September 16, 2020

Family Values #

Proverbs 22:1

I. Testimony (Pro 22:1) Testimony #

A. Fictional - False Image #

1. Virtual Image #

• One of the greatest inherent dangers of the internet, is anyone with a little computer knowledge, can create a website, false credentials, and look good on a website!
• Crooks, scam artists, the identity thieves do it
• One of my problems with ‘virtual church’

2. Social Media #

• Image you portray online… what do you paint as yourself.
• People often mask who they are, and what they represent.
• This is a serious danger of meeting people online
• Police do this in sting operations, posing as someone they are not.

3. Who you really are??? #

• You know in your heart, what is in there.

Heb. 4:12 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.

• God knows what is in the depths of your thoughts, and heart. - Yes that is scary.

B. Factual #

1. Be real – Jesus was real with people, he didn’t come to earth to put on a show. #

2. Christlikeness requires being real with people. #

• Jesus was genuine with people.
• If you don’t like who you are, then you need to ask God to change your heart…. Not put on a mask to hide it, God is in the people changing business!

C. Family name #

1. You are building a family reputation… that is not as easy to mask… #

2. Chose godliness over gold! #

II. Training (Pro 22:6) Training #

A. Practical training (young training) #

1. One of the biggest problems with parents is they don’t tell their children NO! #

2. Children are not dumb, they are highly intelligent, we are not monkeys… #

3. When a child is told no, generally, they will protest through crying, screaming, or even throwing themselves on the floor and causing a scene. #

• Teach your child you are serious about “no” at home, and they may push you in public, but if you are consistent… you will successfully train your child.

B. Consistency – genuine (continued training) #

1. Training children requires consistency in parents #

2. Consistent, practicing that taught, not perfection #

3. Molding the behavior or molding the heart? #

III. Tendency of children (Pro 22:15) Tendency #

A. Foolishness is bound in the heart #

1. Every person born in this earth, has a sin nature #

• • • 2. Who teaches their child to lie? #

    • Who teaches their child to be selfish? Fight? Push? Ungrateful?

“Not only is it (sin) found there (heart) it is bound there.” - Matthew Henry

Mark 7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

B. Rod of correction #

1. Neglecting this truth, will allow foolishness to remain in the heart! #

2. Illustration Clay vs metal and glass #

• Metal and glass can be formed into beautiful things… however it requires heat!
• The Bible is very clear, that corporal punishment is necessary.

3. Abuse is wrong, we are not talking about abuse! #

• The Bible would not advocate abuse
• However there is something to be said for pain that teaches a lesson.
• There is a padded place that God has provided for punishment.
• The punishment should never be issued out of anger

IV. Timeless Truth (Pro 22:28) #

A. Lesson - #

Deut. 19:14 ¶ Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.

1. This was part of the law, the idea, is that someone would at night, or in a time when no one was around, go out and move a landmark that distinguished where their property started and their neighbor’s ended. #

• • • 2. They would actually steal more land. #

B. Lesson of change #

1. It is interesting in this verse it is landmark singular, set by the fathers! #

2. The idea is the things your fathers have setup don’t change them! These are serious governing ideas. #

• • • 3. These of course being written to a Jewish people would make the assumption to be right landmarks. #

4. The Bible! #

• There is not a need to change the Bible we have used for so many years!

• It is faithful, it is been proven time and time again.

• The Truths of the Bible…

  • People look for ’new ways’ to raise their children
  • People look for new ways to do things that go against the Bible!
  • You better just be careful changing the landmarks that have been established.