Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast Episode 073 - Equip Your Child to Stand Against Sin
Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast – Episode 073 – Equip Your Child to Stand Against Sin
Our youngest daughter has a bedtime curfew depending on what day of the week it is. She’s really very good at keeping to the schedule, even when she doesn’t want to. But as my husband was getting ready to leave for work this morning, he shared a story that happened last night when they were watching television together after I went to bed.
When her set bedtime arrived on the clock, she started to gather her things to go to sleep. Because they were watching a show that wasn’t over yet, my husband said she could tell me he told her to stay up. “But that would be a lie,” she said. He explained that it wasn’t a lie if he told her she could stay up later, and that he was telling her she could.
The next evening, I was already in bed again when they were continuing the series they were watching. When it was time to go to bed, my husband asked her if she was leaving, and she wittily remarked, “Unless you want me to stay.”
My daughter felt so strongly about getting to bed at the proper time because she has followed that expectation daily for years, understanding that obeying is a promise between us when I gave her the bedtimes. She recognizes that even if I am not there to remind her of when to go to bed, she is still under authority to make the correct choice.
It took convincing from my husband that he also had the authority to tell her she could stay up past her bedtime. While our daughter does need to understand that as her parent, Daddy can alter her bedtime so they can enjoy time together if I’m not there, I’m glad she takes honesty seriously. Even when we purposely raise our children to respect and honor God, it can be easy for them to be deceived or to fall to selfish desires or ambitions. When they do uphold the teachings of God and honor Him and His authority, we reap the beautiful benefits.
Genesis 3:1-13 says, “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”
“And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree, which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’
“Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.”
“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”
“Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
“So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
“And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”
“Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
“And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
“The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
It is vitally important for parents to understand that God’s truths must be clearly and repeatedlytaught if we desire our children to easily recognize the lies of this fallen world. What we teach our children about truth through God’s eyes and how we live His truths become godly examples that will affect them and future generations.
Teaching the book of Genesis is a beautiful lesson in God’s truths. What they learn through Genesis will be the foundation for multiple life issues as they mature and grow. Proverbs is another book filled with truth and wisdom. Teaching your child the truths of God’s Word will always be more important than anything else you could teach them.
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”
Humans carry such selfish desires. It’s easy for us to get caught up in what we want or think we need, and fall short of what God’s best is for us and our family.
Pride
Arrogance
Selfishness
Jealousy
Deceit
Unforgiveness
Anger
Bitterness
So many ungodly characteristics easily arise from actions and thoughts. Without a godly and God-filled home to learn Biblical truths, our children can easily fall victim to fleshly desires, Satan, peers and culture, and the alluring lies of this world. God’s Word clearly instructs us on how to react to the ways of this world.
Colossians 3:5-10 says, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
In the book of Ephesians, we learn the learn that God has again gone before us to provide exactly what we need to allow Him to fight worldly and spiritual battles in our place. Teach your child to rely on the armor of God and to allow Him to fight and protect your child through a lifetime of battles. When I say allow, I don’t mean that we hold power over God, but that we humbly submit to Him.
Ephesians 6:10-17 says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
God enables us to fight against sin through His Word and the tools found in Ephesians, but we also have another weapon ready in our arsenal from God. Our identity. Identity formed and established through Jesus Christ is a powerful, effective weapon that releases your child from various strongholds.
Colossians 3:1-3 says, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Purposely building character and identity through relationship with Christ allows your child to stand on a firm foundation that cannot be shaken. God’s truth will be more clearly seen and used for decisions, relationships, and molding character and integrity because your child’s identity will be one with Christ and the way God sees him or her.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
Your child must learn, understand, and believe that God’s Word is the Authority of Truth. His holy Word is the ultimate Truth that can break and demolish strongholds and falsehoods. The Bible calls and equips believers to attack lies with the Truth of God by reading, believing, and utilizing His Word, holy power, and authority.
For example, Paul was merely a man, flesh like you and me. Yet, what made Paul strong was that he understood and taught that human brilliance, worldly wisdom, and wits were powerless against the evil and darkness of this world. He relied on the Word and Holy Spirit to guide and guard His mind and heart. Paul relied on those Sources to direct how he lived and taught. He never wavered from what God spoke through the Word and Spirit.
None of us can live in freedom or peace through our human strength or wisdom. How frail and weak we are! How easily deceived! We also can’t deepen our walk with God by fighting with our flesh. We cannot defeat this world or the strongholds within it unless we use the Word of God and His truth to attack or stand against ungodly falsehoods. It is His strength; not our own. That is what our children must witness us doing and hear us teach.
1 Corinthians 3:20 says, “And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
It is God’s wisdom and Word that saves you, your children, and future generations. Your job as a believer and parent is to strengthen your belief, trust, and obedience in the Lord and mentor the way to Him for your children with godly purpose and holy-inspired direction. Your job is to combat the lies of this world with the truth of God’s Word and to show your children how to do the same.
Your child will never recognize the lies of this world unless they are taught the truths of God and taught to build godly identity through Christ.
John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
Ephesians 6:17 says, “Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
What are the most effective ways to equip your child to stand against sin in an ungodly world?
1. Stay away from sin. When you live a life devoted to pleasing God and strive not to sin against Him as you mirror Christ to your children, you become the most effective witness.
2. Teach your child the importance of the power of God’s holy Word to equip and empower them against sin. Do this through your own life examples and look for ways to highlight God working in the lives of your children and others.
3. Show your child how to use God’s armory against sin and the power of darkness. Teach them what God’s Word instructs and let them witness you using God’s armor daily.
4. Encourage and empower your child to stand in identity through Christ. From the earliest times you have your child, begin speaking Truth into their life and spirit.
5. Teach them godly characteristics, praise those characteristics, such as honesty and integrity when you see them in your child, and mentor those to them. Praise your kids when they are truthful, and notice when they are tempted (but don’t follow that temptation). Show/Tell your children when opportunities arise for honesty (such as when you’re not charged for an item at the store, and your tell the cashier, etc.). Make it clear to your children that you don’t make these types of choices to live with these values because you are a good person or that they are good, it is because you are living the values that are pleasing to God and instructed in His Word. Let them learn that when you love and honor God, you live in ways that are pleasing because your actions reflect on Him. Just as some families teach their children not to soil the family name, it is far more important to understand and honor that our actions and reactions reflect Christ to a watching world that may not yet know Him.
6. Prayer – Seek specific Scriptures you can use as powerful prayers to strengthen and protect your children from sin.
Hebrews 4:12-13 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
Dear Heavenly Father how blessed we are for Your love and care for us. Even before we were Yours through the live-saving power of Christ, You suffered for us. We are so far from You, yet you call us Yours and love with an everlasting love. You have done everything You can to show us that love and to create a way for us to come to You and live with You in eternity. How carelessly we live our days without knowing even the smallest of sins we hold against You. We are so sorry for the pain we cause and pray that You will enable us to stand in our identity through Christ before You and raise the children you entrusted to us in ways that please and delight You. Help us not to sin against You and not to ignorantly cause our children to sin. Enable us to guide and direct our children with Your insight and wisdom. Help us place them on Your pure path and may You keep them there until they meet You in eternity. Father, thank you for your Son and thank you for loving us before we even came to You. Thank you that as we raise our children to love, honor, and obey You we see beautifully joyful blessings through watching them serve You. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Supporting and encouraging mothers to rest in Christ and pursue a holy relationship with Him so they purposely raise set-apart children is the cry of my heart. I believe godly parenting is rooted in relationship with Christ and the mindset a mother carries. That’s why I’ve created the Set-Apart Collective.
Have you decided peers and culture won’t be the main influence over your child? Would you like to parent to prepare your child for eternity with Christ, not to repair a relationship? In the Set-Apart Collective, you will deepen your walk with Christ, learn a Christ-centered Motherhood Mindset Model, and create a Purposed Parenting Plan. You will be a purposed mother with an intentional mind and heart set on Christ and your family. The Set-Apart Collective wait list is open now. The first group of women is currently growing together. Please send me an email at info@terrihitt.com to let me know you’d like to receive information. It’s time for believing mothers to be purposed in preparing their children for a lifetime pursuit of Christ.
If you connected in some way with this episode, would you please rate and review the podcast on Apple or Spotify? It only takes a minute or so and makes a big difference in people finding the podcast. You and I know that the best reviews are by word of mouth, so would you please choose a friend to recommend the show to? Let them know that the podcast is found at terrihitt.com, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Imagine the change we will see in the way mothers parent for Christ if they learn to be intentional, too.
Remember, if you’re not purposed in knowing Jesus and showing Him to the next generation, the world will likely sway your children away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast enables you to stop being a good mom and focus on being a godly parent. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to parent with eternal purpose and connection.