“CHILDREN ARE AN HERITAGE OF THE
LORD”
LLC Summer Services
Spokane 2013
CHILDREN ARE AN HERITAGE OF
THE LORD
• God the Giver of Life
• Blessings of Children
– The miracle of birth
– The lives that we share
• Temptations
– The world
– Our own flesh
– From within
• A believing home
• Responsibility of parents
• Joys of family and children
GOD IS THE GIVER OF LIFE
• The Old Testament examples of Rachel, Hannah, and
Ruth all show that it is God who gives conception and
the fruit of the womb
• Rachael
– “And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened
to her, and opened her womb” (Genesis 30:22)
• Hannah
– “The Lord killeth, and maketh alive” (1Samuel 2:6)
• Ruth
– “So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and
when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her
conception, and she bare a son” (Ruth 4:13).
GOD IS AUTHOR OF LIFE
• “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and
before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified
thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations”
(Jeremiah 1:5)
SONGS AND HYMNS OF ZION #394
Before my birth, Creator,
before I was conceived,
You knew my name and called me
a child that You redeemed.
Your arms of loving kindness
surrounded me in love,
before my mother knew me
You knew me there above.
SONGS AND HYMNS OF ZION #394
Already at conception
my mortal life began.
You give each day and moment
according to Your plan
Your hand of grace established
my days of life from birth,
my homeland and my dwelling,
my duties here on earth.
SONGS AND HYMNS OF ZION #394
As stars up in the heaven
give praises with one voice,
so I within Your kingdom
in liberty rejoice.
Preserve me, Heav’nly Father,
my days within Your care.
Your arms of lovingkindness
securely lift and bear.
PSALM 139:14-16
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully
made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul
knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee,
when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the
lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my
substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my
members were written, which in continuance were
fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
CHILDREN WERE ONCE GREATLY DESIRED
• Rachael
– “And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God
hath taken away my reproach” (Genesis 30:23)
• Elisabeth
– “Removed my shame in the eyes of men” (Luke 1:25)
WHAT LUTHER SAYS ABOUT CHILDREN
• A masterpiece of God
– “if a man could make a single rose, an empire
should be given him”
– “But, because of their commonness, innumerable
gifts of God are not appreciated”
– “They are far greater worth than all the fruits of
the trees”
– “He gave them body and life and all their members
and also intends to support them”
TODAY, THE WORLD TEACHES . . .
• Children have become obstacles financially and in
personal achievement
• Unable to find time to care and love them
• Look down upon and even despise those who wish to
accept as many as God gives
• A believer cannot help but be influenced by the world
we live in
• The enemy also makes inroads into God’s kingdom
– Birth control
– Unsupportive comments
– Listening to carnal reason
TRUST IN GOD IN ALL THINGS
Cast all you care and sorrow on Him who cares
for you; the Lord who knows tomorrow has
helped you hitherto. He who from dust you
made, your breath and spirit gave, He knows
your needs and trials. His arm is strong to save.
So lay your cross upon Him and rest your
burdens there; the Lord in grace will change
them to blessings you can bear. Before you
comprehend, you see how God again has
scattered all you sorrow and taken all your pain.
TRUST IN GOD IN ALL THINGS
Do not forget this, pilgrim, but let your heart
embrace how God sheds on His children His
blessedness and grace. Believers He will bear
and hold them in His care. He never will forsake
them, but hears the smallest prayer.
Thus on His way endeavor, the just shall live by
faith. Far from your heart e’er sever all earthly
lusts away. On your Redeemer wait! His love
and mercy great will strengthen you in battle;
let not your heart be faint.
TRUST IN GOD IN ALL THINGS
When sorrow, fear you’re fighting, and doubts
your heart command, the Lord of Hosts
Almighty, still holds you in His hand. He will
not always chide but in His house will hide His
warfare-wearied children, His name to glorify.
JESUS TEACHES
Suffer the little children
to come unto me, and
forbid them not: for of
such is the kingdom of
God. And he took them
up in his arms, put his
hands upon them, and
blessed them.
Mark 10:14,16
OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF
HEAVEN
Take heed that ye despise
not one of these little
ones; for I say unto you,
That in heaven their
angels do always behold
the face of my Father
which is in heaven
Matthew 18:10
A CHILD IS AN EXAMPLE OF FAITH
Verily I say unto you,
Except ye be converted, and
become as little children, ye
shall not enter into the
kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall
humble himself as this little
child, the same is greatest
in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:4
CHILDREN BRING WORK AND JOY
• Children require much
care
– Trials of health
– Spiritual trials
• Children bring much joy
– Happy sounds
– Quick to forgive
– Trust
– Innocence
A PARENTS DUTY
• “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:
but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of
the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4)
• “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which
believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone
were hanged about his neck, and that he were
drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6)
• “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your
feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I
have given you an example, that ye should do as I
have done to you. If ye know these things, happy are
ye if ye do them” (John 13:14,15,17)
A SACRED DUTY
• “And these words, which I command thee this day,
shall be in thine heart: 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 liest down, and
when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:6,7)
TEACH WITH WORD AND EXAMPLE
• What is dear to you may
become dear to them
A CHRISTIAN HOME
•
•
•
•
Make known the reason for hope
Speak of the joys
Even in trials . . . there is joy
God helps in our homes
SONGS AND HYMNS OF ZION #423
O Lord of all creation
through ev’ry generation,
the world is Your design.
Let words of blessing find us,
let cords of mercy bind us
and draw us to our rest divine.
Your grace and consolation
are in Your congregation;
we hear Your Word, our light;
from selfishness it wakes us,
from easy pathways takes us
to teach us what is true and right
SONGS AND HYMNS OF ZION #423
The days each child is given
are written up in heaven
before his bones are framed.
For ev’ry child You lend us,
Your strength You also send us
to carry us through times of pain.
What wealth to us You render,
what joy, and moments tender,
when children light our homes.
In living hope enfold them,
in ev’ry footstep hold them
among the ones You call Your own.
SONGS AND HYMNS OF ZION #423
In all her joy and weeping
hold mother in Your keeping.
Increase her faith, we pray.
Oh, strengthen her and guide her,
Your wisdom, Lord, provide her
to teach her children ev’ry day.
O gracious Heav’nly Father,
our mother gently gather
to Jesus’ heart of love.
Through all of our tomorrows
we cast on Him our sorrows
and yearn for heaven’s home above.
THE BLESSINGS OF FAMILY
MANY ARE THE JOYS
THE BLESSINGS OF FAMILY
THE BLESSINGS OF FAMILY
THROUGH FAITH
• “Through faith we understand”
• “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the
carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not
subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
(Romans 8:6,7)
PSALM 127
Except the Lord build the house,
they labour in vain that build it:
except the Lord keep the city,
the watchman waketh but in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
to sit up late,to eat the bread of sorrows:
for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:
and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
THE CHILDREN WHICH GOD HATH
GRACIOUSLY GIVEN
• “And Esau ran to meet him,
and embraced him, and fell
on his neck, and kissed him:
and they wept. And he lifted
up his eyes, and saw the
women and the children; and
said, Who are those with
thee? And he said, The
children which God hath
graciously given thy servant”
(Genesis 33:4.5)
GOD’S GIFT OF PRAYER
• The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his
ears are open unto their cry (Psalm 34:15)
• Fervent prayer of righteous (James 5:16)
• Pray without ceasing (1Thessalonians 5:17)
• Thy will be done (Matthew 6:10)
CHILDREN ARE AN HERITAGE
• As people, we are dependent on God‘s blessings
• In the increase of children
• If children are withheld, it is God who withholds them
– Genesis 30:2
• If children are given, it is God who gives them
– Genesis 33:5
• A reward, to be accounted as blessings and not
burdens
• “And again, I will put my trust in him. And again,
Behold I and the children which God hath given me”
(Hebrews 2:13).
REMAIN JOYFUL
• Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit
of the womb is his reward.