Responding to God as a Little Child ~ Message 100

  This Sunday night message is an explanation of what Jesus was saying when He told his disciples in Matthew chapter eight, “become as little children”.  What did that mean?  Most take it for granted that Jesus was referring to the second birth but in the context Jesus continues with humbling yourselves.  This connects back into the disciple’s question of who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

  People have a natural desire to feel good about themselves to feel a sense of accomplishment or a sense of value from all they have done.  They want to believe they have earned a higher position on the social ladder because of their talents and accomplishments.  This is a matter of pride and this is why Jesus responded with, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven”, but there is more to becoming like a little child than trying to humble yourself.  First there is the problem of a clear path to humility, and second is how to attain humility without being proud of your accomplishment.

  The statement of becoming like a little child is about a quality that little children possess naturally; so it is not about what they have it’s about what they don't gain until reaching the age of accountability. 

Salient Points: Responses to God, Doing things for God, Proving your own works, Context or pretext, Back to little children, Trusting, Easily taught, Humility, No revival, Just doing your duty, The simple bus test, Guile, Lost innocence, Enamored by God, Misunderstanding scripture, An epiphany, By their fruit, Desiring to accomplish, Leprosy and sin, A believing heart, Doing what we are told, When Jesus honored disobedience, A permanent change, Trouble from God, Eat and drink to God’s glory, Desiring to please God.

Scripture: Lk. 17:1-19, Heb. 11:6, Mt. 26:6-13

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