Naming The Wells

Abraham was a well digger.

So was his son Isaac. 

When Isaac grew up and became a man, he followed in his father's footsteps. Abraham was obviously a good example to his son. 

But more than that, Abraham TAUGHT his son. How do we know this? Because when Isaac dug and re-dug the wells, he named them the same things his father had named them. Had Abraham not TAUGHT his son the names, Isaac could've called them whatever he desired. Abraham was very specific in his teaching to Isaac. He didn't want his boy to grow up not knowing how the wells were dug, why the wells were dug, and the names of those wells.

Our responsibility as Youth Pastors is not to be vague in our teaching/preaching. "Let's pray through", "let's have revival", "keep sin out of your life." Those are all great things to teach, but what if those we are teaching have no idea what they mean? We need to be more specific, and to "name" some things so that there is no confusion, and so our students understand what we mean. 

Not only do we need to teach our students to "dig wells", but we need to name them and be specific about them. Jesus was very specific. Paul was very specific. If we don't address the issues at hand, who will?

One of the most detrimental things we can do is preach a pretty sermon that confuses the minds of young people more than before the service began. Our language at times can be so vague, that teenagers have no clue what we mean. If that happens, we may be doing more harm than good. 

Teach about sin, but call things out. Talk about praying through, but teach them HOW to do it. Preach revival, but let them know what revival is. Our students who have grown up in un-churched homes are at a disadvantage, because they don't know what we sometimes assume that they do know. Even our students who grow up in a Godly home can be unsure about our church lingo.

We have to be specific. Call out sin the way Jesus did. Address issues in the church like Paul did. Leave no question in the minds of your students about what you are referring to. If we create questions instead of conclusions, we are treading on dangerous ground.

Seeing Past the Mask

I'll always remember my "good friend" who wore a hideous, grotesque mask, and woke me up at 3am with it on. I don't think I was EVER so scared in all my life.

What a friend he was!!

Masks have been used for centuries for several different purposes, ranging from religious practices to deceitful tactics. The primary purpose for a mask is to hide the true identity of oneself. Most masks cover up what people would rather leave unseen, or to make someone else believe they are someone/something different than who they really are.

With a few years of youth ministry under my belt, I have come to realize that MOST teenagers wear masks. Whether it's a temporary mask while they deal with a particular situation, or a permanent mask to hide the pain and reality of their lives, at some point, students will probably put on a mask. Those students are the ones who sit in your youth services. They are the ones who rise the church van. They are the ones whose Mom and Dad attend church on a regular basis. They don't want people to know what's really underneath the smile, and the facade. They choose to hide their feelings and emotions with a fear of ridicule or even rejection. They choose isolation rather than transparency, and sometimes I feel that it is something WE unconsciously promote.

"Smile through the bad times." We preach it and teach it. It creates the thought process that no matter what I go through, I have to act like everything is okay. This kind of thinking is unhealthy in the long run.

We are putting band-aids on a situation that needs surgery.

What we really need to do is teach them to be vulnerable, and sensitive. Expose the reality and the pain, and let God heal them, rather than us just giving them a temporary fix. That's God's desire anyway, not just to temporarily heal, but to make them whole. To restore things to them that they have lost. Who are we to tell them to smile in spite of the pain? It's time we as Youth Pastors see past the masks and facades, see the reality, and lead them to the healer.

A Coin For The Master

2 Corinthians 12:15 - My grandpa ALWAYS had change in his pocket. When he walked, the sound of every step reminded me of the Salvation Army bell ringers. Every payment he made, whether at a restaurant or Wal-Mart, was paid the exact amount, down to the penny. 

He used his pocket change as he pleased, whether it was for a large purchase, a cup of coffee with a senior discount of course, or paying us grandkids a nickel for scratching his back. No one told him where to spend his change, especially not the change itself. George Washington never popped his head off the quarter and said, DON'T spend me here, wait until you go to Starbucks. 

The coin has no right to tell the master where it wants to be spent. We are coins in the hands of the master. Paul understood the necessity of allowing himself to be spent wherever God saw fit. He would GLADLY go where the Spirit led him, he would GLADLY preach where God sent him, and he would GLADLY endure all the problems along the way.

I have no right to tell God WHERE or HOW to spend me/my life. My ministry is not limited to what I want to do, or be a part of. My ministry is a servanthood to God. I want to be a coin in HIS hand, and let Him spend me where and how He sees fit. 

If that means becoming uncomfortable, I will GLADLY be spent.
If that means facing difficult situations, I will GLADLY be spent.
If that means leaving my present location, I will GLADLY be spent.

I have no right to tell God NOT to spend me here. That's not my job description. That's not what I am good at. Let Him spend you. Don't become frustrated because you feel like your wheels are just spinning, and you're not moving forward. God is spending you. You may not directly see the results, but they are there. Be a coin in the hand of your master.

 

3 Mistakes Before The Fruit Was Eaten

Genesis 3. A common preaching point, and a story told to MOST of us from the time we were children. We talk about how Adam and Eve disobeyed God's commandment to abstain from eating of this tree. However, after examining this scripture a little more closely, there can be a little more derived from this portion of scripture.

Before the sin was ever committed, there were 3 mistakes made. These mistakes led to the decision to disobey the commandment of God, and to adhere to the deceiving voice of the serpent. They are revealed in the following order:

1. Communication
2. Responsibility
3. Submission

Eve clearly communicated with the serpent. She answered his questions, and gave audience to his deceiving remarks. Just as destructive, Adam failed at his responsibility to lead his wife in a Godly manner; instead, he allowed her to fall subject to the lies and deceit of the serpent. Lastly, Eve failed in her submission to her husband. God created her as Adam's help meet, not his decision maker. She didn't allow Adam to lead her.

In all things pertaining to our ministry, our family, our church, etc, there are 3 areas where mistakes can be detrimental, and eventually lead to an ultimate failure. 

We must constantly protect our conversation, and guard our communication. What we say and who we say it to, what and who we listen to could plant seeds that will grow and become very caustic. Godly communication is a necessity to maintain our ministries, and our relationship with God.

We must remain faithful to our responsibility. God has entrusted us as shepherds to our flock (albeit sometimes a small flock). There are souls at stake, and we cannot fail in our duty to lead, mentor, and minister to them.

Submission is a tough one; however, it is also imperative. Too often we forget that this is not our church, and not our kingdom. We must be fully submitted to God, and to our Pastor. If we break the flow of anointing by undermining Godly authority, then not only is our ministry in danger, but every soul we minister to as well. 

We must remember that every one of these mistakes occurred before the sin was committed. Sometimes our mistakes can lead to bigger mistakes, which can lead to failure. Guard yourselves. Maintain Godly communication, be faithful to your responsibility, and submit yourselves. Then, the fruit won't even be desired.

We Must Pray

"Fight the devil on your knees". "The family the prays together stays together". We have all heard the phrases and cliches, if you will, about prayer. From the time we start out in church, we are taught to pray. Pray before you go to bed: "Now I lay me down to sleep...". Pray before you eat: "God is great, God is good....". As a babe in Christ, prayer is a foundation that we build upon. As leaders, we preach about the necessity, and the benefits of prayer. However, I fear the many who preach it fail to practice it. And that is the heart of this post.

Those of us who have been in Student Ministry for a number of years can stand behind a podium and teach, preach, and exhort in some fashion without a great deal of difficulty. We know the mechanics, and we have developed the ability to "public speak". We know how to get someone to say "AMEN", and we can fill a 30 minute time slot with ease and simplicity. Here is the issue: ministry is not about mechanics or just filling time. Ministry is about ministering (big surprise right?). We are not public speakers, nor are we motivational speakers. We are ambassadors for Christ, and we are to preach the Word with anointing, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Effective ministry does not come with a unique title, or the coolest object lesson. Effective ministry is not developed through the best stage design or the coolest lights. Effective ministry comes through developing one's own relationship with Jesus Christ. That includes prayer. Prayer for your ministry, prayers of thanksgiving, intercessory prayer, daily prayer, sacrificial prayer.

I refuse to believe that ANYONE should be preaching to our students unless they have spent time in the Holy Ghost, praying and seeking the will of God. Prayer should not become a hindrance, but rather a privilege. And the more we exercise that privilege, the more we can operate in the Holy Ghost.

Here is a cliche for everyone: NO ONE IS A FIRMER BELIEVER IN THE POWER OF PRAYER THAN THE DEVIL; NOT THAT HE PRACTICES, BUT BECAUSE HE SUFFERS FROM IT. - Guy King

Prayer drives out the enemy. Prayer tears down strongholds. Prayer removes walls. Prayer will get results. We must pray, we must make the sacrifice, and pray. TIME ON YOUR KNEES IS TIME WELL SPENT. We must pray.

Anointed Influence

I recently read the findings from a study done on the things that influence teenagers. Here are my findings:

In 1960, the top 5 influences were: 1.Parents
                                                     2.Teachers
                                                     3.Peers
                                                     4.Ministers
                                                     5.Youth Workers
In 1980, the top 5 changed: 1.Peers
                                           2.Parents
                                           3.TV/Movies/Music
                                           4.Teachers
                                           5.Heroes/Idols
In 2000, another drastic change took place: 1.TV/Movies/Music
                                                                   2.Advertising
                                                                   3.Printed Media
                                                                   4.Heroes/Idols
                                                                   5.Peers
As I read this, I realized that although influence used to come through relationships with people and loved ones, that same influence has shifted to electronic media and entertainment. I realized in my own ministry that this is what I am up against. So I performed my own study with RYOT, and the results were staggering.

I must confess to you that at times, our job as Student Pastors can be intimidating, because we realize that our challenge is so daunting. How can we compete with Hollywood? How can we "outdo" the iTunes top 10? After much prayer, I realized that I can't. I'm not capable, on my own, of contending with the latest fads, and medias influence. But I also found out that anointing enables me to do more that what I ever considered.

Anointing will remove walls that media has created.
Anointing will open doors that Hollywood has closed.
Anointing will create relationships that once seemed like an impossibility.

I may not have all the answers as to how to make our ministries more attractive than worldly amusements. However, I know that I will NEVER do it on my own. I must live an anointed life. I must preach anointed sermons. I must speak anointed words. I must build anointed relationships. I must have an anointed influence.

Strange Things

In Luke 5, the story is told of a few men who lowered their friend down through the roof, so that Jesus would heal him. Not only did Jesus heal him, he forgave the man's sins. Sounds pretty common, right?

We are accustomed to seeing sinners repent, and even miracles of healing. However, the Bible says that the people were amazed, and said "We have seen STRANGE THINGS today."

So often, we take for granted that everyone is familiar with the supernatural: speaking with tongues, vibrant worship, and miracles being performed. We preach such things, believe such things, and God performs such things. But what about those who have never seen a man "slain in the Spirit"? Some of our students have never heard a woman speak with tongues, let alone followed by interpretation. Our services can be so uplifting and edifying to some, while others sit in disbelief and fear. And the sad part is, many times, things are never explained to them.

I have seen students, adults, and families who felt the presence of God, but because of the lack of instruction and explanation, they leave the service, and never return. I am all for the gifts of the Spirit working in our church, and in some cases, we need a revival of those gifts. The challenge for a Student Pastor is to teach, instruct, and explain what is going on. Let them know that what is happening is Biblical. Don't let "strange things" that we view as commonplace be the very misleading cause of a lost opportunity. Teach them and instruct them.

This may be very practical, but if a visitor sits through a service such as this, and the hair is standing on end, why not put an arm around their shoulder and fill them in? We need the gifts, but we don't need confusion. We need tongues and interpretation, but we don't need lack of understanding. Let's teach them and instruct them, lest our own edification becomes someone else's destruction.