The Spirit Filled Family

Text: Ephesians 6:1-4

Introduction

Family is God’s design, but in a fallen world, it faces many challenges.
Paul, in Ephesians 5-6 , speaks about being “filled with the Spirit” ( Eph. 5:18 ) and how it impacts every relationship—including the home.
A Spirit-filled family is marked by obedience, honor, instruction, and love as well as truly meaningful and fulfilling. The type of family that Kids long to come back too years after they move away.
In order for a family to be enriched by the spirit of God

I. Children are Blessed when they Obey and Honor their parents. ( Eph. 6:1-3 )

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise—’so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’”
Obedience is following the instructions of the parents with a willful and glad heart.

1. Obedience is what the Spirit of God desires - It aligns with Gods will

Colossians 3:20 “20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
Romans 1:30 “30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,”
When you align with God’s will you are building your life on a solid foundation.

2. Obedience has 3 unshakable foundations.

It demonstrates you are “In the Lord”
There should be a difference in the Christian home as a pose to the world. Accept it. There are things that a Christian home will do that a non-Christian home will not do and there are things a Christian home will not do that a non-Christian home will do. There is supposed to be a difference, and the difference should be seen by others and felt by the Christian family.
Ephesians 1:3 “3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.”
Ephesians 2:6 “6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,”
Ephesians 2:10 “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:13 “13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
Ephesians 3:12 “12 In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him.”

It is Right to Obey and Honor Your Mother and Father

The Home is where “rights” and “wrongs” are established in an environment of Grace and love.
The Home is where Moral absolutes are established and Moral relativity is rejected.

Our country is in turmoil because we broke away from our moral anchor. We are a drift as a country. The woke culture, Cancel culture that we have experiences and possibly diluted some of your convictions is simply an movement of Moral Relativity. Worldliness is trying to convince everyone that there is no right and wrongs. Saying that there is right and wrong or to oppose them is to threaten their existence. This is a reason they have become so intolerant and even violent. When an individual claims a lie as a truth and they desire to live the lie, this course unleashes an attack of their conscience that wars against their soul. It is very disturbing. Refusing to repent, their only recourse is to strive for peace in the lie, they summon as much support as possible because this war you cannot fight alone and you cannot win. When someone chooses not to support their lie a damn breaks and a flood of bitterness comes crashing down on those they should love and care for. However, the sin; the lie; the alternate reality is very selfish. This sin that lives unashamedly in public does not want to lose its position of privilege. This sin that has gained a strong hold on the individual will not let go easily. Its lust for self fulfilment will not give up easily.
When we parent with moral absolutes. We must create an environment of grace because we all fail in choosing what is right and wrong. However, our failure does not prove that rights are not right or the wrongs are not wrong but that we have bad hearts. and need grace. We need the love of Jesus.
When we let our failures set the standards we fail to parent. When we have age appropriate rights and wrongs established and the ensuing consequences we are to never change the rules just because they disobey. be faithful parents not parents that coddle their children around their wishes and desires.

It Comes With a Promise

Your life will be good.

Free from the trappings of sin. The consequences of sin are real. If you choose bad things bad things are going to happen. Its not a karma thing. It is a promise. If you steal. if you get drunk, if you harbor unforgiveness. if you lie, if you fail to work. if you are lazy. if you show disrespect. if you love your self more than others. if you fail to fear the lord there are natural consequences. An ultimately there are eternal consequences.

Your life will be long.

a child running in the street after a ball and fails to obey the commands of the father to stop could cost he child great harm of even his life. Obedience is a natural protection to natural threats.
one commentary stresses the Now and not yet. it ushers us to eternal life.

II. Parents are encouraged to Nurture, Train and Instruction their children ( Eph. 6:4 )

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

1. The Caution, “Do Not Provoke to Anger”

Parents, especially fathers as spiritual leaders, must not provoke, discourage, or embitter their children ( Col. 3:21 ).
Children can agree with rights and wrongs and completely rebel against a provoking parent.
Ways parents exasperate their children:

Unreasonable expectations
Harsh criticism
Neglect or lack of affection
inconsistency in discipline
Failing to carefully listen

2. The Commission: Bring Them Up in the Lord

“Bring them up in the training of the Lord”
Implies a goal in mind. What is your goal for your child(ren)? Is your goal a what or is it a who?
Implies transformation. Becoming. Implies a structured assent.
“Bring them up in the instruction of the Lord”
Implies information. What are you teaching your children/grandchildren? You have them for a reason. You have a clear responsibility and you can do this.

take advantage of tools available: Church, Mentor who encourage you and make suggestions. Classes
You have the time to be a great parent. Our time is often used in a system of habits. Take control of the bad habits and follow through or instill good hobbits. Make the most of your time Eph. 5:15,16
You must develop habits and rhythms that match the Cautions and Commissions

What Is Most Significant About Your Home Is What Is Normal

Ways Parents can bring up their children in the Lord:
Come to church on time and faithfully
Take advantage of every moment of curiosity
Deuteronomy 6:4–8 “4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead.”

Create New Habits

New habits are awkward until they're not - Justin Whitmel Earley

Dinner time scripture
Let the youngest go first
Bedtime prayers and blessings
Morning breakfast concerns or excitement's of the day
Holiday traditions around scripture and praise
Birthdays and achievements