Matt.18 = At that time the disciples came up to and asked Jesus; Who then is (really ) the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And He called a little child to Himself and put him in the midst of them, and said; Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about,) and become like little children, (trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving,) you can never enter the kingdom of heaven at all. Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child, (trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving,) is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives and accepts and welcomes one little child like this for My sake and in My name  receives and accepts and welcomes Me. But who ever causes one of these little ones who believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin, (that is who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or thought,) it would be better (more expedient and profitable or advantageous) for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk into the depths of the sea.

We must become humble like a child.

Where do you think pride comes into a child?  When they can begin to reason, or when reason sets in.  After that they become proud by experience, they begin to learn from what people say and how they live. One can be poor and still have pride.

To teach a child how to be humble is through how you live. Humility is a lifestyle, it comes to a point where you are meek and lowly you live it out. You can not humble yourself lest your mind is renewed and you ask for humility. Once you are humble you can begin to see injustices being done and you have compassion, because your inward passion and desire becomes much stronger than on the outside what other people see or think. We must come to that place where we don’t care about what people think, and we aren’t doing things to please people anymore. Humility is an inward reality, that speaks and has power. Humility has amazing power in the spiritual realm. It has nothing to do with who you are what you say or what you do, you just are.

How do you humble yourself ? 

Through an utter dependence on the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you.  The root of pride is always rebellion. To be able to receive you need to become humble. Humble yourself in all areas because then you will become a servant in all areas.

A practical outflow of the kingdom is peace in the home. Proverbs says: “As a man thinketh so is he.” To live in peace is the heaven, it is the kingdom.

(Zech 1:7-13) Upon the twenty fourth day of the eleventh month , which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of the reign of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zecharieh son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet. Zechariah said, I saw in the night vision and behold a Man riding upon a red horse, and He  stood among the myrtle trees that were in a low valley or bottom,  and behind Him there were horses, red, bay or flame-colour, and white. Then said I , O my Lord what are these ? And the Angel who talked with me said, I will show you what these are. And the Man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, these are they whom the Lord has sent to walk to and fro through the earth and patrol it.  And the men on the horses answered the Angel of the Lord who stood among the myrtle trees and said, we have walked to and fro through the earth  ( patrolling it ) and behold, all the earth sits at rest ( in peaceful security ).  

V13 And the Lord answered the angel who talked with me with gracious and comforting words.

The Angel of the Lord in capital A is always Jesus.  Kind and encouraging words spoken in heaven, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Symptoms of pride are lies and vanities. If the parents grab hold of the Lord the children follow easier. 

Don’t let the strongholds of the enemy preach to you, resist them! A renewed mind keeps you in victory. Keep Spirit of peace in mind, that is your umpire. Let Him guide you in how you speak with your children, when they’ve done something wrong you can speak to the in one way ( shout ) or take a moment and ask the Spirit to help, and speak to them, calmly but with authority.

The atmosphere where children are raised is very important. We must choose to raise our children different to the world, we must change. As God changes me, I change, I can’t change my self in my own efforts. The more time you spend with your children in love, the less you have to correct them (spanking)  examples of is, story reading, sitting amongst them as they play, or hand out some marshmallows and have a chat.

You must be humble to be teachable.

Romans 12:1, 2 = I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication to your bodies ( presenting al your members and faculties ) as a living sacrifice, holy ( devoted, consecrated ) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable ( rational, intelligent ) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world ( this age ) , ( fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs ) but be transformed, ( changed ) by the ( entire ) renewal of your mind ( by its new ideas and its new attitude ) so that you may prove ( for yourselves ) what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God , even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you.)

Do not let the world squeeze you into a mould. Criticism is also proud. Measuring yourself up to others is also childish, constantly comparing yourself.  Contentment is the kingdom. Humility is who you are, pride comes from Satan.  Jesus came in humility in a donkey, not in pride like the earthly kings arrayed on their big horses all made up.

Just stay in the word and pray every day and you will make it. Circumstances will try and pull you down, but stay in God, stay in the word. Prov.18:1 He who will fully separates and estranges himself from God and man seeks his own desire and pretext to break out against all wise and sound judgement. Separate unto God not away from Him. Drawing from God is wisdom, pulling away from Him is foolishness.

Three degrees of Gods will,  

1)      good;

2)      acceptable

3)      perfect

Only a renewed mind can Fathom the will of God. Work out your own salvation in fear and trembling. (Phil.2:12)

You can not walk in harmony with God if you do not know how he thinks, nor can you  walk in harmony with your family if you do not know what they think.

You must know; What does God say. A renewed mind will understand His perfect will.

What is your passion? Get your passions right.

Mal.3:2 = for who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiners fire and like fullers soap.  How does a young man cleanse His ways, by clinging to the Word.