Discover the Book - May 16, 2009

Mile Markers on the Road to Godly Marriages

We just arrived back from a 4,639-mile journey through 16 states in 16 days traveling from Tulsa to the East and back.

As I sat for about 92 hours over these past few days behind the steering wheel, often moving at 102 feet per second, I started noticing how many details the Interstate Highway System has incorporated to keep the millions of drivers on the right road.

Now with all that in mind, if it takes that much reminding to keep us merely on a physical road to not stray off the path, don’t you think the God of the Universe would similarly mark the pathway we need to stay on for raising our children?

Well the good news is that He has. And in the map book called God's Word is a clearly marked trail for Parenting and Grand parenting our Families in Godliness. May I just trace that map through the Bible with you today? You may want to mark some of these verses, or note them on paper so you can use them to see where you are or should be on the Road to Godly Parenting your Families and Homes!

Mile Markers on the Road of Godliness in Parenting

I have made the words “GODLINESS IN PARENTING” an acronym to help you remember these points. Each of the 18 letters that make up those two words Godliness and Parenting stand for one Biblical Mile Marker along this road we should be following. If you have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, brothers, and sisters – or ever plan to, this road map and each of these mile markers are for you!

First let me just list them. Here are the measurable and intentional areas of the personal spiritual life of our families we should be heading for:

·        A GODLY LIFE

·        A PATIENT LIFE

·        AN OUTREACHING LIFE

·        AN AFFECTIONATE LIFE

·        A DISCIPLINED LIFE

·        A RESPECTFUL LIFE

·        A LOVING LIFE

·        AN EASILY-ENTREATED LIFE

·        AN INTEGRITY LIFE

·        A NURTURING LIFE

·        A NOBLE LIFE

·        A THANKFUL LIFE

·        AN EXEMPLARY LIFE

·        AN INIQUITY-HATING LIFE

·        A SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE

·        ANOTBEHAVING RUDELY LIFE

·        A SACRIFICIAL LIFE

·        A GENTLENESS LIFE

GODLY LIVING Titus 2:11-13 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. NKJV (I WILL LEARN TO LIVE FOR GOD EACH DAY)

I WILL NOT CHOOSE TO LOOK AT WHAT GOD CALLS EVIL. Psalm 101:3-4 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me. 4 A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness. (I will search God's Word to learn what He hates, and what He loves, and imitate those areas!)

I WILL NOT USE MY MOUTH TO SAY WHAT GOD CALLS CORRUPT. Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

I WILL SEEK TO PLEASE GOD IN ALL I DO. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

I WILL NOT CLING TO MY OLD HABITS, I WILL LOOK UP NOT DOWN. Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

We are like sheep, that’s what God's Word says. And sheep will blindly, habitually follow one another along the same little trails until they become ruts that erode into gigantic gullies, so we humans cling to the same habits that we have seen ruin other lives..

The world we live in is full of such folk. Broken homes, broken hearts, derelict lives and twisted personalities remind us everywhere of men and women who have gone their own way. We have a sick society struggling to survive on beleaguered land. The greed and selfishness of mankind leaves behind a legacy of ruin and remorse.

OUTREACHING Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (When you have an outreach directed life you get the authority of God, and the personal presence of Jesus in an especially promised way. Remember the context of these verses is outreach!)

·        I WILL SAY TO THE LORD ALL THROUGH MY LIFE – HERE AM I LORD SEND ME. Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

·        I WILL STAY ON GOD’S WAY SO HE CAN LEAD ME. Genesis 24:27 And he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”

·        I WILL BE DISCIPLINED: 1 Timothy 4:7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only

for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;

NASB (I WILL LEARN TO BE DISCIPLINED IN MY EVERY DAY LIVING)

·        I WILL BE ORDERLY: 1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

·        I WILL BE LOVELY: Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy?meditate on these things.

·        I WILL BE HARD WORKING: 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

·        I WILL BE DEPENDABLE: Psalm 15:4b …He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

·        I WILL BE LOVING: Colossians 3:14 But above all these things put on love,

which is the bond of perfection.

To Continue this sermon please copy and paste this URL into your browser bar:

http://www.discoverthebook.org/sermons_read.asp?id=1250