Build a parapet! Protect your family!

More than a decade ago, my father-in-law and I attended a national event convened by our church. Nearly all the between 400-450 participants were retirement age and seemed well grounded in the faith. The evening presenter spoke about the importance of leading our own children into faith in the Lord Jesus. When he asked for those who had an unsaved child, all but a dozen or 15 people stood. My father-in-law and I were among the tiny minority.

　
The preacher called on the conventioneers to meet for prayer for unsaved children 30 minutes before breakfast the following morning. I attended the morning prayer time. My father-in-law, all of whose descendants serve the Lord, was present with less than 20 others. I cannot forget the experience. It is one contributing factor to my growing sense of urgency. Nothing is more important.

　
Today I am introducing an outline of my thoughts. It is a condensation of a sermon. I will enlarge in the themes in next few posts. I will value your feedback!

　
When you build a new house, make a parapet around your roof so that you may not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your house if someone falls from the roof.
– Deuteronomy 22:8
　

Parapets are protective structures, substantive, strong, fences, barricades, strategically placed.

• Deliberate physical protection. Homeowners, especially loving, responsible parents, are aware how attractive a roof can be to innocent children and careless youth.
• Determined spiritual security is of greater, eternal importance and consequence than physical safety.
• Designed for emotional wellbeing. The worlds of bullying, evil predators, and subtle media messages all require a Holy Spirit enabled vigilance.
• Develop intellectual competence equipping children on how to think, what to value and whom to trust.

Wall One – PURPOSE: GOD’S WORDThe parapet wall of purpose is God’s Word. God’s Word is to be experienced as living, enthusiastic, vibrant, applicable in real life events and challenges. Read Deuteronomy 8:1-9 to discover God’s intentions!

• God’s Word: dynamic foundational truth. God’s Word is clearly defined instructional PURPOSE, divine expectation delivered in a dynamic, historical setting.
• God’s Word: formation in familial setting. The PURPOSES of God are given in a dynamic familial context – Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you . . .
• God’s Word: an abundance orientation. The command is dictated in an atmosphere of dynamic, energetic, living promise and blessing, For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land . . . God’s Word is not a handbook for religious consumerism, but it is an eternal assurance of God’s loving provision culminating in Jesus!　

Since God’s Word establishes purposes and is intended to be experienced as living, enthusiastic, vibrant, and applicable, then parents, grandparents, pastors, elders, and the whole church ought to be immersed in the all-important task of building a strong parapet

　Wall Two - PRAYER: GOD-MAN CONVERSATION
What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?
 
Deuteronomy 4:7 Moses left this bold insight for us to muse upon, consider thoroughly, and then act upon, actually pray. Prayer is conversation . . . listening and speaking.

• Prayer as conversation, heart-to-heart, mind-to-mind, Holy Spirit-to-human spirit, and Divine will-to- human will is learned as surely as a second language.
• Prayer is the place where the created are changed by the Creator. It is important to remember that God knows, has never learned anything, and is immutable, and unchangeable. As we wait in His presence we are transformed, have a change of heart and mind and develop new patterns in behavior.
• Prayer is an appointment man keeps with the Lord. He teaches us what to do, where to go, how to think, and why one ought to proceed.

Parents must know that they have been with Jesus themselves, are filled with the Spirit, and conversant with the pleasure of the Lord before being effective in the parenting arts.

　
Wall Three - PEOPLE: GOD’S FAMILY
My appreciation for God’s family, the Church, increases continually.

• God’s family is important to my faith have been instrumental in developing POWER within community.
• God’s family is the ideal PLACE for explaining, for teachable moments.
• God’s family meeting encourages growth to POTENTIAL in receiving and giving, genuine sharing.

Wall Four - PRACTICAL PRESENCE: GODLY EXAMPLE

• Story telling – The legacy of faith is repeated in testimony, storytelling.
• Song singing - Affirmations of faith, statements of truth, expressions of hope, testimonies of God’s faithfulness, affection, and interventions. Read Deuteronomy 31:19-22 and Miriam’s song in Exodus 15.
• Social gathering - Through laughter and weeping, celebrating and struggling, success and failure, birth and death, health and sickness, and hope and despair the possibilities of God’s deliverance are kept alive!