The title of my message this morning is "As a little child". Luke 18:15-17 says, "Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them but when the disciples saw it they rebuked them. But Jesus called to him and said, "Let the little children come to Me, do not forbid them for of such is the Kingdom of God. Assuredly I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it".
Father, this morning let your word have its effect in us. May it enlighten our minds and strengthen our hearts, may you increase and may we decrease in Jesus name, amen.
Those with children know the unique specialness of a small child. A small child is not just adorable but there's something very precious about a child; so beautiful and innocent, not just cuddly because sometimes they're not cuddly. They have something so very, very good that changes the life of any adult who will hold them. As grown-ups, we complicate everything. When we were kids, life was simpler and we had a lot to look forward to. As children, everything was new; wherever you went there was something to discover and life was an adventure. When you were a child, people could be trusted. You didn't really think about what others were going to do unless your mom told you not to talk to strangers; you just believed the best about everybody.
One of the great paradoxes about the Kingdom of God is that in order to grow up we must become as a little child. To the natural mind it makes as much sense as Matthew 10:39 that says, "He who finds his life will lose it and he who loses his life for my sake will find it". God says that if you want to grow up you must become as a little child.
At Harvest Community this is our year of growth. This is the year where God has said, "I want you to mature and become like Jesus, to increase and to expand". I believe that part of that is us again discovering what it means to be a little child. The Bible says that to enter the Kingom of heaven we must receive it as a little child; not just "we must be born again" but we must come like little children. It doesn't say that we're to become a big kid or to become childish or immature because as you grow up you will become more mature. The Bible says that unless we are like this we will not enter in. God is saying, "Here is the key, use it; this key will unlock the door so you can enter into my Kingdom".
There are 6 things that I want us to look at this morning that a little child is like. Number one, little children are humble. Children are very precious to the Lord. Matthew says this, "At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, "Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven"? Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them 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; therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven". The disciples were still dealing with "I want to be number one and the one everyone looks at", and Jesus called a little child right into their very midst.
We all know this, that small children recognize they are small and they haven't grown old enough to have a complex about it yet. They just know they're little and they're ok with it. They understand that they are going to have to be dependent because children are completely dependent for everything; for provision, for identity and status. Children aren't looking for independence, they know that they are dependent and they totally rely on their father and that's how we're to be. The Bible says that we're to come to a place of recognition that our freedom is not found in our independence from God but in our dependence on God.
How many remember graduating from High School? I think the thing that scared me the most was that I was going to be on my own. I could still be with mom but things began to depend on me; the money I would earn, the job I would do, and how I would do in school. One of the greatest things that I began to realize as an adult is although I was becoming independent as a man, I was still able to be a child to my father. How many know that your heavenly father desires you to be dependent? I think that's one of the things that most people wish, if they could go back to being a child again is to have someone they could depend on. That is one of the greatest things in the world. As I've grown older and I've watched other people age, they begin to become their parents and as their parents pass away it becomes an even greater fear. There was that first part of independence where you left the home of your mom and dad and then all of a sudden mom and dad aren't even there; but our heavenly Father is always there.
God says we come as a little child no matter what stage of life we are in, no matter who we are, we can always be completely dependent on Him and we should be. Little children are submitted to God's authority and to His Kingdom rule. They're resigned to quit making the rules and to simply obey. That's what God has called us to be, simply obedient and dependent on the Lord. How many know that in this complicated adult life, becoming as a little child makes life a whole lot easier? All I need to do is obey. We used to have the guidance of our parents to guide and direct and they kept everything right in shape. We knew if we would listen we would always be safe. That will never cease to be in existence if we will always trust the Lord.
The 2nd thing about little children is that children always accept you at your word. We used to have a saying when I was growing up, "God said it, I believe it and that settles it". It's that simple. If you get around a little child, you can tell them any story you want and they'll believe you. But God's word is not just a story; God's word is His bond. He said it, He'll keep it, He promises it. Children know how to trust and by the time we're adults we've learned to trust very few people because many have broken their word or hurt us. Adults are always looking for the angle and the catch. Our world is filled with small print; there's always something else so we've learned not to trust. How many are thankful that God's word isn't written in small print? You can get a large print Bible if you want but that doesn't make his word any bigger or smaller, He's still faithful. There is no small print with the Lord.
The Bible says that Jesus took the children in his arms and He blessed them. This is one of the most precious things you will ever see. This is why we dedicate children when they are small and this is why as adults we mark these great opportunities as kids graduate; that we take the time to bless them and thank God for them so that they always know they're living in the word and help of God. Mark 10 says, "They brought little children to Him so that He might touch them but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. When Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said, "Let the children come unto Me and forbid them not for such is the Kingdom of God. Assuredly I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it. And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them and He blessed them".
How many are thankful for the grace, the favor and the blessing of the word of God? These little children received the word of God; they drank it in and understood the promise was there. I love looking at these graduates today as we talk to them about their future. Their eyes are wide open and haven't become cynical. They haven't come to that place where they doubt. They're looking forward with wide eyes opened to the future and that is God's plan for us. When God speaks in us, His word is true and God put His grace and favor on the children. I wonder how did the children come to be touched by God? How do little children actually get in your arms? You can just see Jesus sitting there reaching out to them. God reaches out to us with every promise, all the favor, and all the blessings of His word. Every promise I have given is for you and you don't have to earn your salvation, it's just yours to receive it. Know that I love you, know that I'm for you, know that I care about you. You can just see as those children come and reach out and Jesus picks them up and sits them on His lap. How many are thankful that Jesus will touch you today? If you need the touch of the Lord then come as a little child. Remember "Just as I am, Lord, I come to you and I give you my everything". He just wanted to touch them.
Everything in the life of a Christian hinges on us taking God at His word. Children dared to believe; when God speaks His word, they believe He will do it. As adults, people give us their word but we doubt them and hope they come through. We get into a contract and the person may have signed their name to it but we still hope that they will come through. There are very few people we know where we can take them at their word. I love meeting those people, they become my friends. They're the ones you know you can trust and depend upon. Jesus didn't just give His Word with His mouth, He signed it with His blood.
In Luke, it tells the story of the disciples, "When they had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep, let down your nets for a catch". But Simon said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless, at your word I will let down the net". When they had done this they caught a great number of fish and their net was breaking. These three words should be ingrained into the vocabulary of every believer, "At your Word". How many have had God tell you to do something after you've tried and tried? I remember my wife sitting down with my kids when they were learning to write. They would say, "I can't get it" but my wife would encourage them and just because Mom said they could, they believed they could do it. Jesus, may we become like little children when it comes to your word. "Lord, just because you said it, I'm going to trust you for it".
Children believe the impossible. Adults will tell you all the reasons why something can't be done. They write a pro and a con list, why it can be done and why it can't be done and if one side is longer than the other then that's the way they go. We list all the obstacles and hardships but Jesus isn't afraid to give us hardship because hardship is worth it. He doesn't care about obstacles because He can work miracles. Those who become like little children believe that the impossible can be done. Jesus said, "If you want to be great in the Kingdom of God then become as a little child". If you tell a little child they can go to the moon, they believe it. If you tell a little child that someone can be healed, they believe it.
When we were starting in ministry and my kids were just children, I used to bring them to the altar and we'd see miracles. On Sunday morning we'd be laying hands on people and I'd tell them to come and stand with me. Why? Because they'd dare to believe it could be done. I wanted them to see that God could do things from an early age. They would lay hands and it would be fun to watch them pray, even at home. They dared to believe His word; they believed that the impossible can happen. Jesus said if you want to come into the Kingdom of God and see all that it has to offer then you need to believe that I can still do the impossible.
1st John 4:4 says, "You are of God, little children and have overcome them because He who is in you is greater than He who is in the world". How many believed your Dad could take on everybody in the world? Mark 10:27 says, "But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible but not with God; with God all things are possible". Next verse, "If you believe all things are possible to Him who believes". Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief". Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief, for assuredly I say to you that if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there and it will move and nothing will be impossible for you". God is not looking for Peter Pan children who will never grow up. God is looking for intellectual thinkers, full of wisdom, who will dare to take Him at His word and believe that He still does the impossible; to know that He still works miracles and still changes lives. How many understand that we need to stop living in the cynicalness of our adult learning and begin to walk in the purity and the innocence of a child who dares to believe that anything can happen with God.
One of the reasons why the churches are not seeing the miracles that we've seen in the past is because we've become so educated, so intellectual and we doubt, rather than just come as a little child. It doesn't mean that you're stupid, it just means that you dare to trust Him for everything He says.
Children jump in with all their heart. If you've ever watched children play, the difference between adults and kids is just awesome. All you've got to do is go to the beach or a swimming pool. Kids just jump in but adults wade in slowly in the shallow end to get used to it first. Kids don't check the water or even see what's in the water, they just see that there is water and they jump in; they do it with all their heart. If we could only live like that again with that kind of enthusiasm; If we could just sit back and watch children play whether they're pretending or not. I have found that most adults are commitment phobic. Children commit right away but we say we can only do it if it fits into our schedule but if you ever watch a child, they're all in. If they're playing spaceship then you know they're already in space. If you've ever watched a little girl with her doll house, she doesn't even know that anything else is around, she just knows she's there.
Mark 12:30 says, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength". He says, like a little child, get all in. We're afraid to jump in with all our heart because we were told not to put all our eggs into one basket. But there is no other basket, there is just Jesus and the Kingdom of God. Like a little kid, get all in today and don't be afraid to give Him your everything.
Children love with all their heart. They laugh and cry with all their heart which speaks of their vulnerability. Before God we give our mind, will and emotion, everything to Him and He takes it and makes it something beautiful. Something else that children do is that they come with innocence. The older I get, the more I appreciate the innocence of little kids. It's precious with no pretense or ulterior motives. As a little child, they're simply just coming, not thinking what's in it for me but just as I am. More and more I love that song, "Just as I am, without one plea for that your blood was shed for me, I come". Lord, I'm here, and there's just such an innocence about it. Many times our coming to God is complicated and calculated. When I call my children to come, I don't expect an argument and I don't expect delay. When they come immediately, it's so refreshing and pleasing, it's expected. God says to come with an innocence.
All the great men of God came to Him with three simple words, "Here I am". If you go back and read the word of God, look at Abraham's life, Moses, Jacob, Samuel and in the New Testament, Ananias; all these men, when God called them, they just simply said three words, "Here I am". In that beauty of innocence, whatever it is you want I'll do. Through Jesus again, we are able to regain our innocence. It's fun to look at kids and know they're not guilty of anything. With Jesus, those who come into His Kingdom get back they're "not guilty". How many are thankful today that you've been washed in the blood of Jesus and you are not guilty anymore? When a man goes to jail, he is guilty and deserves the punishment he has but when a man has been declared "not guilty" he is innocent and wiped clean; there's no longer a stain on his record.
Another thing that is beautiful is the purity of innocence. Oh to be able to see with innocent eyes and minds; the eyes of a child look at everything so purely. I love to see when God changes the life of people. I saw a friend of mine I knew from High School who at that time was so perverted, every thought that came to his mind was perverted in some way either by greed, by evil or lust. Anything he said was tainted by a lack of innocence. God gloriously saved him and a few years later someone told him an off colored joke and he didn't get it. In the past he would have got it. He would have picked up on the perversion and it would have been funny to him. It wasn't like his whole mindset had changed but he had regained his innocence like a little child. His mind wasn't on those things anymore. Isn't that a beautiful thing when God can wash you clean? This is one of those things that as Christians we are regaining in our walk with God, where our minds are pure and our thoughts are right and the way we see is precious.
One of the most precious things about little children is their sense of awe and wonder. Kids are amazed when they see a dog or a space shuttle or the grand canyon but somehow as adults we lose our ability to be impressed even when God does something big. Psalms 33:8-9 says, "Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him". Remember that song, "I stand in awe of you"? What a wonderful thing to stand, impressed by God. I remember when I came to church and I heard people sing and was in awe of the wonder of their heart for the Lord. I remember as I grew older that I began to lose that awe of the Lord. Then when I committed myself wholeheartedly to God like a little child I began to notice even the small things God does are amazing, the way He works in hearts and lives.
Adults are into shock and awe but God transforms us back to little children who are into awe and wonder. How many today are in awe of the way God takes care of you, in awe of the way God provides for you, in awe of the way God loves the unlovely, in awe of the detail God has put into His creation? Children are amazed. As we enter into the Kingdom of God, He says come and something begins to change if we'll let it. Children always see the adventure and there's always something new. How many are thankful for where you live in Florida? How many think that the storms we had yesterday were pretty impressive? I was thankful, God is good. I should have listened to Him a little better yesterday; I came here on my motorcycle about 8:00 to pray and God told me to go home. I said, "But I need to pray for tomorrow". So at 8:30 I heard raindrops on the sanctuary and I got wet on the way home. Just stand in awe of God, who He is, just listen to His voice. He cares enough to tell me to leave on my motorcycle, I just need to be childlike enough to obey.
The last thing about a child is that they are impressionable. What I mean by this is that they are teachable, able to be molded and shaped. Children are flexible and adaptable, open to change and to learn. That's why we put them in school when they're young so that they'll "get it". I don't know about you but I find that it's harder to "get" things now that I'm older. I'm a little more stubborn and I want to do things a certain way. I usually "get it" about a week or two after I should have learned it. But children are impressionable and moldable. This is why we encourage children to be lifelong learners and so should we as the children of God. Always allow God to pour into your life, always being willing to learn and to know His voice, always being willing to let Him shape us, knowing that He's got our best interest at heart.
Psalms 25:4-5 says, "Show me your ways O Lord, teach me your paths, lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation and on you I wait all the day". How many know that's like a little child? Little children know that they don't know it all, they are impressionable. I want to ask you, have you become like a little child? Have you entered into that Kingdom of God and allowed that childlike faith, not the childlishness of the world, but to just come to the Lord? Maybe you've lost that or maybe you've already done that and you're just glad you did. I want to challenge you, God says that the key to receiving His kingdom is to just be like a little child for they are precious in the sight of God. There is a reason we are known as the children of God.
