Dedicated To The Lord

delivered on Sept. 25, 2016

                
 
Mark 10:13-16
13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
 
Good afternoon church. Today is a very special day for the Fil-Am Church. Our God is just Great! His timing is always perfect. We have just witness, what we Christians call, “believers baptism”. What is “believers baptism”? Water baptism is the ordinance representing the identification of the Christian with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When a sinner is drawn to the Son, he or she, has been given a new life. Which entails, being obedient to Gods commands of baptism.
 
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen
 
That is exactly what you just witnessed today. A believer being obedient to Gods commands. Please do not mistake, baptism, and dedication of having the same meaning. For one to follow Gods commands in the “believers baptism”, one has to know why he or she is doing it. An infant cannot make that decision. Let me give you an example. If I was to go up to baby Michael, and baby Ezabel, and asked them if they wanted to be baptized, what would you thing they would say? ( Mimic sound ) Infants are innocent, they do not know what is going on in the world. Let alone be obedient to a certain command.
 
A baby dedication is for the parents. As we have just read in our text. Jesus said… “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God”. That is exactly what the parents of Michael, and Ezabel are doing today.
 
These small children belong to the kingdom, initially because of the faith of their parents, though they must exercise faith personally as soon as they can in order to inherit all the covenant blessings. Gods kingdom belongs to small children, not just because they are innocent, but because they model true believers who have nothing to bring and have everything to receive.
 
The parents must recognize that, your children are a precious gift from the Lord, and they belong ultimately and always to God first—not to you? Released ownership of your children to Him—understanding God is responsible for the way in which they were designed and already knows the plan and purpose for their future?
There are many examples of parents in the Bible who brought their children to God and gave them back to Him. Let me show you some examples…
 
There is the classic example of Hannah bringing her son Samuel (the son for whom she had prayed), and presenting him to God, and handing young Samuel over to Eli the priest.
 
1 Samuel 1:27-28
27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.” So they worshiped the Lord there.
 
Of course, you remember Joseph and Mary brought the infant child Jesus to the temple following his circumcision at 8 days. they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (Luke. 2:22).
 
Luke 2:22
22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.
 
But the example of a parent surrendering his child to God that I want us to read about today is that of Abraham offering Isaac on Mt. Moriah. Genesis 22, -- let’s see what God would have to say to us today about “Giving Your Children Back To God.
 
Genesis 22:1-13
Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad[a] and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.”
12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
 
Abraham literally, totally, irrevocably gave Isaac back to God. Man, that had to be hard and painful for Abraham. After all, Abraham loved Isaac. V.2 God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love, and sacrifice him ...”
 
Isaac had been a MIRACLE baby. He was born when Sarah was 90 and Abraham was 100 years of age.
 
Do you know the best thing Abraham ever did for Isaac was to tie him to that altar and to surrender him back to God? We might think it to be weird, and a little out of place. Scary is the word that I would choose.
 
Had Abraham refused to give Isaac back to God, he would have forfeited all God’s promises and plans for Isaac. Isaac would have lived and died in obscurity, a nomad, and a nobody. Because Abraham obeyed and gave Isaac back to God, Isaac received the fullness of God’s best plan and promise for his life.
 
Isaac became a wealthy man. Isaac became the forefather of God’s own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaac’s life is still having an impact on and blessing millions of people worldwide through his offspring, our Lord Jesus Christ. And so, church, parents, you and I need to learn from Abraham today. If we refuse and fail to give our children back to God—we may very well be forfeiting God’s best plan and purpose for their lives. And when we entrust our children back to God—we secure for them the covenant of God’s best purpose and plan for their lives.
 
A few elements of what it means to give ( dedicate ) your child to God.
 
Giving your child to God is a CONFIRMATION of your love for God. The first thing you are saying when you give that child back to the Lord is simply this...that you love God even more than you love that child. (Your child is a most prized possession…but don’t allow them to take the place of God!)  I love you, child, so much, that I want the very best for you. If that means giving you to God, spanking you, giving you limitations and changing my life for your benefit…I’ll do whatever it takes!
 
This is exactly what Abraham proved by his willingness to offer Isaac. He was demonstrating that his love and fear of God were supreme in his life above all else.

Abraham loved God above the most prized treasure of his life...his only son Isaac.
 
Giving your children to God is a CLARIFICATION of ownership. When you give your child back to God, you are openly declaring that, This child is a gift from God. This child does not really belong to you. This child belongs to God.
 
Parents, you have the privilege to love and train this child. Keep in mind that, this child is not yours…but God’s! Was this not what had to be on Abraham’s mind when he lay Isaac on the altar? Was he not saying, “Lord, this young man belongs to you, not me?” He was saying, “You do with him as you please. He’s yours!”
 
Baby Michael, Baby Ezabel, does not really belong to you,they belong to God! They are a precious gift from God, they are a loan to you.
 
Psalm 127:3
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
 
Parents… We’d better be careful how we treat and care for God’s property! Let me tell you something moms, dads, God did not authorize the state to raise children. And God did not authorize day care centers to raise kids. God authorized Mommies and Daddies to raise kids! it does not take a village to raise a child. It takes a Mom and a Dad! Don’t pass off your responsibility on Gods property.
 
Giving Your Children To God Is A COMMITMENT to Raise Your Children God’s Way.
 
Ephesians 6:4
 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
 
To give your child to God is not just a CEREMONY...It is a COMMITMENT. It is a commitment that you are going to:
 
· Be a Godly parent. (Parent dedication…requires getting right w/ God)
· Teach this child of Christ. (they will need to be saved)
· Keep this child in church.
· Love this child. (even if loving them means disciplining them/letting God discipline
 you!)
· Pray for this child.
· Train this child.
· Make your home a holy place.
· Put away worldliness.
· Live a righteous life.
 
I think some people see baby dedication as a magical ceremony. Let me tell you… this little ceremony means nothing… zero, if you are not making a sincere, life-long commitment to raise this child God’s way!
 
I like what Joshua told the children of Israel as they settled into their new home, the Promised Land.
 
 
Joshua 24:14-15
14 “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
 
“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Make that the heart of your household, moms and dads. That’s the kind of commitment God is looking for in parents today!
 
Giving Your Children To God , baby Michael, and baby Ezabel, is a CLAIMING of God’s plan and promises for that child’s life.Isaac inherited God’s blessings, protection and promises because his dad, Abraham, gave him back to God.
 
Your children, Michael, and Ezabel, are blessed by your obedience to God and can also be cursed by your disobedience to God. God has trusted you with their future with the way YOU live!As you obey God with your life, and as you give that child back to God, you are posturing that child to receive God’s very best for his/her life.
 
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
 
This is what it means to dedicate your child to God:
 
1) It is a CONFIRMATION of your supreme love for Christ.
2) It is a CLARIFICATION of ownership (God owns that child).
3) It is a COMMITMENT to raise that child under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
4) It is a CLAIMING of God’s best plan and promises for that child’s life.
 
Can I now please have the parents, and the precious gifts that are being dedicated here today. And also the godparents ( Ninongs, and Ninangs )
 
As we have read in Luke 2:22
 
Luke 2:22
22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.
 
In the same way…. Can I please have the parents/child. Also the godparents,
( ninongs, & ninangs ) on the stage please. You have understood what we have heard from the Lord today, correct?
 
Take the children…
 
 
Daniel And Angeline, today you bring your son, Michael Isaiah McLaughlin to be dedicated to the Lord, is that correct?  Amen!
 
Ezechiel, And Abegel, today you bring your daughter, Ezabel Grace Dace to be dedicated to the Lord, is that correct?   Amen!
 
 
Modeling this kind of love can not be done alone:
Godparents, Ninongs, & Ninangs…By coming forward before God and His people, do you hereby declare your desire to help these loved ones fulfill the vow they have just made, If so…please respond by saying, “We Do”. Amen!!!
 
 
Fil-Am Baptist Mission Church…As part of their spiritual family, we also have a responsibility to these children. Parents have first responsibility. But parents need help and support from their church family. So..I direct my question to the church. Do we also, declare our desire to help these loved ones fulfill the vow they just made, if so…please respond by saying,
“WE DO”.     Amen!!!
 
 
( Pastor Goes to each family, and prays for each child. In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. )