The Children’s Gospel - 3/15/26 - Meadows Baptist Church - Pastor Charlie Branch

Welcome to the podcast of Meadows

Baptist Church of Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. We're so glad you joined us

today. If you enjoy today's message, be

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with your friends. Now, let's join

Pastor Charlie Branch with a word from

God.

>> Amen. and take God's word tonight. If

you will turn with me to the book of

Matthew, Matthew, chapter number 18,

Matthew, chapter number 18. You find

your place you would stand.

Matthew chapter number 18.

Man, I'm telling you, it's just good to

be on the right side of this thing.

>> Amen.

>> And uh

>> I know where I'd be if for the grace of

God.

>> And uh he really has supplied every

need.

>> And

>> I had somebody tell me one time, I said,

"Preacher, you just ain't been far

enough down the road. You don't know

what you're going to have to face." I

tell you what, I've been far enough to

know you'll take care of me.

>> Amen. And

>> no matter what you face,

no matter what it is,

>> he's enough.

>> He's enough.

>> Boy, aren't you thankful for a Bible

tonight?

>> Amen.

Bless his name. Matthew chapter number

18 verse number one

the Bible says at the same time came the

disciples unto Jesus saying who is the

greatest in the kingdom of heaven Jesus

called a little child unto him

said him in the midst of them

and said verily I say unto you except

you be converted

>> yes

>> and become as little children

>> yes

>> ye shall not enter into the kingdom of

heaven

>> whosoever therefore shall humble himself

myself as this little child, the same is

greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And

who shall whos so shall receive one such

little child in my name receiveth me?

But who so shall offend one of these

little ones which believe in me? It were

better for him that a millstone were

hanged about his neck.

>> That he were drowned in the depths of

the sea.

>> I want to look tonight and out on this

thought verse number two. The Bible

says, "And Jesus called a little child

unto him and set him in the midst of

them." And I want to I want to talk to

you for just a little while. I preach on

this thought, the children's gospel.

>> The children's gospel. You say, "Well, I

thought the gospel was for all, but it

is. It is for all."

>> But Jesus said, "Except you come as a

little child."

>> Right? Amen.

>> So if you got saved, you know what you

did?

>> Come on.

>> You came as a little child. Amen.

I want to preach on that thought tonight

with the help of the Lord. Father, thank

you for allowing us to be here tonight.

God, thank you for the spirit of praise

and worship. Lord, we felt here tonight.

Thank you for the good singing. And

Lord, I thank you, God, that we have

been blessed. Every need has been

supplied. And Lord, it's worth every

mile. God, I thank you. I bless your

name tonight. I ask humbly that you

would help us as we look at these verses

tonight. Give us wisdom. Help us to

receive with meekness the engrafted

word. remove the flesh far from us.

Speak to us and through us. Help us to

recall to remembrance the things that

we've studied. And and Lord, help us to

say everything we ought to say, nothing

that we ought not say and get glory to

yourself tonight. We'll give you thanks

for it because we ask it in Jesus name.

God's children said you can be seated.

Thank you for standing tonight. Matthew

chapter number 18. The Bible here is

dawning on the on the new day of

Christ's advent. Now, we know the cross

is quickly coming. Matthew chapter

number 26, 27, and 28 reveal the last

days of our Lord Jesus Christ. And so,

after here, really over halfway through

the book of Matthew, we have this text.

And I was reading this, it jumped out

all it jumped out to me. Verse number

two, the Bible says that Jesus called a

little child unto him. And I want to say

this, just a simple thought before I get

into the message tonight. And I want to

say that when Jesus first time calls

most time it's when you're a little

child

>> and I was thinking about my life. I got

saved at 7 years old. God dealt with my

heart. I remember it. My uh youth pastor

the church we was in. He gave a little

gospel invitation at Bible school and I

remember be convicted and uh coming to

the altar that night and asking the Lord

to save me. I never been the same since

then. And I was reading this text and I

noticed some things here Jesus was

dealing with his disciples about. And

you notice in the text, the Bible

mentions there in verse number one, you

notice that first phrase at the same

time. Now that always looks back to the

previous chapter. It's connected here.

And what you find in this text, notice

this by way of introduction that there

is a miracle previous to these verses

tonight. Chapter 18 and verse number

one. There is a miracle that is prior to

this text. And you say, "What is that

miracle?" Well, it's one that's not as

well known in scripture, but it's one of

great importance. And I want to say just

a little bit about that tonight. This

miracle, you notice in verse number 27,

the Bible says Jesus instructs Simon

Peter, notwithstanding, lest we should

offend them, go thou to the sea, and

cast unhook and take up the fish that

first cometh up. And when thou hast

opened his mouth, thou shalt find a

piece of money that take and give unto

them for me and thee. And to make a long

story short tonight, basically what

verse 27 is saying is exactly what those

two ladies just sung about. They had a

need. Peter had told those men that had

come there in Capernium that Jesus would

give the tribute money unto the temple.

You notice that in verse 24, Jesus gives

him the principle in verse number 25

that he said, "Whom do the kings of the

earth take custom or tribute of their

own children or strangers?" Basically,

in essence, what Jesus was saying was is

that the temple will belong to him. And

why should he pay tribute unto that

temple? He he said, "Look, it's my

house." Amen. It belongs to me. And when

they're paying tribute unto that temple,

what are they doing? They're paying

tribute to him. Amen. But I notice the

Bible says there's the provision in

verse 27 after Jesus tells him, "Hey,

the temple belongs to me and I I really

don't have to pay tribute." Notice verse

27. Look what he said. Notwithstanding

lest we should offend them. Go thou to

the sea and cast unhook and take up the

fish that first cometh up. What does he

say? When thou opened his mouth, thou

shalt find a piece of money. And you

know what? In this text, Peter had

gotten himself into a situation, but

Jesus was going to get him out. Amen.

And the Bible says that in that fish's

mouth, he got that piece of money out,

and it was enough to pay the tribute for

him and Peter as well. And you say,

"What's the emphasis of that?" Well,

Jesus is emphasizing his kingship.

>> You're right.

>> You say, "How is that?" Well, notice the

verse again. Verse 25. Whom do the kings

of the earth take custom or tribute of

their own children over strangers? Jesus

is saying, "Hey, look, Peter, I'm the

king. I'm the king."

>> And you know what? This tribute that

they're asking us to pay, Peter, that

house belongs to me.

>> You're right.

>> They're paying tribute unto me. And you

say, "Well, what's the emphasis of

that?" Well, here in the text, you

notice in verse number one of chapter

number 18, there's not only a miracle

previous, but there's also second of

all, by way of introduction, there is

the matter of position that arises in

verse one. At the same time came the

disciples unto Jesus, saying, who is the

greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Now

verse the chapter prior, Peter has just

seen the fact that our Lord is the king.

God has revealed it unto him again that

he is alone is able to supply the need

and he is going to provide what is

needed for this instance that Peter has

gotten him into. And as all the apostles

are gathered around Peter in this text,

they've seen what's taken place and in

this conversation that they've had.

They've been arguing amongst themselves

who is the greatest. And let me say this

to you tonight. You know what? We find

ourselves in a place a lot of times

where we're arguing about whether we're

better or not than somebody else.

>> That self-examination a lot of times we

find ourselves comparing ourselves

amongst ourselves

>> when really the one we should be

comparing ourselves to is the one that's

the king. Amen. You notice in this text

they got this question about who is the

greatest. Well, let me just give it to

you. It's the one that could call the

fish in the sea that had the money in

his mouth. Somebody say amen. It was not

only the one it let me just say this.

Okay, this gets away with me when I read

this. Okay, the miracle is not so much

that the money was in the fish's mouth,

but the miracle is found that Jesus said

you cast your line and the first one you

hook.

>> You're right.

>> He said, Peter, the first one you reel

in is the one that's got the tribute

money in his mouth. And he said,

"Furthermore, it's not just a piece of

money, but it's the exact amount that's

needed." Right?

>> Anybody in the building tonight?

>> Aren't you thankful for the times when

God has just pointed out in your life,

"Hey, the miracle is, hey son, I've got

exactly what you need." You go right

here and you can find it. Amen. Aren't

you thankful for the days you get on the

altar and the first prayer GETS IT DONE.

AMEN. And it's not too much and it's not

too little, BUT IT'S JUST EXACTLY WHAT

YOU NEED. AMEN. It's reminding us THAT

INSTEAD OF COMPARING OURSELVES AMONGST

OURSELVES, we ought to just look to him.

Amen.

>> Right.

>> You say, "What does that have to do with

the children's gospel?" Well, you see,

the disciples were still worried about

who the greatest is.

>> Right?

>> And you know what? In our flesh tonight,

we will compare ourselves amongst

ourselves. Well, let me remind you in

this text, okay, this question number

one's legitimate. You say, "Why is

that?" Well, Jesus has been preaching to

them this entire time that he is a king,

that he is the Messiah. And what has he

told them? He has told them that they

are going to be his governors. They're

going to be the ones that rule under

him. Matthew 19 verse number 14 tells

that. And so, it's a legitimate question

because there's a coming government. And

these men are thinking to themselves,

"Well, if he's going to be king and

we're going to be the ones that rule

under him, don't we need to figure out

who's going to be first in command under

him?"

>> Yeah.

>> Amen. Just get with me tonight. Amen.

They're trying to figure out, all right,

if he's going TO BE KING, WE got to get

in line. We got to figure out who we

going to have to answer to.

>> You're right.

>> Amen. But you know what? Jesus has got

something else in mind.

>> It's a legitimate question. But I'll say

this, it's a leadership question. Who,

notice it again, who is the greatest?

That word greatest means the largest, of

the most size, or have the most

authority. They're saying, "All right,

who is the one that has the most

authority?" Now, we could talk about

tonight the which one. Now, there's

people that say, you know, these other

uh sects of Christianity say that Peter

is the chief, but we have no proof of

that in the scriptures. And so what we

know about them is what the Bible says

in Matthew 19 uh in the chapter there.

It says concerning Matthew 19:28. Notice

Matthew 19:28

what your Bible says. And Jesus said

unto them, verily I say unto you that ye

which have followed me in the re

regeneration when the Son of man shall

sit in the throne of his glory, ye also

shall sit upon 12 thrones judging the 12

tribes of Israel. And so if anything

tonight, that would imply that they have

equal authority. You're

>> right. So they would have equal

authority. But it's still a leadership

question. They want to know which one is

the best, which one is the greatest. And

what it reveals to us though it is a

legitimate question in the sense of the

word and it is a leadership question.

Who is the greatest? It reveals to us

that it is a lustful question.

>> Notice the verse again. Who is the

greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

>> Who's the one that's first? Now let me

give it to you. Right? The greatest one

in the kingdom of heaven is the king.

>> Right?

>> Amen. And the problem with this text is

is that they're comparing theirelves

amongst theirelves and they've got their

focus off.

>> You're right.

>> You know the reason why some of you

couldn't worship tonight during that

singing

>> cuz the focus is off.

>> You're right.

>> Amen. You're too worried about the one

that's across the room from you. Amen.

For whatever reason it is. You say,

"Preacher, you don't know that." I

don't. I hope there's nothing going on.

But I'll tell you this tonight. The

truth is the thing that hinders us from

worship, the thing that hinders us from

going forward with God is having our

EYES EVERYWHERE ELSE BUT JESUS. AMEN.

>> And I notice in this text there is the

miracle that is previous. There is the

matter of position. But I want to deal

with this thought tonight and just give

you a few things here and we'll be done

just directly. I want you to consider

with me and I use this phrase for sake

of literation tonight but it makes this

makes sense nonetheless. I want to talk

about this message of posterity or

message to posterity here and that

simply means to the children to the

offspring. Look what the Bible says in

verse two. And Jesus called a little

child unto him and set him in the midst

of them. And let me say this on the

precipice tonight. Verse number two is a

great ev is a great picture of

salvation.

>> What's your Bible say? Number one,

there's the call. Let me say it this

way. Use a biblical term. It's an

effectual call. Look what your Bible

says. And Jesus called.

>> Yeah.

>> Now, don't hop out of your pew or

nothing on that. Amen. But that's what

happened when you got saved.

>> Amen. Jesus called. Amen. And the Bible

says, not only there's the call in the

text, but there is the child. Notice

what your Bible said. And Jesus called a

little child unto him.

>> You say, "Well, how does that type

salvation?" Well, notice them two words

after that. He called a little child.

What's the next two words? Unto him.

>> You're right.

>> He's brought him unto himself. That's

what happened to you in salvation. Amen.

>> He's called him unto himself. AND I

NOTICE THIS. Jesus has called this

little child unto him. And notice what

your Bible says. There's not only the

call and the child, but there's the

company. Look at the Bible. And set him

in the midst of them. Now, who's he

talking about? He's talking about them

disciples,

>> them apostles. LORD, WHO'S THE GREATEST

in the kingdom of heaven?

>> Jesus says, "Hey, boy."

>> Yeah.

>> Come here, man.

>> Amen.

>> You'll hook up with that about midnight

tonight. Amen. Look what your Bible

says. And Jesus called a little child

unto him and set him in the midst of

them. You say, "What does that have to

do?" Well, number one, in my message

tonight, there's Christ invitation.

>> That's right.

>> I'm talking about the children's gospel.

>> Christ's invitation.

Boy, I'm thankful tonight that Jesus

don't need all our methods. You're

>> right.

>> He don't need our little wordless book.

And I love that little thing. Amen. It's

a handy tool for children leading them

to the Lord. I'm not knocking it. Okay.

But what I'm saying is is Jesus don't

need all our tools. You're

>> right.

>> He don't need the little bracelets and

he don't need the little books and all

of that stuff. When Jesus calls and he

knocks on their heart's door, amen, and

they know it's him.

>> Come on.

>> His invitation's as clear as anything

you'll ever hear. Oh friend, aren't you

thankful for the night that Jesus said,

"Come."

>> Amen. You heard his voice. AMEN. YOU

HEARD HIS VOICE AND THERE WAS NO

QUESTION ABOUT WHO IT WAS. It was the

Lord of glory, the lamb of God, GIVING

YOU AN INVITATION, SAYING, "COME TO ME."

AMEN. What was he coming for? Notice it

in the text. The Bible says there in

verse number two, "And Jesus called a

little child unto him, and notice it

again, and set him in the midst of

them." Now, we've noted the company

here, but what's the purpose? Why has

Jesus done this? Bible says he set them

in the midst. What is he doing? He's

using him as an example.

>> You're right.

>> And the simplicity of this is beautiful.

You say, "What is the simplicity

expressing?" Well, Jesus spoke and what

did he do? He obeyed.

>> Right?

>> You see, that is the emphasis of Christ

in all the gospels.

>> Yeah. When he speaks the word, we're to

obey.

>> You're right. That's right.

>> When he tells when he tells us to have

faith, you know what we're to do? We're

to take that faith and allow it to

function towards him.

>> You're right. The

>> Bible says faith without works is dead.

And that's the truth.

>> If you have real faith, it's going to

express some works. This boy believed

the word of Christ. He came to him.

Amen. And so, we see the invitation in

this text, this example. He is going to

use him as an example to who? To those

that are around him. Those disciples.

Let me say this. Children are the

greatest example of pure faith.

>> You're right.

>> When a child gets saved, you know what

they'll do? They'll witness to people

you wouldn't talk to.

>> You're right.

>> I've said this before at the church

here, but I remember when I got saved as

a seven-year-old boy. I remember my my

grandparents, they don't believe like we

do. They're primitive Baptists. Amen.

They don't believe like we do. More of a

hypercalvinist type. They don't believe

you can know you're saved. They don't

really believe in using the terminology

salvation. They uh they really don't

know what they believe just to be quite

honest with you. But I remember that

night that I got saved, I remember

telling mom and daddy, I got to go tell

Paul and Granny that I got saved.

>> Amen.

>> And mom and daddy as nice as they could.

They were trying to tell me now it's all

right. That we'll tell them. They'll

know about it. And you know, they they

didn't say exactly like it's been a long

time ago to me. Amen. But but I remember

them just telling me trying, you know,

because they didn't want me to be

discouraged. Yeah,

>> but I remember it. I remember the day

that I walked up in their house. It was

fall of the year. Amen. School was just

fixing to start back and the crops was

turning brown. I remember just like it

was yesterday. Walked up in her house.

The leaves was blowing across and and I

walked up in her house and I said,

"Granny, I got saved." She just looked

at me. She didn't know what to think.

And and I remember that response

thinking in my heart, I wonder what she

what she why she don't respond to that.

>> Yeah.

>> But you know what? But it didn't change

my joy any

>> right.

>> I saved.

>> Amen.

>> And I just want to tell somebody about

it.

>> You're right.

>> Jesus uses him as an example in this

text. Notice not only the invitation,

but notice the instruction. And I'm

going somewhere. Stay with me tonight.

The Bible says in verse three, after he

has set this young child in the midst of

them, the Bible says, he said to them,

verily I say unto you, except you be

converted and become as little children,

ye shall not enter into the kingdom of

heaven. Now, we know tonight what I've

used to application sense of the word

Jesus has brought this child unto them.

And he's not, you know, saying for him

to come in essence to be saved, but you

know the picture of what I'm saying

tonight. What he is showing to them is

is his innocence.

>> Right?

>> You know, that's something we've lost in

this day and time. You're

>> right,

>> man. People in this day and time, there

is no innocence.

>> You're right.

>> Of the mind, of the life, of anything.

And so, what happens in this text? Jesus

here is going to give them an

instruction. What is his instruction?

Well, he's given the invitation to make

an example out of this young man. But

he's g this he's going to give this

instruction and it's and it's pending

upon their entrance. What is their

entrance? Look what he says. Ye shall

not enter into the kingdom of heaven. He

is saying unto them, boys, you're not

going to have any part in what I want to

do on this earth except you be converted

and become as little children.

>> Now, what does that mean? What does it

mean be converted? That's not talking

about salvation. What that word

converted in this text means, it means

to change direction.

What was their direction? Well, what's

verse one? Who's the greatest Lord?

>> Remember what I said a little while ago?

They had their eyes on the wrong thing.

>> You're right.

>> And you know what? What's the truth? If

you got your eyes on the wrong thing,

>> come on.

>> You going to be headed the wrong

direction.

>> That's right.

>> Right.

>> Cuz where your eyes are pointed, that's

where your feet's going to go. Amen. And

so their direction needed to change.

What is that? Well, instead of leading,

they needed to be following.

>> Oh, I see that so much in this damn

time. People who are not willing to

follow. Now, you say, "Preacher, well, I

just I just don't want to follow my

husband. I don't like the way that he's

going." Well, here's what I'm seeing

most of the time. All right. When a wife

does not want to w want to follow her

husband, most of the time it's because

the man does not want to follow God.

>> You're right. Amen.

>> You're right. Come on.

>> She has to respond to you, sir. I don't

know why I'm on that, but it's just the

truth. Amen. Many times, the reason why

the wife will not follow the husband,

it's not because of her. It's because

that man is not willing to follow God.

You're

>> right.

>> And the reason why the children won't

follow the parents is because that

marriage will not follow in the

direction of the Lord. There is not

proper authority. What does that mean?

There has to be a change of direction.

LOOK WHAT HE SAYS. EXCEPT you be

converted.

There's no clause there.

>> Right?

>> There's no uh exception to that rule.

Except you be you're going to have to

have a change of direction.

>> Right?

>> What is that? That's dying to the flesh.

>> Notice not only there's a change of

direction, but there's also a change of

dependence. Notice the verse. He said,

"Except you be converted," notice this,

"and become as little children." What

does that mean? What do we know about

little children? They can't take care of

themselves.

>> You're right.

>> Somebody else has to supply their need.

Somebody else has to take them where

they're going.

>> You're right.

>> Somebody else has to feed their tummy.

Amen. And change their diaper. Somebody

say amen right there. Somebody else is

responsible for their life.

>> You're right.

>> You say, "What does that mean,

preacher?" Well, he said, "Except you be

converted, you got to change direction.

You got to learn to follow. But you got

to change your dependence."

>> What were they dependent on? The flesh.

>> Who's the greatest? Jesus measure. LET'S

SIZE US UP. LET'S PUT US ON the pyramid

and let's see who's the greatest.

But you know what? That really all it

doesn't really matter

because there's only one.

>> Amen.

>> You're right.

>> And he says in the text, he says,

"Except you be converted and become as

little children." I like what John

Phillips said. He said this. He said,

"This does not mean that we're to be

childish.

We're but we're to be childlike."

What does that mean? Well, we're not to

to whine and and and you do do all the

things that children do. Amen. That's

not what it is. But we're to have a

childlike trust.

>> You're right.

>> A reliance upon God. It's faith. It's

following. It's based upon the father.

You say, "What does he mean by that?"

that well to illustrate another way if

we're you know what do you mean by

saying that we're not to be childish

well that's our attitude our mannerisms

the way that we live

>> you're right

>> he's not saying that we're to be as a

child in the way that we live but we're

to be as a child in our trust in our

dependence just as a child will depend

upon their parents to raise them and to

supply their needs and to put a roof

over their head and do all the things

that children have to have because they

cannot do it for themselves. Jesus is

saying except you be converted and

become as little children, what does he

say? You cannot enter

>> into the kingdom of heaven.

>> You're right.

>> You have no entrance. You have no

operation in my plan. I see people that

want to serve in the work of God, but

they have no submission to the things of

God. I see people that have a a seeming

desire to do things for God, but there

is no submission. There's no dependence.

their the entirety of their life is

founded upon themselves.

Notice the text. There is the

instruction in verse three. Except you

be converted and become as little

children, you shall not enter into the

kingdom of heaven. Verse four, there's

not only the invitation and the

instruction, but consider the

inspiration here. Whosoever therefore

shall humble himself as this little

child. Notice that as this little child.

How did he humble himself? Well, he was

obedient to the voice of the Lord.

>> Right. Right. You see the emphasis of

our life and really the effectiveness of

our of our life is only upon one thing.

How willing are we to listen?

>> That's good.

>> How willing are you to listen to the

voice of God? Look what he says again in

the verse. He said, "Whosoever therefore

shall humble himself as this little

child, the same is greatest in the

kingdom of heaven." Say, "What does that

mean for me, preacher?" Well, the

inspiration is this, that excellence is

defined by one thing. How much are you

willing to let go of to depend on God?

>> Come on.

>> What is the truth about a child? They

have no ability to provide for

themselves. You're

>> right.

>> They have no plans of their own. You

know, the only plan they have is what

mom and daddy's doing.

>> You're right.

>> They're going to eat where mom and daddy

goes. They're going to walk where mom

and daddy walks.

>> They're going to live where mom and

daddy lives. They're going to do what

mom and daddy does.

>> You're right.

>> You know why that is? is cuz they're a

child.

What was Jesus saying? He said, "If you

want to be great, if you want to be the

greatest," he said, "you going to have

to turn it all over to me."

>> You're right.

>> And who's he? He's the king. Right.

>> Amen.

>> Excellence is determined not on what we

do, but what we depend on God for.

>> You're right.

>> Now, I've heard people say this,

preacher, you know, and I've even said

this myself. You know, you know, God,

he's he's given me a work ethic. You

know, I'm going to do my best to provide

and you ought to. Amen. The Bible says,

"If any man provide not for his own,

he's worse than an infidel."

>> Right?

>> That's scripture. But the truth is

tonight, when your dependence upon

yourself overrides your dependence upon

God, you're in a bad place.

>> What happens? Your direction is turned.

>> Amen.

>> It's good preaching tonight.

>> Notice this. I'm done. There's the

inspiration in verse four. Whosoever

therefore shall humble himself. I don't

know about you, if there's anything what

I think of in this text, I just want to

turn it all over.

>> Right,

>> God? If it means I can be the greatest

for you.

>> Come on.

>> If I can be what you want me to be, if I

just lay it all at your feet, Lord, I'll

give it to you.

>> Lord, I ain't got nothing anyway.

>> Amen. That's right.

>> That ought to inspire you. That ought to

make you want to give it all to you.

>> Cuz you know what? He will meet every

need.

>> You're right.

>> Notice this. There's the indication in

verse number five. Who so shall receive

one such little child in my name

receiveth me? What is this saying? Well,

Jesus is saying if a man or a woman

receives a little child in the name of

Christ, what is he saying? He's bringing

Jesus

unto himself. You remember what Jesus

said, Matthew 25 there, judgment of the

sheep and the goats. Bible says the

goats, you know, and the sheep, he he

has them all stand before him and Jesus

judged them. He's there on the throne.

It's the last judgment there on this

earth. And he separates the sheep from

the goats by one thing. What does he

separate it by? Their treatment of

Israel.

He said, "In as much as you have done it

to the children of this my people," he

said, 'You've done it unto what? Me.

>> You're right.

>> That'll change your mind on this

anti-semitic culture we're living in

today.

>> I know Israel ain't what she's supposed

to be, but let's be honest about it. Has

she ever been?

>> You're right.

>> When David, the greatest king they ever

had, was there, it was full of

fornication and adultery.

>> You're right.

>> Israel's never been what she should be.

But I'll tell you this, he's coming

today when she will be. Amen. And the

indication is this. Notice it in the

text. When you receive those children,

you say, "Preacher, why are you so

interested in the Good News Club?" I

know this is Jewish ground in this text.

But let me say to you, the truth rings

true the same. It's still right to reach

the children. Amen. Because if you can

reach them before the world reaches

them, if you can reach them before the

devil reaches them, if you can reach

them before their flesh gets a HOLD OF

THEM, YOU CAN HAVE SOMETHING IN THEIR

LIFE THAT WILL STAY WITH THEM FOREVER.

AMEN. AMEN.

>> He said, "If you'll receive a little

child,"

>> he said, "In my name, you receive me."

So much more I could say about this. I

just need to be done. Feel the Holy

Ghost say, "Be done." Verse six, notice

this. But who so shall offend one of

these little ones which believe in me.

Notice that. Notice that that that

emphasis which believe in me. Verse

five, little child in my name. All of

this has to do with Christ in their

life.

>> You're right.

>> And let me remind you this, okay? I've

seen people adopt this mindset. Well,

you know, I'm going to adopt children,

you know, cuz I believe it's the right

thing to do. Now, that's good. But has

God told you to do that?

>> That's good.

>> Cuz this text right here is founded upon

the truth where Christ is first.

>> That's right.

>> He's first. And these children, this

text, he said, "Whosoever shall receive

one such little child of my name

receiveth me." Verse six, "Whosoever

shall offend one of these little ones

which believe in me." And that's not

talking about just physical young

children. That's talking about spiritual

young children.

>> It were better for him that a millstone

were hanged about his neck and that he

were drowned in the depth of the sea.

This injunction here he gives is that

there is execution for those that hinder

the children.

>> You're right,

>> man. I tell you, I'd be scared to death

as a preacher.

>> Yes. Come on.

>> To hinder a child.

>> Amen.

>> I hinder a literal child from being

saved. I'd be I'd be scared to death to

hinder somebody who's young in the faith

>> from really knowing God.

>> I was thinking about this today. I I'll

say this and I'm done. This this this

position here, this idea that we need to

be converted, we need to change our

direction. We need to become as

children, we need to change our

dependence, really if you look at that

in every part of our life, that would

completely change who we are.

>> You're right.

>> That would change the job. That would

change the home.

>> Yeah. That would change the marriage.

>> And I can tell you friend, it sure

changed the church.

>> You're right.

>> Not relying on our methods, not relying

on our means, not relying on anything

that we have other than just saying,

"God, if you don't do it,

>> Lord, point us in the right direction."

You know, Bible says children are

arrows.

What are they meant to They're meant to

be pointed in the right direction and

shot. You get one chance.

>> That's right. Amen. one chance.

>> You say, "What does this have to do with

me tonight, preacher?" Well, let me ask

you, where are you?

Are you the disciples that are standing

around? Behold, I was thinking about

this up here just a minute ago. All

these young ladies was singing right

here. And they was singing their heart

out.

>> You're right.

>> Singing to the top of their lungs. And

I'll be honest with you, you say,

"Preacher, do they know what they're

singing about?" Probably not everything.

But I'll tell you this, they know who

they're SINGING TO. AMEN. THEY KNOW WHO

THEY'RE SINGING FOR. I KNOW THEY AIN'T

GOT IT ALL FIGURED OUT. BUT LET ME TELL

YOU, THERE'S BEEN MANY A DAYS I GET UP

AND SING JUST CUZ I HAVE TO, not because

I want to, BUT I JUST KNOW I HAVE TO.

AMEN. But aren't you thankful for those

LITTLE CHILDREN THAT'LL JUST SERVE GOD

AND JUST SING HIS PRAISES? AMEN. AND

LET'S STOP STANDING AROUND AND LOOKING

AT THEM, BUT LET'S GET IN THERE WITH

THEM. AMEN. AND WORSHIP AND BLESS HIS

NAME BECAUSE HE'S WORTHY. AND IF WE

DON'T, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'LL FIND later

on in life, they'll forget it. You're

right. Amen.

>> Because the gospel is a gospel to

children.

>> You're right.

>> We're all children.

>> That belong to God.

>> Amen.

>> Let me say this. It do some of us well

to quit trying to put our big bridges

on.

>> Amen. You know that's right.

>> Let God handle it.

>> Amen. That's

>> right.

>> Let him handle it. Amen. Put it in his

hands. Say, "Lord, I'm willing to change

my direction."

>> Amen.

>> You may feel like you're going right,

but you know, the Bible says there is a

way that seemth right unto a man. You're

>> right.

>> But the end thereof is the ways of

destruction. Let put your hand in his

and say, "Lord, take me."

>> Just like that little child. Well, I was

thinking about that the other day.

Case walked up to me and grabbed my

hand. I started walking down the road

and he was holding my hand. You know

what I was doing? I was keeping him from

all them cars that was going up and down

the road, things that might harm him. He

don't know how dangerous it is, but I

do. And you know, he was holding my hand

because he needed me to get him from

where he was to where he WAS GOING.

SOMEBODY SAY, "AMEN." I'M SAYING, "THANK

GOD THAT HEY, FRIEND, JUST LIKE HIM WITH

ME. I CAN REACH MY HAND TO MY HEAVENLY

FATHER. I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING. I

KNOW I'M GOING TO HEAVEN." AMEN. BUT IN

THIS LIFE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE'S GOING

TO TAKE ME. OH, BUT HE KNOWS WHERE I'm

going. AMEN. HE KNOWS THE WAY THAT I

TAKE. ALL FRIEND. HE'LL LEAD US THERE.

HE'LL GET US THERE. PUT YOUR HAND IN HIS

AND SAY, "LORD, LET'S GO." AMEN.

>> Every head bowed and every eye closed

tonight. I know we've all come and

prayed tonight, but maybe you need to

come again. I don't know. Just mind the

Lord tonight.

I'm thankful tonight that he'll get you

where you're going.

He knows where you need to be.

He'll get you in the right place.

He'll protect you. He'll take care of

you.

He said except you be converted. Got to

change your direction

and become his little children.

Is a good day in my life. I doubted my

salvation for years.

I didn't say enough, didn't do enough.

My works now I just there ain't no way I

could be saved and live and struggle

with the things that I struggle with.

And what I had to realize one day was

that the struggle's the same.

>> But now it just breaks my heart cuz the

Holy Ghost on the inside ain't want

don't want me to live that way no more.

>> He don't want me to live in sin, walk in

my flesh. And it would break my heart

when I would sin, Lord. And I'd say,

Lord, AM I REALLY SAVED, LORD, DO I

BELONG to you?

And every time I would ask him that, he

would speak.

Say, "Child, just get back on my path.

Just take my hand again."

I believe that songwriter was

right when

he wrote, "Come thou found of every

blessing. Tune my heart to sing thy

praise." That one verse he said this,

"Prone to wonder,

Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God

I love. Lord, here's my heart.

Take and seal it,

Lord, cuz I'd lose it, Lord. Here's my

heart. Take and seal it. Seal it for thy

corpse above.

Hey, child of God. He'll get you there.

But take his hand. Take his hand. Trust

his heart. He'll get you there. No, it

don't look good right now, but he's

able, oh friend, he's able TO DO

EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE

ASK OR THINK.

>> AMEN. He can fix it. HE CAN HELP IT. NO,

IT MAY NOT BE THE WAY OR THE TIME THAT

YOU WANT IT TO, BUT GOD IS ABLE. HE WILL

DO IT. HE'LL DO IT EVERY TIME. AMEN.

>> And he loves you tonight. Father, thank

you.

Thank you for this day,

for your sweet spirit,

and Lord, for the truth of the

children's gospel.

Lord, that if we're going to live for

you,

just like little children that can't

prepare their own meals,

can't feed themselves,

can't do anything, Father, for ourselves

other than just take your hand and

follow you. God, would you help us to do

that?

Lord, we know we're incapable, Father,

but you're able to do all things.

And Lord, you said in your word, Paul

said, "I can do all things through

Christ which strengthenth me." And so

God, I pray you would help us, Lord, in

childlike trust.

Lord, change our direction, get our

dependence right. And Lord, I know then,

Father, we'll see a divine work done in

our lives. I thank you, God, for the

sweet spirit tonight. Thank you for your

presence, Lord, and for whatever needs

your present. I pray nobody leave this

place without having it met before it's

too late. Lord, I love you. Thank you

for loving us. We ask it all in Jesus'

name. God's children said,

>> "Amen."

>> Amen. Well,

>> thank you for joining our service today.

We'd love it if you join us in person

the next time you are able at Meadows

Baptist Church. Our physical address is

2988

Stewart Road in Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. Our service times are Sunday

school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning

worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday evening

worship at 6:00 p.m., and Wednesday

evening Bible study at 700 p.m. For more

information, visit us at

meadowsbaptisturch.com.

Thanks again for tuning in.