Ephesians Series: Learning to Live Under God (Eph 6:3)

Scripture tells us that our hearts resist authority. You know, you didn't have to teach your kid to say no, did you? No. That's that's the biblical doctrine of total depravity. Your children were born sinners and therefore they sinned. No one has to teach your kid to say no. They do it naturally, which is why we need new hearts. Which is exactly why the prophets of the old testament, specifically Ezekiel, said that here's the promise. God is going to give you a new heart. He's gonna take your heart of stone and turn it into a heart of flesh. [00:39:33] (34 seconds)  #NewHeartsPromise

You know, obedience is only for a season, kiddos. Honor is forever. When you live under your parents home, usually around 18 years old, when the culture tells you that you're an adult, then you no longer have to obey your parents. You still obey God. But after that, all of us are called to honor our parents. We're called to honor our parents. Even if we're not living under their authority, even if we're 65, and they're still alive, God calls us to honor them. [00:14:17] (41 seconds)  #HonorIsForever

Things get out of place, and your home starts looking like Frankenstein's monster, and it becomes a really unhealthy place. That same order of priority has to move into the season of caring for your aging parents. They're of equal value, but they're a different priority. You still need to honor them, but they don't come first. First is your spouse, which means you need to get on the same page about what you're going to do and and the order of priority. Second then, are those living under your home. Those whom God has called you to provide for. And thirdly then, would be your parents whom you are called to honor. [00:29:02] (47 seconds)  #FamilyPriorityOrder

Obedience alone is not the whole picture because it's possible to obey kiddos, isn't it? Without honoring. Parents, maybe you remember the day your mom asked you to clean the room and you did it, but you did it rolling your eyes or stomping your feet or throwing a fit. Was the room clean? Yep. It got clean, but there was no honor in your response. Kiddos, God cares about our hearts. He wants us to honor, not just obey. [00:11:07] (39 seconds)  #HonorNotJustObey

And so Jesus comes to them, and he says, listen, your hearts are far from God here. You're taking what God has given you, that you should steward by yes, giving some back to him, but then providing for your parents. And instead of providing for them, you're making a mockery of this whole thing. And you're holding back from your parents the very thing that they need. So Jesus rebukes these religious people. They were trying to spiritualize their way out of the fifth commandment of obeying and honoring their parents. [00:16:02] (38 seconds)  #NoSpiritualExcuses

God values your aging parents just as much as he values your spouse and your kids. Same value. But as it relates to, you have twenty four hours in a day, and you only have so many resources. There is a priority that the bible gives us. And maybe this is gonna help reset some of your priorities in marriage, because you need to hear this again. When you got married, your priority is first and foremost your spouse. Amen. Not your kids. Amen. They're second. Your spouse is first, and if you mess up this priority, everything gets weird. [00:28:22] (40 seconds)  #SpouseFirst

We may need to establish healthy boundaries, but we do not disobey God. We don't treat our parents as disposable. That's exactly what that movement is doing. Honor means giving our parents the respect they deserve as our parents. So practically, it may look like a few things. It may look like answering the phone a little more when your mama calls. Some of you mamas in the room are like, I am sending this message to my 35 year old son. [00:22:02] (34 seconds)  #RespectDontDiscardParents

You know, as your parents get older, it's sad when you hear people say, I'm just waiting for them to kick the bucket, so that I can inherit. They're so they're so greedy. They're not passing it on. I'm just waiting. A heart of entitlement instead of gratitude. Your parents don't owe you anything as it relates to provision. We need to honor them by first having our hearts of entitlement changed to hearts of gratitude. I think second, we need to respect them instead of dismiss them. [00:20:02] (35 seconds)  #ChooseGratitudeNotEntitlement