REMINDERS FOR THE YOUTH by Dr. Joel Santos
The mind set of culture that our youth is facing today.
any person that has come to the relation that their power to overcome many of life’s challenges can be found within. The ‘RW’ stands for the Real World, which sometimes gives us the impression that our problems are more than we can handle.
Mark Beird - Postmodernism: a different, subjective, experiential way of looking at the world, and a deep skepticism which does not believe in moral, absolute or universal truths.
L. Rex
Christianity, by embracing the Holy Bible as the inerrant word of God, establishes the doctrines of Scripture as the axiomatic [obvious] basis of moral and spiritual Absolutes. Scripture describes God as Omnipotent [all-powerful], Omnipresent [universal], Omniscient [all knowing] with infinite mercy, justice, and love; and Christians accept the birth, life, death, resurrection, and person of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Holy Bible. Therefore, Christian faith acknowledges Christ to be the divine son of God of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As defined in Scripture, the Christian is saved from eternal condemnation for his sins by the Grace of God through the acceptance, in faith, of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, believing that He is the Son of God, that He came into the world to save sinners through His atoning death on the cross, that He established victory over death by His bodily resurrection and ascension to Heaven, and that He will come again to judge the world, such that those who believe on Him will spend Eternity in Heaven with Him and God the Father Almighty.
1 Timothy 4:6-4:16
1Ti 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
1Ti 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
1Ti 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. {little: or, for a little time}
1Ti 4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
1Ti 4:11 These things command and teach.
1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
1Ti 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
1Ti 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. {to all: or, in all things}
1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Paul gave as some reminders as the guiding principles of the Christian youth.
Who is Timothy:
-A youth
-A believer
-A youth leader
-A young minister
I. DON’ts For the Christian youth
A. Don’t live the way of unbelievers - v.7
1Ti 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
Dr. Howard, from Australia who preached very strongly on the subject of sin. After the service, one of the church officers came to counsel with him in the study. "Dr. Howard," he said, "we don’t want you to talk as openly as you do about man’s guilt and corruption, because if our boys and girls hear you discussing that subject they will more easily become sinners. Call it a mistake if you will, but do not speak so plainly about sin. "The minister took down a small bottle and showing it to the visitor said, "You see that label? It says strychnine -- and underneath in bold, red letters the word ’Poison!’ Do you know, man, what you are asking me to do? You are suggesting that I change the label. Suppose I do, and paste over it the words, ’Essence of Peppermint’; don’t you see what might happen? Someone would use it, not knowing the danger involved, and would certainly die. So it is, too, with the matter of sin. The milder you make your label, the more dangerous you make your poison!"
B. Don’t let anyone look down on you - v.12
4:12 Let no man despise thy youth
II. DO’s For the Christian Youth
A. Train yourself to be godly - v.7-8
Percentage of American’s who own running shoes but don’t run: 87%
Charis Conn, Ed., What Counts: The Complete Harper’s Index.
Doctor to patient: Sorry, but right now you’re not in good enough shape to get in shape.
Starting early in life will make it easier as you grow.
1Ti 4:7 exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
B. Follow the standard of Scriptures - v.6
1Ti 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
Jamisson – Fauset – minister is a servant
Timothy had been trained in the faith, and Paul was admonishing him to follow his training. Youth, this is why it is so important to get established in your Christian walk. Getting a solid foundation in your youth makes it much easier to when you get older
Illus. When you first learned to ride the bike, it took work and perseverance, now you can do it without thinking about it {I have been accused of doing a lot of things without thinking}
On Saturday, December 23, 1972, Richard Knecht of Prospect, Oregon, set out to shatter the existing world sit-up record. For the past six months a Marine Corps captain had held the record, with an amazing 17,007. Knecht was determined to capture the title for his family team, which tours the nation demonstrating the utmost in physical fitness. He began the grueling attempt in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and 11 hours and 14 minutes later had shattered the record with 25,222 sit-ups. How many years of training had gone into preparing for this Herculean feat? Not as many as you might think. When he set the record, Richard Knecht was 8 years old
Youth years can be a powerful time of your life.
2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
You may be a new Christian or maybe you have been around the church all your life. The key is to learn when your young and be an example to those around you.
C. Be a good example to your peers -
1. in words
2. in conduct
3. in love
4. in faith
5. in purity
III. Duties of the Christian Youth
Surveys in 1986:
70% of high school grads leave the church, never to return
65% of evangelical teens never read their Bibles
33% believe religion is out of date and out of touch
40% of all teens believe in astrology
30% read astrology column daily
93% know their sign
58% of protestant teens believe students should have access to contraceptives.
25% of high school students contract some form of V.D.
42% of protestant teens say there are many ways to God.
60% question that miracles are possible
28% feel the content of the Bible are not accurate.
According to surveys in 1990:
65% of all H.S. Christian students are sexually active
75% of all H.S. students cheat regularly
30% of all H.S. students have shoplifted in the past 30 days
45-50% of all teen pregnancies are aborted
3.3 million teens are alcoholics
1000 teens try to commit suicide daily
10% of H.S. students have experimented with or are involved in a homosexual lifestyle.
-Bruce Wilkinson, 7 Laws of the Learner.
1Ti 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
A. Reading v.13
ACC - present the truth of God is not only to be proclaimed, study and dwell on the word of God
B. Recognizing and developing your talent. Vs. 14
1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee.
ACC - refers to the gifts and graces of the Divine Spirit
Brian Winslade
1. Every single one of us is gifted by God in at least some way. There are no exceptions. There is no redundancy in God’s Kingdom. There is a purpose or an area of ministry or special empowering from God to serve him in some way for every Christian.
2. Spiritual gifts are little manifestations of the grace of God. When we exercise the special abilities that God has given us we show forth or display or manifest the character and grace of God, in its various forms. The exercise of our gifts shows forth what God is really like.
3. Spiritual gifts are not our possessions, to do with as we please. They are like tools of the trade that our boss lends us to use in the work of his business. One day we will have to account to God for what we have done with the tools he has lent us.
4. Spiritual gifts are not necessarily in the same areas as our natural talents. Natural talents we are born with, and can use irrespective of our spiritual state. Gifts of the Spirit come from God, and are only evident in us as Christians. That’s not to say that our areas of gifting are never found in the same areas as our natural talents; just not necessarily. God may well give us gifts in areas that are quite different from our natural ability and training. Let’s not limit ourselves to only thinking that the special ability God has given us to serve him is in the same areas as the natural talents and abilities we are born with.
5. Spiritual gifts are not to be confused with spiritual fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is to be the goal of every Christian. They are symbols or expressions of spiritual maturity. Spiritual gifts will differ from believer to believer. We should all aim to show forth all the fruit of the Spirit. But we will never all display all of the gifts of the Spirit - they will vary from Christian to Christian
6. Spiritual gifts are not to be confused with general Christian roles or responsibilities that are common to us all. To be a follower of Jesus means that there are certain roles and responsibilities that are common to us all. For instance, all of us are to give to God, but some will manifest an extra special ability or gift in giving. Likewise we are all to have faith in God, but some are given an extra special gift in that area. Same with hospitality and serving and healing and mercy, and indeed all the other gifts. We all have the same potential to manifest or exercise any of the gifts of the Spirit, but as we go on in our walk with the Lord we discover that there are certain areas where God has given us an extra special proficiency and anointing - that we are to recognise as areas of spiritual gifting.
IV. Dividends for Faithfulness
A. You will be saved - v.16
1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
B. Your faith will progress - v.15
1Ti 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
C. You will become good steward - v.16
D. Your life will also benefit others v.16
Youth….God has a purpose for your life, Sometimes it may seem life is a total confusion, but God is there with you. Don’t give up, God will help you. If you have any struggles or things your going through….let others know, we are supposed to bear each others burdens. Young People…..Your important to this pastor, this church, your parents and ultimately to God. You have a place in his kingdom, it is up to you to give God your will and entire life.
