David said, “Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.” Children learn the Word by our example! If we are excited about God and are living God’s Word, it will impact our children to the very core of their heart.
Paul told Timothy to preach the Word! It’s God’s Word that builds our faith – faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God! God’s Word must be the center of our daily lives. John said that in the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God – the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Jesus was God robed in flesh. He came to earth to die on a cross and purchase our salvation. Do your children know why? Do they know why we were all born sinners and need a salvation experience of repentance, baptism in Jesus name and the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost?
We have 168 hours in a week. If we went to church three times a week for two hours that equals 6 hours of our week. This leaves 162 hours in a week. Seven days x 8 hours of sleep = 56 – subtract from 162 hours. Now we have 106 hours left in a week. If you work 40 – 50 hours per week, subtract that from 106 hours. Now we have 56 hours left in a week to be with family and do all the other things we do. How much of these 56 remaining hours do you spend in sharing God through example and teaching the Word of God to your children?
Attending church is important, but what we do in the home around our children is the greatest teacher of godliness! I can say that from a personal testimony of my life as a child living in a pastor’s home. My father was a self-taught theologian and eschatology preacher/teacher. Wednesday night was bible study for a solid hour going through the Word chapter-by-chapter teaching life application.
After receiving the Holy Ghost at nine years old, I would sit in Bible study taking notes. Our church family loved this teaching. They brought their Bibles and took notes and would praise God at the teaching of the Word. But the greatest impact on my life was observing how my parents lived godly in the home.
I witnessed the Fruit of the Spirit in action. We had love, joy and peace in the home because my parents were longsuffering, gentle, kind, good, faithful and had self-control. I saw love and respect in action. My parents were not perfect, but they were Holy Ghost controlled. As a child, I thought every family who came to church had this same peace in their home. Unfortunately, I grew up and found out that is not always true.
My husband and I thank God today that our adult children love the Lord. They both let us know, it was because they followed us as we followed God. There is no greater joy on earth. No, we were not perfect. But they witnessed us being willing to allow God to work in our lives and our desire to walk in integrity with God, family and others. It’s all about choice. Filtering our thoughts, words and actions through God.
In teaching the Word of God for over 50 years and in counseling as a Certified Pastoral Counselor for 22 years, I see the breakdown of families is directly related to the lack of adults and children knowing how to apply the Word into their everyday lives. This brings us back to the 50 plus hours in a week that we live outside of church, sleep, school and work. Is God the center of your life? Do you search the scripture wherein you think you have eternal life? Do you base your daily decisions on godly morals and values? Do you talk in the home about the soon coming of Jesus to take His Bride out of this earth? Do you walk within your home with integrity? Psalm 101: 2 & 3 NLT – “I will be careful to live a blameless life—I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar.”
I’ve heard it said people would rather see a sermon in action than hear one preached! In Ephesians the 6th chapter, we are instructed to put on the whole armor of God. We are to put on the belt of truth, God’s righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God! It goes on to tell us to pray in the Spirit at all times. This is being in an attitude of prayer – a God-conscious state of mind – being Holy Ghost controlled.
One commentary on ‘pray in the Spirit at all times’ says, “Yes, we need to pray, but our life should be a prayer!” Our life becomes a prayer when we filter everything we do through God. We are to glorify God in our body and spirit – 1 Cor. 6:20. We teach our children by our actions! If they see us living holy as He is holy, they will grow up knowing that each person is able to have an intimate relationship with God. Our relationship with God is not based on rules. It’s based on love. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. God is love so we should be loving since we are the temples of the Holy Ghost.
As a parent, I pray this article stirs up the gift that lies within you! That is the Holy Ghost! Your children will live in eternity either with God or Satan. What are you teaching your children by your words and actions in the hours outside of the 4 walls of the church? What you are in the home is what you really are!! Will your children rise up and call you blessed? Or, will your children challenge your hypocrisy? You do reap what you sow! What are you teaching your children?????
Carol Cemans is an anointed teacher of God’s Word for churches/conferences/Certified Pastoral Counselor/Certified Christian Life Coach. She provides nationwide confidential phone/Skype counseling for pastors and lay people – (636) 448-0121. Go to: www.carolclemans.org for over 68 articles, bio, teaching CD’s & DVD’s, book: God’s Design for Marriage.