When I Was A Child

FATHER’S DAY

When I Was a Child

I Corinthians 13:11

There is an old saying that the only difference between a man and a boy is the price of their toys.

Child – nepios – Infant not speaking, minor

Figuratively – childish, immature, a

simple-minded person

Man – aner – distinct from boy or infant

Put away – katargeo- abolish, cease, do away with

Paul talks about when we were children we did things as children but when we became men we put away childish things.

ASK - How does a child act?

Impressionable Gullible Manipulative

Controlling Selfish Self Centered

Self Indulgent Cruel Mischievous

I. Spoke like a child

1. Speak selfishly

2. Repeat without any sense of ownership or conviction

3. Speak out of their feelings

4. They will talk tenderly one moment then very cruel at other times (James 3: 10&11)

Proverbs 15:2 – The tongue of the wise useth knowledge

a right: but the mouth of the foolish poureth out foolishness

 A man will speak before he talks

 A child will just spew it out

Proverbs 15:4 – A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Perverseness – deceit, distortion

Breach – crushes, destroys

 A man will speak with healing in his words and it becomes a tree of life to those who hear them.

 A child will just speak his mind without considering how his words will fall. He is not discreet or considerate how he talks.

II. Understood as a child

To exercise the mind

To adopt an opinion

To think

How does a child’s mind work?

How does he think?

How does he formulate opinions?

1. Masters of manipulation

2. Selfishly

3. Simple deductions

4. Impressionable an mimic the opinions of those they look up to and admire and thusly can sway to and fro and vacillate

5. They have to be taught deductive reasoning and how to critically think

James 1:5-8 – Double-minded man is unstable in all his ways

 A man will be focused and sure and firm footed in what he does and strong in his convictions

 A child will be carried to and fro with every wind and doctrine and will compromise his convictions when convenient.

James 4:8 – Tells the double-minded to purify their hearts

Proverbs 23: 6-7 – A man thinks in is heart so is he

Col. 3:9-10 – Put on the new man renewed in knowledge

Ephes. 1:18-20 – Eyes of our understanding are being

Enlightened

I Chron. 12:32 – Children of Issachar they had understanding of

the times they lived in and knew what to do.

III. Thought as a Child

To logically think

To reason

To conclude

To take inventory

1. Children live for the moment

2. They want what they want without thinking through the consequences

3. Reason impulsively and have very little or simple rational

4. They have a small or simple concept of time, money distance etc.

Romans 8:6-10 - To be carnally minded is death

 A man will resist to live after the appetites of the flesh

 A child will live for the appetites of the moment and gratify his flesh

I Corinth. 2:16 – Tells us we have the mind of Christ

Joshua 24: 15 – Tells us to choose you this day who you will

Serve

Philip. 4:7-9 – Tells us the things to think on

The choices we make are seated in our belief system which in turn is governed by our philosophy of life which is established by how we think, understand, comprehend, reason and deduct.

Conclusion

I Corinth 16:13

New American Standard Version – Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong

1. Harness or tongue

2. Single minded in our thinking – renewed mind

with the Word

3. Think Spiritually – put on Christ at all times