1. At a very low point in Israel's history, God began to move. Judges 13 7-11-10
2. 6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and His countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible (frightening) : but I asked Him not whence He was , neither told He me His Name: 7 But He said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing : for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
3. She told her husband the whole story. There should always be open communication between a husband and wife. I should be interested in Connie, and she should be interested in me. "How was your day ?" should not be answered with one word. That question is an attempt to have a conversation .
4. In many families today, the wife would be afraid to tell her husband such a story as Manoah's wife told him. Our mate should always feel safe in talking to us about any subject. or
5. 8 Then Manoah intreated the Lord, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born. Manoah believed his wife. Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet, as Manoah, have believed. Good men are more careful and desirous to know the duty to be done by them, than to know the events concerning them: duty is ours, events are God's. God will guide those by His Counsel, who desire to know their duty, and apply to Him to teach them. Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary
6. 9 And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the Angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her. I wonder why He came when she was alone. I think because He was sent to the woman . Yet it was right that she should go and get her husband.
7. 10 And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the Man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day. 11 And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the Man, and said unto Him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And He said, I am .
8. 12a And Manoah said, Now let Thy words come to pass. … Luke 1 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy Word. And the angel departed from her.
9. 12 And Manoah said, Now let Thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him? The most important thing that parents have to do is to raise our children as God would have us to.
10. Romans 8 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God , they are the sons of God. Many Bible students see no difference between the word translated “sons” in v 14 and the word translated “children” in v 16. However, in v16 the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence attests the believer’s birth relationship to God (tekna, “children,” is lit., “born ones”). But in v14 the Holy Spirit’s control and direction attests the believer’s privileges in God’s family as a “ son ” (huios means a child mature enough to take on adult family privileges and responsibilities). A son in God’s family is led by God’s Spirit. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.
11. It is a sign of immaturity in a Christian who is moved by dictates of circumstances or human desires. The mature son or daughter of God is moved only by the dictates of God's Holy Spirit . We can only manifest (show forth) our Father's character when we are fully submitted to and controlled by His Spirit . And, we can only do our Father's Will when we are humbly submitted to and controlled by His Spirit .
12. Psalms 37 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in His Way . Not only a general direction for our lives, but a step by step ordering that we may do His Will . Marriage? To whom? Ministry
13. To receive that kind of specific guidance by the Holy Spirit, requires: Submissive We put aside all other considerations. We desire God's Will with great desire. We must not allow circumstances to dictate our decisions. Let go, and let God have His Way.
14. 13-14 And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing : all that I commanded her let her observe. As He had already told the mama, so the boy should be raised, As a Nazarite . Manoah, husband and daddy was to enable his wife.
15. Sometimes we are seeking to hear from the Lord, when He has already spoken . We just want to hear a different answer . Manoah was just seeking confirmation , and sometimes we need that. But we need to receive and accept the answer that we have been given by the Lord.
16. Raising Children Proverbs 22 6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Train up = Khaw nak' a primitive root; properly to narrow … figurative to initiate or discipline :- dedicate, train up. Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. To narrow -- The application of this in training up children is to set boundaries for them.
17. There's a lot more to training than just teaching. Parents are called of God to set Scriptural boundaries about our children, And discipline them to live as God teaches. We must not just tell them the right way. Show them every day. Insist that they follow our example. Proverbs 22 6 Train up a child in the way he should go: …
18. God has gifted each person differently. We must encourage and strengthen those gifts . Proverbs 22 6 Train up a child in the way he should go: …