John 17
A Father's Prayer for His Children
John 17:15
Part III
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world,
but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Part I deals with our children being 'out in the world' and the dangers of evil lurking out there.
Part II deals with Dad being the example to be followed by his family.
Part III deals with the father's responsibility.
As we have been over Gods' concerns regarding evil for our children, as He was concerned for us as His children, we now come to the part of dealing with the responsibility of dad watching over the children.  Notice, in review, in our past studies of II John, we see that the mother needs to protect her children in the home and in III John we see that the man is to do the fighting to keep the evil out of the home in the first place.

But let us look at more of the man's responsibility in regards to this 'evil' that the Book warns us about.  As we keep our children from that evil in their early formidable years, we must realize that we are preparing them in how to to withstand that evil when they are old enough to leave the home and must be in the world, but not of the world.  They need to learn how to allow the Lord to keep them from the evil.

It is my observation as a former educator that that most parents (including homeschoolers) are not preparing our children near enough for the world that they WILL encounter.  They may be able to handle this present world WITH OUR HELP and will have an 'education', but how will they handle themselves as a KJV Bible believing Christian in the world to come when Isaiah 5:20 will be even more obvious (through laws and loss of freedoms)  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

We must be prudent men!
 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself:
but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Proverbs 22:3 (Prov 27:12)

PRUDENT  -  Cautious; circumspect; practically wise; careful of the consequences of enterprises, measures or actions; cautious not to act when the end is of doubtful utility, or probably impracticable.

Jesus was 'prudent' -and we are to follow Him, amen?
 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently,
he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
Isaiah 52:13

One of the characteristics of David when he was called upon to minister unto Saul with music was that he was prudent in matters.  (I Sam 16:18).
Just how much evil do we foresee, dads?  Are we preparing our kids to be able to fight - will they have an understanding of the times when they grow up?  They may not believe us now, but remember, they will have their opportunity to see that we were right!  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it Proverbs 22:6 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.  Proverbs 23:14 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times... 1Chronicles 12:32
Here is some advice for our children...
My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
...with a warning:
For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb,
and her mouth is smoother than oil:
Proverbs 5:1-3
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Proverbs 31:3

Are we teaching our children about the REAL BATTLE from Satan as He comes out of his earthly garage of the Roman Catholic Church?  Are you teaching them to be able to discern between good and evil - especially those 'close' calls - 7th Day Adventists & other denominations (that have more fun than us) - NKJV - Good "Christian" Books of Human Psychology - Music - Politics.  Is their Sword getting marked up and prepared for war?

Are we making them hide God's word in their heart today so that if the book is ever 'stolen' from them tomorrow, they will have something from 'God's mouth' to help them?  Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Do we warn them about how to have success in God's eyes?   This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8

Do we warn them about walking in the world and seeking their worldly wisdom?
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:1,2

I believe, as a pastor who has taught a few thousand kids for 25 years, that our children can be taught to grasp about the same stuff as adults can grasp today.  (In fact, historically, the children in early America learned more in their SS songs than most adults learn in church today)  In other words, our children can learn what we are learning - they will learn from our example of what we did as we heard it preached!  They will learn from us whether or not we are a doer or a hearer only!  They will grow up and be a 'doer' like we 'do' or they will grow up and be a 'hearer' like we 'hear'.

Understanding comes before wisdom - Knowledge comes before understanding.  We can't have wisdom without understanding and you can't have understanding without knowledge.  Men, are you learning the Book?  Are you teaching your children the Book or are you just teaching 'good works'.  Is the Book being presented to your children?

Note:  For now, YOU are their understanding and wisdom.  Some day, your children will show some understanding.  Then YOU will just be their wisdom.  But some day, WISDOM will prevail in their lives at their own choosing, because hopefully you will have cemented them into that Book, amen?

 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed will work for our children, too!
Acts 19:20

A prudent man gets the knowledge he needs to get from the mouth of God!

Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge:
Proverbs 13:16a
 ...the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
Proverbs 14:18b
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge;
and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Proverbs 18:15

And the prudent man knows how to handle this knowledge!
 A prudent man concealeth knowledge:
but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
Proverbs 12:23
The prudent man hears the preaching and reads the Book!
A fool despiseth his father's instruction:
but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
Proverbs 15:5b
The wise in heart shall be called prudent:
and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
Proverbs 16:21
The simple believeth every word:
but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
Proverbs 14:15
Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
Psalm 119:35
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105
It is not the knowledge of the world that we should seek for our kids!
...but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good,
and simple concerning evil.
Romans 16:19b
Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been,
who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 4:3
Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen,
and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven;
for the heathen are dismayed at them.
For the customs of the people are vain...
Jeremiah 10:2,3a
We don't need to be worldly prudent!
Isaiah 29:13,14
Wherefore the Lord said,
Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth,
and with their lips do honour me,
but have removed their heart far from me,
and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people,
even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
Matt 11:25
At that time Jesus answered and said,
I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent,
and hast revealed them unto babes.
I Corinthians 1:19
 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Dad's! Is this what you want for your children?
They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
Psalm 106:34-37

10: And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. 11: And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: 12: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. 13: And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. 14: And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.  15: Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.   Judges 2:10-15

I think not, amen?

A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
Proverbs 14:16
 ... by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Proverbs 16:6b
 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Proverbs 4:27
 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Proverbs 4:14,15
 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Proverbs 3:7
Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Romans 12:9b
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.
III John 11a
 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
I Thess 5:22

Wouldn't it nice to be able to say this, dad?
101: I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
102: I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
103: How sweet are thy words unto my taste!  yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104: Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
105: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
106: I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
107: I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Psalm 119:101-107
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