Lets take a look at a common verse

Eph. 6:1-5 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

V. 1 “in the Lord”

Paul used this phrase 21 X’s in the NT

It means you are subject to the Lord in unity and obedience. He is your Lordship, Master and controller. 

*PARENTS Lets start here: Do your kids see you in that type of relationship with God?

V. 3 “GO WELL WITH THEE”

This is to the kids… ages 0 and up

GK - Live a life of reward.

**How many get what they want and feel cheated, or void, or even more empty and voracious 

Vs. 

Rewarded… just unexplained, unannounced, unexpected reward. THINGS JUST END UP GOING RIGHT! 

V. 4 BRING THEM UP

Nurture, nourish and care for their mind, emotions, body, soul and spirit. 

**then it talks about Slaves and Masters…

Again all about relationships relationships RELATIONSHIPS! 

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.…

Dissect a frog: forceps, tray, scissors, scalpel, needles, pins, 

V. 10 FINALLY GK - LOY-POO 

Genitive Neuter Singular Adjective - 

So Henceforth from now on remember we are fighting a spiritual war. 

YOU ARE IN WAR

YOUR KIDS ARE IN WAR

The reason why it’s important to understand you are training your child for war is because you yourself are in the same war. 

You have not won that war yet so you must go to your kids with humility and tenderness and honesty -that you yourself still fail in many battles in that war.

TEACH THIS… 

Like in any war the enemies strategies and tactics will change. 

We can’t just give them 3 points to better behavior and walk away. In fact we need to teach our kids about this aspect of the enemy. 

Your 4th grader wants the new gaming system - everyone else has one. So what is the spirit behind this? Selfishness, the fear of man. (But you only modify behavior and not the heart)

  -  In 8th grade she wants to dress like everyone else. So what is the spirit behind this? Selfishness, the fear of man. (But you only modify behavior and not the heart)

  -  As a Junior in High School she wants to be promiscuous. WHY? So what is the spirit behind this? Selfishness, the fear of man. (But you only modify behavior and not the heart)

…See how the strategy changes - but as a parent if you identify it early so the child begins to see it her heart will open up to the changing power of the Holy Spirit.