Childlike Faith

Introduction

Good morning everyone! Kelly and others in New Orleans… Kevin and I holding down the fort this Sunday before we head to NOLA.

VBS Recap:

On peak night, had 108 kids attend

Had around 90 volunteers (students & adults)

Raised over $2,000 for the Baptist Friendship House

You know, kids are so fun, aren’t they? Some thing I noticed being a Children’s Pastor is that kids will trust in anything you say.

Tell story about Jayson saying the zombies would get me because my “garage door” was down.

Body

Mark 10:13–16 CSB

13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.

Parents were most likely bringing children to be blessed by Jesus

Common practice in this time, especially hearing of the miracles performed by Jesus

The disciples might have thought:

Jesus was too busy to deal with children at the moment

Jesus’ teachings were too “adult” and didn’t need to give time to children

Children were too insignificant, as commonly thought in this day and time\

Ultimately, Jesus was indignant towards the actions of the disciples.

1. Childlike Faith is HUMBLE.

“Children occupied a precarious position in the Hellenistic society of the first century. Sometimes children were loved and sometimes exploited, depending upon how they were perceived as benefiting the family. Roman law gave the father absolute power over his family—which extended to life and death. As late as AD 60 a son was put to death by the simple order of his father.”

- Crossway.org

Matthew 18:1–5 CSB

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a small child and had him stand among them. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one child like this in my name welcomes me.

Children in our society are still of a “lower status” that adults

Doesn’t mean they are of any less value, it is simply required of them to honor and respect trusted adults

Ephesians 6:1–3 CSB

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.

God demands humility. He directly opposes those who do not humble themselves before Him.

1 Peter 5:5 CSB

5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

This passage references a Septuagint translation of Proverbs 3:34:

Proverbs 3:34 CSB

34 He mocks those who mock but gives grace to the humble.

2. Childlike Faith is GROWN.

1 Peter 2:1–5 CSB

1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, 3 if you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God—5 you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Just as a child grows physically as they get older, so too should our faith grow as we walk closer with the Lord.

God doesn’t want our faith to remain stagnant. He wants it grow, be built up, to become stronger.

We shouldn’t want a faith that remains stagnant.

The fact that we are even reading Scripture and that God has personally revealed Himself to us merits the studying of His words.

Holy Scripture is tendentious: whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Scripture was written by the Holy Spirit that it might serve him in guiding the church, in the perfecting of the saints, in the building up the body of Christ. In it God daily comes to His people.

- Henry Bavinck

The purpose of Scripture is to grow us up in faith as God reveals Himself to us.

3. Childlike Faith is UNCONDITIONAL.

Mark 10:17–22 CSB

17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.” 20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

Putting aside the obvious possessions element in this passage, look at what Jesus is telling the rich young man to do:

Humble yourself and give up your possessions to those in a needier position… bring yourself to a lowly stature

Follow me and I will grow your faith in service and love

But the rich young man’s love for Christ was conditional.

Some of our faith is like this: “I’ll follow you Jesus, but I won’t give up xyz”

Imagine if we did this in our marriages?

“For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death to us part.”

Ephesians 5 tells us marriage is a symbol of the relationship between Christ and the Church… Jesus showed us unconditional love, so why shouldn’t we?

Consider the stories of great faith in the Bible:

What if Noah was only willing to follow God if he could keep his own possessions?

What if Abraham was only willing to follow God if his son Isaac’s life was spared?

What if the disciples were only willing to follow Christ if they could live comfortable lives?

What if Paul was only willing to follow Christ if he could continue to live his easy life as a Pharisee?

What if Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were only willing to jump in the furnace if they knew their lives would be preserved?

Daniel 3:8–23 CSB

8 Some Chaldeans took this occasion to come forward and maliciously accuse the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever. 10 You as king have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music must fall down and worship the gold statue. 11 Whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. 12 There are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men have ignored you, the king; they do not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” 13 Then in a furious rage Nebuchadnezzar gave orders to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar asked them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you don’t serve my gods or worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 Now if you’re ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, fall down and worship the statue I made. But if you don’t worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire—and who is the god who can rescue you from my power?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question. 17 If the God we serve exists, then he can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he can rescue us from the power of you, the king. 18 But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times more than was customary, 20 and he commanded some of the best soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 So these men, in their trousers, robes, head coverings, and other clothes, were tied up and thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. 22 Since the king’s command was so urgent and the furnace extremely hot, the raging flames killed those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire.

CLOSING

It’s important to understand our blessings as Christians. We ought to be reminded of our standing as “children of God.”

In what ways are children a pattern? In their humble dependence on others, their receptivity, their acceptance of themselves and their position in life. Of course, Jesus was speaking about an unspoiled child, not one who was trying to act like an adult. A child enjoys much but can explain very little. Children live by faith. By faith they accept their lot, trusting others to care for them and see them through. We enter God’s kingdom by faith, like little children: helpless, unable to save ourselves, totally dependent on the mercy and grace of God. We enjoy God’s kingdom by faith, believing that the Father loves us and will care for our daily needs. What does a child do when he or she has a hurt or a problem? Take it to Father and Mother! What an example for us to follow in our relationship with our heavenly Father! Yes, God wants us to be childlike, but not childish!

- Warren W. Wiersbe

2 Corinthians 6:16–18 CSB

16 And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, as God said: I will dwell and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. 17 Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. 18 And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.