Securing a Glorious Future for Your Children (3)

by Pastor Faith Oyedepo, Week 4, April, 2008

Dear reader,

I want to specially welcome you to this week’s column on securing a glorious future for your children. For the past few weeks, by the enabling power of the Holy Ghost, God has been opening our eyes to fundamental truths concerning our children. It is my prayer that as you apply yourself to this eternal truth, great peace shall envelope your homes in Jesus precious’ name!

This week, we will examine one of the essential parts of Child Training – Discipline. Discipline means training a child to be obedient and self-controlled. It is important for you to understand that for child training to be effective and efficient, discipline must be involved. Until discipline is added to training, it remains only a teaching. The Word of God says: He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity (Job 36:10).

Two things are mentioned in this scripture, the opening of the ear to discipline and returning from iniquity. If you want your children to return from iniquity, that is, to return from anything that is contrary to righteousness in words, thoughts, behaviour and lifestyle, their ears must be open to discipline. If you do not want iniquity to reign in the lives of your children, first, you must open their ears to discipline. The place of discipline, therefore, becomes of utmost importance in making child training effective. Lack of training makes a child susceptible to destruction. The Word of God says: For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not (I Samuel 3:13) Because Eli, the priest neglected child training, his two sons were destroyed and he too was eventually destroyed. That shall not be your portion in Jesus’ name.

Now, I am sure you are wondering how to go about it, if the issue of discipline is so important. I will be sharing with you one of the ways by which you can discipline your children so that their training can be of beneficial to you.

The Rod

The rod is a tool for discipline. The word rod in scripture can be interpreted in two ways, the spiritual rod and the physical rod. The spiritual rod: In Isaiah 11:1 the Bible says: And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The rod, here, is talking about Jesus. Also Revelation 19:13 says: And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. Still talking about Jesus, the Bible calls Him the Word of God. The rod primarily means the Word of God. When I said the rod is a tool for discipline, I simply meant using the Word of God to discipline your children. It is important for you as a parent to understand that the strongest rod to use in child training is the Word of God. It is much more powerful than any physical cane.

Now, the question is: How do I use the Word as a rod to correct my children’ For instance, if your child misbehaves and you want to discipline him or her, you will need to locate a scripture or two that will show that the deeds of the child are wrong; you call the child, sit down with him, and show him from the Word why his deeds are wrong. With the help of the Holy Ghost, let the child see the need to change his or her character and action. You make him realize that God is not pleased with such behaviour. After you have done this, leave the child alone to make up his mind. The Word expounded unto him is Life, after you have gone physically, it will continue to work upon his life. Hebrew 12:4 says: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Only the spiritual rod has the power to penetrate the soul and the spirit of the child and effect positive changes. From today, begin to use the spiritual rod in disciplining your children and bringing them up in the fear of the Lord.

The physical rod: The physical rod is the cane. Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell (Proverbs 23:13-14). Once in a while, it may be necessary for you to use a cane to discipline your children. This should be done occasionally, so that it does not become a way of life. When using the cane to enforce discipline, ensure that you do not overdo it. Do not bruise your children in the process of beating them.

When some parents are angry, they beat their children recklessly until those children sustain serious injuries; this hardens their hearts and whatever discipline you instill in them will not bring a lasting solution. When the physical rod is to be used, it should be used with care. Do not give room to careless beating. Although the use of this rod is not a sin, it is important for you to understand that there is a limit to how far this rod can go. It can only be used to torment the body; it cannot affect the soul or the spirit of your children. But the spiritual rod, which is the Word of God, can penetrate from the physical realm to the realm of the soul and the spirit, bringing about discipline even when you are not there physically. Do not buy a special cane for the purpose of disciplining your children, rather lay emphasis on the spiritual rod.

What you don’t have, you can’t give. For you to use the spiritual rod you must have it yourself. If you are not born again, you have no access to this rod which is the Word of God. You need to give your life to Christ by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. If you are ready for this, please say this prayer: Dear Lord, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Savious. Now I know I am born again!

Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through:

E-mail: faithdavid@yahoo.com Tel. No: 234-1-7747546-8;

For more insight, these books authored by Pastor Faith Oyedepo are available at the Dominion Book Stores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian book stores.

? Marriage Covenant

? Making Marriage Work

? Building a Successful Family

? Success in Marriage (Co-Authored with Bishop David Oyedepo).