There must be a generation!

I recently heard a very challenging statement - Either we define our times or they define us.

Every child who has ever been to Sunday School has heard of the story of David and Goliath.
We get a great deal of inspiration from the account of David defeating Goliath. A young boy defeating the giant, the “under dog” (if you will) defeating the seemingly favourite.

But what really stands out in the account of David and Goliath is that before David arrived on the scene with his “toasted sandwiches” – Saul and Israel were allowing the Philistines to define them. But praise God there was an unexpected – David was a different kind of man – he intended to define His time. There must be a generation in the 21st Century that is sick and tired of being defined by our times.

Some may be concerned about this transitional point for the church. There is the notion that there are few young men and women that are willing to sacrifice and answer the call into the ministry as our predecessors have. A very similar feeling was prevalent in Paul's day. Paul wrote to Timothy.

1 Timothy 4:11-16
11: These things command and teach. 12: Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13: Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14: Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15: Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16: Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Paul admonished them to not only command, but also teach.

• The next generation need teachers.
• The next generation need mentors.
• The next generation need elders who are willing to stand beside them – and even let them make mistakes!
• If we are to have a successful transition from one generation to another it must be taught.

But we must also note that Paul asked the youth to give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. The next generation cannot expect the baton to be handed off just simply because of age issues, but through disciplined actions of reading, studying and listening.

• in 2009, youth we need to be enrolling in Bible School
• in 2009, youth we need to be giving Bible Studies
• in 2009, youth we need to be reading our Bible
• in 2009, youth need to be praying and fasting!

27 March 2009 “National Day of Prayer and Fasting” – Register your name at www.aym.org.au

“THERE MUST BE A GENERATION IN THE 21st CENTURY”