DWM-18 & WFF-25 & WFP-20
Short Clip
Are you ready for some trouble? I am amazed as a pastor for the past twenty-five years how few of us really are.
Will you be taken off guard when troubles hit home? When unexpectedly you lose your health, lose your wealth, lose a family member, lose your mobility, lose your independence…or any other of a million unexpected losses we all face each day. This morning God’s Word challenges each of us to get ready and stay ready. Troublesome times are coming!
We are looking at how to disciple our children through prayer and the Scriptures. This week we are focusing on preparing our children for troubles they inevitably will face. God’s Word teaches us how to see our children avoiding bitterness when they go through deep and painful trials. Troubles are one of the surest things in life. As Job said, “Man is born for adversity as sparks fly upward.” (Job 5.7) From birth, life is an uphill climb against physical obstacles, socio-economic prejudices, relational jealousies, academic challenges, and spiritual adversities. From the challenges of relating to people to the physical exertions of everyday life, there is nothing easy about daily existence.
But as life goes on and we pick up speed we soon find that there is never enough time when we need it, never quite enough money to pay for all we want, and then comes not enough strength to do what is always coming at us. But then the worst part comes upon us, our health begins to erode, our bodies begin to show their frailties and we experience many different types of pain and discomforts.
“When God permits suffering to come to our lives, there are several ways we can deal with it. Some people become bitter and blame God for robbing them of freedom and pleasure. Others just “give up” and fail to get any blessing out of the experience because they will not put any courage into the experience. Still others grit their teeth and put on a brave front, determined to “endure to the very end.” While this is a courageous response, it usually drains them of the strength needed for daily living; and after a time, they may collapse.”
Remember, God wants troubles to push us towards Him. He wants to refine us, purge us, build us up, and overflow our lives with blessings. And all that only comes through TRIALS! So troubles are coming and without any disasters or tragedies — just life is very hard. Most people do not make it through life without long or short seasons of anger and bitterness at someone or something. Knowing that it is of utmost priority that we prepare our children to avoid bitterness in the trials that WILL COME.
So how do we prepare our children for emotional, spiritual, and physical troubles? The answer is of course in God’s Word. Prayer is the key to raising, nurturing, and launching children that please the Lord is learning how to pray for our children. The Apostles said, “We will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the Word.” As parents are we doing the same? Are we praying and ministering the Word to our children and grandchildren? How do we do that? We are in our seventh week of exploring how to give ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word and this is what we have found:
WE MUST PRAY FOR REALITY IN THEIR SPIRITUAL LIFE:
1. SEEING THEM GENUINELY SAVED.
2. SEEING THEM LOVING GOD’S WORD.
3. SEEING THEM LIVING IN VICTORY.
4. SEEING THEM THINKING OF HEAVEN.
5. SEEING THEM FINDING SIN REPULSIVE.
6. SEEING THEM STAY TENDER TOWARD GOD.