We Really Are Children of God

It's a tradition in God's church that the second Sabbath after the feast should be the blessing of the children. We do not have any children yet to be blessed today, but it's always good to keep in mind that ceremony and the meaning thereof.

As you may or may not know, this tradition started long ago, basically in Christ. So let's look at the scripture yard in Mark chapter 10, where the tradition actually started from.

Mark chapter 10, and we're going to read in verse 13 through 16. Mark 10, 13 through 16. Then they brought little children to him. Now, the word here for little children is actually a word that is really a little child. That he might have touched him, but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. So when Jesus saw it in verse 14, he was greatly displeased. He was really upset, greatly displeased that they did that. And said to them, Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them. For of such is the kingdom of God. Surely I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter into it. And he took them up in his arms. So they were little ones. They were the ones that could carry on his arms. Lay his hands on them and bless them. And so the tradition in the church has been initially during the feast to have the blessing of all the children. It's still done in some feast, some during the feast, when... because brethren come from different areas and they don't gather every Sabbath. So in some feast sites that is done during the feast, but in other feast sites where they are more brethren in the local areas, that is done in the local congregations, as particularly the armed states, that is the case. One of the things that is done in the parade that the minister gives for the blessing of the little children, there are basically four points that the minister usually tries to address in that parade. One is to give God thanks for the child. Another one is to ask for protection for that child. Then is to ask a blessing, particularly a blessing so that the child may grow in the church as a true Christian. And fourthly, he asks that God would bless the parents, would help the parents to raise up the children correctly. Usually it's those four points that a minister would try to bring out in that prayer of the blessing of the little children. Now today in my sermon, I want to take those four points as far as the blessing of the children during that ceremony, and to apply them to us as God's children, going towards becoming the sons and daughters of God. And so we'll analyze those four points so that you and I may receive the kingdom of God as a little child. So that's the approach I'm taking today. And the first one is about giving thanks. Giving thanks during the blessing of the children. We give God thanks for the little children. Most of you, not all of you, but those of you, there are parents or grandparents, now are blessing to these little children. Those of you who are not yet parents or grandparents, one guy will be. Just give it some time. You will be. God will bless your children. That is a blessing. And when you get those of the children, you recognize it is such a miracle. It really is such a miracle to have that little child walking, talking, saying things. It's just you and I just don't begin to comprehend the miracle we use of childhood. It's just a miracle. And therefore, it is a blessing, and it is something for us to be grateful. But as true Christians, are we grateful for us to be children of God as well? Do we show the gratitude?

You know, when people give a gift, they give a gift because they want a gift. I mean, if you will give a gift because you want to give a gift, it's not that you want anything bad, it's because you want to give.

But it is nice to receive a thank you. It really is nice to receive a thank you.

And it is, on the other side, disappointing when you see people that receive it with kind of disdain. It really hurts you. I'm sure it does everybody when you give something. You give it because you want to give. But when people don't appreciate it or they show some sort of disgust towards it, it really hurts you.

And it's not that you wanted to thank you, but you want to see the people happy, and that's why you do it.

Now, Christ is a sanctum. Do you know that? Christ is a sanctum. Look with me, please, to Luke 17, Luke 17th chapter of Luke, verses 11 through 19.

Luke 17, verses 11 through 19.

Here's the story of ten people that were lepers. They were ten lepers. And now it happened as he went to Jerusalem, and he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And then as he entered a certain village, there he met ten men who were lepers, who stood a far off.

You know, I mean, if you're leper, they would actually stay far off. So when he saw them, they saw them a little bit far away, and they were ten men.

And when he saw them, he said to them, go and show yourselves to the priests.

And that was part of the old law. You know, they showed them, go to the priests, and then... And he says, go. And as they went, they were cleansed. They were killed from the lepers.

Verse 15, and one of them, when he saw that he was killed, he came back to return, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving Jesus Christ thanks.

And it's interesting that giving thanks, it's kind of equated, yeah? Albeit subtly, to glorifying God.

Because I mean, when you give thanks to God for something, you're giving God glory, right? You're giving glory to God. You're giving thanks to Him.

And giving Him thanks, what's more, He was not even a Jew. He was a Samaritan.

He was one of those that the Jews kind of looked down and said, in a second-class citizen, quote-unquote, in their minds.

So Jesus answered and said, will they not tend cleansed?

We are the other nine.

Jesus Christ did not need people to say to me, thank you.

But He did it. He shared that. And He expected that. Why? Because they do it because it shows an attitude of art. Think about it. It shows an attitude of art for their own good. But anyway, verse 18, whether or not any farm will return to give glory to God except as foreigner.

The stranger is not even a Jew.

And He said to me, arise, go your way, your faith has meant you well.

It's interesting because the whole thing gets been tied to faith. The idea is that He was thankful because He was thankful.

He glorified God and that was tied to faith. It's very interesting. Look at this other scripture in Romans chapter 1. Romans chapter 1.

Romans chapter 1, starting verse 20 and 21. The man is talking about mankind that has just gone wrong. Just gone wrong. It does not acknowledge God as He created it.

Verse 20. Romans chapter 1 verse 20.

For since the creation of the world, these invisible attributes are clearly seen. You notice that the spiritual things of God are clearly seen by the physical things because He created physical things to demonstrate the spiritual. So He says, being understood by the things which are made, that are made, He believes eternal power and Godhead so that they are without excuse. Mankind is without excuse. I mean, I finished reading a very interesting book called Evolution Impossible. Very interesting book and it goes into DNA. And this is a scientist, it goes into DNA, it goes into carbon dating, it goes into a lot of things. But using all those points, it says it is impossible evolution and there has to be a political. It is very fascinating, a scientist admitting that, using every single one of those aspects, whether it is the DNA, whether it was a geological column, whatever it was. It took each one thing and showed that evolution is impossible using that. And so basically what Romans are saying is people don't have an excuse. The time will come when God will come to these scientists and say, you don't have an excuse. Why deny Him? And they will have no excuse. Because after all, the only reason scientists deny God and believe in evolution and things like that is so that they can do what they want to do. Because if you deny God, you don't deny authority over you and therefore you can sin and do whatever you want. That's why they deny God. That's actually the root cause of it. But anyway, it continues. There's only one. Because although they knew God, in their heart they know. But they deny Him. They did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful.

You know, if you're a scientist and you look at these things and you see the beauty of a flower or a rose or the beauty of the miracle of the way DNA is made, everything, you should just glorify God and give thanks for what it is. Because it's such a balanced equilibrium that gives life. It's just unbelievable. And they say, thank God, because otherwise we'd be in the process. They know better. They know better. That's what the Bible says. They know better. But He says, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful. But they came futile in their thoughts, in their fully short-spilled documents. You see, the moment you deny God, the moment you are unthankful, it leads to rebellion. Because that led to rebellion. And those people, why don't they want God? Why don't they want to be grateful and thankful? Because they want to rebel. It leads to rebellion. We're facing to be wise that He came for us. And that's why Paul brings us to us some very important principles in Philippians chapter 4. Philippians chapter 4. It says, start reading just verse 6. Be anxious for nothing. In other words, don't worry about things. You know, we all have anxieties for different things. We have different fears. Whatever fears we have, it says, don't be fearful. But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests may not be God. Whatever things or whatever anxieties you have, take them to God with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving. That's what we've got to take with thanksgiving. And if we take them with thanksgiving, make them known to God. And then the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, you know, there was that peace of mind that takes that fear away, that it's just unbelievable through God, your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. And it is beautiful because we need to be thankful. And it is interesting. That is one of the first things that we do in the blessing of little children. We need to be thankful for the children. But it's an attitude that you and I need to have. And if we don't have that attitude, maybe there's something wrong inside us, if we are not thankful. Maybe if I'm not being thankful for something, maybe I need to analyze myself and say, is there something wrong with me? Maybe I need to repent. Sometimes I'm not thankful for things. I just take things for granted.

And many of us take things for granted.

And many of us take things for granted that our needs were fine.

Or that our feet were fine. But us, Carolyn, when her feet's not working fine, she knows what to sit back and ease through the body. And when it does work fine, how grateful she is that it works fine.

But, you know, we as younger people, we accept our bodies working fine, we just take it for granted without giving thanks for all these little things.

And we need to be giving thanks.

And one of the offerings that the Levites were instructed, we're basically four types of offerings.

One of them was a peace offering.

Now, Leviticus, in the first three or four chapters, describes those four types of offerings. And one of them was a peace offering.

Now, a peace offering is an interesting one because it's divided into two sections.

And so let's look at those two sections in Leviticus, chapter 7, verses 11 through 15.

Leviticus, chapter 7.

Leviticus, chapter 7. Verse 11.

Now, this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which ye shall offer to the Lord, talking about the priest.

And the first section is, in verse 12, says, if the opposite for a thanksgiving.

The other section of the peace offering is in verse 16, that says, if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow or a voluntary offering.

So the peace offering, you can offer a peace offering for one or two reasons.

One, you can offer a peace offering just as an offering of thanksgiving, just a symbol of thank you.

That's what it is. Or you can offer a peace offering as a symbol of a specific request or a promise or something like that.

Something voluntary.

But let's look at the one that is for thanksgiving, because you can give an offering, a peace offering for thanksgiving. Now understand we don't do these offerings because we're done in the temple, and one day when there will be a temple, the livats will do it again, you know, tomorrow.

They'll do it again. As a memory, as a education, as a way of us looking at it and draw analogies from the physical, draw spiritual analogies. But today we have the algorithm to bring us a teaching point.

And the teaching point is, when he offers it for a thanksgiving, it was to give thanks as a way of thanksgiving. And we're going to have thanksgiving coming soon, in about just over a month or so. And that's a good thing to do. And he says, when you offer it for thanksgiving, you shall offer it with sacrifice.

So thanksgiving, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers anointed with oil, or cakes of blended flour mixed with oil. And when you read all the offerings, or merely all the offerings, part two.

Part two. One is a thanksgiving offering, and the other one is the offering of loaves of pink dust. Part two. They're always given with unleavened bread, which represents without sin.

But look at it in verse 15. Besides these cakes that you do, unleavened cakes with oil, and unleavened wafers with oil, or cakes of blended flour mixed with oil. Besides the cakes, as he's offering, he shall offer leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offering.

Now, I'm sure there's a lot that we still have to learn about why unleavened bread, but my simply point to me is that I'm a sinner, and I'm still grateful and given about facts. But maybe there's more to it that I still learn, and we will learn. And it's also interesting that the two loaves of bread, which represent us being offered as Pentecost as the first fruits of the Holy Spirit, the first fruits of the Holy Spirit, is also to heaven. But otherwise, all of the offerings are unleavened, and it's got very strict instructions to be unleavened.

But in the end, for thanksgiving, there's the sacrifice, which is a peace offering with leavened bread for thanksgiving.

Verse 14 says, And from it we shall offer one cake, from each offering is a heaved offering of the Lord. It shall belong to the priest, and spring of blood of peace offering. And the flesh of the sacrifice of each peace offering for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day it is offered.

Now, that means they offered some animal, and they ate the food of that animal with the bread and things like that. So it was an offering with an animal, and it says the flesh of that sacrifice, if it is a peace offering, and if the peace offering is for thanksgiving, you have to eat it that day.

He says, you shall not leave any of it until the morning. But if the second class of peace offering is for, continues in verse 16, if the sacrifice is for another reason of that peace offering, he can leave the food for one extra day or even to the third day. But after the third day, then you've got a burner out.

Because you don't want it to become diseased or anything like that. So you've got a burner out. But if it is for a thanksgiving, you've got to eat it that same day.

And you may say, why? And I thought, why? And my analogy to me is that when you give him thanks, you need to give thanks straight away.

Don't delay it. Don't leave it. And it might be another reason. I might be wrong. But to me is, if you need to be grateful, be grateful and give thanks straight away. Show that appreciation immediately. Don't delay it. That's the value I get from it.

I may be wrong. There may be other meanings. And we're all learning from this, and we'll learn a lot more when Christ comes back.

But giving thanks is something that there is even an offering about it, and it's something that we need to do it pretty soon after we have that gift.

Because it shows real appreciation. So giving thanks is the first point that I wanted to bring to you as far as the ceremony of the blessing of the children.

And therefore, you and I need to consider and look at ourselves. Are we grateful? Are we grateful? Do we give thanks? And we do it as soon as possible.

Then the second symbolism that I'm extracting from the blessing of the children was that we pray for protection. We pray for protection.

And you know, brethren, children can get into all sorts of problems. I was just talking to our daughter, Michelle, last night.

And she was just saying, that little boy doesn't have any fear. Whatever it is, he just wants to do it.

And she was even referring to some other child that had fallen. And because that fallen, the teeth pushed into the guns. And then now the other teeth are not coming out. But the child is still fearless. And I don't know, it's like a...it feels like little boys.

They're always trying to kill themselves. You know, it's kind of...it's a typical little boy. You know, normally, fearless goes out in that sense.

Therefore, we need to ask protection. Now, we need to teach our children to be careful. And that's part of our training to teach them. But it's...they need protection.

Brethren, I remember once I was in the island, and I was just at the edge of the sea, it was like a...like a harbor.

And I remember a shark came by and flipped his tail about an inch away from me, or what would have thrown me into the water. It was a shark or some sort of thing.

You know, we need protection. Anything can happen just like this. Just like this, so quickly. Because we've got an enemy. And God has protected us.

God has protected us in many ways. We need to avoid bodily injury. We need to do a lot of things of that point.

But as true Christians, what is the lesson for us as...not as tiny children, but as the children of God?

Look at the example of Christ. In Matthew chapter 4, Christ was tempted by Satan. So look here at one of those temptations of Satan onto Christ.

In Matthew chapter 4, verse 6 and 7. Matthew chapter 4, verse 6 and 7. And Satan said to Christ, if you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. Just throw yourself down the cloth.

For it is written, and yes it is written, you shall give his angels charge of the new, and in the hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against the sky.

And that indeed is a prophecy about Christ. You go back to that prophecy about Christ. So Satan knew, and it's written about you. Therefore, throw yourself.

And Jesus, verse 7 said, but it is also written, you shall not get the word with God.

You shall not get the word with God. You see, brethren, we need to ask for protection, but don't tempt God in the process.

We need to be careful. We need to teach our children to be careful. We need to avoid bodily injuries.

But we need to pray for protection, daily protection.

Paul, Abhaybar, Peter, writing about a verse, if you read in 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 8, describes about our enemy, which is Satan.

He was tempted in Christ there, trying to destroy Christ. But look at 1 Peter 5 verse 8.

He says, be salvo, be vigilant, because your adversity the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he might devour.

Now, it's interesting, when a lion is on a hunt, he's not roaring, he's quiet.

He's a roaring lion, but during the hunt he's quiet. Typically, it's the lioness that did hunt.

I mean, my wife and I saw, in South Africa, saw a couple of lionesses doing a hunt for some water back.

And that was fascinating. I mean, the water back there was this group of water back there.

And then we were in a bit of a race position, as we drove, and you could see the little water pool, and you could see the water back drinking peacefully by the water.

But we also could see, because we're in a higher position, we could see a couple of lionesses strategically placed around the water wall, maybe about 200 yards away from the water.

But they were crouching, they were watching those back. They were watching.

And they were slowly creeping in, and one would creep in, and the other one, like about 200 yards out a bit further, would creep in.

The other one, they would creep in, and they all would, as if they were talking to one another.

I mean, it's fascinating. Obviously, they weren't talking to one another, because otherwise they would be making a noise.

But they were strategically working together.

And the water back would drink. Look up. You see, the ears pricked and watched, and they would drink.

And then suddenly something happened, and some of the water back lit. There was one that stayed young. And he just kept on drinking. And then he watched the lioness. Then he watched the lioness getting excited.

Suck it really there. And that's another lioness. He wants to divide and separate, because he does not attack when they're all together.

But he wants to separate until one is by himself or herself, and then went for that water back.

And they went. The three coming in from three directions went to that water back.

Now, fortunately, after the water back, he was a bit aware, so he kind of picked it up early enough, and still ran towards the others.

And so the hunt was unsuccessful. But it brought the point, very effectively, how Satan walks about seeking whom he made the right.

Waiting for that opportunity of somebody just to separate themselves from the flock.

Separate themselves with a little idea, with a little thing, with a little beyond the bonnet, or whatever it is that I am better and I know how to teach you, and therefore I am different.

Next thing that I'm saying.

And we've got to be careful. We've got to be careful.

We've got to stay close to the bottom. Stay close to the flock. We've got to stay close to the bottom. Yes, we've got to stay close to Christ, but Christ is the head of the body and the part of the body.

You can't have a finger or a knee or a foot or a liver to be out on the other way, not being part of the body. You've got to stay together with the body.

And that's part of submitting to God, because hanging with the body. It's very important to be connected to the Divine and to that linkage and that authority that God provides us. It's very important.

And that's why Christ, in a model prayer, gave us this instruction. Matthew 6, verse 13. Matthew 6, verse 13.

We all know this model prayer. Our Father, the walking heaven. But look here in Matthew 6, verse 13.

Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Deliver us from the evil one. Deliver us from Satan.

Their word evil, the way it is used in the Greek word, it's in what they call, it's the nomad of Christ. In other words, the notes are tackled.

In other words, the evil one, the evil, the one that's the wicked one. That's what it is. To deliver us not from evil, but deliver us from the evil one, then Satan.

And that's where we need to be close to God, be asking. Just like, remember how Satan wanted to get all the feeling. Because he said, I'll try it for you. I'll try to show you.

As God's spiritual children, you and I need protection from the evil one. And we need to be praying for that every day. And we need protection.

And just like in the blessing of the little children, we give God thanks and we ask the children for protection, we need to be thankful and we need to be asking for protection from the evil one.

The third point that in the ceremony of the little children, there is asked, is asked for a blessing. A blessing for the little child to stay in God's ways, to stay and grow in that blessing to stay in the church.

Now, turn with me to 1 Corinthians 7. It's a beautiful scripture, as many people forget. 1 Corinthians 7.

1 Corinthians 7. This is talking about marriage and people that are not in the church and others are in the church and the two are together. And in verse 14, it talks about if the unbelieving husband is sent afire, for the unbelieving husband is sent afire by the wife.

In other words, the unbelieving husband, the one that does not believe, is set apart. In time, he is being called by the example of the wife.

And it says, and the unbelieving wife, the wife that does not believe, is sent afire. He is being called over time. In the time that she will be called by the example of the husband.

It's an amazing promise structure that is very encouraging. But even some more encouraging is the next verse that says, otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

Your own children are being called by God because just one member of the family is in God's church.

That is so encouraging. They are being called, they are holy, they are set apart. That's what it means.

And so, it is very important for us to raise our children the right way. And yes, it takes time. And sometimes it takes years and years and years for the children to turn around.

It really sometimes takes... I've had some children that were very responsive. I've had some children that really got into hot water.

But you know, they are being sanctified by the believing parents. And God is holy. And God is patient. And God is merciful.

And God gives people time. And with His life, there is hope. And God is even in time.

Our example needs to be a good example. Our example needs to be a really good example. To compliment that calling. To encourage that calling.

And God gives His expert. That's His precious gift to us. It's Himself His Spirit. Full of goodness. And full of different talents.

You know, it's just like a child when a child is born. So certainly, inherent talents in the child, different children will do good in one specific activity. And a child will do good in different activities because they got their own little talents and abilities.

When they were given the spirit of man in man, God gave them certain abilities, which they now have to develop. They have to grow. They have to use.

Likewise, when you, as the children of God, receive God's Holy Spirit, you have received certain talents, certain gifts of the Spirit, which you need to grow and develop.

And so, what do we have? We've got to set a good example. And it is a blessing. When we bless the little children, those little children are being called by God.

And those children, therefore, one day will have the possibility to respond to that calling. They'll have the choice to respond.

The question is, what we are doing, are we adding to edifying and enhancing that calling, or are we destroying, diminishing, taking it away from that calling?

It was making it more difficult for them. And so we, the God's people, have a responsibility to be using God's Holy Spirit to edify, to vote.

Not to destroy, to vote. And that's our job. That's God gives us the Holy Spirit and gives us talents to build the church, to build and encourage our children, to encourage our unbelieving spouses and things like that.

Why? So that in time, they will respond, because they are being called, because it says, and God does not lie and see the Scripture. And that's what it says.

We all have different talents. We all have different gifts. We're placed in a body and in different positions.

I mean, some of us are a knee, some of us are an elbow, some of us are a finger, some of us are just a little nail. But we're all part of the body.

Now, is every nail acting like a knee? No. Is every knee acting like a stomach? No. But they all work together for the body.

Now, even if you don't split and say, well, I'm going to go out and be my knee by myself, even if you stay in the body, but if you're not functioning properly, you're hindering the body.

If you are a foot in the body, but if your foot is not working properly, it's affecting the efficiency of the body.

The same thing spiritually. If we are owning a little foot in the Church of God, and if we're not carrying our responsibilities as a foot in the Church of God properly, we're inhibiting the effectiveness of the work of the Church of God, which is our trust. Turn with me to Romans 12. Romans 12. Romans 12, verse 3. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than any other thing. In other words, don't get a big head. Don't become a big foot or a big knee.

When your foot gets swallowed, it really is not doing a good job. You don't want it to be swelling up. You want it just to be normal.

But anyway, I'm just joking. As God is dealt to each one in measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function.

You've got a knee, you've got a toe, you've got ears, you've got eyes, mouth, you've got a nose. Each one has its own function. So we, likewise, as God's people, being many in God's Church, are one body in Christ. We are one body. We are one Church. And individually, members of one another. Individually, we work together as a body. The toe works with the foot, and the foot works with the leg, and with the knee, and everything works together.

And then it brings the analogy, one step thirty, verse six. Having them gifts different according to the grace that is given to us, let it use them. So, whatever gifts God has given us to the power of His Spirit, if prophecy lets us prophesy in proportion to our faith.

Now, we all can do that one way or another. Some of us can do it better than others. Some not. But, you know, you go in your daily life, and you encounter somebody, and somebody says, Oh, I know you keep the Sabbath. Why didn't you come here for the Sabbath? We did this on Saturday, and why didn't you come? And he says, No, I keep the Sabbath. But we don't have to keep the Sabbath.

Now, you have an ideal opportunity to answer the reason of your faith, and that is prophesy. You don't have to stand in front of a culture and speak. That's prophesy. That's giving a reason. For ministry, for the Sabbath ministry, there is use of in our ministry.

Now, a lot of people think, Oh, well, they're for ministry. They're for our God to be a minister. No. If you are serving people, you are ministry to people. Ministry means serving. It's to minister. It's to serve. And so, if you have a talent of serving, some people have just a talent to serve. I mean, my wife, she just has a talent to go out and serve. And I'm embarrassing, yes, I'll bet. Don't say it anymore. But she does have a talent to do things for other people in serve.

I don't have that talent the way she has. She's got some talents which are amazing. And she serves in many ways. And many of you have different talents to serve. In your own ways. Now, I'm not saying you all have a talent to serve. Some of you have talent for something else. Whatever talent you have that God's Spirit is helping and enhancing or adding, whatever talent you have, use it to the benefit of the body, to bold and edify the Church of God.

Not to destroy, not to divide, not to separate, but to bold unity and peace. Let me say, as he would teach us, he teaches. Now, some people really can teach well, have capabilities to teach others, do so in the right way. He will exhaust for exhortation. Can you give encouragement? You can be one in sort, encouraging, keep going, and you see somebody going through a trial and pick up the phone and phone and insult that person, encouraging that person to speak.

Some of you have amazing talent to do that. Use it to exhort. He who gives, do self-liberality. You know, as you give, just you have the capability to give. Some people maybe can give financially, fine, but some people can give him any other words. Can give time, just give him time. Give a year. Give time to listen to the other person. That's giving. As many wise you and I can give, you have different talents in that.

Do it with liberality. He who leads with diligence. Some of you have opportunity skills to lead. He who shows mercy with cheerfulness. Some of you can be very merciful to people and run through difficult things and can be merciful and kind to them. Then do so. And whatever it is, I mean, we'll list. I mean, it's not a list of defined talents. I mean, you look at people on a physical level. How many talents people have?

I mean, talents today are talents that people didn't even think 20 or 30 years ago. I mean, talents in programming for physically speaking. It's pretty true, the same thing. There are talents that people have. This is not a full list. There are many other talents that you may have that is not listed here. But all of it, in verse 9, let love be without hypocrisy.

Because that is to build, is to love, and don't let the people critical. A borrower is evil, a clean borrower is good. The kindly affection for one another, a brotherly love, in honor of giving preference to one another. That's what we need to do. So, and then it goes on into many more things about Paul the Iron Growns, which I'm not going into at the moment. But the point is, are we giving, and when we receive, are we passing on the gift?

You know, I think about one of the martyrs of likeness. Likeness is to give to people. The Mr. Cubicle, which tells us in likeness to tell the people we're giving to, that one day they need to pass on the gift to the next person. In other words, don't just take the gift and receive it and say it. Now, you use that gift, pass it on to the next person. Pass on the gift. That is important. And so when we receive the gift, maybe it's of mercy, you pass it on, how?

By being merciful to others. God is merciful to us, so let us be merciful to others. You pass on that gift. And so, just like when we pray for little children, we pray for a blessing, that when we grow, and be in the Church, and to grow up as good children in God's Church.

We need to be looking at ourselves as well. Are we growing in that? Are we at the time? Are we growing in what we really need to grow, which is in that graciousness of God and in peace? Are we growing in that? And that graciousness of God is what we receive through God's Holy Spirit, and that's the goodness of God, of mercy, of kindness to one another, and pass on to others, so that we both identify the Church.

The fourth point in the prayer for little children is that we ask for the parents, that God will bless the parents, to educate the children properly. This is very important, because the parents have a responsibility for educating the children. That's what the Bible says. Now, if you turn with me, please, to Deuteronomy 6. And we'll start reading in verse 3.

And in verse 7, It was, you've got to keep them always in mind, and throughout daily life, keep teaching the children these principles. That's what we need to do. So, we pray, when we bless the children, that God will bless the parents to teach the children the right way. Now, a lot of people omit that responsibility, unfortunately. And they say, oh well, that's why I'm taking them to church, and I'm telling them to church. Now, the church does compliment, and does add on, but the responsibility is the parents. Don't neglect the responsibilities. The responsibility is the parents. We obviously compliment and help, but the accountability is the first-class, the parents. And so, we ought to receive the kingdom of God as a little child. And what is there in a child? A child, as we were doing the sermon, is pliable, is malleable, is teachable, is meek. And that's what we have to be ourselves as well, like a child. And so, as we teach children, we need to be likewise malleable and teachable like children, so that we learn the truth. Now, I want to look at this instruction about the blessing of little children in a different gospel. We're going to look now in Luke chapter 18. Earlier on, we started by looking at Mark, but now we want to look at the same scripture, but in Luke chapter 18. And it starts talking about the same section from verse 15 to 17. And it says, Luke 18, 15 through 17. Then they also brought infants to him that he might touch them. But when did the disciples saw it? They revered them. But Jesus called them to him and said, Let little children come to me, and do not forbid them, for of such the kingdom of God. Surely I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God is a little child, who by no means can kill him. You've got to have an attitude of a little child. Teachable, humble, malleable. Now, the reason I brought you to this section of scripture, it's because of what led to that discussion. Because Yahweh, look, brings what led to that discussion. Just like we heard in the sermon, we went back to the previous situation to see what led to that discussion. And look at what led to that discussion in verse 9. Look at 18 verse 9.

I'm a son of Abram, Isaac and Jacob. I'm a Jew, according to the law. I keep all these things. I'm okay. You will deserve that issue. Because I am great. I trusted themselves. You ever see people with that attitude? Maybe not so blatantly. But you've got to be careful. You've got to watch. Not false injunction, but you've got to be careful. They trust themselves that they were righteous and despised others. And so two men went into the temple to pray, and this is the parable he gave.

One a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. So he has this Pharisee that trusted himself. And the Pharisee stood and prayed, and thus himself, God, I thank you that I'm not like others.

I pause twice a week. I give five times to all that exist. Just like we have in the sermon here, this is the situation that led to the very next point about instruction about little children. Interesting, isn't it? And the tax collector standing far off would not so much as raise his eyes to ever, but beat his breasts saying, God, be merciful to me as sin.

I tell you, this man went down to his house, justified, rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself to be humble, and who humbles himself to be exalted. God is a key opponent. Christianity starts with humility. It starts with humility. Once you have an attitude that deviates from humility, you recover. That's why the attitude starts with a good spirit. It starts with humility. The alternative was being in control.

Yes, because once you're in control, you're not humble. You're the boss. You're in charge. And they trusted themselves, and they were the spies that were in control of the situation. And it's just interesting, isn't it? A little child, a little child, has simple humility. That's why it says you've got to receive the kingdom as a little child. Simple humility and teachability. They're malleable, they're pliable, like we heard in the sermon.

You see, many refuse to submit. Many refuse to submit. And people say, well, I submit to God, but I'm not submitted to men. Yes, true, we need to submit to God. But you know, you've got to be careful. You've got to be careful when you start doing the 18 certain things. God does use men. God used Moses and Herod. And you look at the rebellion of court.

It's a frightful lesson that I've seen. Many times in different ways, but I've seen it in people in church. And it's frightful. Because what happened with court, next thing there were 250 men saying, Who do you think Moses and Herod are? We're just like you. And next thing, the ground opens and swallows those 250 men. Exactly. But you see, that attitude had been brewing. And the people of the nation turned to Moses and Herod. You killed those 250 people.

How did Moses and Herod open the ground and kill 250? But you know what happened is, there was a plague. There were many thousands of them, because that attitude of rebellion to the leadership had stopped it. Rather, we submit to God. Be careful. God submit also to authority that God is putting place in His church. And you shall know them by the fruits. And as much as they are following God, we really have to be careful. Brethren, we are the children of God. The children of God are growing in the womb.

The womb is a mother. Imagine a child in the womb that says, I don't need the mother! Well, I don't think they take the child out of the womb too early. Well, nowadays you've got technology of things to help out, but a child needs the womb, needs the mother, which is the church. Brethren, you've got to be careful. We are the children of God. But we're not yet the sons of God.

There's a difference. And therefore, we're not yet born the sons of God. We're still in the womb. Look at this, a few scriptures here. Very interesting. In John chapter 1. John chapter 1. Verse 10 through 13. Talking about Christ, yeah? And he says he was involved, and the world was made through him. The world was made through Christ. John chapter 1 was 10. And the world did not know him.

No, then he was a creator. And he came to his aunt, his own people, the creator. And his aunt did not receive him. They rejected him. In fact, his own Jews. But as many as received him, to them he gave the right, the authority, to become children of God. Two gods believe in his name. The word children of God, in Greek, it's a word which really means children. But it does not mean sounds. It's a different word. In Greek, it's Greek. Strongs, 5-0-4-3, teknon. Okay, if you're technical, you want to go and check that?

Go and check. But it's not the word that says sounds, because in Greek that is Greek, 5-2-0-7, which is wias, which is used as the son of God, Jesus Christ. It's wias, that word, not teknon. This is given as the right to become the children of God, teknon. But it's not yet wias. We're still in a womb. We're not yet the sons of God. It has not yet been revealed what we shall be. We are growing as children of God, but we're not yet the sons of God. Look at Romans chapter 8.

You know many scriptures on that, so I'm just giving you a few days just to bring a point of course. Look at Romans chapter 8 verse 14. Romans chapter 8 verse 14. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. As many as if we are God's only Spirit, and God's only Spirit is leading us, we are the begotten sons of God. Yeah, it's wias. That is what we'll finally be. For you do not receive the Spirit of bondage, you're going to fear, but you receive the Spirit of sonship. Then it comes from the same word as wias, of sonship.

Not adoption, sonship. By whom we cry out, have it followed. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. That's technology. We're not yet... we are now the children of God. If we're living according to the Spirit, we've been begotten to become the sons of God, but we're not yet the sons of God. We are now the children of God. And if children, techno, then heads, we are to inherit, heads of God and joint heads of Christ. Indeed, if we suffer with them, then we'll be glorified together. And then look at it continues in verse 19.

And that goes hand in hand exactly with 1 John chapter 3, 1 John chapter 3. 1 John chapter 3.

In verse 1 and 2, We all want manner of love that Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God. We are now the children of God, techno. Not yet we as. Therefore, the world does not know us because it does not know Him. Beloved, now we are the children of God, the begotten one, the techno. But it has not yet been revealed what we shall be when we become sons of God. It has not yet been revealed what we shall be. For we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him and we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has their soul can be, who defies their soul, just as He is pure. And then look at Revelation 21. Revelation 21 verse 7.

It says, He who overcomes shall inherit all things, will inherit God, will inherit the very position to be sons of God. And it says, will inherit all things, and I will be His God, and He shall be my son. We are son. We are now children. We're not yet sons. As if we've been guided by God's own Spirit, we are on that road as begotten children of God, where we're not yet the full sons. And so, brethren, just like our children need to grow to maturity. And therefore, we pray for the parents to guide us and teach us properly during the blessing of the children. We also need the instruction of the mother and of the father through Bible study and through coming to church, coming to services in unity instruction. We need an instruction of the mother to grow and mature, so that you and I may come to the full stature of Jesus Christ, as Paul puts it in Ephesians 4, so that we may come to the full stature of Jesus Christ. Why? Because His stature is the son with us of God. That's where we need to come to, that mature son of God. We're not yet there. We're still children. And then, we'll put on to the by-nature. We put on to the by-nature, which is God's nature, as we are being led by God's only Spirit. We put on to the by-nature. We grow on that. You see, we ought to grow to mature, growing grace and knowledge, but always to stay humble. We're always to remain chattering. We ought to grow our faith. You look at Peter, where he talks about, put on, and from faith, you grow your faith. You grow till you have to mature agape love. Your faith grows, but your military stays there always. We always need to be malleable and pliable, like we heard in the sermon. The blessing of the little children break in, which is a ceremony that is once in a child's lifetime, I say. Indeed. But in that ceremony, we ask for firstly, thanks. We show gratitude. And looking at ourselves as really the children of God, we need to also be grateful for so many blessings God gave us. And we need to always approach to Him in prayer with thanksgiving. Secondly, we need to ask for protection, like we ask for the children to be protected from Satan. Satan divides to conquer, but it's just not divide and conquer. That divide and conquer was the ultimate goal to destroy. That's his ultimate goal. Brother, you and I need to be connected to divine, and we need protection from the evil one. Thirdly, we ask, during the blessing of little children, we ask so that the children may grow to be Christians.

And you and I need to grow using God's only Spirit and using those talents to edify always the body to be true Christians. And last but not least, we pray that the blessings of the children, that God would help parents to raise our children correctly, so that the children grow up to a mature adult, a true, mature Christian adult, and you and I need to grow in faith. From little children, so that we become the mature sons of God, like Jesus Christ, maturity of Christ, but always remaining that humility and teacher-deliberate, that pliability.

Brethren, I hope that these four points that we get from the ceremony of the blessing of little children may have pricked our minds a little bit about our Christian growth. And therefore, let's analyze ourselves so that you and I may receive the Kingdom of God as a little child.