Blessed Sons and Daughters

God has designed us for three growth phases. 

Childhood from birth to 12.  

Adolescence from 12 to 19.  

Adulthood from 20 and above.  

  

Ephesians 6:1-3 NKJV

1 Children (childhood), obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 

(Adolescence) “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 

(Adulthood) “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

1. Training. Childhood.

Ephesians 6:4 NKJV

4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

6 Train up a child in the way he should go,And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 23:13-14 MSG

13 Don’t be afraid to correct your young ones;a spanking won’t kill them. A good spanking, in fact, might save them from something worse than death (hell). 

Proverbs 23:14 NKJV

14 You shall beat him with a rod,And deliver his soul from hell.

Proverbs 13:24 NKJV

24 He who spares his rod hates his son,But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

Be clear. 

Be convincing. I will do this if you do that.

Be compassionate. Never spank in anger or in public. 

2. Teaching.  Adolescence is the transition from a child to an adult.  We tell a child what to think, but we tell an adolescence how to think.

Ephesians 6:4 NKJV

4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 4:9 NKJV

9 Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren,

Deuteronomy 6:7 NKJV

7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Luke 2:42-50 NKJV

42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 

43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 

44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 

45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 

46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 

The best way to teach is by asking questions. 

47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 

48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” 

49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 

50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

3. Trusting. Children are trained.  Teenagers are taught.  Adult are trusted. 

Here are the references that support God seeing people as adults at 20 years of age. 

Exodus 30:14

Numbers 1:3

Numbers 14:29–32

Proverbs 3:5 NKJV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,And lean not on your own understanding;

Matthew 7:11 NKJV

11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Judges 14:1-4 NKJV

1 Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. 

2 So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.” 

3 Then his father and mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren, or among all my people, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?”And Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well.” 

4 But his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord—that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

God was trying to teach Samson something before He lost it all with Delilah.  

Mark 1:11 NKJV

11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

To dishonor a parent is not to ask their advice, but it is not dishonoring not to do it.

Matthew 23:8-10 NKJV

8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ (the Holy Spirit), and you are all brethren. 

9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 

10 And do not be called teachers (master); for One is your Teacher, the Christ (Jesus).

The Holy Trinity is represented in these three verses.

Ask the Holy Spirit.  What are you saying to me through these words?

Robert Morris, Gateway Church