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For Children And Youth
Sunday, August 26
Pastor Oliver R. Blosser, M.Div., Ph.D.
Faith Community Church
Pipestone, MN
Mark 10:13-16; 13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 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. 15 Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Children matter to God. We learn from the Sacred Scriptures that children are of great value. They possess eternal souls, and how they are treated as children will certainly influence how they live their lives, and ultimately, where they spend eternity. It is the responsibility of Christian families and churches to pray for children because they are important to God.
I. What the Bible
teaches about the value of children.
1. Children are a gift from God.
Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Cf., Genesis 33:5.
Each child is a precious gift from the Lord. Each child is created in the image of God and possesses a special God-given mission to accomplish in this world. Secularization often places no value or sees no purpose to a child’s life.
2. Children are a blessing to those who fear the Lord.
Psalm 128:3; Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. Cf., Proverbs 17:6; 22:24-25.
The Christian family regards each child as unique and a special blessing to the family. Secularization often regards children as a burden or even disposable!
II. What the Bible teaches about the duties of children.
1. Honor your father and mother, Exodus 20:12, Leviticus 19:3; Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:1-3.
2. Respect the elderly, Leviticus 19:32; I Peter 5:5-6.
3. Love the Lord with all your heart and soul, Deuteronomy 30:2.
4. Listen to the instruction of your parents, Proverbs 1:8; 6:20; 13:1; 23:22; Ephesians 6:1.
5. Apply God’s Word and its principles to your life, Proverbs 28:7.
6. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, Ecclesiastes 12:1.
7. Obey your parents in all things, Colossians 3:20; I Timothy 5:4.
8. Give reverence to your parents for correction, Proverbs 29:17; Hebrews 12:9.
9. Possess a teachable spirit, Matthew 18:3-4.
10. Know the Holy Scriptures, II Timothy 3:15.
11. Become a partaker of the promises of God, Acts 2:38-39.
12. Take care of your elderly parents, Genesis 45:9-11; 47:11; I Timothy 5:4.
Children can be a special blessing to their parents by learning and being obedient to their God-given duties. It is a known medical fact that children who are facing serious illness stand four times the chance of recovery if they are obedient to their parents, as compared to children that are undisciplined and disobedient. It is of great value to our children and to our homes if our children learn to be responsive to their God-given responsibilities. We can pray that we will be good parents, and that we will teach our children to be obedient to God. In this way, Christian children and youth become a testimony to the truth and power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives.
III. What the Bible teaches about prayers for children.
Because children are very special people to our Lord, we are obligated to pray for God’s blessing on them. The Lord not only want to bless children, but also to bring them into His Kingdom. As we pray for our children, we release the power of the Holy Spirit into the spiritual warfare that is on-going for the souls of our children.
Mark 10:13-16; 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, 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 I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Cf., Matthew 19:13-15; Luke 18:15-17.
It is almost the easiest thing in the world to lead a child from 5 to 10 years of age to a definite acceptance of Christ.
R.A. Torrey
A child of five, if properly instructed, can as truly believe and be regenerated as an adult.
Charles Spurgeon
Life Application
Keep in mind that our society is not children or youth friendly. The values-neutral education, the meltdown of the family in society, divorce, immorality, and drug abuse often make innocent children their victims. America is quietly becoming a post-family society as social engineers redefine the definition of the family, mock the institution of holy matrimony and promote same-sex homes. This demise of the family will produce a chaotic world that will be devastating to children and youth and lead to a moral collapse in society which may be parallel to that of the days of Noah. If the family and the Judeo-Christian ethic collapse, the entire Western culture and civilization could descend into the same black hole that consumed Greece, Rome and the other great empires of the world. What can we do to protect our children and our families?
1. We can strengthen our own families!
- Be committed to your family. Refuse to allow anything tear your family apart.
- Spend time together. Work against the time demands of society and give your time to one another.
- Express appreciation for each other. Make your home a place of safety, acceptance, love and refuge.
- Maintain good communication with one another, and especially with your children.
- Share a spiritual commitment and ministry for the Lord together.
2. We can pray!
- Pray for America and her families. Spiritual renewal is the only way out of the mess that families are in.
- Pray for families you know, those in our church and community. Many Christian families face terrible temptations and conflicts and need your prayers to help them survive.
- Pray for children and teens. This world is putting children to the test. They need your prayers to stand up under the pressure.