"Being a Christian Young Person" Part 1

As a youth leader, it is my God given burden to do all I can do to reach and to keep our youth in this precious fold. This means praying for them at home and in church, being that Godly example that they can look to, spending time edifying and building them up, and teaching them how to fight the good fight of faith. I'm thankful to God for an awesome group of young people who honestly desire to live a life that is pleasing in the sight of God. They not only have that Godly desire, but they are living for God and are striving to be successful saint, and with the help of God they will be. The Word of God diligently teaches us that our adversary the devil, is as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour. Apostolic, Holy Ghost filled youth is definitely the devil's focus.

As Christians, we must not be ignorant of Satan's devices. We are in a serious war and the fight is very grievious. Satan so desires to sift our youth as wheat. I understand this plan of the enemy and I cannot afford to sit back and take a casual approach in this fight. The enemy will use anything against us to get us to fall. Most of all, he desires to dull our conscience. He wants our youth to be comfortable living in a luke warm state. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12.

One of the main devices that Satan uses is ourselves. We call it our flesh. As a youth leader, I teach our youth a very important statement that we all should pay careful attention to. Here it is; "Next to Jesus, you are your own best friend...Next to Satan, you are your own worst enemy." I tell them that we should never trust our flesh to walk therein. Galatians 5:16-17 says, "...Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." The problem with our flesh is that it's rarely in tune with God. Satan and the world is teaching our youth that it's ok to let our flesh make our choices for us. Most young people today are letting their bodies run the show. If it feels good, looks good, sounds good, then I'll try it. This is where Satan is sifting us. That's why when your body/flesh starts telling you to do something you shouldn't, you've got to crucify it. You've got to bring it under subjection.

We are going to win the war. To be a successful Christian, we're going to have to deny the flesh and feed the Spirit. How do I feed my spirit? Good question. Read your Bible, pray, listen to GODLY music, listen to good apostolic preaching, and going to church, etc. Consider these words of wisdom, "Two natures beat within my chest, The one is foul; the one is blest, The one I love; the one I hate, The one I feed will dominate."

One last thought: Don't let your mortal body make choices. Since the body is mortal and can die, it will lead you to make choices that will lead to death.

Troyce Mack

ARC - United Pentecostal Church

7 Berkeley Street

Manning, SC 29102

David W. Gleason; Pastor