Celebrating Pentecost

Note: I would note that Loran Livingston had an influence of ideas in this message. I listened to his message on May 21 on Pentecost Sunday.

Title: Bring them to Jesus

Theme: It is important that we bring our prodigal children to Jesus and lay them at His feet.

Text: Mark 9:17 - 19

Opening Scripture

Mark 9:17-19 Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. (18) And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not." (19) He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me."

Introduction

Let me summarize the story. Jesus, Peter, James & John had just come down from the mountain. It was a glorious experience. God appeared affirmed whom Christ is, “This is my son in whom I am well pleased”. Elijah and Moses appeared, pillars of the prophets and the law. It was a “mountain top experience”. It was enough that Peter wanted to stay. (You have been there where you just want to stay in His presence.)

But it seems in this life we all must come down. So down the mountain Jesus and his three disciples comes. Then at the bottom of the mountain they are met by a man who has a son that is full of a demon.

Notice what this father says, “I brought You my son”. It was my intention on bringing him to you.

It is no doubt that he was exhausted. If he is like most parents, he had tried everything to help his son. When he first exhibited these characteristics no doubt, he took him to the doctor. They probably prescribed some cure to no avail. He probably took him to the religious leaders.

This story reminds me of the challenge of every parent. First of all, the challenge of helping a child grow in the Lord. Second the challenge of keeping the Lord before them. Then finally what to do when they rebel. What to do when they follow a different path.

Two weeks from now we will focus on Keeping Your Children in Jesus. Next Sunday is our family day. We will celebrate Family Day together.

What did the father do? What did Jesus do?

Father: Brought him to Jesus

Jesus: Bring him to Me

Bring your family to Jesus

You know the story: A group of people brought some little children to Jesus so He would lay hands on them. The disciples rebuked the people and wanted to send them away. Perhaps they thought the children were bothering Christ; He had more important things to do. Jesus corrects them saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:13-15)

This was not taught. It was the desire of these parents to bring these children to Jesus. Why? So that Jesus could lay hands on them. He could bless them.

Lesson: It is never too early or too late to bring your child to Jesus.

This starts at birth. We bring them to Jesus. We pray over them. We live as example and expectation to participate in the call of God in their lives.

Do not despise their youth. God can use them at a Young age.

Acts 2:17 'AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, SAYS GOD, THAT I WILL POUR OUT OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH; YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS. (Joel 2:28)

Bring your prodigal to Jesus – prodigal son

There is a chance they will stray. Stray from the Lord. Stray from their call. This is what happened to the prodigal son.

No doubt the father prayed. The story does not tell us this, but we see this father as God. No doubt that he prayed for the safety of his son.

Did he know where he was at? Good question. Did word get back that he was in the city having a party? Maybe. Did he hear as son fell on hard times and found himself in a pig pen? Probably so. But he never stopped praying. He never stopped hoping.

He put his faith in God that one day his child would come home.

Luke 15:20-24 "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. (21) And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' (22) "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. (23) And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; (24) for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.