Where has the time gone?

For the last few weeks leading up to my birthday, I have been thinking a lot about David Brainerd.  David Brainerd died at the age of 29. (my age now) What's so fascinating about his life is that he wasn't saved until he was 21.  David Brainerd lived for Christ for 8 years and God used him mightily to the American Indians.  Not only did God use him to reach the Indians but Brainerd also had a lasting affect on others: Jonathan Edwards, William Carey, Jim Elliot, and others.

My prayer the past few weeks has been that The Lord would allow me to be a blessing to others and also be an encouragement to me friends and those I meet.  

What convicts me the most about the life of David Brainerd is how much he did for the Kingdom of God in so little time, and how little I have done with so much time!

I pray that the next 29 years will be used for the Glory and Honor of Christ Jesus!

1 Corinthians 9:16, "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"

Lost on Momma's Religion

Matthew 19:16-22

Intro:

  The Bible is clear that our parents have a huge impact on our spiritual life.  The Bible says in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Throughout all of Scripture the Word speaks of the importance of a Godly home.  However, I fear that most “church going” young people today are blinded by the religion of their parents.  Mom and Dad have great intentions, but they have fallen into the motions of religion and are blinded by their good works. 

  Many young people today are living their “Christian” lives: faithful to church, Sunday school, choir, youth group, Bible reading, etc.  However, these young people have never put their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.  Their moms and dads are faithful in the house of God themselves, but their children have never repented of their sins.  It seems that the more we “train” to labor for Christ, the less we teach them on what true repentance is.

Here in this passage we see a young man under conviction as he runs and falls down at the feet of Jesus.  He asked the question that so many people today need to ask, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17)

Jesus tells him what he must do, but the young man replies that he has observed the commandments from his youth!  How many young people today do we have sitting on our pews with this same mentality?  “I know the Romans road”, “I know Amazing Grace”, “I can quote John 3:16.”  The youth of this generation are going to Hell on the pews of our church!

Let’s look at this encounter this young man had with Jesus.

• Conviction
• First of all, let me say, before there can ever be a conversion, there has to be conviction.
• There must be a conviction for the sin in the person’s life before he can be saved.
• This young ruler ran to Jesus and fell at His feet.  I will say this, He ran to the right person!

• Calamity
• Note:  This young man was a young man who lived his life by the law, but was still lost.  James 2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
• He finally realized he was lost and needed to be saved and the only way he could be saved was through Jesus Christ.

• Cost
• Jesus told him that there was still one thing he needed to do…Sell ALL he had and take up his cross and follow HIM. 
• Jesus wasn’t saying that he had to sell his stuff in order to be saved, but Jesus knew the young man’s heart and was aware that this young man worshipped his money more that the Creator.
• There are many little gods in people’s lives that cause them to be naive of their lost condition.  When I was in youth group (so many years ago) I was lost, but I had religion. 
• Serving Jesus has a price.  YES, Salvation is FREE, but there is always a price for following Jesus.  Christ told the young man to take up his cross and follow.  I don’t know about you, but carrying a cross would not be something that sounds easy.

 Conc:

  Do you truly believe mom and dad’s religion is good enough for you to go to heaven?  My friend you are sadly mistaken.  Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

The bible says that many will never know true repentance because they are blinded by their own works.  May we never lose sight of what salvation truly is…BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH!

The Choice is Yours!

I was reading in Joshua 24 today and the challenge that Joshua throws out to the Children of Israel really got me to thinking about the teenagers of this generation. 
  Joshua 24:14-15, "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Joshua made it a Personal Choice:
 
  Joshua says: "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." 
Joshua had been around for quite sometime and he seen the Lord work in the life of Moses and the Children of Israel.  Joshua experienced the goodness of God himself because he showed great faith in God over the years.  It was Joshua and Caleb who came back to camp and told Moses to go into the Promised Land and take what God had given them, but the people listened to the other 10 and wandered for 40 years.  Joshua knew who was in control then and he knew who was in control now.

The "norm" for youth group today seems to be more of a babysitting club than a training platform to raise up a generation of servants for Christ's Kingdom! (I have been guilty of this myself)  More and more youth groups are becoming more entertaining rather than equipping their youth groups with the Word.  It's no wonder that this generation seems to be at a loss when it comes to soul-winning, missions, or surrender. I fear most youth groups today are like the 10 spies that came back to camp and said that "It can't be done!"  God help me to raise up more Joshuas and Calebs!!!

YOUTH PASTOR: What are you showing your youth group to make them want to serve God?

Joshua made it a Public Choice:

  Joshua addresses the Children of Israel and tells them publicly his choice.  It is always good to tell others the decisions made for the Lord.  Making decisions and making them public helps keep you accountable.  We need to see more young people on fire for God and make some decisions for Him!  It truly makes me cringe to see some young people's social media pages.  There is not one ounce of Jesus on their pages and yet they come in to church, sit in Sunday School, sing in the choir, and their friends outside of church never get told of the love of Christ by them.  Public decisions help in this area because once people hear of your decision, they will be watching.  Sometimes leading by example is better than saying a single word. (Matthew 5:16) 

Joshua made it a Purposeful Choice:

  I want you to notice something Joshua says, "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt"

Joshua made it a point to call out the "gods" that their fathers worshipped on the other side while they were in captivity.  He wanted them to put them away for good. 

One of the biggest challenges I have faced over the years in youth ministry is the apathy by the teenagers.  The more it frustrated me, I finally went to talk to my pastor about it.  I told him that the teens are so careless about being faithful to church or activities, it was driving me CRAZY!!!  He told me, "You and me both buddy!"  That got me to thinking:  How can I expect the younger generation to be faithful when the adults aren't even faithful themselves?!?  I fear that the "god" being served by a lot of adults today, isn't the same God of the Bible.  There has been a sense of apathy throughout the church for decades now and I fear it will get worse.  If we want this generation to make a difference, then they need to get the "Modern Christianity" that many adults today have been feeding them and destroy it and return to the God of the Bible!

I know that there are a lot of adults who are great servants of Christ.  In fact, I am blessed to go to church with some of them! :)  However, the proof is there that there is a growing sense of apathy in the local church.  More churches are closing doors to have "Bigger" concert halls, I mean churches, with less Gospel centered preaching being erected. 

Joshua posed this question: "choose you this day whom ye will serve."  My challenge to myself while reading was this:

1.)  Am I doing my part in equipping the youth to make the right decisions?
2.)  Is my service a reflection of Christ that would make them want to serve Him themselves?

I hope these "ramblings" have been somewhat of an encouragment to you as you read this.  If you like it feel free to share!

In Christ,
Bro Chris Paradise