THE YOUTH AND THE LAST DAYS
THE YOUTH AND THE LAST DAYS
BY EVANGELINE UNITY ESAABA FOLSON
ACTS 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
A similar message is given by the Prophet Joel in Joel 2:28. There are two major words or phrases in the verse quoted, I will like to elaborate on:
Your sons and daughters will prophesy
The last days
According to the Oxford English dictionary, to prophesy means to predict that a particular thing will happen in the future. The last days is the days that would precede the second coming of Jesus. Scripture says this would be perilous times . 2 Timothy talks about what would happen in the last days. I will like to comment on 2 Timothy 3:1 – 3
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.
When you look at what is happening in the world today, everything that Timothy predicted is happening. If all these things are truly happening now, then we are in the last days and the prophecy about our youth should be fulfilled.
God has poured His Spirit on several young men and women who are in ministry today. It is time to prompt the other young people to move in line with God’s will for their lives. How do we do this? We must ensure that:
The youth are conscious of the fact that they are ambassadors for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20, Ecclesiastics 12:1)
They are conscious that they are leaders of tomorrow (Timothy 4:12, Mathew 5:16)
They must be morally upright (2 Timothy 2:22)
They must know the word (2 Timothy 2:15)
They must be doers of the word (James 1:22)
They must be saved (John 3:5-7)
THE YOUTH SHOULD BE CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT THEY ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST
2 Corinthians 5:20
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
This verse indicates that we (all Christians) are ambassadors for Christ, including the youth. That is, we are Christ’s representatives here on earth and we are to fulfill the great commission of reaching out to the lost and bringing them to God.
The verse also asks us to be reconciled to God, that is establish a good relationship with God by accepting the gift of salvation.
Ecclesiastes 12:1 admonishes us to remember our creator (God) in the days of our youth. We can remember our creator by dedicating our lives to Him and obeying His words.
THEY MUST BE CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT THEY ARE THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW
1 Timothy 4:12
Let no man despise thy youth but be thou an example of the believers, in word, conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
As a leader, you must set a good example for others to follow. The verse above encourages the youth to set a good example for all believers and others to follow. The youth must always seek to do only what pleases God so that others would follow to make the world a better place.
Mathew 5:16 says Christians including the youth are the light of the world. Our lights (our life and testimony) should shine, such that others will see and give glory to God.
2 Timothy 2:22
Flee also youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
The Bible Psalm 5:5 says God hates sin, especially sins committed against the body (sexual sin) which is the temple of God.
I believe God will only pour His Spirit on those who are morally upright and are ready to do the work of God.
The youth should always remember that their body is the temple of God and sexual sin defiles them and makes them unqualified to receive the outpouring of the Spirit of God on their life to enable them to do the work of God and fulfill their destiny.
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thy self approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of faith.
The Bible contains all the messages and instructions the youth need to fulfill their destiny. To be able to do what God requires them to do, they must study the word or bible thoroughly and know what to do at each point in time.
Apart from having their quiet time with God each morning, the youth should also find time to do bible study as often as possible.
They must be doers of the word
James 1:22
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
According to this verse, it is not enough to only study the word of God. We must also obey it or do what is says.
If we just study the word, and we do not practice it we are deceiving ourselves. We do not please God and He cannot use us.
To fulfill their destiny in the last days, the youth must and live according to the word.
John 3:5-7
Jesus answered, verily verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.’That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I say unto you, you must be born again.
Salvation is the first requirement every young man or woman needs to fulfill his/her destiny in these last days
Acts 16:31 says Belief on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved.
Romans 10:9 – 10 shows us exactly what to do to get saved. You must:
Confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus
Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead.
Believing with the heart brings righteousness.
And confessing with the mouth leads to salvation.
After you have been saved you must also do the following:
Learn more about God and how to live a good Christian life by studying the bible.
Draw closer to God by fasting, praying, praising and worshiping God frequently.
Learn how to please God by exercising your faith.
Win souls for God.
Find a bible believing church in your neighborhood, attend services regularly and serve in the house of God.
References
King James Bible
Oxford English Dictionary
Google.com
