Training Our Children To Live In God's Presence - Zac Poonen
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Summary
The sermon uses the story of Hannah to emphasize the importance of keeping promises made to God and dedicating one's life to Him. Key lessons include being careful with speech, as words can cause sin, and teaching children from a young age that the presence of the Lord belongs in the home and accompanies them everywhere. Ultimately, the message is to live perpetually in God's presence.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Hannah's prayer for a sonHannah prayed for a son at the temple and vowed to give him back to the Lord for all the days of his life, while Eli the high priest misunderstood her and thought she was drunk.
Hannah keeps her difficult vowGod answered Hannah's prayer with a son, and despite the immense difficulty, she kept her promise and gave Samuel over to serve in the temple.
The seriousness of making vows to GodScripture warns us not to be late in paying our vows to God, teaching that it is better not to make a vow than to make one and fail to pay it.Ecclesiastes 5:4
Keeping promises to our childrenChildren must grow up knowing us as people who keep our promises, and if a promise cannot be kept due to lack of funds, we should explain it honestly.
Speaking the truth in our worship songsChristians often tell lies on Sunday mornings by singing lyrics about devotion and constant praise without actually meaning them or paying attention to the words.
Old Testament partiality versus New Covenant totalityWhile the Old Testament involved dedicating only firstborn sons, giving a fraction of time as a Sabbath, and paying ten percent, the New Covenant requires giving all children, all days, and our whole lives to God.
Teaching children to live in God's presenceJust as Hannah wanted Samuel to grow up in the Lord's presence, we must teach our children from a very young age that God is always with them in every situation.
Setting the Lord always before usBy setting the Lord always in front of us as described in Psalm 16, we gain His strength, a practice we should instill in children starting from early childhood or even in the womb.
God can speak to very young childrenYoung children are fully capable of being in touch with God, as seen in examples of children being converted or receiving calls at ages three or five.
