Is Youthfulness A Hindrance To Spirituality?

Is Youthfulness A Hindrance To Spirituality?

Pastor Vincent - 4 June 2015

Doing Nothing, Yet Believing Everything

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. (1 Corinthians 1:17 NIV) In life, we are subjected to various circumstances and decision points that propel us to mobilize our human wits to do something, find something, or solve something right away. Our human nature always draws us to focus on the signs and outcomes of things, and thus it activates our big self easily, causing the big self to drive us. Yet, the big irony is, it's also this big self that hinder us from magnifying Christ, ie the biggest victory before we ever activate anything. When Christ sent His disciples to preach the gospel, those who were sent included people like Peter who was a mere fisherman, lowly educated he was. But God has a message for us -- a lot of times, we focus a lot on the outcomes eg whether one will believe in Christ, whether our family will be saved, can we fulfil our key performance indicators at work etc etc... But when Christ commissioned His people to preach the gospel, it's because the gospel itself is all that we ever need in evangelism, not our eloquence nor human wits. The gospel, in its inherent nature, has all its power to effect the outcome God has intended to bring on. But it's only when man looks upon God with a believing heart can he participate in the glorious fulfilment of God's work. As we continue on our pilgrim's journey, God wants us to do nothing out of our human nature, but believe in everything because we genuinely and sincerely hold onto God's promises. When we rest ourselves on the right platform (eg the unchanging promise of God), it will activate all our spiritual senses and propel us to live by faith.

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Is Youthfulness A Hindrance To Spirituality?


Young people are often seen to be full of zeal, quick to adapt, and the people to make an impact in this generation. Yet, what are the real challenges and realities young people faced in their faith? How is the World shaping their mind now? Find out this week about how young godly men and women need to guard their hearts and minds and be rightly equipped for this Era.

 Verses to read:
<2 Ti 1:5,7; 2:22> <Titus 2:6> <Job 32:4-5,9>
<1 Sam 17:24,26-40,45-47> <1 Ti 4:12>

Introduction:

Few Questions to ponder thru:

  • Have you ever thought through the realties and challenges faced by young people?
  • Have you look at how the World is shaping a world of young people today? (E.g. HongKong)
  • Can the general characteristics of young people stand up against the World?

1. What is it about being youthful?

1) Strong desire for experiences.

Possible Downside:

  • Could draw you into the wrong grounds Must learn to flee
  • Bought over easily by what is emotionally appealing Must learn the truth to make critical judgment
  • Shape us to be esp incongruent Must be brought to sincere faith

* Bottom line is: “Gain experience while knowing the truth, so that you will not be drawn into experientialism”.

 

2) Youthful nature can incline us into rashness or impulsiveness.

Be self-controlled (But not timidity)

At appropriate times, need to be incisive and courageous.

 

3) Difficult to understand shades of grey

<Rn 14:1> Accept him whose faith is weak… disputable matters.

<Rn 15:1> …Bear with the failings of the weak.

* When imperfection exists, we must learn to test the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.


2. Be a young and godly person, like David

1) Filled with Godly Anger

* Cares about the glory of God and Israel (the Church)

* Ask: What arouse a godly anger in you?

  • A corrupted, truncated Gospel
  • Hypocrisy in the Church

 

2) Youthfulness, coupled with great courage

* Ask: Do you succumb to the pressure of life when following the Lord?

 

3) Develops own unique way of battling

 

4) Accept all kinds of challenges and trials that God has specially designed for you


Reflection:

1. What is the most difficult thing to overcome for you as a young person?

2. Personally, what is the most edifying thing u have done as a young person?

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Pastor Vincent Choo
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Vincent serves as the President of The Blessed Run Church. He is also the Senior Pastor of The Life Church and Missions (Singapore) and is an ardent missionary to the Chinese World. He currently lives in Singapore with his wife, Qiufen, and has three kids, Mary, David, and Caleb.

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