Victory Christian Centre, Hutt City, New Zealand

Our current focus is on "God in the Family", or "God-Empowered Families".

• The basic building block of any society or nation is the family unit

• If the family unit is strong then the nation will be strong

• If the family unit is broken down, the nation will be broken down also

• The seeds of family breakdown are many times sown in people's lives during their childhood, through:

  • Observing & adopting dysfunctional family dynamics
  • Lack of proper child training
  • Wrong child training

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV) Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Ephesians 6:4 (NCV) Fathers, do not make your children angry, but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord.

• The goal of our parenting efforts is to raise up godly children who will become godly adults

• We make the Word of God the basis of our parenting philosophy, and teach our children God's Word

• Child-centred parenting is a worldly parenting philosophy and will produce self-centred children

• Our most basic task as Christian parents is to:

  • To get your children to obey us
  • To get our children to honour and respect us

1. Introducing the tree of the knowledge of good & evil

Gary and Anne Mary Ezzo have written an excellent book entitled "Parenting from the Tree of Life", in which they teach & encourage a positive and life-giving parenting style.

Genesis 2:8–9 (NIV) Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground— trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

God made and placed 3 main categories of trees in the Garden of Eden:

1. Beautiful trees including fruit trees everywhere
2. The tree of life middle of the Garden
3. The tree of the knowledge of good & evil middle of the Garden

God gave Adam & Eve permission to partake of all the fruit trees, including the tree of life (vs. 16-17), but at the same time He forbade them to partake of the tree of the knowledge of good & evil.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents:

• Rules & Boundaries
• NO

Sooner rather than later, as parents, we should place the "tree of the knowledge of good & evil" in the child's life (rules, boundaries & NO).

Whilst obvious, dangerous and harmful temptation should be removed from children to keep them safe & keep them from getting into trouble, it is very healthy to establish rules, boundaries and the meaning of NO early in their childhood.

For example:

• NO hitting or biting
• NO anger or frustration tantrums
• NO lying
• NO answering back
• Definitely NO dishonourable language towards parents

1. Introducing consequences for "eating from the wrong tree"

If, and when children disobey & partake of the "forbidden tree", there have to be consequences!

• Consequences should be swift (connects the "time" with the "crime")
• Consequences should be, at the very least, unpleasant
• Consequences should be educative (explain the moral reason why)
• Consequences should be redemptive (don't correct out of spite)

Proverbs 13:24 (NKJV) He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly .

Proverbs 20:30 (GNB)Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.

• Children may learn from your disapproving words
• But children will really learn from the unpleasantconsequences of their disobedience
• Of course, consequences should be:
  • in proportion to their disobedience
  • in keeping with their age
• Parents who constantly shield or protect their children from any consequences of their disobedience will perpetuate disobedience in their children

Proverbs 22:15 (NKJV)Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him.

Proverbs 23:13–14 (NLT) Don't fail to discipline your children. The rod of punishment won't kill them. 14 Physical discipline may well save them from death.

Proverbs 29:17 (NLT) Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.

(Excellent Book: Dare to Discipline by Dr. James Dobson).

1. Types of consequences:

• Loss of privilege
• Loss of certain enjoyments
• Time out, followed by an apology for misbehaving
• etc.

Of course, we not only teach our children against certain types of behaviour (attitudes & actions) but we also teach them for certain behaviour (actions & attitudes).

• We encourage certain behaviour
• We discourage certain behaviour
• We correct certain behaviour

We teach our children:

• Respect for others
• Respect for property
• Respect for the laws of the land (Authority)
• Etc.

1. The difference between Compliance vs Obedience

Compliance is "external" - obedience is "internal".

• Obedience is the joyful carrying out of expectations & requests
• Compliance is the grudging carrying out of expectations & requests
• Insist on the right attitude in your child as they follow your instructions

Proverbs 20:30 (LB)Punishment that hurts chases evil from the heart.

Correcting your child's behaviour has the goal of removing foolishness and/or evil from the heart, while at the same time imparting wisdom into their life.

1. The 7 R's of successful parenting

• Repetition is the mother of all learning
• Routine children thrive in routine
• Rules boundaries
• Reinforcement (positive & negative)
• Recognition catch them doing the right thing (praise)
• Re-direction redirect them before they get into trouble
• Rewards reward excellent behaviour & extraordinary efforts
• Relationships bad company corrupts good morals (1 Cor. 15:33)

(both real & virtual [TV, screens etc.)

Be consistent - Inconsistency confuses the child.

Outline: https://bit.ly/347zD3R

Subtitle: An overview of Biblical Parenting

Today we shift our focus and attention away from "God in Politics" toward "God in the Family".

1. Opening Statements

The basic building block of any society or nation is the family unit

If the family unit is strong then the nation will be strong

If the family unit is weak or broken down, the nation will be weak and broken down

When God counted the nation of Israel, he counted them by their families (Numbers 26:1-5 >)

Numbers 1:2 (NCV)You and Aaron must  count all the people of Israel by families and family groups , listing the name of each man.

• To (re)build a nation, God's focusses on (re)building the family, and in particular, the individual within the family
• The seeds of family breakdown are many times sown in people's lives during their childhood, through:
   - Observing dysfunctional family dynamics
   - Lack of proper child training
   - Wrong child training

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJVTrain up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

1. The Goal of your Parenting Efforts

Malachi 2:15 (NLT) Didnt the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And _ what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.

• The goal of your parenting efforts is to raise up godly children
• Godly children will eventually become godly adults

As Christian parents, we desire to bring our children up:

To know and serve Jesus Christ as their own personal Lord & Saviour

To become law-abiding citizens and serve their generation

To be contributors to society, rather than takers from society

1. "Google-style" parenting cannot produce "Bible-style" children

Our parenting style shouldn't be a mixture of biblical & worldly parenting philosophies, as this would result in a mixture of godly & ungodly children.

Ephesians 6:4 (NCV) Fathers, do not make your children angry,  but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord.

• Once again, Bible-based parenting will produce bible-based results
   - Make the Word of God the basis of your parenting philosophy
   - Teach your children the Word of God
• Child-centred parenting is a worldly parenting philosophy and will produce self-centred children

Deuteronomy 6:6–9 (NKJV) And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. _ 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children , and_ _ shall talk of them when you sit in your house ,_ _ when you walk by the way, when you lie down , and_ _ when you rise up._ _ 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes._ _ 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates._

Teach the Word of God to your children:

• Talk of them (God's Word) when you sit in your house
• When you walk by the way
• When you lie down
• When you rise up
• In other words, teach them the Word of God at every opportunity

Ephesians 6:1–3 (NCV) _ Children, obey your parents _ as the Lord wants, because this is the right thing to do. _ 2 The command says, " Honor your father and mother." _ This is _ the first command that has a promise with it — 3 _"Then everything will be well with you, and you will have a long life on the earth."

Your most basic task as a Christian parent is to:

• To get your children to obey you
• To get your children to honour and respect you

Honour for father & mother speaks primarily about honour for authority.

• Initially, as a parent, you are your children's Nurturer & Protector
• Then you become their Trainer, Teacher & Coach
• You are their Authority figure
• As they get older, you become their Friend, advisor & counsellor

If you try to be a friend to your children before they recognise you as their authority figure, you will lose all authority and they will see you as their equal.

Of course, you can and should be friend-ly with your children, but you shouldn't try to be their friend until after you have established yourself as their authority.

1. Introducing the tree of the knowledge of good & evil

Genesis 2:8–9 (NIV) Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. _ 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees _ _grow out of the ground— trees that were pleasing to the eye _ and _ good for food ._ _In the middle of the garden were the tree of life _ and _ the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. _

God made and placed 3 main categories of trees in the Garden of Eden:

1. Beautiful trees including fruit trees everywhere
2. The tree of life middle of the Garden
3. The tree of the knowledge of good & evil middle of the Garden

God gave Adam & Eve permission to partake of all the fruit trees, including the tree of life (vs. 16), but at the same time He forbade them to partake of the tree of the knowledge of good & evil.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents:

• Rules & Boundaries
• NO

Whilst obvious, dangerous and harmful temptation should be removed from children to keep them safe & keep them from getting into trouble, it is very healthy establish rules, boundaries and NO early in their childhood.

If children disobey & partake of the "forbidden tree", there have to be consequences!

• Children may learn from your disapproving words
• But children will really learn from the unpleasant consequences of their disobedience
• Of course, consequences should be:
   - in proportion to their disobedience
   - in keeping with their age
• Parents who constantly shield their children from any consequences of their disobedience will perpetuate disobedience in their children

Proverbs 22:15 (NKJV)Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;__the rod of correction will drive it far from him.

Proverbs 13:24 (NKJV)He who spares his rod hates his son, __but _ he who loves him disciplines him _ _ promptly__ . _

Proverbs 23:13–14 (NLT)_ Don't fail to discipline your children. _ The rod of punishment won't kill them. _ 14 _Physical discipline may well save them from death.

Types of consequences:

• Loss of privilege
• Loss of certain enjoyments

1. Compliance vs Obedience

Compliance is external, obedience is internal.

• Obedience is the joyful carrying out of expectations & requests
• Compliance is the grudging carrying out of expectations & requests.

1. The 7 R's of successful parenting

• Repetition is the mother of all learning
• Routine children thrive in routine
• Rules boundaries
• Reinforcement (positive & negative)
• Recognition catch them doing the right thing
• Re-direction redirect them before they get into trouble
• Rewards reward good behaviour & extraordinary efforts
• Relationships bad company corrupts good morals (1 Cor. 15:33)

Be consistent.

Outline: https://bit.ly/2OcTVj9

Nehemiah 4:13- 14 Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings ; and I set the people
according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.^14 And I looked, and arose and said to the
nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “ Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome ,
and fight for your brethren , your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

Nehemiah 4:20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.

Satan is doing everything he can to destroy the family. BUT our family is worth fighting for. God needs us to POSITION
ourselves and stand for our marriage and our home.

With God’s STRATEGY & HELP Nehemiah rebuild the walls in 52 days in the face of great opposition.

We are NOT AFRAID for our families ... because God said...

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You
shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.

The family is God’s NUMBER ONE priority AND needs to be our NUMBER ONE priority.

It’s our job is to watch out for the ways of your household.

o Beware of dangerous distractions that will take your family away ... o There is nothing more important than what you are doing right now (being in the house) o It’s more important than anything the world is trying to sell you.

1. God’s instructed Adam to “guard - watch”

Genesis 2:15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

“keep” – “shamar” – “keep watch, guard, protect, attend, preserve; to hedge about (as with thorns)"

God told Adam to use the authority He had given him and to “keep watch, protect, guard” his POSITION and PLACE

Instead of using the authority God had given him, and casting the devil out, Adam allowed God’s enemy into the earth
and Satan usurped Adam’s Position and Place in the earth.

2. Stay alert, watch out, give not place to the devil

1 Peter 5:8 NLT Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for
someone to devour.

“watch” – “gregoreo” (#1127), “awake (in the night), watch, on the alert, vigilant”

Ephesians 4:27 ... nor give place to the devil. “place” – topos (#5117), “a place, region, seat; an opportunity”

3. Jesus talked about doorkeepers being commanded to keep watch

Mark 13:34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his
work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.

watch on youtube/vanessaschlogl/www.victory.net.nz

4. God commends the Proverbs 31 women for watching over the ways of her household

Proverbs 31:27 She watches over the ways of her household , and does not eat the bread of idleness.

5. Above all else – “guard” your heart

Proverbs 4:23 NLT Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Proverbs 4:23 NASB Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.

Entrances into the heart: eyes, ears , mouth, thoughts.

6. Jesus Taught a Parable that sheds more light

Matthew 13:24-25 BSB Jesus put before them another parable: “ The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good
seed in his field.^25 But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped
away.^26 When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.^27 The owner’s servants came to him
and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from? ’^28 ‘An enemy did this, ’ he
replied.

He rebuked His disciples for sleeping when they were supposed to be watching, guarding, praying.

Matthew 26:40–41 NASB And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘So, you men could not
keep watch with Me for one hour?^41 Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation ; the spirit is
willing, but the flesh is weak.

7. In the Old Testament watchmen were set on the walls of the city

Isaiah 62:6- 7 I have set watchmen on your walls O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who
make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent ,^7 and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a
praise in the earth. ...

“watchmen” –“natsar” – “watch, guard, keep”

8. God has equipped us to fight for our family (Bible Illustration of a Garden: SEED, TIME, HARVEST sower, seed, soil)

Use God’s Word / His Authority / His Name / His Holy Spirit

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death,
blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

Psalm 101:2 I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.^3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work
of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. ...^7 He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; he who tells
lies shall not continue in my presence.^

Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

These verses described most of the programmes that were on TV at the time.

Mark 13:25 Jesus WARNING: But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, ...

(^)
Romans 12:1-2 Phillips ... Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould , but let God re-mould your
minds from within, ....
GUARD your children’s eye gates, ear gates. God said, don’t eat from Tree of the Knowledge of Good and EVIL. There is
some knowledge that God doesn’t want us to eat of as it will PRODUCE DEATH ...

Psalm 111:1, 5 (AMP)PRAISE THE Lord! ….. _ 5 _ _ He has given food and provision _ _ to those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him; _ _ He will remember His covenant forever _ and imprint it [on His mind].

At the beginning of the lockdown we have emphasised God's Protection.

Now, after the lockdown it's time to emphasise God's Provision.

The Covid-19 lockdown and its ensuing lack of productivity has resulted in a considerable economic downturn. The effect of this economic downturn has not fully realised yet, largely due to a massive government spend-up.

• We are now in "faith territory" concerning God's provision for our lives
• The need to walk by faith is stronger today than it was, say, last year

This is a good time to look to God and His faithfulness in a renewed way, and build up our faith on His wonderful promises.

Psalm 111:5 tells us that our God is a covenant-keeping God.

Our God is also a prayer-answering God.

• When Jesus Christ died on the cross and shed His own blood, He confirmed God's New Covenant (Agreement) with His people
• This covenant includes access to God's provision for our lives. Phil. 4:19
• God is able to fulfil His covenant with His people irrespective of the economy around us. (God is not limited by the economy of the world)

Genesis 26:1–6 (NKJV)_ There was a famine in the land , besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar. 2 Then the Lord appeared to him and said: "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you._ _ 3 **Dwell in this land, _ and _ I will be with you and bless you** ; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and_ _ I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4 And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed;_ _ 5 because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws." 6 _ _ So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. _

• There was a famine in Canaan in Isaac's day
• The prevailing thinking of the day was that if things are tough in Canaan, just go down to Egypt (Abraham went to Egypt in a famine. Gen. 12:10)
• (The Nile Delta in Egypt [incl. Goshen] was very fertile even without rain)
• God told Isaac:
  • Do not go down to Egypt (like your father did)
  • Dwell in this land (even though there is a famine in this land)
  • I will be with you and I bless you (despite the famine)

The moral of the story:

• God is able to bless you and prosper you in post-Covid-19 (famine) days
• Your prosperity is not determined by what's around you (your environment)
• Your prosperity is determined:
  • By what's in you
  • and by what's on you
• Abraham was a covenant man (Genesis 15:18)
• His son Isaac also became a covenant man with God (Genesis 17:7)
• The blessing of God also came on Isaac
• The blessing of God also formed his thinking within him

Hidden Object Lesson:

• If your father is/was not a prosperous man, don't follow him to Egypt
• God said: Live in the land of which I will tell you (Genesis 26:2)

Do what I will show you, not what you saw your father do!

Genesis 26:12–14 (NKJV) _ Then Isaac sowed in that land , and_ _ **reaped in the same year a hundredfold; _ and _ the Lord blessed him**._ _ 13 The man_ _ began to prosper , and_ _ continued prospering _ until he _ became very prosperous; 14 for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him._

• Isaac sowed in the land & reaped a huge harvest despite the famine
• God blessed him
  • Isaac began to prosper
  • He continued prospering
  • Until he became very prosperous

Genesis 26:15–33 (NKJV)Now _ the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father , and they had filled them with earth._ _ 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we." 17 Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there._ _ 18 And_ _ **Isaac dug again the wells of water _ _which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them.** 19 Also_ _ Isaac's servants dug in the valley , and_ _ found a well of running water there. 20 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The water is ours." So he called the name of the well Esek, because they quarreled with him._ _ 21 Then they dug another well , and they quarreled over that one also. So he called its name Sitnah._ _ 22 And_ _ **he moved from there and dug another well, _ _and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, "For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land."** 23 Then he went up from there to Beersheba._ _ 24 And_ _ the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; _ do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham's sake." _ 25 So he built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord, and he pitched his tent there; and_ _ there Isaac's servants dug a well. 26 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army._ _ 27 And Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?" 28 But they said, "We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you . So we said, 'Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you,_ _ 29 that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace._ _ You are now the blessed of the Lord. ' " 30 So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank._ _ 31 Then they arose early in the morning and swore an oath with one another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. 32 It came to pass the same day that_ _ Isaac's servants came and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, "We have found water." _ _ 33 \So he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day._

• In that part of the world, wells of water meant "prosperity"
• The Philistines (satan) tried to stop Isaac's prosperity by filling in the wells
• Abimelech became jealous & felt threatened by Isaac & sent him away
• After Isaac moved away, he re-dug the wells of his father Abraham
• His servants dug another well & found water but the Philistines claimed it
• His servants dug still another well but the Philistines claimed that one too
• Isaac moved again and dug another well, this time he was able to keep it
• Then God appeared to him again and re-affirmed His blessing on his life
• Abimelech visited & said: We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you
• Then his servants dug still another well & found water once again
• Isaac called this new well "Shebah" which means "oath" or "seven"

Proposition : Each well represents a business!

• Isaac wasn't satisfied when he "began to prosper"
• He continued to apply himself and "continued to prosper", until he "became very prosperous"
• Don't limit yourself or the blessing of God on your life

Robert Kiyosaki , author of the book called "Rich dad, poor dad" speaks about the 7 streams of income of millionaires.

Earned Income – (wages/salary)

Profit Income (business)

Interest Income (investment)

Dividend Income (shares)

Rental Income (property)

Capital Gains (property)

Royalty Income (intellectual property)

Ecclesiastes 11:2 (NIV)_ Invest in seven ventures, _ yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

Be: Diligent Proverbs 10:4

Industrious 1 Kings 11:28

Resourceful Proverbs 1:4 GNB

Frugal

Generous Proverbs 11:25

Don't be: Lazy Proverbs 10:4

Lavish yourself

Overly cautious

Have: An above-average work ethic

An above-average decision-making process

There is a need to disciple God's people in the area of:

• Money
• Money management
• Money making

Luke 16:8 (KJV)… the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.