Mothers, Are We Preachers At Home?

Be A Preacher At Home Dear godly Mothers, Our Children Will Benefit Greatly!

Yesterday, June 30, 2009, I was with my 21 year old daughter, sitting in the parked car while we waited for my son to finish his piano lesson. We had decided to wait at the park and read the Bible out-loud to each other since we are learning the power of the spoken Word of God.
While sitting we observed 3 boys who had just arrived at the park, they must have been about 13, 12 and 11 years of age. It was a wet and soggy day so the park was empty, except for the boys. Leah was reading to me and I watched those boys as they balanced and ran on a large fountain rim, then pulled out some picnic tables and jumped on them. As I watched I heard a "still small voice" say, "go talk to them about me".. I mused.. "ummm what, ummm really?" "Go talk to them about me, it will effect them for their entire lives." I looked at Leah and told her that God the Lord just told me to go give those boys the gospel, "so let's pray"... I felt ashamed for being so slow to obey, and got out of the car, with Bible in hand walked over to them.

"Hi there! Hey have you got ten minutes to talk about something?" The oldest boy, who had pierced rings on either side of his lower lip asked,"What about?", (I answer)......."The Bible." He jerked back as if hit, "No! I don't believe in God."........ "Don't believe in God? How can this be? just look at the grass and trees, nature and all He has created, How can you not believe in Him?" The youngest boy wanting to please the older chimed in that he didn't believe either. Eric, who must be about 12 yrs. took the gospel tract that the others refused and stood still with interest in what I had to say, so I began to show him scriptures in the Bible. Genesis and John is where God lead me and explained about creation and how God made man from the dust of the earth, also about sin and what Jesus did for us on the cross. Eric admitted his sin and I asked him what he has done about that sin, since God cannot have sin in heaven nor can He look upon sin. I pointed him to Jesus on the cross and His sacrifice, taking our sin upon himself, becoming sin for us and about his need to believe in Jesus and repent of his sin. I told him that Jesus Christ is God and that He arose from the dead and is alive forever more. During the whole time I was talking to Eric the other two boys tried all they could to interrupt me. They kept pulling on Eric and trying to get him to leave saying, "Why listen to her, you have better things to do with your time." I asked them, "Why do you hate God? Why don't you want to listen to the Bible, are you afraid to hear God's Word?" They were both very nervous when I read the Bible to Eric, the youngest ran over to me, grabbed my Bible and tried to pull it out of my hands, but God had given me a good grip on it and he couldn't, I said, "Young sir, this is my Bible." I asked him what he would do with it? he answered, "I'd burn it." The older boy took the tract away from Eric and pretended to rip it apart. I gave Eric another tract and told him to put it in his pocket right away or they would take that too, and he listened to me. The two boys took up pine cones and threw them at me trying to stop me from talking. I encouraged him to read the tract and look up the scriptures from it in his Bible and pray for God to show him the truth. Eric thanked me for talking to him, and I left. (Please pray for this child and the other boys.)

Mothers! With great earnestness, teach your children the Word of God! Eric was different than the other two boys... why? I don't know the answer, but here is a clue, he told me he had a Bible at home and had heard something about God, he knew a little bit about what I told him. The other two boys made me think of two demons running around trying to keep Eric from learning about God, (Leah, who was watching, praying, and reading the Bible out-loud in the car) told me that they looked like two demons to her.

This whole affair sobers* me so much! We as mothers must be keepers at home and preachers at home... love Jesus Christ the Lord, learn about Him, draw close to Him, obey, reverence, fear and honor Him, He is God, Creator of heaven and earth! *As we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. We will be more like Jesus, He will lead us in the way we should go! *Our children will benefit as we seek God, they will learn to do the same as we set the example in our words and living till our very lives are "preachers at home". Let us be sober! The lives of our children are at stake.. Who will they be like?

*Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:8-10)

*Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. (James 4:8)

*and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.
(Deuteronomy 6:7-9)

Are Your Children Putting On The Whole Armor Of God Daily? Part 3 - Gospel of Peace

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (Ephesians 6:10-15)

Please See: Introduction Of Seven Parts
Part 1 -Truth
Part 2 - Righteousness

Part 3- The Preperation of the Gospel of Peace:

Years ago, when my youngest children were yet very small, I began to wonder if I knew how to communicate the gospel rightly to them and to others. I carefully went through the Scriptures and meditated on what our Lord Jesus Christ really did on the cross. It took prayer and very sober thought about the cross of Jesus and what He did for us. It gave me the fear of God to think of the responsibility I have before God to tell others of Him, and more importantly, to tell my children.

It is a tremendous and wonderous thing that Jesus was willing to suffer for us as He did. Isaiah says it better then any words I can express:

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:4-6)...... "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:10-11)"


It is very important to know how to carefully expound the gospel to our children. There are so many false teachers that teach the easy believe method, "Just ask Jesus to come into your heart." etc.. this is a false gospel! Nowhere does the Bible say to, "ask Jesus to come into your heart" Let us tell our children the truth.


If we want our children to understand what Jesus did for them on the cross, we need to help them understand that they are sinners and need a Savior, (how can they want to be saved if they don't understand the sinful state they are in?) The best way to do this is by reading the Bible and true Bible stories to them so they can learn that God hates sin and those who practice iniquity, (Psalms 5:5). This way they can learn the consequences of sin, the darkness and the sorrow it brings into lives. Read the Bible to them daily, starting with creation, then on through the garden of Eden, the fall, and on, telling of Methuselah, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, the law and the prophets, and to Jesus on the cross and His resurrection. Oh teach them about God and His mercy for us through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.


Dear mothers, it takes prayer, ask God to lead you to expound 0n the Bible truths. You will be amazed at what He will put into your mind and mouth to help them understand. The important thing is to teach them, make the effort and God will guide you. It is up to us to be faithful in teaching them and setting the example, it is up to God to move in their hearts and bring them to salvation.


After we placed the cardboard pieces of the girdle of truth and the breastplate of righteousness on our soldier, we placed the cardboard piece of the "Preparation of the Gospel of Peace" on the feet of the soldier. I would pray something like this," Dear Lord Jesus, I put on my feet the preparation of the gospel of peace, thank you for the gospel and for saving me from the wrath of God because of my sin. Please help me to be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within me because of Jesus Christ. Let me share the gospel with others so that they might know your peace." Again, I don't pray the same thing each time, but as God leads me. God is the one that equips us to give the gospel, we need to ask Him to prepare us for each opportunity. My children asked God to prepare them to give the gospel, and He DID and also see THIS!


Is Jesus Christ our passion? Do the children see this in our lives? They know what is most important to us. Let us have a clean heart and conscience before God and let Him use us to point our dear little ones to Him. He is our ONLY Hope, and their ONLY hope as well.




John Gills Commentary says:


Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. The Gospel is so called, because it makes men to be of peaceable tempers and behaviour, and gives peace to distressed minds: it directs the way to eternal peace, and publishes peace made by the blood of Christ; and has a much better claim to this name, and epithet, than the law has, which is often called "peace" by the Jews (l): the "preparation" of it does not design a promptitude or readiness to preach the Gospel, or to receive it, or profess it, or to give a reason of faith in it, or to endure reproach and persecution for it; nor that readiness which the Gospel is a means of, as for every good work, for the spiritual warfare, for the Christian's journey heavenward, or for heaven itself: but the word ετοιμασια signifies a "base", or foundation; and so it is used by the Septuagint interpreters on Zec_5:11; and here it designs a firm and solid knowledge of the Gospel, as it publishes peace by Jesus Christ, which yields a sure foundation for the Christian soldier to set his foot upon, and stand fast on; it being that to him, as the shoe is to the foot, its base or foundation: and for the feet to be "shod with" it, does not mean the outward conversation being agreeably to the Gospel, though such a walk and conversation is very beautiful and safe, and such may walk and war with intrepidity: but it designs the constant and firm standing of believers in the faith of the Gospel, and so striving and contending for it, without being moved from it, that it may continue with them. Shoes or boots, which were sometimes of iron, and sometimes of brass, are reckoned among the armour of soldiers (m).



Matthew Henry's Commentary says:


And their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, Eph_6:15. Shoes, or greaves of brass, or the like, were formerly part of the military armour (1Sa_17:6): the use of them was to defend the feet against the gall-traps, and sharp sticks, which were wont to be laid privily in the way, to obstruct the marching of the enemy, those who fell upon them being unfit to march. The preparation of the gospel of peace signifies a prepared and resolved frame of heart, to adhere to the gospel and abide by it, which will enable us to walk with a steady pace in the way of religion, notwithstanding the difficulties and dangers that may be in it. It is styled the gospel of peace because it brings all sorts of peace, peace with God, with ourselves, and with one another. It may also be meant of that which prepares for the entertainment of the gospel, namely, repentance. With this our feet must be shod: for by living a life of repentance we are armed against temptations to sin, and the designs of our great enemy. Dr. Whitby thinks this may be the sense of the words: “That you may be ready for the combat, be shod with the gospel of peace, endeavour after that peaceable and quiet mind which the gospel calls for. Be not easily provoked, nor prone to quarrel: but show all gentleness and all long-suffering to all men, and this will certainly preserve you from many great temptations and persecutions, as did those shoes of brass the soldiers from those galltraps,” etc

Let us teach our children to put on the whole armor of God!

Part 4- The Shield of Faith

Are Your Children Putting On The Whole Armor Of God Daily? Part 1- Truth

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:10-12)

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth... (Ephesians 6:14a)

See Introduction to Putting On the Whole Armor Of God.
and please see more explanation in Part 2-Righteousness


Part 1: The Girdle of Truth


The Girdle--Here was the juncture of the main pieces of the body-armor, so that the girdle formed the common bond of the whole, it helped to hold the armor together.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth..


The center of our armor is truth. In John 17:17, Jesus said God's word is truth.

In John 18:37, Jesus said "Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." Pilot answered Jesus and said, "What is truth?" But if Pilot had known truth, he would have known Him. Jesus did say, "I AM the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through ME."

How do we put on the girdle of truth?

By prayer. Here we have an opportunity to examine our own hearts before God. For those who are in the faith, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and know Him personally, rejoice at this thought! It is a sobering thing to think that we may be deceiving ourselves in some way, since "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." (Jeremiah 17:9-10) God also said: "Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah." Psa 4:4 We need to come before God asking Him if there is some deception within our own hearts, "level" with Him and be willing for Him to reveal any sin that you need to confess, so that you might walk in truth with a clear conscience.

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Corinthians 13:5)

When I put on the girdle of truth I pray something like this, "Dear Lord, I put on the girdle of truth. You said you are truth I want you to fill me with your truth. Let me not lie nor deceive myself. I want all truth to be in my members. Let your Word of truth fill me today", I do not pray the exact same thing every time, but as God moves my heart, I pray. But I do put on truth, It is HIS armor and I put it on as He told me to do, it is an important piece of spiritual warfare.


But how to communicate this to our children?


When my little ones were learning to put on the armor of God, they learned mostly through the example I set. We would gather together for prayer in the morning and have the cardboard soldier there, ready to be dressed for battle. We had already talked about the reason we put on the armor, They took turns to put on the Velcro pieces, one would place the girdle of truth on the soldier and we would pretend to place the girdle about our waist, then we prayed... they heard me confess my sins asking God to fill me with His truth and His Word to be in my mind I was very open to them about my need for God to keep me from lying and deception. Hearing these things made them realize that only God can keep us from our own evil nature. They took turns praying and then we went on to the next piece of armor.

This was an example set for them for God to use as they grew. It helped them to understand better that we have an unseen enemy, that we need to come to God for protection, that He has the armor to equip us to stand in the evil day. My daughter Leah, who is now 20 years old, told me that putting on the armor of God daily as we did, helped her to become sober about the spiritual enemy we face. It was a symbol for her of God's protection and a reminder to obey Him.

It also helped her to understand the discipline and need for daily prayer and coming to God for help.

Yes, it took TIME .. and the best investment of my time for LIFE! Teaching our children to live holy and godly lives is what our God has asked us to do! Is there any job more important than this for a godly mother?


Matthew Henry in his commentary writes:

1.] Truth or sincerity is our girdle, Eph_6:14. It was prophesied of Christ (Isa_11:5) that righteousness should be the girdle of his loins and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. That which Christ was girded with all Christians must be girded with. God desires truth, that is, sincerity, in the inward parts. This is the strength of our loins; and it girds on all other pieces of our armour, and therefore is first mentioned. I know no religion without sincerity. Some understand it of the doctrine of the truths of the gospel: they should cleave to us as the girdle does to the loins, Jer_13:11. This will restrain from libertinism and licentiousness, as a girdle restrains and keeps in the body. This is the Christian soldier's belt: ungirded with this, he is unblessed.


John Gill in his commentary writes:

"having your loins girt about with truth; by which is meant the Gospel, and the several doctrines of it; see Eph_1:13; and to have the loins girt with it, shows, that it should be near and close to the saints, and never departed from; and that it is a means of keeping them close to God and Christ, and of strengthening them against the assaults and attacks of Satan; and is of great use in the Christians' spiritual conflict with their enemies; the girdle is a part of armour, and so considerable as sometimes to be put for the whole, Isa_5:27; and here it is mentioned in the first place:"



Let us teach our children to put on the whole armor of God!

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Part 2- The Breastplate of Righteousness
Part 3- The Gospel of Peace
Part 4- The Shield of Faith

Welcome!

Greetings to you!

It seemed like a good idea to create a blog for the purpose of sharing the wonderful things God has been teaching us here at home.
We have learned; patience and contentment, joy in our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, to be sober minded, to let God by His Spirit pour forth His fruit out of our lives, to rejoice in adversity, to proclaim the gospel of our Saviour to our family and all those around us!

Oh so much more!
This blog is for the glory of God and to proclaim His goodness and mercy!