"I HAVE SINGLED HIM [Abraham] OUT SO that HE will DIRECT HIS SONS and their FAMILIES to KEEP the WAY of the LORD BY DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND JUST. THEN I will DO for Abraham ALL that I have PROMISED.”
Genesis 18:19 (NLT)
• A Woman.
A Christian woman sent her children to me for Prayers, and in the process of praying I discovered, perceived, through the leading of the Holy Spirit that one of them was living in Sin, and I told her to keep herself and live her life for Christ. She should not make herself cheap for men. She was an undergraduate student then.
- When I later saw the woman, I told her that she needed to talk to the daughter about God and to abstain from Sin. The reply she gave was, "Can the children of nowadays keep themselves from Men." The statement shows that the woman consented to what her daughter was doing. She believes that those children are of age, they cannot keep themselves from Men.
- Note: A parent who is a believer has a responsibility to teach and train their children in the way of God, even as from early childhood. And Even as they are growing up, you should not stop Teaching and telling them the truth—the Word of God.
- You pray for them. You have the duty to mould their lives with prayers. If your needed to fast in addition with Praying, because of them, you had to do it.
- Remember, you will give an account of stewardship on the children whom God has given to you. They are God's Heritage. And you are given a privilege and an assignment to train and nurture them for God.
• Teenage, Adolescence, and Young Adult.
- No child should grow to the point that you cannot talk to or correct him or her again, especially if the child is still under your roof.
- A child who has not married is still under your care, to counsel, talk to, teach, and direct in the way of the LORD.
- Some parents, even Believers, wanted to believed that their children have grown beyond the age they can be corrected or instructed.
- You would not force anything on them, but endeavour to tell them the truth, the stand of the Bible on whatever they are doing. You let them know the implications or consequences of whatever wrong they are doing—the aftermath effects of such thing.
- Some parents complain that their grown up children do not listen to them when they to talk to them. There are a number of factors that could be the cause or reason for that:
(i) If you did not give them your attention when they were still tender, you might not be able to control them when they grow older—when they are of age.
(ii) Another factor is, If those children could not see the signs of what you professed to be in your life. You are not a practical Christian.
a. If you live hypocritically. You presented yourself as a Believer in your place of work, in the neighborhood you live, and in the local church you attend; but in your closet you are another person—you are an hypocrite.
b. This dual life, and some other unwholesome Character defects could make your children not to serve your God.
c. They would have seen that you are not genuine, and your God you are trying to present to them might not be genuine as well.
(iii) Another factor is, when one of the parents is not living right, or living the Bible. Especially, If the mother at home is not firm in the Lord, that could have negative effects or impacts on the children. They could be rebellious to God and to the other partner, their father.
(v) The last to be mentioned is, If the parents failed in the place of prayers, the children from such a Christian home could be wayward and rebellious.
• It is not too late.
- You can still effect a change in the life of your wayward child or children, If you can start from yourself; As in, the change should start from you, where you had noticed your mistakes—in your relationship and fellowshipping with God.
- Also, you can take the matter to God in Prayers. There is nothing too difficult for God to do (Jeremiah 32:27). With Him all things are possible (Mark 10:27).
WE should approach God through Jesus Christ, He said:
23 “AND IN THAT DAY [this present dispensation] YOU WILL ASK ME NOTHING. Most assuredly, I SAY TO YOU, WHATEVER YOU ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME HE WILL GIVE YOU. 24 UNTIL NOW YOU HAVE ASKED NOTHING IN MY NAME. ASK, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE, THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL" (John 16:23,24 NKJV).
• Prophetic prayers
- I see that wayward child changed and transformed to a Vessel of God, in the mighty name of Jesus.
- Your children will not be a source of sorrow for you, in Jesus' name.
- They will not be an instrument in the hand of the devil, in the mighty name of Jesus.
- The enemy, the acuser of the Brethren will not use your children against you in Jesus' mighty name.
- And, If you are sick in your body, receive your healing now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Peace!
STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).
- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!