“CHILDREN ARE AN HERITAGE OF THE

LORD”
LLC Summer Services
Spokane 2013
 CHILDREN ARE AN HERITAGE OF
THE LORD
• God the Giver of Life
• Blessings of Children
– The miracle of birth
– The lives that we share
• Temptations
– The world
– Our own flesh
– From within
• A believing home
• Responsibility of parents
• Joys of family and children
 GOD IS THE GIVER OF LIFE

• The Old Testament examples of Rachel, Hannah, and Ruth all

show that it is God who gives conception and the fruit of the
womb
• Rachael
– “And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her,
and opened her womb” (Genesis 30:22)
• Hannah
– “The Lord killeth, and maketh alive” (1Samuel 2:6)
• Ruth
– “So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he
went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she
bare a son” (Ruth 4:13).
 GOD IS AUTHOR OF LIFE

• “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before

thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I
ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5)
 SONGS AND HYMNS OF ZION #394

Before my birth, Creator,

before I was conceived,
You knew my name and called me
a child that You redeemed.

Your arms of loving kindness

surrounded me in love,
before my mother knew me
You knew me there above.
 SONGS AND HYMNS OF ZION #394

Already at conception
my mortal life began.
You give each day and moment
according to Your plan

Your hand of grace established

my days of life from birth,
my homeland and my dwelling,
my duties here on earth.
 SONGS AND HYMNS OF ZION #394

As stars up in the heaven

give praises with one voice,
so I within Your kingdom
in liberty rejoice.

Preserve me, Heav’nly Father,

my days within Your care.
Your arms of lovingkindness
securely lift and bear.
 PSALM 139:14-16

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:

marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret,
and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes
did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my
members were written, which in continuance were fashioned,
when as yet there was none of them.
CHILDREN WERE ONCE GREATLY
DESIRED
• Rachael
– “And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath
taken away my reproach” (Genesis 30:23)
• Elisabeth
– “Removed my shame in the eyes of men” (Luke 1:25)
WHAT LUTHER SAYS ABOUT CHILDREN

• A masterpiece of God
– “if a man could make a single rose, an empire should be
given him”
– “But, because of their commonness, innumerable gifts of
God are not appreciated”
– “They are far greater worth than all the fruits of the trees”
– “He gave them body and life and all their members and
also intends to support them”
TODAY, THE WORLD TEACHES . . .

• Children have become obstacles financially and in personal

achievement
• Unable to find time to care and love them
• Look down upon and even despise those who wish to accept as
many as God gives
• A believer cannot help but be influenced by the world we live
in
• The enemy also makes inroads into God’s kingdom
– Birth control
– Unsupportive comments
– Listening to carnal reason
 TRUST IN GOD IN ALL THINGS

Cast all you care and sorrow on Him who cares for you;
the Lord who knows tomorrow has helped you hitherto.
He who from dust you made, your breath and spirit
gave, He knows your needs and trials. His arm is strong
to save.

So lay your cross upon Him and rest your burdens there;
the Lord in grace will change them to blessings you can
bear. Before you comprehend, you see how God again
has scattered all you sorrow and taken all your pain.
 TRUST IN GOD IN ALL THINGS

Do not forget this, pilgrim, but let your heart embrace

how God sheds on His children His blessedness and
grace. Believers He will bear and hold them in His care.
He never will forsake them, but hears the smallest
prayer.

Thus on His way endeavor, the just shall live by faith.

Far from your heart e’er sever all earthly lusts away. On
your Redeemer wait! His love and mercy great will
strengthen you in battle; let not your heart be faint.
 TRUST IN GOD IN ALL THINGS

When sorrow, fear you’re fighting, and doubts your

heart command, the Lord of Hosts Almighty, still holds
you in His hand. He will not always chide but in His
house will hide His warfare-wearied children, His name
to glorify.
 JESUS TEACHES

Suffer the little children to

come unto me, and forbid
them not: for of such is the
kingdom of God. And he
took them up in his arms, put
his hands upon them, and
blessed them. Mark
10:14,16
 OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF
HEAVEN

Take heed that ye despise

not one of these little ones;
for I say unto you, That in
heaven their angels do
always behold the face of my
Father which is in heaven

Matthew 18:10
 A CHILD IS AN EXAMPLE OF
FAITH
Verily I say unto you, Except ye
be converted, and become as
little children, ye shall not enter
into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall
humble himself as this little
child, the same is greatest in
the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:4
 CHILDREN BRING WORK AND
JOY
• Children require much care
– Trials of health
– Spiritual trials
• Children bring much joy
– Happy sounds
– Quick to forgive
– Trust
– Innocence
 A PARENTS DUTY

• “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring

them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians
6:4)
• “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe
in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged
about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the
sea” (Matthew 18:6)
• “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye
also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an
example, that ye should do as I have done to you. If ye know
these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:14,15,17)
 A SACRED DUTY

• “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in

thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy
children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine
house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest
down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:6,7)
 TEACH WITH WORD AND
EXAMPLE

• What is dear to you may

become dear to them
 A CHRISTIAN HOME

• Make known the reason for hope

• Speak of the joys
• Even in trials . . . there is joy
• God helps in our homes
 SONGS AND HYMNS OF ZION #423

O Lord of all creation

through ev’ry generation,
the world is Your design.
Let words of blessing find us,
let cords of mercy bind us
and draw us to our rest divine.

Your grace and consolation

are in Your congregation;
we hear Your Word, our light;
from selfishness it wakes us,
from easy pathways takes us
to teach us what is true and right
 SONGS AND HYMNS OF ZION #423

The days each child is given

are written up in heaven
before his bones are framed.
For ev’ry child You lend us,
Your strength You also send us
to carry us through times of pain.

What wealth to us You render,

what joy, and moments tender,
when children light our homes.
In living hope enfold them,
in ev’ry footstep hold them
among the ones You call Your own.
 SONGS AND HYMNS OF ZION #423

In all her joy and weeping

hold mother in Your keeping.
Increase her faith, we pray.
Oh, strengthen her and guide her,
Your wisdom, Lord, provide her
to teach her children ev’ry day.

O gracious Heav’nly Father,

our mother gently gather
to Jesus’ heart of love.
Through all of our tomorrows
we cast on Him our sorrows
and yearn for heaven’s home above.
THE BLESSINGS OF FAMILY
MANY ARE THE JOYS
THE BLESSINGS OF FAMILY
THE BLESSINGS OF FAMILY
 THROUGH FAITH

• “Through faith we understand”

• “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither
indeed can be.” (Romans 8:6,7)
 PSALM 127

Except the Lord build the house,

they labour in vain that build it:
except the Lord keep the city,
the watchman waketh but in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
to sit up late,to eat the bread of sorrows:
for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:
and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
 THE CHILDREN WHICH GOD
HATH GRACIOUSLY GIVEN

• “And Esau ran to meet him, and

embraced him, and fell on his
neck, and kissed him: and they
wept. And he lifted up his eyes,
and saw the women and the
children; and said, Who are those
with thee? And he said, The
children which God hath
graciously given thy servant”
(Genesis 33:4.5)
 GOD’S GIFT OF PRAYER

• The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are
open unto their cry (Psalm 34:15)
• Fervent prayer of righteous (James 5:16)
• Pray without ceasing (1Thessalonians 5:17)
• Thy will be done (Matthew 6:10)
 CHILDREN ARE AN HERITAGE

• As people, we are dependent on God‘s blessings

• In the increase of children
• If children are withheld, it is God who withholds them
– Genesis 30:2
• If children are given, it is God who gives them
– Genesis 33:5
• A reward, to be accounted as blessings and not burdens
• “And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I
and the children which God hath given me” (Hebrews 2:13).
 REMAIN JOYFUL

• Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the
womb is his reward.