God Gives Wisdom For Raising Children - Zac Poonen
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Summary
The speaker compares the natural tendency to only engage with adults to the Pharisees, suggesting that a true measure of Christ-likeness is showing genuine interest in children. He draws parallels between the Israelites' backsliding and the church's decline, emphasizing that God often uses humble, unexpected sources—like a baby—to deliver His people. The sermon concludes by stressing that true prayer is an expression of helpless dependence on God, exemplified by the parents of the man of God, and advises mothers to model submission to their husbands.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
A biblical example from the Book of JudgesThe speaker introduces the history of Israel's backsliding in the Book of Judges and notes that Samson is one of the few deliverers whose birth is preceded by an angelic visitation.
Barren mothers and prayerful dependenceMany great men in the Bible were born to barren mothers who had to rely entirely on God through prayer, which is an expression of true helplessness.
The angel's message and Manoah's prayerAn angel tells Manoah's wife she will have a son dedicated as a Nazarite, prompting Manoah to pray earnestly asking God to teach them how to raise the boy.
The role of a submissive and humble wifeThe mother immediately calls her husband when the angel appears again, demonstrating that a submissive wife is one of the best gifts a mother can give her children.
Seeking God's vocational plan for the childManoah asks the angel how to bring up their child so that he can fulfill the specific work and vocation God has planned for his life.
Paying attention to God's wordMothers and parents simply need to pay attention to and follow what God has said in His word to prepare their children for the work God has for them.
Weeping and praying with tears for our childrenParents should have a deep burden and pray with tears that their children will grow up to live for God rather than wandering in wrong ways.
Not feeding spiritual poison to your childrenParents must avoid exposing their children to harmful media and worldly entertainment, which acts like feeding them poison a little bit each week.
Jesus' strong warning against causing little ones to stumbleJesus spoke extremely strongly about the severe consequences of causing a little child who believes in Him to stumble into sin.Matthew 18:6
Repenting and training children to live for GodParents should not ignore God's warnings anymore but instead repent and train every child in the church to be a servant of God in their daily life.
Fathers must take responsibility for biblical instructionThe Bible commands fathers to bring up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord rather than leaving that duty solely to Sunday school teachers.
God's grace is sufficient for raising children todayEven though the world is increasingly evil, God provides more than enough grace to help parents raise their children successfully.
Crying out to God for wandering childrenParents whose children have gone astray should not sit back lazily, but rather fast, weep, and cry out to God to bring them back.
