Young People’s Blog

Preaching – Part 2

“And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

It has been estimated that if all the unsaved people of the world were to line up single file at your front door, the line would reach around the world 30 times, and this line would grow by twenty miles each day.

Now, if you were to drive a car at 50 miles an hour for ten hours a day, it would take you 4 years and 40 days to get to the end of the line of souls. And by then it would have grown by 30,000 miles.

Even if these statistics are only somewhat accurate, they should make us aware of the great need there is in the world today. We don’t have to look very far to see the need or make known the gospel. The Lord says to each of us, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee” (Mark 5:19). Look out your front door and see lost souls. Then in one way or another, “Preach the Word” (2 Timothy 4:2).

 

Preaching – Part 1

We are not sent to preach sociology but salvation; not economics but evangelism; not reform but redemption; not culture but conversion; not progress but pardon; not the new social order but the new birth; not revolution but regeneration; not renovation but revival; not resuscitation (restoration of life) but resurrection; not a new organization but a new creation; not democracy but the GOSPEL; not civilization but CHRIST.

The Bible tells us that we are ambassadors not diplomats. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Don’t get caught up in the politics and other issues for the betterment of society and the world that we are so bombarded with today. The Apostle Paul made it clear what the theme of his preaching was. He said: “We preach Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23). “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5).

Continued…

 

Memorizing

“I will meditate in Thy precepts…I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy Word”
(Psalm 119:15-16).

In a world of cell phones and speed dialling, our ability to remember may be short-circuited by reliance on technological gadgets. A Los Angeles Times article says that in years past, as we dialed phone numbers, the “repetition…slowly etched them in our long-term memory.” Daily use provided constant review. I used to know all the numbers for family and friends, but today all I need to do is press a button.

Letting a phone number slip our minds may be trivial, but keeping a mental grip on God’s Word is of the utmost importance. Someone has said that the three principles of scripture memory are: Review, Review, Review!

It is also good to memorize the reference with the text. That way we will be able to find it when the need arises. The goal of etching scripture in our minds is to have it fill our hearts and motivate our actions. Memorizing opens the mental door to God’s Word. Review helps it find a permanent home in our hearts.

 

Dear Young Christian:

As you head out for the week, let me share a story I remember hearing some time ago:

A young man, Dave, was reading his Bible while riding the rapid transit to work on Monday morning. Someone must have noticed. When the train reached Dave’s stop, a group gathered to exit. Just as the door opened, a stranger leaned over and asked, “Did He speak to you this morning?” Receiving an affirmative reply, the stranger disappeared into the crowd.

It reminded me of what Eli the priest said to Samuel when he realized that the Lord was calling to him one night at the temple. He instructed the young boy to answer, “Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:9).

Take time to hear the Lord speak to you each morning this week; before you leave your room, while eating breakfast, on the way to work or school. I used to have the Bible narrated on cassette tape so I could listen on the way to work or at the office.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to [email protected]

The Tree

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”
(Romans 5:8).

One of Canada’s major newspapers, National Post, carried the following headline on November 20, 2007:

“Man ties children to a palm tree, as worst cyclone in a decade hits Bangladesh.”

The article went on to say that it was a horrific storm like few others, and killed an estimated 3,000 people. However, it was deprived of the lives of two children ages five and thirteen. They had been tied to a tree when the winds of 240 km per hour struck the coast.

In His Father’s will, the Lord Jesus was nailed to Calvary’s cross. “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). It was not to save Himself from the storm of God’s judgment against sin, but to save us from it, and to pay the price for our sins. The rest of the verse in 1 Peter confirms, “that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

 

You Have Heard

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”
(Romans 5:8).

On the cross where man slew the Lord Jesus, God by Him brought about redemption. His love rose above the enmity and hatred of His enemies. Such is the virtue and value of Christ’s sacrifice, that it can bring to God the worst sinner without spot or stain. Yet so much more ruinous will it be for those that believe not. It is far better to be a heathen that never heard the gospel than a person who has heard and rejected or neglected God’s great salvation.

Over and over in the New Testament there are numerous references to the love of God…so many times when God has declared His love for man…so many assurances that salvation can be had through the blood of Christ.

“Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood…to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:5-6).

 

Submit to God

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Simply put, this verse means, Say, “Yes” to God and, “No” to the devil. It is useless to try to resist the devil without first submitting to God. The devil is too strong and his wiles too subtle for any of us. Victory begins with surrender to God. But on the other hand, we are to follow submission to God with resisting the devil. “The battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47), but we are not robots or machines; we must be on God’s side and say “No” to the enemy. We fight with spiritual weapons, but we still fight, and there is not only passive submission but active submission.

Some make the mistake of mere submission without a positive stand against the tempter. Others resist without submission, and the devil does not flee. It is a double-barreled admonition. It is a clear call to “Yes” and “No.”

“But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay” (Matthew 5:37).

 

Reading The Bible – Part 2

“His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2).

Here are some further responses to yesterday’s question, Why is it we can read a three hundred page novel with ease, but we find it hard sometimes to schedule time each day to read a chapter from the Bible?

A believer who is cold in their soul will find the Bible dry. I know because I’ve been there before.

A novel will appeal to the flesh.

If you are not walking with God you will find even a Christian novel more exciting than the Bible.

What we feed on affects us greatly. If we feed on what is not good then that is what we will grow to like. We won’t have an appetite for spiritual food.

It takes spiritual energy and discipline to read the Living Word.

These observations came from a variety of young people of various ages. Lots of good points to ponder aren’t there?

 

Reading the Bible – Part 1

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me” (John 5:36).

Some years ago in a young people’s periodical, entitled Truth for Young Christians, the following question was raised: Why is it we can read a three hundred page novel with ease, but we find it hard sometimes to schedule time each day to read a chapter from the Bible?

The young people were asked to send their thoughts on the subject, and here are some of the responses…

To enjoy the Word of God we must “search” the scriptures with our heart, and that is sometimes hard to do.

I believe it has a lot to do with a person’s state of soul. If you are away from the Lord, a novel is more interesting than the Word of God.

Satan will do all he can to prevent us from reading the Bible.

We like to avoid having our conscience stirred up.

We will list some further responses tomorrow.

Continued…

 

Oh…Hour

“A time…for every purpose” (Ecclesiastes 3:17).

Oh happy hour, when first we came

To know our sins forgiven:

To know our Saviour, Jesus Christ,

Who died, who lives, in heaven;

We recollect His first embrace,

Never forget His saving grace.

Oh precious hours, with Him to walk,

Along faith’s path each day:

And prove Christ’s changeless faithfulness,

Which drives all fear away:

His grace sustains, His hand upholds,

His love, Himself, to us unfolds.

Oh joyful hour, when at the throne,

We spend with Jesus there;

And fellowship in sweet accord,

And find our source in prayer;

We would retire and there abide,

In Him we safely can confide.