Dignity Redeemed 尊严得赎金研习会 - Ordinary Parents, Extraordinary Father (3/4)

Plenary 4 : Ordinary Parents, Extraordinary Father

Four Paradigm Shifts

a) I am not the cause

·         Self-blaming, spouse-blaming, church blames parents

b) I am not the cure

·         In the parable of the prodigal son, the father waited patiently and persistently for the son’s return

c) Our children are not my own

·         We are steward of all God’s given, including our children

·         Therefore release and surrender to God

·         Not let our children become idols of us

·         For example: God wanted to test Abraham because like many parents, children are like their idols

·         Lay down your children to God

·         Matt 10:37

·         Our main goal is not to point our son to success or turn from their sin/rebellion

·         But to point them to completely surrender to God.

d) Love is not enabling

·         Many parents avoid consequences of our children

·         Enabling: the result of it is that children will not be able to take responsibility because children will not be aware and don’t see the need to change

·         Many parents fear to confront children face-to-face

·         No matter sin is big or small, children need to face the consequences

·         Allow God to use consequences to fix the life of our children

·         THE REAL PROBLEM

·         Rebellion is refusing to completely surrendering to God Jesus cross and fully submit to  God’s authority

·         Instead giving in to the temptation of our flesh

·         It is not a behavior issue, behavior is only a symptom

·         The real problem is unwilling to surrender/submit

·         The goal of Christian parents is not to have godly children but godly parents.

Reflect Jesus

a) Through our brokenness

·         Parents: we are not as bad as our children, like Pharisees where we don’t see our own pride

·         Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 42:3

·         Parents are just as broken with our own sins: HUMILITY

·         If we want our children to change, we have to change in our own lives

b) Through our daily devotion

·         Can our children see Christ in us?

·         Is our relationship with God real and vibrant?

·         Are we different today from yesterday?

·         Do our children see we love God with all our heart, soul and mind?

·         Do our children know we pray and study the Bible and live out our lives when others are not even watching us?

·         Do our children see our excitement and joy when speaking about God?

·         When was the last time our children see us share the gospel to others?

Pray for, pray with, pray over our children

Parents as living Bible in lives

 

c) Through our marriage

·         Good marriage reflect the perfect relationship between Christ and church

·         Do our children think that it’s like heaven or run away?

·         If we do not love, respect and honor our spouse, how can we expect our children to do so?

·         Children should see home as heaven

·         Dad’s job is to fear the lord and to live according to God’s way

d) Through our grateful hearts

·         Hymn: Turn your eyes upon Jesus

·         Count every blessing, one by one

·         Not to focus on the hopelessness instead I count God’s blessings

Source: Dignity Redeemed 尊严得赎金研习会by L & AY, 13 & 14 March 2015