Christ Is Pre-eminent! - [Colossians 3:18-4:18]

I often think to myself if someone were new to Christianity or didn't know much about it and they came into a service like this. What must be going through their mind? Probably things like. They they think they're sinners.

Not victims, but they've sinned against God. That there's a holy book that teaches them what to do and how to think and who they believe in. They think there was a real man named Jesus. It was more than a man matter of fact.

He was divine and that he died for sinners and was raised from the dead. That's exactly what we believe here at Bethlehem Bible Church. And I couldn't think of a better book to talk about that very issue than the book of Colossians if you have a Bible.

Please turn your Bibles to the book of Colossians. If you don't know where it is, you can just look up the table of contents Colossians and we have been going through Colossians week by week and it's extolling the Supremacy and sufficiency of who Jesus is matter of fact, he is the risen Savior and his preeminent in heaven.

He's preeminent here on earth and everywhere in between and we've been going at a pretty fast pace about a week per chapter and We are going to try today to go through chapter 3 verses 18. Through the end of chapter 4 and a lot of chapter 4 is greetings.

And so that won't be Too difficult. I want you to know dear Christian that your view of Jesus will impact everything in your life. What you believe matters. It's not just a matter of doing right? Most every religion is just tell me what to do.

There are things to do in Christianity, but they flow out of certain motives of gratitude of Thanksgiving out of love. Christianity is about doing but unlike every other religion God in Christ through the Spirit of God gives you the power to actually obey.

It's not just a list of things that we hope we could do sometime. We could get better. No God actually gives you power to obey the commands that he gives. Because his commands are given in love to guide us and to help us the Bible teaches that when Jesus died Christians died with him.

When Jesus was raised from the dead Christians were raised with him. What does that mean? That means yes Jesus literally died and was literally raised and in the spiritual sense when Jesus died to sin and for sin.

We died to sin as well. We don't have to live in it anymore. When Jesus was raised in newness of life, we now have the power to obey God and do the right things. This is a book that will remind you that you don't need anything else.

But Jesus people try to take away Jesus. Well, he's good in this and good in that but not so good here. This book will will certainly Get your mind, right? What was that old Paul Newman? Coolhand Luke you got to get your mind, right?

I wish I had a southern accent but I don't and when your mind's right then what you do follows and. And this is one of these books that Tells you it's not Jesus less something and it's not Jesus plus something.

You're not going to need all kinds of visions and experiences and weird Psychologies and false philosophies and everything else matter of fact. Colossians is summarized with a theme Jesus is all you need and of course Paul is writing this book.

He's in prison and there's a little town called Colossae insignificant. Just it's it's nowhere Ville's. It's like I think it just translated in the Greek West Boylston and he writes this Great letter to this tiny little church because it's not really about the church per se.

It's about who the Lord Jesus is and whether you're a small little church. You're at a large church who is Jesus and what's the center of Christianity? Matter of fact, the center is a person the Lord Jesus and Paul's in jail.

He writes the letter and he wants everyone to know Jesus is all you need. Jesus is preeminent. And what I've done is I've tried to make this memorable in the sense for outlines. And so chapter 1 we thought this way.

There's a prayer God Through Paul has the prayer written of Thanksgiving. Then there's the preeminence of Jesus and then the proclamation. You can see the preeminence right there in chapter 1 verse 13.

Can't you I? Mean this basically sums up the book and sums up Christianity. Colossians 1 13 he has delivered us from the domain of darkness and Transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son in whom we have Redemption the forgiveness of sins.

Now talking about Jesus how preeminent he is. He is the image of the invisible God the firstborn the greatest of all creation. For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth. Visible and invisible whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things were created through him and For him see Jesus isn't created.

He's the created. He's a he's a creed. He's the one who creates and he's the head of the body the church. He's the beginning the firstborn of the dead that in everything he might be Preeminent and so chapter 1 there's the prayer.

There's the preeminence of Jesus and then the proclamation. Chapter 2. We use these three words, and I was just trying to make them memorable. Deceive receive and did anybody remember the third one? Leave okay great.

And so don't be deceived by people coming along telling you things about Jesus that aren't true. And I know you've got Jesus, but you need something else you need someone else. Don't be deceived people are going to come and they're going to try to smooth talk you.

They're going to be flattering. They're going to be Eloquent don't fall for the trap. Instead what is verse 6 of chapter 2 say the key to chapter 2 don't be deceived instead He says receive therefore as you receive Christ Jesus the Lord the preeminent one the creator the sustainer the providential One the one who lived perfectly who died on the cross was raised from the dead.

How you responded in faith to him. So walk in him. Don't be bamboozled as we would say in Nebraska. Then he says I want you to leave something. What do you need to leave? Well people try to reduce Christianity to well.

I don't eat on this day. I put ashes on my forehead this day. I do this on such-and-such. I don't eat. I don't touch. I don't do things. I just deny myself I'm somehow more spiritual and he says at the end of the chapter just leave that behind.

This has nothing to do with what you eat or don't eat what you do or what you don't do. Matter of fact it has to do with what Jesus has done and what Jesus is doing. Then we come to chapter 3 and the three words were Ascension Mortification but you remember and Vivification somebody said they typed in what's a vivification well ascension is Jesus is raised.

He's in heaven now mortification is dying to sin saying no to sin and Vivification Viva is to live to righteousness, and that's basically the Christian life now that we're Christians. We want to kill sin and live for righteousness sake.

But it all feeds through the first four verses of Colossians chapter 3 if you'd like to change your behavior in the Christian life. You can't forget these four verses if you'd like to be a better husband a better parent a better worker a better Evangelist a better server at church if you'd like to do things to honor God you can't forget these four verses.

Christianity isn't just do more try harder be good. You can't miss this and that's why it's right here in the center. Paul has prayed. Paul has talked about the preeminence of Jesus. He's talked about there, and we're going to proclaim him.

He's talking about well. Don't buy into what everybody else does and now he's going to try to set our minds in the heavenlies. Because what you think about Jesus will determine? What you do? If then chapter 3 you've been raised with Christ.

That assumes that's true. That's the language you have been raised with Christ. Seek the things that are above. I mean unlike those false teachers who were saying everything below is where we need to Have our minds set at and set toward where Christ is.

Seated at the right hand of God. And he's trying to get you to think about who Jesus is and what he's done. Remember the Old Testament Priest do two things essentially they pray and they sacrifice and In the temple and in the tabernacle, there's no seats for the priest matter of fact.

I'm so glad I'm not a priest because I'd have a nickname. I'd be called the butcher and I would have no seat in my office. And I would just have a big slab there probably I'd have an altar and I have my knives and I'd have my ginsu knives.

There other things and I would stand all day because you keep sinning every day. And I can't sit down because the next person comes in. I think crane finally, you know confess the sins I'm done with it.

And then the next crane comes in. But all the Abendross are trying to go before the cranes it never ever ever ended. No seat. We okay. All right. I'll pay you the dollar later. Jesus Hebrews 10 dies once for all and sits down payment in full never to be repeated doesn't have to die again doesn't have to be on the crucifix again and He sits on the right hand of power dominion authority.

This is a job. Well done, son. This is my beloved son in whom I'm well pleased and now we're beginning to think that way. Where's Jesus now? He's ascended. He has paid for my sin. He has given me the Holy Spirit so I can say no to sin and yes to righteousness.

I am okay with God. I'm not gonna have to walk this tightrope. So I think if I ever sin, I'm gonna go to hell again. It's all been paid for and since you're free and since you're forgiven. Be free to obey and if you disobey repent, of course.

But you're okay, I'm safe. I don't have the notes in front of me, but they used to. During construction of the Golden Gate Bridge a lot of people fell off and died tragically and They put the nets underneath when they were building it and production went up.

So we know we're gonna make it and so he said I want you to focus on things in heaven. He says again verse 2 does he not set your minds on things that are above not on things that are on the earth. You have died.

Every Christian here is dead to sin. It's not that you have to sin you want to sin along with me and your life is hidden with Christ and God you're safe. You're protected when Christ who is your life appears?

Then you also will appear with him in Glory. We looked at verses 5 and following kill sin 12 and following live for righteousness. We ended at verse 17 because there was a lot to do. So now we're going to look at chapter 3 verses 18 through chapter 4 verse 18.

The three words I'm going to give you for the outline to try to help it to be memorable is lordship. Evangelism and ministry. James Boyce was a great preacher down in Philadelphia and he usually front-loaded the first point and Talked about things in a technical aspect in the first point talked about really convicting things in the first point.

Because he realized the people are going to hear all this conviction and he kind of gave them a little break on points two and three because he knew like himself they were frail and They they were weak and they're a congregation that wants to obey and wants to do the right thing.

But front-loaded on point one so any guesses on what I might be doing today. Front-loaded on point one because he says a little bit about evangelism a little bit about ministry. But today I mainly want to talk to you about lordship.

Jesus is Lord. Not a theological issue called lordship salvation, but no Jesus is Lord remember chapter 2 verse 6 as you received him as Lord. So Jesus is Lord. How does that? Manifest itself in my life.

If Jesus is Lord, what does that look like. And he starts with the home and then he moves to work. So let's talk about lordship at work. Second, but I want you to talk. We'll look at lordship at home.

First we're in this what we call the ethical section. This is. These are the commands of God to Christians. Remember sanctification is a supernatural work of God's grace and he helps us To be renewed in the inner man and the inner woman so that we might obey.

We might die more to sin and live more to righteousness. Jesus is Lord. How does that show itself here well. How many times can you count the word Lord in verses 18 through chapter 4 verse 1? Chapter 3 verse 18 to chapter 4 verse 1.

I count 9 times Kurios Lord 7 about Jesus do you see verse 18 in the Lord? Verse 20 at the end this pleases the Lord. At the end of verse 22 fearing the Lord. Verse 23 as for the Lord verse 24 knowing that from the Lord.

Later in verse 24. You are serving the Lord Christ and then in chapter 4 verse 1 the ESV says master. But it's the same Greek word Lord. Knowing also that you have a Lord in heaven. Any guesses why I'm calling this lordship of Christ section because it's all about Jesus his Lord.

Jesus is Sovereign he's your Lord and if he has sought you and bought you and owns you and has forgiven you you say, okay. You tell me how to act at home and I'll do it. I might not be perfect at it. But it's my desire as a Christian.

I want to honor you. I want to serve you. What does it look like in a house in a home where Jesus is? Lord Warren Wearsby said what blessings would come to our homes if each member of the family said I Will live each day to please Christ and make him preeminent in all things.

Where's me. There would be less selfishness more love less impatience more tenderness. Less wasting of money on foolish things and more living for the things that matter most. Jesus is Lord. He starts off with the wives verse 18 as you know, very controversial sadly controversial passage.

Wives submit to your husband's as is fitting in the Lord. Now the first thing that happens when people hear the word submission as they think inferiority. That's not what the Greek is. That's not what the Bible teaches has nothing to do with inferiority.

Matter of fact in first Peter chapter 5. There are elders and younger men and the younger men are supposed to submit to the older men. Why. Because the older men are better. No because God just has rank.

God just has position. Paul is after these wives. To respect the position of their husbands. That's what submission is. Paul wants the wives. God wants you dear wives. Not to feel inferior inferior. But to say my attitude toward my husband is that of respect?

Well, I don't really respect him that much but this is my desire this is what God commands me to do. Bethlehem Bible Church the ladies here the wives should say God wants me to defer to my husband. That's what the word submission is.

He doesn't say by the way Obey your husband's. He says children obey your parents in verse 20. He uses a different word here. He says bond servants obey in verse 22, but he uses a different word here.

He doesn't say obey. Wives obey your husband's. What a awful husband do this don't do that do this get this hurry up run around fix that. Martin Lloyd-jones was a very famous preacher and his wife was named Bethany and She was asked this question.

What if my husband wakes me up at 3 a .m. Demanding I fetch him ice cream am I to go and get it? Mrs. Lloyd-jones. Yes, and then phone the doctor because he's clearly not a well man. Now of course God made women to help.

This is Genesis chapter 2. Men obviously need the help. God even used the word helper talks about him helping Israel. But of course there was the fall. And bad things happen to the men in the fall. Because of the fall bad things happen to ladies and one of the things that happens with ladies is they try to rule over their husbands.

Genesis 3 16. So Paul says in light of who Jesus is in light of what he's done in light of chapter 1 and 2 and 3 and the Lordship of Jesus just Submit yourself put yourself under. It's fitting it's right.

You say this Bible Restricts people. Oh, no don't talk like that because you talk out of ignorance. Because it happens to be true that in the Jewish culture. This was shocking because here's Jewish culture back in the day.

I have a wife. I have children I have sheep and I have goats and I own them all. This is liberally liberating language the Jewish culture if you spoiled your husband's dinner with too much salt or You walk with your head uncovered outside you get divorced.

No problem. No legal rights for the woman in the Greek culture you say but they were more well refined. Oh really quote women are to remain indoors and to be obedient to their husbands. Here was a popular pun in the Greek culture of the day if a woman runs a house it dies.

Say well, okay, I know maybe Roman culture that liberated ladies. Really no rights the father ruled everything. We know Christians don't we I know with having a wife who is Equal to me in Christ Jesus.

She is just as justified as I am just as redeemed. She's just as forgiven. She will be just as glorified matter of fact. Galatians 3 says there's neither Jew nor Greek nor slave nor free. There's neither male nor female.

You're all one in Christ Jesus. But God wants order and So one of the ways ladies you can say Jesus is Lord in my life at home. Is I just tuck myself under my husband's leadership. God gave me this husband.

God's really sovereign over him anyway, and I will humbly Recognize your divine order. That's what submission is God. I humbly Recognize that you have an order to things in life and while the world says I'm inferior the world says feminism reigns the world says this is troglodytish me Tarzan you Jane I.

Before you God because your Lord I will say I humbly recognize That my husband's the head of the household you say well. It'd help if husbands would love me better, and I could do my job better of submitting.

That's the next verse. Hang in there. I get it. Bethlehem Bible Church wives you humbly Yield yourself in love to the Lord Jesus and put yourself under the husband's Headship. God appointed leadership.

I could ask the questions. Do you believe this is true? Do you think it's in the Bible or it's somehow corrupt. Is this your heart's desire? I know it's hard to obey. But is this heart's desire to submit gladly out of love to help your husband's with his husband with his calling.

To pray for him because it is hard to lead to respect him to defer him that I offend you Anthony. Okay, good. Then maybe Christine told you to go do something. And take that out of the tape. Everybody else is too afraid to get up now.

Like I should have gone to the bathroom earlier. That's kind of good to have a little laugh because this is intense stuff. This is not how the world talks. But it's true. It's right in your Bibles. It says to be submissive.

I mean it doesn't give you a whole list. Be a good cook know how to balance a checkbook. I mean it's got kind of one thing here. You say what if he tells me to disobey God. Well of course this is an absolute.

Older women are to teach younger women in Titus chapter 2 to be sensible pure workers at home kind. Subject to their own husbands that the Word of God may not be dishonored first Peter 3 in the same way you wives be submissive to your own husband so that even if any of them are Disobedient to the word they may be one without a word by the behavior of their wives.

Look back at verse 18 again be subject to your husband's not other husbands as is fitting to the Lord. Because Jesus is your Lord, so that's why you do it not because your husband's better more godly or anything else.

I'm going to submit and that doesn't mean nag that doesn't mean counter your husband's authority in front of the children. Ephesians 5 as the church submits to Christ also the wives should submit to their husbands in everything I Mean far from being demeaning Submission far from being stifling far from being you know what this is just so awful.

No, no, what does Paul do he said you know this looks like to me the church submitting to the Lord Jesus. Somebody said nagging by definition is simply trying to wear down another by repeating the same things over and over.

That's not what you want to do. I'm sure Martha peace she said ladies when it comes to this here's some good advice. Give your opinion. You're a helpmate. If he makes a decision you want to appeal it say would you consider and say whatever you decide?

I'll do it. Remember God's watching pray for grace. What about the husband's what are the husband's get to do? What are they commanded to do verse 19? We're in the section of Colossians remember? We're parachuting in but we're thinking big picture about who Jesus is.

This just isn't morality the Bible teaches. Much that's similar to what other people teach. Other people 200 years ago might say well wives should submit and husbands should love. But for different reasons and with different motivations we come to Colossians chapter 319 lordship continues.

What about husbands? Wives are to submit. Husbands love your wives and don't be harsh with them. I love that Churchill quote. If I could be anybody else they ask him if you could be anyone else in the world who would it be members answer?

Mrs.. Churchill's second husband. Yes, the husband is supposed to love. He's the leader and he's to love the wives. This is self-sacrificial love this is love what wants the best for them? This is a love that I don't know if Paul intends us or not.

When you do it makes the wife's submission so much easier. Don't you want to help her to obey? One man said marriage is an educational institution in which a man loses his bachelor's degree. Without acquiring a master's degree.

And all the men laughing they know like I know this is very difficult. Husbands love your wife's see see this tempers the leadership. This is not you do what I say. I'm in charge. No the leadership is a loving leadership you think about Matthew chapter 20.

How does how do the Gentiles lead they lord it? How does Jesus lead by serving this moderates the husband's authority? Ephesians 5 25 husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

With love and warmth and tenderness, and you know what he says there and do not be harsh with them. That's interesting some translated. Don't be embittered. But really the thrust there is harsh. We're louder.

We're usually bigger. We're deeper voices, and we can be harsh with people especially if they're supposed to be submitting to us, and they're not. Sometimes Kim will say to me honey. You sound like you're being harsh, and I'll say I'm not being.

I'm a man. I talk like a man harshly I think in the old days. They called this being crossed with somebody a position of leadership and You're just harsh by the way. It does turn into bitterness eventually.

Bethlehem Bible Church you men along with me are to think. How instead of being harsh, what can I do to be considerate to be kind. To learn about my wife like first Peter 3 talks about to do things for her benefit and for her good.

Not because she does this transactionally now I do that. No, I'm the leader if you're waiting for that to happen men. It's time for you to engage. I'm looking out for my wife's welfare spiritually physically.

I'm not going to try to intimidate my wife my wife because I'm bigger. I'm in charge around here. Matter of fact the quote wives submit to your husbands is fitting of into the fitting to the Lord is Given by God to the wives.

It's not to be used as a club by the husbands for the wives. It's very important husbands. Are you kind and considerate? Yeah, but she doesn't always do what I want her to do. She doesn't always submit.

How does the Lord Jesus deal with the church that does those things are doesn't? Could it be that we men if we have that kind of embittered? Brooding kind of rancid. Attitude toward wives after five years ten years thirty years that the problem is we're not loving our wives.

I found some things over the years. I don't think any of these are original to me. If you'd like to be harsh with your wives men. Keep a score of wrongs done against you. Just record every detail just replay it in your mind over and over and over that would be a good way to be harsh.

Remember every little detail. Hold on to those resentments. Rehearse them. If you want to be harsh with your wife never give her the benefit of the doubt. Last time I checked love believes all things right.

Love believes all things. If you'd like to be harsh with your wife, here's a good one. Blame her for all your marriage problems. Blame her for all the problems raising the children. Of course, I'm doing this the opposite because we don't want to do this.

We don't want to be harsh. If you want to be harsh with your wife. Never tell her to slow down. Never tell her let's work on these things together. If you want to be harsh with your wife never focuses at what she's good at.

I mean if it's probably taken to me. I'm coming up on my 20 finishing my 27th year here. Here's one of the things I've learned in 27 years and you're gonna say that's a dumb moment, but it's it's. I'm a slow learner.

Everybody's got problems and every Christians been gifted by God and They have some good things about them. And so instead of looking at people with all the things they don't do rightly. Well, you look at the things what they do rightly that sound right?

What they do well and you go way to go and I'm gonna encourage you there's some things I just don't do well. But I'm gonna try to do the things that I do. Well even better and instead of saying my wife doesn't do this.

My wife doesn't do that. My wife doesn't do that. I wish she was better than that. How about you watch her with the ladies and think I'll think this way of my wife. I Never really met anybody like him who?

Can motivate and encourage other ladies like that. I just never met anybody like that and she's great at that even 17 year old girls and and she just Encouragement she just on fire. She wants to serve the Lord and I just look at those qualities instead of me saying Well, I see behind the scenes this that and the other if you want to be harsh with your wife.

Here's another thing just never forget her forgive her. You want to be harsh with your wife never resolve conflicts. You want to be harsh with your wife? Disparage your wife in front of others, of course as I say these things.

It's kind of like reading Hosea where I don't want to do that Jesus is Lord and if you fall into these traps, then you can say Lord, please forgive me. I'd like to honor my wife. I'd like to Love her and I don't want to be harsh with her anymore.

Well lordship continues into parenting does it not chapter 3 verse 20? Children Bethlehem Bible Church children. I'm talking to you by the way one more reason why you should bring your children into church.

Here's a letter to be read to the church children are supposed to be in the church. Parents who bring their children into the church. Good job. That's our goal. Children, listen to me. Obey your parents and everything for this pleases the Lord.

Dad's don't point to them. I'm talking to them. Not you children. Obey your parents. This is about the Lordship of Jesus. He gives the reason and The reason is this pleases the Lord. Here's Exodus 20 honor your father and your mother that the days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Ephesians 6 1 children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. You children are to obey your parents. It means to hear under it means if somebody says you hey, listen up. They're trying to get you to listen because you're gonna have to do what they say.

That's what this is. Hey, listen up children. God's structure is he's given you parents and you need to learn from them. This does not mean I tune out. I tune off. I don't care. I ignore I debate I argue I delay in my obedience children.

Obey your parents. See, well, it's hard for me to serve. I'm I'm 10 years old. It's hard for me to have a ministry in the church. Here's a ministry obey your parents. God is pleased with that. Your parents love you.

Your parents have provided for you. Do you know God so loves you children that he knows you couldn't make it on your own? So he gives you parents to care for you and to guide you and to protect you. You should not be thinking young people 14 year olds 18 year olds.

I will not have these parents rule over me. I'll do what I want. When I want matter of fact last days. End-time days. Here's how the end times are described in 2nd Peter 2nd Timothy chapter 3 people will be disobedient to their Parents, I want to say this nicely to you children and teenagers.

You're not as mature as you think you are. You're not as smart as you think you are. You're learning you're growing. That's good. But but you need somebody who's more mature who's wiser who's ahead to protect you and and to provide for you and God wants order.

There's order in military. There's order in government. There's order in the home and you're under your parents. By the way, dear children. Do you know God planted a special love in? The hearts of your parents for you.

It's indescribable how much they love you how much they care for you. They love other children, that's true, but for you in particular. And when you say I'm not going to obey God, I'm not gonna obey my parents.

I'm not going to obey God. Yes, but my parents aren't always godly. What do I do? When Jesus went down with him he came to Nazareth Luke 2 and he continued in subjection to them. Yeah, but I want to be in charge.

Good grow up get some money and move out. That's the idea built in. Yeah, but they tell me not to pray they tell me not to read my Bible. Well, then you disobey them, of course Colossians says what look at it again obey your parents in all things.

Do your schoolwork? Take out the trash. Don't talk that way to your mother. Well, I don't care. Whatever it is you obey. How much have they done for you and by the way this never really ends the honoring part and I think some of the sweetest Memories I'll ever have is my mom's dying of cancer and I flew home because my sister was a nurse.

She needed a few days off for caring for her caring for my mother and I go home and I just remember. Thinking I just wish I could do more for my mom because I know what she's done for me. My point children is going to be what your parents have done for you.

You have no idea because a lot of it you can't remember but I thought all the times my mom Wiped me and burped me and fed me and consoled me and trained me and gave me great opportunities. All those things so when she said I can't get into the shower, but I really want my hair Washed and so that we had this weird thing that would put around her neck some kind of like I don't know a cone that.

You put around a dog's head or something, you know that and then we put this cone around my mom's head and she's crying. I'm crying. I'm washing her hair final. I'm like, it doesn't even matter. Just let all the water and suds go everywhere.

We don't care. I just think the privilege to wash my mother's hair and she's dying. The privilege to take care of her in the bathroom, and I'm thinking that's my honor out of all the things. I remember my mom.

Well, one of them is when she let me eat three ice cream cones at once. She let me take care of her when she's dying in the most personal and that ways. Sometimes young people just forget about that all the things your parents have done for you.

Well, why wouldn't you obey they've wanted your best from the very beginning? This is right. Verse 21 lordship continues fathers. Do not provoke your children unless they become discouraged. What is the lordship of Jesus look like in a home wife submitting husbands loving children obeying and fathers not?

Provoking. In the old days if you wanted to blame people and you're a husband you blame the children the slaves their wives. We're to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians says Dads, you can say obey me.

That's not exasperating. Dads, you can say these are the house rules. That's not exasperating. Getting children to obey isn't obviously. It's otherwise to be contradicting. Obey your parents now don't exasperate.

Yeah, dad, you're exasperating me by asked me to do something. No, how does God father children? Not just with the rod he fathers children of Grace and gratitude and so we have to be careful that we're just not the drill sergeants that we're just not the ones who?

Just launch off because we're bigger. We want to encourage we want consistency. We don't want our child to lose heart. And in fact one of the ways you can have your children lose heart is you give them the rules.

They don't obey you coddle them, and you're not consistent with them, and then later down the line. You just can't take it anymore, so you finally deal with it. Just deal with it early on. Fathers do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.