This post is from a message I taught last week to our young church. Maybe someone could draw some strength from these points as well.
It is so easy to see the negative in the world if we choose to allow it to become our focus. The first thing we must do as a young church is:
1) Stay Positive.
Philippians 4:8 teaches us that we should think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and things that are of a good report. We should think on things that add virtue and not take virtue away.
2) Keep faith alive.
Luke 18: 8 reminds us that when the Son of Man comes, he will be looking to find faith on the earth.
3) Never Neutral.
As a young church we can never afford to shift our spiritual life into neutral. Chrysler has an ad campaign right now that simply says: Never Neutral. I like it. Let's remember it each day and apply it to our hearts and lives. There is no time for coasting, no time for idleness to take over the church. We should never shift into neutral.
4) Prayer Wins!
Ephesians 6 shares the design of our spiritual warfare. We are to be equipped with God's protection each day. We are not battling the things of flesh, we do not fight people or the things we can see, but we war against the enemy of our soul though prayer. The Lord grants us the win when we fight the spiritual battle His way through Prayer!
5) Reach.
The only reason our young church exist today is to reach into the lives of people who are needing more of God. There are enough religions, churches, and social helps in the world, but not enough people willing to really reach into the lives of others. We are here to reach every soul we can for Jesus Christ. The day we quit reaching is the day we discontinue fulfilling the great commission given to us by Jesus Christ himself.
6) Give.
We must be givers. We must share with our community those talents God has given each of us. The only limitation that we see limiting our blessings is the amount of giving we allow ourselves to give. Luke 6:38 says, Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
7) Understand Seasons.
Everything has it's own time to grow and develop into what God intends for it to be. Nothing that God creates is expected to be fully developed overnight. Ecclesiastes 3:1 explains that to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.
There is nothing more frustrating than trying to circumvent seasons and hurry along a process God has established. Don't frustrate yourself.
Take the pressure off of yourself. Live for God with all of your heart. Let God build His church.
If we are available to grow and mature in Christ, He will bring the increase into our lives and church, in due season.
