WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM BABIES
Luke 18:15-27, Mark 10:16
BABIES IN THE HANDS OF JESUS
V:15. " People were also bringing babies to Jesus to
have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them."
A. Why did the
disciples try to prevent Jesus from touching babies?
1. God does not
tell us, but maybe they thought Jesus had more important
work to do.
2. Maybe the
disciples were following the tradition of overlooking the importance
of women and
children.
B. Maybe the disciples
forgot that male babies were circumcised
on the eighth day
after birth in
remembrance of the covenant God made
with Abraham.
1. On the thirty third day, babies were
taken to the temple to be dedicated to the
Lord. (Lev
12:4)
2. The Jews may
have considered Jesus as one who could
provide special blessings
to their
children.
V:16-17. " But Jesus called the children to him and
said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the
kingdom of God
17 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom
of God
A. Jesus pointed to
babies as the example of the attitude Christians should have for
the Lord.
1. Babies are
dependant on their parents to feed them.
2. They are
dependant on their parents to comfort them.
3.They are
dependant on their parents to protect them.
B. Babies are innocent from birth.
1. They respond to
their parents without questioning them.
2. Babies can't
think or see past their present moment.
3. They don't know
to worry.
C. Babies cry out for
help.
1. They seek the
parents approval and encouragement.
2. They respond to
discipline.
3. God expect us
to cry out to him when we need help.
D. The attitude of a
Christian should be total reliance on Jesus.
1. Like babies, we
should not worry about the next moment in time.
2. God has not
given us the spirit of fear, but power, sound mind and love.
THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION
V:18. " A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher,
what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
A. The rich ruler asked the most important question
of his life.
1. A man in
authority asked the most important question. What must I do to inherit
eternal life.
2. His first problem was his lack of
understanding . To get an inheritance, he needed
a relationship with the Father through
Jesus Christ.
B. Babies come to us
totally dependant without anything.
1. The rich ruler
came to Jesus with an independent spirit, dependant on his
position and
wealth.
2. He really
didn't need anything, but he wanted something additional.
3. I am not sure
weather his question was for his soul or for satisfaction of his flesh.
ALL GOOD IS IN THE LORD
V:19 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered.
"No one is good — except God alone."
A. Jesus questioned the ruler's motive for coming to him.
1. Your motive for coming to Church
determines what you get out of Church.
2. Do you have an
earnest desire to know Christ or do you want to be in the
number that
come to Church?
B. The ruler came to
the right person to get the right answer.
1. He called
Jesus a good teacher, but did he know who Jesus was?
2. He had heard
the word eternal life, but he had not
heard the teaching
concerning
eternal life.
3. He knew that
people followed Jesus, but he didn't have time to follow.
4. The crowd around Jesus caught his interest,
but not Jesus.
5. He had a
knowledge of the law, but not how it could improve his life
according to
God's commands.
YOUR GOOD IS NOTHING BEFORE THE LORD
V:20-21. " You know the commandments: 'Do not commit
adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your
father and mother.'"
21 "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he
said. "
A. He was a good person, but he didn't know the love of his
neighbor.
1. Jesus ask the
ruler about the commands concerning the outward relationship
with his
neighbors.
2. Outwardly, his
resume was good.
a. He
practiced a good religion.
b. He
practiced looking good around his neighbors.
3. By his standards, he was obedient to the
laws he considered important.
THE SOLUTION TO WHAT YOU LACK
V:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still
lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will
have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
A, The real question is how much do you want a relationship
with Jesus.
1. Are you
willing to make a sacrifice to have Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
2. Do you really
want Jesus to take control of your life?
2. Can you see
eternal life with Jesus as better than this life without Jesus?
B. Jesus pointed to what the rich ruler relied on and where
his trust was centered.
1. The ruler owned
a lot.
2. There was poor
around him that he did not make it his business to help.
3. All of his
treasures were earthly and subject to destruction.
4. He was rich in
the flesh, but poor in the spirit.
5. He was good to
himself, but not good to those in need.
C. To gain eternal life there are several requirements.
1. Drop everything
worldly that you depend on.
2. Trust Jesus.
3. Be generous to
the poor.
4. Follow Jesus.
SALVATION IS A CHOICE THE WORLD CAN'T MAKE
V:23. " When he heard this, he became very sad, because
he was a man of great wealth."
A. His wealth was a
stumbling block to any faith in Jesus.
1. Faith in Jesus
requires you to give up everything that block your total dependency
on Him.
2. The rich ruler
came to Jesus thinking eternal life was just another easy acquisition
to add to the
stuff in his life.
B. The word
"sad" is a change in his mental disposition.
1. It is an
evaluation of the worth of his eternal life.
2. Joyfully, he
want eternal life, but sadly it would cost him to much.
3. It was an
earthly evaluation of a spiritual situation.
4. It was a short
term decision on a forever benefit.
5. He weighed his
money against the value of heaven.
HEAVEN REQUIRES YOU TO GIVEUP YOURSELF
V:24.-25 " Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard
it is for the rich to enter the kingdom
of God
25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of
a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom
of God
A. If I think in the
flesh, money buys happiness and everything else I want.
1. If think in the
flesh, I can buy the needle and make it big enough me to
walk through.
2. It I think in the flesh, I can move to heaven and
build a mansion.
a. After all
we have people living in a space station.
B. Eternal life is
gift from God that can not be purchased.
1. Heaven is made
available to us through Jesus Christ.
2. It is hard to
give up that which you have and are attached to, for that which
you can't see
with your eyes or touch with your hands.
BELIEF IN JESUS IS THE KEY
V:26-27. " Those who heard this asked, "Who then
can be saved?"
27 Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is
possible with God."
A. For God so loved the world, that he gave His only
begotten Son, so that
everyone who
believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16
1. Before the
foundation of the world, God predestined us to be part of
the body of
Christ. Ephesians 1:5.
2. We
are saved by grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8
B. Salvation is never by the hands of man, it is a gift of
God. Ephesians 2:9
1. Only
those who are called by God will be saved. Romans 9:15,16
2. No one can come to Jesus unless he is drawn
by the Father. John 6:37 , 6:44
3. God called us out of the world to serve
Him. Roman 8:30
JESUS CARES ABOUT YOU
V:16. " And he took the children in his arms, put his
hands on them and blessed them."
A. We are all
children in the hands of Jesus
1. He comforts
those He loves with His arms
2. He protects
us with his hands.
3. He is all the
blessings that we need.
B. Jesus takes a special interest in those who put their
lives in His hands.
As stated by
Nelson's Bible introduction to Colossians:
1. Believers are
rooted in Jesus.
2. Made alive in
Jesus.
3. Hidden in Jesus.
4. Made complete in
Jesus.
5. Clothed in Jesus
love.
C. The peace of Jesus should rule in our hearts.
1. We are equipped to make Jesus first in area
of our lives.
2. It is
inconsistent for believer's to live life without Jesus.
THANK GOD THAT WE GOT THE
CALL TO SERVE HIM
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia
Church
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