Chapter 2 “Glory Bound” Part 2

Questions Asked, Biblically Answered 

What about my children being a witness at our local public school?  

1. We are told to flee youthful lusts, which are rampant in the schools.

Prov. 14:7 “Leave the presence of a fool, or you will not discern words of knowledge.”

1Cor. 15:33 “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’ ”

2Cor. 6:17 “‘Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,’ says the Lord.”

2. We are told to gain wisdom and are warned about gaining knowledge of evil.

Dan. 1:17 “And as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in EVERY branch of literature and WISDOM; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams.”

Gen. 2:17 “…but from the tree of the knowledge of good AND evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.”  Not MAYBE die. SURELY die. The knowledge of evil kills us morally and spiritually.

Proverbs 1
“Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city, she utters her sayings: ‘How long, O naive ones, will you love simplicity? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge? Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Because I called, and you refused; I stretched out my hand, and no one paid attention; And you neglected all my counsel, And did not want my reproof; I will even laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, When your dread comes like a storm, And your calamity comes on like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come on you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me, because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD. They would not accept my counsel; they spurned all my reproof. So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be satiated with their own devices. For the waywardness of the naive shall kill them, and the complacency of fools shall destroy them. But he who listens to me shall live securely, and shall be at ease from the dread of evil.’”

Did God Tell Us to Seek WISDOM or KNOWLEDGE?

In the public schools, they are formally taught about SIN or the KNOWLEDGE of EVIL! They are educated in drugs, fornication, and homosexuality. They are NOT taught wisdom.

Fornication:

2Tim. 2:22 “Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

Dating is nothing more than unpaid prostitution. Parents who allow their daughters to date are selling them as unpaid harlots. Those who date are practicing for divorce, not marriage. Any young man or woman who goes to any school or is part of a youth group is taught, peer pressured, and surrounded by the practice of dating. Can any parent really believe that there is ANY way that your child could remain morally pure in the midst of the practice of dating? Your child’s marriage bed is defiled before they get to the altar — usually with MANY partners.

Homosexuality:

Lev. 18:22 “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.”

Lev. 20:13 “If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.”

Rom. 1:24 “Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them.”

Rom. 1:26 “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,”

Rom. 1:28 “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper...” 

3. We are told that God will only hear the prayers of those who are pure, lift up holy hands, and are righteous. 

1Pet. 3:12 “FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE UPON THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”

1Tim. 2:8 “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.”

James 5:16 “…The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

Abraham was able to speak to God about sparing the city of Sodom because he did NOT PITCH his tent toward Sodom, but separated himself and his son, which we will later read.

We remember in Gen. 18:23 Abraham’s plea to God for the city: “And Abraham came near and said, ‘Wilt Thou indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?’”

Lot, Abraham’s nephew, was living in wickedness. In Gen. 14:12 Lot “was living in Sodom.” Please note: First Lot pitched his tent “toward” Sodom; all too soon he lived in it! It was the prayers and the righteousness of his uncle that SAVED him twice from destruction.

In Gen. 14:14 we read that Abram heard that his relative had been “taken captive.”  Abram rescued Lot from captivity but refused to entangle himself with the wicked city.

Gen. 14:21   “And the king of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself...’ ‘I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, lest you should say, “I have made Abram rich.” …The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great.”

This is a message to us about our loved ones. Unless we are clean before the Lord by not becoming OF this world or entangled in it, we cannot effectively win the lost in our families or go before the throne on their behalf.

4. The men and women who had a holy call on their lives were SET APART for God and protected from evil influence.

Isaac, the promise, was SET APART! 

Gen. 21:14 “So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.”

Gen. 24:4-6 “...but you shall go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac. And the servant said to him, ‘Suppose the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?’ Then Abraham said to him, ‘Beware lest you take my son back there!’” 

Moses was SET APART! Exod. 2:15   “When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.” Moses was set apart for 40 years to prepare for the call on his life to deliver the Israelites from bondage.

John the Baptist was SET APART from birth!

Zacharias, John the Baptist’s father, said this in Luke 1:76-80: “‘And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high shall visit us, TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace.’ And the child continued to grow, and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.”

Ruth was SET APART! 

Ruth 1:16   “But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.’ When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.”

Jesus was SET APART! Jesus remained with his mother and father instead of remaining with the teachers in the temple.

Luke 2:46 “And it came about that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions...And when they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.’ And He said to them, ‘Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?’…and He continued in subjection to them... And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

Jesus was set apart for 30 years in order to deliver mankind from the bondage of sin and death. During those 30 years there were many dying in their sin. So why didn’t Jesus, as a young boy, go to preach the Good News?

Also, why didn’t Jesus stay to learn from the Bible scholars of that day? This brings up the question of Bible college or seminary.

If my children do not go through college, seminary, etc. how will they be prepared?

Some of the most influential Christians that the LORD is using today are those who have little or no formal Bible training. They have walked through His school. “Overcomers” are God’s leaders. Joyce Meyer says that she was “Trained in the school of the Holy Ghost!” Pastor John Kilpatrick, the “pastor of pastors,” had the minimum amount of training from the Assembly of God. Reverend Steve Hill also had a minimum of education and training - yet is considered one of the greatest evangelists of our time. Katherine Kuhlman, Marie Woodworth Etter, Smith Wigglesworth all had little or no formal training.

I, too, have NO formal or even informal Bible training. The refining fire that Jesus walked with me through, along with DEVOURING His Word and walking WITH Him, prepared me for my ministry. God’s training through adversity will prepare anyone to be used by the Lord.

Many of those I mentioned make it a point to state that “There is nothing wrong with education– get all you can.” But I will boldly state that there is a LOT wrong with education and be CAREFUL what you get and where you send your treasures (children).

After I was called and saw my inadequacy, I prayed and asked for wisdom:

2Chr. 1:7-12 “...God appeared to Solomon and said to him, ‘Ask what I shall give you.’ And Solomon said to God, ‘…Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can rule this great people of Thine?’ And God said to Solomon, ‘Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth, or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge, that you may rule My people, over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed, nor those who will come after you.’”

What about high school? I feel confident about homeschooling the younger grades but feel inadequate with high school courses.

Dan. 1:17 “And as for these four youths, God GAVE them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams.”

What about sports? My children are very good in sports. I don’t want them to miss out.

Ps. 147:10-11 “God does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.  The LORD favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness.”

What about being prepared for college? I am concerned that if they are not in a good college preparatory high school they will miss out.

In the last few years “Ivy League” recruiters have traveled to homeschool groups around the country trying to persuade homeschool graduates to come to their school. A gentleman from Annapolis told our high school students that they had a “competitive” package designed to encourage homeschoolers to choose his university.

The couple we bought our farm from shared the same desire for their children – to make it into a good college. The mother drove over an hour to send her four children to a school that was know to be a good college preparatory school. Their children are all grown. We were able to buy this beautiful farm because not one of their children wanted the farm that has been in their family for generations. They also will have just one grandchild out of four children, since the rest have chosen not to have any children since it could jeopardize their careers. All their children live states away. Their careers have become their god. This couple unfortunately does not know the Lord. However, most Christians choose this same goal for their children, sow the same seed, and reap the same harvest. Gal. 6:7: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”

We have a different vision for our children!

Matt. 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Deut. 6:6 “And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”

Is your goal to help your children do whatever makes them happy?

1Cor. 6:20 “For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

1Cor. 7:23 “You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.”

From the time your children are little (or whatever age they are now) teach them to seek the Lord for the call He has on their lives. We pray daily for all of our children to go into full-time ministry. We know lawyers, a dentist, and a taxidermist who have walked away from their professions to save the lost. As Christians, we all believe that we are close to the end times. Our time is so short on earth and the laborers are few, so WHY do we not think that God wants to use our children when they are grown to advance His kingdom as they may possibly be the last generation and see the rapture of the church?

Isa. 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

How can I set my children apart for Him?

Certainly the greatest opportunity in our country is the freedom to homeschool; however, only a small percentage of Christian parents see the need or have the desire to keep their children with them.

What do you do about neighborhood children? Basically, the most important thing to keep in mind is the amount of exposure. How can a child spend 8 hours a day at school, any school, 5 days a week and not be affected by that much exposure to evil and the ungodly influence? Private schools are a false security. The children there are often just as evil as those in public schools. This is really more dangerous because your guard is down. 

Compare those 40 hours a week to the amount of time they spend in church services and/or Sunday Schools.

Our children, for the most part, do not participate in youth activities. We have heard from some of the most powerful men and women of God that they spent hours in long revival services and “cut their teeth on the pews.” We chose not to put our babies in the nursery, first because they were nursed and did not have bottles or pacifiers, so they did not want them (God’s sovereignty). When they were a bit older, they did not like to be separated. Going against the current trend of parenting, we kept our children with us.

When they were old enough to want to go, they usually brought back a steady stream of communicable diseases, so I soon put an end to going to that. The only thing I remember that my children really enjoyed was VBS (Vacation Bible School). The time was short, fun and there was little time to get to know or be exposed to ill-behaved children.

Later, when we moved to our farm, we are a part of 4-H. The time with the children is short — each unit is just 6 hours — and our group is adamant about the parents being at every meeting. My children were also part of a swim team. I began a homeschool swim team and turned it over to a mother of 10 when the ministry began to grow. Our children continued for several years. It is a very good form of exercise. It also leaves little time for conversations and poor influences.

The bottom line is to keep your children near you when other children are visiting. Allow only short and infrequent exposure. Make sure you are selective about whom your children associate with. If you see any potential danger or wrong influence, don’t hesitate to pull them out immediately. There may be just a season of time that God would have them be part of a particular activity; however, it is usually difficult to pull out of things once you are involved in them, so choose wisely.

If you are still interested in pursuing college, here is an article from a homeschool newsletter that may be of some interest to you:    

WHAT ABOUT COLLEGE?

Brad Voeller earned his fully accredited four-year college degree in six months, without leaving home and for a fraction of the cost. His book Accelerated Distance Learning addresses the questions of cost-effective alternatives to brick and mortar college.

In a world of escalating tuition costs, dangerous campus moral trends, and renegade university philosophies, parents need to carefully weigh their options for their children's higher education. Many who get their education outside a brick and mortar college are vastly superior both in skill and character to the typical college graduate. I would strongly urge parents to pray about your options before sending your young person off to college.

Many have responded when I have shared my concerns about sending children who have been kept from evil through homeschooling, off to the sinful college campuses. One woman in particular told me with tears in her eyes that she has NEVER recovered from what she experienced at her CHRISTIAN college. She was not homeschooled, but came from a small Christian school. Years after she was married to a very godly man, her faith was in question and she almost walked away from the Lord. Now she is a devout homeschool mother to her three young children.

There is no doubt that obtaining a four-year college degree at home is MUCH better than going to a college campus. However, before you go ahead with the option of earning a degree at home, be sure to think about the material that they will be studying. Will all of the required curriculum STRENGTHEN your child’s walk with the Lord? Or, could some of it cause doubt or confusion? Without reading everything that your young man or woman is required to read and study, can you be sure that it will move them closer to the Lord?