OUR PRIESTLY RESPONSIBILITY
In Praying and Blessing our Children

ON OUR SHOULDERS

Exodus 28:12: “So Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial.”

I love the typology of the Priesthood and how everything in the tabernacle in the wilderness relates to us today. The tabernacle followed a heavenly pattern, but also showed us a pattern for our lives today. God commanded that the High Priest’s clothing was to be for glory and for beauty. I want to tell you about two aspects of his beautiful garments.

Firstly, the ephod, which was a garment skillfully embroidered with gold thread and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. It was joined with two shoulder-pieces in which were fastened two onyx stones. God told them to engrave the names of the children of Israel on the stones, six on one and six on the other, in order of their birth.

These stones were not the onyx stone we know today. The word in the Hebrew means “to shine with the luster of fire.” It was obviously an exquisite shining jewel. Even more than that, they were to be set in gold. This reveals the preciousness of the sons of Israel to God. They were His chosen people, the apple of His eye. This is how we should see our children.

Exodus 28:12: “And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial.”

The names of the tribes of Israel were not graven on these precious stones for an ornament, but to be carried on the High Priests’ shoulders into the presence of the Lord. The High Priest bore the responsibility of the people’s spiritual life. It is on the shoulders that we carry burdens and weights. In the same way, the father (the priest of every home), along with the mother, carry the burden of their children upon their shoulders in prayer. It is a burden we must not forsake. If we as parents do not carry this burden for our children, who will?

Not only do the shoulders speak of carrying a burden, but they speak of governing responsibility. Speaking of Jesus and His final victory as king of the world, Isaiah 9:6-7 says: “The government shall be upon his shoulder . . . of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end . . . and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever.”

It is our governmental responsibility as parents to bring our children before the Lord in prayer. God gives us authority as parents. We are not to take this lightly. One of the ways we show our governing responsibility is to intercede for them. It is in the place of prayer that we learn to parent with true justice. God chose Abraham because he knew that he would “command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment” (Genesis 18:17-19).

We are to raise our children with justice and judgment. We cannot do this with our own wisdom. Our wisdom tends to humanism and tolerance. God’s wisdom moves in the balance of justice and mercy. Only God can teach us the balance. For the sake of our parenting and the sake of our children we cannot afford to lay down our parental task of daily bringing our children before the Lord upon our shoulders.

ON OUR HEART

Exodus 28:29 says, “Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the Lord continually.”

The High priest also wore a breastplate made up of the same beautiful colors as the ephod. On the breastplate they attached four rows of precious gem stones which were each set in gold. They had to engrave the name of a tribe of Israel on each of the stones. God reveals how precious each one of the chosen tribes of Israel is to Him by engraving their names on these beautiful jewels. In fact, He calls them His “jewels.” Malachi 3:17 says: “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.” The word “jewels” here means “special treasure.”

Each jewel was not the same, but different and distinct from the others, revealing the difference in nature and character of the twelve tribes. Each son had a different personality and a specific destiny ordained by God. As the high priest walked around, the jewels on the breastpiece shone and sparkled with their different colors and hues.

It is the same with our children. Each one is unique and created by God for a particular destiny. We must not expect them to be the same as each other. Each one has their own special glory and beauty.

The breastpiece was made of one piece of material. Although each son of Israel was different, they represented a unified whole. They were one nation. Although each one of our children has different traits and giftings, we are one family. Diversity and unity together.

This is God’s plan for marriage; the wife and husband have totally different functions, but they are to be one. Our body is made up of many members, each fulfilling a difficult function, but it is one body. The church has many members, but is meant to be one body. Thus in our families. In all our differences we must keep the unity. We are one family.

WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING

There was something else in the breastpiece beside the precious jewels. Exodus 28:30 reads: “And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummin; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the Lord; and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually.” The Urim and the Thummin are rather a mystery, but the words mean “lights” and “perfections,” or an easier way to remember them is “light” and “right.”

Through the Urim and Thummim, God, who is the Father of lights and the perfection of all understanding and truth would give counsel to the High Priest regarding the children of Israel. He would show Aaron how to minister justice and judgment, for the breastplate was a “breastplate of judgment.”

The Urim and Thummim were a type that looked to the future. We no longer need the Urim and Thummim to give us direction and counsel, as the High Priest needed. As we wait upon the Lord, the Holy Spirit who now indwells, teaches us and gives us answers for the challenges of parenting our children.

In the Gospel of John we read, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost . . . he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance . . . He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment . . . He will guide you into all truth” (John 14:26: 16:8-11, 13).

No wonder we need to bring our children before the Lord in prayer. We need His guidance desperately. God commanded Aaron to “bear the names of the children of Israel... upon his heart, when he goes in unto the holy place.” (Exodus 28:29).

We must not only carry the names of children upon our shoulders but also upon our heart. If they are on our heart, we will want to pray for them. We express our greatest love for our children when we pray for them. It is proof that they are in our hearts when we intercede for them.

DO SOMETHING PRACTICAL

1 Samuel 12:23: “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way.”

We cannot underestimate the power of prayer. It is more powerful than anything else we can do for our children. In Exodus 28:29 God instructed that Aaron should bear the names of the children of Israel “upon his heart... for a memorial before the Lord continually.”

The memorial is a remembrance. When we bring our children before the Lord we remind Him of them. Of course, God knows them, but He wants us to remind Him of them. Every day you can remind the Lord of your children.

This was such a high priority to God that He made it very tangible and practical. He didn’t just say: “I want Aaron to pray for the tribes of Israel when he comes into my presence.” Instead, He ordained for their names to be engraved on precious stones on his shoulders and on beautiful jewels over his heart.

I know your children’s names are upon your heart, but you may also like to write, engrave, or make something tangible that you can take into God’s presence when you pray for them each day.

I like to lay my hand over my heart as I pray for my children each day, emphasizing the fact that they are upon my heart. I have also written the names of our children and grandchildren on decorated paper and the prayer requests on another paper which I have laminated. Although we pray for them verbally, I like to place this before the Lord as we pray. I may not get to verbally bring every request I have listed before the Lord each day, but at least I represent them by name before Him.

SPEAK BLESSINGS OVER YOUR CHILDREN

Deuteronomy 21:5: “And the priests and the Levites shall come near, for them the Lord thy God has chosen to minister unto Him, and to bless in the name of the Lord; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried.”

We have been learning that it is our priestly responsibility to pray for our children. However, the above Scripture tells us something else we need to do. The primary function of the priest is to minister to the Lord, and then minister to the people. Of course, that means the people who are closest to us first, before we start ministering to others.

As priests unto God, we have been given the divine mandate to bless our children. It is not an option. It is mandatory.

To bless means to speak well of, to praise. But it is more than that. We are to bless in the name of the Lord. We are to pronounce God’s blessings upon our children and those around us. That means to speak into them God’s promises and His plan for them, to affirm God’s truth over their lives, and to speak God’s destiny over them.

It is so easy to speak negatively, isn’t it? It comes easy. But as priests of the Lord, we must make a concerted effort to get into the habit of speaking blessings. May God bring us to the place in our lives where blessings flow naturally from our lips.

However, I believe we should also make specific times for blessing. God’s official blessing, written in Numbers 6:24-26 was traditionally spoken over the people at the end of the evening sacrifice. Perhaps we could follow suit and bless our children at the end of Family Devotions at each evening meal.

If you feel you cannot do it every evening, what about establishing the Shabbat meal? This is our favorite meal of the week where we not only light the candles and partake of communion together, but where Colin blesses me, our children and whoever is at our table. To learn more about this, go to www.aboverubies.org and check the Archived Devotions for The Preparation Day and The Shabbat Meal.

You can bless your children by encouraging and affirming them in their giftings and in the good character traits you see evident in their lives. You can also bless them in the name of the Lord with the Word of the Lord. The Numbers 6 blessing is a blessing from the Trinity--the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

v. 24: “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee.”
What a blessing to be guarded, preserved, protected, and watched over by our Father God. And what a wonderful blessing to put upon our children and others (Psalm 121:3-8).

v. 25: “The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee.”
This is the blessing of the Son of righteousness with healing in His wings and who is full of grace and truth. He is the one that has wrought salvation for us and blesses us with salvation. May each of our children receive this blessing.

v. 26: “The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
This is the blessing from God the Holy Spirit.

v. 27 ends with the wonderful words, “And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel: and I will bless them.”

It is great to bless your family out of the abundance of your own heart, but it is even greater to bless them with the powerful name of the Lord God. What greater blessings could there be than to put God’s name upon our children?

Another understanding of the word “bless” is “to kneel.” In Biblical times children would kneel to receive a blessing from their father. In some homes, children will kneel before their father to receive the blessing at their weekly Shabbat meal.

May the above Scriptures inspire you to pray and bless your children.

Nancy Campbell
www.aboverubies.org

DO YOU WANT TO REVOLUTIONIZE PRAYER TIMES IN YOUR HOME?
TRY PRAYER BOXES!

“God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you”
(1 Samuel 12:23).

Is prayer part of your home? If your home belongs to God, it certainly will be. Jesus said in Mark 11:17: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” A praying family is God’s family. If we are not a praying family, we may as well be a heathen family! Well, that’s what God word says. Check it out in Jeremiah 10:25.

However, I found that when our children were young, we needed to teach them to pray. Little children like to pray for “Mommy and Daddy” and the cat and the dog etc. We must teach them to widen their horizon of prayer.

Therefore, I made a FAMILY PRAYER BOX. On cards, I wrote the names of each one in the family, including all the extended family—aunts and uncles and grandparents etc. After reading God’s Word at the end of our meal we passed around the Family Prayer Box and they picked out a card. This is a wonderful way to regularly pray for your whole family. Also, the children love to pick out a card.

But that was only a start. I then made another box to include other people we needed to pray for—missionaries, needs in the nation, and the world. We now passed around two Prayer Boxes for the children to take cards. This gave them inspiration to pray for others beyond their little world and revolutionized their praying.

The years have gone by and now we have eight different prayer boxes in our home. There are so many needs in the nation and the world to pray for that we keep adding boxes. Every morning and every evening at our Family Bible and Prayer time we use our FAMILY PRAYER BOX and choose one other.

Let me tell you about each prayer box. I hope you’ll be inspired to make some too, even if not quite as many as we have.

1. OUR FAMILY PRAYER BOX

Start with this one. This keeps you praying for each other daily and also your extended family. I don’t think you’ll have as many as we have in our FAMILY PRAYER BOX. With in-laws and grandchildren and great-grandchildren we now have over 100 family members!

2. OUR WORLD CHANGING PRAYER BOX

Filled with cards of people who we hear about who are need of prayer, missionaries, and different needs in the nation and the world.

3. OUR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS PRAYER BOX

I believe every home needs to have this prayer box. Your box will be fat with cards. There are 60 countries persecuting Christians. Check them out on the Internet. You may have to alternate these countries in your prayer box. As you research, you will become aware of many specific needs and people to pray for. Don’t forget North Korea who persecute Christians more than any other country in the world.

Hebrews 13:3 tells us to pray for those being persecuted as though we were in prison with them and to feel their suffering as though we were suffering their pain in our own body.

4. OUR ISRAEL PRAYER BOX

You cannot be without this Prayer Box either. We are commanded to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). And remember Isaiah 64:6, 7: “On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchman; all the day and all the night they shall NEVER BE SILENT. You who put the LORD in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.”

5. OUR NATIONAL PRAYER BOX

We have a great burden for this box. We pray for the needs in our nation. We pray for our president and the members of his cabinet. We pray against the evils of nation such as abortion and homosexuality, etc. We pray for revival and a great move of God in our nation. Proverbs 14:34 says: “Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” You and your children will want to pray for your nation.

6. OUR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY RESTORATION PRAYER BOX

Praying for marriages and families that are going through difficulty or separating. We pray for their restoration.

7. OUR SALVATION AND HEALING PRAYER BOX

In this box, we place the names of those who need salvation and healing. We have many cards in this box too.

8. OUR COUNTRIES AND CAPITALS PRAYER BOX

I write on cards the names of the most strategic capitals and countries of the world. This is also a good way for your children to get to know the capitals of the countries of the world and yet at the same time give them a vision to pray. I also write on the back of the card the name of the Prime Minister or President of that country so we can pray for him too. The Scripture says that God beholds the nations of the world. We should also be watching over the nations to pray for them.

Here are some other ideas for Prayer Boxes that you may like to make:

OUR 10/40 WINDOW PRAYER BOX

The 10/40 Window is the rectangular area of North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, approximately between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude. These countries include most of the world's Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists--a high percentage of the least evangelized and unreached peoples with the Gospel. Nine out of ten people in the 10/40 Window or The Land Between the Walls have never heard the gospel. The persecution of Christians in the 10/40 Window has increased by 400 percent over the last 10 years.

OUR CHURCH FELLOWSHIP PRAYER BOX

Write cards of the different families in your church who need prayer and encouragement. We have used this box from time to time.

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PRAYER BOX

Do you have a vision to reach out to your neighbors and community? The best way is to begin with prayer. As you pray for them, God will show you how He wants you to reach out to them, perhaps to invite them over for a meal to show them God’s love.

OUR THANK YOU BOX

Don’t forget to say Thank You for your answers to prayer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enlist your children to help make the Prayer Boxes and also writing the cards. You can find old boxes and redecorate them. Children love doing this. If you have young children, you will find it a good idea to use pictures of missionaries, a certain person you are praying for to be saved or healed, and the kind of people who live in different countries.

Become a praying family. Praying families are WORLD-CHANGING FAMILIES!

NANCY CAMPBELL
www.aboverubies.org

Check out these links:
http://tinyurl.com/OurPrayerBox
http://tinyurl.com/IdeasForPrayerCards
http://www.worldwatchlist.us/world-watch-list-countries/
http://win1040.com/
http://www.1040windowreporter.com/#!prayer-points/vend http://tinyurl.com/Recommended Links
http://tinyurl.com/PrayerInTheHome
http://aboverubies.org/morning-evening-principle

Are Your Children Excited About World Missions?

God wants our homes to be houses of prayer for the world. He wants our children praying for the nations too. He wants our children to be excited about world missions and to have a heart for the lost.

There are many reasons why we as parents should try to get our children involved in world missions. Firstly, the Bible shows us that God used young people. Many were called at a young age such as Josiah and Jeremiah. God continues to use children today. I have witnessed him using my children as they invite our local Indian, Turkish, and Nepalese neighbours to church.

Secondly, we are told to train up our children (Proverbs 22:6). We teach our children to have godly characteristics such as a heart for the lost and compassion to those who are in need. By hearing about people in our world they gain understanding of other cultures. They see that many children have far less materialistically than themselves and become more appreciative. They learn to pray and trust God for different situations that missionaries and other Christians overseas have to face.

Finally, it helps them to identify with the needs of other people and see how they can make a difference in the world. We need to sow seeds of interest in missions at an early age if we want to see our children develop into future missionaries. Research shows that children are most likely to hear God’s call to full-time Christian ministry as missionaries or ministers between the ages of four to fourteen.

How?

1. Modelling

If children see their parents’ passion for world missions they, too, will be inspired and follow. They need to hear us talk about what God is doing around the world and to see us earnestly praying. They need to witness our heart for the lost.

2. Teaching

Home schooling and family devotions are the ideal times to teach our children about world missions. We can teach missions from the Bible including studying missionary characters such as Paul. We can learn about the needs of different countries/missionaries and pray together. There are many books, games, and different resources produced by missions organisations that can be used. During our family devotions, we use my book 40 Days 40 Bites once a week. We choose to make Monday a special day of the week to focus on world missions and call it “Missions Monday.” There are also amazing stories about missionaries such as Gladys Aylward, Eric Liddell, Jackie Pullinger and many others that will inspire our children.

3. Church input

A church that is involved in missions can also inspire children. Missions projects, missions weekends, missionary speakers, and contact with missionaries are all effective. Sunday schools can be encouraged to teach about missions and different countries. Some children can go on mission camps as a Sunday School group or individually. In the UK hundreds of children, who have attended a mission camp run by WEC International over the years, have later gone on to be missionaries.

4. Experience

Children can also get excited about world missions by experiencing it themselves. Different mission organisations offer trips for families and teenagers during summer breaks. They expose children and young people to the needs of the world, increase their desire to serve God, and get them excited about world missions.

May our families be houses of prayer for the nations and our children be excited what God is doing around the world.

TRUDI PARKES
Worthing, South Coast of England, UK
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To discover more, get Trudi’s book:

40 DAYS 40 BITES
A FAMILY GUIDE TO PRAY FOR THE WORLD
By Trudi Parkes

In 40 tasty, easily digestible bites you can travel round God’s amazing world and pray! This book covers over 20 different countries including Algeria, China, and North Korea. This family guide to praying for the world will open your eyes to the need and challenge you to come before God and pray.

http://tinyurl.com/40Days40Bites

PRAYER BRACELETS

For years, I told people that I believed in the power of prayer. I affirmed with my mouth that “prayer changes things.” I knew in my mind and heart it was true.

At a Ladies’ Retreat a few years ago, Nancy talked about prayer and quizzed us on Scriptures pertaining to prayer. There are at least 650 references to prayer in the Bible—probably more. I’m familiar with them, but do I believe them? Do I live like I believe that prayer is as powerful as the Bible says?

That weekend, I was challenged to pray for my children. If I don’t pray for my children, who will? I cannot rely on grandparents or a prayer-warrior-friend to cover my children with prayer. It is my duty and should be my delight. I must be vigilant for we live in the midst of a daily spiritual battle. I must purposefully pray for my children.

I had to look at my prayer life and found it sorely lacking. My heart was heavy. I was failing to pray for my own children! Day-to-day, I was very conscientious to prepare them nourishing foods, to educate them, and to fill their brains with a Biblical worldview. All these things are good, but I’d neglected to pray for my children. I’d left them uncovered.

When I did remember to hunker down and pray in the hustle and bustle of life in a big family, I usually petered out. Starting at the top of the age list, I could never get through them all—interrupted by my own distractions or the needs of the very ones I was trying to pray for.

The next time, I would start with the youngest and work my way up. Again, I was pulled away and some always got left out! The squeakiest wheel got the most prayer and the quietest one (who happened to be in the middle) was forgotten. This was unacceptable! I was abnegating the most basic of parental duties. I was surrendering my most powerful weapon to protect my family. Abandoning my post. This was not my heart. I needed a plan!

As Nancy shared that weekend about the high priest of Israel and his garments which held the names of the tribes of Israel, an idea began to take shape. On the ephod and the breastplate of the priestly garments were the names of the tribes of Israel. Exodus 28:29 (ESV) says: “So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgement on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular rememberance before the Lord.” I realized that I could no longer leave out any of “my tribe.” I needed to carry them with me as I carried out my motherhood role, to cover them, and bring their names before the Lord.

I am not much of a jewelry girl. I find it most inconvenient as I don’t know how to match it to my clothing, it makes a noise, or gets in the way when I try to be productive. I knew I couldn’t manage a breastplate or an ephod! But I needed a physical reminder.

Now, I wear a bracelet for each of my children. Each one is a simple elastic string of beads that matches just about everything. Honestly, I don’t care if it doesn’t match, because these bracelets are more important than fashion!

I put beads, which spell out my children’s names, on each bracelet. Every morning, I put the bracelets on my left wrist. As I pray for them, I move the bracelets to my right wrist. Now, when I am interrupted, I don’t lose my place! If I pray for them as the Lord leads, I don’t lose my place. No longer must it be done in order! If I finish praying for some, I slip those bracelets onto the counter—ready for the next day.

While driving errands, my wrist is right before me at the steering wheel—a reminder. I turn off the radio and pray instead. If I think, as I cook or wash dishes, “these bracelets are getting in the way,” I remind myself that my true work for the day is not completed. I am called to pray. When folding laundry, instead of letting my mind wander, I check my wrist and get down to the real business of my home.

My children know about my bracelets. It is the sweetest thing when my seven-year-old comes up to me, lovingly caressing my arm and checking each bracelet to look for her name. “Mommy, you haven’t prayed for me yet?” or, with excitement, “Mommy! You prayed for me already!”

I find that when I pray for each child, the Lord brings to my heart all the needs surrounding each particular child. My prayer life is becoming quite unbounded. I now pray for my children’s friends, their workplaces, their future spouses, and the ministries to which God has called them. Though I still need to make a bracelet for him, I pray for my husband daily as well.

I was once unable to find the time to pray for my husband and the nine precious children God has given me. Then I discovered I had the time all along. I was merely distracted. My walk with God is stronger, as I talk with Him all day long concerning the most exciting and the dullest things.

I ask you what I asked myself: “Do you really believe in the power of prayer? If so, are you living what you believe?” I’d be so happy for you to try my plan.

PAM FIELDS
Salem, Oregon, USA
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Printed in Above Rubies # 93.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR BRACELETS
What you need:
Clear stretchy cord, beading needle, seed beads, E6000 glue (to secure the knot so it doesn’t come undone). These supplies can be found at a craft store.
Alphabet beads from Oriental Trading company or Amazon (Amazon has an extra vowel set) which might be necessary, depending on how many you make). My beads started off silver, but after a year of wearing them, the silver has rubbed off and they are now white.