NATIONAL PRAYER ALTAR
MARATHON PRAYERS
Monday 16th - Sunday 22nd December 2024
A BROKEN GENERATION
And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth (Mal. 2:15).
A few weeks ago, we delivered a message entitled “Godly Seed.” Thereafter, God kept drawing our attention to the condition of youths in this generation. Based on that, the National Prayer Altar organized a seven-day seminar entitled “The Challenge of Godly Parenting: Gen Z.” Seven consecutive speakers provided different perspectives on the same challenge.
Ours can aptly be described as a broken generation, resembling that of Noah before the flood, marked by violence, sexual decadence, and carelessness. As the bedrock of society, the family unit is the starting point for fixing a dysfunctional generation. The age of Noah might be excused for lacking knowledge and light, but not ours, because we have the complete Scriptures, and we understand God’s requirements for producing godly children. Admittedly, there was the strong evil influence of fallen angels (or “sons of God”) in the days of Noah; our generation is witnessing the same demonic invasion. Nevertheless, our generation has the Scriptures, the blood of Jesus, and the name of Jesus to counter demonic invasions.
In Mal. 2:15, God made it clear that the purpose of marriage is to produce “godly seed”. A successful marriage is not defined by the prosperity or wealth of the couple but by the godliness of their children. This is where a lot of families (unfortunately, some Christian families also), have failed the test of marriage. Any Christian marriage that does not produce godly children, according to the character of Christ, cannot be described in the presence of God as successful.
Between God and many Christians in this generation, the parameters for measuring a successful marriage differ. While God expects “godly seed” from a marriage, some families think that material resources or financial status is what God is looking for. Families need money to fulfil obligations, but the pursuit of wealth should not take precedence over the godly upbringing of children.
Abandoning God’s word to adopt secular wisdom on bringing up children, this generation has run itself into trouble. For example, Dr Benjamin Spock, contrary to the Bible principle on the rod of correction, insists that “Physical punishment teaches children that the larger, stronger person has the power to get his way, whether or not he is in the right, and they may resent this in the parent.” Inspired by that deviant paediatrician, generations of parents started to decline their application of the “rod of correction” in bringing up children. In many western nations, if a parent should spank their child for misconduct, they risk being arrested. What does the Bible say?
“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Prov. 29:15).
“Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul” (Prov. 29:17).
“Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying” (Prov. 19:18).
“Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell” (Prov. 23:13-14).
There are parents in our generation who consider it “wicked punishment” to smack a child for wrongdoing. Unfortunately, theirs is “wicked love.” No parent loves their child more than God does. If God says the rod of correction drives foolishness from the heart of a child (Prov. 22:15), no paediatrician or child psychologist knows better. The word of the Creator cannot be contested by His creatures. It takes a disciplined person to enforce discipline. People who prefer self-indulgence to self-discipline would only transfer their attitude to their children. Ironically, they hate the result in later years.
In this call to prayers, we assert that there is nothing wrong with children in this generation. The problem is with the parents. The carelessness and indifference with which many people approach parenting is what has produced a broken generation of youths who are rebellious, cultists, drug addicts, sexually immoral, and indifferent to the things of God. Children learn by imitation of what they see their parents and other elders do. Parents are the first set of people that children trust. When parents are not available to provide the guidance and counselling that the child needs, they transfer their trust to their teacher and to social media. Where parents are available, the child will not be swayed by distractions outside the home.
The difference between children of older generations and those of this generation is that children of this information age have a lot of options that children at other times did not have. So, if parents are not available, social media, teachers, counsellors, and of course, peer pressure, fill the gap. When a child carries a smart phone, the entire world is at their fingertips.
Most Christians in this generation, under the influence of the erroneous prosperity message in the Church, are consumed with the desire to make wealth. Consequently, they devote their time to what matters to them most: business and career. Many parents entrust the responsibility of bringing up their children to housemaids and expensive schools. Schools will impart knowledge and education, but character formation is done at home. Therefore, the responsibility is on Christian parents to review how they are parenting, whether they are following the Owner’s manual, the Word of God, or they are subscribed to secular reasoning and expecting godly results from their children. Secular reasoning will produce secular results; obedience to God will produce Godly seeds. The choice is up to the parent.
For those willing to adopt Godly standards in bringing up their children, the following suggestions would be helpful:
1. Parents should activate “home training” for their children. Most children encountered on the streets display lack of home training. Home training comes with spanking, whenever it is necessary. This does not advocate “wicked punishment”; it prevents “wicked love” in which a child is left to decide what is right or wrong. The Bible commands: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). Train the child from home.
2. Parental love is spelled T-I-M-E. Devote quality time to be with your children and to answer their questions. Housemaids and expensive schools are no substitutes for godly parenting.
3. As Christians, ensure daily family devotions. If your family sets time aside to eat, that family must set time aside for family devotion. It is at the family devotion that children learn to apply the Word of God to practical situations. Each family should pray and study the Word of God together. It is also at the family devotion that parents impart godly values to their children.
4. Set good example for the children. In Col. 3:18-20, God commands the husband to “love” his wife, the wife to “submit” to her husband, and children to “obey” their parents. Before a family can have “obedient” children, father and mother must fulfill their obligations. In effect, love + submission = obedience.
5. In this age of “digital addiction”, introduce “cyber-fasting” for everyone in the family, including the parents. This could be a day in the week during which no one surfs the internet, goes on social media, or plays any game, for some hours. Teach your children to develop the ability to resist the addictive influence of social media.
6. For families with children far from home, it is possible to connect daily to study the Word of God as a family, by using some Bible Apps. One of such Apps is “You Version” which enables a group to read the same Bible passage and make comments for everyone in the group to read. With this App, parents can ensure that their children in secondary school dormitories participate in the daily family devotion.
7. In this age of LGBTQ, cultism, drug addiction, sexual immorality, and other vices, parents should pray daily for their children and soak them in the blood of Jesus Christ.
It is possible to bring up godly children in this generation if parents are willing to do it. May our hearts be willing to produce godly seeds for God.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Job 39:13-18
Confess and repent of the negligence of many Christian parents towards godly parenting.
2. Luke 17:26
Pray for soberness amongst Christian parents, that they would not get carried away by worldliness, as in the days of Noah, when the judgment of God caught them unawares. Pray that Christian parents would be diligent to bring up their children in the way of God.
3. Gen. 18:17-19
Pray that Christian parents shall be committed to raising children that shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment, as God confessed about Abraham.
4. Mal. 4:5-6
Pray forgiveness and reconciliation for families with problems between children and parents.
5. Is. 54:13
Pray that God would teach our children.
6. Joel 2:28-29
Pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on youths in this generation.
7. Eph. 6:4
Pray that fathers in this generation shall be diligent and responsible to provide godly leadership to their children.
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DAILY INTERDENOMINATIONAL PRAYERS FOR NIGERIA
Started since 18th April, 2022
TIME: 9:00pm – 10:00pm daily (Nigeria time)
VENUE: ZOOM
ZOOM link:
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Passcode: 024184
LINK TO MARATHON PRAYERS ZOOM ROOM
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