is provoking your children. Now that we know what are some of the things in which you can provoke your children, let us look at the effect of provoking your children. When you provoke your children, let's see what the Bible says happens. Colossians chapter 3, verse 21b warns that provoking children can discourage them. When children feel devalued, ignored, or unheard, their hearts can become heavy. Their heart can become sad, they become sad, depressed. They may become disheartened when they are treated harshly, denied kindness, or made to feel insignificant. They may also become broken in spirit when they are constantly criticized or spoken to in ways that make them feel unworthy. Precept Austin commentary highlights several practices that can lead children in the wrong direction. Quote, giving them everything they want, everything they ask for, laughing at sinful or disrespectful speech, thinking it's funny. Oh, it's funny, it's funny what this says. No. Provoking, providing no spiritual training, not training your children in the ways of the Lord, avoiding the word wrong to keep them from feeling guilty. You know, like some parents do not want to tell the children, no, don't do that. It's wrong to do that because they feel that it may make the child have a guilty complex. Always cleaning up after them instead of teaching them responsibility, teaching them to clean up after themselves, to keep their room clean, to wash the dishes, is shunning your responsibility and not teaching them how to be responsible adults. How can you nurture your children? Ephesians 6 verses 4b instruct fathers to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Nurture, nurturing means to protect, to provide for, to love, to train, to teach, to guide, guidance. One of the most important responsibilities of nurturing is teaching children to live a Christ-centered life. You must teach your children to live a Christ-centered life. That's nurturing. Parents can do this by leading family prayers at home, setting aside time for Bible study at home, teaching the knowledge of God while children are still young. Isaiah, the prophet Isaiah, in chapter 28, verse 9, and Psalms chapter 78, verse 4 to 6, reminds us to pray, pass on Yahweh's truth, our mighty works to the next generation. We have to tell their children about the mighty works of God, about the power of God, about how great God is, and how to praise God. We have to pass it down to the children so that they can pass it down to their children and to their children's children from generation to generation. That is required of us. Parents should also teach children respect for authority and obedience to the law of the land, helping them understand the greater importance of obeying the law of Yahweh. You see, Proverbs 13:24 and Proverbs chapter 3.12 remind us that loving correction is part of faithful parenting. You have to teach them to follow the laws at home, so then they will follow the laws when they leave your home and in society, and it will also teach them to follow the laws of God. They all go hand in hand. Father must help their children develop a moral compass rooted in truth. They should not ignore sinful behavior. You cannot ignore the sinful behavior of your children and turn the other face. Pretend you don't see it. Eli is 1 Samuel in the book of Samuel, he was a prophet. He ignored the sins of his children, and God judged his household. God judged his household. And because he did not correct his children, he failed to correct them. God judged his household. And they all were lost. Because God said there was no atonement for them. There was no atonement and no atonement could be made for them. Parents, do not lose your glory, do not use lose your crown because you fail to instruct your children. They are loaned to you by God to bring them up right. Don't fail to do the right thing for your children and lose your crown of glory. Because if their soul is lost, God holds you responsible for that. Parents have a duty to teach what is right and wrong and to correct their children faithfully. Fathers should teach their children to love Yahweh above all else. Let Yahweh be their first love. Teach them their first love is Yahweh. Teach them to be kind-hearted and not bullies. Teach them to be compassionate and to trust God as their strength in trouble, their anchor in the life in life storm, and their healer in sickness. Precept Austin offers a memorable recipe for raising children. Quote: One cup of Proverbs chapter 22 verse 6. Two tablespoons of Proverbs chapter 19, 13, 1 dash of Proverbs 23, 13, 1 teaspoon of Proverbs chapter 3, verse 5, half cup of Titus chapter 2, verses 3 to 7. And it says to mix them all together and add a pound of persistence and a cup of love. I would say not even add a cup of love. Add four cups of love. Because you have to train them up with love. You have to have love when you are correcting your children. And with until the right consistency. Show them kindness. Show them compassion, but correct them. Father Yahweh expects you to admonish your children just as he admonishes us. What does admonish means? It means to correct, but correct gently, to warn wisely, to rebuke with kindness. You see, you have to have kindness and gentleness in correcting the children. You cannot be harsh and cruel in correcting the children because you will dishearten them. We are called to discipline our children while there is hope for correction, while they are still young. You see, while they are still pliable, while they are still bendable, while they are still trainable, and to do so with love and compassion. Scripture does not call us to abuse children. We are not supposed to abuse children. We are not supposed to treat them evil and mean, but to guide them away from destructive behavior and towards righteousness. Proverbs 19:18 reminds us not to neglect discipline when correcting. Correction is still possible. We should correct our children so that they can grow in obedience, respect, and a godly relationship with the Lord. We must instill godly principles with love, just as our Heavenly Father has done to us. He has reproved us and discipline us with love. Revelation 3, chapter 3, verses 19 teaches this clearly. Discipline should be compassionate and consistent, motivating children to grow in hope, character, and faith in Christ. We must admonish without humiliating them so that bitterness does not take root in their heart. We cannot have bitterness taking root in their heart. And then they're acting out in school and being bullies in school. They're taking up guns and they're trying to shoot people. No. We have to correct them. We have to correct them. But we have to do it with God's grace and mercy. Reflection. Father, a special day is set aside to remind you of your responsibility to your children. Take time to reflect on these scriptures and let them guide your instruction and discipline of the next generation. Who is your pride and your joy? Brothers and sisters in Christ, when you hear the word of Yahweh, do not harden your heart. If you have not surrendered your life to Yahshua yet, now is the time to repent, to believe, and to receive his gift of salvation. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we come before thee with humble heart, thanking you for your word and for the responsibility you have given to fathers and family. Strengthen every father to lead with wisdom, patience, love, and truth. Help them to nurture their children in righteousness, to correct them with compassion and to reflect your heart in their homes. Heal every wounded place, restore broken relationship, and let your peace dwell richly in every family represented here. Teach us to all walk in obedience to you, to honor your commandments and to trust in you, Yahshua, for your grace and your strength and your salvation. In Yeshua's name we pray. And may the grace of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit rest and abide with us now and forevermore. Do not forget to follow me on BudPrust Duffsprout, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and iHeart. Please hit the follow button. Thank you. See you next week, Wednesday, 6 a.m. Praise be to God.