C H I L D R E N

Project By,

Benitha Gold. A

 CHILDREN

“Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” -
Genesis 1:28
Be fruitful:
This was the very first command and blessing given to mankind. This
emphasises that their posterity should extend to the utmost corners of the earth
and continue to the utmost period of time. Fruitfulness and increase depend
upon the blessing from God: Obed-Edom had eight sons, for God blessed him
(1 Chr. 26:5).

Fruit of the womb:

“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.”-
(Ps. 127:3). Our God is so mighty to do great things in our lives. It is possible
for our God to withhold a child and also to give them. In the case of Rachel, if
children are withheld it is God who withholds them (Gen. 30:2); if they are
given, it is God who gives them (Gen. 33:5). Children are a heritage, and a re-
ward, and are so to be accounted as blessings and not as burdens.

From the womb:

“From my mother’s womb You have been my God.” - (Ps. 22:10)
We are so important to God that He plans everything for us and about us
before we were formed. We are not just like that made, but we are fearfully and
wonderfully made (Ps. 139: 14). Our God is able to connect with us even when
we are in our mother’s womb. The Lord called and mentioned the name of
prophet Isaiah before he was born (Isa. 49:1). The Lord knew prophet Jeremiah
before he was born and appointed him as a prophet to the nations (Jer. 1:5).

Childbirth:
“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but
when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is
born into the world.” - (John. 16:21)
God cursed Eve with increase in pains during childbirth (Gen. 3:16).
These pains are extreme that it is compared to the greatest griefs and pains
mentioned in the Bible.
Even though childbirth is very painful, the birth of a living child brings joy to
the parents. God turns our curses into blessing. This fruit of blessing makes
them forget all the sorrows (Gen. 41:51).
BARRENNESS:
“He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children.
Praise the Lord.” - (Ps. 113:9)

What is barrenness..?
Barrenness is the state where a women is infertile or fruitless. She is not
able to produce children since God had closed her womb. Barrenness means
being unfruitful, unproductive, empty, closed-up, shut-up, lifeless, hopeless and
helpless. Bible symbolises barrenness not only in wombs but also in our health,
our heart, our homes, finances and lives.
Barren woman tends to feel rebellious, rejected, seeking perfectionism, striv-
ing for approval, unworthiness, condemnation, complaining and self-destruc-
tion.

Reasons for barrenness:

- Divine withholding of a blessing (Gen. 12:1,2)
God closed Sarah’s womb to test their faith.
- A punishment (Gen. 20:18)
All the wombs of Abimelech’s house was closed as a punishment for Abim-
elech taking Sarah into his house.
- A curse (2 Sam. 6:23)
Michal’s barrenness was a consequence of her criticism to David’s dance.
And so she was cursed.

Bible says…
“You will be blessed more than any other people ; none of your men or women
will be childless, nor any of your livestock without young.”- (Deu. 34:14)

This was the promise given by God to the Israelites. We can inherit this
blessing only when we abide to the Lord’s commandments and obey it. God
changes our barrenness & grief into fruitfulness & joy when the couple makes
God as their first priority in everything.

Some testimonies:
There are a few woman in the Bible who were blessed with the fruit of the
womb for their reasons.
• Sarah - by the couple’s faith (Gen. 11:30).
• Rebekah - by her husband’s love (Gen. 25:21).
• Samson’s mom - by the couple’s obedience (Jud. 13:3).
• Hannah - by her prayer (1 Sam. 1:27).
• Elizabeth - the couple was righteous before God and walked blamelessly in
God’s commandment (Luk. 1:7).
 “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
- (Ps. 27:14).
For many of us, we have no doubt that God will fulfil His promises. But
we just wish it to happen soon. The waiting period is always difficult for us.
Perhaps God wants to develop patience in us. Patience does not develop when
we get what we want immediately. It comes from a period of waiting. To us,
getting what He promised now is more important. But to God, building pa-
tience in us in more important.

How to overcome barrenness.?

God desires that every person to become fruitful and productive. God designed
us for productivity. Only living things grow and have the ability to reproduce.
Barrenness has to be overcome. Every spiritual truth manifests in the physical.

• Make every efforts in battling our life from being unproductive and ineffec-
tive.
• Keep yourself from the atmosphere of doubt and unbelief.
• Have faith and don’t operate based on your limitations. Allow God to move
in the impossible situation you have in your life.
• Choose good virtues. Set your morals according to bible standards.
• Choose Godliness. There is no fruitfulness without holiness.
• Show love towards everyone.

PARENTING:
“The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after
him.”- (Prov. 20:7)

Parenting is not an easy job to do but if its done with God’s guidance then
there will be greatest joy. Parents should shape their children’s attitudes, ac-
tions and associations. They should be consistent in providing godly instruction
and wisdom to their children. Lois & Eunice were role-models to Timothy for
developing his sincere faith (2 Tim. 1:5). And so we must also be a right role-
model to our children.

Role of Parents:
• We must train our child right from their small age so that they will remem-
ber it even when they become old (Prov. 22:6).
• Teach them the Word of God whenever you are with them so that they will
be rooted in God’s word. Explain to them the miracles God has done to us
(Deu. 11:19).
• Do not provoke your children to wrath (Eph. 6:4).
• Do not discourage them (Col. 3:21).
Discipling - The Rod of correction:
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it
produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained
by it.” - (Heb. 12:11)

Parents should not hesitate to discipline their children. There are some impor-
tant reasons to discipline them. By doing so,
- It will drive the foolishness from a child’s heart (Prov. 22:15).
- You can deliver his soul from going to hell (Prov. 23:14).
- A loving parent disciplines their child (Prov. 13:24).
- The child will delight his parent’s soul and give them rest (Prov. 29:17).

CHILDREN:
“Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God
belongs to such as these” - (Luke. 18:16).
God loves little children and cares for them. We are able to read in the
Bible that he places his hands on them and blesses them. Children are very
special because their heart is very pure.

Role of Children:
- Seek God first and everything else will be granted to you (Mat. 6:33).
- Obey your parents in all things (Col. 3:20).
- Honour your parents, so that your days will be longer ( Exo. 20:12).
- Submit yourselves to your elders (1 Pet. 5:5).
- Keep yourselves away from idols - TV, video games, etc. (I John. 5:21).
- Accept your parent’s advises for they adorn you. (Prov. 1:8).

CHILDREN OF GOD:
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” -
(3 John. 1:4)

It is a great privilege for us to be called the children of God (1 John. 3:1).

God expects us to walk in his ways. He himself teaches us his ways and grants
peace to us. We are blessed to be child of the mighty God.
 TO PRAY OVER OUR CHILDREN

• Strength - Pray that God gives them the strength to do what they need to do
each day. (Phil. 4:13)

• Courage - Pray that they will be brave as they face the challenges that are
before them. (Josh. 1:9)

• Peace - Ask that their hearts will be calm and peaceful as they go through
their day and in their sleep at night. (Phil. 4:6)

• Provision - Ask God to provide for all that they need - for stamina, spirit,
and finances - for each day. (Phil. 4:19)

• Direction - Pray that the Lord will lead them as they begin to make more
and more decisions as they get older. (Prov. 3:5,6)

• Protection - Ask that God keeps them safe in this increasingly unsafe
world. That he will protect them from harm and wickedness. (Psa. 16:11)

• Joy - Pray that God fills them with the kind of joy that can only come from
Him. (Psa. 16:11)

• Compassion - Pray that they will show compassion on those in need and
who have less than they do. (Eph. 4:32)

• Justice - Ask God to give them a sense of justice - to stand up for what is
right and to defend the weak. (Isa. 1:17)

• Wisdom - Pray that they will grow in wisdom & understanding and will be
more than ‘smart’ and embrace what is good & right. (Jam. 1:5)

• Hope - Ask God to give them the hope that comes from above. (Rom.15:13)
• Love - Pray that our children are filled with the love of God & know how
deeply they are loved, that love will overflow onto others.(1 Cor. 13:4-8)

• Life partner - Pray that our children should identify their life partner with
God’s guidance. (Pro. 18:22)

• Good friends - Pray that our children should find good friends who will not
make them stumble in their ways. (Pro. 27:9)