Our Children’s Future … at RISK!

• Judges 2:10 … and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

• Psalms 33: 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD

II Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Judges 2:6

… and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

The TEST for Isrealites

Judges 2:21-22 21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left

when he died. 22 I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the

LORD and walk in it as their ancestors did.”

Test result: F(ailed)

Judges 3:6-8 They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.7The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs. 8The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim,to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years.

Our children’s high calling …

Philippians 2: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Our children are special

• Psalms 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made

• Deuteronomy 7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

Our Children’s Future at Risk

GODLESS ENVIRONMENT AND SPIRITUAL DARKNESS

Deuteronomy 6: Wisdom to respond to today’s challenge

• Deuteronomy 6:1-3 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: 2 That thou mightest fear the LORDthy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, I the land that floweth with milk and honey.

Mediate on the Word

Deuteronomy 6: 4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORDthy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

Teach your children

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liestdown, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Fear of God & Obedience leads to blessings

10 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, 11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

Warning

12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. 14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;

Judges 2:10 … and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

Mathew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasuresupon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Psalms 71: 5, 17 For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

Psalms 128: Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. 2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vinewithin your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. 4 Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord. 5 May the Lord bless you from Zion; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. 6 May you live to see your children’s children— peace be on Israel.

Psalms 144:12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

I Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth;

II Timothy 2: 22 Flee also youthful lusts

Isaiah 42: 16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths thatthey have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

Our Children’s Future … at RISK!

• GREATEST RISK and Challenge• GODLESS ENVIRONMENT and SPIRITUAL DARKNESS

• Our Responsibility• Fear God, Mediate on His word, OBEY

• Pass the spiritual legacy to the next generation

• PRAY for our Children (as parents and as a church)