Evangelising the Men and Women of Tomorrow - Today — Ian Paisley

Christ Welcomes Children to Himself

I want to read with you three short sentences from the Gospel of Matthew, the Gospel of Mark, and the Gospel of Luke. You will find authorized versions of the Holy Scripture before you in the pew. Take up a copy and go with us in our reading of the Scripture.

And if you want to know why we only use the authorized version in the English language, there is a booklet of all the doors. Pick up one of them, take it with you, read it, be instructed in divine truth, and learn what Jesus said, the old is better than the new, the words of Christ.

All right, the twenty-first chapter of Matthew, and we are reading at verse fifteen. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David, they were sore displeased.

Turn back to chapter nineteen of the same book, the Gospel of Matthew, verse thirteen, Matthew nineteen, thirteen. Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray, and the disciples rebuked him.

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of God. And he laid his hands on them, and departed them. Turn over then to the Gospel of Mark, Mark's Gospel.

Looking into the chapter ten, and we have a parallel passage in chapter ten of Mark's Gospel. Mark chapter ten, and at the verse thirteen. And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them, and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

And he took them up in his arms, and put his hands upon them, and blessed them. And then turn over with me to the Gospel according to Luke's Gospel at the chapter eighteen, and at the verse fifteen. And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them.

But when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall in no wise enter therein.

God will stamp these readings from his infallible book with his divine seal of eternal approval. Amen and Amen. I take the promised Holy Ghost, the blessed power of Pentecost to fulfill me to the uttermost.

Thank God he undertakes for me, and the people of God said, Amen. You may be seated. I want to speak tonight on the conversion of children. And I want to examine the three records we have of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Devil's Opposition to Children Coming to Christ

In dealing with those who rebuked, number one, those that brought children to Jesus. And rebuked those who believed that children should not be brought to Jesus. It is the ploy of the devil to keep boys and girls, and men and women, from coming to Jesus Christ.

And until we realize that, we will not have a proper view of evangelism, a proper view of invitations to Christ, and a proper view of bringing boys and girls, and men and women to the seat of Christ. To come to Christ is to come to the Savior.

To meet the Savior is to be sealed. And to accept the Savior is to pass from death unto life, and from the power of sin into the place of pardon for sin. And the devil is out to damn the souls of boys and girls, and to damn the souls of older people.

How? By keeping them from coming and receiving Christ. And so all his efforts, and all his planning, and all his strategy is to keep people from coming to Christ. How sad it is that blinded saints of God should join partnership with the devil to keep boys and girls, and men and women, from coming to Christ.

And that is the sad, sad fact of today. The Lord Jesus Christ was entering on His ministry, and other people brought to Him. Immediately there was diabolical opposition that brought them. The disciples rebuked, and those that were driven away by the disciples from Christ, so they could not meet with Him.

If you read carefully the passages I read to you, you will see that the people wanted Christ to pray with their children, and to lay His hands of blessing upon their heads. But these disciples, they rebuked the people that brought these children, and said to them, you cannot do that.

This is no place for a kindergarten. The Lord Jesus is not interested in your children. Take them away. Their words were the words of Satan, and their action was the word of Satan. For Satan wishes to discourage people from coming or bringing people to Christ.

And then the disciples went farther. They not only blocked the way to Christ, but they rebuked those that dared to bring people. And they rebuked them in their haste, in their displeasure, and in their anger.

Salvation Is God's Gift to Children and Adults

Now, many people today, among the people of God, question whether a child can be genuinely sealed. You might as well question the fact, can an adult be really sealed? Because if you know anything about salvation, you will know salvation is a gift of God.

It has nothing to do with the person receiving it. That person does not give one pinhead of anything that is in the gift of salvation. The gift is all of God. Are you telling me that God who has made up for us through His Son's blood and suffering, the gift of salvation, that God Almighty is not enabled to give that gift to a child?

Give that gift to the oldest person alive. Give that gift to anyone He desires to receive it. Jesus Christ desires to give His gift of salvation to all. All ye that labour and are heavy laden and are...

Don't come to the disciples. Don't come to the church workers. Don't come to the minister. Come to me. I will give you the gift of my salvation. I have read those portions of scripture very carefully in the past.

But in studying for this meeting tonight, I noticed some things that need to be highlighted. Turn over with me to the 19th chapter of Matthew. Matthew's gospel, chapter 19, tells us, Then were there brought unto him little children.

This word that is translated little children here, and is translated infants in Luke's narrative of this passage, is a word that deals with a child that has understanding. This is not a child that doesn't understand.

This is a child that understands. And the word infant that is translated with the word infant in Luke's gospel is a contrast with an adult as far as legal age is concerned. And until we are a certain age under the law, even our own laws, we are still reckoned to be infants.

Some of you are big infants still, and we know that and recognize that. But notice the word here, brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them and pray. And the disciples rebuked him.

The disciples rebuked those that brought children to Jesus. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them, and departed.

Jesus Calls Children to Come

Turn over to Mark's gospel again at the chapter 10. Keeping in mind what I have just read to you from Matthew's gospel. And there you find in the 10th chapter of Mark's gospel these words. And they brought young children to him that he should touch them, and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

And when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased. It was not a little displeasure. It was a displeasure that was great. He was much displeased. And he said, Suffer the little children to come unto me. Come unto me, and I will give you rest, the rest of salvation.

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh unto me I will in no ways cast out. And forbid them not, how dare you! For you to stand in the way of a young child coming to me. Keeping that in mind, turn over to Luke's gospel chapter 18.

And when you come over to Luke's gospel chapter 18, you will find there that they brought unto him also infants. As I have explained that word to you, that is those that were not adults. They were infants in regard to their age under law that he should touch them.

But when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them. Would you please look at that. These children were fit to hear the voice of Christ, and fit to understand what he was asking them to do.

I saw a clever commentator who wanted to establish his point of this verse. And he says, oh that refers to those that brought them. It does nothing of the kind. Because the word in the Greek, its gender is a double gender.

Speaking about two types of children. Those that are male and those that are female. It was a word to the children. And he called the children to him. He did not call the children to be carried to him.

He called them to come. Children can come to Jesus. I am glad children can come to Jesus. For I came to Jesus when I was six years of old. And I was genuinely converted to Christ. I was doing with a journalist this week a long interview upon what I believed.

And I was explaining to her of the night of the 29th day of May, 1932. When I came to Jesus. And I understood what I was doing. These children understood what was happening. Makes it perfectly clear. He called them.

And he said, sober the little children to come unto me. And forbid them not. For the kingdom of God is built up of the conversion of children. There will be more people in heaven see it in their child age.

Than see it when they were adult. In fact, psychologists in studying the numbers in the church. Have said after a man is 35 years of age. It is almost 80 sure that he will never come to Christ. That means if you are over that age.

You may never come to Christ. People come to Christ when they are young. Why? Because Christ has said of such is the kingdom of God. Surely Christ knows more about his kingdom. Than the people of God know.

And what a drastic thing it is. That there are people who would not raise a finger. To help a child to Jesus. Would not give out a gospel tract to a child. That the child might be saved. Would not spend an hour in prayer.

All the days of their spiritual life. To pray that the children might be saved. It is no wonder children are not being saved. It is no wonder that children are not coming in their droves to Christ. And so we need to look at the scripture.

Children and the Praise of Christ

And we need to refer to the scripture. That great verse I first read in our reading in Matthew 21. Describes exactly what Christ means by children. And he says there in the 21st chapter of Matthew's gospel.

He tells you there very, very plainly in verse 15. What is he getting at? And when the chief priests and scribes. Verse 15 of the 21st chapter of Matthew. Saw the wonderful things that he did. And the children crying in the temple.

And these scribes and pharisees were rejecting these children. Trying to silence them. He says have ye not read in the bible. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings. Thou hast perfected praise. So the door is wide open to the boys and girls.

To come to Jesus. He is the children's savior. It is wrong. It is diabolically wrong. It is a plot of the devil. To discourage anybody. At any time. From coming to Jesus. And it is doubly wrong. To discourage the children.

Because Christ said. It would be better that a millstone. Be hanged around your head. If you are a child discourager. And you are discouraging children from being saved. And questioning them. When they make a profession of faith in Christ.

That a millstone be hanged around your neck. And you be cast into the depths of the sea. Not my words. But the words of the Savior. Youth is not an obstacle. It should not be made an obstacle. And those Christians who question the salvation of children.

Are taking the side of the devil. And not the side of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is pledged to receive all who come to Him. Yet there are those. That would shut the door on people. Who want to come. And these rebukes.

Sharp strong rebukes. Come from Christ. And from His heart's cry. For the boys and girls. That they may come to Christ. Surely today. The church should be out there. Pushing people. Compelling people.

The Church's Call to Evangelistic Urgency

To come to Christ. Go into the highways and the byways. Listen to it. And compel them. Did you ever compel a soul to come to Christ? Did you? What are you about child of God? You claim to be saved from the darkest hell.

From the damnation of the pit. From the eternal burnings. Of everlasting damnation. And yet you haven't lifted a finger. To get someone to escape. The wrath that never dies. And the fire that's never quenched.

And yet you claim to be a child of God. Oh when there's something wrong with your body. You'll run to Jesus. For healing. If there's something wrong in your home. You'll run to Jesus to get help. It's about time you ran to Jesus.

To get help for others that are lost. That's the message of this truth. The little boy in the Sabbath school. No matter how young. The little girl in the Sabbath school. No matter how young can be. Saved.

Young Converts Who Serve Christ

Rennick the last of the Covenanters. As a child of grief. In his cot. Was heard to be praying to Jesus. No wonder he became a martyr. For the faith. The great biblicalist. Matthew Henry. Between five and six years of age.

Was called to be a Christian. By the Lord. And he came to Christ. And he left behind the greatest exposition. That has ever been written. In the English language or any other language. Of the word of God.

It was well, wasn't it? That there was none of these hard hearted. For a sake of Christians around. When Matthew Henry was going to come to Christ. For they would have discouraged him. And it was said, no.

This is not for you. Mr. Spurgeon says. I preach a gospel of open doors. Closed to nobody. The doors of the gospel. Are open to all. Rich or poor. High or low. Age does not matter. With God. The invitation.

As it is as broad. As it can be. All that the Father giveth me. Shall come to me. Oh my friend. Little one in this service. Your prayer. Is important to Jesus. Your cry. Is important to Jesus. Your coming.

Is all important to Christ. These people were wise. They did not bring their children anywhere else. They did not bring them to the church. Or the baptismal font. They did not bring them to the communion table.

Or to the apostles. They brought them. To Jesus. Jesus only. Is the Savior. Of men and women. And boys and girls. And we have an opportunity. This week. Number one. To pray. For without power. People cannot be converted to God.

Prayer Must Lead to Persuasive Evangelism

When we need a baptism of power. We can pray. And then we can put. Legs on our prayers. And go out. And persuade. It is not enough to pray. But you have to persuade. You have to ask people. Plead with people.

Exhort people. Compel people. Christ said. To come to him. For the only hope for them. Is that they might come. And be seen. I trust. That this message. Will be written on your heart. And written on my heart.

And that all of us. Will see its truth. And its meaning. The urgency for us. To obey it. And to be obedient to his will. And then boys and girls. And men and women. Will be brought. To Jesus Christ. As their Savior.

And as their Lord. I am glad. When I came to Christ. As a boy of six. My mother did not say to me. You are too young. My mother said. Let us kneel down. And you just come. To Jesus. I am glad. That all my ministry.

I have been anxious. For the boys and girls. Of the congregations. To whom I preach. I am glad that some. Of the youngest converts. I have ever led to Christ. Have become great. In missionary work. In preaching the gospel.

And in giving to God's work. When they are in business. Now that they are grown up. And are prosperous. So that men and women. And boys and girls. Might be converted. Suffer. Suffer. Suffer the little children.

A Final Appeal for Compassionate Evangelism

To come unto me. Jesus. Is standing amongst us tonight. In this house. He is standing at your heart's door. And he is saying to you. Have love. For the children. And if you have love for them. You will pray for them.

If you have love for them. You will not only pray for them. But you will go and plead with them. And you will not only go and plead with them. But you will go and get them. And you will bring them. Under the sound of the gospel.

Unto where I am. And I will receive them. For the kingdom of God. Is built. Of boys and girls. Who have come to know Christ. As their. Saviour and Lord. May the Lord. Shut no one out of our prayers. May the Lord.

Shut everyone into our prayers. That our prayers will be. All inclusive. Because we are confident. That those that are. Brought to Christ. Can be brought to salvation. And faith and joy. And peace everlasting.

Prayer for the Salvation of the Young

May it be so. For Jesus' sake. Let's bow our heads. Father in heaven. We thank thee for thy word. Thy word is truth. Lord we have. Taken rebuke from thy word. Tonight. How powerful are these expressions.

That Jesus used. Forgive us. For not having tears. For the young. For not having. Troubled hearts. For the young. For not having a passion. For their souls. And oh God. During this week. Increase the tear.

At our hearts. For boys and girls to be converted. And may we see. A great movement. Of thy spirit. In the salvation of multitudes. For Jesus' sake. And the people of God's sake. Amen. Amen.