Kids of the King, Arise!

The last Key of the kingdom we looked at one side of the key “humility”. What does Humility actually mean? It means not thinking too highly of oneself. It is the opposite of pride. Pride was one of the reasons that Satan left heaven. He thought he was SO important that he wanted to be just like God. Isn’t that what he tempted Eve with in the garden?  “Take of this fruit and you will be just as wise as God!”

In the Kingdom we walk in the opposite spirit of the kingdom of darkness. So a huge key is walking in humility. Let’s look again at the verse from last time.

The attitude that you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had:
He always had the nature of God, but…of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became a human being and appeared in human likeness. He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death- his death on the cross. Philippians 2: 5-8 (GNMM)
 
O.k. so it says that Jesus took the nature of a servant. What does that actually mean? How do we copy Him and walk as servants? Does it mean we let people take advantage of us and do all sorts of stuff for them? No, not really. Jesus modeled being a servant out of his love for the disciples. He said “loving your neighbor as yourself” was the second greatest command ever. It is second only to loving God with all that we are. In order to fulfill the mission of spreading the news of the kingdom, the disciples would need to learn to serve each other. Pride and arrogance would ruin the disciples’ relationship to God, to each other, and to the people they were trying to reach.  So Jesus gave them an object lesson to help them understand.

Read John 13:1-20

” Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that his hour had come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and was going back to God;  rose from supper, and laid aside his garments; and taking a towel, girded himself about.  Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.
And so when he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and reclined at the table again he said unto them, “Do you know what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and you are right; for so I am. If I then, the Lord and teacher, washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Truely, Truely, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his master; neither one who is sent greater than the one that sent him. If ye know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Being a servant is an important lesson for us as well. People line up to do the tasks that are considered important, glamorous, or respected. But Jesus showed humility by doing the task that no one wanted to do. He washed the disciples’ feet — a dirty job usually performed by the lowest ranking person in the room. Was Jesus the lowest ranking person? No he was the King of the kingdom. He knew he would soon be back at the Father’s side in heaven. Did he think it was too lowly a task for him to do? No.

Are there tasks that we won’t do because they are lowly or dirty, or hard? Aren’t those the jobs sometimes the ones that most need to be done? Jesus was not only willing; he prepared himself to serve his disciples by washing their feet, and they weren’t pampered manicured feet, but dusty dirty feet that had walked for miles outside in sandals.
 
The disciples had argued in the past about which one of them would be greatest in the kingdom. Jesus had answered them by saying the greatest people were not the warriors, leaders or heroes. They are like children who are powerless, obedient and humble. Even more amazing, Jesus who knows all things knew Judas was about to betray him and knew that Peter would deny that he even knew him. YET he washed their feet any how.

Key Thought: Humility and service to others is the evidence of love.

We are warned against becoming too proud.  What does it look like in your heart when you are proud?  Perhaps you begin to think, look at HIM play hockey, he sucks! I sure am a better player! Why did He get picked and not ME? OR; Why should I have to put out the garbage, that’s NOT MY job, I’ve got better things to do. 

ACTIVITY:
Think of two acts of service you can do for others. Let one be at home and one outside of your home. For a suggestion let a New Year’s resolution be that you take out the garbage without being asked for the WHOLE year. Do you think this might make your family notice after awhile and give you opportunity to talk about Jesus?
As we head into the New Year, let it really be a new beginning and like Jesus take the nature of a servant and ask Jesus to help you focus your kingdom goggles to the needs around you. Ask Him to let you be His hands and feet to a needy world.

ACTIVITY for EXTRA points:
Remember how Jesus washed the feet of Judas who He knew was going to betray Him, and Peter who He knew was going to deny even KNEW him? Have you been in a situation where a good friend didn’t stick up for you or betrayed you and you are still hurting about it? How about asking Jesus for HIS strength to help you be kind to that person. THAT is REALLY walking in Kingdom power as by yourself you just want to say NO WAY I’m outta there. In the comment section below why not share how the Lord led and helped you. It may be a HUGE encouragement for someone else.

*The picture above is actually not an accurate picture of what happened. The Bible tells us that Jesus took off his cloak and just wore a towel around his waist. This was the dress of the lowest servant. Kind of making a point isn’t it. This was the extent that the creator of the Universe was willing to go to show his love.

Read this passage and can you tell me what key of the kingdom stands out.

The attitude that you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had:
He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God. Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up ALL he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became a human being and appeared in human likeness. He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death- his death on the cross. Philippians 2: 5-8 (GNMM)

At Christmas time we see pictures of Jesus in the manger and the shepherds and the Wise men and often forget WHO he REALLY was. Take a look at these pictures and see some of the things that this Jesus made, BEFORE he came to earth to be born in a manger. Genesis 1:1 says in the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth:

BELOW IS A CLOSE UP OF ONE OF THE DARKEST REGIONS OF THE PHOTO ABOVE

This Jesus who created the universe is the same one who chose to HUMBLE himself and be born in a manger in Bethlehem. But as he was born the heavens could not be silent:

It was as if the angels were in the stands of a great arena, and the shepherds on the arena floor. Like an audience witnessing the climactic moment of a play and spontaneously rising to their feet. To cheer, the angels chanted in unison, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will towards men”…the aura surrounding them was dazzling but it was also resplendent with every shade of the rainbow. Blue meshed with purple, flowed into scarlet. On all the sides the night become day sparkled with colors that had no names.

The stars themselves moved into the constellation of the Fish, the ancient constellation given to the nation of Israel, and declared that the redeemer had come, the atonement child born of a virgin, the messenger to the world. (Sixth Covenant: Brock and Boddie Thoene)

1)If THIS Jesus could humble Himself and give up His rights to Heaven for us, how can you and I respond and apply this principle to our lives this week? How can you lay down your agenda, your way of doing things for someone else this week? 
2) Let us also join the heavens and declare…
“Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, by whose word all things exist.”
All things… the heavens, the earth, you, I…All were created by Him, the Creator, and to us He gave the power to praise Him. Is this not sufficient earthly pleasure?”  So as we give and receive gifts we have laboured for, bless the One who makes it all so lovely, “Jesus” who freely gave all He had.

Did you know that the four weeks before Christmas are often called the Advent season?
The word Advent means ” coming” or “arrival.” The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ in His first advent, and also looking forward to the return of King Jesus in his second advent.

Check out this You tube clip. As you do ask the question, “What posture are we to have during this time?”
 

Did you catch these? Watchfulness, expectation, repentance, preparation, transformation, reconciliation, celebration, hope, joy, FOR WHAT? that God would dwell among us. EMMANUEL, one of Jesus’s names means “God with us.” That God’s Kingdom would come to earth.  Isn’t that what we have talked about and learned more about? 

Pray that you would prepare your hearts to really celebrate Christmas this year. Pray KINGODM COME! YOUR will be done on earth as it is in heaven! 

 

A story for children by Elizabeth Poulsen
Chapter 8

Danni could hardly wait to catch the bus to hear the last day of the story. As he climbed up the steps, the girl who raised her hand was sitting just inside. She smiled at him and Danni smiled back. Then he waited impatiently as the bus took them to the most important day of Danni’s life.

As the boy from Africa continued the greatest story Danni had ever heard, he began to realize that answers to some of his questions over the past few weeks were becoming clear. He had wondered for a long time how the Christmas story of Jesus being born in a stable had really changed the world and WHY people celebrated it all over the world every year. He also noticed that less and less people were mentioning it and now it was referred to as “Happy Holidays”. Even the television specials seemed to leave the birth of Jesus out now. He also realized that JESUS must be the Son that the boy from Africa had been talking about… and to think that all this time there was a day to celebrate his birth! That made it more important than any other day of the year! If the Son had not been born that day in a stable, all the other things that he had learned about this last while could not have happened. Danni knew that somehow he was going to follow the Son and hoped the boy would teach him how.

He listened closely as the story continued….

The Son told his friends that he would go back to His Father and would care for them. They could now have His presence with them always for He would send His spirit to live within them and to teach them all things.

The Son gave instructions to His special friends before He left. He told them to go into the entire world and teach everyone this Wonderful News of what He had done for them. The chains would come off and their inside eyes would be opened to understand truth, if they believed all that the Son had done for them.

They would be adopted back into the Kingdom of their Father and Creator, a kingdom that is ruled by Father/King, His Son and His spirit, called Holy Spirit. They would become strong as Holy Spirit came into them and breathed life once more into their spirits. They would then know their Father/King once again, just as they had before the Evil one had come on the scene. They would know that the Father wanted to share with them all that He had.

They were to teach the children about the Kingdom as the Son had taught them. They were to take back what the evil servant had stolen and now they would have the power to do so. This power would come from the Holy Spirit whom He would send.

The boy from Africa then looked at Danni and said, “The Son told them He was going to prepare a special place for them with His Father in the Kingdom of Heaven. Someday they would join Him there and so would everyone who believed in the Son of Father/King and all He had done for them.

The boy raised his eyes upward and took a deep breath as he said, “I am one of the children of my Father who has received this truth. That is why I have come to you today. I am here to tell you that  you can also receive what the Son has done for you.
The Son’s name is Jesus. He came to remove from you the sin of Adam.
Your inside eyes can be opened to see the truth in all things if you receive His Spirit into your life. Do you want to do like I did? If you do, pray this prayer with me.”

Danni began to pray,

Father – it’s me Danni, one of your children.
Danni felt tears on his cheeks as Father’s presence came over him.

Father - thank you for sending Your Son to rescue me. I too have believed the lies of the evil servant and I want to be free to be your son. Please forgive me. I receive what your Son, Jesus, has done for me. I want to live as your faithful son and follow Him. Please let your Spirit come into me.  Breathe life into my spirit and open my inside eyes to know the truth I pray.

As Danni breathed this prayer, the Father’s love poured over him like warm oil. He suddenly became aware that Father King was speaking to him. It was like someone speaking into your thoughts only it was filled with an amazing love he had never felt before.

Danni heard the Father say, “My Spirit is here my child. From now on I will call you “Daniel” which means “God is my judge”. You will not have to worry about what others decide about you at school any more Daniel. Just care about what I decide; for I love you and I am always fair. You will be my son and I will be your Father. I have given you a special gift over the past few weeks to be intuitive or discerning. You have been very aware of things that seem right and things that seem wrong. This gift is causing you to ask questions and wonder what is true. Remember to always obey my truth so this gift can grow. I will teach you many things Daniel. I will show you that I do what is fair for those who have been wronged, just as I did with the boy who came to tell you My Story. I will show you how I give food of all kinds to the hungry and set prisoners free. We will have many adventures together, you and I.”

His insides felt like light was shining everywhere. Joy entered his heart that day and tears poured out of his eyes even though he was not sad in any way. He knew he was not alone. He knew that Father was with him and he would never be the same again.

Danni had just been given the best Christmas present ever! He had a new name! He was aware of other things as well. Father said he had become “intuitive”. He was going to have many adventures and would be taught new things from Father. He had “peace” and “joy” and knew THIS was what the angels sang about in Bethlehem. IT ALL made sense now!  Peace came to earth that day and it had nothing to do with wars ending! It could end wars if everyone received it. It could also end arguing at home. Daniel wondered…..

To be continued……..
Picture  By Alana Smith from Winnipeg

Kids we need your help! You play an important part!

Danni’s story needs pictures!
Can you draw a picture to illustrate something in this part of the story,(OR ANY OF THE OTHER CHAPTERS)
You can respond in the comment section of the blog and we will
let you know how and where to send it.
When you do we will put the pictures in the story on the Blog!
We can’t wait to see what you come up with!!

Christmas is coming!  I’m amazed that some people have already finished their Christmas shopping, I haven’t even started.  Many of my friends are like me and haven’t bought any gifts yet.  Most of my friends are relaxed about it and are confident they’ll get everything purchased before Christmas.  I also know a few people who are already worried that they might not be able to finish buying everything they need before Christmas.  God gave His Son, Jesus, to us as a gift that very first Christmas.  He did this because His love for us is so great, and because of that we also want to show our love to people by giving them a gift. 

You might not get worried about finding someone the right Christmas gift, but do you get worried about other things?  Do you worry about going to a new class where you don’t know anyone else?  Do you worry about not having the right answer to a question at school?  Well, not only is Jesus Himself a gift to us, but Jesus also gives us gifts.  One of these gifts is ‘PEACE’, so that our minds and hearts don’t need to worry.  You might ask, “How do you get Jesus’ peace inside my mind?”  I’m glad you asked, this is what Jesus says:

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 6-7 (NLT)
 

Wow, that is so cool . . . I believe that you want Jesus’ peace to guard your mind just as I want Jesus’ peace to guard my mind!  So when you are at home, school or at a park, and you find a worry thought going through your mind, stop right there and talk to God about it. 

1.     Tell Him that you feel worried. 

2.     Then, remind yourself about how BIG God is.  Remember a time when God performed a miracle (either in your own life or from a story in the Bible) and thank Him that nothing is too difficult for Him.  

3.     Ask Jesus to take care of whatever you are worried about, then continue on with whatever you were doing and trust Jesus to sort everything out. 

You will find the amount of peace in your heart and mind growing!

Activity

• To be able to believe God and do what He says, we need to be aware of our thoughts.  This activity will help you see which thoughts are good to keep and which thoughts are not healthy for you.
• The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:5 (English Standard Version):

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

  On slips of paper, get your mom or dad to write down thoughts that they have had today, both good and bad.

• Get a large glass jar with a lid and put the slips of paper with their thoughts in it.  This glass jar is kind of like our mind.  When a thought comes into our mind we can decide what to do with it.  One at a time, take out a slip from the jar.  Read it out loud.  What kind of thoughts and feelings does this thought produce in you?  Are they happy or worrisome thoughts?  If you want to keep that thought, put it back in the jar, if not tear it up into little pieces.
• Continue until all of the thoughts that cause you to worry are torn up.
• Thank Jesus for His peace.
  

MEET WITH ME
(We will interrupt the Acts 1:8 focus for DPG for December and return to it in January)
Materials Needed:
Butcher Paper
Markers
Christmas tree
Mini Christmas lights
Construction paper
CD of quiet worship music
Pictures of nature scenes
Manger with hay
Cross
Basin and water
Towel
Invitation to meet with God (given to the kids before hand with date time etc.)

Opening activity.
Outside the room that you will be meeting. Have large table with butcher paper in place with the names of God in block letters for the kids to color in as they arrive. Have someone there to explain the different names and what they mean.

ASK:Did you know there are MANY different names in the Bible that tell us what God is like? Each of them shows us something different about Him. Some of them are:

Faithful                                  A Mighty Fortress
Our Refuge.                           God most High
God Almighty                         A Rock
Our Savior                             KING OF KINGS
Our Shield                             The God who heals us
Our Provider                          God of all comfort
The Righteous Judge             The Eternal One
The Alpha and Omega           The Ancient of Days
Our Redeemer                       Only Wise
Our Father                             The Anointed One
The Good Shepherd               The Light of the world
The Prince of Peace               The Wonderful Councilor
The Morning Star                   The GREAT I AM

Now take one of the names and think about what that might mean.
For example, Faithful One means that God is always the same and will always be there for you. He will never let you down. Thank Him for that and let those thoughts and feelings go deep into your heart. Dialog about the name you choose and why this is special to you.
Have kids sit down and talk to them about meeting God today. God has invited them to meet with Him today… You have all received an invitation, Right?
Read Exodus 3:1-8A  God is a holy God and to meet with him we need to cleanse our hearts.

Instruct: Kids to do an attitude check. Is there something you need to get right? Did you lie, steal etc. Make a plan to make things right.
When ready come to door of the room and leader washes feet of the kids as they go into the room. Instruct them to sit around the christmas tree and wait quietly.

Have room set up with stations. Worship music playing quietly or nature music in background.

Station One:
-Tree with Christmas lights…to draw on the lights from the underground church we talked about last month. Also to draw on God meeting Moses in the “burning bush”

-On tree place construction paper “Balls” with word “I am” on it. Leave space for kids to write on ornament. Kids each take one and fill it out.
ASK: What do you need for God to be to you today?
I am your friend
I am faithful
I am your healer
I am your provider
I am the way
I am the truth
I am the light 
  
 

You could project this picture on the wall behind the tree. This is what came on the wall in a school classroom in Bearns River in Northern Canada. As a result many in that town came to know God’s love for them! www.canadaawakening.com

Station 2
God has asked to meet with us. What is our response?  
To gain a greater appreciation of the depth of worship, and our response it is helpful to look at some of the Hebrew words used in worship.

a)      Rejoice
This Hebrew word we would pronounce gool. This word means to spin around (under violent emotion), its like jumping and doing a 360-degree turn in the air.
Read each of the following verses.
The Lord your God is with you, a victorious warrior.  He will take great delight in you.  He will quiet you with His love.  He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. (Zephaniah 3:17)
Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains!  (Isaiah 49:13)

ASK: How do the heavens rejoice? (they gool…spin!)
Leader: Share the scripture in Zephaniah again. Without telling them what’s coming call someone to the front. Say that you will demonstrate how God rejoices over them. Do a 360 in the air while shouting stuff like Go, Josh, Go! You can do it! It takes them a little by surprise but then talk about our image of God as our Father and that He does rise from His throne occasionally!  Many have the idea that God sits in a stately manner on His throne and never moves.
b)      Praise
This Hebrew word we would pronounce yaw daw.  This word literally means to hold out the hand, expecting to receive. This is an act of worship as we act out the knowledge that everything we have comes from God, and we hold out our hands to receive his blessing expecting Him to do so.
Read these verses.
 
Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will praise You forever; from generation to generation we will recount Your praise. (Psalm 79:13)

c)      Bow
This Hebrew word we would pronounce kaw rah. It means to bend the knee.  In other words, to sink, to prostrate, –which is lying face down on the floor–bow, bring down (low), cast down, kneel, (stoop) down or subdue.
 
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
 (Psalm 95:6)
 
Ask: different people to demonstrate as many ways of bowing as they can think of.  (From the waist, on the knees with your back straight, prostrate, on your knees with your forehead on the ground.)  Speak about kings and the respect that was expected them.
 
ACTIVITY: A game that is fun after teaching them these words is to call out a Hebrew word and have them model the appropriate action.  The faster they are called them out and the more they are mixed them up the more fun it is!
 
RESPONSE:
         Listen to “Meet With Me” by Lamont Hiebert.  Its song number 7 on Shout to the Lord Kids! #2.  
        The Hebrew words that have been taught have been put to this song to express worship. Adapt it to the age group you are working with.

Meet With Me

Im here to meet with You                              In an attitude of prayer, raise arms     
Come and meet with me.                           In (Yaw Daw position) expecting
Im here to find you.                                         God to meet with them
Reveal Yourself to me.             
                                                                       
As I wait                                                          Fall on knees with praying hands
You make me strong                                  Flex muscles
As I long                                                          Still on knees, forehead on floor (kaw-rah)

You draw me to Your arms                              Hug yourself
As I stand                                                         Stand
And sing Your praise                                  Hands move from mouth upward
You come,                                                       Sweep right hand up from left shoulder and hold
You come                                                        Sweep left hand up from right
                                                                        shoulder.  (yaw-daw position)
And You fill this place                                 Twirl once 360 degrees (gool)
Won’t You come                                              Same as You come except
Won’t You come and fill this place.              Twirling opposite direction
 
Station 3: Soaking: 
After this Go to cradle…Write “Emmanuel” on side of cradle. Hay in cradle with scripture verses on cards.
ASK: What does Emmanuel mean? (God with us)
Tell Kids that they are going to spend some quiet time with God. They can take a scripture verse from the cradle at this time. EG:
(John 15: 9) I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Live within my love. When you obey me you are living in my love.
(Deut.4:31) For the Lord your God is merciful - he will not forsake you…or forget his promises to you.
(1 Peter 5: 7)  Let him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.
(Jeremiah 29:11) For I know the plans  that I have for you plans for welfare and not calamity, to give you a future and a hope.
(John 14: 15-16) If you love me, obey me, and I will ask the Father and He will give you another comforter, and He will never leave you
(Is.43:1) But now the Lord, who created you, says, don’t be afraid… I have called you by name; you are mine!

ACTION: Take these cards with the scripture verse and find a quiet spot with a pillow (if possible).
Think about what the verse says to you.
Take some time to talk to God and let Him know how you are doing. Tell Him about your day and what is on your heart. For example, you could say to him, “Lord, I had a really good day because….. “Or “Lord, it was a bad day for me because….” He loves to hear from you! Make sure to tell Him that you love Him.
After 3-4 minutes of quiet, start worship music. Some suggestions are:
“Father”. (from Kids Praise CD.)
Chuck Girrard’s CD “Fire and Light”
1)Talk to me   2) Enter In  3) Holy Holy Holy…
While the worship music is playing if possible project some beautiful nature scenes on the wall. If that is not possible, take pictures from magazines  and have them around for the kids to see.

Station 4:

Go to cross and empty tomb picture. We had a banner that said “King of Kings” behind the cross.
Response:

Kneel and thank God for what He has done for you.

Optional other scripture passages:
*(Is 9:6) gives some of the names of Jesus…and His name will be called, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 
*Rev. Chapter 4, gives us a picture of the majesty of God.

CLOSING:
Time of blessing for each child and anoint them with oil. (Have other children continue coloring the banner with the names of God)
LEAVE ROOM FOR GOD TO INTERRUPT

I was sent this You Tube video a while ago and it is totally cool! It is a video of a team of people who choreographed a Casting Crowns song ” Who Am I” using only their hands and black light.
You are His - Son’s and daughters of the King. Loved. No matter what you have to face He will never leave you or forsake you! Whom shall you fear? You are His. This month let your hearts be filled with these thoughts, how God gave His best for you!  ENJOY!