If I were to categorize the biggest behavioral problems I see in teenagers today, there are seven: Anger, Apathy, Deceit, Depression, Disrespect, Laziness, and Rebellion. The latter, of course, is the core behavioral problem out of which all the others emanate. Satan rebelled against his Creator, and refused to submit to God’s ultimate authority. He rose up and asserted himself to wrestle God for control.
Isaiah 14:14 describes his real motivations: “You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high.’
This is exactly what a problem child does: he stands defiantly against his parents and refuses to submit to their authority and in doing this, are trying to put himself above their parents authority. When the parent fails to hold him accountable, the child takes over and begins to rule. It is at this point the family begins to disintegrate…and will continue to do so until the child is stopped or until the family is destroyed. Even in that scenario, what the child has learned is the power he is able to wield. Our only hope is for parents to wake up and take back their dominion to be THE AUTHORITY in the home. Parental control is a God-given responsibility. Our children have been entrusted to us to mold, to care for, to protect, and we are not taking those responsibilities seriously when we do not maintain order in the home. God tells us to “take the land and “possess it. What else could this “land refer to except that which is ours…our families?
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