Child Like Faith

Harvest podcasts featuring Pastor Greg Laurie are brought to you by harvest partners to receive Pastor Greg free online daily devotions or to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org (our Bibles to Matthew chapter 18 the title of my messages childlike faith and not when I was little kid I I would hear people say to me on more than one occasion, Greg Laurie, will you just grow up and I heard that because I was often goofy and for doing a prank or something like that. Then you know that something we all want to do.

We we want to grow up. No question about that but you know the funny thing when you're a kid. You look forward to growing up and then after you grow up you wish you were a kid again, no funny by me. When you're little you can hardly wait till you're old enough to hang out with the big kids in do the things that they do. And then as you get older man, you look with pulling back in those days of childhood as the good old days, you know, things were a lot different back then member when being old was anyone over the age of 20. I mean how old 20 seen member that a big charge was being tall enough to actually be able to ride that ride at Disneyland. You've been wanting to ride all that time and water balloons with the ultimate weapon.

Things like that within weeks we get all and we have to mature we have to grow up and that's a good thing but Jesus tells us that we are to have the faith of a child. How does that work. How can you grow up in one hand and still maintain a childlike faith on the other, will that is a very issue that is before us here and before we read these verses I wanted to point out the fact that Jesus loved kid and some people get irritated when children are around making a lot of noise. Jesus got irritated when people tried to keep the kids away. Remember how the moms wanted to bring their Jesus other than their Jesus, their kids to Jesus to bless and the disciples basically shooed them away saying don't bother right now and the Lord made that famous statement. Let the little children come onto me for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

He always had time for kid member when he fed the 5000. The only miracle recorded in all four Gospels. He found the little boy and he used his loaves and fishes, the bless the multitudes, and then there was the daughter of gyrus and he went into that room and said to her little lamb arise and he brought her back from the dead.

He always had time for kids and now he uses a child as an example of what our faith ought to look like here in Matthew chapter 18. So let's read it together starting in verse one. At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and Jesus called a little child again. He said it in the midst of them 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. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little job like this in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depth of the sea while no one is a backdrop of these words of our Lord. Remember that Jesus at that place called Caesarea Philippi, had revealed to his disciples that he, the Son of Man was going to be betrayed he was going to be tortured and he was going to be crucified, and he would rise again on the third day, a pretty heavy topic.

No question about it. So what is the topic of discussion among the disciples in the aftermath of this it was who was going to be the top dog who is going to be the most important of the lot that seems a little insensitive to me to talk about something like that when someone is just disclose that they're about to die, that would be like someone save I just came from the doctor's office and I found out I'm in a Diana month and your princes interesting. Hey, can I have your car think are you serious, and that's really what was happening.

Here Jesus is disclosing these important truths. Other like oh yeah. Fascinating.

By the way, who's going to be number one among watch a TV program, celebrity apprentice you know and it's a fascinating show, you know, they divide people up and the teams usually men and women. They compete against each other in their given little tasks to fulfill and then it's determined that the end who won that task in the vote someone off and so forth that you know when you get on celebrity apprentice.

There is one thing on your mind when you sit in that board room with Donald Trump. One thing and that is what is going on with his hair.

No, I think that's what's on my mind but you're wondering how can I win this competition, you might form an alliance here and work with someone there but the reality is there's only one winner, who gets to win the game. When the right. That's what Charlie Sheen tells us that so most people want in life.

They want to know how to be number one. They want to know how to win they want to know how to be the most successful, the top dog that was a discussion among the disciples so who's going to be number one Lord who run everybody else.

Jesus effectively bypass the question and did something completely unexpected. He sees a little kid. He says come on over here for second little child walks up to Jesus and any sentence child in the midst of the McMeekin to see if there's a child probably really cute. You know, looking around wide-eyed and Jesus takes the child and he puts it in the midst of them are puts a little one in the midst of them, and then he says you must be converted and become as little children, and if you humble yourself as this little child, you'll be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. So Jesus is saying you need to be child life. What does that mean exactly to be childlike, while children, especially when the very small have a sense of awe and wonder. That's why I highly recommend that you do not go to Disneyland with adults always taken kids to Disneyland because it tells what were cynical, you know where.

First of all going to gripe about how much it cost to get in and there is some merit to that of course and then working a Wonderware bargaining either Morgan and say that looks making out.

It was better in the old days, a remember the E tickets will say things like that but you little kid you take a minute. It's a whole new world to borrow a Disney song to them there, seen it all. For the first time they actually think that's Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck. I remember years ago I took my son Christopher to Disneyland.

He was very small at the time, and I knew one of the characters. One of the people in the characters. I and so he said you want to come back in and the back room and I found out later he should have never done this but I took Christopher back and were in this back room, and the people in the suits are taking their heads off okay but understand Christopher really think that's Donald Duck you Mickey Mouse and Donald Doug just took his hat off and there's a small man in the costume and I remember one of them I came remember which one pulled out a cigarette. He smugly went up with the body of the costume and the human. He had servers like II probably traumatized him for life.

So I don't recommend you do that, but the idea is that children see things in the different way mean it's really fun to be around kids when they see things for the first time the first time a child may be face ice cream are the first time a child plays in the snow or and you know you sort of rediscover it is they're discovering that for the first time.

So that's a wonderful thing for all of us to see and that is really the idea that Jesus is communicating always maintain that childlike faith. Jesus is not saying we should be child is he saying we should be childlike. There's a big difference. The fact of the matter is, as we need to grow up spiritually but were told over and Ephesians 414 we should no longer be children forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone told us something different because someone is cleverly lied to us and made a live sound like the truth, so we have to grow up yet at the same time we want to still be child line. What does that mean the exactly will.

Let's see what the Lord was trying to say Jesus become like little children. What were they arguing about greatness, who would be the best so Jesus brings a child out to illustrate what answer humility diverse for whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. So Jesus is saying you need to have the humility of a child, what is that mean a little child and I'm thinking a very young one now knows that they need your help. They know that they need you to pick him up when they get tired of walking years ago to be the one to get them out of their car seat put them back in their car seat.

To be the one that changes their diaper you going to be the one that cuts up their food, you're going to be the one that is there for them when they're scared in the middle of the night. They understand that they're fine with that. They depend upon you and you accept your role as a parent. So Jesus say things just as a little child is happily dependent upon their parent, so you should be dependent upon me.

So here's the answer to your question guys the way the greatness is to be childlike.

The way to be strong is to recognize your and the weakness the way to greatness is through humility.

So we have a choice here we have God's plan. A and God's plan B. Plan a is humble yourself. Plan B is being humiliated which one sounds best for you. I like planning.

Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and he will exalt you in due time. Don't wait for God to humiliate you and allow some circumstances in your life that will reveal to you how weak you really are. Jesus summed it up clearly when he said in Matthew 21 fall in the rock can be broken or the rock will grind you the powder.

Humble yourself as a little child. That's what Jesus is saying, and then he issues a warning to anyone that would cause one of these little ones stumble. Verse six whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him of the millstone were hung around his neck. They were drowned in the depth of the sea. You know these people that want to undermine the faith of Christians, especially young ones. I say you're going to be in for a day of reckoning because God takes this very seriously. Anyone who would go out of their way to try to hurt someone in their spiritual life, or to challenge it or to destroy it. Jesus said it would be builder better. If a millstone were tied around her neck.

Listen, here's the thing that we need to be remembering we are being watched by younger believers every single day. First Timothy 412 says.

Don't let any of you forget that you are an example, not only in what you teach in the way that you live in your love and your faith and in your purity. The apostle Paul tells us that we are to follow him. He said follow me as I follow Christ. Now that's what every Christian should be able to say you should be able to say you know what follow me as I follow Jesus you might say on a Greg I would never say that because I'm flawed and they make mistakes and I mess up.

Okay I get that because I did to. I would never say to someone, I am a perfect example do everything I do, but I think I could say follow me as I follow Christ, and I think you could say that. Hopefully as well. You should be living in such a way that a younger believer could look to your example and find something in you that they would want to emulate because you're an example of what it means to be a genuine Christ follower. In this day and age, let me ask you question what if every Christian or just like you, what of all of the church behaved exactly as you behave, what kind of church would we have like a suburban woman like me. We would have a church of people with no hair but apart from that one of every Christian attended services as faithfully as you do with the church be full or empty. What of all of the church worship like you do with the church we quiets or would it be filled with the praises of God. What if all of the church share the gospel as faithfully as you do with people in our community be hearing about Jesus Christ. What if everybody in the church again as faithfully as you gave what we find.

This ministry is being supported. What if all of the church was just like you will in this sense it is because it's made up of people like you and I and everyone of us either contributes to its strength and growth we contribute to its weakness and decline in so here's the question we want to ask yourself I might be in a good example.

And here's another question we could ask is my life a steppingstone or a stumbling block steppingstone or a stumbling block are you helping people to come to Jesus through your example. Are you in effect, driving them away. Listen. It's not an issue of whether or not you are an example. Every once in example the only question is are you a good or a bad one.

Okay. And that's why Jesus says you should get rid of anything in your life that would be a bad example. Referring back to what he said earlier in the sermon on the Mount, our Lord tells us in verse eight in your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It's better to enter in the life lame or mean. Rather than having two hands or 2 feet and be cast in the everlasting fire. So Jesus is a look that there's anything in your life that would cause you to stumble and deal with it because it would cause you to stumble because someone else to stumble as well.

And how do we cause others to stumble by not caring about them verse 10 take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones but I say in heaven their angels always see the face of my father who is in heaven. Don't stumble those little ones, be a good example for your children and I think of families today that will divorce and the sale.

Don't worry about the kids there resilient elicited that divorce will hurt them.

Trust me I know from personal experience being the child of divorce. See, my mom married and divorced seven times. I know what that is like, and I know what it's like for little kids and you are there to be an example to them to be something we can emulate and think about that would younger believers to their watching what you do and sometimes we will take our so-called liberties and will flaunt them and because younger believers to stumble in our faith.

Paul tells us in Romans 1421.

It's neither good to eat, drink, or drink wine or do anything but what your brother stumbles or offended or is made. We you might say, well, that's their problem will not really.

It's your problem. It's our problem because we don't live inside of ourselves. What we do affects other people. Be a good example that Jesus is saying. One person agrees with eight people agree with me, make that six people. Here's a quick little aside before we go to a second section in this message. Do we have Guardian Angel.

The reason I bring this up is because Jesus says in verse 10, take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones price say that in heaven there angels always see the face of my father who is in heaven.

So the idea here is to we have a personal Angel your own angel that hangs out with you and goes where you go well I don't know the answer to that II know that you have angels in your life.

Every Christian does because the Bible clearly teaches that the angel of the Lord encamps around about those that fear him, and delivers them in Hebrews 114 says that angels are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to those who will inherit salvation in Scripture even says be careful to take care of strangers for in doing so, you may have entertained an angel unaware that's kind of an interesting thought is that that means that maybe you've met an angel and I don't and Angel would tell you he's an angel, by the way, angels are never girls. Sorry, we usually use it in the feminine sense I go. She's as pretty as an angel but in the angel all of the appearances that they may. They appeared as men not girls or to break that to you but if you have been an angel, you probably wouldn't know it but do we have Guardian Angels will no one can say for certain that this verse is interesting in that Jesus is there. Angels, which would imply that perhaps children have Guardian Angels, which is kind of reassuring is and that because you know how easily they get themselves into trouble. But even if they don't have their personalized angel you know that angels are bald in their lives. So let's shift gears now come to another section here in Matthew 18 verse 11. The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost. So what you think the man is 100 sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the 99 and go to the mountains to seek the one that is strained and if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the 99 that did not go astray.

Even so, it is not the will of your father who is in heaven. That one of these little ones should perish. So what we learn from these works will number one we learn that God cares about us as individuals.

Jesus uses a picture of a shepherd looking for a wayward sheep and this is used often through the Bible Isaiah 40 says that God shall be this flock like a shepherd to gather the lambs with his arms and carry them in his bosom and gently lead those that are with young and first Peter 225 we read. Usually we were as sheep going astray. But now we are returned to the shepherd of ours. Also, we love that image of God as a shepherd announces that she put understand though it's a beautiful picture. It's also revealing one because, in effect, God is saying yes I'm a shepherd and your sheet and if you know anything about. She you know that they are one of the dumbest animals on the face of the year.

Which brings me to point number two because were as sheep. We have a natural tendency to go astray.

Isaiah 53 says all we like sheep have gone astray. And we turned everyone to his own way and why do we go astray. Simple answer stupid just like she I read an article a while ago about 450.

She then fell to their deaths in Turkey of the article said that one sheet jumped off a cliff. In 1500 others follow me.

How stupid is that once she goes off in all the same. Okay guys are all that I go today off the cliff. Let's go.

Single file is not that bad.

Let's go you know animal genome sheep are slaughtered, they have a Judas go see she don't follow under the follow one another but the follower go so the Judas goat will literally go up to a ramp whether slaughtering she in this ego. Okay, that's what were going right now got in line into its amended with stupid animal yeah but don't we do the same thing. Don't we go astray, don't we do things that are outright foolish don't we try. At times the run from God. Don't we disobey the word of God. Don't we resist his will in our life will of course we do all we like sheep have gone astray. And we turned everyone to his own way. That's just the way that we are instead of following others she'd and certainly not a Judas goat interesting title to give him we should follow the good Shepherd.

Jesus says in John 1027 my sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.

No one will snatch them out of my hand. The word that Jesus use their injunction for follow means one who deliberately decides to come by instruction, we come to realize that God's plan for this is better than our plan for ourselves. And when he leads us to a different place for our ultimate good. Now maybe it's not for our temporary good. Maybe it doesn't make complete sense, but he has a plan and we are to follow him and comply some 23 is the classic passage that deals with us being sheep and God being the shepherd written by David the shepherd himself in a row. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his namesake yay though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me your rod and your staff they comfort me.

He makes me lie down in green pastures cheaper so dumb sometimes we have to be forced to eat their food. But then if you don't guide them they'll stay there forever.

Even after the grass was long gone, though just tater poking in the dirt. Okay, dumb sheep. Let's go to the still waters. Now and then they drink the water within the shepherd as a slot in the staff which he has to use with his wayward flop arthrodesis to a simple rod it's a club and that staff is a long cooked instruments when they go astray. He pulls them in with the staff roles and with the staff of a predator or a threat comes, he uses his rod to protect the sheep.

But sometimes he uses his rod on his sheep of the house to to discipline them so they will not end up dead somewhere siblings of the pictures that are found in Scripture of a shepherd, and she now number three. Despite our wondering. God never gives up on so even though God loves us and is our best interests in mind. Sometimes we go astray. So what does the Lord do the circumstance is as well. If you lose a few. That's life. No, that's not what he does. He looks for verse 13 and if he should find it, assuredly see the you you rejoices more over that sheep than over the 99 that did not go astray now. Luke 15 is a parallel passage to what were looking at right now and this is a great chapter of the Bible work.

Jesus gives us three pictures of God are searching for us it's a picture of a lost coin a lost sheep and a lost son, and he amplifies his teaching on the lot she there in Luke 15 and he says there that he looks for that sheep until he finds in other words, when the shepherd leaves the 99 and go searching for the one who one astray. He does not stop searching until he finds that something needs and need to know about God, he will keep seeking.

Have you ever lost something of value.

I don't know what it is but I always lose valuable things I never lose things I don't care about the privateer junkie sunglasses are all scratched up. I can lose them of my life depended on it, but have a nice care that I just got I really don't want to lose that I I make it a point to remember where they are.

I will lose it within three days or maybe you've lost dog. And you search putting up little posters for the space you know you lost a cat which to me is an acceptable risk just to I just plain true to form, are you, you must something else. But I'll tell you what is really scary is when you lose a child you've ever been in an amusement park and you lose sight of your child from moment, you know, that sense of panic that sweeps over you are years ago we were doing a crusade and we are staying in a hotel and Jonathan was just a little boy that may be all I think three or four years old and he loved to push the elevator buttons.

I let them do that. So we get the elevator to persist but you know, so he loved always do that. So we were going to an elevator and he ran ahead of me and I said wait till dad gets there. We came around a corner and said wait till dad gets there and he got into the elevator. By the time I got there the doors shut all know Sully's alone in an elevator and I'm waiting and I'm pushing the button pushing you know by the way, that doesn't make you come faster which pushing abundant and finally it seemed like an eternity.

The doors open know Jonathan okay remain calm guys to know so I go down to the front desk and it I go to the lady that I sent my son was on an elevator, he got up at one of these floors.

I don't know where you want to call security. Call the police called the National Guard I need swat here. Now I'm talking Navy SEALs now and she's I hold answer one moment and I get to you that no man them is usually my son is somewhere in this hotel. You've got a hug. I said let me call security at security. Unlike so I ran back to the elevator.

I pushed every single button and when the doors open. I screamed his name out and I finally found him like I normally come 94 standing there but I was prepared to do whatever it took to find him.

I mean, I would've kicked doors down I would've done whatever it took. Failure was not an option. Okay, okay, that's the picture we have here. This is the shepherd looking for a seat.

This is a father looking for a son. God will not give remember that when your children go astray. Remember that when you go astray.

Failure is not an option. Forgot he's gonna seek you out, and wherever you go, or any person goes and tries to run from God. They will never escape is present someone 39 says I can never escape from your spirit. I can never get away from your presence of I go to heaven you're there I go down to the depths of hell you're there if I take the wings of the morning and thought were the furthest oceans there your hand will guide me in your strength will support me. I can as the darkness to hide me in the light around me to become night but even in darkness. I cannot hi from you to use the night shines as bright as day, darkness and light are both alike to you.

I have a friend that has a military hardware and he has night vision goggles have different looks of those very cool and so you going to a very dark place. I mean it's pitch black and you look to the things you can see in the dark lesson God is something far more sophisticated than night vision goggles wherever you go.

He sees giving a closed door needs God out or turning the lights off for or speaking in a hushed tone, he sees everything he hears everything he knows everything and he will search for you because he loves number four even as our Shepherd seeks us so we should seek other even as our Shepherd seeks us so we should seek others.

Verse 18 if he should find it, he rejoices over this. She even more than the 99 that did not go astray in Luke's version of this teaching. Luke 15 we read, he finds it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing, and he comes home and he called together as friends and neighbors and says rejoice with me.

I have found my sheep which was lost. This is a beautiful picture of God carrying us when we fall, and he wraps the sheep around his neck and brings it back home again. We read in Isaiah 46. Even to your old age. I am he even tear gray hairs. I will carry you I have made you. Why will bear even I will carry and I will deliver you.

God will carry you through life. My grandkids like me to carry them and they'll say they meet up the pop, which means pick me up so I don't have to walk anymore and I have to switch them back and forth in my arms. You know, because they get a little bit heavy at times, but that's what they want you to do and this is the ideal your God carries you right through life even tear gray hair even when there's nowhere to turn gray. I just did pastors conference recently in Chicago this week. It was called the elephant room that was put on by my friend James McDonald.

It was a simulcast to a bunch of sites including here around the country, but it was a tremendous time and I was there with a group of guys, many of them I did not know until we met at this conference and some I already knew a little bit but they were all younger, Mark Driscoll and Stephen for taking Matt Chandler, David, and so we gathered together and the reason they call it the elephant room is because we talked about what people often don't talk about the elephant in the room. We took some topics in lifted them from different angles is a great time, but you know what I realize was I was old enough to be the dad of every guy in that room except James McDonald, who I'm even eight years older than him, though I know he looks older than me, but at one point he asked me the question. Some of these guys are for five years and that their churches and they said great Helen of you been a pastor and I just I was handling both of the witnesses number right, it doesn't seem right. It seems like too many years. What I'm about to say I've been a pastor for 38 years. They're all like hell, but thank you I really did that just requires no feeling like I was a lot like 38 years and exited my been preaching for 40 years and started pastoring.

It's been 38 now and you not just seeing things, but God is carried me right through you know carry all of us and bring us back with joy. He says in verse 13 he rejoices over that she, even more than the 99 that did not go astray back to Luke's version of the same teaching Jesus said there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents lesson whenever there is a conversion on earth. There is a party in heaven. Joy is a serious business of heaven.

Sometimes people wonder, do people in heaven know what is going on on earth.

Some would say no. I beg to differ. I think heaven is aware of what happens on or I don't think our loved ones are sitting up there little seats watching everything that we do, but I think there is an awareness and is a lot of verses I could cite out to prove that point of this this much I know clear when someone comes to faith in Christ when they repent of their sins. The Bible tells us is rejoicing in heaven, surely we would be aware of that and everything to my fifth point.

God gets excited when laws people come to repentance. And so should we.

So if they're having a party in heaven over the conversion of a person. Should we to not be excited when we see someone come to the Lord, you know, often at the end of my message I will extend an invitation to those who do not yet know Jesus Christ to come to faith in. I think those of you that have been coming here for a while know when a message is wrapping up and so your can watching the clock and in your aware and I know it's hard to get in and out of this place with all the cars that are herein, and sometimes when people do is when I I'm wrapping the message up and I'm saying something along the lines of, or maybe you here don't know Jesus Christ yet and as I'm sharing this invitation. I've had people get up and walk out early Christians you know carrying their Bibles out and I feel like I like to walk over to them and Jesse. No, not really, but I would like to say excuse me if human medical emergency. If there's something that you really need to go for. I understand that but if not, would you please and not ever do that again. Let me say why because, do we really believe these things we claim to believe that means in this book. Do we really believe that God cares about the salvation of the soul and the soul will work giving that invitation. We should be praying my morning say yeah just what the world doesn't revolve around you. I that's what Jesus was saying he got been so preoccupied with yourself, you will think about these laws. Sheep think about these little children that I care for and so we should be praying for the people of Taiwan you'd feel a whole lot different about it. If you brought that person the church.

So here's what I'm saying is were extending an invitation that's on a time to get your go grab your Bible and slip out that time to go before the throne of God and see old Lord, there are people here that are going to hell that don't know you and I pray that you will open the rise and help them become the faith right now. Lord I'm so excited to be a part of this, you know, there are churches where invitations are never extended and people never come to cry in this church we see people come to faith every single week and sometimes it might take it for granted.

Don't do that. It's a great privilege of the Lord is allowed us to see it. Let's pray and take it very seriously and so this is what Jesus is saying he cares and we should care. But here's an interesting thing as we close the shepherd brings the sheep home and he is rejoicing in Luke's version of this story we read in Luke 15 five and when he is founded he lays it on his shoulder, rejoicing, and I believe that is what Jesus going even to the very cross Jesus was God. He knew what was ahead even revealed some of it to his disciples, blew their minds they couldn't handle it. He said the Son of Man is going to be betrayed. He's going to be tried before the religious leaders.

He's going to be put to death in three days later he will rise again clearly needs Jesus knew what was ahead, but yet he pressed he pressed on. Despite the fact that his own disciples effectively deserted him in his hour of need. One of them betrayed him and another denied he pressed on. Despite the fact that the physical multitudes cried out in unison crucifying him and they ask for the demand of a criminal name Barabbas over the Lord Jesus, how easily Christ.

It is said excuse me, didn't like feed you and heal you and raise your dad and deliver your children and this is how you treat me you know what I'm out of here with you and that he pressed on company press on despite all of that he was aware of what was a headwind there in the garden of Gethsemane. Dr. Luke tells us he sweat, as it were great drops of blood. Yet he knew it was a habit that was something that motivated him to keep going. What was that something will let me say this. It was a someone and it's mentioned in Hebrews 12 which is recompensed by a great cloud of witnesses, so let's run with endurance the race of the set before us, looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and now he is set down on the right hand of God.

It was the joy that drove him on the joy that was set perform what was that joy you're looking with me was what was that joy I'm looking at it. It was you well is that joy it was us.

We were the joy we were the primes we were the treasure. We were that thing. He went after and laid it all down for so here's what Jesus is saying to his disciples guys there is joy in heaven. When someone believes to stop arguing about who's going to be the greatest and have childlike hearts and have a concern for laws. She stopped thinking about yourselves have a childlike faith in God, and remember to never lose that sense of and wonder that a child has yeah were all going to grow old and we need to grow up. Growing old is mandatory growing up is optional. There is a place for growing up, but there is also a place were being child like I think one of the best ways to stay childlike is to be around kids and I love to be around children of all ages especially love to be around my grandchildren. We have two car seats in our backseat were always ready as grandparents with the kids off the launcher do this and we love to be around those little kids so far. Well I think if you can have children around you. It's a great thing. Let me bring into the spiritual world.

I think having young believers around you can really help. I think they need you. And you need them. The young believer needs you because they need your stability and your maturity as a follower of Jesus, who hopefully knows the word of God a little bit, but you need them because they have that sense of excitement and thrill as are discovering the truth of God for the first time we need each other. The great commission that Jesus is given us is to going to wall the world and make disciples, teaching them to observe all things that he has commanded us.

Our job description as followers of Jesus is to go after lost sheep tried to win them the Christ take them under our wing help them get up on their feet spiritually and daughter and repeat the process again and again and again and again you might so I don't want young person thing around me while while I'm not perfect and I might do something-year-old would stumble them so largest welding change you idiots don't be a stumbling block be a steppingstone be a good example. Don't rationalize this year.

Sorry I called you an idiot. Sort of. But listen, if that's the way you think you are. You need to be thinking about your example wall, you know, I'm a little intent on everybody has their shortcoming to the best of our abilities. We should be able to say follow me as I follow Christ and if I mess up I'll tell you I messed up. Sorry shipment done that is not right. What I just said I apologize you. There's a place for that, but then seek to be an example to others and bring them to Christ.

Are you doing I hope so as of today.

What this world needs it.

And God wants to use us to go out there and when those lossy so as we close now, don't get up and leave. Okay, maybe you joined us here today and you cannot get put your faith in Jesus Christ. Heaven really talking about you a little bit maybe are brought here by a friend or family member and you don't know what it is to have the assurance that you will go to heaven when you die, I want you to know this, God loves you and God is been seeking. You and God is calling you to believe in him today and be forgiven of all of your sin. Jesus died on the cross for you and he paid the price for every sin you've ever committed any rose again from the dead three days later and now he stands at the door of your life any nonsense as a says if you'll hear his voice and open the door he will come in. Would you like Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sin. Would you like to know with certainty that you will go to heaven you die or maybe you've been raised as a believer but you gone astray. Maybe you wandered off the path so to speak, of the Lord is been patiently seeking you out and I believe you have an appointment with God today to come back to him again. So forget to give you an opportunity to do that to believe in Jesus to come back to the Lord to have your sin forgiven to get right with God was this world were living in. It's crazy what's happening. I'm telling you we are seeing Bible prophecies fulfilled before our very eyes on the pages of our newspapers right now Jesus Christ is coming back again soon and he's waiting for the last man that last woman to believe God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. God is, and later some Intel leaders is long-suffering toward his he's waiting for those last ones to come in is calling you. I'm in to give you an opportunity to believe in Jesus right now if you want to let's our heads for prayer father I pray for every person listening to this message wherever they are helping to see the words that we have shared today are true. Help them to see Lord, that your love for them as real help them to come to their senses and believe in you.

Now what art is about, and her eyes are closing were praying. How many of you would say today.

Greg pray for me. I'm ready to say yes to Jesus Christ. I want my sin forgiven. I want to know that when I die I will go to heaven.

I want to be ready for the Lord's return.

Pray for me now that your desire. If you want Jesus Christ to come in your life if you want to go to heaven when you die if you want your sin forgiven or view phone away from the Lord, and you want to come back to him now would you lift your hand up wherever you're sitting in a pray for you today, slipped her hand up. I'll pray for you. I bless you both to the power I can see it please wherever you are. God bless you, bless you. You want God's forgiveness today slipped her hand up a pray for you now a blast down here to the front, but she was well now I can see you outside of this room, but you might be out of the amphitheater you're watching this you raise your hand up Europe and the court building. You can raise your hand up during one of our satellite campuses.

Raise your hand as well. The little step of faith that you're taking. You want to follow Jesus. All right, now all of you that raise your hand to accept Christ. I want you to stand your feet nominally join a prayer right now where you're asking Jesus Christ to come in your life. God bless you guys just stand your feet wherever you are up in the balcony outside of the amphitheater. Stand your fee up in the court building.

Stand your feet at the satellite sites stand your feet right now and him and lead you in a prayer anybody else you want to make this commitment or recommitment to Jesus stand up right now. Wherever you are publishing anybody else stand now spinal moment stand now. God bless all of you that are standing now as I pray this prayer want to print out loud after me. This is where you're asking Jesus Christ to come in your life again as I pray pray this out loud after me. Let's pray Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but you are a Savior and you died on the cross for my sin and paid the price for all the wrongs I've done in you rose again from the dead. Now come and live in me. Forgive me of my sin.

I want to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for loving me and searching for me and calling me and forgiving in Jesus name I pray, amen