June 20, 2021
Morning Service

A year ago, we asked the father’s to share their special day with everyone because we had not been able to meet on Mother’s Day; we called it Family Day.  This year with VBS it seems to have evolved in the same manner.  So since we are blessed with the presence of the children today we are going to again not only talk about fathers but the family unit in a whole.  Jesus was asked a question that pertains to us today and Matthew recorded it in his gospel.

Mat 18:1-6 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  (2)  Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, (3) and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  (4)  Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  (5)  Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.  (6)  "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

            Jesus is not calling us to be “childish,” as the disciples are right here by asking this question, but “child-like” with a humble, sincere, and trusting heart.  We as adults through our many experiences and the knowledge we have attained often make things harder than they really are; we have trouble believing and trusting as a child does.  Friday as I presented the lesson at VBS to the kids, not one of them was wondering if I was telling them the truth or not.  They may have been eating grass as I spoke, but they all believed every word I said to them.  It is that child-like attitude that we must take as we follow Jesus and listen to His words.  We all too often also listen to the voice of what we think is reality, but is really the voice of our enemy saying like; “is that really what He meant by that?”  “That may have been true back then, but that doesn’t apply to now.”  “That just doesn’t work for me because that could be difficult and take some effort on my part.”

            Jesus plainly stated that “unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”  A child-like faith is required; we must be trusting enough to believe everything Jesus tells us as fact and truth period.  “God said it, I believe it and that settles it!”  It is those who have that child-like faith that will be called the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  In fact, the Hebrew writer tells us this:

 

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

            Faith is a necessity to even be able to please God at all.  I again ask you to look into your spiritual mirror and look at yourself and determine if you have that child-like faith or not.  Do you read it and believe it or do you have to weigh it in the balance and decide later if you accept it or not?  We as adults overthink our faith almost to the point that we don’t believe anything or anybody.  We over complicate a very simple gospel message.  Peter saw this coming and addressed it with those who were reading Paul’s writings and found them to be difficult to understand.

 

 

 

2Pe 3:14-18 NKJV  Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;  (15)  and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,  (16)  as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.  (17)  You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; (18) but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

            We read scripture and rather than trust the Holy Spirit to help us understand it, we twist it into more than it is.  We do this most of the time to change the verse to fit what we want rather than to accept it with child-like faith and change ourselves to fit what God intended by it.  Not one of the children I spoke to on Friday had a second thought about what I was telling them was the truth.  They trusted me and my words and believed it. Do we as adults not trust Jesus the One who created us, loves us, longs for us and even died for us to tell us the truth.  Why do we doubt?  Why are we not eager to hear and just as eager to do what we are commanded?  Because we rationalize in our minds we are adults and life is not as simple as a child thinks it is.  That is NOT what Jesus is telling us here!  Simple is okay, we don’t have to complicate it as we like to do.  The scriptures say that “if you confess with your mouth and believe with you heart that Jesus is the Son of God then you will be saved!” (Rom 10:9-10) There is nothing complicated about that, it is a simple plan of salvation.

            We as adults do however have an added responsibility though as mention by Jesus in our first text.

We are to receive them just as we do Jesus and guide them along the path that leads to Him.  They are the next generation that will one day lead our church and our nation and we must invest heavily in them.  The “progressives” of this world know this too.  That is exactly why you see them trying to implement things like “Critical Race Theory” into our schools.  They know that they may not be able to change our minds, but if they start early they can change how our kids think.  We as the church need to be on guard for our children and be sure these things are not taught in our schools.  Our kids are being targeted not by criminals who want to harm them physically, but from the curriculum at school and through what they watch on “You Tube.”  Don’t trust either of those sources, but investigate, ask questions and even watch with them to know what is even taught in a subtle way.  Create in your home to have an atmosphere of open conversations that your kids feel free and safe to share their experiences and their thoughts with you.  Question them on the things that they are taught and the content of their day and listen for any red flags that may appear.  It is our job to protect them commanded directly by Jesus.

            We are in the midst of a spiritual battle and our enemy is after our children.  Father’s lead by example by putting God first in your life and family a close second.  Encourage and affirm your family that they are loved by God and He has something great for them to achieve in this lifetime!  Mothers support your husband and walk side by side with him into this conflict; we are better together!  Children obey your parents by listening to their instructions; when you disobey them you disobey God.  He has placed them here to love, care, and guide you to one day becoming faithful followers of Jesus.

            Church thank you for your investment in these children who are now part of our family continue your prayers for them and find others to invest in as well.

 

 

 Heavenly Father thank You for the little children and the example they give us of true faith.  Give us all the resolve and courage to protect them through our efforts and through our prayers.  We place them in Your hands and ask You to use us to help point these to the Savior of the world.