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Season 8, Episode 2
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Good morning. My name is Arik Hayes, and I'm one of the elders here. We are a church that is a House of Prayer, Presence, and Proclamation. I want to welcome everyone—those in the overflow, our online community from all over the world, and especially those still wrestling with the claims of Christ. There is no shame in that. Just keep coming around and let the Holy Spirit do the work.
I want to give a special honor to Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell for his influence in changing the climate in the kingdom when it comes to Godly masculinity. The scriptures tell us to "act like men" (Acts), and I'm grateful we have a pastor who is Godly, masculine, has a backbone, and carries Godly ambition for the Lord and His kingdom.
I also want to honor our spouses. If you're doing ministry without your wife's support, you wouldn't be effective. Thank you to the Leading Ladies in our lives.
We have been walking through the Book of Matthew for almost two years in a series called "Wisdom and Wonder." Today, I'm preaching episode two of season eight with a message titled Placed in Good Hands.
Holy Father, I thank You for being God and for using broken men and broken women for Your holy purposes and Your holy design for the kingdom. Thank You for this gathering, for those who gather to worship Jesus and love You fully. Take my brokenness and use it so that we would see Jesus high and lifted up and honor You. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Before we dive into our text, I need to address the backdrop in America where we're really starting to disdain kids. Some people say, "I ain't ready for marriage and family right now; I'm going to get the bag and go for everything." But what we're really saying is that we don't want to be inconvenienced.
You'll be inconvenienced for a career. You'll be inconvenienced for six figures. You'll be inconvenienced for things that prop up your self-esteem. But when it comes to kids, once they get out of the cute and cuddly phase—once they start talking and you actually have to teach them—suddenly we'd rather give them back.
This backdrop has even caused people to discard their children before they get here. When your girlfriend gets pregnant, how do you advise her? Are you looking at them as blessings? Or are you saying, "You know, you don't really have time for that"?
I see this growing darkness even in small ways. People complain about babies crying on airplanes. "What is the baby supposed to do?" you're 35 years old—what are you supposed to do? We've even started calling our dogs "fur babies" and giving them strollers. Thirteen years ago in Seattle, I heard a preacher say they have more dogs than children in that city.
It's subtle, but I believe it's undermining the value of actual children. We're in a dark season when it comes to how we view the young.
Years ago, when we had our first packed-out auditorium, it was for a baby dedication service. We had grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, best friends, and couples—all coming together to commit children to the Father through the Son. It was beautiful and multi-generational.
But I want to be honest: if I pulled those same people and asked, "How many verses have you read to that child since? Have you submitted to the Lord to reflect His character in your house? When you're cold in your eye, do you make sure you shower them with the love of God daily?" Many of us might not want to give that report.
A baby dedication can't just be a religious event. We really need to dedicate the child to the Lord and foster their spiritual development through the power of the Holy Spirit until they commit to the Lord themselves and become saved.
Let me drop you into the scriptures in Matthew 19, starting at verse 13. This passage shows us something very close to a baby dedication.
Then children were brought to him that he might lay hands on them and pray; but the disciples rebuked the people.
We have mothers and fathers—guardians, at least—who have heard of Jesus' fame and His identity as the Messiah. They've heard the stories, and they want to bring their children to Jesus. That's the right idea.
But notice: the disciples rebuke them. "Chill out. No, no, no, no." The disciples likely didn't have a high view of children. They may have thought it would take too much time or that word would get out and everyone would bring their children.
Here's something comforting: as disciples, we sometimes get it wrong too. And in this story, the disciples are wrong.
But look at Jesus' response in verse 14:
But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."
This is actually the second time Jesus has beckoned a child. When Jesus says "verily, verily," He really means it. He's saying this twice.
Back in Matthew 18:1-2, when the disciples asked who is greatest in the kingdom, Jesus called a child to Him and said:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, if you do not turn and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."
Jesus is saying "bid them to come" not once, but multiple times. He's elevating children just as He elevates women in other passages. And He's telling us we can't even get into the kingdom unless we situate ourselves as one of these children.
Verse 15 tells us:
And he laid hands on them and went away.
To "bless" means to praise, to celebrate with praises, to invoke blessings, to consecrate with solemn prayers, to ask God's blessing, and to pronounce a consecratory blessing. These children—likely between one and a half and two and a half years old—were gathered in Jesus' arms. He laid hands on them and prayed for them. That's a precious time.
In Isaiah 9:6, it calls Jesus the "Everlasting Father." I believe He was embodying that characteristic right there—the tender, present, attentive father.
I have four children: a six-year-old son, a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, and one-and-a-half-year-old twins. One thing we know about kids is that they are dependent. As adults, we're trying to do everything ourselves and figure it all out, considering the Lord last. Not children.
Children will ask you to do things they already know how to do just to get into your presence. My six-year-old will say, "Daddy, do you like the way peanut butter tastes? I like the way peanut butter tastes. What about you?" If you're not sensitive, you'll brush it off. But what he's really doing is trying to interact with you and be in your presence.
When I come home from being away for five minutes and turn my key in the door, I hear, "Daddy! Daddy!" It gets louder and louder. "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" They're racing to see who gets to me first. And I love it because there are few times on this planet when people love you for you—when they don't want anything from you, they just want to get into your arms and celebrate your presence.
This is how we're supposed to treat the Father.
For 26 years, since I was about 17, I've asked people, "How do you get really spiritual? How do you get deep into time with the Lord?" And I give them an answer that doesn't sound sensational enough: Read the Bible and pray and try to walk it out.
They say, "Yeah, but how do you really get spiritual?" They want a burning bush experience. But here's the truth: Nobody who really knows God has skipped those steps. Even after the bush stops burning, you have to go back and read about the rest of His attributes. You have to pray and talk to Him and try to walk it out.
You have to be around Him, around His stories, around His accounts, around His people and His family. You don't get to skip that step.
And here's what's beautiful: everybody can do this. It's not reserved for a select few. Any given time, you can slide up on the Book of Isaiah and open it and read and learn about Him. You don't even have to wait for the praise team—bless them, they're amazing—but don't wait for them to get into His presence.
Sometimes you need to crawl into a corner in your prayer closet and sing with your "not good" voice and read His Bible and cry out to Him and talk to Him. And then you read the Bible some more and cry and be confused and figure it out. When you do that, the Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth.
Now, we've been in Matthew for almost two years. John Piper spent 10 to 12 years teaching through Romans. You could have read the Bible four times over by then. But in American Christianity, we want to wait to hear the word from a man of God instead of reading it ourselves.
In the Old Testament, people had to wait for the priests. But not now. We have the indwelling power and presence of the Holy Spirit with us at all times. We have the Holy Scriptures inspired by the Holy Ghost. You can commune with Him anytime you're ready.
Before sin entered the world, it said that Adam and God walked together in the cool of the day. That was the design—to walk with Him, to talk with Him, just to enjoy Him in His presence. No other objective. Just to walk with Him.
And guess what? When we go to heaven, we're going to walk with our God. We're going to see Him face to face. That's what heaven is. But we can enjoy Him now. Just like my babies turn the corner and light up when they see me, we can run into His presence.
Children are humble enough to come to you and throw their arms up and say, "I need help." Do you know what that shows? It shows faith in your power to do something about it. And why would I not want to do something about something that's on the heart of my children?
The scripture says He is a "very present help in the time of trouble." It doesn't just say He's a help or a present help. It says very present. David said, "If I go to the mountain, You are there. If I go to the very depths of hell, Your spirit would still be there. You are present wherever I am."
Wherever you find yourself, there is a Father ready to encounter you. Our problem is that it doesn't look like what we want it to look like. A lot of times it doesn't feel the way we expect.
Jesus showed us three things about fatherhood:
1. He was tough. When the disciples tried to stop the children, He was actually displeased with them. He said, "Cut that out. Bring them to me." There's a standard. That's not My design. They are with me, and I'm going to use them as an example.
2. He spent time with them. As parents, we're supposed to spend time with our children one-on-one. Studies show that because we're glued to our phones, our children don't develop mentally the way they could. Before everyone had cell phones, didn't it seem like we had more time? Instead of one-on-one time, we're distracted. But the Father is not distracted. He delights in you.
3. He was tender. Some of you, maybe many of you, need to encounter the tenderness of God.
Before you bristle at that—especially if you're a man—let me talk to you for a second. There are things that build up in your soul. There are pressures of life that come at you, and you seek for a release. It could be drugs, success at work, or anything. A lot of times it's idolatry. But your soul is shaped to go after God.
As men, we try to shoulder it all, which is a bad idea. That's when you end up crashing out. But you can access the tenderness of God and go into His presence and have your soul restored.
Godly masculinity includes encountering God in a place—maybe the only place—where you feel safe being weak. He knows how to keep things to Himself.
Some of you haven't developed a relationship with God because you haven't developed trust where you can cast all your care on Him. The scriptures say, "He cares for you." Don't let the distrust of men stop you from a real relationship with God the Father.
I'm not trying to trivialize anything you've been through. You went through what you went through. But don't let bad examples, bad circumstances, or abuse keep you from the Father of Lights. That's the plan of the enemy.
If you haven't spoken to Him, if you've just kind of drifted, you can rekindle it now. He's been waiting the whole time. The story of the prodigal son shows us a father looking, waiting, and then falling upon his son's neck. He seeks such intimacy with us—male and female.
Let me close with John 10:22-30. Jesus is at the Feast of Dedication in winter, walking in the temple. The Jews gather around Him and say, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
Jesus answers:
"I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me. But you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. And no one will snatch them out of my hand."
A lot of times when you think about eternal life, you think about heaven. But the scriptures define it differently. In John 17, eternal life is to know the true and living God. You don't have to wait until you pass on. You don't have to wait until we fall asleep in Christ. You get eternal life now because of what Jesus did on the cross.
Jesus continues:
"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. And no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."
And He concludes: "I and the Father are one."
I want to put this together for you: Jesus says no one can snatch you out of His hand. He also says you can't be snatched out of the Father's hand either. Family, you're in good hands.
As a disciple, as a child of God, what does this look like?
First, treat children well. Reflect the love of the Father in grace and discipline and love. As the body of Christ, treat your brother and your sister well. Point them back to the Father who has us all in good hands.
I know sometimes it doesn't look or feel like we're in good hands. We say, "If I were in good hands, it wouldn't look like this." The truth is the truth. I can empathize with you, much like Christ our High Priest. But the truth says you're in good hands, and nobody can snatch you out.
What does that look like for some of you?
Some of you just need to realize that you're a child. Look at yourself like a one-and-a-half-year-old barely waddling around, dependent on God. Turn the corner and run towards intimacy with Him.
Some of you need to call your nephew and niece. Don't just ask them about school. Ask them about their spiritual life. "Hey, how can I pray for you?"
Some of you need to adopt somebody in the neighborhood and bring them to church.
Some of you may want to work in formations, our children's ministry. You can sign up there.
Christ has elevated children because we're all children of God. He has dealt with us with love and grace.
Let me pray for you. You're a good God, a good Father. Thank You for giving elevation to our most precious disciples. Help us deal with them according to Your grace and goodness. Thank You for loving us through the cross. Help the men and women run towards Your intimacy because You are the safe place. You told us to go into our secret closet and pray. Help us develop that intimacy. Have Your way in us as children. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
