Like a Child WK2
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Good Morning
Good Morning
Good Morning and Welcome to Freedom Chapel. My name is Pastor Terry, my wife Michelle and I serve as the lead pastors here at Freedom Chapel. We exist to bring hope to our community we do that by being a Place to Belong, Church for the Whole Family.
If you are new with us this morning would you please take the time fill out that little flap on the side of your bulletin. If you put it in the black boxes by the back door we will make a donation in your name to a local charity and send you cookies. Church can we show our guests some love this morning.
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT
Friday Night at 7:00 PM
......But I Don’t have a family.
You need to understand who we are going to be as a church.
Alexander Austin
Alexander Austin
Speaking of Family Today I would like to introduce to you a new member of the Freedom Chapel Family. Alexander is the the son to Jacob and Taylor Austin. Today Jacob and Taylor are going to bring Alexander forward to dedicate him to the Lord.
The Charge to the Parents
God has given us great and exceeding precious promises. One of those promises has to do with our children. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Promises of God
Jacob and Taylor the Bible tells us in Deut 6:4-9.
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
This is the commandment of God, that we should diligently rear our children in the Lord. In obedience to this command Jacob and Taylor are bringing their child, Alexander to be dedicated.
Precedent
The precedent for the ceremony of baby dedication may be found in the Scriptures. Hannah gave Samuel back to the Lord (I Samuel 1:28). Joseph and Mary did the same when they took Jesus to the temple to be dedicated (Luke 2:22). Paul mentioned Timothy’s godly heritage in his godly mother and grandmother. Jesus commanded, “Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not; for such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mark 10:14)
Purpose
The purpose of baby dedication is found in the purpose of the parents.
Rightly understood, the service is a ceremony of parental dedication in which both parents pledge themselves before God to raise their child in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)
Parental Covenant
1. Do you Jacob and Taylor here today to dedicate this child to God and commit yourselves to bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? (Answer: We do)
2. Do you pledge yourselves as parents to live before him godly lives that will leave no stumbling block before this child?
(Answer: We do)
3. Do you promise to do all in your power to bring this child into a saving faith in Jesus Christ? (Answer: We do)
4. Do you covenant with God to read the Scriptures together, pray together, and to regularly attend church together?
(Answer: We do)
Congregational Response
As members of the body of Christ and the family of God will you promise to do all in your power to assist these parents in their covenant by praying for Alexander and living exemplary lives before Him?
If so will you stand with us as we pray?
Prayer
“Father in heaven we now bring this child to you on behalf of his parents and dedicate him to the Lord. We pray for his that you will empower them and enable them to maintain the covenant they make here today. We pray now for Alexander that you would begin a work in his heart and life to early convict of sin and bring his to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. We ask that you will go before him and to protect from sin and sickness and all those things of this world that can ruin this life. We dedicate him now to the Lord in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN”
We have a small gift for little Alexander. His very first Freedom Chapel Shirt.
Sermon
Last week we began a new series Like a Child. Check out this weeks message Video.
This Series is meant to be a launching point for us as we approach the end of 2021 and Jump into 2022.
My hope is that we would all begin to gain a little traction through the holidays as we unload some of the weight of the world and begin to experience the Kingdom of God with child like faith.
As I shared last week our main text comes from a moment in the Bible where Jesus is interacting with children.......... found Mark 10:15.
15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Today’s topic of is the Presence of God from the perspective of a child.
The Theological Term for this is Omnipresence.
When we look at God a Everywhere we tend to see him as impersonal.
Sure he is everywhere but do I really matter.......He is so busy..........
The reality is though that God is very personal.
God truly wants to be the shelter that you run to.
Many of you know our youngest child Seth....... His love language is personal time.......He has taught me the importance of cuddle time......He wants somebody with him when he walks in the dark.......When it is storming He seeks us out.......Why because for a child personal presence make a difference.
As a child of God Personal Presence is the difference between Spiritual Life and Death.
This is why Today’s Message is focused on God’s Presence or as a Child would Put it.......
MY GOD IS WITH ME.
MY GOD IS WITH ME.
10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
A guy named Renaldo............
I didn’t have to worry about what happened to Michelle because she had a guy named Renaldo.......
I don’t have to worry about what happens to me because I have a God who is with me.
I have Jesus.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus was with God and God had a plan so He sent Jesus to be God With us..............
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
Jesus’s name literally means God with us.
God did not stop there.......After Jesus’ Death, Resurrection, and ascension to Heaven. God sent His Spirit to Dwell in Us.
God was Before me.....
God Came to Be With Me......
Now God Dwells In Me......
So why don’t I always feel Him?
I have found in my life that God is difficult to meet with.
The difficulty for me is making time to meet with Him.
We need more moments with God!
HOW DO I HAVE A MOMENT WITH GOD?
HOW DO I HAVE A MOMENT WITH GOD?
The sad truth is this.
Just because God is with you doesn’t mean your are with him.
Just because God is with you doesn’t mean your are with him.
Today I want to share with you the four steps to having a moment with God.
Step 1
1. TALK TO HIM.
1. TALK TO HIM.
Please notice I did not say pray. I specifically said talk because so many of us are intimidated by prayer.
What do you even call God?
Prayer Meeting and Prayer Voice.
It is Boring......
2 O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.
Have a conversation with God— Like Texting
What should I talk to him about?
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
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LISTEN TO HIM.
LISTEN TO HIM.
Deuteronomy 30:20 (ESV)
20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days........
But Pastor I have never heard God speak.........
He Speaks though
His Word
People
Circumstances…i.e. moving in your life. Shane and the Gym.
He speaks through His Spirit.
That still small voice.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
So Say a short prayer---Shut your trap—listen… journal, write.
Two Walkie Talkies and an unplugged Modem
21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
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RECEIVE FROM HIM.
RECEIVE FROM HIM.
This is one of the most difficult things for most of us because of our pride.
Our pride says don’t except a gift.
Don’t let the elders pray over your sickness.
Have you ever heard a Kid say nah I’m good I have enough toys or candy or anything?
To have faith like a child is to receive from God like a child would.
9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?
11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
The Gift God is offering are
Strength weak
Guidance when you are lost
Courage when you are afraid
Rest when you are weary
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
13 As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
I have found that those moments when I get alone with God.............
The deer blind............
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ENJOY HIS PRESENCE.
ENJOY HIS PRESENCE.
Enjoy something more when with someone you love!
Going to Peru with and without Michelle.
11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
You want to know why so many Christians are unhappy.....Because they don’t make God’s presence a priority.
Many Christian Parents today have made their kids a priority over everything in their lives including their relationship with God.
We need to be actively seeking the presence of God.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
God wants to walk through our day with us..... Maybe if we opened the door every morning His presence would be more evident through out our entire day.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have his presence with us every day.
30 then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,
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We need to start having more moment’s with God.
When we begin to have more moment’s with God it turns into—minute, hr, day, wk, month, yr— Before we know it we are doing life with God!
As I close this message and the Worship team comes forward.
I want to tell you
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT GOD IS WITH YOU.
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT GOD IS WITH YOU.
Are you with him?
Are you with him?
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
HE WANTS TO GUIDE YOU WHEN YOU ARE LOST.
HE WANTS TO GUIDE YOU WHEN YOU ARE LOST.
17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.
21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
God wants to be the voice on the other end of the walkie talkie.
Let the Holy Spirit be your guide.
How far would Seth have made it with out my instructions.
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HE WANT TO GIVE YOU REST WHEN YOU ARE WEARY.
HE WANT TO GIVE YOU REST WHEN YOU ARE WEARY.
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
In just a moment we are going to stand together one last time. The worship team is going to play a song and I am going to ask you to spend a moment in God’s presence.
On the screen will be three things I want you to pray over yourself.
1. Holy Spirit what do you want me to take away from this message today?
2.God I invite you to reveal yourself to me this week as I pause to have moments with you through out my day.
3. God would you place at least one person in my life this week for me to share what you have done in my life.