2004-12-05 Communion Dedication - Baldwin Christian Church

Psalm 78:1-8

A Maschil (a song or poem of contemplation) of Asaph

1. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3. Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

(We'll stop before Asaph begins to remind us about these hidden things of old.)

4. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

Whether by the adoption made possible through Jesus, or by geneaology, we who believe in Him are members of the house of Jacob (Gal 3). Therefore I say, our ancestors were delivered from hard bondage in Egypt. But, even as eyewitnesses of the almighty power of God, they soon began to peer over the edge of Error cliff, and they fell into Unbelief and Idolatry.

Your children are smart. Remember often to sit with them, watching as their eyes fill with wonder, and their lips burst with good questions (questions that will amaze you) as you share with them those dusty old stories about God's strength and wonderful works.

5. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6. That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

(declare the testimony of God's strength and wonderful works...)

7. That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8. And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

On the night He was betrayed (John 14), Jesus was trying to comfort the disciples at His table when He says (in verse 4) that they already know where He's going (to prepare a place for them in His Father's house), and they already know how to get there (the Way). Of course, the analytical mind of Thomas can't be contained, so he asks, "Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?" I'm glad that Jesus perceived Thomas' eyes full of wonder and lips about to burst, because if He hadn't provoked the question, we may never have heard Jesus say, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Your greatest ministry is under your own roof: Children who rebel not, who set their heart aright, and whose spirit is stedfast with God

Jesus said (Luke 18:16), "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."

"Suffer" means allow the children to come to Him, and "forbid them not" comes from the word "koluo," which means, do not hinder or withhold children from coming to Jesus.

As adults, let us meditate on how we can keep ourselves from hindering or withholding children from Jesus. Are we showing them the Father? Are we sharing with them His strength and wonderful works?
As children, let us ask ourselves if we truly have come to Him and embraced Him.