PASS IT ON (PRP)

(Deuteronomy 6 : 7-9, 11:8-20)
A Message by Pastor Raymond Pu on 9th April 2000

Introduction

Why does God want the Israelites to remind their children about God’s law? Why is it important for the next generation to know the law and the works that He has done for their parents? It is simple. God wants them to “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6

It is the responsibility of the parents of Israelites to Pass It On of what God has given them. If today parents know how to invest so much into their children’s earthly future, then they too should invest seriously into their heavenly future!

I.     LET THEM SEE THE FAITH

This is the observing faith. A person watches what parents and Christian do. When a child is growing up, he/she observes what parents do. Their observation comes through the impression made by parents. The character and values of a child is first develop at home. Therefore, parents play a big role in modeling for their children to see.

The kind of faith displays at home will be greatly observed by children. Therefore, it is important to sow the right seeds at home in order for the children to grow. Let them see how faith grows in the family.

II.    LET THEM KNOW THE FAITH

This is the searching faith. A person asks questions to see if the faith is true. God said talk about it with the children. Talk about our faith, who God is, and what God can do. This is to expose our children with the knowledge about God. Through their observation of their parents’ faith, they are getting to know the power behind this faith.

God instructed the parents to talk to them about it when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. This shows us that it is a lifestyle that we must make with our children. A lifestyle of talking about spiritual things. How much knowledge do our children know about the Bible? They may know a lot about computer stuff, but how about spiritual matters? If we educate our children about the things of the whole with great earnestness, then we should educate our children more about God!

III.   LET THEM OWN THE FAITH

This is owned faith. A person accepts the faith as his own. Example set for us in 2 Timothy 1:5 where we see Timothy owned the same faith as his grandmother’s and his mother’s. The two older generations took time to invest in passing on the spiritual heritage to the next generation. Parents should see the importance of passing on our faith and let them own it too.

We want our next generation to receive what we have received. We want them to own the faith that we own too. It is not enough that they see the faith and know the faith. They must experience God themselves. They must own and accept the faith as their own. They must accept Christ as their personal Savior.

CONCLUSION

Let us learn to pass down our legacy and treasure down to the next generation. It is not easy to do parenting. But with God’s help and guidance, we can be sure that things will not that bad. Build on the foundation and train them according to God’s way so that they will not depart from the Lord when they are old. We want them to remember God always.

In order that they will remain in the Lord, we must to take time and efforts to teach and train our young ones.

Time spend in raising and training your children God’s way will not be wasted!