WEBVTT 00:00:00.719 --> 00:00:01.360 Morning. 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:04.400 We've got two texts for today. 00:00:04.559 --> 00:00:09.119 The first is Ephesians chapter six, verses one through four. 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:13.519 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:15.359 Honor your father and mother. 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:20.879 This is the first commandment with a promise, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:27.039 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:33.759 And the second is Colossians chapter 3, verses 1 through 2. 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:37.520 Actually 20 and 21. 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:38.320 There we go. 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:39.439 Thank you. 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:45.039 And that one is children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:48.479 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:49.600 This is the word of the Lord. 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:50.719 Thanks, be to God. 00:00:55.439 --> 00:01:00.240 Just before that, I was laughing with Blake because he remembers numbers like nobody I've ever seen. 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:04.480 And I was talking weird, I was talking about how I can't remember a number for the life of me. 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:09.439 Like I can't it I barely know what number comes next when I'm counting. 00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:17.120 But I remembered a song lyric from a country song that I heard once in 1998 in the back of my parents' car. 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:20.319 Well, thanks for joining us this morning. 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:21.519 My name is James Rathman. 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:24.239 I'm the pastor here at Redemption Church Denver. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:26.480 It's a joy to gather together with you all. 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:34.799 And uh we are continuing, although drawing to a close, this is our second to last week in our summer series, which has been on the Christian home. 00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:57.200 And we've been looking at the instruction in Scripture for how the gospel restores our families to the position of function that God intended for them and God's purposes for the family, that this is a place in which God blesses and strengthens, in which He uh ordinarily spreads the gospel through is the family. 00:01:57.359 --> 00:01:59.840 We've been looking at the patterns that that takes place in. 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:19.039 And we've seen how the typical structure uh of uh or the typical instruction throughout scripture for how families are to be ordered is parents, uh the scripture gives instruction for how parents are to operate within the family, how parents are to instruct and lead and discipline. 00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:21.439 That's the ordinary instruction of scripture. 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:25.199 But there is some instruction for children. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:33.759 So if you are a child in here today, if you think of yourself as a child, then today's sermon is just for you. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:38.719 The parents can basically zone out for the first half of the sermon. 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:41.039 But the children, you have to listen to this. 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:43.520 This is this sermon is for children. 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:45.120 This is a children's sermon. 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:48.080 Um, and then at the last little bit, we're gonna talk to fathers. 00:02:48.159 --> 00:02:51.919 Um uh, but until then, kids, this sermon is just for you. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:53.520 So let's pray. 00:02:54.560 --> 00:02:59.120 Father, we thank you for your direct instruction to children. 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:04.719 Lord God, we thank you that you say, Let the children come to me. 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:16.800 We thank you that you bless our children and that you give to our children these glorious promises, Lord, that you give to them the promise that you will be your God and they will be your people. 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:22.479 Lord, you say this promise is for you and for your children and for all those who are far off. 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:35.599 Father, we pray that you would bless this teaching this morning, Lord, that you would open the ears of the children in the room today, Lord, that you would instruct us because we are all children of parents. 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:44.800 Lord, that you would give us instruction for how we are to uh honor our parents, honor our mother and father uh in the role as children that you have given to us. 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:58.960 Lord, I pray that you would use your word to bless and encourage and convict and instruct, Lord, that our homes might be the restored to the position of glorious functioning, Lord, that you intended for them at creation. 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:01.439 We lift this up in Jesus' name, amen. 00:04:02.879 --> 00:04:04.639 So, kids, this sermon's for you. 00:04:04.719 --> 00:04:11.439 And last week we talked about how uh your parents are to be kings and queens in the home. 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:17.360 That the offices that parents have in the home are just like the offices that Christ has as our Redeemer. 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:20.959 And these are the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king. 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:33.040 We looked at how, as parents operating in their role as prophets, their job is to tell, our job as parents is to tell our children the story that they are in. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:38.160 So we are to tell them the gospel story and teach them that this is their story. 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:41.120 They are the what they are the sinners who fell. 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:45.600 They are the ones who are saved by grace, by trusting in the promises of Jesus Christ. 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:48.319 This is their story, the story of their people. 00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:53.600 And then as priests, we are to be mediators of blessing to our children. 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:56.560 We are to be a blessing to our children. 00:04:56.800 --> 00:05:00.800 So the best way that we can do that is we are to pray for our children. 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:06.959 So we're to tell them the story that they're in as prophets, and we are to pray for our children as their priests. 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:10.959 And we are to rule over our children as kings. 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:17.600 Just as Christ subdues us to himself, we are to subdue our children to ourselves. 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:20.560 We are to bring them into subjection. 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:25.439 So you know how they're, you know, one thing that kings have are subjects. 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:28.480 A king without subjects is just a guy. 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:31.199 But a king has subjects. 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:34.800 And so children are subjects of your parents. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:37.839 And some of your children are saying, Yeah, I know. 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:41.920 But of course, kids, you're more than subjects. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:50.160 You're more than just the subjects of, you're more than just like the little, you know, farmer in the field that the king walks by and tells, give me more of that wheat. 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:51.680 You know, you're more than that. 00:05:51.839 --> 00:05:57.680 Because what you actually are is you're the princes and you're the princesses of the home. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:10.399 You are no mere subjects, you're the princes and princesses, because the the point of your parents, what they are trying to do is they're trying to raise you up so that you will be kings and queens of the home one day. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:12.800 You're no mere subjects in your home. 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:16.560 You're the princes of your home, you're the princesses of your home. 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:26.319 And the rule of your parents is so that you too might take on this glorious role of ruling a household of your own, of ruling over yourself. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:33.360 The Proverbs tell us that it's a man who rules over his own spirit is like a strong city. 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:42.800 And you, by being equipped to be princes and princesses in your home, you're being equipped to rule over your spirit. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:46.879 That's a glorious thing that we're shown how to do. 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:54.079 And Paul, in his writings, the Apostle Paul, he writes directly to you as children. 00:06:54.319 --> 00:07:01.040 In Ephesians 6 1, he says, Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:04.639 All right, kids, let me let me have your eyes. 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:05.920 There's some eyes. 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:06.879 Yep. 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:07.759 Yep. 00:07:08.079 --> 00:07:09.360 I want all the eyes of the children. 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:10.319 I'm looking for them. 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:11.519 I see some. 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:12.399 Good. 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:14.240 Wow, great job, you guys. 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:15.680 Great job. 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:17.839 You know, Darby. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:20.240 I like this. 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:25.199 You see that first word in this verse? 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:27.920 What's the first word of Ephesians 6, 1? 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:31.439 Now whisper it a little louder. 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:33.120 Children. 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:34.639 You know what that means? 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:39.839 That means that this part of the Bible is written directly to you. 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:45.439 That the Bible is speaking directly to you. 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:49.519 Paul starts this and he's saying, children. 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:54.800 You know, this is going to be read in churches throughout Asia Minor, this letter that he's writing. 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:58.160 And he expects there to be children in the room. 00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:02.560 And he doesn't think, oh, the children that are in the room, these are just tag-alongs. 00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:09.040 You know, they just have to sit there and they just have to sit and be bored, and there's no, they have no real part to play in this. 00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:14.720 They'll have a part to play in this later, once they grow up and become adults, but right now they they don't really matter. 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:15.920 They have no part to play in this. 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:17.360 No, that's not what Paul thinks. 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:21.759 The Holy Spirit that's inspiring Paul to write this, he doesn't think that. 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:28.480 He thinks, I need to talk to the children because they have a role to play in this. 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:32.000 The children are part of the church. 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:35.519 Children are members of the church. 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:44.559 That's in fact why we baptize children in this church, is because children are treated as members of the church. 00:08:45.120 --> 00:09:02.720 This letter, this section of the letter starts with children, direct, it's speaking to you as children, but it it the very the letter begins in Ephesians 1.1, it's addressed to the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus. 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:04.320 So who is Paul talking to? 00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:08.080 He's talking to the saints in Ephesus, which is a city. 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:19.759 So you could say he's talking if you were to write it to us here, you'd say, to the saints in Denver, and to those who are faithful in Christ Jesus. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:22.799 And so that's the big group that he's talking to. 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:32.000 And then of that big group, we'll say, some of them are parents and they'll need instruction, some of them are slaves and they'll need instruction, some of them are masters and they'll need instruction. 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:34.000 Oh, and some of them are children. 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:37.519 And I want to talk directly to the children. 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:42.559 So what category are you in in the church that Paul is writing to? 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:43.919 Here's how Paul thinks of you. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:45.919 He says, You are the saints. 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:48.080 You are saints of God. 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:54.639 You are the holy ones of God, holy ones that God Himself has set apart. 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:56.639 That's who the children are. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:59.279 You are faithful in Christ Jesus. 00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:02.159 You don't think maybe one day I'll be faithful in Christ Jesus. 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:11.360 Maybe one day I'll grow up and this going to church thing is something that I'll, you know, have to do or do like my parents do or whatever it is. 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:14.320 But that's kind of their thing now, and it isn't really my thing. 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:16.240 That's not the way the Bible talks about it. 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:20.000 The way the Bible talks about it is this is yours now. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:21.679 You are saints now. 00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:27.039 You can be faithful in Christ Jesus right now, even as a child. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:30.559 So this is not just for adults. 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:39.279 Church is not just something to sit in and just suffer through while uh I go on and on and on and on and on. 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:45.840 It's a consistent laugh beat in our church, unfortunately. 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:50.879 Church is something that you get to joyfully participate in now. 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:53.919 You know, it kids in our church, I want you to know this. 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:57.519 Redemption Church Denver is your church. 00:10:57.759 --> 00:10:59.600 This is your church. 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:03.679 You know, when you think of this church, this isn't your parents' church. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:07.039 It is, but this is your church. 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:08.960 It's your church. 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:13.279 Jesus isn't waiting for you to grow up to come to him. 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:17.600 He isn't hiding until you get a little bit older for you to know him. 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:28.480 Do you know that you can pray in Jesus' name right now as a child, and the God of the universe will hear you. 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:32.320 He will listen to your prayers. 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:35.279 The God of the universe. 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:45.519 Now, if if you gave me like, I don't know, the rest of the week, I probably couldn't get an interview with uh this isn't gonna work for the kids. 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:48.480 Your parents can explain this one to you later. 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:53.360 But if I needed like till the end of the week, I don't think I could get in front of Jeff Bezos. 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:55.360 It probably just couldn't happen. 00:11:55.440 --> 00:12:00.399 He'd be like, nah, I'm booked, and I'm too important, and I've got too much going on. 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:02.240 I wouldn't be able to get in front of him. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:04.720 I wouldn't be able to get in front of Mark Rober. 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:06.080 Anything? 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:07.279 No? 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:08.320 Alright. 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:12.879 Um you guys ever watched YouTube? 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:16.159 I love that website. 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:17.919 It's one of my favorite websites. 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:24.080 And uh you uh I you do you kids ever is there any shows that you like to watch? 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:26.240 Famous people? 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:27.840 Wild Kratz? 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:30.799 You guys ever watch that? 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:37.679 If you gave me to the end of the week to get in front of a crat brother, I don't it probably wouldn't be able to happen. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:39.759 Probably wouldn't be able to happen. 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:48.960 But who's more important than any the most famous, most important, the the highest person that you could ever imagine? 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:52.960 God is is unimaginably greater. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.679 Unimaginably greater. 00:12:55.919 --> 00:13:07.279 And you can pray to him, and he will hear you, listen to you, attend to your prayers, give you his full attention. 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:14.320 This is how glorious it is to be in Christ Jesus, to be counted among the saints. 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:18.320 God says to the children, they have my full attention. 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:20.559 You right now can know God. 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:32.799 And so, as the scriptures, one of the great things about the Bible is it gives us particular instruction for the different phases of life that we're in for how we are to honor God. 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:35.279 And children, this one is for you. 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:39.120 If you're wondering, how can I honor God as a child? 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:42.960 Well, you can get the clearest instruction right here in this verse. 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:44.559 You know, you should listen up. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:47.120 All of the scripture is for you. 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:54.320 All of the scripture can teach you and instruct you and edify you and strengthen and encourage you. 00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:58.320 But this little section of scripture is for you in particular. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:00.399 That's why it starts with children. 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:04.559 And so if you wonder, how is it that you could honor God? 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:07.919 How as a child can you honor God? 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:10.559 Well, here it is. 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:15.840 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:18.159 So here's the trick. 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:21.600 How can what's the instruction for you as children? 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:25.600 How what is what does Paul want you to know first and foremost? 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:28.080 How can you as a child honor God? 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:30.000 Obey mom and dad. 00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:31.759 Obey mom and dad. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:34.559 So, children, how can you honor God? 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:37.039 Now you just shout it out. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:40.000 Obey your parents. 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:40.960 Exactly. 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:42.799 Isn't that exciting? 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:48.080 Isn't this thrilling news? 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:55.120 Just incredible to hear, this insight that you never expected, this magic trick of how you can honor God. 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:57.039 No, it's so simple. 00:14:57.360 --> 00:15:00.399 It's been staring you in the face your whole life. 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:02.480 It's not some great mystery. 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:04.159 How can you honor God? 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:07.360 You know, you'd think, what how would you pay, how would you honor somebody? 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:08.559 Would you make them a gift? 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:22.080 Would you would you draw them the most magnificent drawing that you could, and then you'd write them a letter on the back of it and you'd hand it to them and you would honor them, like how you honor your parents on Mother's Day or Father's Day, you make something for them and then you honor them with it. 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.840 How could you honor God? 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:27.840 Well, what you do is you obey your parents. 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:29.759 It's that simple. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:31.039 Obey your parents. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:33.759 So here's two implications of that. 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:35.120 So how do you obey your parents? 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:36.639 Here's two ways. 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:43.039 The first way is you do what your mom and dad ask you to do. 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:46.000 That's what obey means. 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:50.720 When your mom and dad ask you to do something, you do it. 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:53.120 That's obeying. 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:57.200 That's lesson one. 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:11.360 The second part of obeying your mom and dad is when your parents have rules or things that they don't allow you to do, don't do those things. 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:17.440 So the first one is when your parents tell you to do something, you do it. 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:22.320 And when they tell you not to do something, you don't do it. 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:24.559 This is really simple. 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:26.720 But you know what happens when you do that. 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:38.720 You know what God sees when you know what you know what it what happens to God when he sees your parents tell you to put your shoes on and get in the car, and then you put your shoes on and you get in the car? 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:41.519 God is pleased with that. 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:48.000 In fact, your parents are very pleased with that. 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:51.919 This is pleasing to God. 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:57.039 Now, this can go wrong in all kinds of little ways, because I know it sounds really simple. 00:16:57.120 --> 00:17:03.279 You're thinking, like, okay, I'll just do what my mom and dad asked me to do, and I won't do what my mom and dad uh tell me that I'm not allowed to do. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:06.799 But this is actually, this is, isn't it strange how hard this is? 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:09.519 It sounds so simple, it's so easy. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:10.799 You don't even have to do much thinking. 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:14.079 You just have to do some listening and then doing whatever you're told. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:17.279 But it's actually really hard to do, isn't it? 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:20.480 Have you ever wondered why it's hard to do? 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:25.359 It's hard to do because we are born into sin. 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:33.200 And that means that we have what's called, what the scriptures call, what Paul calls our flesh. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:36.319 And you know what your flesh wants to do? 00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:41.599 Your flesh only wants to do what you want to do. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:44.000 That's what your flesh wants to do. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:48.559 And your flesh doesn't want to do what you're told to do. 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:54.960 Your flesh doesn't want to obey your parents, your flesh doesn't want to obey God. 00:17:55.440 --> 00:18:03.599 And so that means when it when your parents ask you to do something, something's gonna show up, and that thing that shows up is called your flesh. 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:08.880 And you can think of it it's like a it's like a lion that's just outside your door. 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:19.039 And when your parents ask you to do to take the plates and go put them in the kitchen sink at the end of dinner, then it you think, oh, that sounds easy enough. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:21.440 I'll just take my plates and I'll go take them into the kitchen sink. 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:22.319 This is no problem. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:27.920 The pastor told me to obey, that's how I honor God, I can obey, and then all of a sudden a lion shows up. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:33.119 And your flesh is saying, don't do that. 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:37.920 Do anything but that. 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:43.519 Begin negotiating about a show you would like to watch later. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:52.880 Look at your parents asking you if they have exposed themselves in this moment of vulnerability. 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:57.599 There is something your parents want from you. 00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:01.839 Now there is something you want from them. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:07.359 That is your flesh. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:09.759 Your flesh shows up. 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:13.119 Do you remember the story of Adam and Eve in the garden? 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:16.319 And they have this clear instruction, remember? 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:20.960 Don't eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:24.319 All the trees, you can eat from all the trees. 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:25.599 They're all for you. 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:27.279 Whatever you want, you can have it. 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:28.720 All these trees are for you. 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:30.799 There's one tree that you don't eat from. 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:33.440 And then remember, the serpent shows up. 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:40.720 And the serpent shows up and he says, Well, eat from just that one tree. 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:44.559 That's the way our flesh acts in us. 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:47.440 It believes the lies of the serpent. 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:57.359 And so, in order to obey your parents, you actually have to become strong, like a prince or a princess. 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:01.920 You have to put down the desires of the flesh. 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:08.640 When the desires of the flesh come up in you, you have to kill them ruthlessly. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:12.480 You have to defend your kingdom. 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:15.519 Because remember, you're going to be king and queen one day. 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:20.079 The good news is you have help. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:28.079 You have help from the one who killed that lying serpent, our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:31.519 He's the one who kills the flesh. 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:40.000 And when we trust in Jesus and even pray to him, and say, Lord, I find it so hard to obey. 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:42.319 Would you help me obey? 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:48.319 He will give you all the strength that you need to obey your parents. 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:53.519 The Lord is the one you can turn to for that strength. 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:59.839 That's why the scriptures say, obey your parents in the Lord. 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:01.680 For this is right. 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:05.759 You are to obey your parents in the Lord. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:08.319 What does it mean to be in the Lord? 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:11.119 It means that you trust in Him. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:17.759 And it means that you rely on Jesus' power over the sinful flesh. 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:24.480 You rely on His strength by the Holy Spirit to put to death the deeds of the flesh. 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:29.440 And what that means is you're going to have to make this very powerful move. 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:31.920 Here's the move that you're going to have to learn to make. 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:37.200 This is like your weapon of war, this move that you're going to have to learn to make. 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:46.000 Your parents ask you to do something, and all of a sudden, something else that you want to do becomes really shiny and wonderful. 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:49.279 Just a moment before, you weren't even thinking about it. 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:59.519 But when your parents said, bring this plate to the kitchen sink, then all of a sudden you thought, I will I would do anything to get back to the toy I was. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.680 Playing with before dinner. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:04.480 Anything to not have to do this right now. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:09.839 You're going to have to say, Lord, help me obey my parents. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:12.799 I'm not going to listen to the flesh. 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:15.920 I'm going to put it to death because it's my enemy. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:20.640 And instead, I'm going to honor God and obey my parents. 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:23.599 This is pleasing to the Lord. 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:26.960 So when you first hear it, it's like, what is Paul saying? 00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:32.160 Paul's instruction to you, when the Bible talks to you, it's saying, Children, obey your parents. 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:33.359 That doesn't sound like much. 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.799 Doesn't even sound that hard. 00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:39.839 But really, what Paul is saying is he's inviting you into the battle. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:44.640 He's bringing you into the adventure of following God. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:53.680 And he's bringing you face to face with our greatest enemies, which is our flesh in the lies of Satan. 00:22:53.920 --> 00:23:03.680 And he knows that, children, if you practice obeying your parents in the Lord, you will become strong warriors for God. 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:07.039 That you will be freed from the flesh. 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:10.079 You will be able to put to death the desires of the flesh. 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:15.200 You'll be able to put on the new man in Christ Jesus who is strong. 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:25.039 In Ephesians 6, 2 through 3, you know, this command, obey your parents, it comes with this great promise. 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:31.119 In Ephesians 6, 2-3, Paul quotes it, says, Honor your father and mother. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:39.119 This is the first commandment with a promise, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land. 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:42.240 He's quoting from the Ten Commandments. 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:47.519 And this is the fifth commandment that he's quoting, which says, honor your father and mother. 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:52.720 And then he points out this is the first of the Ten Commandments that comes with a promise. 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:59.519 And the promise is that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:05.039 God gives us promises for obeying him. 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:16.799 The other day, actually earlier this week, last week, uh my kids and I were driving uh down from Buna Vista, which is two hours, it's like a two-hour drive back to Denver. 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:23.599 And so when we were getting in the car, have you ever ridden in the car for more than 15 minutes as a family? 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:31.839 It's like uh this is the front lines of spiritual warfare. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:42.799 And uh our our car seats five, and so it's three kids lined up in the back road, bench seat all together, striking distance. 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:56.079 And if you've ever ridden in the for for children to sit next to their siblings for two hours and not hit each other is extremely challenging. 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:57.279 Extremely challenging. 00:24:57.359 --> 00:25:00.640 It's challenging for adults as well, but we have we've practiced. 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:10.640 And so when we were pulling out on this drive, JT, can I say scoot over a little bit? 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.440 I can't see you. 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:38.319 So when we were when we were pulling out on this drive, there was a um uh uh I said, okay, if if we don't hit each other on this drive, and if we're kind to one another uh for this whole drive and none of us have any meltdowns, uh on our way into town, put before we pull into our house, I will pull immediately into uh down Tennyson Street and we will get ice cream. 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:40.079 That will be our first destination. 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:41.920 We will get ice cream when we get down. 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:45.759 And we had we had like one of our best drive-downs ever. 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:53.759 They turned to each other, they made a deal, a truce, temporary truce, temporary ceasefire. 00:25:56.240 --> 00:26:00.400 And we and we pulled down, and and this is this is what God does for us. 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:05.599 He gives us promises of wonderful things for obedience. 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:08.160 And our children look to the promise. 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:18.640 So, children, you should look to the promise and say, you know, if we if we act well, things will go well for us, like ice cream well for us. 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:22.559 And there were benefits associated with it. 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:30.319 God does the same thing for you, but with your whole life, not just a little bit of ice cream, which comes and goes. 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:31.359 Here's the promise. 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:38.880 He says, if you honor your mother and father, it will go well with you, and you will live long in the land. 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:42.960 This is a glorious promise that he gives to his people. 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:47.440 Kids, are you ever worried about schools just around the corner? 00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:50.319 I was a real nervous kid about the start of school. 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:53.119 I would get I would get so nervous about school starting. 00:26:53.279 --> 00:27:01.759 I'd get nervous about going to the next camp or do I was, I was, I'd like to be, it was more of a bookish type of kid. 00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:06.720 And when these things were around the corner, I would feel so nervous. 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:09.519 Well, I can tell you, kids, you don't have to be nervous. 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:17.279 You don't have to be nervous about school coming up, you don't have to be nervous about the next phase or what what's coming up next in your life, you don't have to be nervous at all. 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:19.440 Because Jesus is with you. 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:23.279 The one who's in charge of everything promises to be with you. 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:26.720 And do you want those things to go well? 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:30.640 Do you want your life to go well? 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:33.680 Well, I can tell you there's a way. 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:36.720 Obey your mom and dad. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:39.440 Obey your mom and dad. 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:42.079 Honor them as your parents. 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:46.319 When they ask you to do something, it's like you're being asked by the king. 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:49.200 Of course, you would obey that. 00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:51.200 Of course. 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:58.960 And God's promise to you is that when you do that, it will go well with you. 00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:00.720 You won't regret it. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:02.319 You won't miss out. 00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:04.480 It will go well with you. 00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:14.240 In Colossians 3, 20 and 21, Paul writes elsewhere, he says, Children, obey your parents in everything. 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:16.799 For this pleases the Lord. 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:19.680 Obey your parents in what? 00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:22.720 Everything. 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:25.119 That's uh that's basically covers it. 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:30.559 So if you're wondering, when should you obey your parents, or what should you obey your parents about? 00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:32.079 Everything. 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:33.519 And you know what this does? 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:35.440 This pleases the Lord. 00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:38.720 And the Lord loves to bless you. 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:42.960 The Lord loves to reward you for obedience. 00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:44.240 The Lord loves to do that. 00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:48.960 In fact, he promises to right in the Ten Commandments. 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:51.920 So now we're going to shift to parents. 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:54.960 Parents, how can we help kids obey? 00:28:55.920 --> 00:29:05.839 Ephesians 6, 4 says, Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:11.039 So the instruction, first of all, is to fathers. 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:14.880 And it's to fathers because fathers are the heads of the home. 00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:23.759 They are the ones that will ultimately give an account to God for their responsibility for discipline and instruction of the whole home. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:28.319 The scriptures say, wives submit to their husbands in everything. 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:33.519 The scriptures say, children obey your parents in everything. 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:40.880 The fathers are the ones that bear this responsibility for leadership in the home. 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:49.759 And with this great authority that fathers have been given, there is this warning that Paul gives to them. 00:29:50.799 --> 00:30:01.839 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:08.319 Fathers, by our great authority, we have this capacity to provoke our children. 00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:11.519 You have incredible authority over your children. 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:22.000 This is an incredible authority. 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:27.039 You can use that to be prodding, provoking. 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:33.279 You can use that to make your children feel like, gosh, there's nothing I can do right. 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:36.240 I would never get the approval of my mom and dad. 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:38.400 I'm never able to do anything just right. 00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:44.640 And they can feel constantly under the microscope from you. 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:50.240 And what this does is it provokes your children to anger. 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:56.880 So how are we to support the obedience of our children? 00:30:57.519 --> 00:31:05.440 Well, first of all, by the instruction to fathers, I think one of the things that we must see is that fathers are to take responsibility for this. 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:12.799