DEFINITION OF PARENTS: These are adults who are matured and capable enough to adequately take good care of a child. Maturity goes beyond age, it involves character, how you live your life, the way you reason and what you do can be a yard stick for measuring one’s maturity. As parents we have to be mature all round  –  in mind, spirit etc. God expects every child to grow physically, spiritually, psychologically and so God expects every parent to have the ability to nurture a child in all these areas of a child’s life  [Proverbs 22: 6 KJV].

More importantly, as parents, we must have what to offer our children. They must be able to look up to us as their role models; this way, our children will not add more problems to the church and the society at large. We have to do what is expected of us rather than point fingers at the church.

This teaching will be divided into parts for purpose of clarity and efficient delivery.

CATEGORIES OF PARENTS

1. Godly parent (religious)
2. Ungodly parent (unbelieving)

PARENTING STYLES:

We shall highlight four parenting styles to wit:

1. [2] Neglectful (uninvolved). [3] Authoritative. [4] Authoritarian.

PERMISSIVE

• Child-driven, rarely gives or enforces rules and overindulges child to avoid conflict.

NEGLECTFUL

• Uninvolved or absent, provides little nurturance or guidance and indifferent to child’s social-emotional and behavioral needs.

AUTHORITATIVE

• Solves problems together with the child, sets clear rules and expectations and open communication and natural consequences.

AUTHORITARIAN

• Parent-driven, Sets strict rules and punishment.
• One-way communication, with little consideration of child’s social-emotional and behavioral needs.

DEFINITION OF TALENT

• Natural aptitude of skills from God and special gifts or potentials endowed in a Child/Children.

FACTS ABOUT TALENTS

• Natural (God’s Gift)
• Raw materials that need to be process into finished products
• Talents are also in measure / levels and grades

PARENTAL ROLES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN’S GOD GIVEN TALENTS

• Identify and jealously guide the talents [I Chronicles 12: 32].
• Create enabling environment for the developing of their talents [Ephesians. 6:4].
• Identify the weakness of the child [Prov. 20: 27, Proverbs. 22: 15].
• Travailing prayer [Matthew. 13: 24 – 30].
• Teach them the word [Joshua 1: 7, John 15: 7].
• Introduce them to the Holy Spirit [John 16: 13].

HOLY SPIRIT: Acts 1: 6 – 8, Joel 2: 28, John 14: 16 – 26, John 16: 7 – 15, Acts 2: 1 –  17, Acts 19: 1 – 6, Acts 10: 34 – 48.

DEFINITION

• The third person of the Trinity, the Lord and giver of life, He is the creator spirit and
• He is also and commonly known as;

Comforter, Helper, Teacher, Counselor, Spirit of truth etc.

BENEFITS OF HOLY GHOST BAPTISM

• Acts as a guide on your spiritual /Christian journey [John 14: 26 – 27].
• Helps you to pray effectively [Romans 8: 26].
• Gives you more inspiration on the word of God [John 16: 13 – 15], Romans 8:14-17.
• Comforts in time of trouble [John 14: 17].
• Reveals the mind and purpose of god for your life [John 16: 13].
• Shields you away from temptation and danger [John 16: 20].

WHO CAN BE BAPTIZED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

• Be born again [John 3: 3 – 8].
• Believes in the working and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 11:6.
• Willingness to receive Him. [Acts 10: 1 – 48].
• Pure and consecrated heart.
• Pray earnestly for the baptism of the Holy Ghost [Acts 2: 1 – 47].

EXAMPLES OF PARENTS WHO HELPED IN DEVELOPING THE TALENTS OF THEIR CHILDREN

• Father Abraham [Genesis 18: 19].
• [Genesis 6: 6].
• Jochebed (Moses mother) [Exodus 2: 1 – 10].
• Hannah [I Samuel 1: 22 – 28, 2: 1].
• Louis and Eunice [II Timothy. 1: 5].
• Descendant of Issachar [I Chronicles 12: 32].

EXAMPLES OF PARENTS WHO FAILED IN DEVELOPING THE TALENTS OF THEIR CHILDREN

• Eli [I Samuel 2: 12, 27 – 36].
• Samuel [I Samuel. 8: 1 – 5].

BENEFITS OF DEVELOPING CHILDREN GOD’S GIVEN TALENTS

• You will have peace of mind.
• Your children will be celebrated.
• Their destiny journey will not be delayed.
• They will make you proud.
• God will give them voice in their generation.
• They will be a blessing to their generation.

CONCLUSION

• We need parents like mother Susanna Westley, who spent two hours daily in the place of prayers and one hour daily for her children.
• How many hours daily do you invest in your children’s spiritual growth?

• Evangelist Olatunji Erukubami is the founder of Land of Hope Deliverance ministries, Jalingo, Taraba State

QUOTE:

“More importantly, as parents, we must have what to offer our children. They must be able to look up to us as their role models.”