ARE YOUR CHILDREN GROWING?

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”
(1 Peter 2:2).

We love to see our children growing, don’t we? Right from birth we are excited to see each new development. It is so rewarding to see our daughters grow up to be graceful women of God and our sons to be strong young men who really know how to be men! All my sons are over six feet, my oldest son is 6’ 8.” And now we have a grandson who is also 6’ 8” and all the grown ones are over 6.” I even have a granddaughter who is 6’ 2”.

However, we don’t only want to see them grow in physical stature, but in spiritual stature. This is our greatest vision and longing, isn’t it?

Reading about Samuel I notice how the Bible records the PROGRESSION of his growth. God does not want our children to become stagnant, but continually growing in the Lord.

 1.     HE GREW

1 Samuel 2:21 says: “And the child Samuel GREW before the Lord.” The phrase “before the LORD” in the King James Version means “in the presence of the Lord.” The HCSB and ESV and other versions translate it: “The boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.” Don’t those words really get to you? They certainly challenge me. It is not enough for our children to grow up in our presence. They must grow up in the presence of the Lord.

I love the Young’s Literal translation which states: “And the youth Samuel groweth up with Jehovah.” He grew up with God. Isn’t that amazing? Isn’t this what we want for our children?

Motherhood is far more than feeding and clothing our children. It is creating an atmosphere where the presence of God reigns in our home. Our children should feel and be aware of the presence of the Lord. It’s in this atmosphere that they “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

 2.     HE GREW ON

2 Samuel 2:26 says: “And the child Samuel GREW ON and was in favor both with the LORD, and with men.” Isn’t this a wonderful testimony? He continued growing on, physically and spiritually. We certainly want this for our children, don’t we?

3.     HE GREW AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM

1 Samuel 3:19: “And Samuel GREW, AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.” Oh, that our children will grow up knowing the power and presence of the Lord with them in every aspect of their lives. This is the ultimate vision for our parenting.

Of course, you know the story of how God came to Samuel and spoke to him in the night (1 Samuel 3:1-21). The historian Josephus says that Samuel would have been about twelve years old when God called him and spoke to him about Eli and his sons. It’s interesting that Jesus was also twelve years old when his parents found him “in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers” (Luke 2:46, 47).

Are we raising our children for maturity? Are they familiar with hearing the voice of God? Are they able to discuss the truths and doctrines of the Word? As we notice their physical growth, we should also see their spiritual growth. I am amazed that so many adult Christians don’t even know God’s Word. They cannot even recite basic Scriptures.

How will our children become used to hearing the voice of God through His Word if we don’t read it to them daily in our family devotions time? How will they know the truths of God’s Word if we don’t encourage them to also read it personally every day and listen for God to speak to them?

Let’s raise children who are not only physically growing, but spiritually growing up in God. Growing up in the presence of God, growing up hearing His voice, growing up familiar with His Word, and growing up ready to be prayer warriors.

Amen! (With an exclamation mark)!

Love to you today, Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, Please help me to inspire and encourage the spiritual growth of my children as much as their physical growth. I know their inner man is even more important than their outer man. I want to help their inner man grow strong. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am preparing good food for my children, both naturally and spiritually.

YOUR PLACE OF POWER
Part 2

“He settles the barren woman in her home, as a joyful mother of children”
(Psalm 113:9).

Today we look at further translations of Jude 1:6.

NLT: “I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged.” Two thoughts here. Firstly, this Scripture speaks of the “limits of authority.” No one, except God has full authority. Every creation has their own sphere of authority, but it is limited to their particular sphere. When we go outside the limits of authority God has given us, we do it to our own deception and peril. Why do we need more authority when we have already been given authority?

Secondly, I love the phrase, “the place where they belonged.” The home is such a beautiful place. It is the first thing God created after He created Adam. God built the first home.

Mothers belong in the home. Children belong with mothers in the home. Motherhood and home are synonymous. It’s the place where we belong. It should give us the sense of belonging. Those who live in our hoe should feel they belong.

Those who don’t believe in the power of the home are those who have been brainwashed by our feminist and humanist society. We are either programmed by the world or programmed by God’s Word. If you know and love the truth of God’s Word, you’ll know it’s where you belong and where He has placed you. What a lovely thing to have a place where you belong! What more could you want?

Moffat: “The angels who abandoned their own domain, instead of preserving their proper rank . . .” They did not preserve the realm God gave them. This is a powerful point. It’s not enough to stay in our domain, but we must preserve it. We must preserve the glory of the home. We must preserve the art of homemaking and motherhood. We must not only preserve it for ourselves and our children but for future generations.

We are living in such a deceived world that motherhood is becoming instinct in some areas of society. There are even child-free organizations. There are those who still have children but their career outside the home is more important to them. Many young mothers today have not been trained to cook and manage the home. They have not been taught the glory of keeping a home. They have not been taught how important it is to have a heart-warming meal ready for their husbands when they come home. Many did not grow up experiencing the joys of sitting around the table together for their meals and are therefore not passing it on to the next generation.

Fenton: “Those angels also who did not guard their own dominion, but abandoned their proper duty . . .” This is very similar to the above translation. We must guard what God has given to us.  We must not let it go. The phrase “keepers at home” in Titus 2: 5 literally means to be “guarders of the home.” Mothers are to watch over their home and their children like a watch dog. We cannot be a watch dog if we are not in our home.

NEB: “Remember too the angels, how some of them were not content to keep the dominion given to them, but abandoned their proper home . . .” They were not content. Many mothers are not content with motherhood. Mainly because they have been educated to think this way. They have been programmed that motherhood is insignificant and they must pursue a career outside the home. This does not line up with God’s Word.

I love The Living Bible translation of Psalm 128:3: “Your wife shall be contented in your home.”

Indoctrination is such a powerful thing. It shapes our lives. We are either indoctrinated with lies or with the living truth of God’s Word. Why would a mother be more content to work for someone else’s organization rather than building up and prospering her own home? Why would a mother be more content to manage someone else’s business while her own home and family life is fragmented and weakened? Only one reason: feministic brainwashing by our extreme socialist education system and humanistic society which are all in opposition to God’s Word.

I could continue sharing many more translations with you. Many of them use the words “abandoned their own home.” Others translate it “deserted their own dwelling place.” Abandoned and deserted. This is the state of many homes in our nation today. Families come home to sleep the night, but the homes are abandoned during the day. Mothers have gone AWOL. They have left their God appointed realm. This is not God’s plan. “From the beginning it was not so” (Matthew 19:8). 

Blessings from NANCY CAMPBELL

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, I don’t want to be a deserter from the domain you have appointed for me. I want to embrace it with all my heart and live in the glory that you have designed for me. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am blessed to be queen of my home.

YOUR PLACE OF POWER
Part 1

“I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house,
give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully”
(1 Timothy 5:14).

Have you read the book of Jude recently? Only one chapter, but it is a very challenging book. Jude exhorts the believes to “earnestly contend for the faith” and gives examples from the Old Testament of those who started well but didn’t make it in the end. These words were written for our warning and admonition.

In Jude 1:6 he uses the example of the angels who rose in rebellion against God and left the habitation God gave them. These angels lived in a glorious realm, adorned with precious jewels, and with authority and rulership in their God-given domain (Ezekiel 28:13-18). But it wasn’t enough. They wanted more and left their God-appointed home.

This Scripture also speaks to us as women. God has given to us a domain, a realm that He destined for us and where He wants us to be queens. He planned and showed us clearly in His Word that He wants His female creation to be the keepers of the homes of the nations. God first created Adam, but He did not create the women until He prepared the delightful Eden home. He had it ready for her. When Eve woke up to life, she was already in her home.

God chose His female creation to bring forth His children and to be the nurturers of life and the builders of homes and families which ultimately builds the nation.

It is sad that many women today are temped like the angels of old to leave the domain God has given to them. They are not content with what God has given.  They want more. They want something else.

I’d love to share this Scripture from the King James Version and then some different translations. I find that each one reveals another nuance of the message of this powerful Scripture.

KJV: “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”

The Greek word for “first estate” is arche meaning “beginning, first, power, principality, dominion, rule.” God wants us to keep to the first mandate He gave at  the very beginning. God’s plans do not change. His plans for mankind were planned in the eternal realm and purified seven times (Psalm 123:6). They are perfect.

This word also means “principality and rule.” God has given to each of His creations a realm where they rule and reign. These angels were given power and authority in their domain. Even with the animals it is the same. The whales and dolphins and fish of the sea have freedom and rule in the oceans. Imagine if they were not content with their domain and decided they would rather be like the lion and become king of the jungle. It would be to their destruction.

Imagine if the lion who rules the jungle decided he’d rather live in the great ocean. It would be ridiculous.

God has given to male his mandate to go forth and lead, provide, and even fight to protect. He has authority in this realm.

But God has also given to His female creation a sphere of rulership. He has given her the domain of her home over which she is to rule and manage (1 Timothy 5:14). The power, vision, creativity, and productivity that can be accomplished in the home is immeasurable. He has given her the privilege to bring forth life and to be the nurturer in the home and in society. He has given her the privilege to teach and train the next generation which will either make or break the nation.  This is her sphere and where she has God-given rulership over her domain. She is queen. Why does she want to leave?

CJB: “And the angels that did not keep within their original authority, but abandoned their proper sphere . . .“ They did not keep to the original authority. It is sad to see so many women departing from their original glory and authority God has given to them.

TPT: “In the same way, there were heavenly messengers in rebellion who went outside their rightful domain of authority and abandoned their appointed realms . . .” These angels “went outside” their “appointed realms.” Mothers also have an appointed realm. Appointed by God. When we go outside of this realm, we move out of the realm God has placed us. It is a dangerous place to be outside the will of God.

More thoughts to share with you next week.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

www.aoverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, I thank you that You have created me for a realm that is totally suited to me, a domain where I will find blessing and glory. Please help me to understand Your ways in the midst of this deceived culture. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am embracing the domain that God has given to me.

Don’t miss the podcast for wives and mothers each week:

LIFE TO THE FULL w/ Nancy Campbell

https://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com