Sermon Central
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How To Raise A Godly Family
Contributed by Ivan Casteel on Jun 25, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: Gaining lessons from John the Baptist’s Parents
HOW TO HAVE A GODLY FAMILY!
By Ivan G. Casteel
Mt 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (KJV)
Lu 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. (KJV)
INTRODUCTION: There was about to be born to an older Jewish couple a boy who would change the course of Israel.
Young adults are required to do the most important job they will do at an age when they are not qualified to do so. That is to rear children and prepare them for the society they will face.
Jesus made a statement in Matt. 11:11, that is most astounding. Zacharias and Elizabeth had born unto them the greatest child ever born unto woman. Can you imagine the magnitude of that statement? Suppose you were credited with or responsible for rearing the world’s #1 kid? Amazing, isn’t it? They could have had a bumper sticker that said, “Proud Parents Of The Worlds Greatest Kid.”
I wish I could have located this father and mother early in my child rearing life so I could have asked them how they did such an accomplishment. The greatest expectation of any adult couple is to rear good, godly children. You can determine the success of any man and his wife by observing their children.
The world has a totally different definition of successful child rearing. A well-balanced child means the same number of positives as negatives. That’s dumb.
The world says that a high school graduate is not normal unless they have had at least one sexual experience. That’ s dumb.
The world system says that the child must be exposed to every type of experience that he will face in his lifetime so he can learn to cope with each experience. That’s dumb. Do we allow your children to play in a den of rattlesnakes to teach them survival? Of course not. Do we allow them to play with a loaded shotgun so they will learn how not to commit murder? That’s dumb also. Do we allow them to play in the center of the interstate highway so they will learn how to walk to school and not get hit by a car? That’s just as dumb as the system is.
In this passage in Luke’s gospel we see a family that was successful in marriage and raising a godly family. How did they do it? You make mental notes as we examine five very obvious reasons why this was an unusual family, yet a very godly family
I. BOTH PARENTS WERE SAVED Vs. 6
Lu 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. (KJV)
A. Righteous Parents. How did they become righteous? Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
