English Service by Rev, DR. Willy Mutiso

SERVE GOD IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH

SERIES: “UNDER THE SUN”

TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 12:1-14

 

God has made provisions for the youth to serve Him faithfully in their youthful years. The youthful years are characterized with pressure of sins such as sexual immorality, materialism, drugs and alcoholism, occultism, to mention but a few. 

Despite this reality it is certain without any fear of contradiction that it is possible for any young person who chooses to serve God faithfully as a youth and in the youthful years. Let us discuss: –

GODLY WAYS FOR THE YOUTH:

  • There are several examples of the youth in the Bible that lived for God faithfully and were used by God to accomplish great things in their generations.
  • Any young person in our generation who chooses to serve can have them as examples and Godly patterns as to how to live a life pleasing unto God and to be faithful in the service of the Kingdom.

Examples from the Old Testament. 

  • It is possible, it was possible even the Old Testament.

Joseph

  • Joseph was at the age of 17 years when he refused to join his brethren in the evil they were doing, but rather will report their evil deeds to their father Jacob-(Genesis 37:1-2).
  • The same Joseph to commit fornication with his master’s wife in Egypt, not because he did not know how to enjoy pleasure, but because he feared God and was not willing to break his fellowship with God-(Genesis 39:7-10). 
  • Only the fear of God can keep the young and the old from the sin.
  • If it was possible for Joseph to separate himself from the evil doings of his brothers and to resist temptation for a sinful pleasure then it is possible for us these days to serve God faithfully.

David.

  • David was a youth. In the youthful years he demonstrated out uncommon zeal to sacrifice his life in fighting with Goliath-(1st Samuel 17:42-47).

Daniel.

  • Daniel was a youth when he chose not to defile himself with the portion of the king’s meal, and his steadfastness was able to influence the other three Hebrew youths positively to take similar decisions-(Daniel 1:8-14).
  • Daniel- even when he was thrown in to the lion’s den–he went into that den without fear and God delivered him because of his faithfulness-(Daniel 6:11-16).

Shedrack, Meshack and Abednego. 

  • These three youths refused to worship the idols set up by the king, not because they were rude or arrogant but because they knew it was against the word of God.
  • They were thrown into the burning furnace of fire, but God gave them one of the greatest deliverances in the Bible days-(Daniel 3:16-20).

EXAMPLES FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

  • It is possible for any young person in our generation who chooses to serve God faithfully because many youths demonstrated that in the New Testament.

Mary.

  • Mary was a young lady about to get married when she found favor before God.
  • This was possible because she kept her virginity, an honor that is lost by most of our young ladies today in their youthful years-(Luke 1:30-35)
  • Even though Mary lived in a wicked, military town of Nazareth she lived a pure and a holy life.

Timothy.

  • Timothy was a youth and served God faithfully in his youthful years.
  • Despite his young age, despite his father being a Greek man, Timothy was an example to others-(1st Timothy 4:12, 2nd Timothy 2:22, 3:1).
  • Even today, in our own generation if we observe carefully, we will see many young men and women who are demonstrating holiness, faith and commitment in their services unto God.

THE PRESSURES ON THE YOUTH. 

  • It is not easy task to live a holy life as a youth. This is because there is the pressure within and the pressure without confronting the youth and taking them away from the will of God.
  • But through the Grace of God and the Strength of the Holy Spirit the youth can overcome the pressures and live faithfully and victoriously unto the Lord.

The pressure within:–

The last of the flesh which wages war against the soul-(Galatians 5:16–21).

  • There is a great desire in the youth to give into the pleasure of sin, most especially sexual sins.
  • Only through deliberate yielding to the Holy Spirit the urge can be subdued.

The lust of the eyes or greed which would drown the soul-(1st Timothy 6:9-11).

  • Many youths today are carried away with greed and covetousness.
  • They usually compare and compete with one another and material possession.
  • This is usually to make them to go in a direction that is not approved by God.

Pride of life or arrogance which also pulls one away from God-(1st John 2:15-17).

  • Many youths today are not willing to be scolded and corrected according to righteousness because of pride and arrogance.
  • Many youths today feel that they know better and know it all.
  • The girls are dying like flies because they are jumping all kind of fires!!

The pressures from without.

Peer pressure, encouraging the youth to do evil.

  • Most of the evil done by the youth are the influence of the friends and colleagues in their lives.
  • They will be influenced to keep sinning partners that they call boy or girl friend or influenced into smoking, drinking and all sorts of occultic practices.
  • Jonadab encouraged his friend Amnon to sleep with his blood sister (2nd Samuel 13:1-14).
  • Young person you need to recognize every Jonadab in your life and separate yourself from him or her.
  • Young person don’t follow the multitude, multitudes always do evil- (Psalms 1:1-3).

The influence of bad leaders. 

  • Some older people in various capacities of leadership are the ones encouraging them to do evil. 
  • Some parents support their children in all forms of examination malpractices, incest, is how common while mothers encourage their daughters into prostitution. 
  • Pastors are not spared, some church leaders engage in sexual immoralities with the youths. 
  • School teachers and bosses in the place of work sexually harass youths.
  • There is a curse of God upon any adult who are misleading the children and youths and drawing them away from God and His ways of righteousness-(Matthew 18:5-6).

Societal pressure such as humanism (ASI), Immorality promoted in schools and by the media houses-(1st Peter 4:3-4).

  • The internet, social media today are being used by the devil to lower the hearts of young people away from God.

Hypocrisy and false brethren among members of the Church-(Revelation 2:4-5). 

BIBLICAL PRACTICES FOR YOUTH. 

  • To overcome the pressures and serve God faithfully you need to depend absolutely on the power Christ will give you-(Philippians 4:13) 
  1. Delight and Mediate on the word of God-(James 1 :21-25)
  2. Be committed to effective praying- (Matthew 26 :41)
  3. Regular church attendance and faithful participation-(Hebrews 3:12-14. 10:23 -25).
  4. Consciously look for Godly role models and avoid bad influence (3rd John 11)

CONCLUSION. 

  • Young person, it does not matter what happened to you in the past. It is never too late to take a U-turn, confess, forsake, surrender to Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
  • Start living for HIM and please HIM for the remaining days of your life.
  • It shall be well with your soul. Only remember your creator in the days of your youth.
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Rev, DR. Willy Mutiso

Rev, Dr. Willy Mutiso is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Athiriver. He is widely known for his practical and dynamic teaching style which helps people apply the timeless truths of Scripture to their everyday lives.

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