Introduction :
The book of Jeremiah starts with his call to mission. God personally
called Jeremiah for the ministry to deliver His final words to a nation that
was coming to an end. The independent National Israel was coming to an end and
so Jeremiah was called as prophet who lamented over the doom of Israel. God has
always wanted and is using youths for revival. In Joel 2:28 God says “Your sons
and your daughters shall prophesy… your young men shall see visions” The same
happened to Joshua and the generation under 20 in Deuteronomy 1:39 where God
promised them the promised land. David the young hero was also used by God to
bring revival to the Jews and saved them from the philistines ( Sam 17:33).
Josiah the boy king brought revival to Judah and Jerusalem as he sought the God
of his father David (II Chronicles 34:3). Jesus Himself began His ministry at
about 30 years of age. His disciples probably were between 21 and 35 and it is
from these young leaders that God established his church that turned the world
upside down. I want you to notice that God knows why you are here today and He
has called you for a purpose. God wants you to start a new thing from this
afternoon because He has commissioned you. Some of the youths think there are
special people called for the ministry even when God shows them the
opportunities He has opened for them.
a) God says He knew you before He formed
you in the womb (vs 5)
Can you
understand? That God knew what He was creating? He made you intentionally. He
did not make any mistake and so all the qualities He needs are found in you
because He made you with those talents. In this verse 5, God transcended the
affairs of His people through Jeremiah in order to pass His final words to
them. Today God is doing same to you youths and He wants you to use your
youthfulness to convey His word to the lost before their doom.
Jeremiah
was sanctified in the womb before he came out. God made him holy and set him
apart for this special ministry. Today God has sanctified you through the blood
of Jesus. So you are set apart for God’s special ministry through Christ even
as he commands all who follow Him to “go into the world and make disciples”.
That is your commission, Douala Association Youths. You were not called to make
social gatherings and picnics but to be light to this dark generation of
worldly youths who do not know Christ. You are set apart to show example for
the lost to learn and glorify God in what they see you do.
God has
appointed you priest to the nations just as He appointed Jeremiah prophet to
the nations. The Bible says “You are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood…that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out
of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). How can you show His
praises in fornication, lies telling, gossiping, laziness, and grumbling? These things should never be part of you else
they will make you a stumbling block for people who want to receive Christ.
You maybe
saying that it’s the work of the pastors and leaders of the church to
evangelize, to come to prayer meetings or Bible study meetings. Yes they are
the leaders but you too are called to the same mission.
b) Stop complaining and take up your
ministry (vs 6)
Jeremiah in
verse 6 as Moses in Exodus 3 sought to use his inability as excuse from his
initial calling. You maybe saying that you do not have enough theology, or that
you are not eloquent in speech, or that you need a higher education before you
can start. You maybe saying that when you finish school and have a good job,
that is when you can serve God better. All these are excuses and will take you
to nowhere in your ministry God has assigned you when you received Christ.
There is one thing God cannot make and this is a mistake. God cannot make
mistakes. He knew you before you were born.
c) Being a youth makes you qualified for
God’s mission to the lost (vs 6,7)
Jeremiah
said “I cannot speak, for I am a youth” (Jer 1:6) But God knows us before we
discover ourselves. He knows our abilities, though we do not perceive it, for
He gave them to us. God told Jeremiah to be bold because He will deliver him.
Today God is still the same and He says “I will never leave you, I will never
forsake you” What is holding you from evangelizing your friends at school and
at work? Why can you not talk to your fellow friends about Jesus? Perhaps you
are still living in sin that’s why you are ashamed or afraid of the gospel.
d) God has given you His word in the
scriptures.
Jeremiah
received it on his mouth and you are blessed with everything in the Bible. You
have the word of God. What you need is to read it carefully and speak it
carefully and intentionally.
If you live
a life that is Christ-centered, you’ll have no fear, not even from spiritual
attacks nor physical attacks from your family, friends or classmates. Just as
with Jeremiah, God says “He has given you authority to root out and to pull
down (Jer 1:10) You need to root out anything that was not planted by God in
your life and the lives of your friends. You need to pull down anything that
exalts himself above God in your life and around you. You need to build and
plant those things God wills in your life in the name of Jesus.
You cannot
be able to exercise this authority without Jesus. You can only do it if you
have received Jesus in your life. He came to earth leaving His throne to show
you and I the way. He was crucified and buried. The third day He was raised to
life. His blood was shed for your sins. If you have never received Jesus Christ
and you want to receive Him and this authority to uproot any evil in your life,
just raise up your right hand. Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated upon
the throne ruling with authority over heaven and earth. He will come again to
judge the world. What shall you tell Him when He comes? You may leave this
afternoon and never reach your house. It’ll not surprise me. Ask yourself what
you’ll answer God if He asks you why He should allow you into His kingdom.
Jesus is the only way to the Lord.
*** Repeat
this prayer with me if you do not know when you ever received Jesus Christ into
your life.
For those
of you who had already received Christ but are still sleeping: You are not
taking your ministry serious; you are afraid of evangelizing or going out even
for door-to-door evangelism. Not even prayer meetings in church; I want you to
pray for yourself and ask God to forgive you from your foolishness and sin. Be
determined and commit your life to do just the will of God.
I want all
of us to stand up on our feet and pair up. Hold the hands of your neighbor and
you’ll ask God’s blessings upon the person’s life. Ask God to burn the fire of
love and evangelism in their life. Ask God to protect His word that has been
planted in the person’s life. Ask God to create opportunities for the person to
witness for Christ. Uproot anything that is in the person’s life that was not
planted by God in Jesus name. You are given the authority to also pull down
those things that are making themselves higher than the word of God. Pull down
any stronghold in the person’s life in Jesus name. Pray that the person will be
passionate for Jesus no matter what. Pray that the person will have no rest
until the person submits to Jesus.
Shalom!
No comments:
Post a Comment