The Dedication of Children
Proverbs 14:12

John W. Douglas
November 6, 2012

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The dedication of children has often been misconstrued as a baptism. IT IS NOT!  This ritual that is practiced all over the world is a call of parents to be responsible to raising their children in respect and fear of the Lord.   It is the time for considering the future of the child.

The world has often tried to help man raise their children whether it be by video game, TV, of the general consensus of the thinking of the world they have tried. It is why the Proverbs writer penned these words in:

Proverbs 14:12

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹²There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Let’s talk about these five things that parents and congregations consent to do in order to introduce our children to a relationship with Jesus Christ.

How many of you here were dedicated or you brought your children to be dedicated to a church?

1.  Teach him or her early (that they may not be led astray)

Deut. 6:4-9  ⁴Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

 ⁵And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

 ⁶And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

 ⁷And 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.

 ⁸And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

 ⁹And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. 

After 14 years of age there is only about a 18%  chance that a person will accept Christ.

Matthew 7:14  ¹⁴Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Luke 1:79  ⁷⁹To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

2.  Direct their youthful mind to the scriptures.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 ¹⁴But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

 ¹⁵And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

 ¹⁶All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

 ¹⁷That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Rev. 1:3  ³Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

3.  Feet to the Sanctuary

Hebrews 10:25  ²⁵Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

4.  Restrain from evil associates and habits.

Amos 5:14-15  ¹⁴Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.

 ¹⁵Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

In Jesus’ High Priestly prayer.

John 17:15 ¹⁵I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

James 4:7 ⁷Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.   (Submit to God—devil flees)

I Thess. 5:22  ²²Abstain from all appearance of evil.

2 Timothy 2:22 ²²Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

3  John 11  ¹¹Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Proverbs 10:17  ¹⁷He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

CORRECTION

What does the Bible say.

Proverbs 13:24 ²⁴He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

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

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

Proverbs 23:13  ¹³Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

5.  In the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

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

Ephesians 6:4 ⁴And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

So there you have it - the five things that you have attested and committed to God to do in the effort of raising children of any age in the ways of God.

1. Teach them God’s way.
2. Direct their mind to the scriptures
3. Guide their feet to the sanctuary
4. Restrain them form evil and habits
5. Raise them in the fear and respect of the Lord.

How many of these are you following?

How many of these do you need to improve on.

Keep this message handy and when it comes to decision time in your home remember that although you may have never brought your child to the church for dedication you are still responsible as a parent to raise them in the manners mentioned above.