Ephesians 6:1-8

Children, Parents and Workers

 

Intro: We are at the tale end of our 2nd Section in the book of Eph.

A) Ch.1-3 – Sit – Wealth of the believer / Ch 4 -6:9 Walk how we are to walk / Church / World / Family / Work

 

B) Sunday am Walk in marriage / Tonight In the Home & at work

1) Children / Parents & Workers Rd v. 1-4

 

Now I want you to notice that Paul starts off – talking to Children

A) Letter that would be read to the congregation –( Letters vs. study – good to study always keep in mind – letter )   [ Kids would be present ]

 

Kids in Sanctuary: Like Disciples / Taking to rather than keeping from

 

B) Bring YOUR KIDS TO CHURCH: My Mom –War -  glad she did –

1) My Dad saved – Car start going to Church

 

C) Tonight – How many have kids here – My kids non negotiable –

1) Fine in school – Practice that is going to be a part of their lives

 

D) Max Jukes / Jonathan Edwards

Around 40 years ago, Yale University conducted an extensive seven-year study on how a persons actions in life effects the lives of his or her children. This study was focused around the lives of two men: Max Jukes and Jonathan Edwards.

Max Jukes and Jonathan Edwards both lived over two hundred years ago. They were contemporaries : 

 

Max Jukes was an Atheist and did not expose his children to church, even when they asked to go. He believed in the abolition of laws and rules.

Mr. Jukes formed an organization called the Freedom Movement that preached free sex, no laws, no formal education and no responsibilities.

Jonathan Edwards was a Preacher – Sinners in the hands of an angry God” He was a Godly man - known by all as a "disciplinarian". Not because he disciplined his children harshly, but because he was a self-disciplined man.

 

But One thing Jonathan Edwards insisted upon was that his Children went to Church.

 

Both of these men were chosen for their diverse beliefs, but also because they both fathered 13 children. Here are the legacies they left behind:

Max Jukes was known to have had at least 1,026 descendants. Three hundred were sent to prison for an average of 13 years, 27 were murders, 190 were public prostitutes, 680 were admitted alcoholics.

His family cost the state of New York close to 1.2 Million dollars in rehabs / jail time dollars and does not appear to have made much contribution to society.

 

Jonathan Edwards was known to have at least 929 descendants. Of these, 430 were ministers, 314 were war veterans, 86 became university professors, 13 became university presidents, 75 wrote wholesome books, five were elected to the US Congress and two to the Senate. Three Were Governors and One was vice president of the United States. As far as we know, the Edwards' descendants did not cost the state or society one cent, but rather contributed immeasurably to the life and strength of New England and of our entire nation.

 

What an incredible contrast – Value of Bringing kids to Church

A) SO the kids were there – hearing this – Children obey your parents

  Word Children = Anyone at home – 2 or 25 {

 

B) So if the Child is in the home – he is to obey his parents

 

C) Obey has to do with action, and honor has to do with attitude

1) This word obey is,  "stand under” or to Listen under,”- that is, to listen with attentiveness and to respond positively to what is heard.

 

D) It means to be under another's authority, and it is used in many places in the Scriptures as a military term.

1) It is the same word that would apply to a soldier in obeying his orders.

D) To put it very practically and plainly, it says to children, "Do whatever your  parents say."

 

This type of obedience is not in Vogue today – Our Culture Shapers are constantly seeking to lower the age of autonomy for the young so that teenagers & even younger kids can pursue unbridled freedom.

 

Our Culture portrays obedience as mindless conformity –

A)This is clearly exemplified in so many of the T.V. Sitcoms where parents are portrayed as dimwits & fools / while the Kids are brainy & bright

 

B) The kids are giving off all this wisdom – logic & good sense

1)There is definitely an agenda behind this – more than create entertaining

          T.V. –   Satan undermine the Family

 

C) That is The reason we are suffering from a tremendous epidemic of

      delinquency, revolt, and rebellion

1)     because this generation has been taught that they don’t need to obey, that   there is nothing important connected with obedience.

 

D) But this is a very important matter, to the Lord – Children obeying their Parents  ( Listed as one of the 10 Commandments ) v. 1 it is Right

 

It is interesting how Kids can go thru that Phase where they think – Parents don’t know anything – Forget that we were kids once too

A) 5 Phases : 1st – Young adolescent – Parents can do no wrong – they know everything – smartest guy/gal  in the world

 

B) 2nd Phase: Puberty : Parents Know a lot but not everything

1) 3rd Phase : Teen yrs – Parents don’t know anything –

 4th Phase : Early 20’s – Parents know more than I thought

5th Phase : They become a parent – My parents know everything again

 

C) It kind of goes full circle : 

Sometimes teenagers complain – My parents just don’t understand their too strict – So hard to obey

A) Think of another teenager who definitely knew more than his parents JESUS – what does it tell us about Him ?

 

Luke 2:51-52  Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

 

B)  Catch that Jesus – Subjected himself to his parents – Result of that he increased in Wisdom / Stature / and Favor w/ God & Men

1)You want to be a well rounded person / likeable person/ Obey your parents

 

Notice: Obey your parents in the Lord – Enthusiastically – One exception { Things that are contrary to God’s word

A) But if you are going to sense that – you need to be able to quote Chapter & verse – need to back it up scripturally – Not don’t feel it is the Lord

 

B) So Children are to Obey their Parents in the Lord

Col.3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

 

and v. 2  "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise:3 "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."

            

C) Quoting the 6th commandment here – promise that goes w/ it !

 

D) Christians have normally divided the Ten Commandments into the first four, directed towards God, & the last six, directed towards our fellow man.

 

E) But the Jews divided the commandments into two sets of five, seeing the law to honor your father and mother more as a duty towards God

than a duty towards man.{ Child walking in the fear of the Lord

 

 So  What does it mean to Honor – Mom & Dad

A) The word honor in Hebrew is the Word – Kabad – those been around recognize – similar to word – Kabod – Glory

 

B) The Word Kabod – speaks of the weight or Heaviness of who God is

 

C) He is weighty – His Glory is so Radical – that it is weighty – heaviness associated w/ it

1)   This word HONOR carries a Similar idea – Giving Weight to the person who is to be honored

 

D) Holding the person in high esteem elevating them to a place of Importance & Reverence

1)   Speaks of a Profound respect !!!!

 

 

Notice also the Promise Connected w/ this Commandment –

"that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."

A)Understand – this does not necessarily mean long in Quantity of days

    But in Quality of days – full days / rich days

 

B)Many Saints died Young – JIM ELLIOT { 22  while many heathens lived Long days Scriptures are filled w/ examples of the

 

C)  Best example – JESUS – lived to be 33yrs old – Obeyed his Father perfectly !!!!

 

So that is Paul’s word to Children – next comes parents: v.4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

A) Note Paul’s word is to Fathers – mothers aren’t even mentioned Why?

 

B) Dads are to take the lead in these matters of Discipline and training

1) Provoke = Not tease or exasperate them to resentment

 

C) See, parents can be hard on kids to the point that a child just flat out gives up and becomes bitter and resentful against the parent. 

1) How many times have we heard a child say, or even an adult now looking back on their childhood and say, “You know, I could never please my parents.  Nothing I ever did pleased them.”  

 

D) Sometimes that’s just an exaggerated perspective on their point. 

      But sometimes it’s true.{ Dads we need to watch that !!!!

 

E) My Dad was a great Dad – even as an unbeliever –

1) Never forget – Orange game – 1 hitter we lost on an error – I pitched a great game – { He comments on an at bat …………………….

 

F) Now that was one time – Can’t imagine what it would have been like to have a dad who always did that !!!!!

 

So Dads don’t provoke your Children to wrath or resentment but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

A) Two things are involved here: Training & Admonition

 

B) Training speaks of Discipline : Kids need to be Disciplined – Fathers responsibility to Discipline our kids

 

C) Prov 13:24 - He who spares his rod hates his son,  but he who loves him disciplines him promptly

 

Should we spank our Children: God says we need to Paddle our kids ?

A) 4He who spares his rod hates his son,    Heavy – not I love them to much to Discipline them – You don’t love them at all if you don’t

 

 B) Discipline is a necessary part of Gods tools in training children!

1)  Heb.  Whom the Lord loves He disciplines 

 

C)  In our Culture today – many don’t know that it is right & normal for a parent to discipline their Children

Our Society tries to tell us Kids aren’t Bad – they just do bad things & they need to be educated not to do those Bad things – Goodness comes out

A) Problem is the Bible declares in sin my mother conceived me

 

B)The Bible says that from conception – we are depraved / we are born w/ a sin nature

 

C) We are not basically good people who just occasionally do Bad things but we are ROTTEN TO THE CORE

 

C) Those of you who are parents Know this : My own Kids I didn’t need to give them a lesson on how to Lie – came naturally

I didn’t have to teach them how to be SELFISH or to throw TEMPER TANTRUMS – it was engrained in them

 

D) I did need to teach them / How to be good / the difference between right & wrong

 

But many parents in our society today have bought into this lie Kids are good – just do bad things : Result :

A)We are currently raising the most Rebellious / anarchist / and Violent Generation in the History of the US.

 

B) God knowing  that our kids have a sin nature – propensity to Sin – towards rebellion – Correction is needed He who spares his rod hates his son

 

C) But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. Again note that: Not going to count to 3 / threaten / not going to give time out – PROMPTLY

 

D) Rod vs. the Hand – Rod is good – hand for love { My dad always hand never doubted his love – Last spanking at 14

 

E) Controlled not in anger – not lashing out – but Controlled

 

Ch.22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

A)Foolishness is bound up – In bred in the Heart – of a Child – but the Rod of Correction will drive it from Him

 

CH 19:18 Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction.  NIV don’t be a willing participant in their destruction

 

B)Deal w/ them now – while there is hope – there comes a time older where you can’t discipline them anymore

1) Do it now while there is hope & don’t be a willing participant in their destruction

 

C) When you don’t  Discipline your kids / you are participating in their destruction – result of their Rebellion

 

Ch.23:13,14 Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you (CHASTEN) him with a rod, he will not die. (Great!!!)

14       You shall beat (CHASTEN) him with a rod,

          And deliver his soul from hell.

 

A)The word hell here –dual meaning – can mean Literal Hell /  Your commitment to follow thru – save your child from Hell

 

B) But it can also mean – Incarceration – Kids are in bondage to guilt in their Soul – Soul becomes like a prison –

1) Did you know many are prison today because wanted to be caught

 

C) The Guilt was so strong – that they wanted to be caught to deal w/ it

 

D) Spanking Brings a releasing of the Guilt – Their sin has been dealt w/

 

Spanking also RESTORES THE RELATIONSHIP – They Cry

A)We hug / embrace / there is a restoration that takes place.

 

SO a Father is not to Provoke his Child but he is to Discipline them and to Admonish –

A) The word admonish = to instruct / to encourage / to warn using the Word of God – Don’t just tell them what to do or not do – tell why

 

B) Admonish them: Strengthen build up instruct –

 

C) First words to Children / then Fathers / last Workers   Rd v 5-8

 

Slaves & Masters: Bible doesn’t condone slavery – but recognized it as a part of that Society – In that day more friendly – house servant –worker

A) Bible gives instruction as to how both roles are to conduct themselves

 

B) Workers – Do your work as unto the Lord – not EYE SERVICE

Or to be a man pleaser – Boss is watching – better work hard

1) Always remembering the BIG BOSS – THE LORD IS watching – always doing best – not cutting corners etc

 

Col 3:17  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

 

C) I did well in every secular Job that I had – was promoted quickly because I went into with that attitude – not working for Check

1) Not working for my Boss – I am working for the Lord

 

D) V. 8 God’s says he will reward that type of mentality

 

So that is the word to workers / What about Employers or Bosses ?

9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

 

A) Masters you do the same thing to them – You treat your worker like the Lord – treat him as your brother in Christ

Col 4:1 Masters, give your Bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.