Wow, what a beautiful blessing to see all of you here today.
I'm grateful to God, every day, but some days...
I just really feel how blessed I am...
Today is one of those days..
Praise Be To God!
"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
Heavenly Father,
Sometimes we are so unsure about our ability to pray or our effectiveness in prayer that we become dependent on others to pray for us. As if they have some special connection, that we ourselves do not.
Your Word is filled with truth and promises. Scripture tells us that just asking is not enough, that we must believe in Your ability and willingness to answer your prayer and believe that You love us so much it is Your desire to answer your prayers. That we have to trust You and know Your Character, believe that You are who You say, and will do what You promise.
Father, forgive us, as we often become so focused on our needs and wants, we overlook the needs of others and what You require of us. We forget to keep Your commands, to forgive others, and to love others as we ought, the way that You have demonstrated Your love to us.
Help us Father through Your Word, Your Holy Spirit, to believe without questioning, trust You without doubt and create us in the image of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen
As we wrap up our current series, on Family Life, I'd like to speak today about children.
God sent a baby:
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit."
Matthew 1:18
The year was 1809. The whole world was watching and waiting to hear what Napoleon Bonaparte—self-proclaimed emperor of France—would do next. He had already won the great naval battle of Trafalgar, 1805, and was marching through Europe, conquering every nation, seemingly with nothing and no one to stop him.
History reveals that 1809 was an important year. Not because of Napoleon, however, but because of the babies who were born that year:
William Ewart Gladstone became the Prime Minister of Britain four different times - a great politician.
Alfred Lord Tennyson became an English poet whose profound effect on literature continues even to this day - a great literary figure.
Oliver Wendell Holmes became an American writer and medical doctor who helped advance the use of sterilizing techniques that removed bacterial infection from surgery and the birthing process - a great doctor.
Charles Darwin, born February 12, 1809, grew up to be a British scientist and father of modern evolutionary theory. His theory changed the thinking of scientists and modern society in general - a world-renowned scientist.
Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809 (the same day as Charles Darwin), in a log cabin in a small village in the United States of America. He became the 16th president and preserved the union of American states, abolished slavery in the United States, and influenced many other peoples to do the same - a great leader and lover of equal rights for all humanity.
Felix Mendelssohn was born in Germany, the grandson of a Jewish philosopher. He became a musical genius of the early 19th century - a great musician.
The accomplishments of these men touched the whole world and had much more effect on humanity than the march of Napoleon. But it did not look that way in 1809. After all, they were just babies. The whole world looks at babies as special, but unimportant to the affairs of men.
Some parents do not feel that their children are important or worth much time and effort. Often parents’ occupations take priority, and many children never reach their God ordained potential because of it. God’s Word gives clear directions about how He views everyone, including children. He looks at the heart.
Our verse is taken from the story of Samuel choosing a new king for Israel. The prophet and priest talked to God, asking for direction, but he still looked at the situation and viewed David the way adults normally look at children as small and insignificant. God had a plan for this shepherd boy, and God’s plan has always included children.
He designed children to be a blessing from Him, not an aggravation to get in the way of “important” adult plans Proverbs 17:6
God’s plan takes the most innocent, gentle, and vulnerable of His creatures and molds them into His big children.
He wants them to follow His Word and do His will, living according to His purpose Romans 12:1-2
He often uses these tiny creatures to get the attention of bigger folks and show them how they need to act if they want to enter His kingdom Mark 10:13-16
He desires for them to be part of a family that loves Him and each other dearly Ephesians 6:1-4
He plans for the family unit to love those around them enough to share the good news of His Word Genesis 18:17-19
He wants everyone to enjoy an abundant life. John 10:10
A Look At God's Children:
God’s Word is full of stories about children.
Cain was the first baby ever born, but he did not follow God’s ways, Genesis 4:1, 5-9, He grew up to become the first murderer of his own brother.
Isaac was God’s promised baby, born twenty years after God spoke to his father, Abraham with the good news that he would have a son Genesis 15:4-5; 18:10-15; 21:1-7
Joseph was the first baby born to Rachel, Jacob’s favored wife, Genesis 30:22-24. We see God’s hand on his life through many difficult circumstances, Genesis 37, 39-41. He saved his family and the nation of Israel, from starvation.
Moses inspired many to trust in the God who protects and preserves His own, Exodus 2:1-10. He grew up to lead an entire nation out of slavery without fighting a single battle overnight.
Samuel was dedicated to the Lord before his birth, 1 Samuel 1:1-20, 24-28. God gave his mother five more children after him 1 Samuel 2:20-21.
John the Baptist was a miracle baby, born to parents who were very old, Luke 1:6-7. The Bible talks about baby John while he was still in his mother’s womb.
"For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb."
Luke 1:15
How the Devil Sees Children:
Looking at different times in history, it is interesting to note that the devil knows where to begin the destruction of an enemy, kill the babies.
Pharaoh ordered the killing of all newborn babies to stop the growth of Israel in Exodus 1:16-17, 22. But Moses was preserved and grew up in Pharaoh’s palace in Exodus 2:1-10.
Herod ordered the killing of all babies under the age of two years after the wise men came looking for the baby Jesus in Matthew 2:16-18
Joseph obeyed the instructions of the angel and took his family into Egypt to escape this slaughter in Matthew 2:13-15.
Today, children are the primary target of the devil’s attack on humanity. Let’s look at some statistics taken from Mission Frontiers Magazine:
35,000 children under the age of five die of malnutrition every day.
40 million children are aborted yearly. (Of the babies conceived 29% are never born.)
2 million children die yearly because of no immunizations.
2 million children were killed in wars during the past twenty years.
How God Sees Children:
"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. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Jesus Warns of Offenses
“But 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. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!"Matthew 18:1-7
Throughout the synoptic gospels, Jesus gives us a clear understanding of His view of children:
The greatest in His kingdom are those who are changed from their “adult” attitude to have the character of a little child.
Anyone who harms, offends, one of His little children, whether an actual child or a believer with childlike character, is in serious trouble.
Those who receive little children in His name are receiving Him.
Heaven is going to be full of people whose character is childlike.
The disciples tried to send away the little children who were brought to Jesus. They thought the Master was too busy with “important things” to take time for such small children. Luke’s account calls them “infants” in Luke 18:15-17. But Jesus made a point to bless them and reminded the adults that children are important in His kingdom.
"Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and 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.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them."
Mark 10:13-16
Take note that the accounts of this blessing of the children in Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16, immediately follow Jesus’ teaching about marriage and divorce in Matthew 19:1-9; Mark 10:1-12.
There is an important connection between a lasting marriage and children who are truly blessed and touched by God. His plan for their blessing includes a home with both parents involved in their daily lives and growth.
The early church obviously understood the lessons Jesus had taught about the value of children. When Paul wrote to Timothy, giving him instructions for the church at Ephesus, he spoke of the importance of saints taking care of their families and providing for their needs.
"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
1 Timothy 5:8
This is especially important for church leaders!
"one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?"
1 Timothy 3:4-5
So How Does God See Children:
Children are priceless treasures, a heritage, inheritance, from the Lord in Psalm 127:3-5.
He does not take lightly anyone who would harm one of these precious gifts in Matthew 18:1-6; Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48.
He does not approve of parents who do not properly love and nurture their children— together as a family in Mark 10:2-12; 1 Timothy 5:8.
His disapproval includes anyone who does not take time to minister to them spiritually in Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17.
In Closing....
Throughout history, nations have been conquered by the destruction of children, usually through the downfall of their families, but God has always had a plan. Time and again He has used the tender gentleness of a tiny baby to bring a savior into a hopeless situation.
"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons."
Galatians 4:4-5
Jesus did not have an earthly father, but He began His life the same way as you and I, as a baby. That meant He had to grow and learn and follow the normal process that all children go through to become adults. He did not hurry the process. He did not skip over the periods of life that we all face, infancy, toddling, puberty, adolescence, teenage, and young adult. He went through the whole process and became a victorious mature man.
"And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him."
Luke 2:40
Even though armies have tried to destroy children, and kings have tried to stamp them out, God’s babies of deliverance have always survived. Babies grow up to be children. Children grow up to be boys and girls, then men and women. Without them, the blessing of hope will not continue. Don’t see the seed of their beginning, but see the tree of their maturity as it gives joy and supplies the needs of the future. When you look at children see leaders of vision, fathers and mothers of courage and faith, a new generations of believers, carrying the torch of truth until Jesus comes again.
Church, if Almighty God, the Creator of the entire universe, sees children as priceless treasures, should we as their parents?
We must train for the future while ministering to the present!
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you
The Lord life up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
Brian Monzon Ministries