How To Live A Long Life

Exodus 20:12 (NLT)  ¹² Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God will give you.

The first four of the Ten Commandments have to do with our _______________________________ relationship with God.

The last six of the Ten Commandments have to do with our _______________________________ relationships with each other.

Parents can be defined as three kinds of people in our lives:

1.     _______________________________ parents

2.     _______________________________ parents

3.     _______________________________ parents

WHY DID GOD GIVE THIS COMMANDMENT?

1.     _________________________ begins in the home.

The home is the birthplace of a child’s …

A.    Self-esteem (their view of themselves)

B.     Respect for Authority (their view of others)

C.     Values (their view of God and life in general)

The word honor is “kaw-bad” in Hebrew, which means “to add weight,” taken from the ancient concept that something heavy was thought to have greater value.

2.     There are no _________________________ parents.

·        God does say that we must honor the position of parenthood, regardless of the personality behind it.

3.     How I _________________________ to my parents will affect every other relationship.

As an adult, when you act in ways you don’t understand, many times it’s because you are still reacting to your parents.

HOW SHOULD I HONOR MY PARENTS?

1.     As a child, I honor my parents by _______________________ and _______________________ them.

Ephesians 6:1-3 (LB)  ¹ Children, obey your parents; this is the right thing to do because God has placed them in authority over you.  ² Honor your father and mother.  This is the first of God’s Ten Commandments that ends with a promise.  ³ And this is the promise: that if you honor your father and mother, yours will be a long life, full of blessing.

Part of the loving obligation of a parent is DISCIPLINE, which requires instruction, reinforcement and punishment.

Proverbs 13:24 (NLT)  If you refuse to discipline your children, it proves you don’t love them; if you love your children, you will be prompt to discipline them.

Proverbs 19:18 (NLT)  Discipline your children while there is hope. If you don’t, you will ruin their lives.

Proverbs 15:5 (NLT)  Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.

Proverbs 22:15 (NLT)  A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but discipline will drive it away.

2.     As a young person, I honor my parents by ___________________ and _______________________ them.

Acceptance is:

A.    APPRECIATING that God used my parents to bring me into the world.

Proverbs 19:26 (LB)  A son who mistreats his father or mother is a public disgrace.

B.     LISTENING to what my parents have to say.

Proverbs 23:22 (NLT)  Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother’s experience when she is old.

C.     FORGIVING my parents for the times they may have hurt me.

Proverbs 20:20 (GN)  If you curse your parents, your life will end like a lamp that goes out in the dark.

3.     As an adult, I honor my parents by _______________________ and not _______________________ them.

Proverbs 3:27 (NLT)  Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.

You affirm your parents by …

A.    Staying in touch with them

B.     Sharing the details of your life with them

C.     Seeking their counsel on major decisions

Your parents cared for you when you were dependent, and caring for them at the other end of life is YOUR responsibility.

1 Timothy 5:8 (LB)  Anyone who won’t care for his own relatives when they need help, especially his own family, has no right to say he is a Christian. Such a person is worse than the heathen.

1 Timothy 5:4 (NLT)  Their first responsibility is to show godliness  at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God very much.

Ephesians 6:4 (LB)  And now a word to you parents. Don’t keep on scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful. Rather, bring them up with the loving discipline the Lord himself approves, with suggestions and godly advice.

The Bible teaches that the key to good parenting is “LOVING DISCIPLINE.”  Every child must learn two things:

A.    Disobedience brings _________________________.

B.     Obedience brings _________________________.

If you’re still angry with a parent years later, you’re still letting them control your life.  Stop the cycle!

Psalm 27:10 (GN)  My father and mother may abandon me, but the Lord will take care of me.

GOD’S DESIGN

You are who you are for a reason

You’re part of an intricate plan

You’re precious, a perfect unique design

Called God’s special woman or man.

You look like you look for a reason

Our God made no mistake

He knit you together within the womb

You’re just what He wanted to make.

The parents you had are the ones He chose

No matter how you may feel

You are custom designed with that plan in mind

Your life bears the Master’s seal.

The trauma you faced wasn’t easy

God wept that it hurt you so

But it was allowed to shape your heart

So that into His likeness you’d grow.

You are who you are for a reason

You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod

You are who you are, beloved

Because there is a God.