THEME: CHILDREN IN THE HOME (Sunday 05-07-2015)

FOUNTAIN OF GRACE CHURCH OF GOD

MADRID-SPAIN.

HOST PASTOR: PASTOR DANIEL OBIDIEGWU.

TEL: +34632875301 (FOR COUNSELLING & PRAYERS.

Beloved, God's plan for us is to raise Godly seed to propagate the gospel. It will be better not to born than to raise up children for Satan,that is not our portion in Jesus name. Therefore beloved there is a need for us to carefully and painstakingly direct our children in the way of the  Lord.

Pastor Daniel

Text: Psalm 127:3; Proverb 22:6.

 Children are gifts and blessings from the Lord. When God blessed man to be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth in Gen. 1:28, the expectation was for God to obtain Godly seed through man (Malachi 2:15).

The fall of man has distorted the great plan and thereafter man began to bring forth children after the likeness and nature of fallen Adam and Eve (Gen. 5:3; Psalm 51:5), to take us back to the beginning, there is the need to train up the children in the only way which is Jesus Christ.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION.

1)   Relationship between husband and wife:
- Both must love God; love for God is foundational because it puts us in touch with the source of love. (1 John 4:8). – loving each other: A child who grows up with the realization that his parents are lovers has a wonderful basis for stability.

            2) Proper planning:

-Seek the face of God and pray through concerning the children that will be born in your union.
- Determine through prayers the number and sex of children you want (1 Sam. 16:10-12; john 16:13; prov. 19:21).
- Consider how you are going to care and nurture them.

CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT.

- Start to give attention right from when you discovered you are pregnant.
- An infant can relate to love, laughter, and life as well as a person can at older age.
- Respond to their smile, gurgle, squeal and cry with love.
- Train them e.g. Toilet training, adult speech and simple courtesy.
- Feed them well, balanced diets.
- Create time for your children.
- Set an example of patience, free expression and acceptance, discover the things they like to do and build on them.

Late childhood and preteens (7-12) prov. 23:13-14.

Children in this age group will want to seek contact with others on their own. Therefore they need lot of assistance and direction.
- A lot of time and energy is spent by the child in environment outside the home.
- They develop a growing desire to belong to a social group outside the family.

- A balance needs to be struck between home and the outside world.
- Healthy interaction and honest communication between parent and child is vital during the child’s comparison of the values seen operating at home with those elsewhere. 

RAISING GODLY CHILDREN

God’s purpose is that all children must be taught in the way of the Lord (prov. 22:6).
- Your child must be dedicated to the Lord right from conception Luke 2:22-24.
- It is important that your children be brought to the house of God for formal dedication.
- The family altar is very vital in raising Godly children, start calling your children to the altar even from the womb (Luke 2:44)
Evangelizing your child: It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that their children have personal testimonies of being born again, do not assume the salvation of your children.
Discipline: Children are not naturally self-control, they are dominated by their impulses, typically acting spontaneously with little thought. Discipline helps children to understand their boundaries and also teach them (Prov. 19:18).

ingredients for discipline

1)   Motive- discipline demonstrates love (Heb. 12:5-6)
2) Purpose-Just like God, we want the best for our children (Heb. 12:11)
3) Duty- discipline is not an option for Christian parents it is a duty (prov. 13:24)
4) Authority- God gave us authority to discipline our children.
5) Parental control- discipline ensures parents control over the children.
6) You train your child by what you’ve modeled for him or her, a child puts into practice what he sees you do.
7) Training assists children to confront life challenges with responsible independence.

TEN VALUES FOR CHILDREN.

1)    Love and obey God

2)    Honor your father and mother

3)    Love others

4)    Be honest

5)    Respect your elders

6)    Attend church

7)    Avoid materialism

8)    Work hard

9)    Be committed to your family

10)  Pray and worship.

Prayer: Pray for the grace of God and wisdom to train the children right, so that we may present them faultless to God (Jude 24).