OUT OF BABY S MOUTHS Text: Psalm 8:2 Key Word: Learning Key Thought: God Uses Babies to Teach Us Practical Truths The more time that I spend with my grandchildren, the more I realize just how much I still have to learn. Not everything that is worth learning is gained in a school of higher education. Some important truths for healthy living can be gained from our children even our youngest of children. I believe that God has imbedded a wealth of truth in children. Some of that truth becomes corrupted as we mature in age. It would be a good exercise for all of us to reflect back in life and see what we ve either forgotten or allowed to become less influential in our lives. Perhaps we need more children in our lives instead of grownups to teach us wonderful truths in their simplicity. ** A group of expectant fathers were in a waiting room, while their wives were in the process of delivering babies. A nurse came in and announced to one man that his wife had just given birth to twins. That s quite a coincidence he responded, I play for the Minnesota Twins! A few minutes later another nurse came in and announced to another man that he was the father of triplets. That s amazing, he exclaimed, I work for the 3M company. At that point, a third man slipped off his chair and laid down on the floor. Somebody asked him if he was feeling ill. No, he responded, I happen to work for the 7-up company. ** I saw a young mother, with eyes full of laughter, and two little shadows come following after. Wherever she moved, they were always right there holding onto her skirts, hanging onto her chair, before her, behind her an adhesive pair. Don t you ever get weary as, day after day, your two little tagalongs get in your way? She smiled as she shook her pretty young head, and I ll always remember the words that she said: It s good to have shadows that run when you run, that laugh when you re happy and hum when you hum for you only have shadows when your life s filled with sun! Shadows by Martha Wadsworth quoted in Family Matters Page 1 of 7
What Can We Learn from Our Children? I. THE PEACEFULNESS OF GOD`S SECURITY II. THE PERFECTION OF GOD`S MAJESTY III. THE PRACTISE OF GOD`S PRAISE I. THE PEACEFULNESS OF GOD`S SECURITY Babies don t worry. Adults worry. Why is that? From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. Psalm 8:2 NIV Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou established strength, Because of thine adversaries, That thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. Psalm 8:2 KJV The word used for strength has a number of meanings. It is translated either security, majesty or praise. There is great strength to be gained in living a life of security. Why do we fret so much in life? The price of gas increases and we worry. Jobs decline and we worry. Wars begin and we worry. Our health declines and we worry. Our children rebel and we worry. An Average Person s Anxiety Is Focussed on 40% things that will never happen 30% things about the past that can t be changed 12% things about criticism by others, mostly untrue 10% about health, which gets worse with stress 8% about real problems that will be faced Source unknown There are more than 400 verses in the Bible dealing with peace. It should convince us that God is concerned about us living in peace. The main reason why we are not living a life of peace is because we have not learned to live in God`s security. Why should we fret? Is it because we haven t learned to place our trust in the security that God has offered us? Page 2 of 7
I. THE PEACEFULNESS OF GOD`S SECURITY God made way through the Red Sea. It was God who directed the stone that slew Goliath. Didn t God provide food, water, clothing and protection for millions in the Sinai desert for 40 years? Did Jesus not heal the nobleman s son; cleansed the lepers; raise to the paralysed man to his feet and open the eyes of the blind man? Jesus walked on the water and calmed the storms. He cast out devils and raised the dead back to life. Children don t worry because they have within them the peacefulness of God. One of the great blessings given to Abraham was that he was promised by God that he was going to his grave in peace (Genesis 15:15). Throughout the Books of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy the people offered Peace Offerings unto the LORD. God s Word fills us with His peaceful security. Children constantly declare this message. The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children's peace. Psalm 29:11 Isaiah 9:7 Isaiah 26:3 Isaiah 54:13 Page 3 of 7
II. THE PERFECTION OF GOD`S MAJESTY Another practical truth that I have learned from children is The Perfection of God s Majesty. Nothing can improve on the majestic greatness of our God. Nothing has proved this fact greater then when the enemies of God tried to oppose the children of Israel.... because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. Psalm 8:2b Whom do you think the adults spoke to about the majesty of God? They told their children who told their children and so on and so on for generations to follow. These true stories came alive in the impressionable minds of the children. Don t our children brag about how great their parent s are? My dad is smarter, richer, stronger... than your dad. They probably learn the art form from us. ** A doctor, an engineer, and a politician were arguing as to which profession was older. "Well," argued the doctor, "without a physician mankind could not have survived, so I am sure that mine is the oldest profession." "No," said the engineer, "before life began there was complete chaos, and it took an engineer to create some semblance of order from this chaos. So engineering is older." "But," chirped the triumphant politician, "who created the chaos?" ** Younger children understand something that we often forget. They are not impressed by someone who is boastful. They don t care how large the muscles in your arms are if you re not willing to cuddle them. So what if you re tall if you can t get on the floor and play with them. Children measure majesty in much simpler (or should I say more profound) terms than we do as adults. God has proven His infinite majesty by His ability to identify with finite mankind. His greatness is proved by His humility. Jesus used the example of little children to show forth how heaven depicts one who is great. They that know God will be humble, John Flavel has said, and they that know themselves cannot be proud. Quoted in MBI s Today in the Word November 1989, p.20 Page 4 of 7
II. THE PERFECTION OF GOD`S MAJESTY (Contd.) And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3,4 There is one other important lesson that we can learn from our children. III. THE PRACTISE OF GOD`S PRAISE When Jesus quoted from Psalm 8:2 he said, "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise. Matthew 21:16 Children who act in a manner pleasing to God are constant expressions of God s praise. They love to laugh and enjoy the simple things of life. They are unencumbered with the things that often weigh us down. We get uptight. They are footloose and free. We wonder how to worship God while their lives are expression of worship. The only thing that changes them from being what God intended them to be is what we do to them. Have you noticed how they pick your bad traits? When they watch TV programs that are improper for them don t you notice how their behaviour changes for the worse? We need to learn how to get this stuff out of their lives before it impacts them and changes them forever. God has strong words for those who misdirect children. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7. "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! Matthew 18:6,7 Page 5 of 7
III. THE PRACTISE OF GOD`S PRAISE Perhaps it would help the adults of our society a great deal to go back to school. The school I m referring to is the one of simple lessons taught by our children. What simple things could they teach us that could impact our lives and those around us? Things We Can Learn From KIDS 1. You can be anything you want to be when you grow up. 2. Nobody can pedal the bike for you. 3. If You wait until you re really sure, you ll never take off your training wheels. 4. Sometimes you have to take the test before you ve finished studying. 5. If you re going to fight, use pillows. 6. Before you trade sandwiches, check between the bread. 7. You have to eat a lot of cereal before you find the free toy. 8. If you want a kitten, start out asking for a horse. 9. You don t have to own a swing to enjoy it. 10. It doesn t matter how fast you re running with the ball if you re going in the wrong direction. 11. Sometimes the biggest apple has the biggest worm. 12. A little kiss can make a big difference. Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me Cynthia Copeland Lewis quoted in MSC Health Action News Jan./Feb. 1997, p. 7 Children can teach a lot about God. How well are you being taught? Perhaps it s time to reevaluate whom you have chosen to be your teacher. We have plenty of children to learn from. C:\My Documents\WPWin(11.0)\Sermons.2008\Special Days\Psalm 8_2.wpd Date: June 27/08 Baby Dedication Place: FCA Time: 10:30 Am Song: How Great is Our God - A Page 6 of 7
OF BABY S MOUTHS Text: Psalm 8:2 Key Word: Learning Key Thought: God Uses Babies to Teach Us Practical Truths What Can We Learn from Our Children? I. THE PEACEFULNESS OF GOD`S SECURITY - Psalm 8:2 NIV; Psalm 8:2 KJV; Genesis 15:15; Psalm 29:11; Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 26:3; Isaiah 54:13 II. THE PERFECTION OF GOD`S MAJESTY - Psalm 8:2b; Matthew 18:3,4 III. THE PRACTISE OF GOD`S PRAISE- Matthew 21:16; Matthew 18:6,7