I am a wide-eyed, sanctified, blood-bought, Spirit-taught, Bible-totin', Scripture-quotin', Satan-blastin', sin-trashin', Christ-followin' Pride-swallowin', hard-praying', truth-conveyin', faith-walking, gospel-talkin', bonafide big-time believer! And proud of it
Biblia inasisitiza kila mara kwamba ushoga ni dhambi (mwanzo 19:1-13; mambo ya walawi 18: 22; warumi 1:26-27; wakorintho wa kwanza 6:9). Warumi 1:26-27 inatufundisha ya kwamba ushoga ni njia mojawapo ya kumkana na kutomtii Mungu. Mtu anapodumu katika dhambi na kutokuamini biblia inatuambia ya kwamba “Mungu huwaachilia” kutenda maovu zaidi ili wapate kujua ubatili wa maisha bila Uwepo wa Mungu. Wakorintho wa kwanza 6:9 inasema kuwa mashoga hawataurithi ufalme wa Mungu.
Mungu haumbi mwanadamu mwenye tamaa ya ushoga. Biblia inatuambia mtu huwa shoga kwa sababu ya dhambi. (warumi 1:24-27), na pia kwa sababu ya uamuzi wake mwenyewe. Mtu anaweza kuzaliwa na msukumo juu ya ushoga kama vile watu pia huzaliwa na msukumo juu ya fujo na dhambi nyinginezo. Hili halihalalishi dhambi yoyote inayofanywa na wanadamu. Je, mtu akizaliwa na msukumo wa hasira mbaya, ni halali aendeleze hasira zake mbaya? La, hasha. Hata kwa ushoga pia si halali.
Hata hivyo Biblia haiitaji dhambi ya ushoga kuwa ndiyo kubwa zaidi. Kila dhambi ni chukizo kwa Mungu. Ushoga ni mojawapo ya mambo yaliyoorodheshwa katika wakorintho wa kwanza 6:9-10 yatakayozuia mtu asiingie katika ufalme wa Mungu. Kulingana na Biblia msamaha wa Mungu juu ya shoga upo sawa na wa mzinzi, muabudu sanamu, muuaji, mwizi na kadhalika. Mungu tena aahidi uwezo juu ya kushinda dhambi, pamoja na ushoga, kwa wale wote watakao mwaminiYesu kristo kwa wokovu wao (wakorintho wa kwanza 6:11; wakorintho wa pili 5:17).
Pamoja na matendo mengine ya uchafu, kufanya kitendo cha mapenzi kabla kuoana kumekatazwa katika maandiko (matendo 15:20; warumi 1:29; wakorintho wa kwanza 5:1; 6:13, 7:2; 10;8; wakorintho wa pili 12:21; wagalatia 5:19; waefeso 5:3; wakolosai 3:5; wathesalonike 4:3; yuda7). Biblia inasisitiza kuepuka kitendo hicho kabla ya ndoa.hii ina maana ya kuwa ni dhambi kama ya uzinifu kwa kuwa hujaunganishwa na unayefanya naye kitendo hicho. Mapenzi baina ya mume na mke waliooana ndiyo mapenzi yanayokubalika mbele za Mungu (waebrania 13:4).
Kushirikiana katika ngono kabla ndoa kumeenea sana kwa sababu nyingi. Mapenzi yanastarehesha. Mungu aliyaumba hivyo. Anawataka wanaume na wanawake wafurahie kitendo cha ngono (ndani ya ndoa). Hata hivyo, lengo la msingi la ngono si starehe bali kuzaana tukaongezeke. Hivyo tunazuiwa kufanya kitendo cha ngono kabla ndoa ili tusijipatie watoto tusiowatarajia. Kama jambo hili lingezingatiwa, magonjwa ya zinaa na wamama wasioolewa na kuavya mimba na kadhalika kungepungua. Kujizuia kunaokoa maisha, kunalinda watoto wachanga na kuleta ladha halisi ya ngono pamoja na heshima kwa Mungu.
Maandiko yana ilani nyingi juu ya kunywa kileo (mambo ya walawi 10:9; hesabu6:3; kumbukumbu la torati 29:6; waamuzi 13:4,7,14; samueli wa kwanza 1:15; methali 20:1; 31:4,6; isaya 5:11;22; 24:9; 28:7; 29:9; 56:12; mika 2:11; luka 1:15). Maandiko hayakatazi mkristo kunywa pombe, divai wala kinywaji chochote chenye kileo ndani. Maana maandiko mengine huzungumzia kileo kwa kuhalalisha matumizi yake. Mhubiri 9:7 inaamuru, “ kunywa kileo na moyo mkunjufu.” Zaburi 104:14-15 inaeleza Mungu hutoa divai “ inayofurahisha mioyo ya wanadamu.” Amosi 9:14 inazungumzia juu ya kunywa divai kutoka kwa shamba lako kama alama ya baraka za Mungu. Isaya 55;11 inapongeza “ naam, njoo ununue divai na maziwa…”
Kile Mungu anachowaamuru wakristo juu ya kileo ni wajizuie na ulevi (waefeso 5:18). Biblia inakataza ulevi na athari zake (methali 23:29-35). Wakristo wanakatazwa kuachilia miili yao itawalwe na vitu vinginevyo. (wakorintho wa kwanza 6:12; petro wa pili 2:19). Kunywa kileo kingi kunaathiri mtu. Maandiko yanakataza chochote kile ambacho kwa kukifanya unasababisha wengine kujikwaa( wakorintho wa kwanza 8:9-13). Kwa mujibu wa haya ni vigumu mkristo kukiri kuwa anakunywa kileo kwa utukufu wa Mungu ( wakorintho wa kwanza 10;31).
Yesu aligeuza maji kuwa Divai. Huenda ikawa Yesu alikuwa akinywa divai katika karamu Fulani Fulani (Yohana 2:1-11; Mathayo 26: 29). Katika nyakati za agano jipya, maji yalikuwa yakijawa na vidudu na uchafu kama hali ilivyo sasa katika mataifamengine ya ulimwengu wa tatu. Hii ndiyo sababu watu walipendelea kunywa divai kutoka kwa zabibu ili kuepukana na taka taka hizi. Katika timotheo wa kwanza 5:23, Paulo alimkataza timotheo kunywa maji yaliyokuwa yakimtatiza tumbo lake na mahali pake anywe divai. Divai ilikuwa na asili ya kileo ndani lakini haikuwa na kiwango cha kilevi sawa na cha leo. Haikuwa maji ya mzabibu moja kwa moja wala kileo sawa na cha leo. Maandiko hayakatazi mkristo kunywa kileo cha aina yoyote bali yanakataza ulevi na utumwa wa kileo (waefeso 5:18; wakorintho wa kwanza 6:12).
Kileo, kinapotumiwa kwa uchache hakina athari kwa mwenye kukitumia. Kutumia kiasi kichache cha kileo ni jambo linaloruhusiwa mkristo. Ulevi na utumwa wa kunywa kileo ni dhambi. Kwa sababu ya kushindwa kujizuia katika viwango vya matumizi ya kileo, kukwaza wengine na hata kupatikana na hatia mbali mbali, ni vizuri mkristo aepukane kabisa na matumizi ya kileo cha aina yoyote.
Bibilia kwa ukamilifu haitaji kama Mkristo anaweza shikwa na pepo. Ingagwa, kwa vile Mkristo amejazwa na Roho Mtakatifu (Warumi 8:9-11; 1 Wakorintho 3:16; 6:19), inaweza ooneka kinyume kwamba Roho Mtakatifu anaweza kumuruhus pepo kushika mtu ambaye Roho Mtakatifu anakaa ndani yake. Hii mara nyingine ni jambo la kutatanisha; ingawa, tunaamini sana kuwa Mkristo hawezi shikwa na pepo. Tunaamini kuwa kuna tofauti kubwa kati ya kushikwa na pepo na kukandamizwa na pepo au kushawishika na pepo. Kupagagwa na pepo yahuzisha,pepo kuwa na uhusika wa Karibu au kuongoza mawazo yako/mafikirio yako/matendo ya mtu (Luka 4:33-35; 8:27-33; Mathayo 17:14-18). Kukandamizwa na pepo au kushawishiwa na pepo inahuzisha pepo kumkabili mtu kiroho na kumtia moyo kwa matendo ya dhambi (1 Petero 5:8-0; Yakobo 4:7). Tambua kwamba kurasa zote za Agano Jipya zashugulikia vita vya kiroho, kamwe hatwambiwi kutoa pepo kutoka kwa mkristo (Waefeso 6:10-18). Wakristo wameambiwa kumtoroka shetani (1 Petero 5:8-9; Yakobo 4:7), si kutoa mapepo.
Ni jambo lisilofikirika kuwa Mungu anaweza kumruhus mwanawe, ambaye alimununua kwa dhamani, kwa damu ya Yesu Kristo (1 Petero 1:18-19), na kufanywa viumbe vipya (2 Wakorintho 5:17), kupagagwa na kutawaliwa na mapepo. Naam, mkristo twafanya vita na shetani na mapepo yake, lakini si kutoka ndani yetu. Mtume Yohana anasema, “Ninyi, watoto wadogo, mwatokana na Mtungu; ninyi mmewashinda, kwa sababu yeye aliye ndani yenu ni mkuu kuliko aliye katika dunia” (1 Yohana 4:4). Ni nani aliye ndani yetu? Roho Mtakatifu. Ni nani aliye katika dunia? Ni shetani na mapepo yake. Kwa hivyo, mkristo ameushinda ulimwengu wa mapepo, na hali ya kupagagwa na pepo halitafanywa kuwa la kibilia.
Ubatizo wa Roho mtakatifu unaweza kufafanuliwa/kuelezwa kuwa ile kazi ambayo Roho Mtakatifu wa Mungu unamweka muumini kuwa na ushirika na Kristo na kwa ushirika na waumini wengine katika mwili wa Kristo wakati wa kuokolewa. Wakorintho wa kwanza 12:12-13 ni ukurasa wa katikati katika Bibilia kuhusu ubatizo wa Roho Mtakatifu, “Kwa maana katika Roho mmoja sisi sote tulibatizwa kuwa mwili mmoja, kwamba tu Wayahudi, au kwamba tu Wayunani; ikiwa tu watumwa au tu huru; nasi sote tulinyweshwa Roho mmoja.” (1Wakorintho 12:13). Bali Warumi 6:1-4 haitaji roho wa Mungu, bali yaelezea sehemu ya wakristo mbele za Mungu kwa lugha sawa na ile ya ujumbe wa kwanza Wakorintho: “Tusema nini basi? Tudumu kaitka dhambi ili neema izidi kuwa nyingi? Hasha! Sisi tulioifia dhambi tutaishije tena katika dhambi? Hamfahamu ya kuwa sisi sote tuliobatizwa katika Kristo Yesu tulibatizwa katika mauti yake? Basi tulizikwa pamoja kwa njia ya ubatizo katika mauti yake, kusudi kama Kristo alivyofufuka katika wafu kwa njia ya utukufu wa Baba, vivyo hivyo na sisi tuenende katika upya wa uzima.”
Hoja zifuatazo zatosha kudumisha uelefu wetu juu ya ubatizo wa Roho Mtakatifu. Kwanza, 1Wakorintho 12:13 yataja wazi kwamba wale wote waliobatizwa wananyweshwa Roho mmoja (kuwepo kwa Roho mtakatifu). Pili, hamna mahali katika Bibilia Wakristo wameelezwa wabatizwe, ndani ya, au kwa Roho au kwa vyovyote vile watafute ubatizo wa Roho Mtakatifu. Hii yaonyesha kuwa Wakrisot walikuwa na uzoevu. Tatu, Waefeso 4:5 yaonekana kuashiria ubatizo wa Roho. Kama hii ndio hali, ubatizo wa Roho Mtakatifu ni kitu cha kweli kwa kila Mkristo, kama vile “Imani mija” na “Baba mmoja” viko.
Kwa kumalizia, ubatizo wa Roho Mtakatifu wafanya mambo mawili, 1) Watuunganisha na mwili wa Kristo, na 2) Waambatanisha kusulubiwa kwetu na Yesu. Kuwa na mwili wake, yamaanisha, tumefufuliwa naye kwa upya wa uzima (Warumi 6:4). Kwa hivyo lazima tuviweka katika matendo vipawa vyetu vya Roho ili tuuweke mwili wa Kristo kuendelea kufanya kazi kulingana na 1Wakorintho 12:13. Kushuhudia ubatizo wa roho mmoja huwa mzingi wa kuwa na umoja wa Kanisa, kulingana na mkudhatha wa Waefeso 4:5. Kuwa na ushirika wa karibu na Kristo katika mauti yake, kuzikwa kwake na ufufuo wake kupitia kwa ubatizo wa Roho waweka mzingi wa kutenganishwa na nguvu za dhambi na kutembea katika maisha mapya. (Warumi 6:1-10; Wakolosai 2:12).
Kifungu cha maana katika kuelewa juu ya kujazwa na Roho Mtakatifu in Yohana 14:16, mahali ampapo Yesu anaahidi kukaa kwa Roho Mtakatifu kwa wakristo, na huyo atadumu si kwa muda. Ni kitu cha maana kutofautisha kati ya kukaa kwa Roho Mtakatifu na kujazwa na Roho Mtakatifu. Kudumu kwa Roho Mtakatifu aupo kwa baadhi ya wakristo, bali ni kwa Wakristo wote. Kuna sehemu nyingi katika Bibilia zinazo pongeza huu msimamo wetu. Kwanza, Roho Mtakatifu ni zawadi iliyopewa Wakristo wote katika Kristo Yesu bila kupagua, na hakuna sheria za kutimiza ila tu ni kuwa na imani katika Kristo Yesu (Yohona 7:37-39). Pili, Roho Mtakatifu unapokewa wakati wa kuokoka (Waefeso 1:13). Wagalatia 3:2 inasisitiza ukweli huu pia, kwa kusema kwamba kutiwa muhuri na kujazwa na Roho Mtakatifu ulitokea wakati wa kuokoka. Tatu, Roho Mtakatifu unakaa kwa Wakristo milele. Wakristo wamepewa Roho Mtakatifu kama mtaji ama tibitisho la utukufu wao katika siku zijazo katika Kristo (2 Wakorintho 1:22; Waefeso 4:30).
Hili ni linganisho la kujazwa kwa Roho Mtakatifu ambao Waefeso 5:18 yazungumzia. Kikamilifu ni lazima tuzame katika Roho Mtakatifu ili atumiliki na katika hali hiyo atujaze. Warumi 8:9 na Waefeso 1:13-14 za sema kwamba anakaa kwa kila Mkristo, lakini anaweza kuhusunishwa (4:30), na kazi yake ndani yetu unaweza poa (1Wathesalonike 5:19). Wakati tunaruhusu haya kutokea hatuwezi kuhisi kikamilifu Roho Mtakatifu ukifanya kazi na nguvu zake ndani yetu. Kujazwa na Roho Mtakatifu haimaanishi tendo la nche pekee; pia yamaanisha tendo la kimawazo ambalo latutia moyo kwa kila tendo tutendalo. Zaburi 19:14 yasema, “Maneno ya kinywa changu, Na mawazo ya moyo wangu, Yapate kibali mbele zako, Ee BWANA, Mwamba wangu, na mwokozi wnagu.”
Dhambi ndiyo huzuia kujazwa kwa Roho Mtakatifu, na kumtii Mungu ndio njia pekee Roho anaweza kutunzwa. Waefeso 5:18 yatwaamuru kwamba tujazwe na Roho Mtakatifu; bali si kwa kuomba ili tujazwe na Roho Mtakatifu ambayo itawezesha kukamilisha kujazwa kwa Roho. Ni utiifu wetu wa sheria za Mungu wawezesha Roho kufanya kazi kwa huru ndani yetu. Kwa sababu tumeadhirika kwa dhambi, ni vigumu kujazwa na Roho wakati wote. Wakati twatenda dhambi ni lazima tutubu papo hapo kwa Mungu na tufanye upya mkataba wa kujazwa na Roho and kuongozwa na Roho Mtakatifu.
Wazo la “kumkufuru Roho” limetajwa katika Mariko 3:22-30 na katika Mathayo 12:22-32. neno kufuru linaweza kuelezwa kwa ujumla kama, “tabia iliyo kando”. Hilo neno laweza kutumika kwa dhambi kama zile za kumlaani Mungu au kwa makusudi ya kutotambua mambo yanohusiana na Mungu. Pia ni kumhuzisha Mungu na dhambi, ama kukana yale mazuri tunayostahili kumhusisha nayo. Hii hatia ya kukufuru ingawa ni pekee inaitwa “kukufuru Roho Mtakatifu” katika Mathayo 12:31. katika Mathayo 12:1-32, Wafarisayo baada ya kushuhudia matendo makuu yasiyopingika ya Yesu alikuwa akitenda miujiza kwa nguvu za Roho Mtakatifu, na wakadai kuwa alikuwa amepagagwa na pepo “Beelzebuli” (Mathayo 12:24) unaweza gundua kwamba katika Mariko 3:30 Yesu analengo kuhusu kwa kile ambacho hawakukifanya “kumkufuru Roho Mtakatifu.
Huku kukufuru na kuhusu na mtu kumtusi Yesu Kristo kuwa amepagagwa na mapepo badala ya kujazwa na Roho Mtakatifu. Kwa sababu hiyo kwa matukio haya ya kukufuru Roho Mtakatifu hauwezi kuongezeka hii leo. Yesu Kristo hayumo duniani leo hii, bali ameketi katika mkono wa kulia wa Mungu. Hamna mtu atakaye shuhudia Yesu Kristo akitenda miujiza na kudai kwamba nguvu hizo ni za Shetani badala ya Roho Mtakatifu. Mfano wa karibu sana leo hii utakuwa ule wa mtu akikombolewa na kubadilisha maisha yake kwa nguvu za Shetani na badala ya kujazwa na Roho Mtakatifu. Kukufuru Roho Mtakatifu leo hii, ambayo ni sawa na dhambi isiyo samehewa ni hali ya kuendelea kutokua na imani. Hakuna msamaha kwa mtu yule akufaye bila imani. Kuendelea kukataa Roho Mtakatifu ambao watusukuma kuwa na imani katika Yeus Kristo ni kufuru isiyosamehewa. Kumbuka chenye kimesemwa katika Yohana 3:16 “Kwa maana jinsi hii Mungu aliupenda ulimwengu, hata akamtoa Mwanawe pekee, ili kila mtu amwaminiye asipotee, bali awe na uzima wa milele” mbele yake kuna aya ingine, “Amwaminiye Mwana yuna uzima wa milele; asiyemwamini Mwana hataona uzima, bali ghadhabu ya Mungu inamkalia” (Yohana 3:36). Hali pekee ambayo mtu hawezi kuwa na msamaha ni ikiwa ako kati ya wale, “yeyote atakaye mwamini” kwa maana ni yule amemkataa Mwana.”
Kuna utatanishi mwingi juu ya kumtambua Roho Mtakatifu. Wengine humchukulia kama nguvu Fulani zisizoonekana. Wengine huamini kwamba ni uwezo wa Mungu ambao Mungu huuachilia maishani mwa wale ambao ni waumini wa kristo. Je, biblia inasemaje juu ya Roho Mtakatifu? Kwa kifupi biblia inasema kwamba Roho mtakatifu ni Mungu. Pia biblia inasema kuwa Roho mtakatifu ni mtu, mwenye akili, hisia na mapenzi yake.
Swala la kuwa Roho Mtakatifu ni Mungu limo ndani ya aya nyingi za biblia kama vile Matendo 5:3-4. Katika ayah ii petro anapambana na anania aliyemdanganya Roho Mtakatifu na nasisitiza yakuwa “hukumdanya mtu bali Mungu.” Hili ni tangazo la wazi kwamba kumdanganya Roho Mtakatifu ni kumdanganya Mungu. Tunaweza pia kujua Roho Mtakatifu ni Mungu kwa kuwa ana tajwa na hali sawa na za Mungu. Roho Mtakatifu yuko kila mahali katika Zaburi 139:7-8, “nitaenda wapi nijifiche na Roho? ama nitakimbilia wapi mbali na uwepo wako? Nikipanda juu mbinguni, huko uko; nikifanya malazi yangu kuzimu, tazama uko huko,” tena katika wakorintho wa Kwanza 2:10 tunaona hali yakuwepo kila mahali kwa Roho Mtakatifu “Lakini Mungu ameyajulisha kwetu kupitia Roho wake Mtakatifu. Kwa kuwa Roho huyachunguza mambo yote, naam, mambo ya siri ya Mungu. Kwa maana ni nani ayajuaye ya mwanadamu isipokuwa roho ya mwanadamu inayokaa ndani yake? Vivyo hivyo, hakuna ajuaye mambo ya Mungu isipokuwa Roho wa Mungu.”
Tunaweza kujua kweli kwamba Roho Mtakatifu ni Mungu kwa kuwa ana akili, hisia na mapenzi yake. Roho Mtakatifu hufikiri na hujua (Wakorintho wa kwanza 2:10). Roho mtakatifu anaweza kuugua (Waefeso 4:30). Roho hutuombea (Warumi 8:26-27). Roho Mtakatifu hufanya maamuzi kutokana na mapenzi yake mwenyewe (Wakorintho wa kwanza 12:7-11). Roho mtakatifu ni Mungu, sehemu ya tatu ya utatu wa Mungu. Kama Mungu, Roho Mtakatifu anaweza kufanya kazi ya msaidizi na mshauri kama vile Yesu kristo aliyevyoahidi kuwa atakuja kufanya (Yohana 14:16,26; 15:26).
While I totally understand the despair, I would like to offer an
alternative response: embrace these dreams as the gifts they are.
This may seem crazy—but let me tell you a story I just heard which may give you a new perspective.
The story (heard on a Plumbline Ministries video) goes something
like this: a man and his son were driving together. The son looked up
and was disturbed to see a number of vultures circling in the sky.
“There must be a dead animal somewhere,” he sadly exclaimed. His father
wisely pointed out that if the animal were, in fact, dead, then the
vultures would have landed. Then the dad asked the child what he thought
they could do if they were going to help the wounded animal. The son
pondered this, then said, “Well, I guess we wouldn’t want to kill the
vultures—because they are our marker for where the wounded animal is.”
Exactly.
The demonic is the marker for the wounding.
So let me give you a strategy for leveraging demonic harassment in your dreams to greater healing and spiritual dominion.
(1) Choose to put things in proper perspective. If
dark spiritual influences could kill you- believe me–you would already
be dead! If the worst thing they can do is give you a bad dream—yes, it
is annoying, but seriously, it is just a bad dream! Don’t put too much
weight on it—instead leverage it for change.
(2) “Dream forward!” (leverage the dream). This requires an action plan. Here are some suggestions—
Interpret the dream- in general, what is the main essence
of the dream? (i.e. let’s say that a witch is stabbing you in you on the
couch in your livingroom, and you tell her to leave in the name of
Jesus, but she doesn’t . The essence of this dream is that witchcraft –
perhaps word curses are preventing you from finding rest/peace in your
day to day life and that you do not have the authority to deal with it
at this time.
Look for clues as to the arena—is this occurring at work,
home, spiritual community, in your friendships? Drilling down to the
specifics is essential to putting this all to an end!
Note the feelings in the dream- (likely the big 6–fear,
anger, shame, disgust, sadness and hopeless) These feelings are the
manifestation of the wounding, sin , or generational issues – and
succumbing to them often throws the door wide open to further
harassment.
Pay particular attention to “proclamations” made in the dream—by yourself or others. These can give you strategies for dealing with the situation/issues opening you up to such dreams.
The New Testament binds a great responsibility on children when it says in Ephesians 6, verses 1-3, "Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth". The key words are "honor" and "obey". There is no time limit on this. God does not free a child from this responsibility simply because he has now gone to college or is married. A child in the earliest years of adulthood makes a tragic mistake by neglecting his parents.
It is necessary that we say something about the word "obey". Children are to obey their parents "in the Lord". One must never forget that his allegiance to God comes before any man. That includes government, companions and parents. The early apostles expressed it well when they were commanded not to preach in the name of Christ. They responded by saying in Acts 5, verse 29, "We ought to obey God rather than men".
The term "obey your parents" indicates that the parents have laid down some laws or provided some instruction to guide the children. This is what is meant by the wise man when he said in Proverbs 22, verse 6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it". It is understood then that the law is to be obeyed by the child is that which will make him a fine, decent, responsible person. Instructions of parents should be revered by children beyond the parents death. No time limit then on "Children obey your parents in the Lord" Ephesians 6:1. The other word that stands out so predominantly in the children's responsibility to their parents is the word "honor". The Bible says in Ephesians 6, verse 2, "Honor thy father and mother".
This responsibility deals with the child's attitude and respect toward parents. Webster's New World Dictionary says of the word honor, it is "High regard of great respect given". "Something done or given as a token of respect". The home for centuries has provided an environment for one to learn all of the ABC's of Christian living. It is in the home that seeds of character can be sown and given an opportunity to flourish. The great principles of God are to be taught, practiced and cultivated in the home. The child who has learned to honor parents can then effectively show high regard toward his fellow man. He later can easily show respect for a companion and his own children.
It is important that we pause to say that parents have the responsibility to provide the proper atmosphere in the home so that the child can develop an appreciation for law and order given by parents. Such an environment will cause children to rise up and call their parents "blessed". The example of parents set in honoring and loving one another is far-reaching in the heart and life-pattern of the child. When a child cannot see parents love, respect and honor one another, it is extremely difficult for him to rise above this obstacle and honor those that do not honor themselves. Remember, in order to manifest honor towards others, you must respect yourself.
Christ provides us with an example in all things. Having returned from the visit to the city of Jerusalem at the age of 12, the Bible says that Christ, "was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man" Luke 2, verses 51,52. Christ was obedient to his parents. His affection and respect for his mother was manifested from the cross. He was concerned about her care and well-being. He gave this responsibility to the beloved Apostle John (John 19:25-27). You shall always be children in the eyes of your parents and in the eyes of the Lord. Your response to the commandment, "Obey your parents" and "Honor thy father and thy mother", will be a pretty good yardstick measuring how well you will obey your Lord and give Him honor through faithful worship.
The child's responsibility is a lifetime achievement, an achievement that will be richly blessed in all walks of life. In the words of Ephesians Chapter 6, it is the first commandment with promise.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
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