Live with Lon - Having Childlike Faith

Well hello everybody and welcome to live with lawn.

We are so glad that you're with us today, and here are long gone. You know what we do same with me. We study what the Bible the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible and then we apply to our lives. And that's exactly what were going to do today were in the series. In the Gospels. Let's pray first okay with our hands. Dear heavenly father as we pray every week. May the Holy Spirit illuminate our hearts and our minds that we might understand and comprehend his word in all of its power and all of its meaning and then Lord. May the Holy Spirit give us the strength and the capacity that we need spiritually and supernaturally to apply to our life or forgive our sins as we are there many for all of us.

Forgive us, even this day more fill our heart may burn with your presence. Then use your word in our life. Today we pray in Jesus name and every body said a man and what a man that's right okay today we are in Luke's gospel.

As we study the Gospels. Remember, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and he's going to be crucified. They arise from the dead and ascended back into heaven and our passage for today is probably a very familiar one for many of us know the Bible, particularly with taught Sunday school.

Jesus loves the little to address all the children of the world, yet you know the song okay and indeed he does. And today we come to the passage in Luke chapter 18 where he demonstrates this. Once again, so without any further ado let's pick up where in Luke chapter 18 and we begin in verse 15 the Bible says and they also brought infants to him that he might touch them, but when his disciples saw it, they rebuke them now. I'm not quite sure why the disciples rebuked them.

There's another passage of Matthew's gospel where other disciples do the same thing. Matthew chapter 19 of verse 13. Let's put it on the screen.

Then little children were brought to him that he might put his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. And Jesus said, let the little children come to me and do not forbid them for all such is the kingdom of heaven, and he laid his hands on them and departed from there. Now why would the disciples rebuked people coming to have Jesus bless their children. I don't know most probably not, because in their mind. Jesus had big things to do a big adult things to do and he didn't have time to mess with a bunch of little children. But Jesus make sure they understood that he loves little children, and that he always had time for little children, a look with me if you would get a Matthew's gospel of verse 18, verse three it says and Jesus called a little child to him verse two and set him 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.

And whoever receives one little child like this in my name receives me now.

This goes along with what Jesus says right here in Luke chapter 18, let's go back. Luke chapter 18 after the disciples rebuked the people that were bringing these little infants of verse 16 but Jesus called the disciples to him and said, let the little children come to me you do not forbid them for all such is the kingdom of God. A look at verse 17. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it while that's an amazing statement. Whoever doesn't receive the kingdom of God and receive Christ which is what Matthew chapter 18, let's go back to look at that real quick. Jesus said the same thing here. He says assuredly, I think you unless you are converted and become like little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. All right, so there's something about little children and the way that they believe the and the way that they come to Jesus. That is a supernatural supernaturally magical. I thought I could use that word that is supernaturally powerful that is supernaturally efficacious that supernaturally turns into saving faith of the congregation to heaven. Something about the way little children believe that is like I say, result in saving faith. We all agree that's what the Bible says yes of course all okay now.

Our question is what is it about the way little children believe what is it about their childlike faith that activates salvation faith that activates the plan of salvation for us and then also endears us to the heart of God. I just want to say the foregoing, and we answer this question that we need to understand how endearing little children are through the Lord Jesus Christ and they were endearing to him when he was here on earth and are still endearing to him. To this day, what is it about them that is so precocious and so attractive and so sweet and so winsome that the living Christ made it clear that he loves little children.

All right really answer that question once again Jesus loves everyone who is childlike in their behavior and I want to say this because it relates to people like my daughter Julia Solomon and two people whom we care for Joe's house who have mental disabilities and two people around our our our neighborhood in our world that are intellectually disabled are. Listen these sweet children who, in their minds will never be anything more than childlike of their whole existence is childlike of Jesus loves these children and these young adults and these people in a special way doesn't matter what their ages have physically in their mind there still little children and and therefore they are beloved of God in a special way and they are only rated capable of relating to God in a childlike way, which is perfect because relating to God in a childlike way is how we unlock salvation and eternal life and going to heaven so I just want challenge you know don't ever in any way diminish or look down upon people who are intellectually and mentally. Have those those disabilities friends they are beloved of God in a very special way. Just like little children physically in their age are and I was loves to say that people like my daughter Jill and like the people that we care for it in Joe's house that they are near and dear to the heart of God, and they are then remember what Jesus said that anybody who receives the child in his name receives him while anybody who receives one of these people regardless of their physical age, and receives them and loves them and cares for them and shows mercy and kindness to them.

And Jesus says as much as you show kindness to the least of these of you show kindness to me and my friends. This is a precious thing.

I do believe that these children the these people who are childlike in their intellectual development that God is going to take them to heaven if they're not able to trust Christ if they don't understand and are not capable of making that decision. I believe that because Christ died for all, including these people. Second Corinthians 5 and and David's childhood was probably a year and 1/2 to 2022 years old when he died member with David said. David said I will go to him will we know David was going to heaven, from the Bible and he he. But he cannot come to me so yes, now I want to tell you with my daughter Jill. I lay down with her every night and I'm home in bed and I pray with her before she goes to sleep and about once a month if not more often I leave her in the salvation prayer I say generally in your mind. Repeat after me. Also, the way you can go to heaven and a leader in a salvation prayer and sometimes she'll make noises which is she can't speak, but you make noises as were going along and I wonder if she's trying to pray with me.

I don't know what Jill knows what she can understand about the plan of salvation, but if she's old enough to get it. I believe that she's done it, and if she does not capable of getting it old enough mentally to get it.

I believe God is taking her to heaven as an expression of his mercy to people who are mentally little children and can understand and I do believe little children before their old enough to understand the gospel go to heaven and children that have been aborted a go to heaven… I believe that and expect to see them there so having said all of that now. Let's go back to our basic question which is what is it about the faith of the child about childlike faith that opens and unlocks on the plan of salvation, and salvation. Faith for them and may I point out the word that you steer in the Greek New Testament is not the older children like preteens of Jesus does love them and is not for our 10 and 12-year-old people are Jesus does love them about the word here you even heard or translated in Luke 18 translated infants and in not in Matthew's Gospel.

Matthew 19 is translated young children. Why, what, because by the time a child is eight 910 1112 years old.

There's something that often happens in their life where they lose this childlike faith that were going to talk about as so Jesus talking about the faith of very young children because that's where the beauty is a mask the common faith he wants you and me to have now before we answer that question we gotta ask another question. You know what that question is are you ready, here we go. Come on now I'm ready come on why they sell all lots. Yes, what is this passage have to do with you and me.

Well, that's what were going to talk about as we study the word of God together today. How great is to be studying God's word and I just went to my cardiologist this past week and I'm doing great but I was reminded once again how close to death close to death. The door I was back in September 2020. I mean I was swirling the drain and and my doctor increase so to be here teaching the word of God like this today would strengthen excitement when we say what we say to you, I was going to leave this out to get you thought I was going to skip this not on your bottom dollar okay ready come on now say with me like Jackie Gleason house so we hear this, you bet now to answer our question, what is it about a child or young child, friends, very simply, a young child showing childlike like faith that kind of faith is the kind of thing that takes people in authority at their word and believes pure and simple by people in authority on pretty much speaking of their parents who take what their parents tell them and Andy don't question it, and they don't try to figure out and they don't try to debate it, and they don't try to analyze it.

They just believe it is someone in authority says it they believe with all their heart of an area and an a for example, if a parent comes to a little child was three or four years old and their ill and says I have this antibiotic. I have this medicine for you and and I need you to take this medicine and it'll make you better. You get well, a little child will take it and and Walmart. You will know little child will say well now you know where all the warnings that are on the package. What are some of the side effects and you know for how many people does this cause an allergic reaction and therefore maybe I shouldn't take it or blah blah blah blah blah. No, they just take their mommy or daddy's word and they take it on a creepy Sinai that the parents are given and it currently and the child would still take it because apparently it is this beautiful ability. Child to take the word of someone in authority over them and simply believe they don't question it on their happy to rely on somebody else to care for them like their parents, they don't. They don't reject this and they don't rebel against this. This is normal to them. They understand that all these people over them in authority over them.

They consider them reliable and trustworthy and they don't doubt them and and they just simply rely on them to put the food on the table. They rely on them to so they have clean clothes every day. They rely on them automatically.

Make sure that there taken care of with their shots or vaccines about things like this child just has that beautiful faith where you tell him something and they and you're in authority over them. They believe it's now that's the kind of faith that the Lord Jesus Christ says that you may have similarly been I mean when someone in authority over us and I mean the Bible. I mean the war right when someone in authority over us, tells us something when God tells us something childlike faith simply believes we consider him reliable told us we consider him trustworthy who told us we consider him dependable, who told us and we don't question it, and we don't subjected to a microscopic analysis we just trusted that childlike faith now that works for salvation. Let me read you some verses we put a mark on the screen. Are you ready okay.

Let's start with John 316. And you know let's put it up on the on screen 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.

Now what is a little child do it this he believes God loves the world because God says he believes God sent his only son because he loved the world, because God says he believes that he puts his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, he will not. She'll have everlasting life. Scott said that's childlike faith.I have another verse had about John 336 look at this. He who believes in the song. Meaning, of course, Jesus has everlasting life a little child says okay and he believes it, and he puts his faith in the Lord Jesus and believes that as a result, God's going to give him eternal life. He also believes the second half of the verse. He who does not believe in the son will not see life, but the anger the wrath of judgment of God abides on the job, believes that to I have of John 524 it says most assuredly, I say to you, Jesus talking, he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment from a holy God against our soon but has passed from death into life had a child believes that just at face value.

I believe in the Lord and I will not come into judgment, how about one more. And this is this is my favorite verses in the Bible.

I John 647 look at this it says most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me has present tense eternal life personal hotel in the world could Jesus possibly say it more simply do not even a little child can understand that, and child lives you believe in Jesus giving your heart and you have eternal life in a child is an argument that they they don't question it. Now that's great right that's childlike faith for salvation and you haven't shown that, childlike faith in the Lord Jesus for your salvation. Know that I want to challenge you to do that. You see when we get older. What happens is we get educated beyond our intelligence and end the attached type and in that even happens to children 10 and 11 and 12 years old as they learn about in school and the Teachers talk to them about evolution and all is well. And they begin to question what God says in the Bible, not even as adults are being taught to be analytical with everything you know God says hey. John 647.

Most assuredly, I say to you here believes in me has everlasting life. We begin to say when I how exactly does God do that and what about all the other people in the world you know more religious leaders Bull Run Mohammed and Confucius and Joseph Smith. The Mormons also stop what about them. You know I don't.

All roads lead to God and not just Jesus. Even though Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the father but by me requesting that we analyze it. We were suspicious or jaded, where where are inclined to subject this to all kinds of analysis. No, no that's childlike faith in Jesus said when you try to show that kind of a response to what God is telling you you're not getting into the kingdom of heaven.

That's what he said if the child was willing to say okay you said it God. I believe it and that sounds so if you've never done that my friend, don't be educated beyond your intelligence okay don't do that you miss heaven outweigh just take God's word and rely on team a child doesn't mind relying on somebody else to get his food to get his clothing to get his medical music and he doesn't mind relying on somebody else to get them in the habit know this is childlike faith to saving faith where you got rely on Christ to get you in heaven. You can't do it understand what I'm saying now for those of us who are Christians. This childlike faith needs to continue. It doesn't stop with our salvation know no, we should have this, childlike faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in his word every day of our Christian life. Do we step on the shores of heaven. You don't get into heaven with childlike faith and then live the Christian life with with adult questioning and analyzing jaded faith. Now that's not how it works its childlike faith good to come to Christ and its childlike faith to live the Christian life and walk with Christ is it what you mean. I mean, are all kinds of promises. God makes us in the Bible that he doesn't want us questioning a doesn't want us arguing with him. He doesn't want us trying to figure it out. He doesn't want us trying to be analytical. He just wants us to believe it because he said they like what arriving to give you some Romans chapter 8 verse 28.

Let's turn their Romans eight verse 28 says this it says and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose, meaning that was say that were in Christ that he called us and we believe now rents of this doesn't say everything is good, no, no, it says all things work together for good.

The good the bad and the ugly work together for good, and no matter what's happening to you or me right now God is going to step in.

This is his promise and he's going to flip-flop it and turn it into good and what we do when we read this legally heaven.

How's he going to do it, I'll see any way this can happen yeah but you know what this is such a mess. This is never going to be able to turn in the good yeah but you know I got so much opposition and how the world is God going in and see your educated beyond your intelligence conference. It doesn't matter a little child doesn't question all those things he just says okay because is it going to turn it into good. He is look with my daughter Jill she's 29 years old to be 30 in January and you know she has severe disabilities.

Listen, I homeowner this verse and and I didn't let my flesh as those questions about house. I never going to turn her in the disabilities and the good above or below the when the early years when she was in the hospital all the time and in the ambulance all the time and and and and and it is in intensive care. All the time. Of course it looked like there was no way to ever turn this into good, but I believe God anyway with childlike faith and you know what, now 29. Look at what's God's done. Not only does he use Jill in my life and Brenda's life and my family's life to make us better people feel better. Pastor may be a better father make me a better husband just made me a better person of a look at Joe's house and all the children that there that we minister to 45 beds every night of children with disabilities that we hope they take care of them give their parents a break and give them light at the end of the tunnel and we have Joe's thousands now I don't even know how many states. It used to be six or seven. I don't even know anymore how many assume my wife when she's on board Joe's house are not anymore and have been for years. The Brenda's on it and and you want to know why can I tell you the truth, because we were both on the board. We were always arguing with one another and I thought this is good to have the pastor and his wife are doing so I got off and the and Brenda was usually right about David anyway so anyway what I'm saying is God Almighty knowledge Joe's life of all.

It's amazing okay. Did God do what he said yes and simple childlike faith is what he wanted me to show when that promise. I got more promises for you.

What about Jeremiah 33 verse three I love this first call unto me, says the Lord, and I will answer you and I will show you great and mighty things that you know not pay in trouble in a tough spot. What is what is God saying call unto me and I'll answer you, and I'll deal with it and show you great and mighty things you can even imagine what I believe that if I'm in a tough spot. I just pray and say God help me I'm relying on you. You promised you would answer me in and do great and mighty things that I can even conceive of us to help me and I believe it like a little child. Lord I will have to understand how you could do it when you going to do it where you got it. I just I trust you, Lord, I believe what you tell me you know I am, I think in the Old Testament of King Asa Hewitt. He was in second Chronicles chapter 14 he was surrounded by a massive army of any couldn't defeat others the way he could've defeated the king of Judah. Verse 11 second Chronicles 14 that Asa called to the Lord is God and said, Lord, there is no one besides feed to help in this battle between the powerful and we who have no strength so help us oh Lord our God, for we trust in the and in thy name we have, against this multitude.

Oh Lord, thou art God, let not man prevail against us in the next verse says the Lord routed the Ethiopians the enemy before a son before Judah and the Ethiopians fled when he do he came to God entrusted him to do great and mighty things that he knew not. Now the interesting thing is that in chapter 16 Asa did not do this. He went to the king of Syria to get help in a battle instead of coming of the Lord, and the profit at the time a fellow named Hon Nonny says of second Chronicles 16, verse eight, were not the Ethiopians, an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen yet because you rely on the Lord. He delivered them in the into your hand for the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the year that he may stroll himself to be strong on behalf of those whose heart is completely his. You have acted foolishly in this, says the prophet my friends. The point is that when Asa just took God at his word like a little child God moved, but then when he started fingering an outgoing, well, you know that we would. We don't have that, you know, let's go to Syria. Maybe together we could no no no, that's not childlike faith night a couple more about first Corinthians 1013 no temptation has taken you except that which is common to man and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will make a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Even in the worst days of trial of trying to to survive all that was happening with Jill and all the illness in sickness and it was just terrible. God kept saying to me long on Angel promise that I have not given you something that you can't endure with my help of second Corinthians chapter 12 verse nine. My grace is sufficient for the you what we need to be believe that like a little child.

We don't think we God. With God's help, we can make it through no matter what it is because God is already inspected it and made sure it's not beyond what we can bear.

Can I just believe that like a little child on Hebrews 13 verse five and six, God said, I will never leave you nor will I ever forsake you.

You say while you feel like God is with me doesn't matter. He promised he would be a so we take that as a little child, by faith. Therefore, I may boldly say I will not fear what can man do to me about one more Matthew chapter 6. We where Jesus says, so do not worry about what you should eat or what you shall drink, or what you shall put on before God knows that you need these things but seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.

So do I believe that God will meet all my needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians chapter 4. Do I believe that like a little child in the matter how bad it looks. I believe God's going to come through. Yes yes I remember when a Brennan. I first moved over to Virginia in 1980 up to take over the senior pastor Roland McLean Bible church. It was in the summer and we come over looking for a house to buy. Brenda was pregnant with my son Justin my my second son Mike's first son Jamie was a little child, and it was 100° that day literally and Brenda was miserable being like pregnant and so we just made a quick decision and bought a house of their in the claim. Virginia and we bought it and we didn't put any kind of on of condition on it was an unconditional contract and we just assume that our house in Crofton, Maryland would sell are no contingencies on the contract will, it didn't sell didn't sell. I didn't sell.

And finally we came up we were scheduled to settle on Monday in the in September 1980, and it was Friday and I house over there in Crofton had not sold and we needed the equity in that house in order to be able to make a sale in Virginia work and without that equity we were going to have to default on our contract. Now how great without them brand-new pastorate McLean Bible church and in the first official act of this brand-new pastorate as he defaults on real estate contract and and I went to the Lord and I said Lord Jesus not been praying before but I mean we were down to like three days and I said Lord Jesus, I want to disgrace you want to disgrace the gospel unwanted disgrace the church.

I want to disgrace my testimony of the Lord, what do I know I got myself in this mess. Lord and maybe you know I die.

Maybe I should wait for a longer before put this contract down about learn maybe don't be in such a hurry, but that doesn't change the fact Lord I'm in a mess right now I don't even know what to do with no what to ask for more on this aspect of selling today's Lord Jesus, I throw myself at your feet and I say Lord you promise to provide all my needs in Christ Jesus were you provide you. You promised to take care of my needs. In the sermon on the mount which we just talked about an Lord I'm just relying on you in simple childlike faith.

Lord, I'm just trusting you please help me know what happened the next day, Saturday, Brenda's mother called up and she said that she knew we were in this mix and she said you not believe what just happened and we said it. Maybe we will try us. She said well Brenda's grandmother Brenda's mother's mother, who was quite well-off on called up her mom, Brenda's mom on Saturday morning and said you know I've got a bunch of CDs that are coming to fruition on Monday, the day we will consider and this was back in the day were PCBs paid any money paid money and and she said I've got these funds coming up for renewal.

She seven and pray she was a godly woman.

She said in praying about it. She said God is correlated all my heart. She said to Lonnie and Brenda have have a financial need. I just have the sense from the Lord that maybe they do, that I can help them with and Brenda's mom had never sent word one to her mother to Brenda's grandmother about this. Nothing and she just discerned in prayer and Brenda's mom said okay and she told her what was going on and Brenda's grandmother took a huge chunk of money out of their their heard CDs that were coming to and wired it down to us on Monday morning. Also, we could complete the real estate contract on the house of McLean that we don't live there anymore, but we did not default on the contract and she said you just a lot of Brenda that when their house in Crofton sells are they can just pay me back no waitress know nothing. And I'm just doing it is on the Lord's way with I never had that happen before store since that it is amazing and what I'm still amazed when I tell that story and childlike faith. This is what the Lord wants us with the Lord honors my Christian friend, whether it's in money, whether it's in finding a house or selling your house or would ever it is for finding a parking space you like to know.

Come on now is my duty parking space. Listen. That's what I do when I'm driving or parking lot. In fact, I was just a national airport of the other day I had the binder fly somewhere and I remember I was running late and I drove in the parking lot of the parking garage in Austin, the Lord Jesus Norman a little behind. Please, I need a really great parking space and I need to quickly Lord if you don't mind please and understand trust Mike my faith is like a little child. I just knew I believe the Lord was going to do it for me.

Drove around for about a minute. I don't know are so beautiful space writing you say one more now as just coincidence with friends and retain some if you believe that's coincidence and you don't pray like that.

No writer you don't get any good parking spaces at all.

I want to lose my keys when I will lose my phone which happens all the time I prayed I say Lord Jesus, you know where that phone is please leap into and the Alana would you know where those keys are this childlike faith is what the Lord wants from us as believers and again don't be educated beyond your intelligence. My Christian friend just believe God like a little child and you will see great and mighty things that you know not. I promise you with spray heavenly father. If there's someone out there today listening, who was never just trusted you for his or her salvation for their eternal life like a little child. Help them to do would Lord help and just throw themselves on your promise.

You believes in me has eternal life and help them. Lord, transfer their trust of anything they will ever do any human work any religious activity imported on what you did for mom across and and simply believe you that the person who does that has eternal life, and more. Jesus I pray for us as believers, that you would forgive us for how often we complicate things we make him so complicated and and and and so on difficult Lord just help us trust you like little children, and all your promises we don't have to know all the answers. It doesn't matter whether we understand it doesn't matter whether we can figure out figured out an Lord.

It is not above us to humble ourselves and depend on you for everything we need.

So Lord Jesus teach us that great truth and help us assess followers of Christ walk like a little child without hand being held by you as we walked down the street of life and we pray this in Jesus name. Everybody said a man and a man now brother that's preaching yes sir and I hope that thou really challenge you and me to walk with Christ in a way that unlocks his great power and mercy and benevolence in our Lord God bless you and Lord willing and the creek don't rise, will see you next week on my