08-10-2017
Matthew 19:14New International Version (NIV)
14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Why children? Why not grandmas or youths?
It is not about focusing solely on an age group and alienating the other groups.
Understand the nature in which Jesus comes to a person.
According to statistics, children aged 4-14 are most likely to meet Jesus compared to 14-29 and those above 30.
"What you believe at the age 13 is pretty much what you're going to die believing."
- Researcher George Bama, author of Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions
There is a movement and a season when there is extra grace.
God loves every single soul.
Children make up one of the largest age groups in Malaysia.
God is sowing the seeds of the gospel.
The Lord is faithful and He is looking into the future of our nation.
Matthew 19:13-15New International Version (NIV)
The Little Children and Jesus
13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
May today's words rest on fertile ground and all of us are able to find our destiny.
Children need to be brought. (v13)
The Story of Samuel and Eli. (1 Samuel 3)
1 Samuel 3New King James Version (NKJV)
Samuel’s First Prophecy
3 Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see,3 and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle[a] of the Lordwhere the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, 4 that theLord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” 5 So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”
And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down.
6 Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!”
So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.)
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.”
Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”
11 Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. 14 And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”
15 So Samuel lay down until morning,[b] and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. 16 Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!”
He answered, “Here I am.”
17 And he said, “What is the word that the Lord spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that He said to you.” 18 Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is theLord. Let Him do what seems good to Him.”
19 So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord. 21 Then the Lordappeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.
But the disciples rebuked them. (Matthew 19:13)
Matthew 19:13New King James Version (NKJV)
Jesus Blesses Little Children
13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.
The disciples saw no value for children to be among Jesus.
Children know what it feels like to meet Jesus.
Include them in every place with Jesus--their studies, fun time, bed time.
Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them. (v14)
Bring the children to the Lord.
Do not stop them (from being used by Jesus).
When he had placed their hands on them (v15)
Jesus blessed them.
Every child deserves to be blessed by God.
There is a difference when a child comes into personal contact with the Father.
He went on from there. (v15)
There is a season of grace for everyone. They have everything to lose and everything to gain.
Today Jesus may not be a physical man that we see but the Holy Spirit comes with power.
Today the Lord (and the latter glory) comes in a greater magnitude.
Because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.
Understand the nature by which the Lord pursues someone.
During this time (4-14), if no one brings someone to Jesus, the Lord still pursues. But we cannot guarantee that when they're older, they'll come to faith the same way when they were younger.
What can we do?
Lead them to Jesus.
1) Do you know that you would be in heaven and with Jesus... when you die?
2) Heaven is a free gift. But man have sinned.
3) But God is a just and loving God. He doesn't want to punish you. He loves you.
4) He sent His son and Jesus came to die for you and I. And He rose again so that we could be seated at the right hand of God.
5) Do you want to be with Jesus? Receive Him as your personal Lord and Saviour today.
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