Becoming Like Children

Matthew 18:1-6

The great boxer… Cassius Clay, also known as Muhammad Ali… was often called the “greatest of all time.”

He might have called himself this title more than anyone else during his lifetime.

He told reporters that he was so fast that he could turn off the light switch and be in bed before the room got dark...

And he also noted once… “It is hard to be humble when you’re as great as I am...”

“Who then is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

This was a question that came up… and argument that kept coming up among the disciples...

Who will be the greatest? Who will be the greatest in the Kingdom?

It is common and natural for all of us to aspire to positions and prestige..

It is natural for us to desire to be known for our greatness and power...

The disciples believed that there would be a Kingdom and that Jesus would be the King...

They were then desiring to know about their placement in this Kingdom...

Matthew 20:20-28 - The mother of James and John got involved and asked that her boys sit on the left and right of Jesus.

This conversation and request made the other disciples very angry with James and John...

Disciples of Jesus can become jealous and envious at times…

We do not like the idea of Jesus playing favorites...

Many of us do not like the idea of being second place...

I am very thankful that the Kingdom of God does not have a pecking order and that there is no partiality...

The last will be first and the first will be last...

The thief on the Cross received Paradise that day… without living a full day for Jesus… without one church service.

Everyone wants to talk about their greatness and their position...

But no one wants to talk about being humble… and being the greatest servant...

Jesus does...

Jesus calls a little child to Him and taught them a lesson...

“Unless you are converted and become as little children… you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus is not saying that a disciple must be childish… or foolish… or naive… or small...

Verse 4 - Jesus Clarifies what He is saying...

“Therefore… whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven...”

1 Peter 5:5–6 “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,”

Disciples: Humble Yourselves - Honor comes from Humility.

We must go down before God will bring us up...

This may have nothing to do with age or church attendance...

Matthew 5:3 ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

When we come to the Lord… we come to be born again… to start over as a child of God.

We come stating, “Nothing to You I bring… only to the Cross I cling...”

I am completely dependent upon you Lord… I need you… I am nothing without You.

Please think of children back in these days… if you are having a hard time thinking about a humble child today.

Children back then were looked down upon, and most of them were very poor...

Disciples were trying to keep children away from Jesus at one point, believing them to be an inconvenience to them and to Jesus… but Jesus rebuked them and He Himself, prayed for the children and blessed them.

Think of these needy children that most likely will never receive formal education and will starve without help...

Children are depending on adults for their protection, provision, for life, and for living...

Jesus says “if you will not be converted (turn away, be changed from their obsession with themselves and their status) and become like children… who will never enter the Kingdom...

Forget about being the greatest in the Kingdom… You will not even enter… unless you humble yourselves...

Become as like these little children… Be humble.

But remember what the boxer, Muhammah Ali said:

“Its hard to be humble, when your as great as I am.”

It is hard to be humble… when you are focused on your own greatness…

What does Humility say?

This is not about me… this is not about my name… this is not about my greatness or my glory...

I cannot create me, sustain me, or save me… I need this God and I need this Savior...

I do not deserve anything… I am helpless… I cannot do anything but cry out...

And this one that comes like this… like this child… will be justified… and he will enter into the Kingdom.

For them and for us today… pride and selfishness will stand between us and the Kingdom...

Self-righteousness will stand in our way...

The seeking of our own greatness will stand in the way...

And unless we are converted… unless we change and turn from this… We will not enter into the Kingdom...

You desire to be the greatest in the Kingdom… First you must be in the Kingdom...

Be Humble as a Child...

So First there is a call to humility… to be humble...

And then...

Verses 5-6 - Calls us to practice this humility with one another...

Want to be the Greatest in the Kingdom?

2. Practice Humility with One Another

Whether the the person is a child, a teenager, a young adult, middle aged or senior citizen...

They are children of God… if they are in the Name of Jesus… if they come in the Name of Jesus.

If you are in Christ… you are a child of God.

You may be a baby in Christ or a mature child of God…

But this is where all of us are… with One Father for us all.

So with One Father… and with One Head… the Lord Jesus… we all fall under His authority...

And what do we do… If we desire to be the greatest… Under Jesus’ authority?

Imitate Jesus… the Lord, the Boss, the King of the Kingdom...

Luke 22:24-27 - The disciples are partaking of the Lord’s Supper and they are arguing about being the greatest in the Kingdom… again...

Jesus says,” He who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves… For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves...

John 13 - It was during this time that Jesus got up from the table and washed his disciples feet… and Jesus said to them… “You call me teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you… a servant is not greater than his master… blessed are you if you do these things...”

Who is the greatest in God’s eyes?

The greatest servant to others... is the greatest in the Kingdom.

The greatest servant is humble and they look to Jesus… to follow and imitate Him...

The greatest servant will imitate the Suffering Servant...

These seek the life of Jesus… and these will be called the greatest in the Kingdom.

This Kingdom is not like the world… it is not like most businesses.

In this world… you may be encouraged to lie, steal, cheat, be prideful, be arrogant and cocky… to get ahead...

In this world… the greatest will be the strongest, fastest, best performer, and richest...

In God’s Kingdom, I will be called “the least” if I sin and teach others to sin...

In God’s Kingdom, I do not have to be the strongest, smartest, richest, or fastest...

In God’s Kingdom and in God’s eyes… the Greatest is the most humble servant that depends on Him.

Philippians 2:3–8 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Be Humble

Practice Humility in Servanthood

Possess a Simple and Trusting Dependence on God

Little Children take their father at their word...

Children of God look to the Father… listen to the Father… and take Him at His Word...

Children of God that seek to be the greatest in the Kingdom… will trust the Father...

An innocent child-like faith is a sincere, trusting belief that God is Who He says He is… that He has done what He says He has done… and that He will do what He says He will do...

And the child of God says… “Wow! That’s amazing… do it again… you are awesome… yes sir, what ever you say God… You said it, and I believe it...”

Child-like faith is not cynical… it is not distrustful… it is not insincere.

The child knows the Father… The child knows the character of the Father...

The child knows that the Father is Good, perfect, all-knowing, and all-powerful...

The child knows that his Father can beat up all other fathers… or all enemies...

The child knows that no one is stronger that their Father...

The child knows that the Father owns all things and controls all things...

That child of God rests in the Father’s care...

That child knows the love of the Father and rests in that love...

That child knows that the Father knows every detail about their lives… and he can talk about everything to the Father… openly and honestly...

That child knows that the Father is going to love and care for the child no matter what...

That child of God is left with the sense of identity, security, value, and confidence...

That child is left with boldness and joy… and with great peace...

This is what Jesus Christ practiced and this is what He had as He lived on this earth...

Don’t we all desire the same… as Christians?

However:

What is Satan’s great strategy?

Satan desires for us to question the character, integrity, and love of God the Father...

How does Satan do this? By getting us to question the Word of the Father...

2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

And how did Satan lead Eve astray?

By getting her to question God’s Word.

It will be here that we will either submit to the Father… or move away from Him..

And we will eat of the fruit from our decision...

But rest assure… if we move away from God… away from the King… and away from humble faith...

WE will not be the greatest in the Kingdom...

We will be the least...

Seek to be humble.

Seek to practice humble service to others.

Seek to possess a simple and trusting dependence on God...

And you will be on the path of becoming the greatest in the Kingdom of God.

Not when you are focusing on your greatness… but God’s greatness...

Are you in the Kingdom?

Will you humble yourself today?

Will you submit to the Father through the Son of God who died for you?

Will you begin to practice a simple and trusting dependence on God...?

Today is a great day to humble yourself and follow Christ.

Today is a great day to follow Jesus with the faith of a child of God.

Close and Pray.