Our youth pastor delivered Part 5, the Conclusion of the Rising Series.
Rising up means going up, ascending. It is not creation of something new but increasing what already exists. There is no ceiling as we are unable to reach the top.
This message is on Spiritually Raising Generations. God helped the Israelites leave their bondage in Egypt and begin to take the promised land. But another generation forgot the God of their ancestors. Judges 2:1-3; Judges 2:10-15. We learn in the Old Testament that God planned things and gave specific instructions to take the promised land by destroying or driving the people living there out of the land. Exodus 23:27-30; Numbers 33:52. The Israelites failed to do that. They made covenants with the people and often made them their slaves. They began to worship false gods.
God takes obedience seriously.
If you don’t want your legacy to go to waste, start obeying the Lord when He speaks to you.
There are consequences – lost generations – when believers fail to obey.
The next generation is closer than you think. Who is the next generation?
Not just our children but those who are ten to twenty years below us in age. The future rests in these young people.
After we pass from the earth, what great things are the children of today going to remember about God? What will stop them from becoming like the many current Christians who profess faith but don’t follow the precepts of God.
The relationship between Paul and Timothy show us there are three steps that are repeatable.
Phase One: Parenthood.
This doesn’t refer to (just) your children but to a spiritual relationship with others. Like Paul’s relationship with Timothy. Paul acts a spiritual father to Timothy (whose own father was a Greek, although his mother was a Jewish believer.) Particularly for young people, who acts as your spiritual mentor? For mature believers: who are your spiritual sons and daughters? Find at least one and be actively involved in their spiritual life.
Phase Two: Pace Setting.
Paul knew it was important to bring Timothy along for training. 2 Timothy 3:10-11. The next generation needs something to emulate, to copy. Do they see you serving in church ministry? Set the pace high for the next generation. Youth should take notice of service and to take up the pace. Like Nascar driving – they start with the pace car but then take off!! Go above and beyond for the Kingdom of God.
Adults should pay attention to the example you are setting for the next generation who are watching you.
Phase Three: Partnering.
Spiritual parenting looks like physical parenting. Eventually the ‘youth’ now becomes a fellow worker, a co-laborer. Now there are two to mentor two more. The whole reason for the Church is to continue this training process. It is disobedient to the Lord to think we shouldn’t be passing on the training and message of God.
It is time to rise up in faith, power, strength, and spiritually train the next generation so they can do even better, greater things in their lives.
Focus to make this our mission. Do not focus on the music, the singing, the AC, the sound system, the lighting. You weren’t called to come into the church building and be comfortable. You were called to testify of God’s touch in your life and to spiritually share with the next generation. Be active in setting a good example.
Start with your own faith and obedience to God!
I like this song video for this morning. Embark in the Service of God.
Judges 2:10-13 NIV
10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. 12 They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They aroused the Lord’s anger 13 because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.
Lord, help me to be a mentor and good example to the next, and following, generations.
