CHILDREN

--Includes pregnancy,
the "right to life", childbirth, raising & training children

1. Pregnancy:

A. Children are a blessing
from God:

Psa.127:3                Children
are an heritage of the Lord: & the fruit of the womb is His reward

Gen.49:25               God...shall
bless thee with blessings of...the womb

Psa.113:9                He
maketh the barren woman to keep house, & to be a joyful mother of children

Psa.127:4,5             As
arrows...so are children...Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of
them

Psa.128:1,3             Blessed
is every one that feareth the Lord. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine

Pro.17:6  Children's children are the crown of old
men

1Tim.5:14               I
will therefore that...women marry, bear children

(See
also Gen.30:1; Deut.33:24; 1Sam.1:1-18; Lk.1:42.)

B. People do their
part, but conception is still God's doing:

Gen.25:21               Isaac
entreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren...& Rebekah his
wife conceived

Gen.30:22,23          God
remembered Rachel...& opened her womb. And she conceived, & bare a son

1Sam.1:27               For
this child I prayed; & the Lord hath given me

Heb.2:13 Behold I & the children which God hath
given me

Lk.1:7,13 Thy prayer is heard; & thy wife...shall
bear thee a son

(See
also Gen.29:31; 33:5; Judg.13:3; Psa.115:14.)

C. God is
the One Who blesses women with pregnancy:

Gen.4:1   Adam knew Eve...& she
conceived, & bare Cain, & said, I have gotten a man from the Lord

Gen.4:25 Adam knew his wife again; & she bare a
son...God, said she, hath appointed me another seed

Ruth
4:13               When
(Boaz) went in unto (Ruth), the Lord gave her conception, & she bare
a son

(See
also 1Sam.1:19,20)

D. It is God Who
keeps some women from having children:

1Sam.1:5 But the Lord had shut up (Hannah's) womb

(See
also Gen.30:1,2)

E. In the Bible, it
was considered a reproach not to have children:

(See
Gen.20:17,18; 2Sam.6:23; Jer.22:30. )

2. The Lord's hand
on children before birth:

A. God forms
children in the womb:

Job
31:15                Did
not He that made me in the womb make him? And did not One fashion us in the
womb?

Job
33:4  The Spirit of God hath made me,
&...given me life

Psa.71:5,6               By
Thee I have been holden up from the womb

Psa.139:14-16        I am
wonderfully made...in Thy book all my members were written, which in
continuance were fashioned

(See
also Isa.44:24a)

B. It is God Who
gives life & a soul to unborn children:

Job
33:4  The breath of the Almighty hath
given me life

Gen.2:7   God...breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life; & man became a living soul

Acts
17:25b           He
giveth to all life, & breath

C. His care of
children in the womb:

Psa.139:13              Thou
hast covered me in my mother's womb

Isa.40:11 He...shall gently lead those that are with
young

D. God loves &
knows children, even before birth:

Psa.22:10                I
was cast upon Thee from the womb: Thou art my God from my mother's belly

Isa.49:1   The Lord hath called me from the
womb; from the (womb) hath He made mention of my name

Jer.1:5     Before I formed thee in
the belly I knew thee; before thou camest out of the womb I sanctified thee

Lk.1:13    [Angel said:] Thy
wife...shall bear thee a son, & thou shalt call his name John

3. The Bible on
"the right to life":

A. Abortion is murder
& infanticide:

Psa.106:38              Shed
innocent blood...of their sons & daughters

Deut.27:25             Cursed
be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent

Jer.2:34,35              In
thy skirts is found the blood...of poor innocents

Acts
7:19               They
cast out their young (literally: "newly-born or unborn")
children, to the end they might not live

2Tim.3:1-3              In
the last days...men [& women] shall be lovers of their selves...without
natural affection (love)

B. Don't worry
about overpopulating the earth:

Gen.1:28 Be fruitful, & multiply, & replenish the
earth

Jam.5:8b For the coming of the Lord draweth nigh

C. God promises to
take care of believers' children:

Psa.37:25                I
have been young & now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,
nor his seed begging bread

Pro.11:21b              The
seed of the righteous shall be delivered

Isa.65:23b              They
are the seed of the blessed...& their offspring

(See
also Psa.25:12,13; 102:28; 112:1,2; Pro.14:26; Phi.4:19.)

4. Childbirth:

A. God's people
often blessed with easy childbirth:

Exo.1:19  The Hebrew women are...lively, & are
delivered ere (before) the midwives come

Isa.66:7   Before she travailed, she brought
forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a child

B. God can help in
the delivery:

Psa.22:9a                Thou
art He that took me out of the womb

Psa.71:6  Thou art He that took me out of my
mother's bowels

Isa.46:3   (They) are borne by Me from the
belly...from the womb

C. Promises to
claim during long labour:

Isa.65:23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth
for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed

Isa.66:9   Shall I bring to the birth, &
not cause to bring forth? shall I cause to bring forth, & shut the womb?

Jn.16:21  As soon as she is delivered of the child,
she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born

Heb.11:11               Through
faith Sara...was delivered of a child...because she judged Him faithful Who had
promised

D. Promises for strength:

Isa.40:29-31           He
giveth power to the faint; & to them that have no might He increaseth
strength...renew their strength

Isa.41:10 Be not dismayed...I will strengthen thee

E. Conditions for
claiming God's promises:

Dan.6:16b              God
Whom thou servest continually, will deliver thee

1Tim.2:15               She
shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith & charity
(love)

5. Teaching &
training your children:

Judg.13:8               Teach
us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born

A. God's care of
young children:

Mat.18:10               In
Heaven their angels always behold the face of (God)

1Cor.7:14                [Even
if only one parent is a believer, the children are sanctified by God]

B. Their early
training will guide them all through life:

Pro.22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go:
& when he is old, he will not depart from it

C. Give the care
& training of your children priority:

Mk.7:27  Let the children first be filled

3Jn.4       I have no
greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth

D. If you neglect
them for other things, you'll both suffer:

Pro.29:15b              A
child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame

1Ki.20:40a              As
(I) was busy (with other things) here & there, he was gone (See also
Mat.23:23b)

E. You should teach
your children the Word:

Deut.6:6,7              These
Words...teach them diligently unto thy children

Deut.11:18-20        Lay
up these My Words in your heart & in your soul...& teach them (to) your
children

Isa.38:19b              The
father to the children shall make known Thy truth

Joel
1:3   Tell ye your
children...& let your children tell their children, & their children
another generation

Jn.21:15  Lovest thou Me more than these? Feed My
lambs

2Tim.3:15               From
a child (infancy) thou hast known the Scriptures

(See
also Deut.31:12,13; Psa.78:1-6; 1Jn.2:13.)

F. Teach your
children to trust in God:

Psa.22:9b               Thou
didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts

Psa.34:11                Come,
ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear (reverence) of the Lord

Psa.78:6,7               Declare
them to [your] children: that they might set their hope in God

Acts
2:39               For
the promise is unto you, & to your children

Heb.2:13 I will put my trust in Him...I & the
children

G. Lead them to
receive Jesus:

Mk.10:14                Suffer
(allow) the little children to come unto Me

Gal.4:19  My little children, of whom I travail in
birth...until Christ be formed in you

1Jn.2:12  I write unto you, little children, because
your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake

H. God's Word
teaches them how to have eternal life:

Jn.5:39    Search the Scriptures; in
them...ye have eternal life

2Tim.3:15               Scriptures...are
able to make thee wise unto salvation

I. Only God
can teach life's most important lessons:

Psa.25:5  Lead me in Thy truth, & teach me: for
Thou art...God

Pro.8:32,33             Hearken
unto Me, O ye children...keep My ways. Hear instruction, & be wise, &
refuse it not

Isa.54:13 All thy children shall be taught of the Lord;
& great shall be peace of thy children (See also Jn.6:45)

1Cor.2:13                We
speak...words...which the Holy Ghost teacheth

J. Children
worshipping with their parents:

Josh.8:35                ["Little
ones" listen to Bible reading with parents]

2Chr.20:13              [Children
included in serious prayer meeting]

(See
also Joel 2:12,15,16)

6. Children's
obedience & disobedience:

A. Children are to obey
their parents:

Pro.1:8,9 My son, hear the instruction of thy father,
&...mother

Eph.6:1   Children, obey your parents in the
Lord: this is right

Col.3:20  Children, obey your parents in all
things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord

B. Children are to
honour & reverence their parents:

Exo.20:12                Honour
thy father & mother: that thy days may be long

Lev.19:3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, & his
father

Eph.6:2   Honour thy father & mother;
[this] is the first commandment with promise

(See
also Pro.20:20; 23:22.)

C. The blessing of
having obedient, wise children:

Pro.10:1a                A
wise son maketh a glad father

Pro.13:1a                A
wise son heareth his father's instruction

Pro.23:15,16           Son,
if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice

Pro.23:24,25           He
that begetteth a wise child shall have joy

Pro.28:7  Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son

3Jn.4       I have no
greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth (See also 2Jn.4)

D. The grief of
having disobedient, foolish children:

Pro.17:21                The
father of a fool hath no joy

Pro.17:25                A
foolish son is a grief to his father, & bitterness to her that bare him
(his mother)

Pro.19:13                A
foolish son is the calamity of his father

Pro.10:1b                A
foolish son is the heaviness of his mother

7. Loving
instruction balanced with firm discipline:

A. Treat your
children gently & in love:

Lk.1:17    He shall...turn hearts of the
fathers to the children

Eph.6:4a Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath

Col.3:21  Fathers, provoke not your children to
anger, lest they be discouraged

1Thes.2:7               We
were gentle...as a nurse cherisheth her children

Tit.2:4     Teach the young
women...to love their childen

B. Patience, mercy
& truth are the most effective:

Eph.6:4b Bring them up in the nurture & admonition
of the Lord

1Thes.2:11             We
exhorted & comforted & charged (testified to) every one of you, as a
father doth his children

Rom.2:4  The goodness of God leadeth thee to
repentance

Pro.16:6  By mercy & truth iniquity is purged

C. Each child is
different; seek God how to train & discipline:

Judg.13:12             How
shall we order the child, & how shall we do?

(See
also Lk.12:47,48)

D. The Scriptural
admonition to chastise naughty children:

Pro.13:24                He
that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him
betimes (promptly)

Pro.19:18                Chasten
thy son while there is hope, & let not thy soul spare for his crying

Pro.22:15                Foolishness
is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far
from him

Pro.23:13                Withhold
not correction from the child

Pro.29:17                Correct
thy son, & he shall give thee rest...delight

E. Responsible
Christians required to restrain their children:

1Tim.3:4 That ruleth well his own house, having his
children in subjection with all gravity

1Tim.3:12b             Ruling
their children & their own houses well

Tit.1:6     Blameless...having
faithful children not...unruly

(See
also Gal.4:1,2)

F. When children
are not corrected or restrained:

1Sam.2:22-25,        I
will judge his house...because his (Eli's) sons made

3:13         themselves
vile, & he restrained them not

1Ki.1:1,5,6              His
father had not displeased him at any time...saying, "Why hast thou done
so?" (See also vs.16-21)

Pro.29:15b              A
child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame

Lk.15:12,13             [Father
of the prodigal son gave him his share, & the son then went off &
wasted it with riotous living]

G. Such a lack of
discipline means a lack of fearing God:

1Sam.2:29,30          Wherefore
kick ye at...Mine offering...& honourest thy sons above Me? (See the
reason in 1Sam.2:12-17)

H. Even with right
training, some children will go wrong:

1Sam.8:1-3,5a        [Righteous
Samuel's sons became corrupt & covetous]

Mk.13:12,13           [In
the last days, some backslidden children will betray their Christian
parents--See also Mat.24:10]

(See
also Pro.2:16-18)

I. Partiality &
favouritism cause problems:

Gen.25:27,28          Isaac
loved Esau...but Rebekah loved Jacob [& helped Jacob deceive old father
Isaac--Gen.27:1-18]

Gen.37:3,4              Israel
loved Joseph more than all his children...when his brethren saw (it), they
hated him

8. The growing
years:

A. Be considerate
of children's limitations:

Gen.33:12-14          The
children are tender (young)...I will lead on softly according as the...children
be able to endure

B. Growing up &
maturing:

Isa.28:9   Whom shall he teach knowledge?
And...make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned

Heb.5:14 Strong meat (doctrine) belongeth to them...of
full age

C. Becoming a teen,
a young adult:

1Cor.13:11              When
I became a man, I put away childish things

Eph.4:14a               That
we henceforth be no more children

1Cor.14:20              Be
not children in understanding: in malice be ye children, but in understanding
be men (mature)

D. Teen years: A
time of dedication & commitment:

2Chr.34:1-7            [Josiah,
when 16 years old, sought God in earn est, dedicated his life to Him &
zealously served Him]

Eccl.12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy
youth

1Tim.4:12               Let
no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in
conversation, charity, faith

9. Children in
God's service:

A. Babies &
small children touch unbelievers' hearts:

Exo.2:1-6,10           [Pharaoh's
daughter was touched by baby Moses, & she disobeyed Pharaoh's order &
saved him--Exo.1:22]

B. Examples of
young children serving God:

1Sam.2:11,18          Samuel
ministered before the Lord, being a child

Exo.2:1-8                [Miriam,
as a young child, watched out for her baby brother, Moses]

2Ki.5:1-4 [The "little maid" witnesses to her
heathen master about God's power--See also vs.14,15a,17]

Dan.1:17-20           [The
four Hebrew children, full of God's wisdom, counselled king Nebuchadnezzar]

C. Examples of
older children & young teens serving God:

Jer.1:4-9  [Teenage Jeremiah called to proclaim
God's Words]

1Sam.16:1,10-13    [David anointed to be king
when just a teen] (See also 16:14-23; 17:32-37,49.)

Acts
23:12-24        [The
apostle Paul's teenage nephew saves his life]

D. Young men
serving God in positions of responsibility:

Acts
16:1-3a          [Paul
chose young Timothy to be his helper & travelling companion] (See
1Tim.4:12a)

E. If trained
right, children will be a great blessing:

Psa.127:4,5             As
arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children...they shall speak
(contend) with the enemies

Isa.8:18   I & the children...are for
signs & for wonders

Mat.18:5 Whoso shall receive one such little child in My
name receiveth Me (See also Mk.9:36,37)

F. God's Spirit can
even use small children to lead:

Isa.11:6b                A
little child shall lead them

G. Children
proclaiming God's praise:

Mat.21:15,16          The
children crying (out)...& saying, Hosanna! Out of the mouth of babes Thou
hast perfected praise

Neh.12:43               God
made them rejoice...the children (also) rejoiced

Psa.148:12,13         Children:
Let them praise the name of the Lord

H. Dedicating your
children to God's service:

1Sam.1:28               I
have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord

10. Becoming like
children:

A. You must have
the faith of a child to be saved:

Mat.18:3 Except ye be converted, & become as little
children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven

Mat.18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as
this little child...is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven

Mk.10:15                Whosoever
shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter
therein

B. In relation to
God, we are children:

Deut.8:5 As a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy
God chasteneth thee

1Ki.3:7    [King Solomon told God:] I am
but a little child

Psa.103:13              Like
as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him

Eph.5:1   Be ye therefore followers of God,
as dear children

(See
also Isa.63:15,16; Mal.3:17; Gal.4:3-7.)