Winning The Young Generation Back For God: A Mother’s Day Message

14 May 2014 by Jason Law CM –

On the 27^th of April, Pr Nicky shared a timely call in KAOG about discipleship over the young generation. In that message, Pr Nicky reminded the elder generation that the younger generation has also been given a Royal mandate to bring discipleship to the nations, and this can only be done if they had been discipled well in their time. It was a call to parents to stand beside them, support them, and mentor them in the things of God so that they too will be able to fulfill the mandate God has given to them.

On the 11^th of May, 2014, on the occasion of Mother’s Day, sis Kok Meng Chow gave as a responsive message and an extension to Pr Nicky’s message. Sis Meng Chow’s message was a call on winning the younger generation back for Christ, made from a mother’s heart and from many years of experience.

Sis Meng Chow started her message by acknowledging that children are a gift from God, meant to fulfill the destiny and mandate that God has prepared for them (Psalm 127:3-5). Recognizing this, parents cannot lose them to the world. By being discipled well, the younger generation will do mighty exploits for God and serve His purposes in their generation. The privilege of being a parent comes with significant responsibility. Sis Meng Chow shared three ways for parents to win their children back for Christ: 1.) Train them in the ways of God 2.) Leave them a spiritual legacy 3.) Release Them To Fulfill God’s Purposes In Their lives

Training Them in The Ways Of God (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:4-7)

Sis Meng Chow pointed that the best place to train children is in a home setting, and the best person to do this, is the parent. When the natural parents are no longer around, it is important for someone to take up the role as spiritual parents and train the children up in the ways of God. The home has to be a safe place where children feel loved; where they are nurtured, and where they feel harmony and not strife. The best way to train children up is to spend time with them within this healthy setting. It encompasses all activity; during mealtimes, in praying together, and in playing together.

She shared as a mother about treasuring the time parents have with their children. Time passes so fast, and before we realize it, children grow up and have lives of their own. Count the blessings in our lives and thank God for all of them, including children. Parents need to love and enjoy their children. Make it a point to spend time with them during mealtimes, and establish a family altar in the home.

Mealtimes are good opportunities to impart Godly values, as well as bringing home the message of God’s provision and gratefulness to God. It is a happy time, and the sort of time where children often learn best. Let the impartation of values be a natural thing (not necessarily a heavy lecture), and over time, the values we hold will come naturally as part of their own. Children also learn very fast when they are young, and they absorb information like sponges. It is never too young to learn about the things of God, and the key is to seek for God’s guidance on how to make family altar time a fun and meaningful time for children. Proverbs 22:6 gives sage advice that in training children in the way they should go when they are young, they will not depart from it.

The Book of Proverbs also teaches the wisdom of discipline (Proverbs 13:24; Proverbs 22:15). Sis Meng Chow shared that bringing up children is like tending a garden, with the same amount of effort and care, and parents need to weed out the bad seeds and plant good ones. Few parents like to discipline their children, but we also need to discipline them when it is necessary. Disciplining children may not be pleasant for both the parents and children for that time, but it has a purpose, and when done wisely, it will empower them to handle issues and challenges later in their life. Discipline when done properly will produce good fruit and we will see the reward later in the lives of our children.

Leaving A Spiritual Legacy For Them Through Prayers

Most parents want the best for their children, and this includes giving them a headstart in life. They work very hard to provide for their families, and harbor a hope in their hearts, that their children would be secure financially when they are no longer around. The Bible commends this as a good and worthy thing (Proverbs 13:22), but that is only half of the legacy that is handed down to children. More importantly, a Spiritual legacy must be left for them.

One of the ways parents can leave a Spiritual legacy is through prayers. We know that as children grow up, they will be exposed to many distractions and unhealthy influences from the world. But God has also given Christians a powerful weapon to wage in our spiritual warfare. This secret weapon is the praying mothers and fathers, who will battle for the young generation, taking hold of God’s promises over their children, and decreeing God’s will over them. There is power in our tongue, and Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that there is authority of life and death in it.

Especially when they are younger, children believe what you say about them. So we must be very careful about how we use it and what we say to and about both our natural and spiritual children. Don’t say words that will pull them down; we do not often realize the depth of the effect these words will leave on them. Don’t tell them that they are Superman or Spider-man either; tell them about the God that is greater than all of them put together.

Proclaim God’s various promises over them (Psalms 5:12; Psalm 112:2; Psalms 37:23; Isaiah 54:13). Sis Meng Chow gave the exhortation that by praying and declaring God’s word into our children’s lives, we unleash the power of God and set into motion the will and purposes of God over our young generation. By doing this, we will raise up a standard against the enemy and push back the power of darkness. We will not lose our children to the world. We will win them back to God and His purposes because God will perform His Word.

Catch this principle. There is great power in our tongue and it will do us good if we can learn to master our tongue. Can you imagine what power we have if we pray the Word of God over our children?

Isaiah 54:17

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord.

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Leaving Them A Spiritual Legacy Through Impartation of Truth and God’s Presence

Parents have been given the responsibility by God to be the best role-models for their children. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Follow my example, as I follow Christ”, so are parents to do the same for their children. Start them young in prayers and the knowledge of the Word of God. As they see their prayers being answered, it will build up their faith, and they will learn to experience the reality of God in their own lives. Parents need to set an example for their children in this. When children see their parents praying in faith and trust, and the prayers being answered, they will learn to do the same for themselves.

Children need to know God for themselves. They cannot be left to depend on second-hand faith which is a kind of faith that will leave them on crutches, defenseless against stronger challenges. The Holy Spirit is gentle with us, so we need to teach children how to live circumspectly before the Lord. Parents are to lead their children by example, and through their daily living, maintain a conducive atmosphere for God to work in the lives of the family. Parents must show their children how to live a life of worship and prayer, constantly aware of God’s Presence. They must also show their children how to live a life of holiness which means being mindful of our thoughts, our words and our actions.

Principle: The greatest inheritance that our children could receive is not money or property but the Presence of God. Everything that they ever needed is found in God’s Presence.

Releasing Them To Fulfill God’s Purposes In Their Lives

The effort that most parents make to secure a future for their children, show how much most parents love their children. Sometimes, it may be hard for parents to release them to their destiny when they are fully-grown. When children are brought up well and given a strong foundation in the Lord, however, there is a security in God, the kind that no one else on Earth can give to them. There is a time when parents need to release their children so that their children will know God for themselves and fulfill His purposes in their lives. The children are first, and foremost, sons and daughters of God, and no matter how much a parent love their children, no one can ever love them more than God loves them.

Sis Meng Chow shared that being a parent is often not an easy task, but it is most rewarding when children grow up to be men and women God intended them to be. God has given them a Kingly mandate to make disciples in His name; to conquer over darkness and to establish the rule of Jesus against the forces of darkness. As they are released to God, they will become sons and daughters who truly know God for themselves and do mighty exploits for Him. We must train them up towards this so that they will rise up to their roles and let His Name be known. One of the promises that God has given to the mothers is that “Her children rise up and call her blessed” (Proverbs 31:28).

Principle: God has a plan for each one of our children. As parents, we are to bring our children to a place where they can seek God for themselves and it is in that place that our children will discover God’s purposes and destiny for their life.