Latest / Meadows Baptist Church Podcast / The Children’s Gospel - 3/15/26 - Meadows Baptist Church - Pastor Charlie Branch

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The Children’s Gospel - 3/15/26 - Meadows Baptist Church - Pastor Charlie Branch · Meadows Baptist Church Podcast

0:02
Welcome to the podcast of Meadows
0:05
Baptist Church of Walnut Cove, North
0:07
Carolina. We're so glad you joined us
0:10
today. If you enjoy today's message, be
0:12
sure to subscribe, follow, and share
0:15
with your friends. Now, let's join
0:17
Pastor Charlie Branch with a word from
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God.
0:26
>> Amen. and take God's word tonight. If
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you will turn with me to the book of
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Matthew, Matthew, chapter number 18,
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Matthew, chapter number 18. You find
0:38
your place you would stand.
0:45
Matthew chapter number 18.
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Man, I'm telling you, it's just good to
0:57
be on the right side of this thing.
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>> Amen.
0:59
>> And uh
1:02
>> I know where I'd be if for the grace of
1:05
God.
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>> And uh he really has supplied every
1:09
need.
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>> And
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>> I had somebody tell me one time, I said,
1:14
"Preacher, you just ain't been far
1:16
enough down the road. You don't know
1:17
what you're going to have to face." I
1:19
tell you what, I've been far enough to
1:20
know you'll take care of me.
1:22
>> Amen. And
1:24
>> no matter what you face,
1:27
no matter what it is,
1:30
>> he's enough.
1:34
>> He's enough.
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>> Boy, aren't you thankful for a Bible
1:39
tonight?
1:40
>> Amen.
1:42
Bless his name. Matthew chapter number
1:44
18 verse number one
1:46
the Bible says at the same time came the
1:49
disciples unto Jesus saying who is the
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greatest in the kingdom of heaven Jesus
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called a little child unto him
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said him in the midst of them
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and said verily I say unto you except
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you be converted
2:04
>> yes
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>> and become as little children
2:06
>> yes
2:07
>> ye shall not enter into the kingdom of
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heaven
2:10
>> whosoever therefore shall humble himself
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myself as this little child, the same is
2:14
greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And
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who shall whos so shall receive one such
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little child in my name receiveth me?
2:23
But who so shall offend one of these
2:25
little ones which believe in me? It were
2:26
better for him that a millstone were
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hanged about his neck.
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>> That he were drowned in the depths of
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the sea.
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>> I want to look tonight and out on this
2:36
thought verse number two. The Bible
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says, "And Jesus called a little child
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unto him and set him in the midst of
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them." And I want to I want to talk to
2:46
you for just a little while. I preach on
2:48
this thought, the children's gospel.
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>> The children's gospel. You say, "Well, I
2:53
thought the gospel was for all, but it
2:55
is. It is for all."
2:57
>> But Jesus said, "Except you come as a
2:59
little child."
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>> Right? Amen.
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>> So if you got saved, you know what you
3:02
did?
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>> Come on.
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>> You came as a little child. Amen.
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I want to preach on that thought tonight
3:08
with the help of the Lord. Father, thank
3:09
you for allowing us to be here tonight.
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God, thank you for the spirit of praise
3:13
and worship. Lord, we felt here tonight.
3:15
Thank you for the good singing. And
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Lord, I thank you, God, that we have
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been blessed. Every need has been
3:21
supplied. And Lord, it's worth every
3:23
mile. God, I thank you. I bless your
3:26
name tonight. I ask humbly that you
3:28
would help us as we look at these verses
3:30
tonight. Give us wisdom. Help us to
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receive with meekness the engrafted
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word. remove the flesh far from us.
3:36
Speak to us and through us. Help us to
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recall to remembrance the things that
3:39
we've studied. And and Lord, help us to
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say everything we ought to say, nothing
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that we ought not say and get glory to
3:45
yourself tonight. We'll give you thanks
3:47
for it because we ask it in Jesus name.
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God's children said you can be seated.
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Thank you for standing tonight. Matthew
3:54
chapter number 18. The Bible here is
3:57
dawning on the on the new day of
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Christ's advent. Now, we know the cross
4:03
is quickly coming. Matthew chapter
4:05
number 26, 27, and 28 reveal the last
4:08
days of our Lord Jesus Christ. And so,
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after here, really over halfway through
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the book of Matthew, we have this text.
4:15
And I was reading this, it jumped out
4:18
all it jumped out to me. Verse number
4:21
two, the Bible says that Jesus called a
4:23
little child unto him. And I want to say
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this, just a simple thought before I get
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into the message tonight. And I want to
4:29
say that when Jesus first time calls
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most time it's when you're a little
4:33
child
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>> and I was thinking about my life. I got
4:36
saved at 7 years old. God dealt with my
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heart. I remember it. My uh youth pastor
4:41
the church we was in. He gave a little
4:42
gospel invitation at Bible school and I
4:44
remember be convicted and uh coming to
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the altar that night and asking the Lord
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to save me. I never been the same since
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then. And I was reading this text and I
4:54
noticed some things here Jesus was
4:56
dealing with his disciples about. And
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you notice in the text, the Bible
5:00
mentions there in verse number one, you
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notice that first phrase at the same
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time. Now that always looks back to the
5:08
previous chapter. It's connected here.
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And what you find in this text, notice
5:12
this by way of introduction that there
5:15
is a miracle previous to these verses
5:18
tonight. Chapter 18 and verse number
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one. There is a miracle that is prior to
5:23
this text. And you say, "What is that
5:25
miracle?" Well, it's one that's not as
5:27
well known in scripture, but it's one of
5:30
great importance. And I want to say just
5:32
a little bit about that tonight. This
5:34
miracle, you notice in verse number 27,
5:37
the Bible says Jesus instructs Simon
5:39
Peter, notwithstanding, lest we should
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offend them, go thou to the sea, and
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cast unhook and take up the fish that
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first cometh up. And when thou hast
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opened his mouth, thou shalt find a
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piece of money that take and give unto
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them for me and thee. And to make a long
5:56
story short tonight, basically what
5:58
verse 27 is saying is exactly what those
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two ladies just sung about. They had a
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need. Peter had told those men that had
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come there in Capernium that Jesus would
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give the tribute money unto the temple.
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You notice that in verse 24, Jesus gives
6:14
him the principle in verse number 25
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that he said, "Whom do the kings of the
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earth take custom or tribute of their
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own children or strangers?" Basically,
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in essence, what Jesus was saying was is
6:25
that the temple will belong to him. And
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why should he pay tribute unto that
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temple? He he said, "Look, it's my
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house." Amen. It belongs to me. And when
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they're paying tribute unto that temple,
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what are they doing? They're paying
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tribute to him. Amen. But I notice the
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Bible says there's the provision in
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verse 27 after Jesus tells him, "Hey,
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the temple belongs to me and I I really
6:48
don't have to pay tribute." Notice verse
6:50
27. Look what he said. Notwithstanding
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lest we should offend them. Go thou to
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the sea and cast unhook and take up the
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fish that first cometh up. What does he
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say? When thou opened his mouth, thou
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shalt find a piece of money. And you
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know what? In this text, Peter had
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gotten himself into a situation, but
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Jesus was going to get him out. Amen.
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And the Bible says that in that fish's
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mouth, he got that piece of money out,
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and it was enough to pay the tribute for
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him and Peter as well. And you say,
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"What's the emphasis of that?" Well,
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Jesus is emphasizing his kingship.
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>> You're right.
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>> You say, "How is that?" Well, notice the
7:26
verse again. Verse 25. Whom do the kings
7:29
of the earth take custom or tribute of
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their own children over strangers? Jesus
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is saying, "Hey, look, Peter, I'm the
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king. I'm the king."
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>> And you know what? This tribute that
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they're asking us to pay, Peter, that
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house belongs to me.
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>> You're right.
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>> They're paying tribute unto me. And you
7:47
say, "Well, what's the emphasis of
7:48
that?" Well, here in the text, you
7:50
notice in verse number one of chapter
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number 18, there's not only a miracle
7:55
previous, but there's also second of
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all, by way of introduction, there is
7:59
the matter of position that arises in
8:02
verse one. At the same time came the
8:05
disciples unto Jesus, saying, who is the
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greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Now
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verse the chapter prior, Peter has just
8:12
seen the fact that our Lord is the king.
8:15
God has revealed it unto him again that
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he is alone is able to supply the need
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and he is going to provide what is
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needed for this instance that Peter has
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gotten him into. And as all the apostles
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are gathered around Peter in this text,
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they've seen what's taken place and in
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this conversation that they've had.
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They've been arguing amongst themselves
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who is the greatest. And let me say this
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to you tonight. You know what? We find
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ourselves in a place a lot of times
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where we're arguing about whether we're
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better or not than somebody else.
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>> That self-examination a lot of times we
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find ourselves comparing ourselves
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amongst ourselves
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>> when really the one we should be
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comparing ourselves to is the one that's
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the king. Amen. You notice in this text
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they got this question about who is the
9:01
greatest. Well, let me just give it to
9:03
you. It's the one that could call the
9:04
fish in the sea that had the money in
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his mouth. Somebody say amen. It was not
9:10
only the one it let me just say this.
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Okay, this gets away with me when I read
9:15
this. Okay, the miracle is not so much
9:17
that the money was in the fish's mouth,
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but the miracle is found that Jesus said
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you cast your line and the first one you
9:24
hook.
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>> You're right.
9:26
>> He said, Peter, the first one you reel
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in is the one that's got the tribute
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money in his mouth. And he said,
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"Furthermore, it's not just a piece of
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money, but it's the exact amount that's
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needed." Right?
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>> Anybody in the building tonight?
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>> Aren't you thankful for the times when
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God has just pointed out in your life,
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"Hey, the miracle is, hey son, I've got
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exactly what you need." You go right
9:50
here and you can find it. Amen. Aren't
9:52
you thankful for the days you get on the
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altar and the first prayer GETS IT DONE.
9:56
AMEN. And it's not too much and it's not
9:59
too little, BUT IT'S JUST EXACTLY WHAT
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YOU NEED. AMEN. It's reminding us THAT
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INSTEAD OF COMPARING OURSELVES AMONGST
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OURSELVES, we ought to just look to him.
10:08
Amen.
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>> Right.
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>> You say, "What does that have to do with
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the children's gospel?" Well, you see,
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the disciples were still worried about
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who the greatest is.
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>> Right?
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>> And you know what? In our flesh tonight,
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we will compare ourselves amongst
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ourselves. Well, let me remind you in
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this text, okay, this question number
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one's legitimate. You say, "Why is
10:29
that?" Well, Jesus has been preaching to
10:31
them this entire time that he is a king,
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that he is the Messiah. And what has he
10:37
told them? He has told them that they
10:40
are going to be his governors. They're
10:42
going to be the ones that rule under
10:43
him. Matthew 19 verse number 14 tells
10:46
that. And so, it's a legitimate question
10:49
because there's a coming government. And
10:51
these men are thinking to themselves,
10:53
"Well, if he's going to be king and
10:55
we're going to be the ones that rule
10:56
under him, don't we need to figure out
10:59
who's going to be first in command under
11:00
him?"
11:01
>> Yeah.
11:01
>> Amen. Just get with me tonight. Amen.
11:04
They're trying to figure out, all right,
11:06
if he's going TO BE KING, WE got to get
11:07
in line. We got to figure out who we
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going to have to answer to.
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>> You're right.
11:11
>> Amen. But you know what? Jesus has got
11:13
something else in mind.
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>> It's a legitimate question. But I'll say
11:17
this, it's a leadership question. Who,
11:20
notice it again, who is the greatest?
11:22
That word greatest means the largest, of
11:25
the most size, or have the most
11:28
authority. They're saying, "All right,
11:30
who is the one that has the most
11:32
authority?" Now, we could talk about
11:33
tonight the which one. Now, there's
11:35
people that say, you know, these other
11:37
uh sects of Christianity say that Peter
11:40
is the chief, but we have no proof of
11:42
that in the scriptures. And so what we
11:44
know about them is what the Bible says
11:46
in Matthew 19 uh in the chapter there.
11:49
It says concerning Matthew 19:28. Notice
11:52
what your Bible says. And Jesus said
11:54
unto them, verily I say unto you that ye
11:56
which have followed me in the re
11:58
regeneration when the Son of man shall
12:00
sit in the throne of his glory, ye also
12:02
shall sit upon 12 thrones judging the 12
12:06
tribes of Israel. And so if anything
12:08
tonight, that would imply that they have
12:10
equal authority. You're
12:11
>> right. So they would have equal
12:13
authority. But it's still a leadership
12:15
question. They want to know which one is
12:17
the best, which one is the greatest. And
12:20
what it reveals to us though it is a
12:22
legitimate question in the sense of the
12:24
word and it is a leadership question.
12:26
Who is the greatest? It reveals to us
12:28
that it is a lustful question.
12:31
>> Notice the verse again. Who is the
12:34
greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
12:37
>> Who's the one that's first? Now let me
12:40
give it to you. Right? The greatest one
12:42
in the kingdom of heaven is the king.
12:44
>> Right?
12:45
>> Amen. And the problem with this text is
12:47
is that they're comparing theirelves
12:49
amongst theirelves and they've got their
12:51
focus off.
12:52
>> You're right.
12:52
>> You know the reason why some of you
12:54
couldn't worship tonight during that
12:55
singing
12:56
>> cuz the focus is off.
12:57
>> You're right.
12:58
>> Amen. You're too worried about the one
13:00
that's across the room from you. Amen.
13:02
For whatever reason it is. You say,
13:04
"Preacher, you don't know that." I
13:05
don't. I hope there's nothing going on.
13:07
But I'll tell you this tonight. The
13:08
truth is the thing that hinders us from
13:11
worship, the thing that hinders us from
13:13
going forward with God is having our
13:15
EYES EVERYWHERE ELSE BUT JESUS. AMEN.
13:20
>> And I notice in this text there is the
13:22
miracle that is previous. There is the
13:24
matter of position. But I want to deal
13:26
with this thought tonight and just give
13:28
you a few things here and we'll be done
13:30
just directly. I want you to consider
13:31
with me and I use this phrase for sake
13:34
of literation tonight but it makes this
13:36
makes sense nonetheless. I want to talk
13:38
about this message of posterity or
13:40
message to posterity here and that
13:43
simply means to the children to the
13:44
offspring. Look what the Bible says in
13:47
verse two. And Jesus called a little
13:50
child unto him and set him in the midst
13:52
of them. And let me say this on the
13:54
precipice tonight. Verse number two is a
13:56
great ev is a great picture of
13:58
salvation.
14:00
>> What's your Bible say? Number one,
14:02
there's the call. Let me say it this
14:05
way. Use a biblical term. It's an
14:07
effectual call. Look what your Bible
14:10
says. And Jesus called.
14:14
>> Yeah.
14:15
>> Now, don't hop out of your pew or
14:16
nothing on that. Amen. But that's what
14:18
happened when you got saved.
14:20
>> Amen. Jesus called. Amen. And the Bible
14:24
says, not only there's the call in the
14:26
text, but there is the child. Notice
14:27
what your Bible said. And Jesus called a
14:30
little child unto him.
14:32
>> You say, "Well, how does that type
14:34
salvation?" Well, notice them two words
14:36
after that. He called a little child.
14:38
What's the next two words? Unto him.
14:42
>> You're right.
14:42
>> He's brought him unto himself. That's
14:44
what happened to you in salvation. Amen.
14:46
>> He's called him unto himself. AND I
14:48
NOTICE THIS. Jesus has called this
14:50
little child unto him. And notice what
14:52
your Bible says. There's not only the
14:53
call and the child, but there's the
14:55
company. Look at the Bible. And set him
14:57
in the midst of them. Now, who's he
15:01
talking about? He's talking about them
15:02
disciples,
15:04
>> them apostles. LORD, WHO'S THE GREATEST
15:06
in the kingdom of heaven?
15:08
>> Jesus says, "Hey, boy."
15:10
>> Yeah.
15:10
>> Come here, man.
15:12
>> Amen.
15:13
>> You'll hook up with that about midnight
15:14
tonight. Amen. Look what your Bible
15:16
says. And Jesus called a little child
15:18
unto him and set him in the midst of
15:20
them. You say, "What does that have to
15:21
do?" Well, number one, in my message
15:23
tonight, there's Christ invitation.
15:25
>> That's right.
15:26
>> I'm talking about the children's gospel.
15:29
>> Christ's invitation.
15:32
Boy, I'm thankful tonight that Jesus
15:34
don't need all our methods. You're
15:35
>> right.
15:35
>> He don't need our little wordless book.
15:37
And I love that little thing. Amen. It's
15:39
a handy tool for children leading them
15:40
to the Lord. I'm not knocking it. Okay.
15:42
But what I'm saying is is Jesus don't
15:44
need all our tools. You're
15:45
>> right.
15:45
>> He don't need the little bracelets and
15:47
he don't need the little books and all
15:49
of that stuff. When Jesus calls and he
15:51
knocks on their heart's door, amen, and
15:53
they know it's him.
15:54
>> Come on.
15:55
>> His invitation's as clear as anything
15:57
you'll ever hear. Oh friend, aren't you
15:59
thankful for the night that Jesus said,
16:01
"Come."
16:02
>> Amen. You heard his voice. AMEN. YOU
16:04
HEARD HIS VOICE AND THERE WAS NO
16:06
QUESTION ABOUT WHO IT WAS. It was the
16:08
Lord of glory, the lamb of God, GIVING
16:10
YOU AN INVITATION, SAYING, "COME TO ME."
16:12
AMEN. What was he coming for? Notice it
16:15
in the text. The Bible says there in
16:17
verse number two, "And Jesus called a
16:20
little child unto him, and notice it
16:22
again, and set him in the midst of
16:26
them." Now, we've noted the company
16:28
here, but what's the purpose? Why has
16:29
Jesus done this? Bible says he set them
16:32
in the midst. What is he doing? He's
16:33
using him as an example.
16:34
>> You're right.
16:36
>> And the simplicity of this is beautiful.
16:38
You say, "What is the simplicity
16:41
expressing?" Well, Jesus spoke and what
16:44
did he do? He obeyed.
16:46
>> Right?
16:47
>> You see, that is the emphasis of Christ
16:51
in all the gospels.
16:52
>> Yeah. When he speaks the word, we're to
16:55
obey.
16:56
>> You're right. That's right.
16:57
>> When he tells when he tells us to have
16:59
faith, you know what we're to do? We're
17:00
to take that faith and allow it to
17:02
function towards him.
17:04
>> You're right. The
17:05
>> Bible says faith without works is dead.
17:07
And that's the truth.
17:09
>> If you have real faith, it's going to
17:11
express some works. This boy believed
17:13
the word of Christ. He came to him.
17:15
Amen. And so, we see the invitation in
17:18
this text, this example. He is going to
17:20
use him as an example to who? To those
17:23
that are around him. Those disciples.
17:26
Let me say this. Children are the
17:28
greatest example of pure faith.
17:30
>> You're right.
17:31
>> When a child gets saved, you know what
17:32
they'll do? They'll witness to people
17:34
you wouldn't talk to.
17:35
>> You're right.
17:36
>> I've said this before at the church
17:37
here, but I remember when I got saved as
17:39
a seven-year-old boy. I remember my my
17:41
grandparents, they don't believe like we
17:42
do. They're primitive Baptists. Amen.
17:44
They don't believe like we do. More of a
17:46
hypercalvinist type. They don't believe
17:48
you can know you're saved. They don't
17:49
really believe in using the terminology
17:51
salvation. They uh they really don't
17:53
know what they believe just to be quite
17:54
honest with you. But I remember that
17:56
night that I got saved, I remember
17:58
telling mom and daddy, I got to go tell
18:00
Paul and Granny that I got saved.
18:02
>> Amen.
18:02
>> And mom and daddy as nice as they could.
18:04
They were trying to tell me now it's all
18:06
right. That we'll tell them. They'll
18:08
know about it. And you know, they they
18:10
didn't say exactly like it's been a long
18:11
time ago to me. Amen. But but I remember
18:13
them just telling me trying, you know,
18:15
because they didn't want me to be
18:16
discouraged. Yeah,
18:17
>> but I remember it. I remember the day
18:19
that I walked up in their house. It was
18:22
fall of the year. Amen. School was just
18:24
fixing to start back and the crops was
18:26
turning brown. I remember just like it
18:28
was yesterday. Walked up in her house.
18:30
The leaves was blowing across and and I
18:32
walked up in her house and I said,
18:33
"Granny, I got saved." She just looked
18:36
at me. She didn't know what to think.
18:39
And and I remember that response
18:41
thinking in my heart, I wonder what she
18:42
what she why she don't respond to that.
18:45
>> Yeah.
18:45
>> But you know what? But it didn't change
18:46
my joy any
18:48
>> right.
18:48
>> I saved.
18:49
>> Amen.
18:50
>> And I just want to tell somebody about
18:51
it.
18:51
>> You're right.
18:53
>> Jesus uses him as an example in this
18:56
text. Notice not only the invitation,
18:58
but notice the instruction. And I'm
18:59
going somewhere. Stay with me tonight.
19:01
The Bible says in verse three, after he
19:03
has set this young child in the midst of
19:05
them, the Bible says, he said to them,
19:07
verily I say unto you, except you be
19:09
converted and become as little children,
19:12
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of
19:15
heaven. Now, we know tonight what I've
19:17
used to application sense of the word
19:20
Jesus has brought this child unto them.
19:22
And he's not, you know, saying for him
19:24
to come in essence to be saved, but you
19:26
know the picture of what I'm saying
19:27
tonight. What he is showing to them is
19:29
is his innocence.
19:31
>> Right?
19:32
>> You know, that's something we've lost in
19:33
this day and time. You're
19:34
>> right,
19:35
>> man. People in this day and time, there
19:36
is no innocence.
19:38
>> You're right.
19:38
>> Of the mind, of the life, of anything.
19:40
And so, what happens in this text? Jesus
19:42
here is going to give them an
19:44
instruction. What is his instruction?
19:46
Well, he's given the invitation to make
19:48
an example out of this young man. But
19:50
he's g this he's going to give this
19:51
instruction and it's and it's pending
19:53
upon their entrance. What is their
19:55
entrance? Look what he says. Ye shall
19:56
not enter into the kingdom of heaven. He
19:58
is saying unto them, boys, you're not
20:00
going to have any part in what I want to
20:02
do on this earth except you be converted
20:04
and become as little children.
20:07
>> Now, what does that mean? What does it
20:08
mean be converted? That's not talking
20:10
about salvation. What that word
20:13
converted in this text means, it means
20:15
to change direction.
20:18
What was their direction? Well, what's
20:20
verse one? Who's the greatest Lord?
20:23
>> Remember what I said a little while ago?
20:24
They had their eyes on the wrong thing.
20:26
>> You're right.
20:26
>> And you know what? What's the truth? If
20:28
you got your eyes on the wrong thing,
20:30
>> come on.
20:30
>> You going to be headed the wrong
20:31
direction.
20:32
>> That's right.
20:33
>> Right.
20:33
>> Cuz where your eyes are pointed, that's
20:35
where your feet's going to go. Amen. And
20:37
so their direction needed to change.
20:39
What is that? Well, instead of leading,
20:41
they needed to be following.
20:43
>> Oh, I see that so much in this damn
20:44
time. People who are not willing to
20:46
follow. Now, you say, "Preacher, well, I
20:48
just I just don't want to follow my
20:50
husband. I don't like the way that he's
20:52
going." Well, here's what I'm seeing
20:53
most of the time. All right. When a wife
20:55
does not want to w want to follow her
20:56
husband, most of the time it's because
20:58
the man does not want to follow God.
21:00
>> You're right. Amen.
21:01
>> You're right. Come on.
21:03
>> She has to respond to you, sir. I don't
21:05
know why I'm on that, but it's just the
21:07
truth. Amen. Many times, the reason why
21:09
the wife will not follow the husband,
21:12
it's not because of her. It's because
21:13
that man is not willing to follow God.
21:16
You're
21:16
>> right.
21:16
>> And the reason why the children won't
21:18
follow the parents is because that
21:20
marriage will not follow in the
21:21
direction of the Lord. There is not
21:23
proper authority. What does that mean?
21:25
There has to be a change of direction.
21:28
LOOK WHAT HE SAYS. EXCEPT you be
21:30
converted.
21:32
There's no clause there.
21:34
>> Right?
21:34
>> There's no uh exception to that rule.
21:37
Except you be you're going to have to
21:38
have a change of direction.
21:41
>> Right?
21:42
>> What is that? That's dying to the flesh.
21:44
>> Notice not only there's a change of
21:46
direction, but there's also a change of
21:48
dependence. Notice the verse. He said,
21:51
"Except you be converted," notice this,
21:53
"and become as little children." What
21:58
does that mean? What do we know about
22:00
little children? They can't take care of
22:02
themselves.
22:02
>> You're right.
22:03
>> Somebody else has to supply their need.
22:06
Somebody else has to take them where
22:07
they're going.
22:08
>> You're right.
22:08
>> Somebody else has to feed their tummy.
22:10
Amen. And change their diaper. Somebody
22:13
say amen right there. Somebody else is
22:15
responsible for their life.
22:18
>> You're right.
22:18
>> You say, "What does that mean,
22:19
preacher?" Well, he said, "Except you be
22:21
converted, you got to change direction.
22:23
You got to learn to follow. But you got
22:25
to change your dependence."
22:27
>> What were they dependent on? The flesh.
22:30
>> Who's the greatest? Jesus measure. LET'S
22:33
SIZE US UP. LET'S PUT US ON the pyramid
22:35
and let's see who's the greatest.
22:38
But you know what? That really all it
22:40
doesn't really matter
22:42
because there's only one.
22:43
>> Amen.
22:44
>> You're right.
22:44
>> And he says in the text, he says,
22:46
"Except you be converted and become as
22:48
little children." I like what John
22:50
Phillips said. He said this. He said,
22:51
"This does not mean that we're to be
22:53
childish.
22:55
We're but we're to be childlike."
22:58
What does that mean? Well, we're not to
22:59
to whine and and and you do do all the
23:02
things that children do. Amen. That's
23:03
not what it is. But we're to have a
23:05
childlike trust.
23:06
>> You're right.
23:07
>> A reliance upon God. It's faith. It's
23:10
following. It's based upon the father.
23:14
You say, "What does he mean by that?"
23:16
that well to illustrate another way if
23:17
we're you know what do you mean by
23:18
saying that we're not to be childish
23:20
well that's our attitude our mannerisms
23:22
the way that we live
23:23
>> you're right
23:24
>> he's not saying that we're to be as a
23:26
child in the way that we live but we're
23:27
to be as a child in our trust in our
23:30
dependence just as a child will depend
23:32
upon their parents to raise them and to
23:34
supply their needs and to put a roof
23:35
over their head and do all the things
23:37
that children have to have because they
23:39
cannot do it for themselves. Jesus is
23:41
saying except you be converted and
23:44
become as little children, what does he
23:45
say? You cannot enter
23:48
>> into the kingdom of heaven.
23:49
>> You're right.
23:50
>> You have no entrance. You have no
23:51
operation in my plan. I see people that
23:56
want to serve in the work of God, but
23:57
they have no submission to the things of
23:59
God. I see people that have a a seeming
24:02
desire to do things for God, but there
24:04
is no submission. There's no dependence.
24:07
their the entirety of their life is
24:09
founded upon themselves.
24:11
Notice the text. There is the
24:13
instruction in verse three. Except you
24:16
be converted and become as little
24:17
children, you shall not enter into the
24:19
kingdom of heaven. Verse four, there's
24:22
not only the invitation and the
24:23
instruction, but consider the
24:24
inspiration here. Whosoever therefore
24:27
shall humble himself as this little
24:29
child. Notice that as this little child.
24:32
How did he humble himself? Well, he was
24:34
obedient to the voice of the Lord.
24:35
>> Right. Right. You see the emphasis of
24:38
our life and really the effectiveness of
24:39
our of our life is only upon one thing.
24:41
How willing are we to listen?
24:43
>> That's good.
24:44
>> How willing are you to listen to the
24:46
voice of God? Look what he says again in
24:49
the verse. He said, "Whosoever therefore
24:50
shall humble himself as this little
24:52
child, the same is greatest in the
24:55
kingdom of heaven." Say, "What does that
24:57
mean for me, preacher?" Well, the
24:59
inspiration is this, that excellence is
25:01
defined by one thing. How much are you
25:04
willing to let go of to depend on God?
25:07
>> Come on.
25:10
>> What is the truth about a child? They
25:12
have no ability to provide for
25:14
themselves. You're
25:15
>> right.
25:15
>> They have no plans of their own. You
25:17
know, the only plan they have is what
25:19
mom and daddy's doing.
25:20
>> You're right.
25:21
>> They're going to eat where mom and daddy
25:23
goes. They're going to walk where mom
25:25
and daddy walks.
25:26
>> They're going to live where mom and
25:27
daddy lives. They're going to do what
25:30
mom and daddy does.
25:31
>> You're right.
25:32
>> You know why that is? is cuz they're a
25:33
child.
25:35
What was Jesus saying? He said, "If you
25:37
want to be great, if you want to be the
25:39
greatest," he said, "you going to have
25:41
to turn it all over to me."
25:42
>> You're right.
25:43
>> And who's he? He's the king. Right.
25:45
>> Amen.
25:47
>> Excellence is determined not on what we
25:49
do, but what we depend on God for.
25:53
>> You're right.
25:53
>> Now, I've heard people say this,
25:55
preacher, you know, and I've even said
25:56
this myself. You know, you know, God,
25:58
he's he's given me a work ethic. You
26:00
know, I'm going to do my best to provide
26:01
and you ought to. Amen. The Bible says,
26:02
"If any man provide not for his own,
26:04
he's worse than an infidel."
26:06
>> Right?
26:06
>> That's scripture. But the truth is
26:08
tonight, when your dependence upon
26:10
yourself overrides your dependence upon
26:12
God, you're in a bad place.
26:13
>> What happens? Your direction is turned.
26:15
>> Amen.
26:17
>> It's good preaching tonight.
26:19
>> Notice this. I'm done. There's the
26:21
inspiration in verse four. Whosoever
26:23
therefore shall humble himself. I don't
26:25
know about you, if there's anything what
26:26
I think of in this text, I just want to
26:28
turn it all over.
26:29
>> Right,
26:31
>> God? If it means I can be the greatest
26:33
for you.
26:33
>> Come on.
26:34
>> If I can be what you want me to be, if I
26:36
just lay it all at your feet, Lord, I'll
26:38
give it to you.
26:39
>> Lord, I ain't got nothing anyway.
26:40
>> Amen. That's right.
26:42
>> That ought to inspire you. That ought to
26:44
make you want to give it all to you.
26:46
>> Cuz you know what? He will meet every
26:48
need.
26:48
>> You're right.
26:50
>> Notice this. There's the indication in
26:52
verse number five. Who so shall receive
26:55
one such little child in my name
26:56
receiveth me? What is this saying? Well,
26:59
Jesus is saying if a man or a woman
27:02
receives a little child in the name of
27:04
Christ, what is he saying? He's bringing
27:06
Jesus
27:08
unto himself. You remember what Jesus
27:09
said, Matthew 25 there, judgment of the
27:12
sheep and the goats. Bible says the
27:14
goats, you know, and the sheep, he he
27:15
has them all stand before him and Jesus
27:18
judged them. He's there on the throne.
27:19
It's the last judgment there on this
27:21
earth. And he separates the sheep from
27:23
the goats by one thing. What does he
27:25
separate it by? Their treatment of
27:27
Israel.
27:29
He said, "In as much as you have done it
27:30
to the children of this my people," he
27:32
said, 'You've done it unto what? Me.
27:35
>> You're right.
27:36
>> That'll change your mind on this
27:37
anti-semitic culture we're living in
27:39
today.
27:41
>> I know Israel ain't what she's supposed
27:43
to be, but let's be honest about it. Has
27:44
she ever been?
27:45
>> You're right.
27:46
>> When David, the greatest king they ever
27:48
had, was there, it was full of
27:49
fornication and adultery.
27:51
>> You're right.
27:52
>> Israel's never been what she should be.
27:54
But I'll tell you this, he's coming
27:55
today when she will be. Amen. And the
27:57
indication is this. Notice it in the
27:59
text. When you receive those children,
28:01
you say, "Preacher, why are you so
28:03
interested in the Good News Club?" I
28:04
know this is Jewish ground in this text.
28:06
But let me say to you, the truth rings
28:08
true the same. It's still right to reach
28:11
the children. Amen. Because if you can
28:13
reach them before the world reaches
28:14
them, if you can reach them before the
28:16
devil reaches them, if you can reach
28:18
them before their flesh gets a HOLD OF
28:20
THEM, YOU CAN HAVE SOMETHING IN THEIR
28:22
LIFE THAT WILL STAY WITH THEM FOREVER.
28:25
AMEN. AMEN.
28:27
>> He said, "If you'll receive a little
28:29
child,"
28:31
>> he said, "In my name, you receive me."
28:33
So much more I could say about this. I
28:35
just need to be done. Feel the Holy
28:36
Ghost say, "Be done." Verse six, notice
28:38
this. But who so shall offend one of
28:40
these little ones which believe in me.
28:42
Notice that. Notice that that that
28:44
emphasis which believe in me. Verse
28:46
five, little child in my name. All of
28:49
this has to do with Christ in their
28:51
life.
28:51
>> You're right.
28:52
>> And let me remind you this, okay? I've
28:54
seen people adopt this mindset. Well,
28:55
you know, I'm going to adopt children,
28:57
you know, cuz I believe it's the right
28:59
thing to do. Now, that's good. But has
29:01
God told you to do that?
29:03
>> That's good.
29:04
>> Cuz this text right here is founded upon
29:06
the truth where Christ is first.
29:08
>> That's right.
29:09
>> He's first. And these children, this
29:12
text, he said, "Whosoever shall receive
29:14
one such little child of my name
29:15
receiveth me." Verse six, "Whosoever
29:17
shall offend one of these little ones
29:19
which believe in me." And that's not
29:21
talking about just physical young
29:22
children. That's talking about spiritual
29:24
young children.
29:26
>> It were better for him that a millstone
29:28
were hanged about his neck and that he
29:30
were drowned in the depth of the sea.
29:33
This injunction here he gives is that
29:35
there is execution for those that hinder
29:37
the children.
29:37
>> You're right,
29:39
>> man. I tell you, I'd be scared to death
29:41
as a preacher.
29:42
>> Yes. Come on.
29:43
>> To hinder a child.
29:44
>> Amen.
29:45
>> I hinder a literal child from being
29:47
saved. I'd be I'd be scared to death to
29:49
hinder somebody who's young in the faith
29:52
>> from really knowing God.
29:54
>> I was thinking about this today. I I'll
29:56
say this and I'm done. This this this
29:59
position here, this idea that we need to
30:01
be converted, we need to change our
30:02
direction. We need to become as
30:04
children, we need to change our
30:06
dependence, really if you look at that
30:08
in every part of our life, that would
30:09
completely change who we are.
30:11
>> You're right.
30:12
>> That would change the job. That would
30:15
change the home.
30:16
>> Yeah. That would change the marriage.
30:19
>> And I can tell you friend, it sure
30:20
changed the church.
30:21
>> You're right.
30:23
>> Not relying on our methods, not relying
30:25
on our means, not relying on anything
30:27
that we have other than just saying,
30:29
"God, if you don't do it,
30:32
>> Lord, point us in the right direction."
30:35
You know, Bible says children are
30:36
arrows.
30:38
What are they meant to They're meant to
30:39
be pointed in the right direction and
30:41
shot. You get one chance.
30:44
>> That's right. Amen. one chance.
30:48
>> You say, "What does this have to do with
30:49
me tonight, preacher?" Well, let me ask
30:51
you, where are you?
30:53
Are you the disciples that are standing
30:55
around? Behold, I was thinking about
30:56
this up here just a minute ago. All
30:58
these young ladies was singing right
30:59
here. And they was singing their heart
31:01
out.
31:01
>> You're right.
31:03
>> Singing to the top of their lungs. And
31:05
I'll be honest with you, you say,
31:06
"Preacher, do they know what they're
31:07
singing about?" Probably not everything.
31:09
But I'll tell you this, they know who
31:10
they're SINGING TO. AMEN. THEY KNOW WHO
31:12
THEY'RE SINGING FOR. I KNOW THEY AIN'T
31:14
GOT IT ALL FIGURED OUT. BUT LET ME TELL
31:16
YOU, THERE'S BEEN MANY A DAYS I GET UP
31:18
AND SING JUST CUZ I HAVE TO, not because
31:20
I want to, BUT I JUST KNOW I HAVE TO.
31:23
AMEN. But aren't you thankful for those
31:25
LITTLE CHILDREN THAT'LL JUST SERVE GOD
31:27
AND JUST SING HIS PRAISES? AMEN. AND
31:30
LET'S STOP STANDING AROUND AND LOOKING
31:31
AT THEM, BUT LET'S GET IN THERE WITH
31:33
THEM. AMEN. AND WORSHIP AND BLESS HIS
31:36
NAME BECAUSE HE'S WORTHY. AND IF WE
31:39
DON'T, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'LL FIND later
31:41
on in life, they'll forget it. You're
31:43
right. Amen.
31:45
>> Because the gospel is a gospel to
31:48
children.
31:49
>> You're right.
31:51
>> We're all children.
31:54
>> That belong to God.
31:56
>> Amen.
31:57
>> Let me say this. It do some of us well
31:59
to quit trying to put our big bridges
32:01
on.
32:03
>> Amen. You know that's right.
32:05
>> Let God handle it.
32:07
>> Amen. That's
32:08
>> right.
32:09
>> Let him handle it. Amen. Put it in his
32:11
hands. Say, "Lord, I'm willing to change
32:14
my direction."
32:14
>> Amen.
32:15
>> You may feel like you're going right,
32:17
but you know, the Bible says there is a
32:18
way that seemth right unto a man. You're
32:20
>> right.
32:20
>> But the end thereof is the ways of
32:22
destruction. Let put your hand in his
32:25
and say, "Lord, take me."
32:27
>> Just like that little child. Well, I was
32:30
thinking about that the other day.
32:32
Case walked up to me and grabbed my
32:34
hand. I started walking down the road
32:35
and he was holding my hand. You know
32:36
what I was doing? I was keeping him from
32:38
all them cars that was going up and down
32:40
the road, things that might harm him. He
32:42
don't know how dangerous it is, but I
32:44
do. And you know, he was holding my hand
32:45
because he needed me to get him from
32:47
where he was to where he WAS GOING.
32:49
SOMEBODY SAY, "AMEN." I'M SAYING, "THANK
32:51
GOD THAT HEY, FRIEND, JUST LIKE HIM WITH
32:54
ME. I CAN REACH MY HAND TO MY HEAVENLY
32:56
FATHER. I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING. I
32:58
KNOW I'M GOING TO HEAVEN." AMEN. BUT IN
33:00
THIS LIFE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE'S GOING
33:01
TO TAKE ME. OH, BUT HE KNOWS WHERE I'm
33:03
going. AMEN. HE KNOWS THE WAY THAT I
33:06
TAKE. ALL FRIEND. HE'LL LEAD US THERE.
33:08
HE'LL GET US THERE. PUT YOUR HAND IN HIS
33:10
AND SAY, "LORD, LET'S GO." AMEN.
33:14
>> Every head bowed and every eye closed
33:15
tonight. I know we've all come and
33:18
prayed tonight, but maybe you need to
33:19
come again. I don't know. Just mind the
33:21
Lord tonight.
33:24
I'm thankful tonight that he'll get you
33:25
where you're going.
33:27
He knows where you need to be.
33:31
He'll get you in the right place.
33:34
He'll protect you. He'll take care of
33:35
you.
33:41
He said except you be converted. Got to
33:44
change your direction
33:47
and become his little children.
33:51
Is a good day in my life. I doubted my
33:53
salvation for years.
33:56
I didn't say enough, didn't do enough.
33:58
My works now I just there ain't no way I
33:59
could be saved and live and struggle
34:01
with the things that I struggle with.
34:02
And what I had to realize one day was
34:04
that the struggle's the same.
34:09
>> But now it just breaks my heart cuz the
34:11
Holy Ghost on the inside ain't want
34:13
don't want me to live that way no more.
34:15
>> He don't want me to live in sin, walk in
34:18
my flesh. And it would break my heart
34:20
when I would sin, Lord. And I'd say,
34:21
Lord, AM I REALLY SAVED, LORD, DO I
34:23
BELONG to you?
34:25
And every time I would ask him that, he
34:27
would speak.
34:29
Say, "Child, just get back on my path.
34:33
Just take my hand again."
34:38
I believe that songwriter was
34:41
right when
34:43
he wrote, "Come thou found of every
34:45
blessing. Tune my heart to sing thy
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praise." That one verse he said this,
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"Prone to wonder,
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Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God
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I love. Lord, here's my heart.
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Take and seal it,
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Lord, cuz I'd lose it, Lord. Here's my
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heart. Take and seal it. Seal it for thy
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corpse above.
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Hey, child of God. He'll get you there.
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But take his hand. Take his hand. Trust
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his heart. He'll get you there. No, it
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don't look good right now, but he's
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able, oh friend, he's able TO DO
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EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE
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ASK OR THINK.
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>> AMEN. He can fix it. HE CAN HELP IT. NO,
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IT MAY NOT BE THE WAY OR THE TIME THAT
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YOU WANT IT TO, BUT GOD IS ABLE. HE WILL
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DO IT. HE'LL DO IT EVERY TIME. AMEN.
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>> And he loves you tonight. Father, thank
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you.
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Thank you for this day,
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for your sweet spirit,
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and Lord, for the truth of the
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children's gospel.
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Lord, that if we're going to live for
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you,
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just like little children that can't
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prepare their own meals,
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can't feed themselves,
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can't do anything, Father, for ourselves
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other than just take your hand and
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follow you. God, would you help us to do
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that?
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Lord, we know we're incapable, Father,
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but you're able to do all things.
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And Lord, you said in your word, Paul
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said, "I can do all things through
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Christ which strengthenth me." And so
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God, I pray you would help us, Lord, in
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childlike trust.
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Lord, change our direction, get our
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dependence right. And Lord, I know then,
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Father, we'll see a divine work done in
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our lives. I thank you, God, for the
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sweet spirit tonight. Thank you for your
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presence, Lord, and for whatever needs
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your present. I pray nobody leave this
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place without having it met before it's
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too late. Lord, I love you. Thank you
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for loving us. We ask it all in Jesus'
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name. God's children said,
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>> "Amen."
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>> Amen. Well,
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>> thank you for joining our service today.
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We'd love it if you join us in person
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the next time you are able at Meadows
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Baptist Church. Our physical address is
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2988
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Stewart Road in Walnut Cove, North
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Carolina. Our service times are Sunday
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school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning
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worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday evening
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worship at 6:00 p.m., and Wednesday
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evening Bible study at 700 p.m. For more
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information, visit us at
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meadowsbaptisturch.com.
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Thanks again for tuning in.