Dedication | Colin D'Cruz

This message was preached by  Colin D Cruz at Word of Grace Church  Pune, on the 21st  of September 2014. You can listen/download the  audio by clicking here

What legacy will you leave behind?  Who on their death bed said that they wished that they spent more time at the office? 

 Today we are going to have a dedication.What is dedication? What does it mean? Let’s look at God’s word.

Gen1:29 God created Adam and Eve. God put Adam to sleep and created Eve out of his rib. Gen1:23-24. When God created them He said that it was “very good”. This was before children. There was a perfect unit, complete. Children did nt complete them. God’s pattern for marriage was that this unit would start a family.

V25- One flesh-  an intimacy and connection that is to be shared with no one else. The man has to be the head of his family and home. The leaving and cleaving is emotional, physical, and financial.

Gen1:28 the first command he gave Adam and Eve was to be fruitful and have children. Today sadly men and woman are exchanging career for children. DINK couples – double income no kids.  People find children are inconvenient.

Ps127 :2 Children are a reward from God. We may have the desire for children but its God who blesses us. A husband and wife are complete without a child.

When we have children what are we supposed to do? We are to bring them up in the ways of the Lord as moral, responsive and responsible individuals.

This does not happen automatically. Just like a garden does not just happen. Parenting is so important and requires a lot of attention and intention.

We all leave a legacy behind. Mostly it is money, property. But to leave behind a spiritual legacy is a great thing.

A study of two families was one. One was Max Jukes and the other Jonathan Edwards both who lives in the 1700s..  Jonathan and his wife Sarah left a great godly legacy for his 11 children.

At the turn of the 20th century, American educator and pastor A.E. Winship decided to trace out the descendants of Jonathan Edwards almost 150 years after his death.  His findings are astounding, especially when compared to a man known as Max Jukes.  Jukes’ legacy came to the forefront when the family trees of 42 different men in the New York prison system traced back to him.

Jonathan Edwards’ godly legacy includes: 1 U.S. Vice-President, 3 U.S. Senators, 3 governors, 3 mayors, 13 college presidents, 30 judges, 65 professors, 80 public office holders, 100 lawyers and 100 missionaries.

Max Jukes’ descendants included: 7 murderers, 60 thieves, 50 women of debauchery, 130 other convicts. 310 paupers (with over 2,300 years lived in poorhouses) 400 who were physically wrecked by indulgent living.

It was estimated that Max Juke’s descendants cost the state more than $1,250,000.

This is a powerful example showing how a parent’s leadership can have a profound effect on their children.

The most important thing after your marriage is your children. At the job you can be replaced and nobody will miss you. Nobody on their death bed said “I wish I spent more time at work” A godly family can reap amazing results.

Deut 6:4-7 impress them upon the children. Talk about the Word of God when you walk, sit, lie down. The primary responsibility of bringing up children and spiritually nurturing them lies with the parents. Sunday school is only an add on.

Eph6:41 Children ought to obey their parents. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child but the rod of discipline drives it away.

As adults we are expected to honour our parents but you are not required to obey. The Bible has instituted Two sacraments i.e. Water baptism and breaking of bread.

So where does dedication come in? It’s not as command but a good practice. Luke 2:22-24. Sons were presented before the Lord in the temple. This is not a law but a good practice. We come with thanksgiving and the parents commit themselves to bring up the child in God’s ways. Infant baptism is not even baptism because it is only sprinkling. There is no evidence of this in the New Testament. Baptism always followed repentance.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that have people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.