| Author: Pastor Faith Oyedepo |
Topic: You Must Be Fruitful (5)
Dear Reader,
Children are the generation to come and the Bible says: A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children (Proverbs 13:22). The only inheritance we can leave for the next generation is to raise godly children, who will take off from where we stop. That is why in this concluding part of this month’s teaching, I shall teach extensively on the subject:
Why Must You Train Your Children?
Several reasons make it clear why, as parents, we must embrace child training. Firstly, God commands us to train our children. The Bible says in Proverbs 22:6: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. So, child training is a commandment. When something is a commandment, it is obligatory or compulsory not optional. Thank God, however, that the Bible says: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3). In other words, as long as a commandment is from God, it is not designed to grieve you but to make life wonderful and fulfilling.
Secondly, you must understand that the children of today will constitute the pillars of both the church and society tomorrow. If this is the case, then our children must be prepared for the future. We must raise them to lead lives of dignity and good morals. If we, as parents, will sow the seed of bringing up our children in the fear of the Lord today, we are guaranteed a glorious harvest tomorrow.
Thirdly, we must raise our children properly because God is seeking godly seeds (Malachi 2:14-15). I believe that if there is a desire in the heart of God, it is to see godly seeds raised by godly parents. May He find you as one!
Fourthly, child training releases the potential in the child. Every child needs to discover who he is and what he can do, because there is no single individual who is not endowed with certain God-given talents and potentials. When you motivate that child properly, he begins to develop himself until the real him begins to emerge.
Lastly, child training brings about total development in the child. When children are born, they are soft and pliable, so whichever way you turn them is the way they’ll go. It is right at birth, therefore, that you should begin to work on them until they gradually develop physically, mentally and spiritually. The Bible says: For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little (Isaiah 28:10). As you train your child in the way that he/she must go, no shame shall be attendant to him!
Children must never be left to go their own way, you must show them which way to go; that is what training is all about. The Bible tells us that a child left to himself is heading very fast for destruction. The Bible also says: The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame (Proverbs 29:15).The Word further says: A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children (Proverbs 13:22). What kind of inheritance do you want to leave? Houses, cars, money, etc are material things that are temporal; the everlasting and eternal inheritance is the godly virtues you leave with these children. These virtues will make them glorify God for your life, anytime they remember you. A common saying in this part of the world goes, “a child not built (trained), will eventually sell off a house built.” In agreement to that, the Bible says: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). A child trained, is a child raised. A child left to himself is the one that brings shame.
The first step in looking forward to a godly generation is to begin with families that raise godly children unto the Lord. The Bible records in Jeremiah 35:5-6: And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine. But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons forever. We can see from this Scripture that the good works of a man called Jonadab was speaking long after him. He commanded his children, showed them the right way to go and instructed them in the way of the Lord. He raised them to God’s glory before he left. When the children needed to make a decision, long after he had gone, they acted based on what they had learnt from him. They were brought up with sundry virtues, which they walked in. No wonder, this man’s name found a place in the Book of books.
Right now, I ask for grace for obedience for every reader in Jesus’ name! You shall make a difference in your generation! Your children shall remember you and declare, ‘Blessed is the God of our mother! Praise God for the life of our father!’ They shall be proud of you as a godly mother or father, who taught and showed them the right way of living, and your names shall appear in the Lamb’s Book of Life, having carried out God’s will on the earth! This shall be your portion in Jesus’ precious name! Amen. I rejoice with you.
I pray that your decision to work with God, and raise godly children for Him, shall not fail! The Lord shall strengthen and empower you! The wisdom to carry out your decision shall be imparted on you! You shall not fail!
If you are not born again, today is another opportunity for you. You have to be godly before you can have and raise godly children because you can’t give what you don’t have. Do you want to give your life to Jesus Christ? Say this prayer: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today acknowledging that I am a sinner who needs Your forgiveness. I believe You died for me and rose again on the third day. Forgive me of my sins, wash me with Your Blood and write my name in the Lamb’s Book of life. Thank You Lord for saving me.”
If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).
Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).