1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,040 Prayers. Could I just read a few verses 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:07,480 before we turn to the offering hymn in Matthew's Gospel? 3 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:13,680 We're reading from verse 18, Matthew chapter 18, and we'll 4 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:17,760 read verses one to six, and then we'll read 2 verses in Matthew 5 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:23,360 chapter 19. Matthew chapter 18, verses 1 to 6 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:25,560 6. Let's hear the Word of God for 7 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,000 those online, and we welcome our online community. 8 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:29,640 The words will come up on screen. 9 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:38,640 Matthew chapter 18, verses 1. At the same time came the 10 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:44,360 disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the 11 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:48,600 Kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child 12 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:53,760 unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily 13 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:57,200 I say unto you, Except you be converted and become as little 14 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,880 children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. 15 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:05,720 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, 16 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:09,280 the same as greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. 17 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,480 And whoso shall receive one such little child in mind, aim, 18 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,600 receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of 19 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:21,920 these little ones which believe in me, It were better for him 20 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,280 that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were 21 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:30,960 drowned in the depth of the sea. In Matthew chapter 19, we read 22 00:01:30,960 --> 00:01:36,480 in verse 13. Then were there brought unto him 23 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:40,920 little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray. 24 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:48,400 And the disciples rebuked them. And Jesus said, Suffer little 25 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:53,000 children, and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such as the 26 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:56,760 Kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them 27 00:01:57,880 --> 00:01:59,400 and departed sense. Amen. 28 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:02,200 We know God will stamp with his own approval and blessing this 29 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,520 reading of His own precious and infallible Word now, Amen. 30 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:09,880 Want to invite now the Lord's servant, Evan Middleton to come 31 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:14,360 and minister to us the Word of God and you can easily identify. 32 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:17,680 He's got 2 good colours on but we'll let you pick them out I'd. 33 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,880 Like to thank your minister for the kind invitation to come and 34 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,560 preach. It is good to be here with you. 35 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:32,440 I'm glad to see my Ma and my sister and her two kids and 36 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:36,160 Stephen and also friends from Crossgar, Basil and Joyce. 37 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:38,840 We're glad to see you as well. Of course our brother Alistair 38 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:42,000 as well. I've met Alistair a few times 39 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,480 through an organisation that David and I are a member of and 40 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:48,480 it's always good to renew fellowship with him. 41 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:50,800 I've never met his wife, so I'm glad to see you too. 42 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,320 But let's have a wee word of prayer as we come to God's 43 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,720 precious word. Heavenly Father, we ask thee to 44 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,080 draw near to each one of us. We thank Thee, Lord, for the 45 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:03,240 subject that thy servant has given. 46 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,720 And we ask thee, O God, that thou was undertake for us 47 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,920 tonight. Bless us around the word of God. 48 00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:14,000 Speak to all of our hearts, Lord, speak to any, especially 49 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:15,960 in the gathering that know not the Lord. 50 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:20,360 And we ask thee, O God, that these incoming weeks meetings 51 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:23,880 would be long remembered and carried off, because the Lord 52 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:27,480 has come by with power. Be one of our number now. 53 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:31,600 Fill me with Thy Spirit and undertake for us in every way 54 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,520 for Jesus sake. Amen. 55 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:37,960 As I said, it's a great privilege and a pleasure for me 56 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,240 to be here in Carrie Duff this evening. 57 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:44,520 It's like a homecoming to me, not only because our family 58 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:50,240 lived here in Carrie Duff from 1972, first in Mourne View 59 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:53,360 cul-de-sac at the top of the Manse Road and then in 60 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,040 Winchester Heights off the Balnah Hinch Rd. 61 00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:01,040 But also even though we attended the Martyrs on the Lords Day, my 62 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:05,120 sister and I were brought up we every week in the children's 63 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:09,120 meeting here in carried off Free Presbyterian Church. 64 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:13,520 Brother John Hillis used to bring us faithfully week by 65 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:15,480 week. And you get, it's funny what you 66 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:19,120 can remember. I remember his car, even 67 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,680 remember the number plate, it was adhering aid beige Mark 4 68 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:29,080 Cortina, and the registration number was HHS 530 T Don't ask 69 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:32,240 me why I remember that, but that's the case. 70 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,960 And we have happy, very, very happy memories of that meeting. 71 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:41,520 And I couldn't stand here tonight without bearing tribute 72 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,920 to our brother Wilfie and her sister Barbara for those 73 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:48,360 children's meetings. We thoroughly enjoyed them and 74 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,080 and certainly we have very happy memories. 75 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:53,200 I'm glad to hear that our brother, the Reverend David 76 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:56,360 McMillan, is coming because he grew up in that children's 77 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:58,640 meeting as well. And there were many times we 78 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,520 were trying to outdo each other in the quizzes and so forth. 79 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:05,800 But I really would like to thank your minister tonight for the 80 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:10,040 invitation to preach. As part of your anniversary 81 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:12,880 services. I bring you greetings from our 82 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:15,440 church in Tully Vallen in South Armagh. 83 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:20,240 I wish you God's richest blessings for the future here as 84 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,320 you carry on The work of the Lord here. 85 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:27,560 Carried Off will always have a special place in my heart. 86 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:31,240 For even though I lived in Lisburn when I got married in 87 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:36,720 1995, I lived in Jamaica for 18 months after that, then Acalee, 88 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:41,200 then Barry in Ontario and Canada for five years and then in 89 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:45,480 Malaya when I was the minister in Donaghadee for 9 1/2 years 90 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:50,600 and just now outside Newton Hamilton in Tully Vallen this 91 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:56,440 past 8 1/2 years. Carried Off will always be my 92 00:05:56,440 --> 00:06:01,920 home and I trust the Lord I'll enable this congregation to take 93 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,400 ground for the Lord and his vineyard. 94 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,520 Now, as part of the invitation to preach, the Reverend 95 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:11,520 McLaughlin gave me a subject to preach on, and he said because I 96 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,720 was part of the children's meeting, he has asked me to 97 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:19,640 preach on the simple subject, the importance of children's 98 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,040 work. And I'm glad that the Word of 99 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:27,520 God has much encouragement for us to get involved in that work. 100 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,080 And added to that, I would like to bring a wee word of 101 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:34,600 encouragement to those that give their time and their efforts in 102 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,840 the children's work. Maybe encouragement like that 103 00:06:37,840 --> 00:06:42,480 would be the way of others maybe desiring to get involved and 104 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:46,240 join in. I also want to encourage any 105 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:48,840 parents that may well be listening. 106 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:51,440 Do they keep on sending your young people? 107 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:57,200 Because as I stand before you, you have no idea how the Lord 108 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:01,120 can use what they get in children's meetings such as this 109 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:06,160 one and Sunday schools such as this one in their future lives. 110 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,200 Well, look at the passage that we've had read together. 111 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:11,400 I want you to see first of all the example. 112 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:16,480 Verse 2 of Matthew chapter 18 says, and Jesus called a little 113 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:20,240 child unto him and set him in the midst of them. 114 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:25,480 Now the disciples had just asked who was the greatest in the 115 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,560 Kingdom of heaven. And friends, as you think about 116 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:32,560 that, that's a stupid question because there He was. 117 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:36,000 He was standing right before them in the flesh. 118 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:41,280 But humanly speaking, there will be no one, there will be no 119 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,360 human being that will ever have that honour. 120 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:50,240 That's why in using the child as an object lesson and an example, 121 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,800 the Saviour directed their thinking. 122 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:55,680 Elsewhere you'll notice verses 3 and 4. 123 00:07:55,680 --> 00:08:00,160 Verily or truly, I say unto you, except ye be converted and 124 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:04,040 become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom 125 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:07,040 of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble 126 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:11,880 himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the 127 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:15,080 Kingdom of heaven. And so friends, we learn saying 128 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:19,520 that the Lord Jesus, he called the wee boy over to himself, He 129 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:23,640 set him in the midst of them and he used them as an example of 130 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:30,320 how to be saved and therefore how to be sure of ever being 131 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:32,360 admitted into the Kingdom of heaven. 132 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,799 And you know, as you think about this example, it's a very, very 133 00:08:36,799 --> 00:08:38,440 clear one. Why? 134 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:42,799 Because children have a simple honesty with them. 135 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:46,760 As you parents will know, there are no back doors where children 136 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:50,880 are concerned. And as we get older, pride in 137 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,440 the human heart will rear its ugly head. 138 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:58,240 And humanly speaking, it's much harder for older people to get 139 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:03,000 converted, whereas children are most likely are more likely to 140 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,760 be humble and open about the fact that they're sinners. 141 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:11,920 Their innocence makes it simpler when it comes to them seeing the 142 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,840 truth. And so the Lord Jesus in effect 143 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:19,720 was saying we cannot be proud and expect everything is going 144 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:23,520 to work out well for eternity. We need to be humble. 145 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:26,600 We need to be honest. And when those qualities are 146 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:30,440 there, praise God, we can be saved. 147 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:36,240 It's the Spirit of God who works effectually in the human heart 148 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:40,480 and that is the outcome. You see these disciples, they 149 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:44,840 had thoughts of preeminence, they had thoughts of greatness 150 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:48,600 amongst themselves, maybe amongst themselves as to who was 151 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:52,920 the favourite and so forth. And the Lord just had to set 152 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:56,920 that we fellow before them to have them catch themselves on 153 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:00,080 and praise God for that. Men and women, young people, 154 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:03,320 praise God. How often the Lord has to knock 155 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:10,440 the wind out of our sails, how often He has to get us back to 156 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,960 the basics. You see these disciples could 157 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:16,040 learn an awful lot from this we fellow. 158 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,440 And so it's no wonder in the next chapter we find out that 159 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:24,840 the Lord in verse 15 and he laid hands on them and departed. 160 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:29,280 Thence in marks parallel account in chapter 10, it tells us, and 161 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:32,920 he took them up in his arms and put his hands upon them and 162 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:36,720 blessed them. This was the example, you see, 163 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:42,440 that the Lord Jesus used and surely it ought to motivate us 164 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:47,680 in the work of God to evangelise children and evangelise young 165 00:10:47,680 --> 00:10:52,080 people because they are a picture here used by the Saviour 166 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:56,640 as how to be saved. There's a lesson to us all about 167 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:00,680 how freely and how simply where they accept Christ as our 168 00:11:00,680 --> 00:11:03,560 Saviour. Maybe you're here this evening, 169 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:07,320 or maybe you're listening or watching online and you're not 170 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:10,960 saved yourself. Maybe there has never been that 171 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:16,480 time when you simply took Christ and trusted Him at face value. 172 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:20,120 Maybe you've thought too far into it in the sense of what you 173 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:24,680 think you have to do first, some other thing that's holding you 174 00:11:24,680 --> 00:11:27,680 back. But look at this example. 175 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,600 As I said, the great thing about children is their simplicity. 176 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:34,480 There's nothing complicated about them. 177 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:39,720 In fact, Luke's account of these events in chapter 18 he puts it 178 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:44,240 very simply indeed. Verse 17 says verily I say unto 179 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:48,400 you, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little 180 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:51,960 child shall in no wise enter therein. 181 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:56,720 Verily, that simply means there's no doubt about this and 182 00:11:56,720 --> 00:12:01,000 dear unsaved person, unless you come and simple child like 183 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:05,280 faith, the Christ taking your place as we have all done that 184 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:12,680 are saved humbly as a Sinner, there's absolutely no hope of 185 00:12:12,680 --> 00:12:16,520 you ever being in heaven. That's the meaning of those 186 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:18,960 words. It's the meaning of the example 187 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:21,840 that the Saviour used. So tell me, have you done that 188 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:27,320 this evening? Have you come this way to 189 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:32,640 Christ, the only way of of hope for any Sinner to be saved? 190 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:37,120 I trust you have. You see there is the example 191 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:40,080 here. There's also the exhortation 192 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:42,480 here. Our reading is this evening is 193 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,040 actually a record of two separate events. 194 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:49,440 The first was the child used as the Saviour's example, but in 195 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:53,160 the next chapter we have the children also used by Christ by 196 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:57,640 way of exhorting the people. In Matthew chapter 19, you'll 197 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,600 notice we read there. Then were there brought unto him 198 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:04,400 little children, that he should put his hands on them and pray. 199 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:09,080 And the disciples rebuked them. I, I, I, I think there's a great 200 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:13,160 contrast in these words. There are the parents who had 201 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:17,000 the right attitude, and then again there's the disciples who 202 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,160 did not. The parents wanted their 203 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:24,000 children brought to the Saviour so that he could lay hands on 204 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:27,200 them and pray for them. And if you're in this meeting 205 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:30,320 tonight and you're a parent or you're listening online and 206 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:34,640 you're a parent, that is the very best desire that you could 207 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:38,240 have for your children, that they would be blessed of God. 208 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:44,160 Obviously, we cannot have the Saviour literally do as he did 209 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:47,520 in Bible times when he walked this earth in the flesh. 210 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:51,360 But we do have the place of prayer. 211 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:55,640 We do have that place where you can go and pray for your 212 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:59,520 children, knowing that the Lord will correspondingly pray for 213 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:03,600 them as well. There's also the aspect here too 214 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:07,680 that the parents brought the children to where Jesus was. 215 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:13,120 Again, we're not able to do that literally and in the flesh, but 216 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:15,360 there is application for us today. 217 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:19,760 You see back in Matthew 18, we have those well known words of 218 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:24,000 verse 20. It says where two or three are 219 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:29,400 gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 220 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:32,640 And as I've said, we cannot bring the children to where 221 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:36,880 Jesus is in the flesh right now. But praise God, we can most 222 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:40,440 definitely bring them to where He is by His Spirit. 223 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:43,720 We can bring them to the meetings in God's house. 224 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:50,600 He has promised to be there, and we would do well to make sure 225 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:54,320 that our children are brought there as well. 226 00:14:54,920 --> 00:15:00,560 And friends, notice that I did say brought because in this day 227 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:05,400 and this generation, there are far too many parents today who 228 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,920 ask their children if they want to go to the meetings and if 229 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:11,440 that child doesn't want to, they're not taking. 230 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:15,840 When I was growing up, I was taken to God's house on the 231 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:20,400 Lord's Day, or if it was a children's meeting, I was sent 232 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:24,640 to it. I wasn't asked, I was told, and 233 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:28,320 that was the end of it. And far too many are leaving it 234 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:32,080 up to a child to make the decision regarding the meetings 235 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:36,200 and how foolish that is. Parents, we ought to make every 236 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:39,880 effort we can to get the children into the meetings 237 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:44,920 because you simply do not know the good that you're doing in 238 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,520 that. You simply don't know the 239 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:53,120 outcome even much later in life of bringing your child up in the 240 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,960 fear and in the admonition of the Lord. 241 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:59,160 And my mother's here this evening, I can tell you this. 242 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:01,280 I can. I haven't said to her, but I'm 243 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:10,000 guarantee you that my mother had absolutely no idea of where I 244 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:15,960 would end up in my later life. As she sent us out to Harry Duff 245 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:19,960 Children's meeting, as she sent us to Martyr Sunday School, I 246 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:25,000 guarantee you that it never entered her head that those 247 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:29,280 meetings were forming the basis of a future ministry for the 248 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:32,800 Lord. And so it's a very good thing 249 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:37,120 parent, it's a very good thing children's workers, that these 250 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:40,640 children are brought into the House of the Lord to the 251 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:44,360 meetings, especially those meetings that are guarantee are 252 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:50,520 geared towards them. The sad thing in all of this, in 253 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:53,800 Matthew chapter 19 and also in Mark and Luke's parallel 254 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:58,520 accounts, we read that the disciples rebuked them, or the 255 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:02,000 equivalent of that. We'll return to that shortly. 256 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:06,760 But for now let us understand this exhortation of the Saviour, 257 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:12,680 one that is repeated almost word for word in all three accounts. 258 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:17,920 Matthew 19 verse 14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children and 259 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:23,040 forbid them not the come unto me, for of such is the Kingdom 260 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:25,520 of heaven. That word suffer. 261 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:28,880 There has a range of meanings in the Greek language of the New 262 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:31,760 Testament. All of the meanings actually add 263 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:35,920 up to the same things, namely the disciples were to allow, 264 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:41,600 they were to let the children come forth to the Lord Jesus. 265 00:17:42,120 --> 00:17:46,240 It's also said in what's known as the imperative tense, and 266 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:51,040 that means it's a command of the Lord to his people to let the 267 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:53,320 parents bring their children to Him. 268 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:56,120 And likewise the word forbid there. 269 00:17:56,320 --> 00:18:00,520 It's also said as a command, and it tells us then that there's a 270 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:05,160 double emphasis here on the will of the Saviour, that the 271 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:08,440 children would be found in his presence. 272 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:12,120 The words suffer and forbid are really two ways of saying the 273 00:18:12,120 --> 00:18:15,040 same thing. The Lord Jesus wanted the 274 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:18,160 children there. Now surely that ought to speak 275 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:21,480 volumes to us. Surely that ought to show us it 276 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:26,080 is the desire of the Lord Jesus that the children hear the 277 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:26,960 truth. Why? 278 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:29,560 Because the truth will set them free. 279 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:34,360 And friends, surely we can see the need of such a thing today 280 00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:37,840 and this day and this generation in which we're living. 281 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:43,000 If ever there was a pressing need to get children to Christ, 282 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,440 it's today. These children that come to our 283 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:51,720 meetings and brethren, even the smallest one in the children's 284 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:57,240 meetings, are facing issues that we older people don't have the 285 00:18:57,240 --> 00:18:59,840 first clue about. There are things that they are 286 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:03,800 facing on a daily basis that would give us older ones 287 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:08,680 nightmares. Friends, they need the Lord and 288 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:13,800 we are feeling terribly if we don't expend all the efforts 289 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:17,640 that we can in getting them under the Word of God and the 290 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:20,800 teaching of the Scriptures. I am so glad. 291 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:25,920 I am so glad of the foundation for my life that I received a 292 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:31,120 carried off children's meeting. I'm so glad that it shaped my 293 00:19:31,120 --> 00:19:36,560 future without me even realising it in my own life. 294 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:41,240 The work amongst the children is something that I've been very 295 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:45,120 much involved in. Gillian and I have conducted 296 00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:49,440 various Bible clubs around the province through and our 297 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:53,720 churches in the land of Jamaica. We were in a school assembly 298 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:57,640 almost every morning of the week of the schools around about 299 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:01,920 where the mission station was. Thankfully that has continued in 300 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:04,440 Tully Fallen. I'm able to praise God. 301 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:08,160 I don't take it for granted. I'm able to go into the three. 302 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:11,400 There's three local schools, 2 primary schools and a high 303 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:15,960 school near us and I'm in three of them conducting their 304 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:18,880 assemblies. I've also conducted numerous 305 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:21,360 children's days in our churches here. 306 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:25,520 I tell you this, it's a great blessing to teach the children 307 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:29,120 about the Lord Jesus. And if you're likewise involved 308 00:20:29,120 --> 00:20:33,560 in that work, you keep at it. You keep going. 309 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:36,400 Maybe you're thinking, well, I've done my time. 310 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:40,320 Maybe you're thinking of giving it up, friend, You keep on 311 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:42,000 going. You think again. 312 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:45,400 Maybe you've never even given it a go in the 1st place. 313 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:50,080 You get involved. I tell you, you won't regret it. 314 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:55,400 I do believe there's a particular blessing evolved in 315 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:59,400 evangelising the young and obviously from this example that 316 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,840 we have here, these two occasions. 317 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:05,680 Rather you're simply following the Lord, doing what He did. 318 00:21:06,120 --> 00:21:09,640 You'll be obeying the command that He has given in these 319 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:12,680 Scriptures. What do you see last of all 320 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:15,640 here? The expansion back in Matthew 321 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:18,920 chapter 18 after using the We fella as an example. 322 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:24,000 Later on, after commanding his disciples to allow the children 323 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:28,120 to come near, the Saviour expanded his teaching on both 324 00:21:28,120 --> 00:21:31,920 occasions in Matthew 18. You'll notice verse 6. 325 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:36,040 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe 326 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:39,640 in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged 327 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:43,040 about his neck, and that he were drowned in the mid depth of the 328 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:46,040 sea. That verse is a very clear 329 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:51,560 warning against any who would seek to harm children in any 330 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:53,800 way. The word offender in the Greek 331 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:58,080 language has to do with moral offences particularly, but you 332 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:01,800 can widen the scope to include anything that offends them. 333 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:06,160 And this verse is all the more strong when it's said against 334 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:09,000 the one previously. And whosoever shall receive one 335 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,760 such little child in my name receiveth me. 336 00:22:12,360 --> 00:22:16,200 And that simply means that the Church of Christ ought to make 337 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:20,640 every effort to bring the children in and see them saved, 338 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:26,920 and at the same time make every effort that in no way do we 339 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:32,080 hinder them, no way do we offend them in any way that has spoken 340 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:34,760 off. The seriousness of such an 341 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:38,360 offence is clear from the punishment described. 342 00:22:38,360 --> 00:22:40,400 Do you see it? It were better for him that a 343 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,960 millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in 344 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:46,840 the depth of the sea. And the millstone that is 345 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:51,280 mentioned there is just that. The old time mill had a stone 346 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:55,000 that was fixed on the bottom, and another stone known as the 347 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:59,280 upper stone which revolved on the top, which grind the meal 348 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:02,160 between them. They had bars coming out from 349 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:05,960 them, usually trunks of wood, and there were animals, cows and 350 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:09,280 stuff hooked up to them, or whatever animal that got hold 351 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:12,120 off, and that animal walked round and round in a circle all 352 00:23:12,120 --> 00:23:15,200 day doing that work and grinding that meal. 353 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:19,320 You can imagine then the weight of such stones and their 354 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:23,400 Therefore the picture of this punishment is all the more 355 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:26,560 vivid. It shows us how serious that the 356 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:30,920 Lord takes these matters. And in the second occasion of 357 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:35,480 the expansions of the Saviours teaching in Matthew 19 and verse 358 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:39,360 14, it says, But Jesus said, Suffer the little, suffer little 359 00:23:39,360 --> 00:23:41,640 children, and forbid them not to come unto me. 360 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:45,920 For of such as the Kingdom of heaven, Mark and Luke also have 361 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:49,400 something very similar. It's the response of the Saviour 362 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:54,120 when his disciples rebuked those that brought the children to 363 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:57,320 Christ. Friends were to bring them to 364 00:23:57,320 --> 00:23:59,080 the Saviour were not to forbid them. 365 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:04,160 The word forbid occurs in all three records. 366 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:09,280 It again, as I've said, it's said as a command, the actual 367 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:13,800 Greek word can be rendered as hinder or withstand or keep from 368 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:17,280 them, among others. Very simply, rather than putting 369 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:21,640 stumbling blocks, rather than putting barriers and hindrances 370 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:26,480 in the way, we're to encourage the children as much as we can. 371 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:30,600 And therefore, we're to take whatever opportunities we can to 372 00:24:30,840 --> 00:24:35,680 help the children along to the Lord in His grace that He has 373 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:41,640 given us to spend whatever needs to be spent doing that as well. 374 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:46,800 We certainly don't want to be like these disciples here when 375 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:49,240 their parents brought the children to Jesus, the 376 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:52,440 disciples. And think about this, The men 377 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:57,200 closest to the Lord Jesus rebuke them. 378 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:00,800 Ah, that's terrible reading, isn't it? 379 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:03,760 Very sad. You would have thought those who 380 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:06,600 were closest to the Lord would have known better. 381 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:10,560 But friend as Everett, we must remember that even the best of 382 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:12,840 men are only men. At best. 383 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:17,320 It has to be remembered that God's servant are prone to 384 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,840 getting these things wrong because not one of us are 385 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:22,520 perfect. Far from it. 386 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:28,760 But still, it's extremely saddening to see the servants of 387 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:32,880 the Lord hindering the children when they should be encouraging 388 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:34,400 them. Child of God, don't be like 389 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:38,960 these disciples here. You do all you can to encourage 390 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:41,200 the children in the presence of the Lord. 391 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:47,360 Don't be a hindrance to them. Don't put barriers in any in 392 00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:49,920 their way at all. You encourage them. 393 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:53,320 I remember one of the the great. It's funny, this has just come 394 00:25:53,320 --> 00:25:55,120 into my mind as I'm standing here. 395 00:25:56,800 --> 00:26:00,200 I remember a, a, a series of meetings done here on on the 396 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:02,240 children's meeting with Mr Bilton. 397 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:05,840 I don't, I can't even remember anything about him. 398 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:07,960 But one thing I do remember, he did. 399 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,080 And then I thought when I was thinking about this, this was a 400 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:14,320 great thing. Instead of giving prizes out 401 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:17,720 every night, he'd give you a wee token and you saved up the 402 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:21,360 tokens and that got kept you coming every single it 403 00:26:21,360 --> 00:26:24,560 encouraged you to come. And then on the last night of 404 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:27,480 the meetings, he had a big table with a whole pile of stuff on 405 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:29,240 it. And you went up to him with all 406 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:31,760 your tokens and he said, oh, you've got 20 tokens, you get 407 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:35,600 this or somebody else gets 30 tokens and you got that prize. 408 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:39,800 And that has always stuck in my mind because it encouraged us to 409 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:42,040 go to the meetings every single night. 410 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:45,040 Men and women, let's do stuff like that. 411 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:48,800 Let's encourage the children as one that has come through the 412 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:53,400 children's work here and carried off and has done much similar 413 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:57,240 work in the service of the Lord. It is an honour, it is a 414 00:26:57,240 --> 00:27:01,040 blessing to be used of God to speak to children. 415 00:27:01,360 --> 00:27:06,720 I simply leave you tonight with a challenge, a challenge to get 416 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:12,920 involved yourself. Do whatever you can to help in 417 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:17,200 this wonderful work and a challenge that we'll seek to 418 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:20,360 encourage the young people and their children not be any sort 419 00:27:20,360 --> 00:27:23,080 of a hindrance in the times in which we live. 420 00:27:23,080 --> 00:27:25,760 Don't forget the old devil is very busy. 421 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,640 He's seeking to wreck and ruin our children. 422 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:34,640 So we need to get on with the work, get on with fulfilling the 423 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:38,400 Saviour's desire and this command and Matthew and Mark's 424 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:43,320 record we find as a consequence of the children being brought to 425 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:45,120 him. The Saviour took the children up 426 00:27:45,120 --> 00:27:50,240 in His arms and blessed them and child of God. 427 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:54,800 That is the desire of every right thinking believer. 428 00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:59,160 And I trust that our children that the Lord has given to us 429 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:03,480 and brings into the House of God will be blessed in a similar 430 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:07,360 fashion. I trust the Lord will bless His 431 00:28:07,360 --> 00:28:10,240 word to our hearts for His great name, Shake. 432 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:11,200 Amen.