“Childlike Qualities”

1. “Childlike Qualities” Matthew 18:1-5

2. Matthew 18:1-5 (NKJV) 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

3. Determination

4. Determination • Have you ever seen a child determined to get something that they want? • Do they ask for it? • Do they look for it? • Do they pull/push/climb/jump/stretch/reach for it?

5. Determination • Want something – Matthew 7:7,8 Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

6. How Determined are you • To get to Heaven? • What are you willing to endure to get there? Hebrews 12:1b let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

7. How Determined are you • To get to Heaven? • To be a faithful Christian? 1 Corinthians 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

8. How Determined are you • To get to Heaven? • To be a faithful Christian? • To be a good spouse? Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

9. How Determined are you • To get to Heaven? • To be a faithful Christian? • To be a good spouse? • To be a good parent? 1 Samuel 1:11 Then she (Hannah) made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”

10. How Determined are you • To get to Heaven? • To be a faithful Christian? • To be a good spouse? • To be a good parent? • To be a good friend? • Mark 12:31  And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

11. How Determined are you • To get to Heaven? • To be a faithful Christian? • To be a good spouse? • To be a good parent? • To be a good friend? • To teach others? John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

12. And not just “going through the motions” A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still. – Ben Franklin • go through the motions -To do something in a mechanical manner indicative of a lack of interest or involvement.

13. “Going through the motions”profits no one. • 1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

14. Enthusiasm

15. Enthusiasm • Determination and Enthusiasm feed off each other. • Kids get excited by simple pleasures. • VBS kids are involved and excited. • Do you get excited about our “product”? • Do you truly believe in our “product”?

16. Corvette Plant and Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky

17. GM employee parking

18. What if the church did that? • Reserved parking for members who attended all the services. • Reserved seating for members who participated in the song service. • Why do GM and other companies have these kind of policies? • You can’t sell others if you aren't sold yourself! • God wants His people to have enthusiasm for His work!

19. Titus 2:11-14 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

20. Enthusiasm • It’s easy to have enthusiasm when things are good. Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

21. Enthusiasm • But how do we feel when things go against us? Matthew 5:11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

22. Enthusiasm • If each disciple was zealous working for the Lord's cause - what could we accomplish? • If everything we did would be done with enthusiasm • How would it affect the singing? • How would it affect the teaching? • How would it affect the praying? • How would it affect the attendance? • Our worship would be meaningful!

23. Faith and trust in their parents

24. Things children say to their parents • “Hold me!” • “Help me!” • “Carry me!” • “I'm tired!” • “I’m scared!” • “Don’t leave me!”

25. “Hold me!” • Psalm 119:116 Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.117 Hold me up, and I shall be safe,And I shall observe Your statutes continually.

26. “Help me!” • Psalm 22:18 They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots. • 19 But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me;O My Strength, hasten to help Me! Psalm 38:21 Do not forsake me, O Lord;O my God, be not far from me!22 Make haste to help me,O Lord, my salvation!

27. “Carry me!” • Deuteronomy 1:30 The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ • Isaiah 46:3 “Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. 4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.

28. “I'm tired!” • Psalm 119:28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. (NIV) • Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (NIV) • Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29. “I’m scared!” • Psalm 56:3 Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. • Psalm 16:1 Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. • Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ • Psalm 56:3 Whenever I am afraid,I will trust in You.

30. “Don’t leave me!” Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. • Psalm 35:22 O Lord, you know all about this. Do not stay silent. Do not abandon me now, O Lord.

31. Faith and trust in their parents • We are imperfect, but God is perfect • Matthew 7:9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

32. Romans 8:31,32,35,37-39 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

33. Romans 8:31,32,35,37-39 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.