Embracing Childlike Faith and the Power of Praise
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound impact of childlike faith and the power of praise. We began with a touching story about Granny Ferguson, a woman of unwavering faith who built a small church and filled it with her prayers and worship, eventually leading her entire family to Christ. This story set the stage for our main message: the importance of nurturing faith in children and the transformative power of praise.
We delved into Mark 10:13-16, where Jesus rebukes His disciples for preventing children from coming to Him. Jesus emphasized that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it like a child. This childlike faith is not about being childish but about having a pure, unadulterated trust in God. We discussed how children approach life with wonder and excitement, qualities that often fade as we grow older and become more cynical.
We also examined the concept of "perfected praise," which Jesus described as coming from the mouths of babes and infants. This kind of praise is pure and unfiltered, unlike the calculated and sometimes insincere praise that adults might offer. Perfected praise has the power to stop the enemy and still the avenger, as it comes from a place of genuine need and trust in God.
The sermon concluded with a call to rekindle our childlike faith and to engage in perfected praise. We were reminded that our reflexive, heartfelt praise can shut down the enemy's attacks and bring about divine intervention in our lives. The service ended with a powerful baptism ceremony, celebrating the new lives committed to Christ.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Legacy of Faith: Granny Ferguson's story teaches us the importance of a steadfast faith that can transform generations. Her dedication to prayer and worship not only built a physical church but also a spiritual legacy that continues to impact her family. This reminds us that our faith can have a lasting influence on those around us. [01:50]
2. Childlike Faith: Jesus emphasized the need for childlike faith, which is characterized by pure, unadulterated trust and excitement. Unlike childish behavior, childlike faith is about approaching God with a sense of wonder and complete dependence. This kind of faith is essential for entering the Kingdom of God. [06:35]
3. Perfected Praise: True praise comes from a place of genuine need and trust in God, much like a baby's cry for help. This "perfected praise" has the power to stop the enemy and still the avenger. It is not calculated or insincere but comes from the depths of our spirit. [11:49]
4. The Power of Reflexive Praise: Just as our reflexes protect us from harm, our reflexive praise can protect us spiritually. When we instinctively turn to God in praise, we align ourselves with His power and protection. This kind of praise is built into us to save us and should be a natural response to life's challenges. [18:33]
5. Reconnecting with Headship: Our spiritual reflexes can become broken if we are disconnected from Christ, who is the head of the body. To restore our reflexive praise and spiritual health, we must ensure that we are properly aligned with Christ. This alignment allows us to effectively stop the enemy and still the avenger. [20:31]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:50] - Granny Ferguson's Legacy
[02:42] - The Power of Early Faith
[03:50] - Jesus Welcomes the Children
[04:50] - The Importance of Childlike Faith
[06:35] - Childlike vs. Childish Faith
[07:34] - Rekindling Our Zeal
[08:43] - Perfected Praise
[11:49] - Praise Stops the Enemy
[14:06] - The Strength in a Baby's Cry
[17:07] - Reflexive Praise
[19:43] - Disconnect from Headship
[21:10] - Shutting Down Gossip
[22:54] - The Power of Singing
[25:49] - Aligning with Christ
[26:44] - Baptism Ceremony
[29:24] - Final Praise and Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Mark 10:13-16
- Psalm 8:2
#### Observation Questions
1. In Mark 10:13-16, why were the disciples rebuking those who brought children to Jesus, and how did Jesus respond? [03:50]
2. What does Jesus mean when He says, "the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these" in Mark 10:14? [05:42]
3. According to Psalm 8:2, what is the significance of praise coming from the mouths of babes and infants?
4. How did Granny Ferguson's faith impact her family and community? [01:50]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What qualities of childlike faith does Jesus highlight in Mark 10:13-16, and why are these qualities important for entering the Kingdom of God? [06:35]
2. How does the concept of "perfected praise" from Psalm 8:2 relate to the idea of childlike faith discussed in the sermon? [11:49]
3. Why is it important to have reflexive praise, and how does it help in spiritual warfare according to the sermon? [18:33]
4. How can being disconnected from Christ, the head of the body, affect our spiritual reflexes and ability to praise effectively? [20:31]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on Granny Ferguson's legacy. How can you create a spiritual legacy in your own family or community? What steps can you take this week to start building that legacy? [01:50]
2. Think about your own faith. Do you approach God with childlike wonder and trust, or has cynicism crept in? What can you do to rekindle a childlike faith in your daily life? [06:35]
3. When was the last time you offered "perfected praise" to God? How can you make your praise more genuine and heartfelt, like that of a child? [11:49]
4. Consider a recent challenge you faced. Did you instinctively turn to God in praise? How can you develop a habit of reflexive praise to align yourself with God's power and protection? [18:33]
5. Are there areas in your life where you feel disconnected from Christ? What practical steps can you take to restore that connection and ensure your spiritual reflexes are healthy? [20:31]
6. How can you encourage and support the children in your life to develop their own childlike faith and engage in genuine praise? What specific actions can you take this week to nurture their spiritual growth? [05:42]
7. Reflect on the power of praise in stopping the enemy and stilling the avenger. How can you incorporate more praise into your daily routine to combat spiritual attacks and challenges? [11:49]
Devotional
Day 1: The Legacy of Faith
Granny Ferguson's story is a powerful reminder of the enduring impact of steadfast faith. Her unwavering dedication to prayer and worship not only built a physical church but also created a spiritual legacy that continues to influence her family. This legacy teaches us that our faith can have a lasting effect on those around us, inspiring future generations to follow Christ. By nurturing our faith and living it out daily, we can leave a spiritual inheritance that will bless our families and communities for years to come. [01:50]
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
Reflection: Think about the legacy of faith you are building. How can you intentionally nurture and share your faith with your family and community today?
Day 2: Childlike Faith
Jesus emphasized the importance of childlike faith, which is characterized by pure, unadulterated trust and excitement. Unlike childish behavior, childlike faith involves approaching God with a sense of wonder and complete dependence. This kind of faith is essential for entering the Kingdom of God, as it reflects a heart that is open and receptive to His love and guidance. As adults, we often lose this sense of wonder and become more cynical. By rekindling our childlike faith, we can experience a deeper, more authentic relationship with God. [06:35]
Matthew 18:3 (ESV): "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
Reflection: Reflect on your current relationship with God. How can you approach Him with a more childlike faith, filled with wonder and trust?
Day 3: Perfected Praise
True praise comes from a place of genuine need and trust in God, much like a baby's cry for help. This "perfected praise" is pure and unfiltered, unlike the calculated and sometimes insincere praise that adults might offer. Perfected praise has the power to stop the enemy and still the avenger, as it comes from the depths of our spirit. By engaging in this kind of praise, we align ourselves with God's power and protection, allowing His presence to intervene in our lives. [11:49]
Psalm 8:2 (ESV): "Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger."
Reflection: Consider the sincerity of your praise. How can you offer God a more genuine, heartfelt praise that comes from a place of deep trust and need?
Day 4: The Power of Reflexive Praise
Just as our reflexes protect us from harm, our reflexive praise can protect us spiritually. When we instinctively turn to God in praise, we align ourselves with His power and protection. This kind of praise is built into us to save us and should be a natural response to life's challenges. By cultivating a habit of reflexive praise, we can strengthen our spiritual defenses and experience God's intervention in our lives. [18:33]
Psalm 34:1 (ESV): "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth."
Reflection: Think about your natural responses to life's challenges. How can you develop a habit of reflexive praise, turning to God instinctively in every situation?
Day 5: Reconnecting with Headship
Our spiritual reflexes can become broken if we are disconnected from Christ, who is the head of the body. To restore our reflexive praise and spiritual health, we must ensure that we are properly aligned with Christ. This alignment allows us to effectively stop the enemy and still the avenger. By staying connected to Christ and maintaining a close relationship with Him, we can experience His guidance, protection, and power in our lives. [20:31]
Colossians 2:19 (ESV): "And not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God."
Reflection: Evaluate your connection with Christ. What steps can you take to strengthen your relationship with Him and ensure you are properly aligned with His headship?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "There's something about your children finding God at an early age that breaks curses off of families. It breaks curses off of generations and causes generations to serve God." [02:42] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Anytime a child wants to come and talk about Jesus, you ought to receive them in the love of Jesus. You ought to speak to them with the love of God. You ought to listen." [05:42] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You got to have that childlike faith. Now. He doesn't say this. He doesn't say whoever doesn't receive the kingdom of God. Whoever doesn't receive me childishly. Come on. It's childlike not childish. So there's a difference and the childlike faith." [06:35] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Perfected praise is when it comes out abandoned just total. Abandonment to God God. I love you God. I praise you God. I glorify your name." [09:40] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Do you know that your praise can stop the enemy and steal the avenger? Did you know that your praise can shut the enemy's mouth in your house?" [12:40] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "I thank God for those kind of heritages. I thank God for those kind of impartations. Don't play with me because I do know what I'm talking about. I've been around it a long time, been raised in it, been walking in it. Got saved in 1969 myself. Filled with the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and I have walked with Jesus ever since. I am 50 plus years in the gospel." [01:50] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We have no passion. We've lost our zeal and there's something that's got to be awakened to dust that comes back like a child that comes back. Like childlike faith that gets excited about Jesus that gets excited about praise and worship." [07:34] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The reason some of us don't know how to praise God is because there has been a disconnect between the brain. Now, the last time I checked the scripture, in Ephesians, it told me that Christ is the head and we are the body. So if he is the head, where is the brain? Come on, y'all, this is basic science. It is in the head. I am disconnected from headship, my reflexes are broken and I don't no longer know how to stop the enemy or steal the avenger." [20:31] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "There is something about real praise that stops the enemy and steals the avenger and it's reflexive. It's not something you have to go through. Go think about it. Well, I wonder if that was God or was it not? Did it line up with the word? Was it in keeping with the word? No, it wasn't. It wasn't God." [22:17] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Perfected praise comes out of your spirit. In fact, the cry in a baby is actually attached to their reflex. So it's a reflexive thing. It is attached. It is attached to their ability to save themselves, their ability to survive. It is reflexive in them. It comes out of their reflex." [17:07] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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