FAITHFUL YOUTH IN THE 21ST CENTURY

By : P.T. Khumalo A.Y. Mid-Year Camp21 – 23 August 2009

YOUNG AND FAITHFULL IN THE 21st CENTURY?

• Is it really possible?

• Is it realistic?

• How can it be done?

• Faithful to whom?

• Why should we be faithful?

The Postmodern Generation/ 21st Century youth?

• They are also called the Millennial Generation.

• Also known as Generation Y.

• Those born between 1980 and 2001.

• Do they know anything about FAITHFULNESS?

MEANING OF FAITHFUL

• Marked by fidelity to an original

(Essential English Dictionary)

• any loyal and steadfast following (WordNet English Dictionary)

• full of faith (Merriam-Webster’s English Dictionary)

• firm in adherence to whatever one owes allegiance. (Merriam-Webster’s English Dictionary)

What Post moderns Believe?• There is no absolute truth.• Truth is subjective and relative.• Grows out of one’s perspective and life

experiences.• There is no common standard by which to

judge, measure, or value ideas or opinions.• We can use our reason to solve any problem

and make the world a better place.• Not optimistic about the future; man cannot fix

it; hence, reason is not the only way to discover knowledge and truth.

HEBREWS 10:23

• let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised:–The word ομολογια, from ομου=

together, and λογος = word

WHAT IS FAITH & FAITHFULNESS• Faith is believing without question what

God says about Himself and about what He will do (ομολογια).

• Hebrews 11:1- Now faith is the substance of things hoped the evidence of things not seem. (KJV)

• Faithfulness is staying true to God in thoughts, words and action despite the opposition / popular beliefs.

FAITHFULNESS IS THE INTERGRITY OF LOVE

• Faithfulness is an attribute that is deeply rooted in integrity.

• All Christians are always exhorted to be Faithful Servants, Faithful Stewards, Faithful Ministers, Faithful Followers of Christ, Faithful in all things and Faithful unto death.

• No one is exempted Children, Youth & Adults, even Generation Y, all have to be faithful.

• Faithfulness is the Christian’s response to God’s goodness which He demonstrated in His creative & redemptive works.

• Thus faithfulness describes -• Dependability & Trustworthiness

GROWING FAITH

• Faithfulness requires a growing faith in God

• Which is reinforced by the knowledge that God is in full control of our lives

FIVE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF FAITHFULNESS (RDSTC)• Reliability

• Dependability

• Steadfastness to duty

• Trustworthiness at all time

• Consistency in complying with the Moral Obligations

Is it possible for Youth in this Era to be always Faithful?

• Yes, it’s possible, Yes, you can, Yes, God can assist you only if you only believe & experience God

• Song: If you ONLY believe, only believe, all things are possible if you only believe.

• There are many faithful Characters in the Bible e.g. Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Ruth Esther, Timothy etc.

NABOTH

• In 1 Kings 21:1-29 – Story of Naboth

• King Ahab converted Naboth’s Vineyard

• V 2 – “...Give Vineyard for Vegetable garden...”

• V 3 – “And Naboth said to Ahab, Jehovah forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.”

Why did Ahab covert?• Naboth was Reliable &

Dependable to his parents & their inheritance.

• Can God rely & depend on you with His inheritance?

Steadfast to duty• He took Care of the Vineyard, maintained it,

weeded, watered, fertilized it. • How faithful are you in taking care of your

Spiritual inheritance?• Are you:

– Reading God’s Word,– Affirming Yourself with it, – Applying it in your life.

• Your Speech? Speaking the truth with regard to the smallest matters?

MAINTAINANCE?• How do you maintain Your Vineyard? • Are you strict or open to anyone.• Letting people do as they please in your father’s

inheritance is unfaithfulness, it is disobedience to God and He is Not Pleased.• The are times when you press between the rock

and the a hard place – • When temptation is high to sell your inheritance,

or turn your father’s Vineyard into a Vegetable Garden. Please DON’T Generation Y.

REMEMBER:

• I Thessalonians 5:24• He who calls you is faithful who also will

do it.• I Cor. 10:13 God is faithful He will not let

you tempted beyond …..”• I Thessalonians 5:22 • Abstain from every form of Evil.

• God is Faithful, He will help us to be true to Him in Our Thoughts, Words and Actions.

• BE CONTENT with who you are and what you have. That will Keep you faithful.

THE ULTIMATE INCENTIVE

• There is an ultimate reward to the Faithful Youth.

• You will be like an Oasis of faithfulness in a desert of unfaithfulness

• You will be the Salt of the earth seasoning all those you come into contact with

• You be an AROMA of Christ

CROWN AND A NEW NAME

• But the ultimate reward will be when Jesus Himself will be saying to you

• “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. Come & share your master’s happiness (Matt. 25:23)

• Rev 2:10 – “Be faithful, even to the point of death, I will give you the Crown of Life”

DIVINE ATTRIBUTE OF OUR FAITHFUL GOD

• Heb 10:23 - He who promised is faithful• I Thess. 5:24 - He who calls you is

faithful, who also will do it• Lam 3:23 - Great is your faithfulness• Rev 19:11 - Called Faithful & True• Heb 2:1 - We have a faithful high Priest• I John 1:9 - He is faithful & just to forgive