One Word From God Can Change Your Family by Kenneth Copeland, Gloria Copeland Read Free Book Online Page B

thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
    Timothy was in a bad situation when Paul wrote to him—but he made it through in victory, mainly because he had an inheritance of faith!
Teaching the Principles
    Sadly enough, many Christian parents today aren’t giving their children what Timothy’s relatives provided for him. They aren’t handing down their faith. The reason is simple. They just don’t know how.
    I can’t tell you in this brief article everything you need to know about passing down your faith to your children, but I can tell you a few simple truths that will get you started—truths that have helped me greatly in recent years.
    The first one is so obvious, it seems we should hardly need to say it. Yet, most of us have to admit we haven’t fully incorporated it into our lives. It is this: We must take the time, not just to learn the principles of the Word ourselves, but also to teach them to our children. Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says it this way: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
    Notice verse 6 says the Word must be in your heart—not in your head, in your heart! You are not going to be able to impart into the lives of your children a truth you just mentally agree is true. You must have that Word living and established inside you. You must have revelation knowledge of how it works. You must have applied it and seen it produce results in your own life. Then, and only then, will you be able to explain that Word to your children in a meaningful way.
    Also notice that verse says you should talk about the Word when you sit in your house. That means this is not just a Sunday ritual. You need to sit down at home and talk to your child in a practical way about the Word.
    You don’t have to get deep and theological about it. (Please don’t!) Leave off the “thees” and “thous.” Just show your child how the Word applies to him and his world.
    Take advantage of the opportunities that arise when you’re sitting around the table. Learn how to weave the Word of God into every conversation. For example, when your son starts telling you about all the girls he’s interested in, that’s an excellent opportunity to do some weaving.
    You might say, “You know son, the reason we like girls so much is because God made men that way. In the very beginning, He looked at Adam and said, ‘Boy, you don’t need to be alone!’ Then He put him to sleep, took out one of his ribs, and made a wife for him.
    “My goodness, she was a masterpiece. He made her so wonderfully that when Adam woke up and saw her, he said, ‘Wow! I feel good!’ We still feel that way today, don’t we, son? But one thing you need to remember: God just took one rib and made one woman for Adam. There weren’t any spare ribs lying around, and there weren’t any spare women. I want you to understand that you’re destined to find that one woman God made for you....”
    What have you imparted to your son through a conversation like that? You’ve taken away the worldly principle that says “fool around with as many women as you can,” and replaced it with God’s principle of marriage and faithfulness to one person. That’s the way to teach the Word.
Give Them a Pattern...and Be Persistent
    The second thing you must do if you want to plant good seed in the hearts of your children, and leave them with an inheritance of faith, is this: Give them a pattern. Let your life be a living example of how faith works.
    Children learn more by watching what we do