rec0714-113426<\/a><\/p>\n Introduction\u201d\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Alan Jackson\u201d\u2122s song has been a family favorite for years\u201d\u201dbeginning when Nathan was just big enough to catch the words and sing the song!<\/p>\n It\u201d\u2122s a great thought\u201d\u201d\u201cIt\u201d\u2122s alright to be little bitty!\u201d<\/p>\n And yet, we struggle against being \u201clittle bitty\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Do you like to be well-thought-of?<\/p>\n Do you ever envy the place one of your friends occupies\u201d\u201dtheir job or their social status?<\/p>\n Truth be told\u201d\u201dwe all deal with the desire to have status, to be the \u201cbig man\u201d, etc.!<\/p>\n Mark 10:13-16, 35-45<\/p>\n \u201cLittleness\u201d is the only \u201cbigness\u201d with God!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Mark 10:13-16 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n 13\u00a0<\/sup>One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.<\/p>\n 14\u00a0<\/sup>When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, \u201cLet the children come to me. Don\u201d\u2122t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15\u00a0<\/sup>I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn\u201d\u2122t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.\u201d 16\u00a0<\/sup>Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.<\/p>\n \u201cLittleness\u201d is the only \u201cbigness\u201d with God!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Even Jesus\u201d\u2122 own disciples had a desire for status.\u00a0 And, at first glance, you might even admire their quest.<\/p>\n The <\/strong>only \u201cstatus\u201d that matters in the end is our status with God.<\/p>\n What God thinks of us, how He ranks us, is the bottom line in life.<\/p>\n \u201cLittleness\u201d is the only \u201cbigness\u201d with God!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n And \u201clittleness\u201d before God is having a simply faith in Jesus.<\/strong><\/p>\n THAT <\/em><\/strong>will make us \u201cbig\u201d in God\u201d\u2122s eyes!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n WHAT<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 does the \u201clittleness\u201d of a simple faith look like?<\/p>\n Matthew 18:1-14 gives us a more extended version of Jesus\u201d\u2122 thoughts on all of this.\u00a0 So we\u201d\u2122re going to walk through that text and see what we can learn.<\/p>\n Jesus gives us 5<\/span><\/em> Patterns of Living <\/strong>that are found in the lives of those who get God\u201d\u2122s attention:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 1.\u00a0\u00a0 I must have simple faith to enter God\u201d\u2122s kingdom<\/strong>. (1-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n 1<\/sup>At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, \u201cWho, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?\u201d 2\u00a0<\/sup>He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3\u00a0<\/sup>And he said: \u201cTruly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.<\/p>\n The disciples\u201d\u2122 perspective on \u201cstatus\u201d was much like ours\u201d\u201dvery self-centered, each one jockeying for position above the other.\u00a0 The parallel passage in Mark 9 informs us that they knew they were being self-centered\u201d\u201d\u201cAfter they arrived atCapernaum, Jesus and his disciples settled in the house where they would be staying.\u00a0 Jesus asked them, \u201d\u02dcWhat were you discussing out on the road?\u201d\u2122\u00a0 But they didn\u201d\u2122t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.\u201d<\/p>\n We\u201d\u2122re not going to read it, but check out Mark 10:35-45 later.\u00a0 There, you\u201d\u2122ll find James and John wanting Jesus to give them the top 2 seats in the kingdom of heaven!\u00a0 And it is there where Jesus tells them that even HE didn\u201d\u2122t come to be served but to serve and lay down his life a ransom for many!<\/p>\n READ verse 3 AGAIN<\/p>\n \u201cSimple faith\u201d like that of \u201clittle children\u201d is required to even have a relationship with God<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle children\u201d\u201d\u201dactual children,<\/p>\n But also . . .<\/p>\n ANYONE<\/span> with SIMPLE FAITH<\/span><\/strong>=<\/p>\n —Uncomplicated Trust<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>—Wholehearted Dependence<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>—Helpless Confidence<\/em><\/p>\n —Humble Awareness of being Little and Needing Someone Big<\/em><\/p>\n These are NOT Natural Characteristics of people over 10!<\/span><\/p>\n That\u201d\u2122s why Alan Jackson\u201d\u2122s song became so popular\u201d\u201dadults needed to be reminded that it\u201d\u2122s ok to be a kid and a kid at heart!\u00a0 And that is freeing\u201d\u201despecially when we realize it\u201d\u2122s true about our relationship to God.<\/p>\n Now, it\u201d\u2122s NOT easy for us adults, because we\u201d\u2122re all grown up and have life figured out.<\/p>\n But the only folks that can truly know God are those who come to Jesus with the simple faith of a child!<\/p>\n –Review Gospel<\/p>\n I must have simple faith to enter God\u201d\u2122s kingdom.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cLittleness\u201d is the only \u201cbigness\u201d with God!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \n <\/p>\n 2.\u00a0\u00a0 I must have simple faith to be great in God\u201d\u2122s kingdom.\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0(4)<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 4\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cLittleness\u201d is the only \u201cbigness\u201d with God!<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Mark 9:35<\/strong><\/p>\n Anyone who wants to be the first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.<\/p>\n Martin Luther\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n Oh, do not think to be great but to be little.\u00a0 Becoming great will come of itself if you become little.<\/p>\n 1 Peter 5:5b-6 (NLT) <\/strong><\/p>\n And all of you, serve each other in humility, for \u201d\u02dcGod sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble\u201d\u2122.\u00a0 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you.<\/p>\n J. Oswald Sanders\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n God\u201d\u2122s best gifts are not on a high shelf but on a low one to which we must stoop.\u00a0 The badge of greatness is greatness in humility.<\/p>\n Let me show you a picture of a conversation between God and one of His \u201cgreats\u201d that shows just what it means to have a simple faith:<\/p>\n Psalm 131 (MSG)<\/strong><\/p>\n 1<\/sup>God, I\u201d\u2122m not trying to rule the roost, 2\u00a0<\/sup>I\u201d\u2122ve kept my feet on the ground, 3\u00a0<\/sup>Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope. I must have simple faith in order to be great in God\u201d\u2122s kingdom, because greatness (real status) in God\u201d\u2122s eyes is humility!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cLittleness\u201d is the only \u201cbigness\u201d with God!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 3.\u00a0\u00a0 I must treat others with simple faith like I would treat Jesus. <\/strong>(5-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n 5\u00a0<\/sup>And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 6\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cIf anyone causes one of these little ones\u201d\u201dthose who believe in me\u201d\u201dto stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.<\/p>\n Jesus is talking about how we relate to at least 2 groups of people\u201d\u201dand He makes the point that relating to others is really about relating to HIM<\/span><\/em>!<\/p>\n First, to seekers<\/span><\/em>\u201d\u201dthose who are on the verge of trusting Jesus with a simple faith.\u00a0 It matters HOW we relate to folks when we\u201d\u2122re sharing our faith\u201d\u201dwe need to be sensitive to them and talk to them on their level and show them that Jesus meets them right where they are.<\/p>\n We must be gentle, not overbearing; patient, not pushy; simple and clear, not fancy in our words; welcoming and humble, not intimidating, spiritual know-it-alls.<\/p>\n But also, to new believers<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 It takes time to grow up.\u00a0 It takes many experiences to gain maturity.\u00a0 God tells us not to exasperate our children\u201d\u201dnot to frustrate them by expecting them to be grown-ups when they\u201d\u2122re children.\u00a0 Sometimes in the church, because of our own pride\/self-righteousness and resulting legalism, we expect new believers to act like they\u201d\u2122ve walked with Jesus for years\u201d\u201dand it WILL hurt them!\u00a0 And when we hurt them, we hurt Jesus!<\/p>\n And don\u201d\u2122t forget\u201d\u201dno matter how long we\u201d\u2122ve walked with Jesus, greatness in the kingdom is about humility<\/span>!<\/p>\n You know, if we were as mature as we often think we are, we\u201d\u2122d be less judgmental and more childlike and simply trust Jesus with whatever\/whoever anyway!<\/p>\n And this whole deal extends to ALL believers.<\/p>\n I must treat others with simple faith (whether seekers, new believers, or even mature believers) like I would treat Jesus!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cLittleness\u201d is the only \u201cbigness\u201d with God!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n 4.\u00a0\u00a0 I must be willing to do spiritual surgery on myself in order to protect the family of simple faith. <\/strong>(7–<\/strong>9)<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 7\u00a0<\/sup>Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8\u00a0<\/sup>If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9\u00a0<\/sup>And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus really values simple faith that results in simple obedience\u201d\u201dand He\u201d\u2122ll hold us accountable if we hurt someone who is trying to simply \u201ctrust and obey\u201d!<\/p>\n Is there anything in your life that is hindering YOUR simple faith in Jesus?<\/p>\n Is anything in your life hindering someone else\u201d\u2122s childlike trust and obedience to Jesus?\u00a0 If so, cut it out!<\/p>\n I must be willing to do spiritual surgery on myself in order to protect the family of simple faith!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cLittleness\u201d is the only \u201cbigness\u201d with God!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 5.\u00a0\u00a0 I must remember how much God loves those with simple faith. <\/strong>(10-14)<\/strong><\/p>\n 10\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cSee that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. [11]\u00a0<\/sup><\/p>\n 12\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cWhat do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13\u00a0<\/sup>And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14\u00a0<\/sup>In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.<\/p>\n Does it not overwhelm you to realize that God loves you like that?<\/span><\/p>\n a)\u00a0 God\u201d\u2122s love for His own should make us patient in loving others!<\/em><\/p>\n When we remember how God loves so continually us, we\u201d\u2122ll be encouraged to be more patient in loving others.<\/p>\n b)\u00a0 God\u201d\u2122s love for His own should make us urgent in sharing His love with others!<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n When we remember how God\u201d\u2122s love pursued us\u201d\u201dand still pursues those who will simply trust Jesus\u201d\u201dwe\u201d\u2122ll find ourselves urgently talking to others about God\u201d\u2122s love as seen in Jesus!<\/p>\n I must remember how much God loves those with simple faith!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cLittleness\u201d is the only \u201cbigness\u201d with God!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Conclusion<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0Spurgeon<\/strong><\/p>\n To rise to the greatness of grace, we must go down to the littleness, the simplicity, and the trustfulness of childhood.<\/p>\n \u201cLittleness\u201d is the only \u201cbigness\u201d with God!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Be \u201clittle\u201d by simply trusting Jesus and following in His steps\u00a0 day by day\u201d\u201dloving Jesus and loving others with God\u201d\u2122s love for them.<\/p>\n Then, you\u201d\u2122ll be \u201cbig\u201d in God\u201d\u2122s eyes\u201d\u201dall by, and because of, Jesus!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Message by Chad Kelly rec0714-113426 Introduction\u201d\u201d Alan Jackson\u201d\u2122s song has been a family favorite for years\u201d\u201dbeginning when Nathan was just big enough to catch the words and sing the song! It\u201d\u2122s a great thought\u201d\u201d\u201cIt\u201d\u2122s alright to be little bitty!\u201d And … Continue reading \n\n
\n \n \u201cI am opposed to millionaires, but it would be dangerous to offer me the position.\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0MARK TWAIN<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Redemptive \u201cLittleness\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n
\nI don\u201d\u2122t want to be king of the mountain.
\nI haven\u201d\u2122t meddled where I have no business
\nor fantasized grandiose plans.<\/p>\n
\nI\u201d\u2122ve cultivated a quiet heart.
\nLike a baby content in its mother\u201d\u2122s arms,
\nmy soul is a baby content.<\/p>\n
\nHope now; hope always!<\/p>\n