The Childlike in GOD

I. EXORDIUM:

Who among here thinks like a child?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Sitio Visaya/ Strawberry St.

III. OBJECTIVES:

To promote childlikeness in faith, Word, evil, belief and submission to God.

IV. TEXT:

Matthew 11:25

Pray that we will continue to be child-like in faith, Word, evil, belief and submission to God

Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus began to say, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [and I acknowledge openly and joyfully to Your honor], that You have hidden these things from the wise and clever and learned, and revealed them to babies [to the childish, untaught, and unskilled].

V. THESIS:

Be childlike in faith, Word, evil and revelation/understanding

VI. TITLE:

The Childlike in GOD

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Matthew, also called Levi, one of the twelve (12) apostles, Mark 2:14, Jew who was a Roman tax collector, Matthew 10:3, called a sinner because he enters Roman court.

Mark 2:14
As he was walking along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax collector's desk. Jesus told him, "Follow me!" So Levi got up and followed him.

Matthew 10:3
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

B. Audience: to the Jews

C. Keywords: Fulfilled

D. Purpose: To show Jesus of Nazareth was the Kingly Messiah of Jewish Prophecy.

E. Job/Profession:

Tax collector, a publican.

A Jew prohibited to enter courts of non-Jew to deliver the collected tax to the Roman (non-Jews). His profession made him a sinner.
(Isaiah 52:11, 2 Corinthians 6:17, Colossians 2:21, Genesis 3:3, Acts 10:28, Acts 11:3, John 4:9)

Isaiah 52:11
"Depart! Depart! Go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

2 Corinthians 6:17
Therefore, "Get away from them and separate yourselves from them," declares the Lord, "and don't touch anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.

Colossians 2:21
"Don't handle this! Don't taste or touch that!"

Genesis 3:3
"but as for the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You are not to eat from it, nor are you to touch it, or you will die.'"

Acts 10:28
He told them, "You understand how wrong it is for a Jew to associate or visit with a gentile. But God has shown me that I should stop calling anyone common or unclean,

Acts 11:3
They said, "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them!"

John 4:9
The Samaritan woman asked him, "How can you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" Because Jews do not have anything to do with Samaritans.

Events that will make Matthew unclean or a sinner:

1. Matthew will touch the money of the people.
2. Often thought of him stealing money, or adding charges to the people that will go straight to his pocket.
3. He will enter Roman courts to deliver the money.
4. He might be probably advised to eat with them if he has a good tax collection that day.
5. Touch unclean hands of the Romans.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. What is a child?

1. Believes easily
2. Obeys easily
3. Expects easily
4. Humbly follows
5. Teachable
6. Shares easily
7. Innocent

B. Where can we be child-like?

1. In our trust to God (Psalms 131:2)

Psalms 131:2
Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child