1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:05,080 We are one church. We love God, love people, love 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:06,960 His mission, and love His church. 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:09,560 Welcome to the One Church podcast. 4 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:18,360 Firstly to say, if you're joining us on our podcast, 5 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:22,640 you're here at the 11:30 gathering at our central site 6 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:27,120 and you are so welcome. On the screen is a jar of 7 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:32,880 marmalade and we received 2 jars of marmalade from Graham who is 8 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:38,640 an experienced marmalade and jam maker and I wanted to send him a 9 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,760 message so I took a picture of our nearly finished jar and I 10 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:44,520 sent him a picture that said this. 11 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:49,240 Still loving the marmalade in the Heinz house. 12 00:00:50,160 --> 00:00:53,360 Nice. Now I am part of a WhatsApp 13 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:57,800 group which is 32 ministers from around the world who connect 14 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:01,240 with Pastor Dom in Singapore. And recently there's been 15 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:05,920 communication specifically praying for a pastor in Pakistan 16 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:08,440 who where war has broken out near him. 17 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:10,280 And today we pray for Pastor Hanuk. 18 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,720 And the messages in the chat went like this. 19 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:19,560 Praying for safety for you and your church as you lead in this 20 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:23,120 difficult time. We declare safety over you in 21 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,160 Jesus name. May the hand of the Lord protect 22 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:28,360 you. Pray for you and your nation. 23 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:30,520 And then a message from me that said this. 24 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:34,400 Still loving the marmalade in the Hinds house. 25 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:42,960 Now how it got there, I have no idea, but it was there for half 26 00:01:42,960 --> 00:01:46,040 an hour in the middle of this very serious chat. 27 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:48,600 Nobody said a thing. And eventually somebody sent me 28 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:54,080 a message saying did you mean to send a picture of marmalade to 29 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:59,240 this chat? Many years ago, I used to do 30 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:03,280 Twitter. And I I thought that to send a 31 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:07,280 private message on Twitter, you put the name of the person's 32 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,759 account, then you can say anything you like and it goes to 33 00:02:09,759 --> 00:02:12,440 them. And one day, it was a Sunday 34 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:17,200 afternoon, I think it was, my son Thomas sat crying in 35 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:21,280 laughter on his Twitter account as he read back to me all the 36 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:26,040 private messages I had ever sent anyone ever, because I'd done it 37 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:28,440 wrong. And when he got to one, I 38 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:30,120 thought, I thought we were going to have to take him to the 39 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:34,080 hospital because this is what the message said that I sent to 40 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:38,560 one person, it said this. It was to a shoe company, it 41 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:40,800 said this. I recently purchased a pair of 42 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,720 your shoes and I've noticed after a couple of weeks there is 43 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:48,040 a slight odour in the shoes that I'm uncomfortable with. 44 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:51,800 I sent that to every single person who followed me on 45 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,240 Twitter. It was shortly after then I 46 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:56,680 deleted my account. I've never ever been on it 47 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:58,680 again. And I don't do any social media 48 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:02,640 whatsoever because who knows what I might send to somebody. 49 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:08,240 Just recently, Susan and I have felt there's been some 50 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:13,120 intimidation over some people in, in various situations in 51 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:17,200 their lives, even in ministries. I feel the spiritual temperature 52 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,320 is up. And if you felt intimidated at 53 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,760 work, or intimidated in your house, or intimidated in your 54 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:27,640 family, or intimidated in your mind, or intimidated in your 55 00:03:27,640 --> 00:03:31,160 health, the Lord just wants to lift that off you right now. 56 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:33,840 There's a verse on the screen that says this. 57 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:38,040 Do not fear their threats. Do not be frightened, but in 58 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,120 your hearts Revere Christ as Lord. 59 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:42,400 Just if you're able to put your hands out in front of you, do 60 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,920 that. Father, I pray in the name of 61 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:49,000 Jesus for every person here who has just felt a measure of 62 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,120 intimidation. For the majority, it's a lie 63 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:55,200 from the enemy. And we lift up Jesus in this 64 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:59,080 room and we command fear and intimidation to be broken. 65 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,600 I pray that some of the situations represented in this 66 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:07,160 room would change and be broken in the mighty name of Jesus. 67 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:12,120 And may people in this room leave full of joy, even though 68 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:16,000 nothing may have changed on the outside, full of joy, that 69 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,360 intimidation has been lifted off them in the name of Jesus, 70 00:04:19,519 --> 00:04:23,160 everybody said Amen. Can I just say feel something 71 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:27,160 else? I read a verse from Hebrews free 72 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,000 those who all their lives are held by their fear of death. 73 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:35,480 There's one or two people in the room here and you carry a fear 74 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:39,360 of death, whether it's because someone close to you died in a 75 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:44,160 way that was very painful, or whether you just have not yet 76 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,480 come to terms with the fact that you need to give your life to 77 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,200 Jesus. You do not need to leave this 78 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:53,760 place with the fear of death. God's heart is that you would 79 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:58,520 love life and love getting ready to go and be with Him one day. 80 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:02,200 If you are not a Jesus follower, there is something about dying. 81 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:05,240 Let me tell you that he's far more terrifying than you ever 82 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:06,880 imagined. But you do not need to carry 83 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,240 that fear. And he wants to set you free 84 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:11,000 today. Well, it's been good to get back 85 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:15,400 to the words of Jesus and we're looking today at the phrase 86 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:20,480 change and become like little children. 87 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,680 And here we are in Matthews Gospel chapter 18. 88 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:27,600 On the screen we read at that time, the disciples came to 89 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:31,560 Jesus and asked, Who then is the greatest in the Kingdom of 90 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:33,840 heaven? And he called a little child to 91 00:05:33,840 --> 00:05:35,680 him and placed the child among them. 92 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:39,600 And he said, truly, I tell you, unless you change and become 93 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:42,480 like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of 94 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:44,880 heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the 95 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:48,880 lowly position of this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of 96 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,400 heaven. And whoever welcomes one such 97 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:57,600 child in my name welcomes me. Now, before I open up this 98 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:02,360 passage, I was stirred to just share, very briefly, seven 99 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:06,320 thoughts about being a parent and a grandparent of children. 100 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:08,480 Seven thoughts. You might want to write these 101 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,920 down and go and do some work on them later because none of us 102 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,160 are fully there yet. The first one is this. 103 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,120 Want to be a great parent, a great grandparent? 104 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:23,560 Get yourself sorted out. Many parents never get over 105 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:27,720 their imperfect upbringings. All of us, our families were not 106 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:32,720 perfect and we can carry wounds and baggage into the way we 107 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:38,880 parent children. Get sorted out, get healed up, 108 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:42,920 forgive and don't pass on your rubbish to your kids. 109 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:48,000 Give your children, your grandchildren A healed you, 110 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:53,240 healed you. Secondly, love your husband or 111 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,040 wife and the children see everything and to give them a 112 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:59,080 picture of unity and togetherness is precious. 113 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,320 Don't argue in front of your children. 114 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:08,480 Never criticise the other to your children and let them see 115 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,080 you being affectionate, appropriately affectionate to 116 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:15,880 one another, expressing love and working through challenges and 117 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:19,320 they learn to do that as well. And if you are divorced or 118 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:23,440 separated or perhaps in a very difficult relationship, never 119 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:27,280 forget how precious you are and speak as well as you can about 120 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,360 the other person to your children. 121 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:35,440 Thirdly, pray for them. Spend less time being concerned 122 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:40,200 and more time praying. Get promises from the Father. 123 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,720 Pray over them. Storm the heavens. 124 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:46,280 If your children drift from their walk with Jesus, intercede 125 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:49,080 for them. Cry out and let them see you 126 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:52,680 praying on a Monday night. Susan and my granddaughter stay 127 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:58,120 with us. 1311 and 10 they are and we we love Monday nights. 128 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,200 Susan picks them up from school and they have snacks in the car. 129 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:06,080 I think our little rule of no eating in the the new car lasted 130 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:09,680 one week and snacks in the car and they arrive. 131 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,560 And I cannot tell you how many different things we do from 132 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:18,160 artwork to productions, to dressing up to competitions to 133 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:22,520 games, puzzles, everything you can imagine happens on a Monday 134 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:24,480 night. It's truly, I won't say 135 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:29,480 exhausting, but testing. And in the morning, we have our 136 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:31,520 devotions. I go in the lounge, our main 137 00:08:32,039 --> 00:08:34,600 larger room. Susan goes in in a different 138 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:38,679 room and we pray and we're up early and we have our devotions. 139 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:41,799 And we've just felt that the granddaughters need to just come 140 00:08:41,799 --> 00:08:45,120 into what we do. And so we get up. 141 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:48,880 I, I get a cup of coffee this morning, coffee, one of the 142 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:52,760 delights of life. And I go into the lounge and I 143 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:56,480 begin my devotion at about two minutes past six. 144 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:04,400 Rosie will wake up every week and she you'll hear she comes 145 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:07,080 in, comes in, comes in, she's got her hoodie on her and she's 146 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:09,800 ready and she kind of nods at me and goes and sits down. 147 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,160 She has a little gadget in the morning and going to play a 148 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:14,440 game. No volume, can't hear anything. 149 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:20,880 And she just does A and about 6:10 Zoe will come down, She 150 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:24,080 arrives, she's got her hoodie on and she wants a a cuddle in the 151 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:25,000 morning. That's fine. 152 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:28,280 And then she goes and sits down with her game, no volume. 153 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:30,160 And I pray as though they're not there. 154 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:34,720 And so I will pray out loud. I'll read my Bible, I'll walk up 155 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,200 and down and pray in tongues for 10 minutes loudly. 156 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,400 I'll pray for the family just being a little bit quieter when 157 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:43,960 I'm praying for them so they can't hear, but and they get to 158 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:45,760 see me praying. Why? 159 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:49,840 Because I they learned something that prayer is very normal. 160 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:53,200 Pray about everything falsely. Remember that everything will be 161 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:56,360 all right when you're a parent. Even with her son dead on the 162 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,560 bed, the woman who built Elisha a room said this. 163 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:05,120 Everything is all right. Trust Jesus, be consistent, no 164 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,520 panicking. Your children are amazing. 165 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:10,520 It's going to be all right. Be fun to be with in the family. 166 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:14,000 Enjoy every stage. I loved having teenage boys. 167 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:21,520 The mess, the smell, the beauty of every age. 168 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:25,440 We loved every age of children. Don't be fazed by it. 169 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,240 Don't get serious. You know, we, we are to 170 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:31,680 encourage our children to do well in education and I 171 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:35,400 understand that, but they are never defined by how well they 172 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:37,840 do in their Sats or their GCS ES. 173 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:42,480 They're always more than that and I just want to remind you, 174 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:46,440 my eldest son left school at 16 with uni. 175 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:49,200 He had some educational special needs in his life. 176 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:54,440 He left school with no qualifications, pretty much did 177 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:58,680 a couple of small jobs and then at 19 years old decided himself, 178 00:10:58,680 --> 00:11:02,040 and this isn't the way it works out for everybody, decided 179 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:03,840 himself he'd go back to education. 180 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,920 He did an access course, went to Southampton University, did a 181 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:11,080 degree, stayed on, did a master's and then works for a 182 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,400 bank and it's doing phenomenally well in life. 183 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,880 You're not defined by what you are at 16. 184 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:19,480 And if you're concerned about your 16 year old children, a bit 185 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:23,440 more praying and a little less worrying calling out to God 186 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:25,600 because God can turn them around. 187 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:29,440 I was thinking about me when I was 19 drifting just come out a 188 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,800 very trying to be make it in a very bad rock group. 189 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:37,240 And then we gave it our best shot and where I was at 19. 190 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:43,400 And God rescued this, this hurting kind of drifting young 191 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:45,560 man and and put his spirit in him. 192 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:47,680 If you can do it for me, you can do it for anybody. 193 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:51,000 Parenting is to be enjoyed, not endured. 194 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:54,960 Fifthly, ask for help. You're going to make mistakes. 195 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:57,920 Be quick to say sorry. Don't dwell on the past. 196 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:01,400 Be generous. I found that making comments 197 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:05,720 about other people's children is one of the touchiest areas in 198 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,400 life. How dare you speak about my 199 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:13,320 kids? Don't be like that. 200 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:17,840 Be open for advice and help and correction. 201 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:21,480 See families that you admire and say, how do you do that? 202 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:26,240 All our Sight pastors have amazing children and families. 203 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:28,960 Sixthly, be ready when they need you. 204 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:31,760 Children need boundaries, of course. 205 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:33,640 They need to be trusted and believed in. 206 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:37,840 I wrote to a message to my 37 year old son this week, said 207 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,600 Sam, thinking of you, just want you to know I love you and I'm 208 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:43,400 so proud of you. I say that regularly to them. 209 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:48,320 Talk to them when they're young, read them stories, give them 210 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:50,560 time. Kids know if you're fitting them 211 00:12:50,560 --> 00:12:52,640 into your schedule. All right. 212 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:58,360 But the big questions will come just normally in life, one day 213 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,640 they'll ask you a question. Don't be shocked, don't be 214 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:05,440 disappointed, just take them where they are, be available 215 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:08,640 when they need you and lastly, leave them a legacy. 216 00:13:09,560 --> 00:13:12,160 Grandparents parents, leave your kids a legacy. 217 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,040 Make a will. If you don't have a will and you 218 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:16,840 have children, it's time to make one. 219 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:19,440 Get a will. Who's going to be your guardian 220 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:21,000 of your children? Who's going to look after? 221 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:22,880 What do you want to do? That's called being a 222 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:26,320 responsible parent. Plan for their future. 223 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:30,240 When the boys were young we saved £10 a month for the kids, 224 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:38,360 so when they were 18 there'd been many, many payments are 225 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:42,960 gone in and so we were able to buy Samuel a car when he was 18 226 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:46,520 and Thomas had a big wad of Wonga and he loved it. 227 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:51,160 Keep making memories, leave them a legacy out of simple moments. 228 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:54,160 You don't have to spend money to make a memory. 229 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:58,320 Be fully there, teach them to keep their word, to be reliable, 230 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:00,480 to love others. Let them be part of your faith 231 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:04,600 journey. believe in God together as a family and always give them 232 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:09,880 an example of prioritising being in church and expressing faith 233 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:14,880 and seeing you worship and listen when the kids next to you 234 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:17,040 or around you put their hands up in worship. 235 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:20,320 Don't let your first words be, AH, stone. 236 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,040 Expect it. And when children and young 237 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,800 people come to this stage to share a word of knowledge or a 238 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:29,320 gift of the Spirit, don't see it as all cute. 239 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:32,800 See it as a normal part of children and young people 240 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:34,880 flowing in the power of the Spirit. 241 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:36,800 You know, children can speak in tongues. 242 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:39,680 They can have prophecies. Words of knowledge carry the 243 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,720 presence of God. See, a deliverance is in 244 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,120 healing. Amen. 245 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:47,800 Seven thoughts. Get yourself sorted. 246 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:50,040 Love their father or mother, pray for them. 247 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:51,240 Remember everything will be all right. 248 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:53,040 Ask for help, be ready when they need you. 249 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:55,400 Leave them a legacy at that time. 250 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:58,480 Back to the passage. The disciples came to Jesus and 251 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:02,800 said, who then is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven? 252 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:08,120 Who is the greatest? Jesus said whoever wants to be 253 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:11,440 great among you must be your servant. 254 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:16,840 And to illustrate this, he brings a little child into the 255 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:18,760 middle of the room in front of them. 256 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:24,680 Truly, I tell you, unless you change and become like little 257 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:27,440 children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. 258 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:33,600 Well, what are children like that we should become? 259 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:38,360 What are they like that we need to make part of our lives? 260 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:43,520 Well, children are always a blessing. 261 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:49,240 He called a little child to him. They are never inconvenient, 262 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:55,560 always a blessing. And children will forever be at 263 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:59,200 the central part of the heart of our vision as a house. 264 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:03,200 Always. I said to Thomas this week he 265 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:07,040 was going to speak at Reach. I said Are you ready for the 266 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:09,720 biggest preach of your year so far? 267 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:12,520 Why? Because when we teach children, 268 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:18,160 it's probably at least as much as, but probably more important 269 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:22,840 than what I'm doing now. And we love children in one 270 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:27,280 church. And as we go forward together 271 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:31,520 and more families join us and also more amazing children with 272 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:36,640 educational needs, we're going to need a bigger team in the 273 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:41,760 house. When you welcome a child, you 274 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:46,640 welcome me, Jesus said. Perhaps you wonder why? 275 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:48,440 Why? Because other churches and we 276 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:50,760 honour them in their decision. But other churches, they take 277 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:54,640 the children out for the whole time and like parents, skip into 278 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:58,440 the meeting. I understand, but there's 279 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,480 something that Susan and I feel so strongly about the family 280 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:04,800 worshipping together, about being together, about kids in in 281 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:07,839 the arms, learning how to worship in the chaos of what it 282 00:17:07,839 --> 00:17:09,920 is. Something happens in them and 283 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:12,560 then going into some teaching geared for them. 284 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:15,079 And we're going to keep doing that as long as our space 285 00:17:15,079 --> 00:17:18,240 enables us to do that. Secondly, children are 286 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:21,040 receivers. He placed the child among them. 287 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:25,560 Not only are they a blessing, they are receivers children know 288 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:30,920 they need to receive. From a newborn baby crying for 289 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:36,640 dinner to a young child wanting a hug, watch a child fall over, 290 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,880 they will immediately look for somebody that they need. 291 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:43,880 They know they can't do everything themselves. 292 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:48,360 They're always open for help and care and kindness. 293 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:55,200 Children are receivers children. Thirdly, see and believe I love 294 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:58,360 that picture of Samuel when he was young and he's living at the 295 00:17:58,360 --> 00:18:03,040 temple with Eli the priest and and God speaks to him and he 296 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:05,280 gets a bit of bit of instruction on what to do. 297 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:09,040 And we read this, the Lord came and stood there and said Samuel, 298 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:14,120 Samuel and Samuel as a young boy said this speak, your servant is 299 00:18:14,120 --> 00:18:16,560 listening. Now you go home and read him on 300 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,720 Samuel's three what the Lord says to him, he didn't dumb it 301 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:23,240 down for a child. He gave him a very challenging 302 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:27,200 word to carry. I believe our children will 303 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,040 prophecy. They will bring the word of the 304 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:32,320 Lord in this house more than ever before. 305 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:36,000 In fact, I believe that we will see times when the power of the 306 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,960 Spirit sweeps over our children's work in a new 307 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:41,760 outpouring. In the name of Jesus, in the 308 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:43,480 name of Jesus. But children have a natural 309 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,080 genius. They see things in a different 310 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:48,720 way. They're humble to learn. 311 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:52,720 If you spend time with small children, you'll begin to catch 312 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:56,440 again the wonder of learning and looking at life differently. 313 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:01,880 And children are quick to believe and find faith and walk 314 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:04,680 with him. They come easily to Jesus. 315 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:12,760 Falsely children are innocent. Take the lowly position of a 316 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:14,840 child, Jesus said in our passage. 317 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:19,080 They're not self-conscious. They get engrossed in play. 318 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:22,160 They they can be Spider Man or Cinderella. 319 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:24,960 They can chat to an imaginary friend. 320 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:28,880 They can sing and dance and around the garden and not worry 321 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:32,120 what anyone thinks. Children are humble. 322 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:37,240 They're not concerned about what people are thinking of them all 323 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:39,440 the time. They live each day to the full. 324 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:41,640 They get excited about simple things. 325 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:45,400 Ever watched a child play with the box of an expensive toy? 326 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:49,640 They're innocent, which is why the stealing of children's 327 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,760 innocence is such a terrible wickedness in our world. 328 00:19:53,120 --> 00:19:56,040 To rob them of that, God forgive us. 329 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,280 Children are close to Jesus heart. 330 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:02,680 Fifthly, whoever welcomes children in my name welcomes me. 331 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:05,760 When we welcome children, we welcome him. 332 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,840 When we welcome children, we welcome him. 333 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:15,520 They're never an inconvenience. Jesus comes with them. 334 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:18,600 Let the little children come to me. 335 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:23,160 When they come, He comes. It's why the countless millions 336 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:27,120 of children lost through abortion breaks the father's 337 00:20:27,120 --> 00:20:30,480 heart. And there are moments to pause 338 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:35,440 and find the will of God for the tiny percentage of this number 339 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:39,240 where a mother will die in childbirth, or a very young 340 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:42,880 child is pregnant, or there has been terrible abuse. 341 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:50,880 But we must never ever forget of the approximately 200,000 342 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:58,800 abortions every day in our world and rules which the UK almost 343 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:04,040 has the worst rules and laws. God forgive us. 344 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:10,160 Every one of those children robbed of life was a beautiful 345 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:16,120 person and had a right to live. I believe every one of them are 346 00:21:16,120 --> 00:21:19,520 with the Father now in heaven. But to take a life like that is 347 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:20,840 so wrong. Father, forgive us. 348 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:24,800 And if if that just triggers something in you because of a 349 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,160 part of your past, listen, we love you. 350 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:29,120 We want to help you. Pray through that. 351 00:21:29,120 --> 00:21:31,960 Just ask for help. There is no condemnation. 352 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:34,360 There is grace in the House of God. 353 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:36,480 There's grace in the House of God. 354 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:42,680 Are you here from a broken relationship? 355 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:47,040 Are you here having failed? Are you recently out of prison? 356 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:51,200 Are you in a mess in your life? It's the sin and things in your 357 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:54,760 past that you're ashamed of. Such was some of us. 358 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:58,640 But we have been washed and changed by the power of the 359 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:01,160 blood of Jesus. This is the church where 360 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:04,720 everyone's welcome. We want to make it safe for you, 361 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:10,880 Jesus says in our passage. Change and become like little 362 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:14,840 children. We can get so complicated as 363 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:17,280 adults. I'm a sophisticated adult. 364 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:21,880 I've got it worked out. So many of us, it's time to 365 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:27,000 change. We're so caught up emotionally. 366 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:31,360 You know the thought of liberating to dance and worship 367 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,280 God. Change means to become 368 00:22:34,360 --> 00:22:39,200 different, to undergo transformation, to exchange one 369 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:43,200 thing for another, to change and become like a little child. 370 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,360 Well, what could we work on today? 371 00:22:46,360 --> 00:22:47,840 Let's go back to those five points. 372 00:22:48,120 --> 00:22:52,360 Children are always a blessing. Believe you are always a 373 00:22:52,360 --> 00:22:54,680 blessing. He called the little child. 374 00:22:54,920 --> 00:23:02,680 To Him, you were never a mistake, you were never unloved, 375 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:08,400 you were never forgotten. You are always a blessing. 376 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:12,520 You're precious, you're valued, you're cared for. 377 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:16,160 You are full of potential to change the world for Jesus, and 378 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:21,320 He calls you today to stand before Him as a blessing. 379 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:25,720 Some of us can curse ourselves with what we say. 380 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:29,920 I'm useless. I'm ugly, I'm a mess. 381 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:32,440 I'm nothing. Stop it. 382 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:37,160 You are a blessing. I am created by God. 383 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:40,240 I am loved before the foundations of the world, and by 384 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:42,920 grace I am accepted into the Beloved. 385 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,600 This is the gospel. You're a blessing. 386 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:50,200 Change and become like little children. 387 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:53,000 Well, children are receivers. Be a receiver. 388 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:59,120 Be open for help and then be open to help others. 389 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:05,200 Be open to receive care and kindness and then be open to 390 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:08,600 give that care and kindness to others. 391 00:24:09,360 --> 00:24:12,240 And be open for Jesus. He has more for you. 392 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:20,520 Stop questioning and receive change and become like little 393 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:22,920 children. Children see and believe. 394 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:28,040 Be quick to see and believe. I believe. 395 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:33,640 Help me overcome my unbelief. Don't be too intellectual in 396 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:36,120 your faith. I know some some of us, we come 397 00:24:36,120 --> 00:24:39,720 at faith from a scientific point of view, trying to understand 398 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:43,600 different things. Don't try and work it all out 399 00:24:45,360 --> 00:24:49,120 because in the end, He's Lord and you are very small. 400 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:54,000 I meet some people and you can tell where they are within a 401 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:56,960 minute because if someone is has a conspiracy theory in their 402 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,400 life or they, they have a specific doctrine that they want 403 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:02,960 to talk to you about when, when they meet me and they know who I 404 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:05,240 am, they'll get to it within a minute. 405 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:08,200 And you know, we start with hi, what's your name? 406 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:11,800 And very quickly we're at some bizarre thing and I'm thinking 407 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:16,760 how sad for this person. Leave it alone. 408 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:18,960 You're never going to get to the end of that. 409 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:23,440 Come back to the main thing and let's get close to Jesus and 410 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:25,120 let's place Him first. That doesn't mean you're 411 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:29,480 ignorant or not trying to learn, but some things you will never 412 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:34,240 work out because He's God and you aren't. 413 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:37,480 Change. Trust Him in everything. 414 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:41,280 Believe again. I've so enjoyed the pictures of 415 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:43,480 the building coming down and we've been enjoying that through 416 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:46,960 the day. I was so blessed that in one of 417 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:51,520 our meetings recently was one of the pastors who believed God to 418 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:55,320 buy that building and many years ago and just the joy in their 419 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:58,560 face as they watch what they would believe for for many years 420 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:01,200 beginning to happen as we take it down next door. 421 00:26:01,360 --> 00:26:04,160 And I love that. I love that and and remembering 422 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:07,520 our story, the miracles that brought us from where we were to 423 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:10,160 where we are. It helps me in the moments when 424 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:15,440 I think God the next steps. How can we possibly do what you 425 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:22,520 want us to do, How you've done so much already, our journey 426 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:25,760 over these last four or five years, what you've done in our 427 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:29,720 compassion work in our church, in planting site and oh, God, 428 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:33,760 And here on the 31st of May, I'm so excited about that morning 429 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:36,120 when we gather together from all our sites. 430 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:39,480 And here we are. And we, we're going to talk 431 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:42,320 about what we're going to do next door by the help of God. 432 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:45,560 We're going to talk about where our next site is and who's going 433 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:48,560 to lead it. And we're going to share some 434 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:51,480 things. But listen, let's be quick to 435 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,600 see and believe because without God, we can't do anything. 436 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:58,840 But with him we can do all things through Christ who gives 437 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:02,320 us strength, change. You become like little children. 438 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:06,680 Children are innocent. I know a few of you got hurt in 439 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:10,080 church life. I pray not too much here, but 440 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:11,880 perhaps in another part of the body. 441 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:15,520 And you arrived here a little bit wounded, a little bit 442 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:18,080 suspicious of leaders. I understand that. 443 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:22,560 I do genuinely believe that the leaders who are part of one 444 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:24,080 church, what you see is what you get. 445 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:29,120 This is who they are. We're not hiding lots of things 446 00:27:29,120 --> 00:27:34,120 behind the scenes. Trust the church again. 447 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:40,720 The bride of Christ, you know Jesus loves the church and trust 448 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:42,520 people again. Were you wounded? 449 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:49,760 Were you hurt by somebody? Betrayed trust people again? 450 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:55,360 Come like a little child and confess your sins and receive 451 00:27:55,360 --> 00:28:00,520 grace and become more holy by His help. 452 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:05,680 Press in for closeness, breathe His presence, change and become 453 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:08,360 like little children. Children are close to Jesus 454 00:28:08,360 --> 00:28:12,560 heart. Remember, like children, you're 455 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:17,120 close to Jesus heart. The Father is especially fond of 456 00:28:17,120 --> 00:28:21,160 you. He's nearer than you think, 457 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:25,880 waiting to bless you, longing to draw close to you. 458 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:37,680 At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Who then is 459 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:39,240 the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven? 460 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:42,600 And he called a little child to him. 461 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:50,080 Place the child among them. And he said, truly, I tell you, 462 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:54,680 unless you change and become like little children, you'll 463 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:56,080 never enter the Kingdom of heaven. 464 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:01,680 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is 465 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:05,360 the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven, and whoever welcomes one 466 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:08,920 such child in my name welcomes me. 467 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:18,160 Let's pray together. Father. 468 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:21,040 We bless the children of the house, hundreds of them. 469 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:24,960 Thank you all our under elevens. We love them. 470 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:30,000 Lord, we thank you for the privilege of instructing them in 471 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:32,600 the way they should go. We pray that none of them would 472 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:34,400 be lost. We thank you for the hundreds of 473 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:39,080 elevens to eighteens in one church, and we bless our work 474 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:45,560 among teenagers, young warriors. God, thank you for all that 475 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:47,480 you're building. We pray that you continue to 476 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:51,880 build an army to change the world from this house. 477 00:29:54,520 --> 00:30:02,560 And Father, we pray, just believe that you're a blessing 478 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:07,280 in there right now as you sit there, whatever you've said over 479 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:08,920 yourself, just say I'm a blessing. 480 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:14,000 Choose to be a receiver. If you've got complicated, it's 481 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:20,120 quite simple. If anyone comes to me and asks, 482 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:22,720 streams of living water will flow. 483 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:28,800 Ask Jesus said it'll be given when it's within his will seek 484 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:31,880 and you're fine. Knock, the door will be open. 485 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:34,680 It's less complicated than we make it. 486 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:37,280 Be a receiver. Be quick to see and believe. 487 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:42,360 Stop doubting. Shake it off, I would say I will 488 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:45,600 trust you in the darkest moment of my life. 489 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:47,240 I will still believe and trust you. 490 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:51,880 Become innocent. Invite the Holy Spirit to help 491 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:56,080 you deal with persistent sin and to become innocent in His 492 00:30:56,080 --> 00:31:01,440 presence. I never forget you close to the 493 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:04,000 Father's heart. Let's stand together, please in 494 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:05,480 the room if you are able. Thank you. 495 00:31:06,520 --> 00:31:11,960 Let's stand. It helps you to close your eyes 496 00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:15,080 just so we're not distracted by all the things around us. 497 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:24,600 Just do that. Just choose again in God's 498 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:30,560 presence that you will live close to Him. 499 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:44,280 Help us Lord. In 1994 I made an appeal in the 500 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:49,280 church that I was part of at that time in Nottingham and I 501 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:51,240 made an appeal for people to come to Jesus. 502 00:31:51,240 --> 00:32:01,640 And I'll never forget 1994 and I made an appeal and my youngest 503 00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:04,480 son was sat next to his mum. I think on the right hand side 504 00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:07,320 of this building was a rectangular building. 505 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:11,760 And he stood up and he walked out and he stood in the in front 506 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:14,720 of me on the carpet. And as he did, three or four of 507 00:32:14,720 --> 00:32:17,280 his friends from different parts of the room all walked out and 508 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:22,120 stood at the front. And I was deeply moved in that 509 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:27,320 moment. And those young men have all 510 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:29,640 gone on to do something great with their lives. 511 00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:36,360 But little children came to the Lord, who like a little child, 512 00:32:37,080 --> 00:32:39,640 needs to come to him this morning. 513 00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:46,280 The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine 514 00:32:46,280 --> 00:32:50,520 upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face towards 515 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:52,240 you and give you peace.