2016 ANNUAL YOUTH LECTURESHIP
Church of Christ Isalu Rd, Awadagbe Badagry, Lagos State.
CHRISTIAN YOUTHS AND STEADFASTNESS
1) Definition of key words: It is appropriate to begin a discussion of this type
with a definition of key words to keep our discussion in perspective:
a) Steadfastness: This means being loyal and faithful.
Cognate words include commitment, dedication, persistence, determination,
firm, consistency, stable, dependable,and trustworthiness. These are virtues
that are indispensable in the Christian race Christian therefore have been called
to be steadfast. Matt.24;13;
1 Cor 15: 58; 1 Pt. 5: 9; Col. 1: 23; Lk. 9:62
b) Christian : A proper noun which means a follower of Christ, one
belonging to Christ. Acts 11:26
c) Youths- Greek: neotes (new), the period of time when one is young; the
time between being a child and being fully grown.
2) There is a reason why all over the world why families, governments and
and the church are interested in the youth, often described as leaders of
tomorrow.Youth is the:
a) Time of great strength and viguor: 1 Jn. 2:14
b) Time for great plans for the future.
c) Time for lusts, so it is the time of weakness. Gen. 8:21.
Such strength can be effectively channeled to the service of God, but can
also be vanity: Eccl. 11:10. Plans for the future usually involve how to
become rich and comfortable, but is fraught with a lot of dangers. 1Tim 6:
9-10. It is also a time for lusts, a time of exposure to all manner of ideas,
usually a time to experiment with sex and other youthful lusts (2Tim. 2:22).
3) Youth is therefore an important time. It is a critical time! In recognition of
the value of youths and dangers associated with them, they are subjects of
God’s attention and warnings: Eccl. 11:9; 12:1; 2 Tim.2: 22; 1Jn. 2:13 – 14.
How can Christian youths attain steadfastness?
There is certainly no market where steadfastness is sold! It is not a
serendipitous affair. It is a goal, a state of the mind and spirit that is
attainable only by adhering to the words of the all-wise and immortal God.
A youth can attain that goal by doing some things, while avoiding some
others. Here we discuss a few actions that would help Christian youths to
be steadfast:
1) Flee youthful lusts (2 Tim. 2;22). This will include unlawful sexual activity.
Prov. 7:6 – 20; 5:1 – 14; 6: 23 -29; 1Pt. 2: 11; Rom. 12:1-2.
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Quick wealth: 1Tim. 6:9-10
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Desire for what is fashionable: Punk hairstyles; sagging of trousers, etc.
What does your dressing say about you? Does your dressing reflect
godliness, or does it tell people that you are wayward, perhaps a prostitute?
Cp. Prov. 7:10; Gen. 38:14-18.
2) Avoid Bad Company: Friends can have tremendous influence on us- for
good or ill- irrespective of how smart we think we are. 1Cor. 15:33; Ps. 1:3;
Prov. 4:14-19. Every person cannot be your friend! The type of friends we
have can make the difference between hell and eternal life.
3) Choose Wholesome Recreation: What do you do for leisure?
What kind of music do you listen to? What parties do you attend? What
kinds of people frequent those places? What movies do you watch? Would
you be happy if the lord meets you doing those things? What do you do in
secret? comes while you are with them? Rom. 13:13; Gal. 4:3-4; 1Thess.
5:22. Phil. 4: 8.
4) Be Active in the Church
We are stronger when we practice our faith and share it with others.
Philemon 6. Regular attendance (Heb. 10:25) and spiritual fervor help in
ensuring steadfastness. Lukewarmness (Rev. 2: 15-16). benefits neither the
church nor individual Christians.
5) Bible Study: Col. 3:16.
Do you daily study the bible? The word of God cannot dwell in you until
you make regular bible study your habit. Joshua 1:8; 2Tim. 2: 15; Rev. 1: 3;
Jas. 1 : 25. Nobody grows in faith without paying attention to Bible study.
6) Choice of Marital Partner.
The argument about whether Christians should marry only Christians will
not end in my life time! It is not because God has not spoken clearly on the
issue but because man desires freedom in all matters – even harmful
practices.
God’s word favours only the believer/believer marriage in the Patriarchal,
Mosaic and Christian dispensations and shows that who a believer chooses
to marry can determine his eternal fate.
A. Patriarchal Age: Gen. 6:2.
Gen. 6:2: This marriage ended in doom.
Gen. 24:4: Abraham would not let Isaac marry a heathen.
Gen. 27:46; Gen. 28:44: Rebekah and Isaac concerned about Jacob’s
marriage.
Gen. 26:34; Esau’s marriage to heathens a source of grief to Isaac and
Rebekah,
B. Mosaic Age:
Ex. 34: 14-16; Deut. 7:3-4: Israel warned against mixed marriages. Note
God’s reason for forbidding mixed marriages.
Josh. 23: 12-13: An unbelieving partner is a snare.
Judges 14:2-3: Parents should reecho the same question Sampson’s parents
asked him. Sampson did not listen.He lost his hair, eyes and life.
1Kgs 11: 1-4: Solomon the wise king embraced folly in marrying strange
women.
Cp: Ezra 9:2-3; 10:10 -14; Neh. 13:23-31; Amos 3:3.
New Testament. Rom. 15:4; 1Cor. 10-11.
1Cor. 15-33. Is there any companionship stronger than marriage among
men? Cp. 1Kgs 21:25; 2Kgs 8:18.
1Thess. 5:33; 1 Cor. 7:39; 1Cor. 9:5; 2Cor. 6:14-18.
How can a youth cleanse his way …. Ps. 119:9
The youth are the power house of the church. What they turn out to be, and
the choices they make affect the growth, life and future of the church.
Faithful youths will produce a dynamic, strong, active church and ensure a
rich supply of leaders in the future. A church populated by unstable youths
will always be weak and threatened with extinction. Every congregation
should therefore spare no effort and resources in the training of the youths.
CHIDIEBERE NWACHUKWU
CHURCH OF CHRIST, IBUZO ROAD,
ASABA, DELTA STATE.