May 21, 2025 • 43 mins
The true legacy we leave our children isn’t material wealth but a deep, enduring faith that can withstand life’s challenges. This reflection on legacy parenting explores how to cultivate a spiritual inheritance that transcends generations, focusing on living faith rather than religious routines. Drawing from Scripture—like Abraham’s trust and Paul’s mentorship of Timothy—it highlights that faith is not just taught but caught through example and relationship. Parents are encouraged to guide, not control, helping their children form a direct, authentic connection with God. Ultimately, every moment becomes a chance to shape a legacy that will echo through generations.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's take a moment and let's just go before the
Lord in prayer and just thankGod.
Let's just pray.
Father, thank you so much foryour goodness, your kindness,
your grace.
Father, thank you for yourmercy.
Father, thank you for all thatwe are learning, all that you're
doing in our lives.
Father, thank you for theprivilege that we have of family
, of the gift that you've givenus.
(00:20):
And, father, thank you for thewisdom that you've given us
through your word on how toproperly administer our roles as
parents, our roles as spouses,whatever our role may be in life
.
Father, we thank you for thatand we give you the praise in
Jesus' name.
Let everybody say amen, amen.
And we always like to start outour teachings here at Glorious
(00:41):
Way Church, our services.
Pastor Greiner has taught uswell, and so I want to do the
same thing that my pastor does,and that's make a declaration.
So why don't you stand up ifyou're here in public, or here
in person, or even if you're athome?
Stand up and hold your Bible upand boldly declare.
Let's just make a declarationhere tonight.
(01:01):
We're going to make Jesus gladand the devil mad.
Everybody say amen, amen, allright, so let's just repeat
after me.
Father, thank you for the wordthat I'm about to receive.
I confess it as I hear, as Ireceive and as I act on the word
received here tonight, that thetrajectory of my life and the
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life of my loved ones willforever be changed.
In Jesus name, amen, amen.
How many of you believe that?
How many of you know that theword of God is life changing and
that spending time in the wordof God and receiving instruction
through God's word will changeyour trajectory of your life?
It doesn't matter what life hasbeen up to this point, but the
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word of God will change yourlife.
Can I get an amen, amen.
So, as I said a few minutes ago,this is week eight of a nine
week series on marriage andfamily, and so tonight our
series is going to be a littledifferent than what it's been in
weeks past.
In weeks past we've had alittle, we've had some teaching,
whether it was on on marriagecommunication.
(02:10):
I can't possibly get all of thetitles, but they've been great
and I want to encourage you thatif you've missed any of them,
you can go back and catch themon our podcast or you can also
get access to them via theGlorious Way Church site podcast
, or you can also get access tothem via the Glorious Way Church
site.
Also, if you are watchingtonight, if you are joining us
tonight via live stream, I wantto encourage you.
(02:30):
If you have a prayer requestlater on in the service we're
going to take time and pray foryour needs.
So if you have a prayer request, I want to ask you to send your
request.
You can do one of two thingsyou can go to our website and
send it that way, or you cansend an email to staff at gwccc.
Someone is there to receiveyour prayer request and we'll
make sure that we take time topray for you in the service.
(02:54):
So tonight's session is going tobe a little different than what
we've been doing In theprevious weeks.
We've had our teaching time andthen we've had a time where
we've broken into small groups.
Tonight, our session is goingto be in two parts.
The first part of the sessionis going to.
Actually, our session tonightis titled.
You probably want to know whatwe're going to talk about, right
, that would help.
And so tonight we're going totalk about legacy, parenting,
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faith for the next generation.
How many of you know that it'simportant, whatever stage of
life you're in whether you are aparent, soon to be a parent,
wanting to be a parent got themgrown and gone out of the house,
and you're happy that they'regone.
Whatever stage of life thatyou're in, once you still have a
responsibility to impart and toinstill legacy.
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I like to say it this way toimpart and to instill legacy.
I like to say it this way Ifyou have access, you still have
influence.
Amen, amen, if you have access.
Even grown kids.
My wife and I, flora, are atthat stage in our life where we
are now empty nesters.
We are getting used to beingempty nesters.
We went out and got a puppy dog.
I don't know if that was a goodthing or a bad thing, but we
(04:06):
are getting used to being emptynesters.
But you know, what blesses usis that our kids, first of all,
because we have done what I'mgoing to share with you tonight.
We have legacy.
Our kids are both serving theLord.
I have one.
Our youngest is in collegepreparing to be a worship pastor
Praise God for that and ouroldest child is already a
worship pastor serving the Lord.
(04:27):
And so you know, impartinglegacy matters, it makes a
difference, and you know it justdidn't start with us.
Our parents, my mother's, mywife's parents, my wife's mother
in particular.
My parents, my mom, they werepraying parents, they were
praying grandmothers.
And it makes a difference.
I tell people all the timenever, ever, ever, give up on
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your children, never stoppraying for your children If
they're not serving God.
Keep praying, keep trusting,keep believing, keep standing in
faith the very thing we'regoing to talk about tonight.
Because I am where I am today,because I had a mother who knew
how to pray Amen.
So it's important.
It's important to live thatlife.
So tonight we're going to splitour session into two parts.
(05:09):
The first part we're going tolook at some biblical examples
of the legacy of faith, in otherwords, legacy parenting, what
that looks like in the Bible.
And then the second part of oursession we're going to actually
engage in practical application.
Well, what does that mean?
That means these chairs behindme are going to be occupied by a
couple of couples that we'veinvited to join us here on the
(05:31):
platform tonight, and so we'regoing to talk.
We're going to have a real talkabout what it means to be a
parent and to parent for legacy.
So tonight let's start with thefirst part of it by looking at
some biblical examples.
And so, if you will turn withme in your Bibles to Hebrews
chapter 11.
Most of you can probably quoteit to me without even opening
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your Bible, but I love Hebrewschapter 11 because it is so full
of rich information.
And so Hebrews chapter 11 isalso known as the legacy of
faith chapter.
Aren't you glad that there's alegacy of faith chapter in the
Bible?
Amen.
And so in Hebrews chapter 11,starting with verse one, we're
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just going to kind of go throughsome of these scriptures and
just kind of dissect them andbreak them out and just look at
what, what, what the Bible istelling us in part of being a
legacy parent.
What does that mean?
What does it look like to be alegacy parent?
And so in Hebrews chapter 11,starting in verse one, it talks
about the foundation of what alegacy parent looks like.
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A legacy parent is a person offaith.
Hebrews chapter 11, verse one,says now, faith is the substance
of things hoped for and theevidence of things not seen.
Now, we all know that that'spretty self-explanatory.
Okay, I kind of like to put itthis way Faith means that I
believe it, even when I don'tsee it.
That's what it means.
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Faith says God said it, Ibelieve it.
That settles it.
See, we live in a day and atime in the world where people
have to see to believe, but aspeople of faith, we live.
It's the opposite for us.
We don't see to believe, webelieve to see.
And so faith is the substanceof things hoped for, the
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evidence of things not seen.
Verse two for by it, the elders, the people that have gone
before us, the forefathers, thegrandparents I like to put it
that way the grandparentsobtained a good testimony.
What was the testimony?
Well, we're going to look atsome of that, but by faith and
you know, what's interestingabout this is if they did it, do
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we get a pass?
If we're going gonna walk thejourney in this life in faith,
do we get a pass?
No, we're gonna have to do whatthey did, and not only does.
Do we apply that to our ownpersonal lives, we have to apply
it to the lives of our children.
And so, by it, the elders, thegrandparents, obtained a good
testimony.
Verse 3 by faith, we understandthat the worlds were framed by
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the Word of God, so that thethings which are seen were not
made of things which are visible.
In other words, by faith theyunderstood some things and as a
legacy parent, as you areteaching and imparting and
instilling and laying down thefoundation, you're going to have
opportunities to teach faith.
(08:25):
You know, one of the mandateshere at Glorious Way Church is
this is the Lord gave thismandate to our pastor years ago
and he said don't.
He said people take for grantedwhat you know.
Don't take for granted theydon't know what you know.
Who doesn't know what you know?
The children don't know what weknow.
You know, we live in a day andtime where it's it is so
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important that when you first ofall that you're in the right
place, the right church, andyou're getting the right
teaching, we no longer canafford to be part of a church
where you send your kids andthey just give you a color sheet
and tell you a little story,but they're not teaching you how
to live for Jesus.
Well, you know what?
If you're here you're here atGlorious Way Church that's not
the case.
Our children are learning abouthaving a knowing, growing,
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living, loving relationship withJesus Christ.
Amen, amen, and that'simportant.
And so we understand that byfaith, they understood some
things.
Faith will help you understand.
And not only will it help youunderstand, but it will help you
convey the understanding.
Verse 4, by faith, abel offeredto God a more excellent
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sacrifice than Cain.
In other words, by faith, abelunderstood how to go to God in
worship, how to approach God.
Well, you know, as legacyparents, as parents teaching our
children, we've got to teachour kids how to have a
relationship with God, how topray to God, how to talk with
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God, how to interact with God.
You know, there was a time in myown life when I was younger, my
mom had a great relationshipwith the Lord and I figured the
easiest way for me had a greatrelationship with the Lord and I
figured the easiest way for meto have a relationship with the
Lord was through her.
How many of you know that Jesusdidn't do what he did on the
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cross for you to have to gothrough somebody else to broker,
manage your relationship.
That's already been done.
And so there was a time when mymother finally said to me,
after going to her for severaltimes and asking questions, and
the Lord finally said next timehe comes to you, you tell him to
come to me.
Well, I didn't like that.
(10:49):
I didn't appreciate that.
I didn't.
If God said, send him to me,and she acted in obedience to
send me to him, then guess what?
She knew God was going to dosomething that she wasn't able
to do.
A legacy parent understands theimportance of ensuring that your
children, whether they're yourchildren, your grandchildren or
whatever the relationship is,whether it's a blended family or
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whatever they understand theimportance of helping that child
establish their ownrelationship.
You know, and during that sametime, when it was easier for me
to go to mom instead of going tothe Lord, I clearly heard the
Lord say to me one day you know,you can't get in on your mama's
coattail, and so, parents,you're not doing your children
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any favors when you're notteaching them or helping them
establish their ownrelationships.
Okay, well, I'm going to helpmy child establish their own
relationship.
Well, that's a lot of work?
No, it's not.
Actually, it's very easy.
Well, why is it easy?
Because all you got to do islive it.
How many of you know, more iscaught than taught, amen.
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And so all you've got to do islive the life, set the example,
speak the words and they'll getit.
Verse 5,.
By faith, enoch was taken away.
So he did not see death and wasnot found because God had taken
him, for before he was taken hehad this testimony that he
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pleased God.
Now think about how cool thatis Enoch's walking with God and
talking with God and God says,hey, enoch, it's getting getting
a little late, why don't youjust come to my house?
But it took having arelationship, a personal
relationship.
Well, how was that established?
By faith, verse 6.
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But without faith, say withoutfaith it is impossible to please
him.
Now I just stopped right therebecause today, as I was reading
that and I've read this, oh, Idon't know how many times I've
read this particular scriptureit just jumped out at me.
I heard it's impossible.
It's impossible, in other words, anything that you do to help
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develop that child into thatrelationship.
Telling the little stories youcan read all the Bible stories
you want to at night, but ifyou're not infusing faith in
that story, if you're nothelping them understand the
significance and the faith partof that story, they're going to
grow up just reading a littlestory Jesus wept going to grow
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up just reading a little storyJesus wept.
You got lots of kids that knowBible stories but there's no
faith with it, there's nounderstanding, there's no depth
to it.
And so, without faith, it'simpossible.
Say that again.
It's impossible.
It's impossible.
It's impossible to please God.
It's impossible.
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It's impossible to please god.
It's impossible, without faith,to help that child develop that
growing, knowing relationshipwith christ.
It's impossible, it'simpossible to please him.
For he who comes to god mustbelieve that he is first of all.
That's important.
He's not some mythical, spookything, he's God.
He's our loving father thatloved us so much that he gave
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heaven's most prized possessionso that you could have a
relationship with him.
Must believe that he is andthat he is a rewarder to those
who diligently seek him.
Verse six, verse seven by faith,noah being divinely warned of
things not yet seen, moved withgodly fear.
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Faith in God and imparting thatfaith in your children will
help them to know some things,will make them sensitive.
If Noah didn't have faith, hewouldn't have been sensitive to
what God was trying to warn himabout, what was to come.
It's not enough for us to havethat, because one day your kids
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are going to grow up and beadults.
You know, I marvel at thefaithfulness of God, just
looking at our youngest who'sout on his own.
Now he's in college and he'slearning to adult and he's
learning to make decisions.
And he's learning to adult andhe's learning to make decisions
and he's learning to do thingsthat mom and dad used to do.
And all I can say is, yeah, butthe day's coming when he's
gonna be off the payroll, it'scoming, it's coming.
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It's coming, it's coming,praise God.
But I'm just thankful that he'sat that place now where,
because he has become sensitiveto the things of God by faith
you know, dad, I don't see God.
No, you don't have to see him,just know him.
He's listening, he's looking.
The word that says, he thatkeepeth Israel neither slumbers
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nor sleep.
He's watching.
He's just a prayer away.
He wants to have a conversationwith you, but by faith, noah
being divinely warned.
If Noah didn't have faith, ifNoah didn't know how to believe,
he wouldn't have been able toreceive the warning.
Now, just imagine howdifferently things would have
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turned out if Noah had notlistened.
Oh, and then there's Abraham,verse eight, abraham.
I like to look at him as thegrandfather of faith, because it
kind of started with him, youknow, and even in the New
Testament there's reference toAbraham being faithful.
God accounted him untorighteousness because he
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believed God even when he didn'tsee, even when it was
impossible, when he didn't see,even when it was impossible.
And if Abraham had that kind offaith, if the grandfather had
that kind of faith, then justimagine what happened.
And if you look at the historyand the story of Abraham, and
that they're not just the storyof Abraham but the story of his
descendants, look at what Goddid through the grand, the great
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, great, great, great greatgrandfather who had faith.
Look at all the things that Goddid.
God said he was gonna do it.
Abraham believed God would doit and God did it.
Well, that same thing appliesto us today when God promises
you something.
And let me just say this thereare no expiration dates on God's
promises.
There's no expiration date onGod's promises.
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There's no expiration date onGod's promises.
If God promised you that hewould do it, he'll do it.
Abraham stayed faithful by faith.
Verse eight Abraham obeyed oh,wait a minute, stop right there.
You mean to tell me that if Iwalk in faith, then I'm going to
have to walk in obedience?
Hold on a minute.
I didn't sign up for that.
No, when you walk in faith withgod, when you have faith in god
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and you're teaching, you knowwhat your kids need to see you
obey.
Your kids need to understandwhat that means as an adult.
Well, mommy said I gotta obey.
Well, you know what mom and dadhave to obey well.
Well, what does that look like?
We obey God by being faithful,making time for him, spending
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time in his word, by giving inour acts of worship.
Your kids need to see that.
They need to experience that.
If worship only takes place atchurch on Sundays, then they're
missing out a lot.
However, you know that livingby faith is a lifestyle.
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It's not something that you do,it's who you are.
People say, oh, he's justreligious.
No, I'm not religious, I justlove the Lord.
My faith in him causes me notto just be religious and do
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religious things, but my faithin him causes me to love him, to
have a relationship with him.
And, as a legacy parent, we'vegot to teach those things to our
children.
We've got to model those thingsto our children.
We've got to demonstrate thosethings to our children.
We've got to model those thingsto our children.
We've got to demonstrate thosethings for our children.
And you know, they're watching.
Even at a young age.
They're watching, they'relistening and it's funny how
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kids will bring things back up.
That happened years ago, thatyou didn't think they knew or
you didn't think they werewatching, but they saw you.
I remember as a kid when mymother was would be in the
kitchen on Sunday morningsworshiping, and she'd be cooking
, making Sunday dinner, andshe'd be singing songs into the
Lord and just worship it and allof a sudden she just get caught
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up in worship.
And I remember one particularSunday she was making a roast
that Sunday and she was singingsongs and just praising the Lord
and we were in the rest of theother part of the house and we
were kind of laughing at her,making fun of her, because she's
like, okay, that's a littleover the top, but my mother
didn't care.
What you saw was what you got.
And I remember this particularSunday she got so caught up in
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worship that she got so excitedand her hands went up.
She went one way and the roastwent the other way and we never
did get gravy that Sunday withthat roast.
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But guess what?
I remember what worship lookslike.
I remember what love for theFather looks like.
Why?
Because she set the example.
She was not ashamed.
You know, folks, we live in aday and a time where we can't be
ashamed.
Either we are or we're not.
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Either he is or he isn't.
There's no in between.
Oh, you, one of them?
Them Christians, you mean younot?
Oh, you, you wanted them holyrollers.
You mean you not get attitudewith him?
Oh, you mean you don't knowJesus?
No, don't miss that opportunity, don't even miss you.
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And usually when you encounterpeople like that, and if your
kids are with you, don't missthe opportunity to let them, you
see, you be bold, to be bold.
Don't let them get theimpression that my mom and dad
are timid.
No, my faith says I'm bold.
My faith says I believe what Ibelieve and I'm not backing down
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Amen.
By faith, abraham, he dwelt,verse 9,.
By faith, he dwelt in the landof promise as in a foreign
country, dwelling in tents withIsaac and Jacob, the heirs with
him of the same promise.
Can you imagine some of theconversations that went on in
those tents?
Can you imagine some of theconversations that went on in
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that tent?
Can you imagine some of theimpartation?
Come sit down, boys.
Let me tell you a story aboutGod and what he did.
Can you imagine Abraham tellingthem about the time that he
believed God for a son and allthat time he waited and waited
First he probably started with.
Let me tell you about yourgrandmother, by Sarah, you know.
God promised me a son and Sarahwas like no, I'm kidding, is
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God going to really let me havea son this old?
And she laughed and the angelscalled her out.
Can you imagine theconversation?
Can you imagine theconversation, the conversation
of faith, when Abraham says andthen can you believe?
After that son was born, afterIsaac, the promise was born, the
Lord told me to kill him.
Can you imagine theconversation?
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Can you imagine thedemonstration and the
impartation of faith takingplace Today?
As I was in the office gettingready for tonight, I heard
something that just really spoketo me and I want to say this, I
want to share this, and it isthis you know, when you start
something or you begin something, and we all are at different
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stages in different places inour walk of faith, but the
moment you start yourrelationship with Christ, the
legacy of faith button getspushed.
In other words, the start getspushed.
Now, for some of us, thedevelopment process takes longer
.
Some of us, the process takesquicker, but we all have a
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season of receiving for what Togive.
We all have a time of receivingsomething from God to then pour
out into our loved ones, intoour children, into the future.
And if we don't do it, thenwho's going to do it?
We can't depend on the schoolsto do it.
We can't depend on some, someof us can't even depend on some
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of our family to do it.
It's up to us.
And so we see that by faith,abraham dwelt in the land.
He sat in the tents with hisheirs.
By faith, sarah herself alsoreceived strength to conceive.
It took faith.
Can you imagine Sarah sharingthat story here?
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I was really old and he wasreally old, old and something
happened and we got pregnant.
But you know what God promised?
That by faith, by faith.
I never get tired of sharing thetestimony of faith that Flora
and I experienced with our son.
Some of you know our story Ouryoungest, six miscarriages in
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nine years.
We were at a place where wewere depleted of faith.
We didn't have any faith.
To believe for a son Didn'tchange God's promise, though I
even tried to talk God out ofthe son, tried talking to him.
Okay, lord, you know, if youdon't want me to have a son,
then fine, I'll just be contentand happy with the daughter.
But look, just take the desireaway.
He wouldn't even take it away.
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But now, that time I get totell and I've been able to tell
and to share with my son.
Son, did you know that you're amiracle?
Did you know that God isfaithful?
And I got tickled.
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I was so proud of him.
I was so dead proud.
Not long ago, he was sharing thetestimony.
He was sharing his testimonyAmen, by faith.
And if we're going to impartthe legacy of faith, we've got
to tell, we've got to say Faithis not just something you
receive and you hold it in.
Did you know that faith has avoice?
Did you know that faith is averb?
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Faith takes action.
We see that in Abraham, and Godtold him take Isaac up on that
mountain and kill him.
Abraham said OK, lord.
He didn't.
He didn't say wait, wait, wait,hold, hold on time out.
You just gave him to me and nowyou want me to kill him?
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No, abraham had so much faiththat God was able to raise him
up.
Even if he did that, all hesaid was okay, lord.
And he didn't drag his feeteither.
The Bible says he got up earlythe next morning and went and
everything that came out of hismouth even this help heard him
talking faith when he went andhe told the servants y'all stay
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here, the boy and I are goingover there and we'll be back.
Isaac had a chance to see hisdad living in faith not just
talking it, but living it whenhe said hey, dad, I see we got
the wood for the sacrifice and Isee you got the fire for the
sacrifice, but who will be thesacrifice?
And Abraham said God himselfwill provide.
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And you know, as you read, itdoesn't tell you exactly how old
Isaac was, but he was oldenough that he could have.
If it had been me some of youdon't look you'd be like that.
You know where I'm going.
If it had been me he about totie me up and put me on I'd be
like wait, whoa, whoa.
Even Isaac believed.
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Why do you think that wasbelieved?
Why do you think that wasBecause his father had been
instilling the legacy of faith?
See, we have to understand thatfaith is not just for our
generation, it's for the nextgeneration and you have to
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understand that when God givesyou kids, you have a job.
Oh, you mean, I've got to domore than feed them and clothe
them and buy them all theelectronics they want.
Yes, and actually that part ofyour job is far more important
than the stuff.
See, when the stuff is gone,what are they going to hold on
to?
When the stuff is gone andthey're facing the situation,
what are they going to do?
Okay, when the stuff is gone,they're facing the situation.
What are they going?
Okay, when the stuff is gone,they're gonna run and get that
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iphone and look up something ontiktok.
No, when the rubber meets theroad, are they going to go to
the phone or they're going to goto the throne?
Well, it depends on what youteach them.
It depends on what you impartto them.
It depends on what you impartto them.
It depends on what you'resaying to them, because you know
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what I've learned and mymommies say this all the time
son, there's gonna come a timethat I'm not gonna be here, and
if and when that time comes andI'm not done what I was supposed
to do to make sure you areready for me not to be here,
then I've not done my job.
Wow, wow, wow.
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Verse 17,.
By faith, abraham, when he gottested we just talked about that
and how he offered up Isaac.
By faith, verse 20,.
Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.
You see the generational thinggoing on.
Abraham imparted.
Isaac is imparting.
He's blessing his sons, he'steaching his sons, he's pouring
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into his sons.
We have to do the same thing.
By faith, jacob, when he wasdying verse 21,.
Blessed each of his sons,joseph, in worship, leaning on
the top of his staff.
See, one of the things I'velearned about faith is it
doesn't matter how old you areIf living a life of faith is who
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you are.
You can worship leaning, youcan worship standing, you can
worship sitting, because what'sin you has got to come out of
you.
And if your kids are seeingthat, you know it's like my mom.
I still remember we didn't getgravy that Sunday, but I
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remember she was a worshiper.
I remember she loved that Lordmore than she loved us getting
that gravy with that roast.
And you know what?
I'm not mad about it.
I was then Amen, impartingfaith.
By faith, joseph, when he wasdying, made mention of the
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departure of the children ofIsrael and gave instructions
concerning his bones.
See, faith looks and speaksinto the future.
Faith speaks into your child'sfuture.
When we speak words of faith toour children, when we teach
words of faith to our children,we are speaking into their
future.
When we speak words of faith toour children, when we teach
words of faith to our children,we are speaking into their
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future.
And then, of course, there'sanother example of faith, and I
really liked, I really reallyenjoyed this one as I was
reading.
It's the Apostle Paul.
How many of you know, theApostle Paul was a man of faith
boy.
That dude went through a lot.
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I mean, if that had been,master.
Like, wait a minute, lord, wedidn't talk about hazard pay,
I'm gonna need a raise orsomething.
Okay, you got me out heredealing with all of this and put
look, then people want to killme.
But Paul was a man of faith andPaul had a mentor.
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He was mentoring Timothy.
Now, notice Paul was a mentor,not a tormentor.
Now, that'll preach right there.
When imparting faith, you arementoring, not tormentoring.
What do I mean by that?
There's a time when the HolySpirit says go hard.
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And there's a time when theHoly Spirit says ease up a
little bit, give them a minuteto process.
Give them a minute to receivewhat you just gave them, because
they're going to have to chewon that for a minute.
It's important that youunderstand the difference
between the two and understandthere is a time to mentor, but
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there's never a time totormentor, because if you
tormentor, you can actually turnthem off.
Wow, wow.
Well, you know, I got to makesure that they know.
Yeah, you got to make sure thatthey know, but you got to make
sure that they know at theirrate of speed and you're walking
in wisdom and allowing the HolySpirit to help you.
(31:54):
It's important.
So we see over in 2 Timothy,chapter 3, verse 10.
I like the amplified version ofthat of that scripture says.
This amplified version of thatscripture says this now you have
closely observed and diligentlyfollowed my teaching, conduct,
(32:14):
purpose in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness.
Now, what I love about that,first of all, is this In Paul's
letter to Timothy, his son inthe faith, he affirms Timothy's
life as a godly man, and thenPaul proceeds to list all of the
things that Timothy had learnedfrom him.
In other words, paul proceededto list all of the ways in which
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faith had been instilled in him, all of the opportunities he
had to learn faith.
The first thing that Timothylearned was this his teaching.
He was able to observe Paul'steaching.
Paul was not only a greatchurch planner, but he was a
great teacher.
He was a missionary.
He knew what he was talkingabout.
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The other thing that Timothy gotto observe was Paul's conduct.
Timothy watched Paul up close.
Now, reading about the life ofPaul, you see that there were
some times that Paul kind ofwent through it.
Now, reading about the life ofPaul, you see that there were
some times that Paul kind ofwent through it, and some of us
may not have, would probablywouldn't have blamed him if he'd
have kind of stepped out for aminute.
Y'all know what I'm talkingabout.
Don't look at me like that.
(33:19):
Well, you know.
Excuse me, lord, I'm going tostep out of the kingdom for just
a minute.
I'll be right back.
No, I won't go, that's allright, lord, I got this.
I don't go, that's all right.
Lord, I got this.
I don't need you.
I got this, lord.
No, no, timothy got to seePaul's conduct in those
difficult times.
He watched him up close.
He watched how Paul respondedwhen things went well and when
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they were difficult.
You know what?
Your kids watch you during thedifficult times, just like they
watch you through the good times.
There should be no difference.
Why?
Because, first of all, jesussaid in this life you will have
tested trials.
He could have stopped there andsaid okay, that's just the way
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it is.
That's the fact, jack, let'ssee how you do in Judgment Day
we'll talk about it then.
But he said no.
He said in this life you willhave tests and trials.
But be of good cheer if I'veovercome the world.
And because he's overcome it,even when we're going through
the difficult times, ourtestimony should still be the
same.
Why are you doing oh, I'm goodunder the circumstances what you
(34:27):
doing under there?
You're supposed to be above,only not beneath an overcomer
under the circumstances.
Well, what you doing underthere?
You're supposed to be above,only not beneath an overcomer.
I've had this word stirringaround in me and I just so
appreciate this.
The word is this the wind, theW-I-N is coming.
Do not be distracted by thewhining of the W-H-E-N.
(34:49):
Be distracted by the whining ofthe W-H-E-N.
Some of you'll get that on theway home.
The W-I-N is coming.
Do not be distracted by thewhining of the W-H-E-N.
(35:09):
Why Can we have so muchconfidence in that?
Because the word says nowthanks be to God, who always
leads us to triumph in ChristJesus.
So we understand faith.
We understand that Timothy gotto observe Paul's conduct.
He got to watch Paul's aim inlife.
Paul's focus was taking thegospel to the world, especially
(35:31):
when it was never where, it hadnever gone before.
Timothy got to see that.
Do your kids get to see youraim in life?
Do they get to see your passion, your faith at work?
Timothy got to see Paul's faith.
Timothy said Paul's faith.
(35:52):
Timothy saw Paul's faith inevery circumstance, in difficult
situations where no humansolution was possible.
Timothy got to see it.
But one of the things thatTimothy noticed was that Paul
always took a step forward.
Faith says I'm going to stepforward even when it doesn't
(36:12):
look like I can step forward.
See, faith doesn't say I'mgoing to step forward only when
it's easy and it's comfortableand I'm going to step back when
it's not.
No, faith says I'm going tokeep moving, I'm going to keep
going.
Sometimes faith says I'm goingto have to step out there, not
(36:35):
knowing if the step is there.
Well, that's not faith, that'sfoolishness.
No, sometimes faith says yougot to take that step Paul did.
Paul got on the ship and knew itwas going to be shipwrecked,
but he got on it anyway.
Tried to tell him not to go,but he got on it anyway.
Tried to tell him not to go,but he got on it.
And because he was on it, godpromised him safe passage, not
(36:56):
just to him, but everybody onthe boat.
And you know what I love aboutthat, about Paul is even in the
midst of all of that chaos andall of that trouble, ministry
never stopped.
His faith never decreased.
He was encouraging everybodyelse instead of paul whoa, can I
(37:17):
be the first one on a lifeboat?
No, paul was ministering evenin the midst of all of that
craziness.
See, our faith says that we'regoing to minister even in the
midst of the craziness.
Ministry doesn't take a breakwhen crazy comes, and that'll
preach.
Actually, ministry should getcrazy with crazy.
(37:42):
Some of you will have to processthat.
What do I mean by that?
If it gets bold, if it gets bow, if it go, if it gets gets, if
it go high, you go low, but youdon't back up, you keep going.
Paul got to see Timothy got tosee Paul's patience.
(38:03):
Now we're talking about thelegacy of faith here, timothy
got to see his patience.
There were lots of times Paulcould have blown it, he could
have lost it, but he saw hispatience.
He got to see his love.
He got to see his steadfastness, his persistence.
(38:24):
He got to see Paul was not aquitter.
You know what your faith?
Speaking to your children, tothe next generation, to say this
Don't quit, don't give up.
If you catch hell, don't holdit.
If you're going through it,don't stop, don't quit, don't
(38:49):
stop, don't give up, keep movingforward, keep pressing in, keep
pushing.
We're talking about legacy.
What will your legacy say aboutyou?
(39:09):
See, what I've come to learnabout faith and the legacy of
faith is this First of all, theygo hand in hand.
Every aspect of your faith walkis preparing for an impartation
of legacy.
Wow, that's deep.
(39:33):
Every part of your faith walkis a legacy impact waiting to
happen that'll give you a wholedifferent perspective on it.
That'll make you stop and thinkabout for a minute what's about
to come out of your mouth.
Am I going to speak faith?
Am I going to speak life tothis situation?
(39:54):
But, more importantly, what I'mabout to say, the person that's
going to hear what I'm sayinghow are they going to receive it
?
You know, a while back, pastorJay was teaching a message, and
something that he said to me wasso profound, but yet it was so
simple.
You know, jesus doesn't respondto needs.
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God doesn't respond to needs,he responds to faith.
Just think of how differentyour child's life would be if
they understood the differencebetween God responding to your
need.
God please, god please, godplease, god please, god please,
god please, god please to know.
Father, I thank you thatbecause your word says it and I
(40:39):
believe your word because youare faithful to that which
you've promised.
You're not a man that youshould lie, nor the son of man
that you should repent.
Just imagine how different yourchild's life would be with that
.
And so we have a responsibilityto impart.
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We have a responsibility tounderstand that the next
generation is prepared.
We have a responsibility tomake sure that they know what we
know.
Amen.
Whether you are a young parentjust started out, whether you
(41:24):
are a wannabe parent hoping getmarried first, whether you are a
wannabe parent hoping getmarried first.
Okay, can I say that again?
Okay, don't put the cart, don'tput the cart, the horse before
the cart.
Get the cart first and thenbelieve God for the horse, okay,
but get married first.
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Get married and then believeGod for a child.
You know what it takes.
Faith.
Faith is not just, does notjust touch some parts of our
lives, it touches every part.
How do I know that?
How many of you, when youexchange vows, you were taking a
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step of faith, were you not?
You exchange vows with thisperson that you believed was
going to treat you the way he'sstanding there looking all sharp
, or she's standing therelooking all pretty, is going to
treat you.
That's a step of faith.
That's a step of faith.
That's a step of faith.
I'm believing that this personthat says they love me is going
(42:36):
to continue to love me.
Wow, so faith touches everypart of your life.
It touched you when you gotmarried.
It touched you when he said Ilove you.
Did he say that to you?
Okay, he did, okay and youbelieved him.
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So you took a step of faith.
Amen, we all did.
And I'm pleased to report that37 years, almost 38 years later,
I'm still walking in it, stillbelieve, still thanking God for
it.
Amen, amen.
And so faith is the lifestyle.
Faith is necessary, faith isimportant.
Let's take a moment and let's just go before the
Lord in prayer and just thankGod.
Let's just pray.
Father, thank you so much foryour goodness, your kindness,
your grace.
Father, thank you for yourmercy.
Father, thank you for all thatwe are learning, all that you're
doing in our lives.
Father, thank you for theprivilege that we have of family
, of the gift that you've givenus.
(00:20):
And, father, thank you for thewisdom that you've given us
through your word on how toproperly administer our roles as
parents, our roles as spouses,whatever our role may be in life
.
Father, we thank you for thatand we give you the praise in
Jesus' name.
Let everybody say amen, amen.
And we always like to start outour teachings here at Glorious
(00:41):
Way Church, our services.
Pastor Greiner has taught uswell, and so I want to do the
same thing that my pastor does,and that's make a declaration.
So why don't you stand up ifyou're here in public, or here
in person, or even if you're athome?
Stand up and hold your Bible upand boldly declare.
Let's just make a declarationhere tonight.
(01:01):
We're going to make Jesus gladand the devil mad.
Everybody say amen, amen, allright, so let's just repeat
after me.
Father, thank you for the wordthat I'm about to receive.
I confess it as I hear, as Ireceive and as I act on the word
received here tonight, that thetrajectory of my life and the
(01:26):
life of my loved ones willforever be changed.
In Jesus name, amen, amen.
How many of you believe that?
How many of you know that theword of God is life changing and
that spending time in the wordof God and receiving instruction
through God's word will changeyour trajectory of your life?
It doesn't matter what life hasbeen up to this point, but the
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word of God will change yourlife.
Can I get an amen, amen.
So, as I said a few minutes ago,this is week eight of a nine
week series on marriage andfamily, and so tonight our
series is going to be a littledifferent than what it's been in
weeks past.
In weeks past we've had alittle, we've had some teaching,
whether it was on on marriagecommunication.
(02:10):
I can't possibly get all of thetitles, but they've been great
and I want to encourage you thatif you've missed any of them,
you can go back and catch themon our podcast or you can also
get access to them via theGlorious Way Church site podcast
, or you can also get access tothem via the Glorious Way Church
site.
Also, if you are watchingtonight, if you are joining us
tonight via live stream, I wantto encourage you.
(02:30):
If you have a prayer requestlater on in the service we're
going to take time and pray foryour needs.
So if you have a prayer request, I want to ask you to send your
request.
You can do one of two thingsyou can go to our website and
send it that way, or you cansend an email to staff at gwccc.
Someone is there to receiveyour prayer request and we'll
make sure that we take time topray for you in the service.
(02:54):
So tonight's session is going tobe a little different than what
we've been doing In theprevious weeks.
We've had our teaching time andthen we've had a time where
we've broken into small groups.
Tonight, our session is goingto be in two parts.
The first part of the sessionis going to.
Actually, our session tonightis titled.
You probably want to know whatwe're going to talk about, right
, that would help.
And so tonight we're going totalk about legacy, parenting,
(03:19):
faith for the next generation.
How many of you know that it'simportant, whatever stage of
life you're in whether you are aparent, soon to be a parent,
wanting to be a parent got themgrown and gone out of the house,
and you're happy that they'regone.
Whatever stage of life thatyou're in, once you still have a
responsibility to impart and toinstill legacy.
(03:42):
I like to say it this way toimpart and to instill legacy.
I like to say it this way Ifyou have access, you still have
influence.
Amen, amen, if you have access.
Even grown kids.
My wife and I, flora, are atthat stage in our life where we
are now empty nesters.
We are getting used to beingempty nesters.
We went out and got a puppy dog.
I don't know if that was a goodthing or a bad thing, but we
(04:06):
are getting used to being emptynesters.
But you know, what blesses usis that our kids, first of all,
because we have done what I'mgoing to share with you tonight.
We have legacy.
Our kids are both serving theLord.
I have one.
Our youngest is in collegepreparing to be a worship pastor
Praise God for that and ouroldest child is already a
worship pastor serving the Lord.
(04:27):
And so you know, impartinglegacy matters, it makes a
difference, and you know it justdidn't start with us.
Our parents, my mother's, mywife's parents, my wife's mother
in particular.
My parents, my mom, they werepraying parents, they were
praying grandmothers.
And it makes a difference.
I tell people all the timenever, ever, ever, give up on
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your children, never stoppraying for your children If
they're not serving God.
Keep praying, keep trusting,keep believing, keep standing in
faith the very thing we'regoing to talk about tonight.
Because I am where I am today,because I had a mother who knew
how to pray Amen.
So it's important.
It's important to live thatlife.
So tonight we're going to splitour session into two parts.
(05:09):
The first part we're going tolook at some biblical examples
of the legacy of faith, in otherwords, legacy parenting, what
that looks like in the Bible.
And then the second part of oursession we're going to actually
engage in practical application.
Well, what does that mean?
That means these chairs behindme are going to be occupied by a
couple of couples that we'veinvited to join us here on the
(05:31):
platform tonight, and so we'regoing to talk.
We're going to have a real talkabout what it means to be a
parent and to parent for legacy.
So tonight let's start with thefirst part of it by looking at
some biblical examples.
And so, if you will turn withme in your Bibles to Hebrews
chapter 11.
Most of you can probably quoteit to me without even opening
(05:52):
your Bible, but I love Hebrewschapter 11 because it is so full
of rich information.
And so Hebrews chapter 11 isalso known as the legacy of
faith chapter.
Aren't you glad that there's alegacy of faith chapter in the
Bible?
Amen.
And so in Hebrews chapter 11,starting with verse one, we're
(06:13):
just going to kind of go throughsome of these scriptures and
just kind of dissect them andbreak them out and just look at
what, what, what the Bible istelling us in part of being a
legacy parent.
What does that mean?
What does it look like to be alegacy parent?
And so in Hebrews chapter 11,starting in verse one, it talks
about the foundation of what alegacy parent looks like.
(06:36):
A legacy parent is a person offaith.
Hebrews chapter 11, verse one,says now, faith is the substance
of things hoped for and theevidence of things not seen.
Now, we all know that that'spretty self-explanatory.
Okay, I kind of like to put itthis way Faith means that I
believe it, even when I don'tsee it.
That's what it means.
(06:58):
Faith says God said it, Ibelieve it.
That settles it.
See, we live in a day and atime in the world where people
have to see to believe, but aspeople of faith, we live.
It's the opposite for us.
We don't see to believe, webelieve to see.
And so faith is the substanceof things hoped for, the
(07:18):
evidence of things not seen.
Verse two for by it, the elders, the people that have gone
before us, the forefathers, thegrandparents I like to put it
that way the grandparentsobtained a good testimony.
What was the testimony?
Well, we're going to look atsome of that, but by faith and
you know, what's interestingabout this is if they did it, do
(07:40):
we get a pass?
If we're going gonna walk thejourney in this life in faith,
do we get a pass?
No, we're gonna have to do whatthey did, and not only does.
Do we apply that to our ownpersonal lives, we have to apply
it to the lives of our children.
And so, by it, the elders, thegrandparents, obtained a good
testimony.
Verse 3 by faith, we understandthat the worlds were framed by
(08:04):
the Word of God, so that thethings which are seen were not
made of things which are visible.
In other words, by faith theyunderstood some things and as a
legacy parent, as you areteaching and imparting and
instilling and laying down thefoundation, you're going to have
opportunities to teach faith.
(08:25):
You know, one of the mandateshere at Glorious Way Church is
this is the Lord gave thismandate to our pastor years ago
and he said don't.
He said people take for grantedwhat you know.
Don't take for granted theydon't know what you know.
Who doesn't know what you know?
The children don't know what weknow.
You know, we live in a day andtime where it's it is so
(08:46):
important that when you first ofall that you're in the right
place, the right church, andyou're getting the right
teaching, we no longer canafford to be part of a church
where you send your kids andthey just give you a color sheet
and tell you a little story,but they're not teaching you how
to live for Jesus.
Well, you know what?
If you're here you're here atGlorious Way Church that's not
the case.
Our children are learning abouthaving a knowing, growing,
(09:09):
living, loving relationship withJesus Christ.
Amen, amen, and that'simportant.
And so we understand that byfaith, they understood some
things.
Faith will help you understand.
And not only will it help youunderstand, but it will help you
convey the understanding.
Verse 4, by faith, abel offeredto God a more excellent
(09:35):
sacrifice than Cain.
In other words, by faith, abelunderstood how to go to God in
worship, how to approach God.
Well, you know, as legacyparents, as parents teaching our
children, we've got to teachour kids how to have a
relationship with God, how topray to God, how to talk with
(09:56):
God, how to interact with God.
You know, there was a time in myown life when I was younger, my
mom had a great relationshipwith the Lord and I figured the
easiest way for me had a greatrelationship with the Lord and I
figured the easiest way for meto have a relationship with the
Lord was through her.
How many of you know that Jesusdidn't do what he did on the
(10:16):
cross for you to have to gothrough somebody else to broker,
manage your relationship.
That's already been done.
And so there was a time when mymother finally said to me,
after going to her for severaltimes and asking questions, and
the Lord finally said next timehe comes to you, you tell him to
come to me.
Well, I didn't like that.
(10:49):
I didn't appreciate that.
I didn't.
If God said, send him to me,and she acted in obedience to
send me to him, then guess what?
She knew God was going to dosomething that she wasn't able
to do.
A legacy parent understands theimportance of ensuring that your
children, whether they're yourchildren, your grandchildren or
whatever the relationship is,whether it's a blended family or
(11:10):
whatever they understand theimportance of helping that child
establish their ownrelationship.
You know, and during that sametime, when it was easier for me
to go to mom instead of going tothe Lord, I clearly heard the
Lord say to me one day you know,you can't get in on your mama's
coattail, and so, parents,you're not doing your children
(11:33):
any favors when you're notteaching them or helping them
establish their ownrelationships.
Okay, well, I'm going to helpmy child establish their own
relationship.
Well, that's a lot of work?
No, it's not.
Actually, it's very easy.
Well, why is it easy?
Because all you got to do islive it.
How many of you know, more iscaught than taught, amen.
(11:56):
And so all you've got to do islive the life, set the example,
speak the words and they'll getit.
Verse 5,.
By faith, enoch was taken away.
So he did not see death and wasnot found because God had taken
him, for before he was taken hehad this testimony that he
(12:16):
pleased God.
Now think about how cool thatis Enoch's walking with God and
talking with God and God says,hey, enoch, it's getting getting
a little late, why don't youjust come to my house?
But it took having arelationship, a personal
relationship.
Well, how was that established?
By faith, verse 6.
(12:39):
But without faith, say withoutfaith it is impossible to please
him.
Now I just stopped right therebecause today, as I was reading
that and I've read this, oh, Idon't know how many times I've
read this particular scriptureit just jumped out at me.
I heard it's impossible.
It's impossible, in other words, anything that you do to help
(13:05):
develop that child into thatrelationship.
Telling the little stories youcan read all the Bible stories
you want to at night, but ifyou're not infusing faith in
that story, if you're nothelping them understand the
significance and the faith partof that story, they're going to
grow up just reading a littlestory Jesus wept going to grow
(13:29):
up just reading a little storyJesus wept.
You got lots of kids that knowBible stories but there's no
faith with it, there's nounderstanding, there's no depth
to it.
And so, without faith, it'simpossible.
Say that again.
It's impossible.
It's impossible.
It's impossible to please God.
It's impossible.
(13:50):
It's impossible to please god.
It's impossible, without faith,to help that child develop that
growing, knowing relationshipwith christ.
It's impossible, it'simpossible to please him.
For he who comes to god mustbelieve that he is first of all.
That's important.
He's not some mythical, spookything, he's God.
He's our loving father thatloved us so much that he gave
(14:11):
heaven's most prized possessionso that you could have a
relationship with him.
Must believe that he is andthat he is a rewarder to those
who diligently seek him.
Verse six, verse seven by faith,noah being divinely warned of
things not yet seen, moved withgodly fear.
(14:32):
Faith in God and imparting thatfaith in your children will
help them to know some things,will make them sensitive.
If Noah didn't have faith, hewouldn't have been sensitive to
what God was trying to warn himabout, what was to come.
It's not enough for us to havethat, because one day your kids
(14:52):
are going to grow up and beadults.
You know, I marvel at thefaithfulness of God, just
looking at our youngest who'sout on his own.
Now he's in college and he'slearning to adult and he's
learning to make decisions.
And he's learning to adult andhe's learning to make decisions
and he's learning to do thingsthat mom and dad used to do.
And all I can say is, yeah, butthe day's coming when he's
gonna be off the payroll, it'scoming, it's coming.
(15:13):
It's coming, it's coming,praise God.
But I'm just thankful that he'sat that place now where,
because he has become sensitiveto the things of God by faith
you know, dad, I don't see God.
No, you don't have to see him,just know him.
He's listening, he's looking.
The word that says, he thatkeepeth Israel neither slumbers
(15:37):
nor sleep.
He's watching.
He's just a prayer away.
He wants to have a conversationwith you, but by faith, noah
being divinely warned.
If Noah didn't have faith, ifNoah didn't know how to believe,
he wouldn't have been able toreceive the warning.
Now, just imagine howdifferently things would have
(15:59):
turned out if Noah had notlistened.
Oh, and then there's Abraham,verse eight, abraham.
I like to look at him as thegrandfather of faith, because it
kind of started with him, youknow, and even in the New
Testament there's reference toAbraham being faithful.
God accounted him untorighteousness because he
(16:20):
believed God even when he didn'tsee, even when it was
impossible, when he didn't see,even when it was impossible.
And if Abraham had that kind offaith, if the grandfather had
that kind of faith, then justimagine what happened.
And if you look at the historyand the story of Abraham, and
that they're not just the storyof Abraham but the story of his
descendants, look at what Goddid through the grand, the great
(16:44):
, great, great, great greatgrandfather who had faith.
Look at all the things that Goddid.
God said he was gonna do it.
Abraham believed God would doit and God did it.
Well, that same thing appliesto us today when God promises
you something.
And let me just say this thereare no expiration dates on God's
promises.
There's no expiration date onGod's promises.
(17:06):
There's no expiration date onGod's promises.
If God promised you that hewould do it, he'll do it.
Abraham stayed faithful by faith.
Verse eight Abraham obeyed oh,wait a minute, stop right there.
You mean to tell me that if Iwalk in faith, then I'm going to
have to walk in obedience?
Hold on a minute.
I didn't sign up for that.
No, when you walk in faith withgod, when you have faith in god
(17:29):
and you're teaching, you knowwhat your kids need to see you
obey.
Your kids need to understandwhat that means as an adult.
Well, mommy said I gotta obey.
Well, you know what mom and dadhave to obey well.
Well, what does that look like?
We obey God by being faithful,making time for him, spending
(17:52):
time in his word, by giving inour acts of worship.
Your kids need to see that.
They need to experience that.
If worship only takes place atchurch on Sundays, then they're
missing out a lot.
However, you know that livingby faith is a lifestyle.
(18:13):
It's not something that you do,it's who you are.
People say, oh, he's justreligious.
No, I'm not religious, I justlove the Lord.
My faith in him causes me notto just be religious and do
(18:35):
religious things, but my faithin him causes me to love him, to
have a relationship with him.
And, as a legacy parent, we'vegot to teach those things to our
children.
We've got to model those thingsto our children.
We've got to demonstrate thosethings to our children.
We've got to model those thingsto our children.
We've got to demonstrate thosethings for our children.
And you know, they're watching.
Even at a young age.
They're watching, they'relistening and it's funny how
(18:56):
kids will bring things back up.
That happened years ago, thatyou didn't think they knew or
you didn't think they werewatching, but they saw you.
I remember as a kid when mymother was would be in the
kitchen on Sunday morningsworshiping, and she'd be cooking
, making Sunday dinner, andshe'd be singing songs into the
Lord and just worship it and allof a sudden she just get caught
(19:16):
up in worship.
And I remember one particularSunday she was making a roast
that Sunday and she was singingsongs and just praising the Lord
and we were in the rest of theother part of the house and we
were kind of laughing at her,making fun of her, because she's
like, okay, that's a littleover the top, but my mother
didn't care.
What you saw was what you got.
And I remember this particularSunday she got so caught up in
(19:39):
worship that she got so excitedand her hands went up.
She went one way and the roastwent the other way and we never
did get gravy that Sunday withthat roast.
(19:59):
But guess what?
I remember what worship lookslike.
I remember what love for theFather looks like.
Why?
Because she set the example.
She was not ashamed.
You know, folks, we live in aday and a time where we can't be
ashamed.
Either we are or we're not.
(20:20):
Either he is or he isn't.
There's no in between.
Oh, you, one of them?
Them Christians, you mean younot?
Oh, you, you wanted them holyrollers.
You mean you not get attitudewith him?
Oh, you mean you don't knowJesus?
No, don't miss that opportunity, don't even miss you.
(20:43):
And usually when you encounterpeople like that, and if your
kids are with you, don't missthe opportunity to let them, you
see, you be bold, to be bold.
Don't let them get theimpression that my mom and dad
are timid.
No, my faith says I'm bold.
My faith says I believe what Ibelieve and I'm not backing down
(21:06):
Amen.
By faith, abraham, he dwelt,verse 9,.
By faith, he dwelt in the landof promise as in a foreign
country, dwelling in tents withIsaac and Jacob, the heirs with
him of the same promise.
Can you imagine some of theconversations that went on in
those tents?
Can you imagine some of theconversations that went on in
(21:28):
that tent?
Can you imagine some of theimpartation?
Come sit down, boys.
Let me tell you a story aboutGod and what he did.
Can you imagine Abraham tellingthem about the time that he
believed God for a son and allthat time he waited and waited
First he probably started with.
Let me tell you about yourgrandmother, by Sarah, you know.
God promised me a son and Sarahwas like no, I'm kidding, is
(21:48):
God going to really let me havea son this old?
And she laughed and the angelscalled her out.
Can you imagine theconversation?
Can you imagine theconversation, the conversation
of faith, when Abraham says andthen can you believe?
After that son was born, afterIsaac, the promise was born, the
Lord told me to kill him.
Can you imagine theconversation?
(22:14):
Can you imagine thedemonstration and the
impartation of faith takingplace Today?
As I was in the office gettingready for tonight, I heard
something that just really spoketo me and I want to say this, I
want to share this, and it isthis you know, when you start
something or you begin something, and we all are at different
(22:38):
stages in different places inour walk of faith, but the
moment you start yourrelationship with Christ, the
legacy of faith button getspushed.
In other words, the start getspushed.
Now, for some of us, thedevelopment process takes longer
.
Some of us, the process takesquicker, but we all have a
(23:00):
season of receiving for what Togive.
We all have a time of receivingsomething from God to then pour
out into our loved ones, intoour children, into the future.
And if we don't do it, thenwho's going to do it?
We can't depend on the schoolsto do it.
We can't depend on some, someof us can't even depend on some
(23:22):
of our family to do it.
It's up to us.
And so we see that by faith,abraham dwelt in the land.
He sat in the tents with hisheirs.
By faith, sarah herself alsoreceived strength to conceive.
It took faith.
Can you imagine Sarah sharingthat story here?
(23:43):
I was really old and he wasreally old, old and something
happened and we got pregnant.
But you know what God promised?
That by faith, by faith.
I never get tired of sharing thetestimony of faith that Flora
and I experienced with our son.
Some of you know our story Ouryoungest, six miscarriages in
(24:04):
nine years.
We were at a place where wewere depleted of faith.
We didn't have any faith.
To believe for a son Didn'tchange God's promise, though I
even tried to talk God out ofthe son, tried talking to him.
Okay, lord, you know, if youdon't want me to have a son,
then fine, I'll just be contentand happy with the daughter.
But look, just take the desireaway.
He wouldn't even take it away.
(24:24):
But now, that time I get totell and I've been able to tell
and to share with my son.
Son, did you know that you're amiracle?
Did you know that God isfaithful?
And I got tickled.
(24:49):
I was so proud of him.
I was so dead proud.
Not long ago, he was sharing thetestimony.
He was sharing his testimonyAmen, by faith.
And if we're going to impartthe legacy of faith, we've got
to tell, we've got to say Faithis not just something you
receive and you hold it in.
Did you know that faith has avoice?
Did you know that faith is averb?
(25:12):
Faith takes action.
We see that in Abraham, and Godtold him take Isaac up on that
mountain and kill him.
Abraham said OK, lord.
He didn't.
He didn't say wait, wait, wait,hold, hold on time out.
You just gave him to me and nowyou want me to kill him?
(25:33):
No, abraham had so much faiththat God was able to raise him
up.
Even if he did that, all hesaid was okay, lord.
And he didn't drag his feeteither.
The Bible says he got up earlythe next morning and went and
everything that came out of hismouth even this help heard him
talking faith when he went andhe told the servants y'all stay
(25:56):
here, the boy and I are goingover there and we'll be back.
Isaac had a chance to see hisdad living in faith not just
talking it, but living it whenhe said hey, dad, I see we got
the wood for the sacrifice and Isee you got the fire for the
sacrifice, but who will be thesacrifice?
And Abraham said God himselfwill provide.
(26:19):
And you know, as you read, itdoesn't tell you exactly how old
Isaac was, but he was oldenough that he could have.
If it had been me some of youdon't look you'd be like that.
You know where I'm going.
If it had been me he about totie me up and put me on I'd be
like wait, whoa, whoa.
Even Isaac believed.
(26:42):
Why do you think that wasbelieved?
Why do you think that wasBecause his father had been
instilling the legacy of faith?
See, we have to understand thatfaith is not just for our
generation, it's for the nextgeneration and you have to
(27:08):
understand that when God givesyou kids, you have a job.
Oh, you mean, I've got to domore than feed them and clothe
them and buy them all theelectronics they want.
Yes, and actually that part ofyour job is far more important
than the stuff.
See, when the stuff is gone,what are they going to hold on
to?
When the stuff is gone andthey're facing the situation,
what are they going to do?
Okay, when the stuff is gone,they're facing the situation.
What are they going?
Okay, when the stuff is gone,they're gonna run and get that
(27:29):
iphone and look up something ontiktok.
No, when the rubber meets theroad, are they going to go to
the phone or they're going to goto the throne?
Well, it depends on what youteach them.
It depends on what you impartto them.
It depends on what you impartto them.
It depends on what you'resaying to them, because you know
(27:51):
what I've learned and mymommies say this all the time
son, there's gonna come a timethat I'm not gonna be here, and
if and when that time comes andI'm not done what I was supposed
to do to make sure you areready for me not to be here,
then I've not done my job.
Wow, wow, wow.
(28:17):
Verse 17,.
By faith, abraham, when he gottested we just talked about that
and how he offered up Isaac.
By faith, verse 20,.
Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.
You see the generational thinggoing on.
Abraham imparted.
Isaac is imparting.
He's blessing his sons, he'steaching his sons, he's pouring
(28:40):
into his sons.
We have to do the same thing.
By faith, jacob, when he wasdying verse 21,.
Blessed each of his sons,joseph, in worship, leaning on
the top of his staff.
See, one of the things I'velearned about faith is it
doesn't matter how old you areIf living a life of faith is who
(29:01):
you are.
You can worship leaning, youcan worship standing, you can
worship sitting, because what'sin you has got to come out of
you.
And if your kids are seeingthat, you know it's like my mom.
I still remember we didn't getgravy that Sunday, but I
(29:24):
remember she was a worshiper.
I remember she loved that Lordmore than she loved us getting
that gravy with that roast.
And you know what?
I'm not mad about it.
I was then Amen, impartingfaith.
By faith, joseph, when he wasdying, made mention of the
(29:49):
departure of the children ofIsrael and gave instructions
concerning his bones.
See, faith looks and speaksinto the future.
Faith speaks into your child'sfuture.
When we speak words of faith toour children, when we teach
words of faith to our children,we are speaking into their
future.
When we speak words of faith toour children, when we teach
words of faith to our children,we are speaking into their
(30:09):
future.
And then, of course, there'sanother example of faith, and I
really liked, I really reallyenjoyed this one as I was
reading.
It's the Apostle Paul.
How many of you know, theApostle Paul was a man of faith
boy.
That dude went through a lot.
(30:30):
I mean, if that had been,master.
Like, wait a minute, lord, wedidn't talk about hazard pay,
I'm gonna need a raise orsomething.
Okay, you got me out heredealing with all of this and put
look, then people want to killme.
But Paul was a man of faith andPaul had a mentor.
(30:51):
He was mentoring Timothy.
Now, notice Paul was a mentor,not a tormentor.
Now, that'll preach right there.
When imparting faith, you arementoring, not tormentoring.
What do I mean by that?
There's a time when the HolySpirit says go hard.
(31:13):
And there's a time when theHoly Spirit says ease up a
little bit, give them a minuteto process.
Give them a minute to receivewhat you just gave them, because
they're going to have to chewon that for a minute.
It's important that youunderstand the difference
between the two and understandthere is a time to mentor, but
(31:33):
there's never a time totormentor, because if you
tormentor, you can actually turnthem off.
Wow, wow.
Well, you know, I got to makesure that they know.
Yeah, you got to make sure thatthey know, but you got to make
sure that they know at theirrate of speed and you're walking
in wisdom and allowing the HolySpirit to help you.
(31:54):
It's important.
So we see over in 2 Timothy,chapter 3, verse 10.
I like the amplified version ofthat of that scripture says.
This amplified version of thatscripture says this now you have
closely observed and diligentlyfollowed my teaching, conduct,
(32:14):
purpose in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness.
Now, what I love about that,first of all, is this In Paul's
letter to Timothy, his son inthe faith, he affirms Timothy's
life as a godly man, and thenPaul proceeds to list all of the
things that Timothy had learnedfrom him.
In other words, paul proceededto list all of the ways in which
(32:36):
faith had been instilled in him, all of the opportunities he
had to learn faith.
The first thing that Timothylearned was this his teaching.
He was able to observe Paul'steaching.
Paul was not only a greatchurch planner, but he was a
great teacher.
He was a missionary.
He knew what he was talkingabout.
(32:58):
The other thing that Timothy gotto observe was Paul's conduct.
Timothy watched Paul up close.
Now, reading about the life ofPaul, you see that there were
some times that Paul kind ofwent through it.
Now, reading about the life ofPaul, you see that there were
some times that Paul kind ofwent through it, and some of us
may not have, would probablywouldn't have blamed him if he'd
have kind of stepped out for aminute.
Y'all know what I'm talkingabout.
Don't look at me like that.
(33:19):
Well, you know.
Excuse me, lord, I'm going tostep out of the kingdom for just
a minute.
I'll be right back.
No, I won't go, that's allright, lord, I got this.
I don't go, that's all right.
Lord, I got this.
I don't need you.
I got this, lord.
No, no, timothy got to seePaul's conduct in those
difficult times.
He watched him up close.
He watched how Paul respondedwhen things went well and when
(33:42):
they were difficult.
You know what?
Your kids watch you during thedifficult times, just like they
watch you through the good times.
There should be no difference.
Why?
Because, first of all, jesussaid in this life you will have
tested trials.
He could have stopped there andsaid okay, that's just the way
(34:04):
it is.
That's the fact, jack, let'ssee how you do in Judgment Day
we'll talk about it then.
But he said no.
He said in this life you willhave tests and trials.
But be of good cheer if I'veovercome the world.
And because he's overcome it,even when we're going through
the difficult times, ourtestimony should still be the
same.
Why are you doing oh, I'm goodunder the circumstances what you
(34:27):
doing under there?
You're supposed to be above,only not beneath an overcomer
under the circumstances.
Well, what you doing underthere?
You're supposed to be above,only not beneath an overcomer.
I've had this word stirringaround in me and I just so
appreciate this.
The word is this the wind, theW-I-N is coming.
Do not be distracted by thewhining of the W-H-E-N.
(34:49):
Be distracted by the whining ofthe W-H-E-N.
Some of you'll get that on theway home.
The W-I-N is coming.
Do not be distracted by thewhining of the W-H-E-N.
(35:09):
Why Can we have so muchconfidence in that?
Because the word says nowthanks be to God, who always
leads us to triumph in ChristJesus.
So we understand faith.
We understand that Timothy gotto observe Paul's conduct.
He got to watch Paul's aim inlife.
Paul's focus was taking thegospel to the world, especially
(35:31):
when it was never where, it hadnever gone before.
Timothy got to see that.
Do your kids get to see youraim in life?
Do they get to see your passion, your faith at work?
Timothy got to see Paul's faith.
Timothy said Paul's faith.
(35:52):
Timothy saw Paul's faith inevery circumstance, in difficult
situations where no humansolution was possible.
Timothy got to see it.
But one of the things thatTimothy noticed was that Paul
always took a step forward.
Faith says I'm going to stepforward even when it doesn't
(36:12):
look like I can step forward.
See, faith doesn't say I'mgoing to step forward only when
it's easy and it's comfortableand I'm going to step back when
it's not.
No, faith says I'm going tokeep moving, I'm going to keep
going.
Sometimes faith says I'm goingto have to step out there, not
(36:35):
knowing if the step is there.
Well, that's not faith, that'sfoolishness.
No, sometimes faith says yougot to take that step Paul did.
Paul got on the ship and knew itwas going to be shipwrecked,
but he got on it anyway.
Tried to tell him not to go,but he got on it anyway.
Tried to tell him not to go,but he got on it.
And because he was on it, godpromised him safe passage, not
(36:56):
just to him, but everybody onthe boat.
And you know what I love aboutthat, about Paul is even in the
midst of all of that chaos andall of that trouble, ministry
never stopped.
His faith never decreased.
He was encouraging everybodyelse instead of paul whoa, can I
(37:17):
be the first one on a lifeboat?
No, paul was ministering evenin the midst of all of that
craziness.
See, our faith says that we'regoing to minister even in the
midst of the craziness.
Ministry doesn't take a breakwhen crazy comes, and that'll
preach.
Actually, ministry should getcrazy with crazy.
(37:42):
Some of you will have to processthat.
What do I mean by that?
If it gets bold, if it gets bow, if it go, if it gets gets, if
it go high, you go low, but youdon't back up, you keep going.
Paul got to see Timothy got tosee Paul's patience.
(38:03):
Now we're talking about thelegacy of faith here, timothy
got to see his patience.
There were lots of times Paulcould have blown it, he could
have lost it, but he saw hispatience.
He got to see his love.
He got to see his steadfastness, his persistence.
(38:24):
He got to see Paul was not aquitter.
You know what your faith?
Speaking to your children, tothe next generation, to say this
Don't quit, don't give up.
If you catch hell, don't holdit.
If you're going through it,don't stop, don't quit, don't
(38:49):
stop, don't give up, keep movingforward, keep pressing in, keep
pushing.
We're talking about legacy.
What will your legacy say aboutyou?
(39:09):
See, what I've come to learnabout faith and the legacy of
faith is this First of all, theygo hand in hand.
Every aspect of your faith walkis preparing for an impartation
of legacy.
Wow, that's deep.
(39:33):
Every part of your faith walkis a legacy impact waiting to
happen that'll give you a wholedifferent perspective on it.
That'll make you stop and thinkabout for a minute what's about
to come out of your mouth.
Am I going to speak faith?
Am I going to speak life tothis situation?
(39:54):
But, more importantly, what I'mabout to say, the person that's
going to hear what I'm sayinghow are they going to receive it
?
You know, a while back, pastorJay was teaching a message, and
something that he said to me wasso profound, but yet it was so
simple.
You know, jesus doesn't respondto needs.
(40:14):
God doesn't respond to needs,he responds to faith.
Just think of how differentyour child's life would be if
they understood the differencebetween God responding to your
need.
God please, god please, godplease, god please, god please,
god please, god please to know.
Father, I thank you thatbecause your word says it and I
(40:39):
believe your word because youare faithful to that which
you've promised.
You're not a man that youshould lie, nor the son of man
that you should repent.
Just imagine how different yourchild's life would be with that
.
And so we have a responsibilityto impart.
(41:01):
We have a responsibility tounderstand that the next
generation is prepared.
We have a responsibility tomake sure that they know what we
know.
Amen.
Whether you are a young parentjust started out, whether you
(41:24):
are a wannabe parent hoping getmarried first, whether you are a
wannabe parent hoping getmarried first.
Okay, can I say that again?
Okay, don't put the cart, don'tput the cart, the horse before
the cart.
Get the cart first and thenbelieve God for the horse, okay,
but get married first.
(41:44):
Get married and then believeGod for a child.
You know what it takes.
Faith.
Faith is not just, does notjust touch some parts of our
lives, it touches every part.
How do I know that?
How many of you, when youexchange vows, you were taking a
(42:12):
step of faith, were you not?
You exchange vows with thisperson that you believed was
going to treat you the way he'sstanding there looking all sharp
, or she's standing therelooking all pretty, is going to
treat you.
That's a step of faith.
That's a step of faith.
That's a step of faith.
I'm believing that this personthat says they love me is going
(42:36):
to continue to love me.
Wow, so faith touches everypart of your life.
It touched you when you gotmarried.
It touched you when he said Ilove you.
Did he say that to you?
Okay, he did, okay and youbelieved him.
(42:56):
So you took a step of faith.
Amen, we all did.
And I'm pleased to report that37 years, almost 38 years later,
I'm still walking in it, stillbelieve, still thanking God for
it.
Amen, amen.
And so faith is the lifestyle.
Faith is necessary, faith isimportant.
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