Turn back with me, if you would,
to Mark chapter 10. There is something in this text
that I greatly relate to. I greatly relate to it. Verse 13 says. And they brought young children
to him. These. Parents or whoever they
were. Brought their children to the
Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 13 goes on to say. that
he should touch them. What would we give for God to
touch our children? What would we give for God to
touch our children? Joshua said, as for me and my
house, We're going to serve the Lord. We're going to serve the
Lord. We are all here right now. I'm
here right now. Because I want God to save me
and I want God to save my house. And I want God to save your house. I mean that I want God to save
your children. The touch of the Lord Jesus Christ
is a healing touch. There was a leper one time who
came to the Lord and he fell down before him and he said,
Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. And I wish I could
have seen the Lord's face when he said, I most certainly will.
And he touched him. That blind man said, oh, that
I might receive my sight. And the Lord touched him. They brought a deaf man to him
and said, he's never heard before. And the Lord touched him. The touch of Christ is a healing
touch. But it doesn't say that any of
these children were sick. Didn't say any of them. Not a
one of them. We're sick. Then why were they
bringing them? Turn with me over to Matthew's
account. Let's look at Matthew 19. Matthew 19 verse 13 says, then were there brought unto
him little children that he should put his hands on them and pray. They wanted him to pray on their
behalf. Pray to who? God. They wanted him to make intercession
to God on their behalf. They brought these little children
and their heart's desire was that he might make intercession
to God on their behalf. I can relate to that. I can relate to that. Their deepest
concern for their children was their souls. Their souls. And they had heard, and so have
we, that there is only one who can
do anything for a sinner's soul. So they brought him to Christ.
And so have we. But. Verse 13 goes on to say. This
is the same thing that our text says. Verse 13 says the disciples
rebuked them. Now why? Can you picture that? Here these people come with their
children and they're standing with the disciples rebuking them. Why would they do that? Turn
with me to Luke's account. Luke chapter 18. Luke 18 verse 15 says, And they brought unto him also
infants, that he would touch them. But when his disciples
saw it, they rebuked them. They weren't just little children. They were little children. But
Luke clarifies it by saying they were infants. And the disciples
thought, what's the point? Here these people come with their
infants and the disciples are thinking, what's the point? What
can these infants do? Okay, you're coming to the master
to hear him speak. What can these infants hear? What can these infants possibly
learn? There is no ability in them. They're too unable. They're just
too unable. They're too helpless. No point. Uh-uh. Too helpless. No point in bringing that person
to Christ. But verse 16 says, Jesus called them unto Him and
said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them
not. For of such is the kingdom of
God." That's who the kingdom of God is made of. Everybody
there is just a little child, just a little child. I've always
loved this verse of scripture. Go with me to Isaiah 11. Isaiah 11, now we we might have
different headings at the tops of our our pages, but mine says. The peaceable kingdom of Christ. That's what it says at the top
of my page, the peaceable kingdom of Christ, he's describing glory.
He's describing glory to us. Isaiah 11, verse six. The wolf also shall dwell with
the lamb. And the leopard shall lie down
with the kid. And the calf and the young lion
and the fatling together. And a little child shall lead
them. And the cow and the bear shall
feed. Their young ones shall lie down
together. And the lion shall eat straw
like the ox. And the sucking child shall play
on the hole of the asp. And the weaned child shall put
his hand on the cockatrice den. They shall not hurt nor destroy
in all my holy mountain for the earth shall be full of the knowledge
of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Now I've yet to hear
of one prophecy in the scripture so far that has failed. I've yet to hear of one. We know
that everything written in the scripture has a spiritual meaning
to point us to Christ, right? Every bit of it. And, I've yet
to hear of one prophecy in the scripture that physically has
failed. Every single thing that our Lord
did was that the scripture might be fulfilled. Everything! Everywhere
He went! was that the scripture might
be fulfilled. He said, you go get me a coat. Why, Lord? Because I must ride him into
Jerusalem. That the scripture might be fulfilled.
Not one word shall fail. He said in Psalm 22, they parted
my garments. They parted his garments. He
told the apostles, deadly serpents are going to bite you. They're
not going to hurt you. Deadly serpents bit him, they didn't
hurt him. Right here he says, a little
child is going to walk up to a lion and say, come on. I love knowing that the Lord
loves children. I love knowing that in his character,
you know, we're here to learn about him. We're here to find
out who he is. And I love knowing that in his
heart, in his mind, in his desire, he takes great pleasure, great
delight in children. This ought to greatly encourage
us to bring our children before him in prayer. Lord, these children
you've given us, oh, we bring them to you. We bring them to
you. Look at Isaiah 40 with me. Isaiah 40 verse 11 says. He shall feed his flock like
a shepherd. He shall gather the lambs with
his arm. And carry them in his bosom. And shall gently lead those that
are with young. Don't you love that? That's who
he is. He'll gently, oh, you're with
young. Gently lead those. That's who
He is. Look at Isaiah 44. Verse 3 says, For I will pour
water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit upon thy
seed and my blessing upon thine offspring." I'll pour a blessing
on your children. Isn't that wonderful? Turn with
me over to Psalm 127. Now this is God speaking. This is the same God who said,
I'm a jealous God. Beside me, there's none else.
I kill, I make alive, I wound, I heal, I the Lord do all these
things. That same God said right here
in Psalm 127, verse three, low children are in heritage of the
Lord. And the fruit of the womb is
his reward. As arrows are in the hand of
a mighty man, so are children of the youth." Young children.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them. They shall
not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the
gate. He said, happy is the man that
hath his quiver full of them. Full. Now go with me back to
our text in Mark chapter 10. Mark chapter 10, they brought
their little children to him and in verse 16 it says, he took
them up in his arms. Can't you just see that? This gives me great encouragement.
Great hope to bring all of our children before him. All of our
children before him. Verse 13, and they brought young
children to him that he should touch them. And his disciples
rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was
much displeased. Now sometimes we can pass over
words too quickly and not enter into what the word is truly saying. He wasn't just displeased. He
was much displeased. Much displeased. If our Lord
is displeased, we don't want that. But I tell you what we truly
don't want is for him to be much displeased. Verse 14, But when
Jesus saw it, he was much displeased and said unto them, Suffer the
little children to come unto me. And forbid them not, for
of such is the kingdom of God. Verily, now what he's saying
right here is what I'm about to tell you is absolute truth. Verily, I say unto you, whosoever
shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he
shall not enter therein. Now, this right here is the heart
of the message. Alright, this right here is the
point of the message. Every soul must understand this
right here. Every soul, before they leave
this earth, must understand this right here. God said, whoever
is not saved as a little child. Not just child. Little child. This is key. I'm telling you
this is a key to salvation. If a person wants to know a key
to salvation. Luke said infant. Whoever is
not saved as an infant is saved cannot be saved. Shall not enter therein. The
only way that a soul can be saved is as an infant is saved. Verse 15, verily I say unto you,
whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child,
he shall not enter therein. Now, can God save infants? He most certainly can. Let's
look at an instance in scripture where he did save an infant. Go with me to 2 Samuel chapter
12. 2 Samuel 12. Now, we all know the
story that David sinned against God. And God told the prophet
Nathan to go tell David, because of his sin, his child would die. So David started weeping, he
started praying for his child, and he would not eat. They were
trying to get him to eat, and he would not eat. But after his
child died, he got up, he washed himself, and he sat down at the
table. And his servants were confused.
They said, why did you mourn while he was alive? And now that
he's dead, you seem to be fine. Verse 22, and he said, while
the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept. For I said, who can
tell whether God will be gracious to me that the child may live? But now he is dead. Wherefore
should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I
shall go to him. But he shall not return to me. Now, we know that every word
in the scripture is a vital word. Every single word, don't you
love the fact that the scripture says we're saved by the faith
of Christ, don't you love that word of. Is his. It originates with him, it comes
from him. That's a vital word. In the scripture,
shall is a vital word. Isaiah 42 says, He shall not
fail. That's an important word. Aren't
you so glad it doesn't say, He might not fail. Aren't you so
glad we're not called to stand up and cry, He might not fail. He shall not fail. David said, I shall go to him. Now, how do you know that, David?
Don't you have a 50-50 chance? God's Holy Spirit said, here's
the thing to remember. David did not say this. Yeah, David said it. David did
not say this. He was moved by God. And God
carefully chose his words and God's Holy Spirit said, David
shall go to him. That's what he said. Look at
Psalm 116 with me. Psalm 116 verse 5. Gracious is the Lord. Now let me tell you one thing
that we human beings do not know. It's how gracious our Lord is. We have no idea how gracious
our Lord is. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous,
yea, our God is merciful. The Lord preserveth the simple. The word preserveth means save. He saves the simple. Let me ask
you this question. Who does God consider to be simple? That is God's business, it's
not mine. That's something God knows. Not
me. But he said whoever he considers
to be simple, he's going to preserve them. That's what he said. But
without faith, it's impossible to please him. Isn't that right? He that cometh to God must believe
that He is. Isn't that right? Is that true
or false? Faith cometh by hearing. Isn't
that right? How are deaf people saved? How are deaf people saved? Faith
does come by hearing. It does. But it's a hearing of
the heart. Thousands of people hear this
gospel with the ear and never hear it with the heart. The Lord
said they have ears. But he that hath an ear to hear,
let him hear. It's a hearing of the heart. Turn with me to Luke chapter
one. Luke chapter 1 and look at verse
30. Luke 1 verse 30, And the angel
said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with
God. And behold, thou shalt conceive
in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name
Jesus. He shall be great and shall be
called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give unto
him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over
the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be
no end. Then said Mary unto the angel,
How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered
and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, And the
power of the highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also that holy
thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son
of God. And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth," now listen to this,
"...thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in
her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was
called barren. For with God nothing shall be
impossible." And Mary said, Behold the handmaid
of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed
from her. And Mary arose in those days,
and went into the hill country with haste into a city of Judah,
and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass that when
Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her
womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. And she
spake out with a loud voice and said, Blessed art thou among
women. and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb. And whence is this to me that
the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as
the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped
in my womb for joy." What happened to that baby? That
was John the Baptist. What happened to that baby? Faith. faith. God put faith in that
unborn infant. We should never believe that
God is only able to do something once. John is not an isolated case.
Not an isolated case. David's child had the exact same
experience John had. If David's child went to be with
God, it means a salvation took place. It's the only way. Isn't
that right? Now, how could an infant be saved? This is so important. Man, this
is so important. Our Lord said, whosoever does
not receive the kingdom of God, just like a little child receives
it. as a little child shall not enter therein." So how could
a little child, an infant, a little child, how could a little child
be saved? This is what would have to happen. God the Father would have to
choose that infant. Isn't that right? He'd have to
have done it from the foundation of the world. From that point,
He would have to set His affection, set His love, set His heart on
the soul of that infant. And then God the Son would have
to die. He would have to shed His blood
to pay for the sin of that infant. If an infant goes to heaven,
it is not because he's sinless. Well, he's just good and God
just took him. No! David said, I was conceived
in sin. The moment I was conceived, sin
was there. Infants are sinners. And they
don't go to heaven because they're sinless. So the only way an infant
child could go to heaven is if Jesus Christ died on the cross,
shed his blood, made all the payment for that infant. And
then God's Holy Spirit would have to come to that infant and he would have to give that
infant faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That's impossible. No, it's not. As soon as Mary
walked in the room with God in her belly, John Lee, he said,
that's my Lord and my God. I believe on him. He is all I
need. He's made to be all I need. If God wills to, he can send
faith to any and every soul he's purposed to send it to. Now the
same way an infant would be saved, that's the same way we must be
saved. The exact same way. An infant
can't do anything. Neither can I. Well, at least I can believe.
No, you can't. That infant just lays there,
it doesn't crawl. You take a little infant, it
doesn't crawl. It can't crawl. It can't speak. It can't do anything. Neither can I. Not spiritually
before God. God said, this is what God said
about me, he said, I was cast out in the field, laying there
in my loathing, polluted in my own blood, none eye pitied me,
but he passed by. And he saw me, and he said, thy
time, thank God I had a time, thy time was a time of love. If any soul is going to be saved,
that soul has to be saved just like an infant is saved. It has
to be. God has to choose him. Lay in
there. He can't do anything but lay
there. We are born dead in trespasses and sins. God has to choose him. Christ has to die for him. He
has to. He has to pay for that sin. He
has to shed his blood for him. And then God's Holy Spirit has
to come to him, enter his heart, enter his soul, and give him
life and faith toward Christ. He has to cause him to leave
crying, my Lord and my God. Without that, a sinner cannot
be saved. Cannot be saved. Now, if any
sinner is going to receive the kingdom of God, he must receive
it as a little child. Salvation does not come by man's
reason. It does not come by man's ability.
It does not come by man's anything. Salvation is only received as
a little child. That's the only way it's received. Let's all come to Christ as little
children. He said, except you be converted and become as little
children. Let's all come as little children
and let's bring our little children. And here's the reason why. OK,
I'm going to close with this back in our text. Go with me
one more time back to Mark 10. Here's the reason why we come
as little children, bringing our little children. Here's our
encouragement for it. I just adore this. I just adore
this. Verse 13 says, and they brought
young children to him that he should touch them. That's what
they wanted, that he should touch them. Verse 16 says, and he took
them up in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them. They came hoping he would just
touch them. Let's bring them to Christ. Maybe he'll just touch
them. And they came saying, Lord, would you touch our children?
He grabbed them and he lifted them up in his arms. Oh, and
he blessed them. He made intercession to God on
their behalf. He said, you suffer those little
children to come to me. Don't forbid them. No soul is too small. I'm talking about us adults here.
No soul is too weak. No center is too insufficient. No center is too incapable and
too helpless. No center. Whosoever will, let
him come. Let him come. All right, let's
stand together.