Obey your Parents

Sunday 27 August
READ: Eph. 6:1-3
MORE LESSON: Exo. 19:3-6

The command to obey parents is from God, therefore children must realize that it is not the parents that are demanding obedience (Eph.6:1). Whatever God demands from mankind is for their good, if they obey (Isa. 1:19 – 20, Eph. 6:2 – 3, Jer. 13: 10-11).
Every human being has parents through whom God brought him/her into the world to fulfil His purpose. A child's destiny is tied to that of his/her parents from conception all through life. This is in line with the fact that two must agree before they can walk or work together to achieve a purpose. The care given by parents during children's tender age, when they cannot even help themselves, is enormous. From childhood to adulthood, godly parents are still relevant.
Parents guide children from birth, and labour over them night and day so that they can survive and grow. They guard children from dangers (physical and spiritual, etc) and labour to meet their needs. All these sacrifices or labour by parents stem from their love for the children and for their well being. Don't bite the fingers that feed you (I Sam.12:24). It is only under demonic influence that a parent can hate or wish evil for his/her child. The example of such parents are those who sacrifice or dedicate their children to the devil.
Even when you have grown up and can fend for yourself, you are not expected to disobey your parents. You must have regard for God that gave the instruction (Eph.6:1). Obedience to parents comes with the blessing of long life from God. Even for ungodly instruction, prayerfully, politely and wisely, let them know you can not disobey the Word of God in order to obey them.
Obedience to parents is an indication of your confidence in them (Jn.12:50) and this will bring you into favour with God and man. It was Esther's obedience to Modecai that made God favour her before the king to become queen. Obedience fosters good relationship between you and your parents and siblings. Such brings love, joy, peace, unity and the blessings of God in the home (Psa. 133:1 – 3). Obedience makes them bless and not curse you. Jacob’s declarations came to pass over all his children except where God's mercy stepped in to alter the negative ones.
You may feel that your parents or leaders cannot punish you when you disobey them, but remember that God will punish all sinners except they repent (I Sam.12:15). Jesus obeyed His earthly parents: Joseph and Mary (Lk.2:46 – 52) as well as His heavenly Father (Jn. 12 : 49 – 50). Disobedience to parents is a dishonour to them. God expressly commands children to honour their parents (Eph. 6:2, Deut. 5: 16, Mal. 1: 6, Matt.15:3-6). Children, don't put your future at a risk; follow God's instructions to obey and honour your parents. When you do so, it will be well with you; and God will preserve and bless your destiny.

Prayer/Action
* Lord, help me to be obedient to my parents (physical and spiritual), in Jesus’ name.
* The spirit of disobedience will not prevail against our children, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, I announce red flag for the devil over every inch of my life and family and I decree no trespass, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Help them pay Attention

Saturday 26 August
READ: Prov. 4:1-2
MORE LESSON: Prov. 23:22-26

The dictionary definition of the word ‘attention’ is listening or looking carefully; thinking about something or someone carefully. God wants mankind, including children, to pay attention to His words. For example, God had to help Moses to pay attention to His message to him in the wilderness through the fire that was burning but not consumed (Exo. 3 : 1 – 6).
The attention span of children actually varies with age. It usually increases with age, and as we teach and help them to pay attention. This must start very early. The mind of a child is believed to be like a fresh concrete blank board. But whosoever or whatsoever can get printed on it while fresh can become permanent and the focus of the child's entire life. A religious group said: “Give me a child for the first five years of his/her life and I will possess him/her for life”. Great impact can be made on children at this tender age. Parents successfully do this “early – start” educationally by registering children of about two years or less in schools. However, the same children are often considered too young to be exposed to the Word of God. It is erroneously assumed that they will not understand.
Note that it is whatever you expose them to today that will become their way of life tomorrow. You can get children's attention and they can understand God's words if you follow God's instruction in Deut. 6 : 6 – 9. This shows that it’s an “all-time-job” to pass God's commandments to children.
1. Teach them diligently and talk about the commands of God at all times: when seated at home, walking by the way, while lying down and when you rise up. Note that it is parents’ responsibility to do all these. Don't rely on children teachers or pastors - their roles are secondary.
2. Make the word visible; e.g. some on the hand and where it can be seen. What are the pictures in your living room, bedroom and all around you depicting? Do they point Jesus to children and make the place conducive for Christ to stay and be felt?
God wants you to “load” them prayerfully with the Word of God using all means, including directing and controlling their exposure to media (radio, tapes, TV, etc) and other gargets in your houses. This will help to prevent contrary information from being disseminated to them. Grown up children should be involved in Sunday School, Bible club, singing, Bible recitation/memorization competition, etc. Get them involved in family altar; encourage them to personally study the Bible and pray on their own. Make them to see the significance of the Word of God, obedience to it and a life in which Christ is the Lord.

Prayer/Action
.* Father, fill our children with the love of God and is Word, in Jesus’ name.
* Every power or force distracting our children from God and His Word be paralysed, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC
Satan, you do not own my life, I rededicate my all to Him who died for me at Calvary now and ever, in the name of Jesus.

Friend of God

Thursday 24 August
READ: John 15:1-15
MORE LESSON: John 14:23

One of the greatest and most beneficial relationships on the earth is that of man becoming a friend of God. This relationship is most beneficial because it has both earthly and eternal blessings. It is also the highest level of relationship a man can ever have, relating with the Most High God as a friend. Abraham was no doubt a friend of God and that was why God did not keep anything from him, And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do: Gen.18:17. Moses was even directly referred to in the Bible as a friend of God, And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend...: Exo. 33:11.
This great privilege is, however, not received without a condition. John 15:14 says, Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Obedience, therefore, is the condition for a good relationship with God. If you want to become a personal friend of God like Abraham and Moses, then brace up for a life of total obedience to God in all things.
The starting point, however, is to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour; therefore invite Him to be in total control of your life and He will come in. He says in Rev.3:20, Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. That is an open invitation by the Almighty to friendship. Be a friend of God today. Only friends of God will spend eternity with God in Heaven, but His enemies shall perish in hell. Even before going to Heaven, friends of God will enjoy the cover and greatness of Heaven on earth. God will be jealous for their sake, defend them, give them silver and gold and they shall not be feeble (Psa. 105:37). They will call upon God and He will answer them, He will be with them in trouble, deliver and honour them, satisfy them with long life and, at the end, show them His salvation (Psa. 91:15-16). All these benefits and more are yours as a friend of God, so go for them.

Prayer/Action
* Renounce every friendship with the world that can make you an enemy of God, in Jesus’ name.
* Ask God to fill your heart with His love and grant you grace to do His command, in Jesus’ name.
* Ask that what makes a man God’s enemy will not happen to you, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
By the force of Heaven, I shift every battle of my life to the door step of the enemy, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Given Birth for Trouble?

Friday 25 August
READ: Isa. 65 : 23
MORE LESSON: Gen. 34 : 25 - 30, Prov. 19 : 26 – 27

The desire to have children can be very intense. Every grown up man/woman wants to have a home and subsequently children, and many are desperate about this. Rachael, in Gen. 30 : 1, said to Jacob; ...Give me children or else I die. Some, because of the desire for children or a particular sex have become victims of herbalists, extra-marital affair, etc. Even those who have children do all things possible to take care (physically, financially, spiritually, emotionally) of them and groom them for success in life. However, you need to note some things.
1. Children are part of the good gifts from God – they are His heritage (Psa. 127 : 3). Therefore, those that are yet to have them should rejoice (not worry) because God knows your needs and has all good things in abundance for those that love Him (1 Sam.1: 27).
2. Children are to be a source of joy and happiness (not troubles) in homes. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate: Psa. 127:5. What a blessing, joy and fulfillment!!! However, in many homes children have become the source of heartache, and diverse atrocities. Some have caused their parents hypertension, killed their parents, and siblings, wrecked family business and become devourers. Are you unhappy over any of your children? If yes, God will return their heart to you and God, in Jesus' name.
3. What becomes of these children after birth is far more important than having them. To nurture a child to adulthood is highly demanding-physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially. However, when the child grows beautifully, your heart is filled with joy because your labour is not in vain but is yielding good result.
A child may regretably not bring joy to the family if:
1.he/she turns out not to be a good and perfect child Exo. 2 : 2.
2. the child is not given proper upbringing or he refuses parental upbringing.
3. the child becomes a vagabond.
God's method of training children is found in Prov. 22: 6. Train them based on the instructions in the Bible and by godly example. The questions are: As a parent, are you born again? Are you living based on the principles of God's Word? If you are not you need to repent. A life without Christ is a life of crises/troubles and this will affect not only the children, but also other family members. Naturally, children are good imitators; the child needs to see you do what you preach or teach. One good example is better than 100 teachings or techniques. Children want to follow the examples of their parents. This way, your life and that of your children will bring joy to you, your home and others around you.

Prayer/Action
* I will not be a source of trouble to my parents and family, in Jesus’ name.
* Satan will not take over our children, in Jesus’ name.
* Our children will be tools unto honour in the hand of God, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
This month, lines will fall to me in pleasant places, I shall have a godly heritage and good result, in the name of Jesus.